Worship this Sunday, January 21, 2018
Epiphany Season: Treasure in Clay
Worship Leader: Esther Stenson
Song Leader: Matt Carlson
Preacher: Jennifer Davis Sensenig
Children’s Story: Anna Bishop
Scripture Readers: Leinbach Kreider family; Dan Beachy; Del Snyder; Sofia Samatar
Pastoral Prayer: Dayna Olson-Getty
Prelude/Offertory: Danny King
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-12; John 1:43-51; I Samuel 3:1-10
Bulletin: 012118-Bulletin.docx
Upcoming CMC Events
Sun, Jan 21 New Attenders Brunch, 10:30 am, Dean House
Mon, Jan 22 Pastoral Gathering for Public School Employees, The Gathering
Place (841 Mt. Clinton Pike), 5:30 pm
Wed, Jan 24 Women’s Bible Study, 8:30-10 am, Room 109
Wed, Jan 24 Kids’ Club, 6-7 pm, CMC basement
Thurs, Feb 8 Venture Club Snow Tubing, 6-8 pm
CMC Events and Announcements
New Attenders Brunch. Pastoral Team will be hosting a light brunch for new attenders to Community Mennonite Church on Sunday, January 21 following the worship service. We will gather at 10:30 am at the Dean House (the brick house across Water Street). (Please come even if you forgot to RSVP.)
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 first series (Jan 10-Feb 7) will focus on Treasures in Clay. The second series (Feb 14-March 21) will focus on Lent. Childcare is provided. Please RSVP to the church office if you're planning to join us!
CMC Kids’ Club. After taking a break during the holidays, and a snow day last Wednesday, Kids’ Club will begin again this coming Wednesday, January 24 at 6 pm. CMC children ages 4-grade 5 are invited to participate! Because of the arrival of new babies in the Hall and Crissman families, we are especially in need of volunteers for the next several weeks. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Pastor Jason at Jason.Gerlach@cmcva.org or 540-433-2148.
Pastoral gathering with faculty, staff and administrators of all public schools. Pastoral Team will be hosting a "lite supper" and conversation with CMCers who are employees of any local public school. If you are interested in participating, and available on Monday, January 22nd at 5:30 pm (note the new date) at The Gathering Place (841 Mt. Clinton Pike), please RSVP by contacting the church office (433-2148 or cmc_office@cmcva.org). Also, if you can't make it, let us know if you would like another opportunity like this later this winter. –Pastoral Team
Retirement Celebration. During worship on Sunday, February 4, CMC will recognize those who have recently retired or who anticipate retiring in the next year. If you would like to be included – or you know of a fellow CMCer who may appreciate being included – please let Pastor Dayna know (dayna.olson-getty@cmcva.org or 540-433-2146).
Volunteers for Gingerich move on Feb 3. Ray and Wilma Gingerich, with help from their adult children, will be moving into a cottage at VMRC on Saturday, February 3. They could use some help with the move. Volunteers can gather at their home (1018 Waterman Drive in Harrisonburg) beginning at 9:00 am on Feb 3. If you are able to help, please contact Joyce in the CMC office (cmc_office@cmcva.org or 540-433-2148). Also, please let Joyce know if you have a pick-up truck that can be used on February 3.
Gingerich move help after Feb 3. Ray and Wilma Gingerich will be moving to VMRC on Feb 3 and could use some help in the weeks after the move with disposing of unneeded belongings and preparing their home for sale. If you would be willing to help with either of these tasks, please let Pastor Dayna know (dayna.olson-getty@cmcva.org or 540-433-2146).
Sanctuary for Immigrants. If you are interested in learning more about local and regional advocacy efforts for immigrants, you are welcome to attend a meeting on Sunday, Jan. 21 (4:00-5:30 pm) at Trinity Presbyterian (725 S. High St.). We will be connected through a live feed with a woman currently being housed in sanctuary within Columbus Mennonite Church, followed by an information session. Contact Tina Beachy if you would like more information or have questions: dtbeachy@verizon.net.
Scripture Readers for Easter Vigil. Each year during Holy Week, CMC jointly sponsors a late-night Easter Vigil with Park View Mennonite Church. The worship service is rich with music, rituals, scripture and a visual environment which is transformed throughout the evening. If you are interested in being a scripture reader in this service Sat, March 31st at 10pm at PVMC, please contact the CMC church office (cmc_office@cmcva.org). –Pastoral Team
Children’s Sunday School Teachers for Spring Quarter. We are beginning to look ahead towards the spring Sunday school quarter that begins in March, and invite you to consider learning with children at CMC. We need a few 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.
Nursery Volunteers. The CMC nursery is looking for a few more volunteers to help serve the little ones in our congregation during the worship service hours. If you are interested in helping out please contact Tiffany Showalter at tiffany.showalter@gmail.com or 540-421-3672. If you are 18 or over, you must be an Approved Adult through Safe Church. If you would like to volunteer but are not yet an Approved Adult, please contact the church office to find out how to become one!
CMC Hosting Open Doors. CMC will be hosting Open Doors at Asbury United Methodist church February 19th-26th. We will have a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall after the service starting on January 28th. 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).
