Worship this Sunday, March 3, 2019
Theme: Beauty in Brokenness: Transfiguration Sunday
Worship Leader: Louise Hostetter
Song Leader: Angie Clemens
Musicians: Eric Olson-Getty, Ben Bailey, Danny King, Matt Carlson, Eli Stoll
Children’s Time: Jennifer Davis Sensenig
Biblical Storyteller: Jennifer Davis Sensenig
Scripture Questions: Afton Rhodes-Lehman, Joyce Peachey Lind, Peter Dula
Pastoral Prayer: Jason Gerlach
Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-43
Bulletin: 030319-Bulletin
Upcoming CMC Events
Fri, Mar 1 First Friday Art Opening, 5-8 pm, Fellowship Hall
Sun, Mar 3 MYF Fundraiser Meal, 11:45 pm, Fellowship Hall
Bridges Community Gathering potluck and dance, 4-7 pm,
Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary (snow date, March 10). All are welcome!
Sat, Mar 9 Open Circle Small Group, 6 pm, Room 109. All are welcome!
Sun, Mar 10 Contemplative Worship Service, Sanctuary, 8 pm
CMC Events and Announcements
MYF Fundraiser. Instead of a church potluck this Sunday, March 3rd, the senior high youth group will serve soups and broiled sandwiches as a fundraiser meal. Proceeds will go toward the youth group's trip this summer to Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City. –Jason Gerlach
Bridges Community Gathering. On Sunday, March 3, CMC will be hosting another Bridges Community Gathering, an interfaith, intercultural potluck with music and dancing. The oft-heard response after our November gathering was, "When can we do this again?!" Music and dances will start at 4 pm in the sanctuary with the potluck about an hour later in the fellowship hall, followed by more music/dances until 7:00. Some children's groups are also planning to perform. Join in or watch from the sidelines! This is a chance to welcome our neighbors into our space. Bring a dish and join the fun! [Snowdate will be March 10]. fb.me/bridges.friendlycity –Betty Shenk
During the 6 weeks of Lent, you are invited to a time of contemplative prayer every Thursday morning from 7:15 – 7:45 am in the Fellowship Hall of Community Mennonite Church beginning on March 14 and ending on April 18. 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 need contemplative practices that remind us of who we are . . . practices that enable us to live the revolutionary teachings of Jesus . .." (Victoria Rosales) 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 on the North side of the building. Jane Peifer (from Shalom) and Keaton Shenk and Kathy Hochstedler (from CMC) will share the leadership. Questions? Contact jhooberpeifer@gmail.com
Beginning Sunday March 10th there will be a new Contemplative Worship Service weekly at 8 PM at CMC. This service is an invitation to deepening our everyday connection to God, ourselves and the community through healing, action and contemplation for the sake of the world. The service will be a time for contemplative silence, embodied practice and a space that welcomes and affirms everyone. Please note children are welcome, however, there will be no childcare provided during the service. Contact Adam Yoder (yodera@yahoo.com) on behalf of the Contemplative Service Discernment Group for additional information.
Prayer Circles. A new prayer opportunity is available starting Sunday, March 17. On the 3rd Sunday of each month Prayer Circles will be held in the prayer alcove for personal prayer or for the needs of others. From 10:50 to 11:20 am a Prayer Companion along with a Pastoral Team Member or Elder will hold a time of reflection and prayer. All are welcome! –Prayer Companions
Reading the Bible Around the World (Adult Ed Class). As a North American Mennonite Church, we are accustomed to approaching Christian scripture in a certain way and reading it within a particular culture. However, Christians around the world in other cultural contexts frequently read and understand scripture differently from us. Here at CMC, there are many people who have lived and learned with people from other places and cultures. Each Sunday a different person will lead us – with some fear and trepidation – in looking at how Christians from a place and cultural context that they know read the Bible. So, come to this class, if you want to understand better how the Bible is read around the world. –Mike Brislen
Faith and Finances (Adult Ed Class). This week, the Faith and Finances for All Ages and Stages class will hear from Lana Miller about “God’s View of Money. “ Please feel free to join us in Room 109!
