Newsweekly for Sunday, March 18, 2018

      Comments Off on Newsweekly for Sunday, March 18, 2018

Worship this Sunday, March 18, 2018

LENT V: God’s promises, written on our hearts

Worship Leader: Lana Miller

Song Leader: Greg Yoder

Preacher: Jennifer Davis Sensenig

Scripture Readers: David Shenk, Eliana Tejedor and Kaleth Tejedor

Children’s Time: Greg Yoder

Pastoral Prayer: Dayna Olson-Getty

Prelude/Offertory: Danny King

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33

Bulletin: 031818-Bulletin.docx

 

Upcoming CMC Events

Tue, Mar 20                  Lenten Prayers, 7:15-7:45 am, Fellowship Hall

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

Wed, Mar 21                 Kids’ Club, 6-7 pm, basement

Thurs, Mar 22               CMC Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7 pm

Sat, Mar 24                   CMC Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 1 pm

Sun, Mar 25                  Palm Sunday Peace Parade, Immanuel Mennonite, 1 pm

Thurs, Mar 29               Maundy Thursday Meal and Worship, Fellowship Hall, 6 pm

Fri, Mar 30                    Good Friday Service, Sanctuary, 7 pm

Sat, Mar 31                   Easter Vigil at Park View Mennonite Church, 10 pm.

Fri, Apr 6                      Venture Club Lock-In

 

CMC Events and Announcements

CMC Palm Sunday Choir. 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.

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

Holy Week at CMC. All are welcome to participate in the Maundy Thursday meal and worship on Thursday, March 29 at 6 pm in the CMC Fellowship Hall, and the Good Friday Service on Friday, March 30 at 7 pm in the CMC Sanctuary. CMC will also participate in the Holy Saturday Vigil at Park View Mennonite Church, beginning at 10 pm on Saturday night, March 31.

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 28) 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.

Monthly Gathering. There is no Monthly Gathering in March, since we will be gathering for the Maundy Thursday meal and worship on Thursday, March 29.

Meals for the Fenton Family. Kathryn, Mark and Lucas Fenton welcomed Benjamin David into their family on March 1. They would appreciate some meals as they adjust to life with a new little one. Please visit Takethemameal.com to sign up to provide a meal for the family. Recipient last name: Fenton; password: cmc.  Or click on this link: https://www.TakeThemAMeal.com/WOSY1078

Updating CMC Online Directory and Church Mailboxes. The church office is in the process of updating information for CMC’s online directory, and will soon be updating church mailboxes. Please complete the information form in your mailbox, and return to the church office (or you can put it in Joyce Lind’s mailbox), or email updated information to the church office at cmc_office@cmcva.org. If you do not yet have a church mailbox, you can find a form on the table in the back of the sanctuary.

Last Chance to Fill the Young Adult Boxes! This is the last week to fill the boxes in the Fellowship Hall for CMC’s post-high, young adults.  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

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.

Palm Sunday Peace Parade. All are welcome to take part in the Palm Sunday Peace Parade on Sunday, March 25 from 1-2 pm. Meet at Immanuel Mennonite Church (400 Kelly Street). Bring your drums, kids, strollers, dogs and donkeys. Bring your faith and wear it on your sleeve (or your T-shirt). Bring your palm leaves from worship, and a banner to wave. We will begin at Immanuel Mennonite Church and will make our way to Court Square. Jointly sponsored by CMC, Immanuel Mennonite Church, Bethel AME Church and Early Church.

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.

Venture Club Lock-in on Friday, April 6. The CMC Venture Club (for children in 3rd-5th grade) will be having a lock-in on Friday, April 6 at CMC. Pastor Jason is planning an eventful evening of activities, and a little bit of sleep. More details to come!

Hosting Singers for Mennonite School Music Festival. CMC has been asked to host 45 students and 3 adults 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!

Requests for Cash on Sundays. From time to time CMC attenders are asked for money from guests to meet urgent financial needs. We appreciate the welcome that CMCers provide to guests and the openness to conversation and relationship.  We request that before giving cash to persons, you invite a pastor into the conversation. Sometimes pastors have had previous experience with these guests.  Often pastors and office staff will be the persons to follow-up with requests during the week and make referrals to our network of local resources.  A listing of local resources is available in the Fellowship Hall near the mailboxes. We appreciate working together in this way.  Council and Pastoral Team

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 11:1–11: “Jesus rides into Jerusalem” Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story. (1) Read Mark 11:7–10. Imagine being in the crowd, laying your cloak on the road, and shouting for Jesus. (2) We can honor Jesus with words and actions. Share examples of ways to honor Jesus. (3) People laid leafy branches on the road. Do leaf rubbings. Place white paper over a leaf and use the side of a crayon to color over the area where the leaf is. Write “Hosanna” on the paper.
Did you know? A donkey’s call lasts for twenty seconds and can be heard three km or nearly two miles away.
Prayer for the week: Thank you, God, for the love Jesus showed to all. We praise you with all our hearts. Amen.

