Newsweekly for Sunday, March 11, 2018

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Worship this Sunday, March 11, 2018

LENT IV: God’s promises endure

Worship Leader: Lana Miller

Song Leader: Matt Carlson

Preacher: Jennifer Davis Sensenig

Children’s Time: Dayna Olson-Getty

Scripture Readers: Mira, Jill and Anna Yoder

Pastoral Prayer: Dayna Olson-Getty

Prelude/Offertory: Monica Carlson

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21

Bulletin: 031118-Bulletin.docx

 

Upcoming CMC Events

Sun, Mar 11     New Attenders Brunch, 10:30 am, Dean House

Sun, Mar 11        Men’s Off-Campus “Donut Group” meeting at Nancy Heisey’s

home, 556 Lee Ave., 10:30 am

Tue, Mar 13      Lenten Prayers, 7:15-7:45 am

Wed, Mar 14    Women’s Bible Study, 8:30-10 am, Room 109

Wed, Mar 14    Kids’ Club, 6-7 pm, basement

Thurs, Mar 15   Pastoral Gathering for Stay-at-home Parents, 10 am, Rm 109

Thurs, Mar 15   Pastoral Gathering for CMCers in Business, 5:30 pm, Rm 109

 

CMC Events and Announcements

Lenten Prayer on Tuesday Mornings at CMC. During the 6 weeks of Lent, all CMCers are invited to a time of contemplative prayer. We will gather every Tuesday morning during Lent from 7:15 – 7:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. 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

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. This series (Feb 14-March 25) 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.

New Attenders Brunch. Are you new, new-ish, or new-again to CMC? We'd love to get to know you better and help you get connected at CMC. The next New Attenders Brunch will be held following worship, beginning at 10:30 am, on Sunday, March 11 in the Dean House. RSVP to Pastor Dayna (dayna.olson-getty@cmcva.org) or just come on over.

The Men’s Off-Campus Fellowship (aka “The Donut Group”) will be meeting Nancy Heisey’s home (556 Lee Ave.) this Sunday, March 11 at 10:30 am.

Van Needed for Bible Quizzing Team. This year the CMC Bible Quizzing team will participate in the year-end tournament. It'll take place in Archbold, Ohio during the weekend of March 16th through 18th. In preparation for this trip we're looking for an 8 passenger van. If an 8 person van doesn't become available, then we're also interested in a 7 passenger van. If you're willing to lend your van to the ONLY Bible Quizzing team representing Virginia in the tournament, contact Pastor Jason (Jason.gerlach@cmcva.org).

Pastoral gathering with Stay-at-Home Parents. Pastoral Team will be providing coffee, light snacks, and conversation for CMCers who are stay-at-home parents on Thursday, March 15 at 10 am in Room 109 at CMC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by contacting Joyce in 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 with CMCers in Business. Pastoral Team will be providing coffee, light snacks and conversation for CMCers in business on Thursday, March 15 at 5:30 pm in Room 109 at CMC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by contacting Joyce in 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.

TIME TO FILL THE BOXES! For the next 2 weeks (March 11 and 18) we will have the boxes for the post-high, young adults in the Fellowship Hall.  Please consider putting some little treats, snacks, messages, office supplies, etc., in the boxes to remind them how much CMC cares and prays for them.  The 5 years after high school are a very important time in our young adults’ lives!  There are 25 boxes this year! Thanks, Sheri Smucker

Come sing in a choir on Palm Sunday, March 25. Rehearsals will be Thursday, March 22 (7-8 p.m.) and Saturday, March 24 (1-2 p.m.). Music: “Ride on, King Jesus,” the Parker/Shaw arrangement; and “For God so loved the world,” by John Stainer. All ages and voice parts welcome, and we don’t really care whether you think you’re a good singer or not. Send your name and voice part to Katie Derstine (katiederstine@gmail.com) to sign up.

Notice to CMC parents of EMS and Mennonite college/university students: It’s time to make applications for church matching grants for the 2018-2019 school year. Blank forms are in the boxes of likely students. Find extra forms in the wall rack near the boxes. Turn in completed forms to Shannon Sneary Alabanza by Sunday, March 25.