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 by February 16, 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).
Used Utility Cart. Elias Nafziger is creating a surgical training box for his senior capstone project. He is in need of a used utility cart in order to carry it. Please contact Elias if you have an old utility cart that you would be willing to donate for this project. Email: ehenrynafziger@gmail.com. Call or text: 540 414 5507.
Cloth Diapers. Zach and Megan Pennington are interested in using cloth diapers when their baby arrives (due June 26th). If you have any cloth diapers available to pass on to them, please email Zach at rocktown82@gmail.com.
Interested in Being an Usher? Four new people are needed starting in late January. Ushers are on duty once a month and head usher once a quarter. Be in touch with Jennifer North Bauman if you are interested or need more information. baumanj@emu.edu or 540-801-9304
Supporting Graduate Students. Each year CMC disburses a small fund equally among our CMC grad students who are in seminary or advancing their education at an Anabaptist/Mennonite institution. Currently the fund needs to be replenished. Often these funds are matched by the school and make Anabaptist higher education more affordable for our students. You’re welcome to contribute to our graduate school fund: Make checks payable to CMC (Anabaptist Institution Scholarship in the memo line). –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. 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. The next Open Circle will gather on February 10.
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. Note that these stories will not necessarily coincide with the CMC worship series during this quarter.
Faith Talk. Mark 5:21–43: “Jesus heals two daughters” Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story. (1) Read Mark 5:41–42. What are some other words for amazement? (2) Tell about a time when you asked for God’s help. (3) Jesus took the girl by the hand. See how many kinds of caring touches you can show (pat, hug, holding hands).
Did you know? What language was Jesus speaking when he said “Talitha cum”? (Aramaic)
Prayer for the week: God, help us love and care for each other. 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
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 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
https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/saltyamen-after-school-english-tutor-ethiopia
COME AND SEE: LET IT BE – Now up and running on the "Community Mennonite Church: Today" bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall – a double-poster photo collage from Advent, 2017. In addition, you'll find posted an 11/24/2007 "Bishop's Mantle" column, "Your Membership in This Church is About to Expire," in anticipation of our upcoming Covenant/Membership Renewal Sunday.
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 January and February 2011. Seems like only yesterday . . . Jim Bishop
Events and Announcements from the Broader Community
MWC Prayer Network. Please join us in a network of brothers and sisters committed to praying for our global Anabaptist family. Started as part of the preparation for the MWC Assembly PA 2015, the MWC Deacons Commission and Communications office are continuing this initiative to connect the global family so that we can lift each other up in prayer. For more information visit https://www.mwc-cmm.org/prayernetwork?language=en.
OCP Annual Open House. OCP invites you to spend the evening with us on Monday, January 29 (17 East Johnson St.). Doors open at 6:30 pm and a brief program will begin at 7:0. This is a chance to come out and meet the board and staff, hear our vision for 2018, and enjoy free coffee and desserts. We hope to see you there, and please invite a friend to come along.
The 9th Annual PA Groundhog Day Feast & Celebration will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018, 5:30 pm at the Park View Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. Meal will begin at 6:00 pm. All persons Pennsylvania roots are invited to come for an evening of fun and fellowship. This includes spouses and children. Please bring generous portions of your family favorite Pennsylvania foods to share with others. Fresh Sausage and scrapple from an Amish butcher in PA; drinks and table service will be provided. There will be a basket for donations to help cover expenses. For more information contact Mary Ann Heatwole at 540-434-7678 (maryann@heatwoles.us) or Lee Yoder at 540-209-1180 (leemyoder@comcast.net)
Feb. 3: VBMHC Annual Meeting. The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren (420 College View Dr, Bridgewater). The guest speaker will be Saulo Padilla, MCC U.S. Immigration Education Coordinator. The meal will be catered by Early Catering. Make your reservation by Jan. 27 by calling 540-438-1275, emailing info@vbmhc.org or completing the form at https://www.vbmhc.org/annual-meeting/. Please indicate how many will be in your party. Come prepared to make a generous contribution to the Center, and join us in celebrating the good work of 2017 and exciting plans for 2018!
Feb. 10: VBMHC Pancake Breakfast. The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center pancake breakfast is rescheduled for Feb. 10, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Join us for oatmeal pancakes, buckwheat buttermilk pancakes, and celiac-approved gluten-free pancakes! Also, after your pancakes, stick around to play games like Dutch Blitz, Rook, Euchre, and the brand-new card game, "The Mennonite Game." Donations will support the work of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center. 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
Kennel-Charles Anabaptist Lecture. "Where is My Neighbor?" Nathan Hershberger and Kaitlin Heatwole recently completed three years of service with Mennonite Central Committee in Iraq. Kaitlin worked as MCC Iraq program coordinator and Nathan taught English at three church institutions in Erbil. They will deliver the 16th annual Kennel-Charles Anabaptist Lecture, Monday, February 12, at 7 pm in the EMHS Auditorium (801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg). The lecture is free and open to the public. They will work from the story of the Good Samaritan.
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.
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.