Newsweekly for Sunday, December 9, 2018

      Comments Off on Newsweekly for Sunday, December 9, 2018

Worship this Sunday, December 9, 2018

Theme: Love Revealed – Advent 2: Proclaiming

Worship Leader: Elena Histand Stuckey

Musicians: Kathryn Schmidt, Felix Sider Jost, Michael Richardson

Advent Candle Lighters: Kathleen Leigh and Luisa Miller

Song Leader: Matthew Hunsberger

Children’s Time: Dayna Olson-Getty

Preacher: Jennifer Davis Sensenig

Pastoral Prayer: Jennifer Davis Sensenig

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:1-6

Bulletin: 120918-Bulletin.docx

 

 

Upcoming CMC Events

Sat, Dec 8            Open Circle Small Group, 6 pm, Room 109

Tues, Dec 11       CMC Advent Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm, Sanctuary

Wed, Dec 12       Women’s Bible Study, 8:30 am, Room 109

Sat, Dec 15          CMC Advent Choir Rehearsal, 10 am, Sanctuary

Tues, Dec 18       Monthly Gathering and Taco Supper, 6-8 pm. $3 suggested donation.

Sun, Dec 23         Worship at 10 am, No Sunday School

Sun, Dec 24         Christmas Eve Service, 6 pm, Sanctuary

Sun, Dec 30         Christmas Breads, 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, No Sunday School

 

 

CMC Events and Announcements

Still time to sing in CMC’s Advent choir! Rehearsals are Tuesday, Dec. 11 (7 p.m.) and Saturday, Dec. 15 (10 a.m.). We also practice before the service on Dec. 16. The music this year is from Navidad Nuestra, a nativity piece from Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez. Everyone is welcome to come and sing. Email Katie Derstine (katiederstine@gmail.com) with your voice part, and we will send you some music (soon).

Racial Equity & the Church Our first session of this adult ed class referred to an implicit bias test based on continuous research at Harvard University.  Take a test here:  https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html (Links to an external site.) Everyone is welcome to join us for the Dec sessions of this class. In Jan-Feb we're asking for a commitment to attend 6 of 8 sessions.

Compassion Fund.  We need to replenish our Compassion Fund.  If you are able to make a gift at this time to offset expenses for CMC households facing financial burdens, please put "Compassion Fund" in the memo line of your check and place it in the offering basket.  Or designate your gift made through electronic giving at our website:  cmcva.org

A big thank you to everyone who brought soup or cookies as well as those who helped with set up and clean up for the congregational meal.  The soup and cookies were delicious and the help is always appreciated.  –Jennifer Ulrich on behalf of Hospitality Committee.

Care Teams at CMC. CMC has a network of small groups and other relational networks that provide mutual care and support for our congregation.  For some long-term or acute situations, we also offer Care Teams.  These teams, led by a pastor, are usually made up 4-5 CMCers who are selected by the individual or household seeking support and the pastor, and who agree to provide confidential spiritual and emotional support, as well as practical care.  Those who might benefit from a Care Team include: individuals or families facing serious physical or mental illness and their caregivers, families facing challenging parenting circumstances, household discerning a job transition or other major life decision.  To discuss whether a Care Team might be helpful in a particular situation, contact one of the CMC Pastors.   –Pastoral Team

Furniture Needed. Boris Ozuna and Rebeca Barge are moving to a larger home as we anticipate the birth of our second baby (still in Harrisonburg, and actually closer to Elaine & Nathan!) and are in need of some additional furniture. We're looking for a large dining table with 8-10 chairs (that could expand); dressers; night stands; coffee table; large area rugs; and a queen bed. Contact Rebeca Barge at rebeca1c.barge@gmail.com.

LESSONS LEARNED? A new photo collage up and running on the "CMC Today" bulletin board captures scenes from November's "Lessons from Jesus" worship series along with kids listening, learning and singing – sometimes all three at once – in Sunday school. Also posted — several vintage "Bishop's Mantle" and "Virginia Ham" Advent-flavored columns and, at no additional charge, a 'congregational report' for Sept.-Oct. from the 11/19/18 issue of Mennonite World Review. Please pause and ponder. Bless you!     Jim Bishop

ADVENT-TAGEOUS ADVENT-URE AWAITS – Ever wonder as you wander how CMC celebrated the Advent season seven years ago (2011)? Likely not, but the answer, my friends, is not blowin' in the wind. Simply cast a wondrous gaze upon the "CMC Yesterday" bulletin board on the east side of the fellowship hall.   Jim Bishop

Greening CMC : Educating ourselves.  You may remember when you were young driving through a “moth snowstorm”, and having to clean the bugs off your windshield.  How often does that happen to you now? Probably less often, reflecting the increasing awareness of a global Insect Apocalypse, which mirrors the large decrease in populations recently reported for vertebrates.  Help reverse this trend by creating inviting habitats for wildlife.

