Newsweekly for Sunday, February 18, 2018

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Worship this Sunday, February 18, 2018

LENT 1: God’s Promises for All Creation

Worship Leader: Dayna Olson-Getty

Song Leader: Matt Carlson

Preacher: Jason Gerlach

Children’s Time: Dayna Olson-Getty

Pastoral Prayer: Dayna Olson-Getty

Prelude/Offertory: Carol Snell-Feikema

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17; Mark 1:9-15

Bulletin: 021818-Bulletin.docx

 

Upcoming CMC Events

Fri, Feb 16        MYF Parents’ Night Out, 6-8 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tue, Feb 20      Lenten Prayers, 7:15-7:45 am

Tue, Feb 20      Monthly Gathering, 6 pm, taco meal; 7 pm Intergenerational Art Workshop

Wed, Feb 21    Women’s Bible Study, 8:30-10 am, Room 109

Wed, Feb 21    Kid’s Club, 6-7 pm, basement

Sun, Mar 4       Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

 

CMC Events and Announcements

Pastor Jennifer is away. Jennifer is visiting her parents in MN Feb 15-20 and travelling to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, IN) for the Pastors and Leaders week where she'll be leading a workshop, Feb 26-Mar 2.

MYF Parents’ Night Out. On Friday, February 16 (tonight!) from 6-8 pm the senior MYF will be providing activities for children middle school age and younger in the CMC Fellowship Hall. Parents may stay and participate, or may use that time to visit a downtown restaurant or spend a few hours on your own.

CMC and Shalom Mennonite Sanctuary Meeting, Monday evening, Feb. 19 (7:00-8:30) in CMC's Fellowship Hall.  Group discussion on possible individual/congregational direct action steps within the sanctuary movement in our community.  Anyone interested in learning more about the sanctuary movement and rapid response is encouraged to attend.  Contact Tina Beachy (dtbeachy@verizon.net) with any questions.

February Monthly Gathering, Tuesday, February 20: Inter-generational Art Workshop. Gather with other CMCers for an inter-generational opportunity to create art together. We will use art supplies and re-purposed materials to create beautiful designs on 10”x10” pieces of wood.  Please bring any items from home that are sitting around waiting to become a project, or any other items that you just couldn’t bring yourself to throw away, to contribute to our collection of supplies. A taco meal will be served at 6 pm ($3 suggested donation) in the Fellowship Hall, followed by the art workshop.

Glue Guns Needed for Monthly Gathering on Tuesday. For the inter-generational art event after the meal at Monthly Gathering on Tuesday, we are in need of several glue guns. If you have a glue gun to share, please contact Matt Carlson: matt31275@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Lenten Prayer on Tuesday Mornings. During the 6 weeks of Lent, all CMCers are invited to a time of contemplative prayer. We will gather every Tuesday morning from 7:15 – 7:45am in the Fellowship Hall beginning on February 20. Consider this an opportunity to begin your day by listening and consenting to the Spirit of God within you in the company and presence of brothers and sisters. We will begin by listening to one of the Lenten scripture texts, followed by 15-20 minutes of silence. Instruction will be included for those who are new to Centering prayer. Please join us – entering by the ramp door. Keaton Shenk, Kathy Hochstedler and Jane Peifer

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? – March 4. We invite you to use the Google Form below to sign up for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, which will be on Sunday March 4 (instead of potluck) at noon. Hosts provide the main dish and guest will bring a side or dessert.  Please indicate any food allergies or needs so we can pass those along.  Please sign up by Sunday Feb. 25.  You will be notified the week of February 26th letting you know if you are guest or host and what food you need to provide. Contact Jennifer Ulrich (ulrichjm64@gmail.com) if you have questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5rqctkfo5AwGecyTEjA_FxMOZgUlokbkxGChYNJxb_D40vw/viewform?usp=sf_link

CMC Women's Bible Study. CMC is sponsoring a women's Bible study on Wednesday mornings from 8:30-10 am.  Our Bible study and conversation relates to the scriptures included in the previous Sunday's worship service. The current series (Feb 14-March 21) will focus on Lent.  Childcare is provided.

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.

CMC Hosting Open Doors. CMC will be hosting Open Doors at Asbury United Methodist church February 19th-26th.  Look for the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall after the Sunday morning worship service.  We will need help with set up, tear down, supplies, breakfast items, evening meals and overnight volunteers.  Please think about ways on which you might want to contribute to Open Doors this season. Questions? Contact Ben Wyse (ben@wysecycles.com) or Jim Yoder (yoderjm@emu.edu).

Sign up for Lenten Devotional Emails. For the past several years, CMC has partnered with other Mennonite congregations to create a daily devotional for Lent. This year, our partner congregations are Shalom, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. If you’d like a daily reflection sent to your inbox, click here to sign up. If you received the devotional last year, you are already on the list. You can unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of each email.

Spiritual Retreat. Chris Hoover Seidel's Spiritual Direction and Reiki practice, Soulence, is hosting a day retreat at Starry Meadows Farm in Singers Glen on Saturday, February 24th from 9:30-3:30.  The retreat, Vision Boards & Prayer Boxes, is a chance to deeply, creatively, and contemplatively engage with your spiritual journey.  To learn more or to register, email christi.hoover.seidel@gmail.com or call (717) 602-0871.

