Worship this Sunday, September 23, 2018
Worship is at 10 am at Brethren Woods
Theme: You’re Invited: Sabbath as Return
Worship Leader: Brian Martin Burkholder
Song Leader: Matt Carlson
Preacher: Anita Amstutz
Pastoral Prayer: Jason Gerlach
Scripture: John 4:1-24
Bulletin: 092318-Bulletin.docx
Upcoming CMC Events
Sun, Sept 23 Worship at Brethren Woods, 10 am
Wed, Sept 26 Kids’ Club, 6 pm, basement
Sun, Sept 30 Small Group Mixer, following worship, Sanctuary
Thur, Oct 4 CMC Seniors Potato Peeling, 3-5 pm, Kitchen
Sun, Oct 7 Monthly Potluck, 11:45 am, Fellowship Hall
Safe Church Training, 11:45 am, Room 205
CMC Events and Announcements
It’s Not Too Late to Register for the Fall Retreat! CMC's Annual Fall Retreat will be held this weekend, September 21-23 at Camp Brethren Woods. It is easy to register online! If you want to pay by credit card, click here. If you want to pay by check, click here. Or just come on out to Brethren Woods and sign up there!
Want to help with campfire songs at retreat? We're having a campfire and songs Friday night at retreat (Sept. 21) and I'm seeking help with instrumentation and song leading. Will you play guitar, tambourine or djembe? Do you have a favorite camp song you want to lead? Join the team by contacting Brian Martin Burkholder (brian.burkholder@emu.edu).
CMC Leadership Development Cohort 2018-19. Are you interested in clarifying the Christian spiritual resources for leadership (in the church, in the community, in work/service/study settings)? Would you like to grow in your capacity to respond to God’s call to mission, ministry and service of all kinds? The CMC Leadership Development Cohort will meet in four Sunday afternoon seminars: Oct 21, Jan 13, March 10 and May 19. We’re seeking 4-10 participants committed to ongoing spiritual formation and attending all seminars. Seminars include a focus on spiritual disciplines, leadership identity, and practical skills. Participants will be encouraged to identify a mentor from within the congregation. Sponsors include: Larry Miller, Lee Snyder, Sue Cockley, Shirley Showalter and Pastor Jennifer. Applications are available at the following link and due Sep 30th. https://cmcva.breezechms.com/form/a29045
Piano Update from Aili Huber, Council Chair and Jeremy Nafziger, Council Vice Chair:
“CMC has a new piano. More than 70 people responded to the survey, more than 85 percent of them in support of the purchase, and about 54 households pledged money—enough to cover the cost. Church council approved the purchase in the first week of September. The sound of this beautiful instrument, played by so many talented members of the congregation, will be part of our worship services for many years. To God be the glory.