Volunteer at MCC Warehouse. I'm thinking of going to Ephrata to volunteer at the Mennonite Central Committee warehouse on March 28th and 29th – maybe driving up on the 27th, returning the 29th.  Would anyone else be interested in going?  Room in my car for 3 passengers.  Lodging is available for $20/person. Contact Betty Simensen at 271-6516.

CMC Seniors, Tuesday, April 3. The CMC Seniors’ next meeting is Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm in the CMC Fellowship Hall. Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed will be our guest speaker. She will share her vison for Harrisonburg and how people of faith can be involved in our community.

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!

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.

Mark 12:41–44: “The widow’s offering”
Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story. (1) Read Mark 12:41–44. When have you given generously? (2) Gather up all the coins in your home. Put them in the church offering or give them to someone in need. (3) List several reasons why it can be hard to give away money.
Did you know? How many trumpet-shaped offering boxes were in the temple? (13)
Prayer for the week: God, help us to give generously, trusting that you will provide for our needs. Amen.

Compassion Funds. Financial hardships in our congregation arise for a variety of reasons:  medical bills, job loss, unexpected major expenses, counseling/therapy. CMCers generously support the Compassion Fund for mutual aid among members, so that we can ease these hardships among our households.  If you or a CMCer you know has a financial need, Grants Committee will review your need through a brief application available on our website. CMC households are eligible for up to $600 twice annually in Compassion Funds as administered through the Grants Committee, which maintains confidentiality. In situations of higher need the process includes a recommendation from Grants Committee to Council.  Please contact Grant Committee Chair, currently Shannon Sneary (swsneary@gmail.com), with any procedural questions.  –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.

Update from Giles and Amy Eanes. Giles and Amy Eanes have sent an update about their work in Colombia with MCC. It is posted on the Missions Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall.

Update from Asher and Lindsey Fast. Asher and Lindsey have sent an update about their work in Botswana. Their newsletter is posted on the Missions Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall, or you can read their blog here: https://asherlindseyfast.wordpress.com/.

Sojourners Articles. On a shelf at the back of the sanctuary is a copy of the March 2018 Sojourners magazine. On the cover is a red cap with the words, "Make Babylon Great Again," followed by "How to Handle a Power-Hungry Narcissist: Tips from the Book of Daniel." A very clever article by William Barber II. Inside is another article called "The Politics of Revelation: John's Christology of the Lamb," by Reta Finger.  Help yourself, but please return the magazine when finished.

WARY IN FEBRUARY? – Not at Community Mennonite, where the shortest month of the year was full of euphonious Epiphany season sights and sounds. Want proof? Then check out the latest photo collage of February activities posted on the "CMC Today" bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall, along with some Lenten reflections and other low-cal food for thought.     Jim Bishop

WONDER WHERE LENT WENT? . . . Then look no further than the "CMC: Yesterday" bulletin board on the east wall of the fellowship hall for two – count 'em, two – archival posters of photo collages with Lent-to-Easter activities from March-April 2012 and March 2013. Seems like only yesterday . . .  –Jim Bishop

Greening CMC: Educating ourselves.  While 35 degrees F may not be unusual in Virginia in February, it is unusual for the North Pole, where it was recorded this week.  In fact, that’s 50 degrees F above normal for the North Pole, and that’s…weird.  As the highly acclaimed and entertaining series “Global Weirding” explains this week, the crazy climate things happening in polar regions matter for a variety of surprising reasons.

House for Sale. 3 BR 2 BA brick ranch about 1 block from EMU. Bonus room upstairs, small garage, TONS of storage and a fish pond out back.  Please contact Carmen Wyse at 540-246-9935 or at family@waynegehman.com for more info (this is my parents’ house)

 

Events and Announcements from the Broader Community

Invitation to Take HRCSB Survey. Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board aspires to better understand how our community hears about, accesses and experiences behavioral health and developmental services.  We are very interested in hearing from clients, stakeholders and “the general population” about current experiences with us, possible gaps in services, and a means to measure the effect of changes we have made in the future. How do we know what our community needs?  We believe that asking a large number of clients, family, stakeholders and citizens might give us a better indication of what the barriers are to accessing services and even what seems to be missing. Please find the survey in English, Spanish and Arabic at hrcsb.org Thank you for taking a moment to complete this survey by March 15, 2018

The next ACRS gathering is Monday, March 12 in the West Dining Hall at EMU, featuring Pay & Earl Martin on the theme: “Healing is Possible: Touching Vietnam Again.” March 12 happens to be the 50th anniversary week of the My Lai massacre. Pat and Earl recently visited the area and will have personal memories to share.