March Monthly Gathering. The next CMC Monthly Gathering will be Tuesday, March 19, with taco bar supper at 6 pm, followed at 7 p.m. by LIT (Learning Interesting Things). The topic will be: Mountain Valley Pipeline: Frontline stories from our Learning Tour. Hear stories and see images of the MVP from CMC’s learning tour in November. Learn about the big picture of fracked gas pipelines in Virginia, with an overview provided by activist Joshua Vana, coordinator of RAPTORS of the Valley. Take home resources for further study and action. Sponsored by CMC's Green Congregation Committee. For more info, contact Brian Martin Burkholder (brian.burkholder@emu.edu; 540-746-6419) or Mary Jo Bowman (bowbro@juno.com; 540-383-7792).
Weekly Lenten Devotional Email List – CMC collaborates every year on a daily Lenten devotional reflection, written by folks at Community, Shalom, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill Mennonite congregations. If you would like to have your name added to the email list, sign up here, or let the office if know you would like a printed copy in advance. Daily postings will also be listed on CMC’s Facebook page.
Highland Retreat Registration. It’s time to register your child for camp at Highland Retreat! CMCers who attend Highland receive one $75 scholarship per child from CMC. When registering, use CMC’s code “CYM22” and the discount will be applied to your registration. Questions? Contact the office at 540-433-2148 or email cmc_office@cmcva.org.
Prayer Request. Wayne and Kathy Hochstedler left Harrisonburg a week ago to vacation in South Carolina and Florida for three weeks. While biking on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, Kathy lost her balance and fell, fracturing her left wrist and hip. Your prayers for Wayne and Kathy are greatly appreciated. Her recovery will require several days in the hospital and then at least two weeks of in-patient rehab (in SC) before coming home. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. You are an amazing family and present reminder of God's spirit for us and them. –Monica Hochstedler Carlson
Thank You Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, messages and cards following the death of Ted's mother, Ruth Swartz. The dish garden is a lovely reminder of her life and love for those around her. We are so blessed by you, our church community. Sue and Ted Swartz
Update from Tim Jost: “I am deeply grateful for the blizzard of cards and prayers and well wishes that I have received from people in the church. I am sorry that I am unable to respond individually, but that opportunity will come. I am finished with chemotherapy, but will be in the hospital for another 3-4 weeks. I look forward to seeing everyone when I return. I really feel embraced by the community. Thank you.”
If you're wanting to send a word of encouragement to Tim Jost while he's hospitalized at UVA, consider this UVA e-card service: https://ecards.uvahealth.com/ –Pastoral Team
Meals for Kids’ Club. Thank you so much to all of the small groups who have brought food to Kids’ Club so far! We are in need of more simple Wednesday meals for the winter/spring if it works for your small group or family. Generally we have 10-15 kids a week (sometimes more). Please email Hannah Hall, hannahdmhall@gmail.com if there’s a Wednesday that works for you!
Attention parents of EMS students and Mennonite college/university students: It's time to fill out the application for EMS and/or Mennonite college/university students for church matching grants/financial aid for the 2019-2020 school year. As of the 2019-2020 school year, CMC will provide $2000 each year ($1000 per semester) to qualified students who attend a Mennonite Church college or university. In addition, CMC provides financial aid to EMS students who qualify. In order to be considered for these grants/financial aid, please fill out the applicable google form below no later than March 17, 2019.
Eastern Mennonite School financial aid form
Mennonite College/University grant form
If you have questions about qualifications, please visit CMC's website or send an email to Shannon Sneary Alabanza at swsneary@gmail.com. Thank you!
