Worship this Sunday, November 5
First Families – Preposterous Promises
All Saints’ Day
Worship Leader: Dayna Olson-Getty
Song Leader: Angie Clemens
Preacher: Matt Carlson
Children’s Story: Dayna Olson-Getty
Pastoral Prayer: Dayna Olson-Getty
Prelude/Offertory: Jim Clemens
Scripture: Genesis 16:1-16; Hebrews 11:1, 8-12
Bulletin: 110517-bulletin
Upcoming CMC Events
Sun, Nov 5 Monthly Potluck and Budget Speakeasy
Sun, Nov 5 CMC Harmonia Sacra Sing, 7 pm
Wed, Nov 8 CMC Kids’ Club 6-7 pm
Tues, Nov 14 Monthly Gathering, 6-8 pm
CMC Events and Announcements
Compassion Fund Offering This Sunday. We will be collecting funds this Sunday, November 5, to replenish the CMC Compassion Fund. Compassion Funds are available to CMC members and regular attenders for unexpected or urgent financial needs. For more information, contact Pastor Dayna Olson-Getty (dayna.olson-getty@cmcva.org).
Israel-Palestine Class. On November 5 in the adult education class on Israel-Palestine, Reta Finger will be showing us how Christian Zionism’s misuse of the book of Revelation contributes to political tensions in that part of the world.
From the Films and Faith Class: You're welcome to join us this coming Sunday as we'll be watching the first half of "Of Gods and Men." This is a film based on the true story of nine Trappist monks who lived in harmony with the largely Muslim population of Algeria, until seven of them were kidnapped and assassinated in 1996 during the Algerian Civil War. We'll watch the first half this Sunday, November 5, and finish the film followed by discussion on the following Sunday, November 12.
Monthly Potluck this Sunday. CMC’s Monthly Potluck is this Sunday, Nov. 5. Please bring enough food for your family and some to share. Please bring your own plates, cups and silverware as this cuts down on clean up time. Generally we have help with set up from 7th & 8th Grade Sunday School classes, but we could use about 4 to 5 more people to help with clean up, including washing dishes.
Potluck Dishwashers Needed. Hospitality committee is planning to use the Corelle plates along with silverware for potlucks. While this reduces the amount of paper and plastic we consume it also means more time spent on clean up as everything will need washed. We need two persons each potluck Sunday to commit to washing the dishes. Someone from the committee will be available to help with getting you started and with putting things away. This might be a good mentor / mentee activity. Potluck Sundays are the first Sunday of each month. Contact Jennifer Ulrich, ulrichjm@comcast.net or 540-383-9050, if you can help with dishwashing at potlucks.
Budget Speakeasy. There will be a budget Speakeasy (community conversation and opportunity to ask questions) this Sunday, November 5, at 12:15 following the potluck meal.
CMC Harmonica Sacra Sing. Come to the 8th annual Community Mennonite Church Harmonia Sacra sing, November 5 at 7 p.m. Bring your own book, or borrow one at the sing. Come with a song to request or lead, and a heart to join in the singing from the Valley’s own shaped-note book, with us since 1832. Everyone is welcome.
Launch of CMC Kids’ Club. The launch of CMC Kids' Club is next Wednesday, November 8th. We're very excited that despite last Sunday's rainy weather, we have children registered from the broader community. Please know that we hope Kids' Club will provide space for children within our congregation, as well as for children who we've just started to get to know. If your child/ren would like to participate, please contact Hannah Hall or Jason Gerlach, or plan to arrive at CMC at 6:00 pm on Wednesday. We'll be meeting in the CMC basement.
Monthly Gathering on Tuesday, November 14. On Tuesday, November 14th, Jason Gerlach will share portions of his thesis titled Security: The Nefarious Intricacies of Evil, the Carceral State, and the Christian Church during the Monthly Gathering's second hour (7:00 to 8:00 pm). The goal for the hour is an informative and generative conversation. Part way through the hour, Jason Wagner (chaplain at the Rockingham–Harrisonburg Regional Jail) will offer his own reflections on the thesis, and there will be opportunities for questions.
MYF This Week. Over the years, the MYF has created a few games. On Wednesday, November 8th from 7-8:30 pm the game Caviar will be the activity. Please meet in Room 202.
Bake Sale! The 7th and 8th grade Sunday school girls are having their annual bake/craft sale on Sunday, Nov. 12 after the worship service in the Fellowship Hall. The money raised will be shared with Honduras projects and Jay and Sheri Hartzler’s programs in Romania.
CMC Congregational Meeting on December 10. Normally, our annual congregational meeting is held the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year’s meeting will be on Sunday, December 10 following Sunday school. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
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 session plans.
Faith Talk This Week: Genesis 25:27–34; 27:1–28:5; 32:1–33:17: “Jacob and Esau”
Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story: (1) Read Genesis 25:27–28. What problems can happen when there is favoritism? (2) Jacob gave a gift. Draw a picture or write a note as a gift to someone in your family. (3) Tell about a time someone forgave you.