Hosting Singers for Mennonite School Music Festival. CMC has been asked to host around 40 students from Dock Mennonite Academy (formerly Christopher Dock High School) during the Mennonite School Music Festival the weekend of April 6-8. This entails hosting students overnight Friday and Saturday night, providing transportation for them to EMU, providing breakfast and possibly a packed lunch. Please be in touch with either Jennifer North Bauman (baumanj@emu.edu) or Katie Derstine (katiederstine@gmail.com) to let them know how many students you can host, and if you have a gender preference. Thank you so much for considering this!

Children’s Sunday School Teachers for Spring Quarter. The spring Sunday school quarter begins in March, and we invite you to consider learning with children at CMC. We need a couple more teachers and assistants for classes from age 2-Grade 6. Please contact Monica Hochstedler Carlson at m.carlson.piano@gmail.com if you are interested.

Register for Community Preschool. Registration is now open at Community Preschool for families of CMC members. Classes meet for 2 days in the morning, 3 days in the morning, or 3 days in the afternoon. Please contact Eliot Swartz (ekswartz@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

Is God calling you into mission or service? CMC encourages people of all ages to be ready to respond to God’s call into mission and service assignments—both short and long-term.  We set aside funds annually to support CMCers in this way.  If you are considering an assignment domestically or abroad, be in touch with the chair of Outreach Commission, currently Dennis Showalter, or Pastor Jason, who works with this commission.  They can talk with you about funding that may be available.  –Pastoral Team

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. Our next meeting is March 9. 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.

Removal of Combination Lock in Room 109. One goal of CMC’s recent renovation process was to make our building more secure. The Administration Commission has made the decision to remove the combination lock on the outside door in Room 109, and will implement the use of only key cards to enter the building. A few individuals who regularly use the building also have keys. If you have need of entering the building outside of church office hours you can contact the church office to get a temporary key card. Please contact Larry Miller, Administrative Commission Chair, if you have questions (ldmiller11@comcast.net).

CRACKED POTS OR TREASURES IN CLAY? – A double-poster photo college covering the whirl of activities that was Epiphany Season, January 2018 is up and running on the "Community Mennonite Church: Today" bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall. In addition, you'll find posted a Lenten reflection, "From Introspection to Life With New Meaning" from the Feb. 20, 1996 Gospel Herald magazine and a congregational report for Nov.-Dec., 2017, from Mennonite World Review.  –Jim Bishop

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE – Across the way, on the "Community Mennonite Church: Yesterday" bulletin board on the east wall of the fellowship hall, you'll find photo collages with comings and goings from February 2011 and Epiphany season 2015.  –Jim Bishop

Greening CMC: Speaking Out.  When we think of sacred water, we may think of Biblical images of blessing, purification, baptism, and communion.  Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) believes sacred waters include our coastal waters, and calls us to respond to proposed regulatory changes allowing oil drilling along most of the nation’s coastlines.  Go to the IPL website for ideas on taking action on this and other energy-related policies.

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.

Faith Talk. Mark 10:17–31: “The rich man” Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story. (1) Read Mark 10:17–22. I wonder why Jesus asked the man to give up everything he owned. (2) Some choices are harder than others. Ask “would you rather” questions. For example: “Would you rather eat ice cream or play games?” (3) Jesus compared rich people entering God’s kingdom to camels going through a needle’s eye. Practice threading needles. Even that can be hard.

Do you know? Who tamed camels before 2000 BCE? (The people of ancient Somalia.)

Prayer for the week: God, help us to spend more time caring for people than worrying about things we have or want. Amen.

Children’s Bible Memory Passages This Quarter:

Early Childhood – Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. – Mark 10:14b

Primary-Middler – People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. – Mark 10:13–14

 

Notes from Everence:

The Everence Sharing Fund provided $3,000 in matching funds to support special needs in our church last year.  Wayne Hochstedler serves as the Everence advocate for our congregation.  Please contact him if you would like more information (whochstedler@gmail.com).

Paying down Christmas debt? LSS Financial Counseling can help you work through your bills and decide how to address them. LSS offers free services thanks to a partnership with faith-based Everence Financial. Visit everence.com/lss.

Retirement account gifts. You can use your retirement savings to make year-end donations. If you withdraw money from your account for retirement income (known as a distribution), you can give these dollars tax-free t our church or a charity. Learn more about gift options at everence.com/charitable-giving.

Apply now for a scholarship. Everence wants to help people nurture their talents. If you or your parents are Everence members and you will attend an undergraduate or trade program next fall, apply for an Everence College Scholarship. Deadline is Feb. 28. Visit everence.com/college-scholarships.

 

Events and Announcements from the Broader Community

Into the Woods. Fort Defiance High School presents “Into the Woods” this weekend—Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 pm, Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2:30 p.m and Monday, Feb. 19, at 7 pm. Gussie Nafziger is Cinderella, and Eli Nafziger plays in the pit orchestra. Tickets available at the door, or online in advance by clicking here.