GMO Survey. Ava Grace Flory is conducting a survey for a high school biology class on the community’s knowledge and opinions on GMO foods. She would really appreciate it if you would take some time to complete a brief survey. It should take about 2 minutes. Please click the following link to complete the survey. Genetically Modified Crop Survey. If you prefer to cut and past the URL into your browser, you can do so with the following address: https://goo.gl/forms/inRsujJVX57949SR2. Thanks! Ava Grace Flory
There are many, many people in the Harrisonburg area who oppose US intervention (for regime change) in Venezuela but we have not yet come together to collectively educate ourselves and others on this specific issue and begin to organize our opposition into an effective movement for peace and solidarity. The purpose of this meeting is to make a start in this process. Whether it is direct US military intervention, low intensity dirty wars or Draconian economic sanctions, the results will be more suffering and death for the Venezuelan people. We must not allow this to happen. A meeting to Begin Organizing Local Opposition to US Intervention in Venezuela will be held in the Dean House (first floor) on Wednesday, March 6th at 7:00 PM. Now is the time to act, to organize locally and prepare to participate in the upcoming “National March on the White House: Hands Off Venezuela!” scheduled for March 16. https://act.credoaction.com/sign/venezuela-Cicilline please check out this petition.
FMI: contact Michael Snell-Feikema, michaelfeikema@gmail.com or 540-830-1431.
'FEAR NOT LITTLE FLOCK,' HE SAID SHEEPISHLY . . . for behold, the latest photo collage posted on the "CMC Today" bulletin board at the south end of the fellowship is featuring the first worship series of 2019 that focuses on the Luke 12:29-32 theme verses for this year. To its right, check out a photo review from the January 6 Epiphany service; also a report on the local (in)famous Groundhog Day celebration ("I got you, babe") from the 2/18/19 issue of Mennonite World Review and a 'congregational report' for Nov.-Dec., 2018 from the 1/21/19 MWR. Enjoy! Jim Bishop
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BEST KIND – Brothers and sisters, Lent me your ears (and eyes) – Cast ye corporate gaze eastward to the "CMC Yesterday" bulletin board on the east wall of the fellowship hall. There you'll find photo collages full of smiling happy people holding hands and 'encountering God,' the theme for Lenten services 2014. Remember? Jim Bishop
Greening CMC: Speaking Out. Virginia was the first southern state to propose direct steps to address their emissions, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality proposal to cap CO2 emissions is now in its final comment period. Speak out by March 6 on the proposal to join this regional initiative to reduce our climate impact.
Announcements from Virginia Mennonite Conference, Harrisonburg area and beyond
Lent begins this Wednesday, and the "Blessed Hunger, Holy Feast” downloadable at-home guide begins with activities to prepare on March 5 for Shrove or Pancake Tuesday. Select the activities that work best for you throughout Lent at mennoniteusa.org/lent2019.
In a new “Learn, Pray, Join” initiative running through April, MC USA will highlight the work of planting peace churches taking place in collaboration with Mennonite Mission Network, an MC USA agency. Visit mennoniteusa.org/news/mennonite-church-usa-to-focus-on-planting-new-peace-churches to learn more.
Pray for Ohio Conference as they meet for their Annual Conference Assembly, March 8-9, in Kidron, Ohio.
Call for Art Submissions at Mennonite Church USA Convention. The MC USA convention will be held in Kansas City this summer. The Peace and Justice Support Network is calling for submissions of painting, drawing, graphic arts or sculpture that challenge us to greater acts of peacemaking. Artwork will be displayed at the PJSN booth in the convention hall. A silent auction of the art works will operate, with proceeds going to support peacemaking across the church. You don’t have to be a professional to participate! Like the priesthood of all believers, this art show is open to everybody! Interested? Contact Jason Boone at PJSN by clicking here.
Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg-Rockingham is currently looking for a Neighboring Volunteer group of 6-10 committed people that would like to walk alongside and encourage a family in our program. Bridge of Hope works with single-parent families (children under 18) facing homelessness in our community. The program lasts 12-24 months. Initial training, ongoing relational support, and planned monthly gatherings will be provided. If you have questions, you can ask any of CMC’s former neighboring group which included Sue Swartz, Rebecca Barge, Andrea Wenger, and Shirley Showalter. Please contact Chris Hoover Seidel, Director, at director@hr.bridgeofhopeinc.org or cell: 717-602-0871 if you are interested.