Did you know? Jacob sent a really big present. How many animals did he give (Genesis 32:14–15)? (Answer: 550)
Prayer for the week: God who loves us equally, bless us as we seek to live together in peace. Amen
Children’s Bible Memory passage this quarter: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgements are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. Psalm 36:5–6
Becoming a CMC Member. If CMC is your church home and you worship with us regularly, we encourage you to become a member so that you can participate in formal decision-making, be eligible for various leadership roles and so that our records match reality. Like most congregations, we have an ongoing membership list that we update annually. We also annually renew membership with CMC in our Covenant Renewal in January. Members are persons who have been baptized and shared their confession of faith in Jesus Christ with the congregation. We'll have Sundays for receiving new members in November and January. If you would like to discuss becoming a member of CMC, please contact one of your pastors. Pastoral Team.
Invitation to Join CMC Seniors Group: We frequently get asked questions like, “How do you join the seniors group?" or "What are the criteria for joining?" Very simply stated, "We have no criteria.” We welcome you to join, whatever your age, retired or not. In other words, if our seniors group interests you, please join us. The church office has a CMC seniors group email. To get involved with the seniors group you need to call the church office (433-2148) or email (cmc_office@cmcva.org) and ask to be placed on the CMC seniors group email. That email will keep you informed of upcoming activities planned. If those of you already in the seniors group know of new people attending CMC, please encourage them to get involved with us. We generally meet every other month and attempt to plan a variety of activities that we enjoy together. Probably a summary of the CMC seniors group is: a group where we learn, offer support and enjoy fellowship and laughter with each other. –The Seniors Planning Committee (Joan Kauffman, Larry Miller, Dick Stoltzfus)
CMC Senior Christmas Potluck: Christmas is a busy time, so we want you to be able to mark your calendars early. We are planning for the seniors Christmas potluck on Thursday, December 14 at 6:00 pm in the church fellowship hall, followed by a time of singing Christmas carols. Meat and drink will be provided. Please note the change: we are meeting on December 14 and NOT on December 12. We will be back with a reminder and more details in the future. This is the 4th or 5th year we have had a Christmas potluck and singing together, which everyone seems to enjoy. –Seniors Planning Committee
ACRS Gathering, November 13. We welcome Elaine and Richard Stoltzfus to Monday morning's ACRS regular gathering, November 13th from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. in the West Dining Room, Northlawn, EMU. Theme: “Hillbilly Elegy” and our 35 years in Appalachia.” Richard graduated from EMC & Elaine from Hunter College, New York City. Both were in the medical field spending 6 years in Haiti and 35 years in Harlan, KY. For more information, go to: http://www.emu.edu/acrs/events/
Interested in Car Sharing? If you are interested in car sharing options for local transportation, please be in touch with Hugh Stoll at hugh.stoll@gmail.com
Supporting Hartzlers in Romania. Jay and Sheri Hartzler left on Tuesday, Oct. 24 to serve eight more months in Romania. If you’d like to support their work, CMC is handling tax-deductible donations. Make checks payable to CMC and put “Hartzler-Romania” in the subject line. If you’d like to contribute specifically to the work of the woodshop, you can put “Romania-Woodshop” in the memo line. Jay and Sheri are grateful for your prayers and support.
You and Me and Community. Wonder how involved CMC people are in worthy causes and endeavors beyond themselves? For one answer, check the most recent photo collages on display on the bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall. The latest – a photo flashback to EMU's Homecoming and Centennial Weekend, Oct. 13-15, where Community folks were deeply involved in both behind-the-scenes planning and the myriad activities that contributed to the success of this celebrative and historic event. Next to it, a display that shows the many ways CMC persons served as volunteers at the 51st annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale Sept. 29-30, then joined in worship the following morning for World Communion Sunday, Oct. 1. This collage will be up and running for one more week. In addition, a report on the record-breaking sale from the Oct. 9 issue of Mennonite World Review has also been posted. Dough raise me, CMC! Jim Bishop
So What Else is Old? If after checking out the latest pictorial displays on the bulletin board on the west side of the fellowship hall you haven't gotten your photo fill, then do an about face to the east side bulletin board and embark on a visual voyage down the cobwebbed corridors of time. This display space will now be devoted to photo blasts from the past, remembering glory days and Menno nights of the way we were. The posters, many of them tying in to the church calendar and special programs, will change about once a month. The more we remember from whence we came, the better we'll be at discerning where God would have us go (and after all, two-third of God is "go"). –Jim Bishop
Exploring the Book of Revelation. When was the last time you read the book of Revelation or heard a sermon on it? Some people think it’s too scary. But it’s beautiful and not scary if we know how to read a visionary apocalypse. Reta Finger is writing biweekly lesson on Revelation at https://eewc.com/tag/studies-revelation/ Take a peek sometime.
LOST green windbreaker raincoat, hanging by the window of the coatroom last week. Please contact Sandy Burkhalter 540-565-1239 if you've seen it or picked it up by accident.
