Local Events
Registration for Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly is open! Join us June 11-13 at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church for a weekend of work, worship and stories of "Built into a Spiritual House," based on 1 Peter 2:4-10. Learn more and register at virginiaconference.org/assembly
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement has helped thousands of Christians to align their lives with God’s global purposes. A rich menu of readings and fifteen interactive class sessions, with input from presenters sharing their particular expertise, combine to provide students with an understanding of four distinct dimensions of the missional challenge: Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic. The course will be offered here in Harrisonburg again this fall – Tuesday evenings, from Sept 1- Dec 8, at Grace Covenant Church. For more information, check out the Perspectives website at www.perspectives.org or contact Carol Tobin at carol.tobin@vmmissions.org. **Special note: On Monday, May 4: For more info, promotional material and the opportunity to talk with folks who have taken the course, come to our drop-in “Coffee at Clementine” event from 3:30 to 5:15 pm in the lower level/basement of Clementine, 153 S Main St in Harrisonburg. **
All leaders holding ministerial credentials in VMC are invited to: “God’s Gift of Sexuality”: a Pastoral Leadership Consultation on May 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mountain View Mennonite Church, 5252 North Carolina 10 Hickory, NC 28602. Pastors and credentialed leaders in Virginia Mennonite Conference are invited to the fourth Pastoral Leadership Consultation on May 15 at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Hickory, N.C. David and Shana Boshart will present from their research, writings and experiences on “God’s Gift of Sexuality.” Lunch will be provided by the church; there is a suggested $10 donation to cover the meal. Coordinate your own transportation. The Conference will identify persons with vans or capacity for passengers for your convenience. RSVP to Anieta McCracken, Administrative Services Manager, at 540-434-9727 ext 135 or via email to: anieta.mccracken@virginiaconference.org
Come out to Pleasant View, Inc.'s 18th Annual Golf Tournament to support individuals with intellectual disabilities on Friday, May 15, at Spotswood Country Club (1980 Country Club Road in Harrisonburg, Va.) This will be in a Captain's Choice format. Registration will begin at 8:00 am, with a shotgun start at 9:00 am. Team prizes, contest prizes, and door prize drawings will be awarded after lunch. Fees are $100/golfer or $380/team of 4. There will be team prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Mulligans, power balls, and 50/50 will be offered at registration. We will also have closest to the pin and longest drive contests. Lunch will be provided.
Auditions for “Under The Shadow of the Almighty," a drama about Elder John Kline and the Brethren during the tumult of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley from the Spring of 1864 to the Spring of 1865, will be Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 725 South High Street, Harrisonburg, VA. There are roles available for both males (ages 8-70) and females (ages 13-70). This play will be performed July 24-26, 2015 at the Thomas Harrison Middle School forum. To read the complete script and download a copy of the audition form, visit johnklinehomestead.com (Please note the bulletin insert attachment.)
Songs and Sheaves: An Evening in the Barn will be May 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., in the Showalter Barn ( 4702 Klines Mill Road, Linville, VA 22834). Join us for an evening of desserts and music with VMMissions workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin as we rejoice over their first term in Bangkok, Thailand, and look forward to what God will do in their next. Featuring Good Company a cappella singers, Seth Crissman, and local bluegrass musicians. Kids activities provided. A freewill offering will be taken. To reach the barn, take Rt. 42 north, go 7 miles past Harmony Square, turn left on Kline's Mill Road, and turn right at 4th driveway.
Family Life Resource Center’s Fundraising Dinner will be Saturday, May 16, at 6 pm at VMRC’s Hartman Dining Hall. Judy H. Mullet, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Eastern Mennonite University will speak on the importance of restorative relationships. Special memorial tribute will be given to Jim Glanzer, one of the founders of FLRC. RSVP by May 7 to Marie@flrc.org or by calling 540-434-8450.
Save the date on Friday, June 5. At 6:00 pm, the men’s a cappella singing ensemble Cantore will have a benefit performance for Living Waters Prison Ministries at Immanuel Mennonite Church (400 Kelley St., Harrisonburg). Dessert and beverages will be served following the performance. This is a free concert with a free will offering collected.
Would you like to learn more about Spiritual Formation for Congregational Discernment? Or are you interested in Sustaining Practices in Congregational Worship? Maybe you want to explore Spiritual Guidance in Life and Practice? All three of these courses and others are part of the Summer Institute for Spiritual Formation at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, June 15-26. Classes are held Mon-Fri of those two weeks. For more details on the courses, to see the schedule, and to register online, please go to: www.emu.edu/seminary/courses/summer-institute. You are welcome to join the teachers and learners who experience God's presence each summer through this Institute. – Director Linda Alley, 540.432.4698
Save the date for the annual MHI Friends Dinner event, Friday, September 25, from 7-9pm at Park View Mennonite Church. This is MHI's main fundraiser event of the year and features a deliciously prepared Latino meal provided by Hispanic members of the different congregations related to MHI as wells as a bilingual worship experience.
Job Openings:
Do you know a young man or woman, ages 18+ who would make a good camp counselor, has a passion for mentoring kids, loves the Lord and is energetic? If so, please send them our away. Highland Retreat Summer Camp still has salaried positions available for male and female camp counselors. Those interested can apply at www.highlandretreat.org or call 540-705-0512 for more information.
VMMissions is looking for volunteers to spend the summer (June 1-late August) teaching English in Egypt through Partners in Mission. As a way of building trust and relationships, the Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt offers English classes for both Muslims and Christians. Volunteers are needed for a summer children’s and youth English program for children ages 6-15. Both couples and singles are encouraged to apply. To apply or learn more, contact Martin Rhodes at martin.rhodes@vmmissions.org or (540) 434-9727.
Is God calling you to learn more about missions in Asia and/or ministry in the slums? Consider participating in a 6 week Re-Imagine Internship in Jakarta, Indonesia, this summer through a partnership with VMMissions’ Partners in Mission program and Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor. The internship would include 1 week of orientation, a 4 week home-stay with an east Asian slum family, and 1 week of debriefing, running July 20-August 30. Both singles and couples are encouraged to consider. Application deadline is May 20th. Contact Martin Rhodes for more information at martin.rhodes@vmmissions.org and check out servantsasia.org/jump-jesus-undercover-majority-places/
Grace Mennonite Fellowship in Lacey Spring, VA, a non-traditional congregation with their core values rooted in the Anabaptist Mennonite faith tradition, is seeking a half-time Youth Pastor. Grace Mennonite Fellowship, a growing congregation of approximately 250 with an active youth population of approximately 40, is community-oriented church that strives to be mission-focused both locally and globally. For more information and application instructions please visit the announcements page at www.gracemennonite.net.
Springdale Mennonite Church (Waynesboro, VA) is seeking a half-time Associate Pastor to work in cooperation with the Lead Pastor in a variety of ways. To a large degree, this position will focus on: 1) Equipping people within the church for ministry; and 2) giving direction to Springdale’s ministry with youth. The ideal candidate will approach faith from an Anabaptist perspective and will have training and/or experience in Christian ministry. Contact Krista Powell (Chair of the Search Committee) at kristap@ntelos.net for more information or to submit a letter of inquiry.
Roberta Webb Child Care Center has an opening for a Director. This is a 30-40 hour administrative position. Bachelors Degree Required and experience in early childhood necessary. Please send resume to robertawebbcc@gmail.com or call (540) 434-8699
Virginia Mennonite Missions Prayer Request:
May 3
Pray for the VMMissions workers from Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Germany, and Italy that are gathered for the Mediterranean Retreat. Ask God to fill them with His Spirit as they worship, pray, and fellowship together.