Would you like to open your home and your heart to a Mennonite Central Committee international volunteer? Please consider hosting an EMU foreign language assistant for the 2019-20 academic year. The department of language and literature is seeking Harrisonburg hosts to provide native speakers of Spanish with private bedrooms, packed lunches for weekdays, other meals at home, transportation to and from campus during the week and church on Sundays, and emotional support as they serve the EMU community. Compensation for host families includes a monthly stipend and rich international friendships. (You can read about the program at http://www.mcc.org/ivep/.) To explore the possibility of hosting, please contact Vi Dutcher at vi.dutcher@emu.edu.
All are welcome to attend the Shenandoah Valley Men's Chorus concert at Weavers Mennonite Church, March 3 at 7:00 pm. Jared Stutzman, Eastern Mennonite School music department, is the director. The special offering this year will benefit Lezha Academic Center, in Lezhe, Albania. This school, now in its 9th year, has experienced growth and blessing. Jim and Pam Beachy, who have been teachers at LAC, will present their vision and the story of this adventure. They plan to return to Albania again in the fall. Albania Christian Education Foundation supports the administrative interests of LAC, while VMMissions sends the personnel from the US.
FREE Medical, Dental and Vision Clinic, Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3, 2019, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, VA. This RAM (Remote Area Medical) clinic will be offering free medical screenings; women’s health visits; dental hygiene, fillings and extractions; and vision exams (with glasses made on-site). First come, first served. Tickets will be given out at 3 a.m. At the Fairgrounds; doors will open at 6 a.m. No identification or insurance required! To learn more, visit www.ramusa.org. Questions? Call or text 540-820-2996. This endeavor is financially supported by the RMH Foundation, the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, the James Madison University College of Health and Behavioral Studies, Holtzman Oil and the Harrisonburg Community Foundation.
Thurs., March 7, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. — Parents of students who will enter 9th grade in fall 2019 are invited to a breakfast meeting. This is for parents of students who will attend 9th grade at Eastern Mennonite High School, or for those who may be interested in learning about 9th grade at EMHS. More details at www.easternmennonite.org. RSVP to Marsha Thomas (thomasm@emhs.net or 540-236-6021).
A two-day all-area knotting bee is planned for March 7-8. It will be at Village Hall on the VMRC campus. Come join in the fun when it works for you, Thursday or Friday, or both! Luann Bender and Deb Layman will have comforters ready to knot, provide snacks and all of the needed supplies. Please bring a sack lunch if you are staying over that time. We look forward to seeing you and enjoying each other's company as we make much needed comforters for MCC. Invite your friends! And if you have any supplies you'd like to donate – tops or backs, you may bring them. Email laymans4@verizon.net if you have questions.
ACRS Welcomes Mark Metzler Sawin to the next ACRS Gathering at 7:30 am on March 11 in the Park View Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. Mark’s presentation is titled, “A Wall Runs Through It: The History of US Immigration Policy.” For more information go to: http://www.emu.edu/acrs/events/
Story Table: Join us for Stories of Developmental Disabilities and Community at A Bowl of Good on Monday March 11, 6pm to 8pm. We will hear stories from persons with developmental disabilities and persons close to them in our community. This is an opportunity to listen to each other in an unfiltered, agenda-free environment. Join Nancy Hopkins-Garriss (Executive Director), Joanie Hanshaw (individuals w/ disabilities-remembers Central Virginia Training Center), Dave Gullman (parent & pastor), Amy Labarge (special education teacher), and Katrina Didot (employer) for a conversation.
Thurs., March 14, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. — Parents of students who will enter 6th grade in fall 2019 are invited to a breakfast meeting. This is for parents of students who will attend 6th grade at Eastern Mennonite Middle School, or for those who may be interested in learning about 6th grade at EMMS. More details at www.easternmennonite.org. RSVP to Marsha Thomas (thomasm@emhs.net or 540-236-6021).
Not Made for This. A performance about the life of Jourden Banks who was born enslaved in Rockingham County will be shared at Court Square Theater on Saturday, March 16 at 7 pm. –Art Stoltzfus.