 

Announcements from Virginia Mennonite Conference, Harrisonburg area and beyond

Nurture children’s faith at home this Advent and Christmas through family worship. Find a free, downloadable guide at AnabaptistFaithFormation.org with daily scriptures, songs, activities and questions to ponder together.

MC USA relies on your support as we seek to follow Jesus, witness to God's peace and help our communities experience transformation. Consider making a year-end, tax-deductible donation to support the ministries of MC USA at mennoniteusa.org/give.

Christmas Coffeehouse. A cappella groups Shekinah and Cantore join together for two evenings of music in a festive coffeehouse atmosphere to benefit First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence. Beautiful singing, good food and drinks, holiday decorations, all on two nights: Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Park View Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. Suggested donation $8-10 per person.

Harrisonburg Mennonite’s Christmas Event “One Starry Night” will be held December 9 at 4:30 p.m. at HMC, 1552 South High Street, Harrisonburg, Va.  All are invited to attend and participate in this family-friendly interactive event!  There will be simple activities in a marketplace, music and food samples from Jesus’ day.  Enter through the east entrance.

ACRS welcomes two speakers on Monday, December 10. Johann Zimmermann and Kevin King will be speaking about their MDS work. For more information, click on: http://www.emu.edu/acrs/events/

All are invited to gather at EMU for a Christmas Lessons and Carols service featuring EMU choir ensembles and readers from Campus Ministries. This service takes place on Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium. A free-will offering for the compassion fund will be collected.

Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir Auditions: If your child enjoys singing, they will love being a part of the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir!  SVCC is a nationally acclaimed children’s choir based in Harrisonburg, Va, that values education, fun, musical excellence and community.  SVCC will hold auditions for performing choirs (2nd-7th grade) on December 12th from 4-7pm. Please call 540-432-4650 or email svcc@emu.edu to schedule an audition! www.svcc.org

Doug Graber Neufeld will be speaking on “Caring for God’s Creation: Anabaptists and Climate Change” on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm at VMRC’s Detwiler Auditorium.

Eastern Mennonite School presents Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria and other choral and instrumental music at its Christmas worship program. Join us on Tuesday, December 11 or Thursday, December 13, 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Program will include full orchestra of student and professional musicians, and an 85-voice choir.

Winchester Musica Viva, a chamber group directed by Ken Nafziger, will perform a concert at 7:00 pm on December 15 at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg. Learn more about the group at winchestermusicaviva.org/

Good Company and Willow Run Band invite you to their shared Christmas concert on Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Park View Mennonite Church. This festive event will feature a wide variety of seasonal favorites and a light reception will follow. Admission by donation ($10/person suggested). For more information about these groups, visit goodcompanyacappella.com and facebook.com/willowrunband.

"A Walk Through Bethlehem" (an outdoor live Nativity) will be Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM at Weavers Mennonite Church. Stroll on the streets of Bethlehem the day Jesus was born: meet the wise men, shepherds, animals, townspeople, craftsmen, Mary & Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger! Finally, end your experience in the Bethlehem Cafe with a hot drink and cookies. Invite your friends and neighbors.

Invitation to Sing in the Shenandoah Valley Men’s Chorus. Shenandoah Valley Men’s Chorus announces the beginning of the 2019 season of men’s sacred choral music, directed by Jared Stutzman. If you enjoy singing men’s a cappella music, you are invited to join this group. Our diverse sacred music repertoire includes hymns, gospel songs, anthems, spirituals, and contemporary songs. We ask that you participate consistently in the practice sessions, and be available to sing in the February 24 and March 3 concerts. Regular Sunday afternoon practices will be in January and February at Eastern Mennonite School. The first rehearsal is January 6, 2019 at 2 pm. Invite your singing friends! Questions or comments? Contact one of the SVMC Committee members: Rick Bell (433-7233), Chad Beery (908-1438), David Martin (289-5567), Roman Miller (383-0281), Elwood Schrock (908-6396).

The 50th annual School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite University, “Thriving in the Stormy Seas of Change” is January 14-16, 2019. Pastors and church leaders are well aware of the tumultuous seas in which we serve. Significant changes and conflicts in contemporary politics, churches and denominations and in our personal lives present challenges and opportunities for preaching and leading the church today. Church leaders riding these waves of change yearn for deep communion with God’s Spirit and for inspiring worship with other leaders in order to thrive in ministry. School for Leadership Training 2019 will provide this worshipful and renewing encounter through the narrative of Jesus’ crossing the stormy sea with his disciples in Mark 4:35-41. Keynote speakers are Sue Park-Hur, John Pavlovitz and David Evans. For more information and to register https://emu.edu/seminary/slt/

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