The Mosaic Theater Company of D.C., one of Washington D.C.’s newest and most acclaimed groups, will stage three performances Feb. 16-18. Each will be followed by a talkback that will include Mosaic Theater founder and artistic director Ari Roth. The performances are free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged to support scholarship funds for EMU theater students and for female peacebuilders from the Middle East to attend graduate school in conflict transformation at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Reserve your tickets at the EMU box office. “I Shall Not Hate,” an adaptation for the stage of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish’s memoir, will be presented Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 17, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mainstage Theater. “Via Dolorosa,” by Sir David Hare, will be performed Feb. 18 at 2:00 p.m. The monologue was created from the experiences and observations of Hare, a British playwright who visited Israel/Palestine in 1997.

Highland Benefit Auction. Join Highland staff and friends on Saturday, February 17 at Eastern Mennonite High School for the Highland Benefit Auction. The auction helps subsidize camp tuition for all camper families and provides scholarships for families with greater need. Contact info@highlandretreat.org if you have something you would like to donate: a new item, service, collectible, or baked good. See www.highlandretreat.org for more details.

Race in America is the topic of the first Café Veritas event of 2018. Café Veritas is a non-profit in Harrisonburg, Virginia, that exists to engage, inspire, question, and enlarge our view of true life together by exploring tough questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life. Race in America: Does Christianity Help or Hinder Racial Equality? with speaker Jemar Tisby, February 21, 6:30pm–8:30pm at Skyline Middle School. Schedule: Lecture, Q&A, Light Refreshments.

Voces8 is coming to Eastern Mennonite School on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors, $20 at the door. You can purchase tickets from Zach Bauman, Kerinna Good or Oliver Hertzler.

2018 MCC Turkey Canning Project: The Annual Meat Canning is scheduled for February 26-March 2, 2018 at the Hinton Mennonite Relief Center, Hinton, VA. Virginia Mennonite Conference is responsible to help provide help on Tuesday, February 27.  Help is needed from 5 AM until 11 PM each day. Friday, March 2 is scheduled as a community day and help is especially needed in the early morning. Anyone is welcome to come and help on any day! Funds are needed to purchase turkey for processing and for the ongoing operation of the Relief Center. If you would like to contribute to this project you can send a donation to the: Hinton Mennonite Relief Center, PO Box 519, Dayton, VA 22821. If you have any questions about this project you can contact Leon Rhodes at (540) 820-5443 or Gerald Knicely at (540) 478-4203. Thanks for your participation in this effort to feed the less fortunate in the world.

Come join us for a Concert to Benefit Bridge of Hope on Friday, March 2, 7-9 pm at Court Square Theater, Harrisonburg. Featuring the Walking Roots Band with opening band Low Volume, tickets are $15 and available from Court Square Theater's website: valleyarts.org

Mar. 4: Lenten Hymn Sing – Discipleship. Join us on the CrossRoads campus for a hymn sing featuring songs of discipleship. In the Lenten season, join us in reflecting on what it means to follow Jesus, what it meant to our spiritual ancestors, and what it will mean to future generations. Sunday, March 4, 7 PM at the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg).

Eastern Mennonite High School Senior Class presents the play "Excellent Trouble" by Ted Swartz and Ingrid DeSanctis March 9 & 10 at 7:30PM in the EMS Auditorium, 801 Parkwood Drive.  "Excellent Trouble" explores the relationships of your favorite biblical characters who find themselves in trouble of an excellent nature……A mix of drama and comedy, “Excellent Trouble” hopes you find yourself in these characters of Biblical proportions….Tickets available at the door: $7 adults; $5 students/senior citizens.

Mennonite Disaster Service. MDS has workers in more than 18 locations in Canada and the U.S. Please pray for MDS volunteers as they travel to and from locations, handle tools, repair, and build homes and bring hope to disaster survivors.

MDS Volunteer Opportunities:

*West Virginia Bridges – 2016 Flooding
Feb 25-March 3: up to 2 people

*Victoria County, Tex. – Hurricane Harvey
Feb 18-24: up to 3 people

For more information or to serve please call Darin Bontrager at 800-241-8111 or email dbontrager@mds.mennonite.net.

MCC service opportunity in Ethiopia. Serve with SALT. Not sure what to do after graduating from college? Tired of your current job? MCC's SALT positions for young, single adults (18-30 years) serving overseas are being filled. Come teach English in beautiful, rugged Northern Ethiopia and work on a team with MCC Ethiopia Reps Bruce Buckwalter and Rose Shenk, from this congregation. Submit your application today! Follow the links below for more information:

https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/volunteer/salt or
https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/saltyamen-after-school-english-tutor-ethiopia

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute has recently added a series of three-day workshops June 18-20, 2018. These workshops are in addition to the 20 seven-day and five-day courses on restorative justice, trauma awareness, identity, advanced facilitation skills, modern slavery, circle processes, sexual harms, and much more, split over four sessions in May and June (full list of courses is available by clicking here).

Three-day workshops this year will include:

 

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