Newsweekly for Sunday, April 15

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Worship this Sunday, April 15, 2018

Worship Leader: Louise Hostetter

Song Leader: Angie Clemens

Prelude/Offertory: Matt Hunsberger

Preacher: Dayna Olson-Getty

Scripture Reader: Louise Hostetter

Children’s Time: Jason Gerlach

Pastoral Prayer: Jennifer Davis Sensenig

Scripture: Luke 24:36b-48

Bulletin:  041518-Bulletin.docx                                                        

 

Upcoming CMC Events

Sat, Apr 14          Open Circle Small Group, 6 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tues, Apr 17       Monthly Gathering, 6 pm Taco Meal, 7 pm Faith in Action’s

                                                initiative to hear stories about local incarceration

Wed, Apr 18       Kids’ Club, 6-7 pm, basement

Thurs, Apr 19     Pastoral Gathering for CMCers in Social Work and Non-profit Work,

                                                5:30 pm, Room 109

Tues, Apr 24       Pastoral Gathering for CMCers in Medical Professions, 5:30 pm,

                                                Room 205 (second floor)

CMC Events and Announcements

Monthly Gathering. All are welcome to attend our monthly gathering on Tuesday, April 17. A taco meal will be served at 6 pm ($3 suggested donation), then the second hour will begin at 7 pm and feature members from our congregation (and beyond) whose lives and families have been affected by our local justice system, in an effort to listen and learn from people's stories why these structural changes (whether smaller or larger) are important and can make a difference for hundreds of people and our whole community.

 

CMC Kids’ Club. Children ages 4-grade 5 are invited to come to Kids’ Club on Wednesdays at 6 pm. If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer, please contact Pastor Jason at Jason.Gerlach@cmcva.org or 540-433-2148.

Guitar wanted. If you have an acoustic guitar that you're no longer using, please contact Pastor Jason (Jason.gerlach@cmcva.org).  CMC Kids' Club helpers have recently met someone who'd like to begin learning guitar but is in need of one to start practicing on.

Looking for a Small Group? The CMC Small Group Committee has created a small group opportunity called the Open Circle. It will meet monthly on Second Saturdays at 6 pm in room 109 of the church. The next meeting is Saturday, April 14. This group invites folks who are looking for a way to connect with others in the church through fellowship, discussion and mutual support. So if you are new to the congregation, new to the idea of small groups, or are not currently in a small group and are looking for a way to connect, you are invited. The circle is always open! Children are welcome and there will be snacks. Contact Adam Yoder for more information at yodera@yahoo.com or 540-810-3376.

 

Pastoral gathering for CMCers in Social Work and Non-Profit Work. Pastoral Team will be providing coffee, light snacks, and conversation for CMCers in social work or non-profit work on Thursday, April 19 at 5:30 pm in Room 109 at CMC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by contacting the church office (433-2148 or cmc_office@cmcva.org). If you can't make it, let us know if you would like another opportunity like this later this year.

Pastoral gathering for CMCers in Medical Professions. Pastoral Team will be providing coffee, light snacks, and conversation for CMCers in medical professions on Tuesday, April 24 at 5:30 pm in Room 205 (second floor) at CMC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by contacting the church office (433-2148 or cmc_office@cmcva.org). If you can't make it, let us know if you would like another opportunity like this later this year.

Concert to Benefit Puerto Rican Solar Power. A benefit concert supporting Resilient Power Puerto Rico, to provide solar power for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, will be held on Friday, April 20 from 7-9 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Community Mennonite Church. Featured artists are Bobby Driver, Trudy Cole, Doug Hendren and Trio Enka. The concert is jointly sponsored by Climate Action Alliance of the Valley, Harrisonburg Co-Housing, Renew Rocktown, Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalists, Salsaburg, Valley Friends Meeting, CMC, and Voluntary Gas Tax. For more information, call 540-820-1219.

Moving help request. Lucy and Nate Malenke need a few strong people who can help them move from their rental house to their new home on Saturday, April 28. We will convene at 455 E. Elizabeth St. at 11 a.m. that morning, load the moving truck, then unload it at 815 Lee Ave. We will provide pizza for lunch and hope to be done with the heavy lifting by 3 p.m. Please call Lucy at 814-360-2699 for more details.

CMC Blood Drive. CMC is partnering with Otterbein United Methodist Church (corner of Route 42 and 33) for a spring blood drive on Sunday morning, April 29 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm in the Otterbein fellowship hall. To sign up go online to:https://donateblood.vablood.org, or contact Susan Pollard at 828-4562. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome. After the worship service you can donate blood, then make your way to Westover Park for the CMC potluck! Free “thank you” tote bag for all participating donors!

Next CMC Potluck. Due to EMU graduation we will have potluck on April 29 instead of May 6th. There will be no potluck in May and we will have potluck at Westover Park on June 3.

Become an Approved Adult. An Approved Adult training is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 from 9 am-noon at Park View Mennonite Church. Contact Marsha Thomas or Jason Gerlach to sign up, or for more information.

Highland Retreat Summer Camps. It’s time to start thinking about summer camp registration for Highland Retreat! CMC will contribute $75 per camper to Highland to help with registration costs for CMC families. When you register your child online at www.highlandretreat.org, you will be asked for a coupon code and a transfer code. The code is on a flier in mailboxes, or contact the CMC office and ask Joyce for CMC’s code. After you enter the code, the $75 will be deducted from your total. If you need additional financial assistance, Highland has some scholarship funds available. For scholarship information, call Highland at 540-705-0554.