Dorothy Jean Weaver in Eastern Mennonite Seminary chapel. Join us Tuesday, March 13th at 11:00 a.m. in Martin Chapel at Eastern Mennonite Seminary for reflections by retiring New Testament Professor Dorothy Jean Weaver entitled, "I Always Knew That I Would Be A Teacher."

Come help make urgently needed comforters for Mennonite Central Committee.  MCC needs 1,760 by the end of March to fill their partner requests.  A community knotting bee will be held March 12 & 13, 9-2 p.m. at Shady Oak, Weavers Mennonite Church.  Snacks and drinks provided; bring a sack lunch.  Everyone is welcome.

Lenten Lunch, Wednesday, March 14, 12-1 pm, at Otterbein United Methodist Church. The Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County will host a Lenten Lunch with guest speaker Pastor Adam Blagg of Otterbein United Methodist Church. Lunch will be available and donations received to support the work of the Interfaith Association.

Come support NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center, at an evening of food and music from around the globe, with special emphasis on the Caribbean. Join us at Eastern Mennonite School main campus at 6:00 pm on the evening of Saturday, March 17 for food and silent auction. Tickets are $65 and available at: http://www.newbridgesirc.org/2018/01/29/12th-annual-taste-of-the-world/  NewBridges is a resource center for the spiritual, social and economic needs of immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley.

Vision Board Workshop. Do you need time to reflect on your life journey and set some intentions for the future? Vision Board workshops provide guided space and creative materials in a safe, supportive environment to do that work. You are invited to join a vision board workshop at The Hub Coworking, 128 West Bruce Street, on Saturday, March 17, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $55 per person. To secure a space please email Andrea Wenger, certified life coach, at andrea@andreawengercoaching.com. If you'd like to be on a list to hear about future workshops, please send your contact information to Andrea as well.

Ted and Company will take the stage in a fundraiser on Saturday, March 17, at 7:00 pm for the Gemeinschaft Home, a non-profit serving non-violent offenders who have been released from prison or diverted from incarceration (see http://www.gemeinschafthome.org/). The program will be hosted by Divine Unity Community Church, at 1680 Country Club Rd, Harrisonburg, VA. In their performance, “The Jesus Stories,” Ted Swartz and Jeff Raught offer a fresh look at the Gospel stories, tapping humor, storytelling and song to talk about issues of faith and social justice. The Gemeinschaft Home, located near northwest Harrisonburg, has been in operation since 1985. The show includes an auction of goods and services to raise funds for the Gemeinschaft Home. Please come prepare to bid or to donate! The public is invited, with a $15 donation suggested. (Note: For more details, please contact Elisabeth Gumnior, Gemeinschaft Home Committee Chair, Fundraising and Public Relations, 540-246-4352, by text or telephone.)

Bel Canto Singers of Hesston College will present a diverse repertoire of choral music on Sunday, March 18 at 10:30AM at Weavers Mennonite Church. The program entitled Living Water is inspired by biblical images of water that flow through the old and new testaments. The concert features a cappella works, selections with piano, and special music by soloists and small ensembles.  The 29-member, mixed chamber choir is conducted by Dr. Russell Adrian and accompanied by Kenneth Rodgers.

Centennial Histories Symposium. EMU's History Department is planning an event at it's Centennial Histories Symposium.  ACRS participants are encouraged to attend the Centennial Histories Symposium on Saturday, March 24.  Registration is necessary and can be found at this link. Faculty and students reps from Bethel, Hesston, Bluffton, Goshen, and EMU will be in attendance, along with former presidents and authors.  We'd love to see folks from ACRS there as well!

