Local Events and Opportunities
The Harrisonburg Fall 2015 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course has begun, but there is still time to hop on board with Lesson 2 this coming Tuesday evening, Sept 15. The class will not likely be available again in Harrisonburg until the Spring of 2017. $280 certificate for completion of the 15 lessons, or earn 3 EMU credits for an additional $300. Questions? Contact carol.tobin@vmmissions.org
You are invited to Our Community Place's ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE on Monday, September 21 at OCP, 17 East Johnson Street. Doors open at 6:30pm, program begins at 7. The OCP Board of Directors has planned this special event intended to inform the general public of how OCP is doing and allow those who wish to ask questions or voice concerns. Coffee and desserts will be served, followed by a program consisting of stories from community members, vision for the upcoming year, and an update on the currently underway kitchen remodeling. Please consider joining us for this event.
Enjoy Night Out! (Featuring: Chef Praserth of Beyond restaurant) on Monday, September 14, 5pm-8pm. Our Community Place (a non-profit community center welcoming the least of these) will be transformed into a fine-dining restaurant featuring a delicious four-course meal. Suggested donation is $25. Enjoy a wonderful meal and support your local community. Learn more at ourcommunityplace.org/ssno/
Join the 18th annual Bike Shenandoah on Saturday, September 19. Bike Shenandoah is a cycle for service offering five rides for all ages and abilities. The ride starts and ends at Eastern Mennonite School (801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, Va.) and supports NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center, Our Community Place, Roberta Webb Child Care Center, MennoMedia, Mennonite Central Committee and Virginia Mennonite Missions. Visit bikeshenandoah.org or contact bikeshencycle4service@gmail.com
Beldor Church invites you to please join them for their 80-year celebration of ministry Sunday, September 20. If through the years you were part of their worship and ministries, they especially hope you can attend. The event starts at 10 am with socializing and assembling. Worship begins at 11 am with potluck/program of remembrances following. J. David Yoder will preach during worship and provide keynote remembrances from his time as assistant pastor, followed by open-mic for other people. Please bring a "covered dish" to share.
Can we as business and organizational leaders remain fully committed to our Anabaptist values yet work each day with the ambiguous realities inherent in our everyday work world? Is it possible that business and organization leaders can do more to affect positive change in people and communities than church or government organizations? The local Shenandoah Valley MEDA chapter is pleased to invite you and your family to hear Jim Smucker present on Business and Kingdom Building. Jim will draw on his 27 years of experience as a business and community leader. The event will be held on Thursday, September 24, in the Eastern Mennonite University Science Center, room 55, beginning at 7:00 PM. Beverages and light snacks will be provided. If you would like to attend please RSVP to eckardp@emu.edu by Monday, September 21.
MCC Bike PA 2015: Health for Nigeria – Join 40-50 other riders for a three day bicycle road tour through the beautiful forest and farmland of central Pennsylvania from Sunday, September 20 (all day) to Tuesday, September 22, (all day). Along with enjoying the ride with great company, you'll be supporting MCC's health work in Nigeria. For more information, and to register, see www.mcc.org/get-involved/events/mcc-bikepa2015-health-nigeria Or call Luke Schrock-Hurst in the Harrisonburg, VA based MCC office at (540) 437-1201.
Discover what it means to join in God’s mission and the paradigm shift in becoming a missional church. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission that has a church in the world. Missional Church: Vision, Learning, Refocus will be a four-day seminar featuring Dr. Darrell Guder. Join us from Monday, September 28, to Thursday, October 1 at various venues in Harrisonburg. Dr. Guder is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Henry Winters Luce Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology. Learn more at www.virginiaconference.org/news/missional-church-seminar/
Come run or walk (or volunteer) with us at the 5K Race for Relief at the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale on October 3 at 8:30am. Proceeds go towards MCC. Sign up online at runwalkjog.com/relief
Spare change can have a powerful impact with My Coins Count, a program of Mennonite Central Committee and Virginia Mennonite Missions, which will be counted at this year's Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale on October 3. Funds this year will go to Kids Club (Shenandoah Valley, Va.); Maranatha School for the Deaf, Jamaica; Joshua Center, Albania; a school for Sudanese refugees, Egypt; and the Village Altonodji, a school for vulnerable children, Chad. Learn more at www.vmmissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-MyCC-infosheet.pdf
If you are looking for a chance to attend the MEDA convention "Growing Business, Building Community" in Richmond, Virginia this November 5-8, here is an opportunity! The Shenandoah Valley MEDA chapter is excited to offer a scholarship to a young adult between the ages of 18 – 25. Check out the link for more details about the convention: http://www.meda.org/meda-convention To apply, please submit a 500-word essay answering the question: Why do you want to attend the MEDA convention? Think about the following: What do you hope to learn or experience by attending the national convention? What is the significance of MEDA? Why is it important that men and women are coming together in faith, to pursue business solutions to poverty? Deadline for essay: Friday, October 2. Please submit your essay to: heidiaderstine@gmail.com
Job and Volunteer Opportunities:
Virginia Mennonite Missions seeks a full-time Director of Advancement. Qualified candidates should demonstrate a passion for the gospel, an active commitment to the church, strong skills in leadership, communications, and interpersonal relationships, and the ability to organize and motivate a team. Experience in the areas of fundraising and public relations preferred. Interested persons, please contact Dianna Lehman: dianna.lehman@vmmissions.org. More details at http://vmmissions.org/u/bk6
Virginia Mennonite Missions Prayer Request:
September 13
Pray for Jacob, Hosanna, Elias, and Maia as they await the arrival of a new baby in the family. Ask God to knit them together as a family of five as they prepare to return to South Asia for another term of ministry.