Parents of 4 year olds through 5th graders:  mark your calendars for CMC’s Vacation Bible School on Friday evening and Saturday, July 27-28! Want to lead a station or assist in this enjoyable event? Speak with Marsha Thomas or contact her at Marsha.thomas8417@gmail.com.

Support for Murch Family MDS Service. This summer, May through August, the Murch Family will be volunteering with Mennonite Disaster Service in Puerto Rico. Financial donations — to support them and future MDS volunteers from CMC — can be made here (choose the “Mennonite Disaster Services” line), or checks can be made out to CMC with “MDS long-term support” on the memo line. –Dennis Showalter, Outreach Commission, and Aili Huber, Council Chair

Fifth Sunday Offering. Our April Fifth Sunday Offering will go toward support for long term MDS workers from CMC.  Our first long term MDSers will be the Murch family, who will be working in Puerto Rico from May through August.  Let's support this important ministry with our offerings on April 29.

Free garden space available!   Dorothy Jean Weaver has vegetable garden space that is available for free at 1514 College Avenue for the first comer/comers who promise (1) to treat the garden well, (2) to keep it weeded, (3) to plant some tomatoes for her in one corner or another, and (4) to rake the yard leaves onto the garden next fall . . . .  Please respond ASAP to Dorothy Jean at (540) 433-3336 (h), (540) 432-4276 (o), or weaverdj@emu.edu.

Mennonite Higher Education. CMC supports Mennonite higher education—undergrad and grad programs—in our annual budget and we also support individuals who are members or children of members who are choosing to advance their education at Anabaptist/Mennonite schools.  We have a $500/semester grant for undergrad and a small fund for graduate students that we disburse annually.  So, if you are considering Mennonite higher education, please be in touch with the chair of the Grants Commission, currently Shannon Sneary (swsneary@gmail.com).  –Pastoral Team

RESURRECTION REDUX – Relive and celebrate Easter once more with the latest photo collage of Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday activities posted on the "CMC Today" bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall. To its right, a final reminder of the 11th annual Walk/Run for Autism coming up Apr. 21, information on a New Zealand tour led by former CMCers Ross and Allison Collingwood, a reflection on "How to Build Community" and a 'congregational report' for Jan.-Feb. 2018 from Mennonite World Review. — Jim Bishop

APRIL COME SHE WILL . . . Spring will get here eventually, but you can help warm things up with a visit to the "CMC: Yesterday" bulletin board on the east wall of the fellowship hall to check out two archival posters with photo collages from April 2008 and April 2012.  — Jim Bishop

Greening CMC : Getting personal.  There are encouraging indications that younger generations are the most concerned about climate change, and that the issue is less partisan for millenials.  At EMU, a group of students are taking the initiative to increase solar energy campus, organizing everything from fundraising to installation.  Students are looking for more donations to finish the solar project at its intended scale; you can contribute at the student solar project crowdfunding site.

Sunday School Connection. Below is a weekly note for families of children (age 4 and up) who use the Shine curriculum. Each Sunday you will find faith nurture ideas that coordinate with the weekly Sunday school session plans.

Genesis 4:1–16: “Jealousy between brothers” Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story.* (1) Read Genesis 4:9. How can we be our brother’s and sister’s keeper? (2) Draw a picture or tell about something that makes you angry. (3) List three peaceful things to do when you feel angry.
Did you know? The title of John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden refers to the exile of Cain.
Prayer for the week: God, it can be difficult to love others when we feel angry. Show us how to respond with love instead of hate. Amen.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. How can we at CMC remain vigilant in reducing our risk and protecting our youth?

 

Talk About Child Sexual Abuse

“Children often keep abuse a secret, but talking openly about our bodies, sex, and boundaries can encourage children to share. When we talk to children in age appropriate ways about our bodies, sex and boundaries, children understand what healthy relationships look like. It also teaches them that they have the right to say ‘no.’ They become less vulnerable to people who would violate their boundaries, and are more likely to tell you if abuse occurs.”*

Our Safe Church trainers urged us to use the term “uncomfortable” with children as a way for them to describe an interaction that is potentially unhealthy. The organization Darkness to Light also suggests the following:

  • Teach children that it is “against the rules” for adults to act in a sexual way with them, and use examples.
  • Teach them what parts of their bodies others should not touch.
  • Be sure to mention that the abuser might be an adult friend, family member, or older youth.
  • Teach children not to give out personal information while using the Internet, including email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers.
  • Start early and talk often. Use everyday opportunities to talk about sexual abuse.
  • Be proactive. If a child seems uncomfortable, or resistant to being with a particular adult, ask why.
  • For information on talking with kids about body safety, click here.

Also, talk with other adults about child sexual abuse. In doing so, collective awareness about this problem is raised and potential abuse may be thwarted. Offer support and an empathetic ear if you unexpectedly hear a disclosure from an adult, and let a survivor know you believe him or her no matter how shocking the story. Your conversations with adults will strengthen your resolve in protecting all children and will create space for survivors to share their stories freely, without fear of judgement or rejection.

 

*Source: Darkness to Light website, a non-profit organization committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse. https://www.d2l.org/education/5-steps/step-3/

Community Mennonite Church
70 South High Street Harrisonburg, VA
office@cmcva.org
540-433-2148