If you pledged money for this year, now is the time to make your contribution, preferably by November 1. You can do this with a check in the regular offering (put “Piano” in the memo line) or online through the church website (the contribution form there has a Piano Fund option). If you missed the survey and want to contribute anyway, you may still donate. When the total cost has been collected, we will inform people who pledged money in future years that they can direct their contributions elsewhere. “
Lawn Care Support for the Martins on Sat, Sep 29th from 8-11 am. Come for an hour or two! Pat and Dwayne Martin have shared much with CMC from their flowerbeds and gardens over the years. Now they need some help to trim and clean-up for the season. David Shenk will be the on-site coordinator that morning. Please contact David (davehshenk@gmail.com) or the church office (cmc_office@cmcva.org) if you are planning to help. Thanks! Pastoral Team
CMC SENIORS: SUPPORT FOR THE MCC RELIEF SALE BY HELPING WITH POTATO PREPARATION. Last fall the CMC seniors supported John and Jennifer Murch and the MCC Relief Sale by helping with potato preparation for the thousands of donuts that were made and sold at the Relief sale. This year we are asking the CMC seniors to again help with the potato preparation. The Murches supply the potatoes. The seniors peel, cut up, boil, mash and then refrigerate in 4# bags till sale day. When we work together the work gets done and we have an enjoyable time working together. Time and place: October 4th at the church fellowship hall. 1st shift from 3-5:00 p.m.; 2nd shift from 5-7:00 p.m. Please bring: a potato peeler, small paring knife and bowl to peel potatoes in. Bring a butcher knife for cutting up potatoes If you have large 16 quart (or nearly that size) stainless steel bowls please bring those. Call and inform: Vi Miller if you can help. Home phone: (432 9262) cell (540-820-4535) or email visammill@gmail.com. Please notify Vi as soon as possible. Thank you, The CMC senior planning committee
Approved Adult Training at CMC on Sunday, Oct 7, during potluck. Do you require training to complete the Approved Adult process for volunteering with CMC children and youth? If so, please join us during October’s potluck. We will review Safe Church practices for working with our kids and will also discuss how to keep our children and youth safe from sexual abuse. Fill your plate with tasty morsels and meet Marsha Thomas and Pastor Jason in Room 205 on October 7. We hope to begin by 11:45am and end at 1:00. Questions? Contact Marsha at Marsha.thomas8417@gmail.com.
Immigration Advocacy. CMC, Trinity Presbterian, and Shalom Mennonite have formed a small advocacy group called "Faith Allies" to provide direct support services to the immigrant community. We are currently working on providing a transportation network for local immigrants to get to Immigration Court, ICE check-ins and other needed services. A workshop will be held on October 14, 2:00 PM at Trinity Presbyterian to provide information for possible volunteers. If you are interested in being a volunteer for this transportation service, please attend this workshop or contact Tina Beachy at dtbeachy@verizon.net or 540 564-1820. Thank you.
Interested in Joining a Small Group? On Sunday, Sept 30th, there will be a brief informational gathering at the front of the sanctuary directly following the service for those interested in joining a Small Group this Fall. Come learn about existing groups looking for new members, as well as explore the option of forming a new group. Can't attend but want to be connected? Email Heather Harris at heatherjill_81@hotmail.com
Wellbeing for Minds and Hearts. Personally, and as supportive friends and family, many of us make our life journey navigating various mental health concerns. This 8-week adult education series (Sundays in Oct and Nov) will include a variety of presenters–CMCers who are mental health professionals as well as other guests–who will share about their work, local services, and ways that congregations can reduce stigma and respond as the caring community Christ calls us to be. Join us for a diverse series and a concluding session about next steps for our congregation. Facilitated by Pastoral Team.
Welcome Ali and Taylor! Ali Zuercher and Taylor Hodges began their voluntary service placements at CMC a little over two weeks ago. If you haven't had the opportunity to get to know them yet, please take the time to do so. We encourage you to invite one or both of them to join you for Sunday afternoon lunch or other activities throughout the week. – VS Committee
Ride to Dulles Needed. We are in need of someone to drive the VS participants (Taylor Hodges and Ali Zuercher) to Dulles airport for their departure to Chicago on Sunday, October 28 for a 1:45 pm flight time. The driver will need to leave Dean House at around 9:45 am (or an agreed upon time). We will also need someone to pick them up from Dulles airport on Thursday, November 1 at 7 pm. If you would be willing to drive, please contact Pastor Jason (Jason.gerlach@cmcva.org). Thank you!
MDS Hurricane Response. Mennonite Disaster Service is assessing areas affected by flooding last week in North Carolina, and will be looking for quick response volunteers to clean up brush and garbage and do general cleanup. Response teams will likely be formed by the end of September or early October. If you are available to volunteer for a week or two, please contact Joe Yoder (540-820-1973) or Sam Miller (540-432-9262).