Looking for Apartment. A young woman who will be graduating from JMU and entering grad school there is looking to rent a room beginning this coming summer for the next academic year. She is a teaching assistant to one of the philosophy professors at JMU. She said that living near JMU is a preference, but would be open to living in the Park View area (near EMU). If you have an apartment that will be available this summer, or know of someone who does, please contact Mike Brislen (mdbrislen@yahoo.com).
Events and Announcements from the Broader Community
MCC Call to Action to Support the Dream Act. Urge your members of Congress to support the Dream Act. On Sept. 5, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be terminated in six months. The DACA program has provided protection from deportation and work permits to nearly 800,000 youth and young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children, including many in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations. Thanks to DACA, thousands have been able to attend college, work legally, and obtain driver’s licenses. Many now have children of their own.
#Faith4Dream Week is October 29 – November 4: Help amplify the call from people of faith across the country for Congress to pass the Dream Act. Interfaith Immigration Coalition resource; MCC Action alert: English | Spanish
Walk for OCP. Walk together with our community by taking part in OCP’s biggest fundraiser of the year! First, sign up as an individual walker, a team leader, or a team member at walk.dojiggy.com. Next, call, email or visit friends and relatives to ask for donations. Finally, celebrate on November 4 by joining OCP for live music, games, two free meals, and a walk. Questions? Email kenna@ourcommunityplace.org.
KreiderArt Open House. You are cordially invited to our 1st Annual Artisan Trail KreiderArt Gallery Fall Open House on Saturday, November 4, from 10 am-4 pm to see David Kreider's home studio, pyrographic arts classroom, and gallery as featured on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Artisan Trail (#10) and to see his recent work in multiple media pyrographic art and works in progress. Arts enthusiast friends and family are most welcome! Our address is 443 Lee Avenue, Harrisonburg. –David Kreider
Bridge of Hope's Annual Locavore Luncheon is Saturday, November 11, at Park View Mennonite Church. Doors open for silent auction at 11, meal begins at noon. Come and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by Bowl of Good with all locally sourced ingredients! Tickets are $25 individual or $175 for a table of 8 and are available at the door or by reserving your space by calling 478-2356. Gather your friends & family to eat, laugh, and do some Christmas shopping while supporting homeless and at-risk women and children in this community.
Mennonite Women Retreat. Mennonite Women of Virginia's annual retreat will be held November 10-12 in Natural Bridge, VA. The retreat theme is Gratitude Beyond Thank You and will feature Elaine Maust, a writer, spiritual director, and co-pastor of Jubilee Mennonite Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Scholarship funds are available. More information is available at http://virginiaconference.org/partners/mennonite-women-of-virginia/.
CrossRoads Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center – Harvest & Thanksgiving Hymn Sing. Join us on the CrossRoads campus for an afternoon of singing hymns of harvest and Thanksgiving on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 pm. During this season, join brothers and sisters in faith in coming together to be reminded of God's faithfulness through lifting your voices in songs of thanksgiving. A free-will offering will be received to support the mission and vision of CrossRoads Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center. 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. www.vbmhc.org/events-calendar
Don't miss OCP's November "Coastal South Night Out" on Monday, November 13. OCP Kitchen Manager Randi B. Hagi stirs together cuisines from the American low country on down to the Caribbean islands. Learn more and make your reservation at ourcommunityplace.org/no.
The Story of SEMILLA. EMU Cross-Cultural Programs invites you to join us in viewing the new documentary film, Semillas de Paz/Seeds of Peace: The Story of SEMILLA Latin American Anabaptist Seminary (36 mins.) on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7:00 p.m. in EMU Martin Chapel. Conversation on current and future work at SEMILLA will be hosted by Ann G. Hershberger, Professor of Nursing and Interim Director of Cross-Cultural Programs, and Marvin Lorenzana, SEMILLA board member. Located in Guatemala City, SEMILLA provides training for church leaders from across Central America, in addition to hundreds who have studied Spanish and culture through the CASAS program. In 2017, EMU Cross-Cultural celebrates 25 years of students studying and living in Guatemala City with CASAS.
Advent/Christmas Hymn Sing, Martin Chapel, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Dec. 2 at 4 PM. The Advent season is an important time in the Christian calendar. A time of waiting, stillness, darkness, and hope, Advent is the pre-dawn calm just before the brilliant light of Christmas. Join us for an afternoon of singing songs of Christmas and Advent, celebrating the waiting and the promise of Immanuel — God with us. Ken Nafziger and others lead this hymn sing in the beautiful Martin Chapel at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. A free-will offering will be received to support the mission and vision of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center. 1200 Park Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22802. www.vbmhc.org/events-calendar
Calling all Gingerbread Architects! Get out your blueprints and square your angles…the Great Gingerbread House Contest is on at Christmas at CrossRoads. Bring your Gingerbread House to the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center before Dec. 9 to be judged at Christmas at CrossRoads. Houses will be judged for Decoration, Design, and general Delightfulness. Drop off submissions at 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 next to Harrisonburg High School and across from Bluestone Elementary School.