Join Highland Retreat for a Benefit Auction on Saturday morning, March 16 at Lindale Mennonite Church. The auction helps subsidize camp tuition for all camper families and provides scholarships for families with greater need. Doors open at 8am and the live auction will begin at 9:30am. There will be a summer camp Q&A table, plus special activities for children during the morning. Stop by for a tasty meal and baked goods, or stay for the whole auction – we'd love to see you there! See www.highlandretreat.org for more details and a link to the online auction (March 8-15), where you can pre-bid on live items or bid to win online-only items
Disability Awareness Rally: Come and join us as we celebrate individuals with developmental disabilities who live in our community. We will meet on the east lawn of the Rockingham County Court House by 5:15pm Tuesday March 19, 2019 (rain/snow date March 26, 2019). Our opening speaker will be Nancy Hopkins-Garriss, Pleasant View Inc. Executive Director, followed by a member of the Harrisonburg Aktion Club. There will be an open microphone for short statements from other attendees in support and recognition of individuals with disabilities and their importance to our community. Any change in date will be posted to our website event page or Facebook event.
Cafe Veritas will host Craig Bartholomew (Director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics at Tyndale House in Cambridge, England) to speak on “Signposts from a Divided World: Where is God in Contemporary Culture?” on Tuesday, March 19, 7pm at Court Square Theater (41 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22801). Not all is well in our culture. We are living through a time of change and of crisis in Western civilization. Craig’s lecture will identify the nature of our Secular Age and the rich Christian resources available to us for healing our present condition and moving beyond it toward a world that promotes the flourishing of all in the light of Jesus Christ.
Screen Schooled: Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Overuse Is Making Our Kids Dumber. Joe Clement and Matt Miles, educators and authors of a book by the same title, present at Eastern Mennonite School, March 20, 7:30 p.m. In the school auditorium. Area educators, parents, pastors, and those interested in childhood development are especially invited to this free presentation and Q&A on the impact of technology on children's' brain development. Presented in partnership with James Madison University and WVPT and with sponsorship support from EMU, Park View Federal Credit Union, Everence, Shirley's Popcorn and Brian Mayes Studio. See full article for more details.
EMU Music Faculty Artist Series Concert: EMU piano professor David Berry will be joined by award-winning cellist and Berklee School of Music/Boston Conservatory professor Patrice Jackson-Tilghman for an exciting concert of solo and chamber masterworks at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in the EMS Martin Chapel. Musical works will include pieces by Chopin, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Martinu, and arrangements by Berry and Jackson-Tilghman. Admission is free, with donations welcome for EMU's music scholarship fund. For more information, visit emu.edu/music.
Monday, March 25, 8 a.m. — Middle and high school students are invited to shadow a current student at Eastern Mennonite School. Parents can participate in an informational session, tour the facilities and more. Download a registration form at www.emhs.net/admissions/visit.cfm. Call 540-236-6021 with questions.
Thurs., March 28 – Parents of students who are in pre-school through 4th grade are invited to drop in between 8:30 and 10 a.m. for coffee, conversation and observation to learn about Eastern Mennonite Elementary School. Talk with Maria Archer, principal; Marsha Thomas, admissions counselor; teachers, other parents and school counselors. Observe classrooms. More details at www.easternmennonite.org. RSVP to Marsha Thomas at 540-236-6021 or email thomasm@emhs.org
The Collins Center is offering a retreat for adult female survivors of sexual abuse on Saturday, March 30 from 9 am-2 pm. This retreat provides an opportunity for attendees to build community and reflect on their journeys of healing. If you would like more information, please feel free to reach out to Margaret at the Collins Center, margaret@thecollinscenter.org. Because CMC participates in the Safe Church program, there is no registration cost for CMCers who attend.
Eastern Mennonite School welcomes applications for a new Leadership Scholarship for students grades 9-12. Recipients will receive up to 50% off of the regular high school tuition rate. Applicants must be new students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and who wish to develop their leadership skills through contributions to the school. An interview and essay are required. Contact Marsha Thomas at 540-236-6021 or go to emhs.net/admissions/leadership-scholarship.cfm