Toy Donations for the CMC Nursery. The Nursery Committee is seeking gently-used, non battery-operated toys for children up to age 5. Toys can be dropped off in the nursery Sunday Sept 30th and Sunday October 7th. Please contact Tiffany Showalter if you have questions (tiffany.showalter@gmail.com).
We Want to Keep in Touch with You! Please notify the church office (cmc_office@cmcva.org) if you would like to receive the Newsweekly, CMC announcements and prayer requests. Mailboxes (located in the Fellowship Hall) are available to CMC members and regular attenders. A regularly updated version of the CMC directory is available online on the CMC Breeze site. To request a mailbox or to find out how to access the directory, please contact the church office.
Mindful Eating. Is your relationship with food/body holding you back from living life to its fullest? You are invited to join a Mindful Eating support group that will be meeting this fall on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 5:30-6:30pm in Room 203. Come journey with us as we explore what freedom with food can look like. Contacts: Adrienne Griggs and Heather Harris
Apartment Needed. Dave and Sue Cockley's daughter, Kate Clark, has a good friend who is looking for affordable housing following a painful divorce and now living on a minimum wage income. If any of you know of a small (basement?), one bedroom apartment that she (and her cat) could rent for $200 per month or less please Kate know (email kate.clark@emu.edu). She needs to move in Oct 1. Ideally, she is looking for a 1 year lease, but even 6 months would be very helpful.
RETREAT TO THE FRONT – CMC's annual retreat is here! Whether it's your first retreat or you're a long-time old-timer, sometime during the weekend check out the photo collages from retreats of yore posted around the Camp Brethren Woods main meeting hall. Especially look for a yellowed yellow display from the first retreat held in fall, 1975 at Highland Retreat – and you might even recognized a few young people (then) who are still at CMC (now). Also look for an orange poster from our pivotal 1982 retreat when our church covenant was adopted. Enjoy some reminiscing while celebrating the present and anticipating the future. – Jim Bishop
Greening CMC : Educating ourselves. While our smartphones open up a digital world of information for how to act more sustainably, they also come with a carbon cost that is higher than many realize. In fact, the carbon cost of data centers that serve our connected devices will soon match the global impact of flying. Good practices like making sure devices go to sleep can substantially reduce the impacts of our electronic habits. Go to clickclean to see how the apps you use rate in their carbon impacts.
Announcements from Virginia Mennonite Conference, Harrisonburg area and beyond
Read reflections on immigration justice work from across MC USA on the Menno Snapshots blog: mennoniteusa.org/lpjtag.
Volunteer for the Relief Sale. Please sign up to help out with the relief sale on October 5 and 6. One need we have this year is someone to make Raita for the Indian food booth. This involves peeling, seeding, and grating (in a food processor) 32 cups of cucumbers and mixing it with 2 quarts of yogurt and other ingredients. This is usually done on Friday night but could possibly be done on Thursday. It might be a fun mentor/mentee activity. Please consider taking this on. Thanks! –Tim Jost (JostT@wlu.edu).
Donations for Relief Sale Kiddie Corner. Everyone can help in the effort to collect items for the Relief Sale's Kiddie Corner! It's Easy! We take not only toys but also craft supplies, nature items like shells, back packs and bags, games and puzzles, room decor, piggy banks, and books, pet supplies, etc! Easy drop off in the bin by the front door at the Virginia Mennonite Conference Center. Nice, clean items are of greater value. Thank you for helping kids be part of the giving and fun! Contact Greta Kreider for more information or to help at leinbach.kreider@gmail.com
Help DOUBLE the Relief Sale income October 5-6 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. Spend a liberal amount on food, auction and other items, then MATCH or MULTIPLY that amount with a cash, check or credit card donation for MCC refugee relief at the SOS (Sharing Our Surplus) Giving Table. Or make a generous donation online now at vareliefsale.com/donate/.