The Shenandoah Valley Choral Society, under the direction of Curtis Nolley, will present its 48th annual spring concert at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren on Friday, April 13th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 15th at 3:00 p.m.  The "Hayden Fest" concert will present choral and instrumental works by the classical giant, Franz Josef Haydn.  Featured works include Te Deum #2 in C, Trumpet Concerto in E flat, Symphony #2 in C, and Mass in E Flat (Great Organ Mass).  The SVCS choir will be accompanied by the SVCS chamber orchestra and guest soloists.  CMC members in the SVCS are Dave and Sue Cockley, Ray Horst, Sam Miller, Dorothy Jean Weaver, and Rick Yoder. Tickets are available locally from Choral Society members, at Red Front Supermarket (Harrisonburg), Bridgewater Foods (Bridgewater), on-line at www.singshenandoah.org, and at the door. Admission is $15 for adults/$12 for seniors and students.

The Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership will hold its 11th annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism on held Saturday morning, April 21 at Eastern Mennonite University. The event is sponsored by community organizations around the Shenandoah Valley to help support the many families touched by the ever-growing epidemic of autism. The event has chip timing and has drawn more than 1,000 participants in the past. Jim Bishop will once again be emcee and deejay. You can register online at www.valleyautism.org; you are welcome to join Team Jacob Hummel Questions, contact Jenny Hummel, 540-246-8925.

Announcements from Virginia Mennonite Conference. Please note that announcements from Virginia Mennonite Conference are now accessible on the Conference website at http://virginiaconference.org/news/current-bulletin-announcements/.

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.

MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME . . . Guaranteed, if you join a "New Zealand Discovery Tour," Mar. 5-20, 2019, for an incredibly relaxed and flexible taste of "the land of the long white cloud" led by New Zealand natives Ross and Allison Collingwood. Ross and Allison came to the states in the early 1970s to attend then-EMC and ended up getting deeply involved at Community Mennonite at its Green Street location. Ross served for a time as campus pastor at EMC and Allison was the church's first office administrator.  They left here in 1987 to move to Salem, Ore., where they still reside. For more information, go to www.newzealanddiscoverytour2019.com; email: newzealanddiscovery@gmail.com or call 503-362-8175 or 503-588-9077. Want to know more, up close and personal? Talk with any of these persons who went on the previous NZ trip – Duane and Joan Kauffman, Stuart and Shirley Showalter, Dale and Rita Lehman or Jim and Anna Bishop.  –Jim Bishop

 

Volunteer and Employment Opportunities

Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg Rockingham, a non-profit organization assisting families facing homelessness, is hiring for two part-time positions: Director and Neighborhood Resource Specialist. The director is responsible for directing a faith-based, non-profit organization in the following areas: implementing and evaluating program, financial management, administration, development and public relations as directed by the board of directors. The Neighborhood Resource Specialist is responsible to provide case management and support services for 4-6 families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and foster relationships with Neighboring Volunteers, engaging both parties throughout their 12-24 month participation in Bridge of Hope’s program. For a position summary and qualifications, and/or to submit a letter of application, resume and three (3) personal references, please contact the board of directors chair at: bridgeofhopestaffing@gmail.com

Highland Retreat is HIRING for a variety of summer roles: lifeguards, counselors, leadership staff, cooks, and more. Visit http://highlandretreat.org/summer-camp/employment/ for job descriptions and the online application, or call the office at 540-705-0554. We’re particularly looking for college-aged young people who want to experience the excitement of Highland Summer Camps as part of our staff!

Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc., is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Community Outreach Coordinator. This is a full time position with some benefits. Information is available at their website: https://centralvalleyhabitat.org/jobs, or contact David Wenger at 540-828-6288.

Volunteer with MDS. MDS has many urgent volunteer needs and several job opportunities. Please pray for those considering service with MDS and for the volunteers as they travel to and from locations, handle tools, repair and build homes and bring hope to disaster survivors. Consider being an MDS volunteer or applying for one of the job opportunities listed on the MDS website: https://mds.mennonite.net/

Lady Latte needs summer time volunteers!  A couple is needed to come to the beautiful rural town of Istog. Kosovo, from May 15 – September 1 (flexible) to give temporary oversight to a recently opened coffee shop just for women!  Responsibilities include baking American treats for the shop, simple daily bookkeeping, and connecting with three local employees who are operating the business.   These roles have flexibility and do not require you to speak Albanian (the language of Kosovo).  For more information, contact martin.rhodes@vmmissions.org

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

 

 

 

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