"Learn the Facts" about Child Sexual Abuse

Do You Know the month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month? In 2014, when this congregation became more aware of child sexual abuse and began work to implement Safe Church practices, we learned the shocking statistics*:

  • 1 in 10 children will be a victim of child sexual abuse before age 18 (1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys according to a 2014 study).
  • 90% of abused children know their abusers. "Stranger danger" is a myth, and children and their families are often "groomed" by the abuser.
  • About one-third of child sexual abuse incidents/cases are identified, and even fewer are reported.
  • There are 42 million survivors in the US, and they can often face physical and mental health issues in adulthood as a consequence of this childhood abuse.

These numbers tell us we know a child who is being or has been abused, and we know adult survivors whose journeys keep us mindful of our task and offer us hope. For survivors at CMC, please consider attending the annual Safe Church Survivors Retreat on Saturday, April 28, from 9:30am-3pm. A flyer is attached which includes more information plus registration details. For those wanting to learn more about the journeys of survivors abused within faith settings, consider viewing the Netflix documentary series The Keepers or reading accounts from the Survivors Standing Tall website. (A note of caution: the Netflix series and the blog postings can be triggering.)

Stay tuned to the Newsweeklys in April — we'll review practical ways we can help reduce child sexual abuse as we review the "5 Steps to Protecting Our Children" from the website Darkness to Light. Let's continue to make a difference in our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and in our church!   –Marsha Thomas, for the Child Protection Committee.

*Source: Darkness to Light website, a non-profit organization committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse. https://www.d2l.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/01/all_statistics_20150619.pdf

 

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 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/.

Keith and Linda Gnagey look forward to family visiting from New York (3 couples plus Linda’s mom) June 23-27 (4 nights). If any church folks will be on vacation and willing to sublet their home for a few days (especially if it’s located in or near the Park View area), please contact Linda: 540-433-1832. gnagey22@aol.com.

Apartment needed. A pastoral couple from Brazil will be attending EMU's Summer Peacebuilding Institute and are seeking an apartment to rent for one month.  Please contact the CMC office if you might have a fitting situation for them please contact the church office (cmc_office@cmcva.org).

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).

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, a report on last year's Palm Sunday Peace March 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. Are you in need of some hopeful news about the earth?  Come on Wed., March 28 at 4 pm to EMU for the Suter seminar “Awakening the Sleeping Giant: Natural Climate Solutions”.  Bronson Griscom from The Nature Conservancy will address the question “How can nature help us solve climate change?”

 

Events and Announcements from the Broader Community

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.

March is Disability Awareness Month. There will be a Disability Awareness Rally on the Rockingham County Court House property on Tuesday, March 20 starting at 5:00 pm.  Pleasant View’s Executive Director, Nancy Hopkins-Garriss, will be a featured speaker as well as short statements from individuals we support and a member of the Harrisonburg Aktion Club.  You are welcome to come show your support and recognize the individuals in our community with disabilities.

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!

Good Friday Stations of the Cross. On Friday, March 30 from noon-1:00 pm join other Christians from across Harrisonburg for an annual ecumenical, outdoor, family-friendly Stations of the Cross prayer walk through downtown. Begin outside Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (154 N. Main St.). The route is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Lynchburg Revival. Progressive Christians from Harrisonburg have been invited by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Shane Caliborne (Red Letter Christians) to attend the coming Lynchburg Revival on April 6 (eve) and 7. The program includes hearing from Rev. Dr. William J. Barber ll, the visionary behind the new Poor People's Campaign. I'm hoping to have a group of students from EMU going and we would be happy for CMC folks to join us. We might find a church for overnight lodging. Check it out at these links. –Brian Martin Burkholder

https://www.redletterchristians.org/christian-group-plans-revival-to-protest-toxic-evangelicalism/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-letter-revival-lynchburg-tickets-43188905178

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.

Soulence Retreat. Every spring, we are reminded that all that is needed to bring forth the life-producing blossoms of flowers and trees has been there all along. The earth teaches us to respond to the light and warmth stirring inside of us, to open, and to embody our sacredness. Join Soulence for a day retreat at Starry Meadows in Singers Glen, VA on Saturday, April 21, 9 am-3 pm, cost: $40. To register, contact Chris Hoover Seidel at 717-602-0871 or Christi.hoover.seidel@gmail.com

The Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership will hold its 11th annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism on 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