Valley Arts Society invites you to sing with us! The adult choir and children's choir are for anyone who loves to sing at any level of musicality. These non-auditioned choirs will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm starting September 20 until November 8, with concerts on November 9 and 10. We'd love to have you join us! If you have questions, please contact Angie Clemens. Registration and more choir information can be found at https://valleyartssociety.regfox.com/valley-arts-society-choirs-fall-2018
Strength in Peers will hold a free training in “Caring for Trauma” on Saturday, September 29 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Manor Memorial United Methodist Church in New Market. This training will help primary care and social service providers engage with people who have a history of trauma. The speaker is Dr. Allison Jackson. To register go to Caring4Trauma.eventbrite.com or call 540-217-0869 for more information.
You are invited! Speakers from El Salvador, Zimbabwe and Nepal will describe the substantial climate change impacts being felt now in the global south. Come for learning, discussion, bonding and light refreshments on Sunday, September 30, 6pm at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions is making this opportunity possible.
Make Medicare an easy step. Gain confidence about moving to Medicare with guidance from Everence®, a faith-based organization that partners with our church. Attend this workshop on Oct. 4, 2018, at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place, 841 Mount Clinton Pike, Harrisonburg. Learn about your key steps to get Medicare, how to move from current coverage and enrollment details and deadlines. Reserve spots for you, friends and family members at (540) 437-7422 or harrisonburg@everence.com.
A century ago, war fever swept the United States. Mennonites and other people of peace were unprepared and paid the price. What if war fever swept the United States today? Are we again prepared? How would we live out our non-resistance or pacifism? How would we witness for peace? The Voices of Conscience exhibit will be open on the main (2nd) floor Eastern Mennonite University’s Hartzler Library during regular library hours from October 1 – November 17. This traveling exhibit, created by the Kaufmann Museum in Newton, Kansas, remembers the witness of peace-minded people against the First World War 1914-1918.
The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center invites all lovers of a cappella singing to join us for a benefit concert with Good Company, Sunday evening, October 7, 7 PM at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Good Company is a six-member a cappella ensemble known and loved for their exquisite harmonies, professional performance, and engaging stage presence. The Bridgewater Church of the Brethren features an acoustic hall exceptionally well-suited to Good Company's sound, so you won't want to miss this unique opportunity to hear this fantastic group in concert. A free-will offering will support the work of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center.
MHI Anniversary. You are invited to the Tenth Anniversary Gathering of the Mennonite Hispanic Initiative (MHI). Friday, October 12, 7 pm at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. Cost: Free!
Mark Thiessen Nation, Professor Emeritus at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and author of the book, Bonhoeffer the Assassin?, will present a lecture series on "Discipleship in a World Full of Nazis: Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christ-centered Life & Theology for Today" at Eastern Mennonite Seminary's Martin Chapel. Each lecture is 45-60 min., followed by discussion. This lecture series is co-sponsored by Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society. The first lecture is on Tuesday, October 23 (6:30-8:45PM): Toward Retrieving the True Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Executed for Being “a Pacifist & Enemy of the State.”
VMC Women’s Retreat. A wonderful weekend retreat is planned for women of all ages on Oct 26-28. Join your sisters at Short Pump Marriott, in Richmond. Our theme this year is “Experiencing the Journey” presented by Sue Miller. She and her husband, Gordon, attend Lynside Mennonite, where he is pastoring. Scholarship funds are available by calling Gloria Lehman, 540-420-2122. Registration form found on the Mennonite Women page on the Virginia Mennonite Conference website.
Women Doing Theology 2018. Registration is now open for WDT18, Talking 'Bout a Revolution: Dialogue, Practice and the Work of Liberation, Nov. 8-10. Find up to date information at MennoniteUSA.org/WDT18.
Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg-Rockingham invites you to attend their annual Locavore Event. This year’s event will take place on November 3 at 5:30pm at Muhlenburg Lutheran Church. Please save-the-date and plan to join us. Contact Bridge of Hope (director@hr.bridgeofhopeinc.org or 540-478-2356) to purchase tickets.