Posts by Jon Trotter
Our journey on the Emmaus road
I have been reflecting on the Emmaus Road experience found in chapter 24 of Luke’s Gospel. Two followers of Jesus are going to Emmaus. Along the way, a stranger joins them. They travel together talking about the events that have occurred. Recounting the death and resurrection of Jesus, there is an aura of confusion, bewilderment,…
Read MoreGrieving alone: a new challenge for families, congregations, and our faith community
Pastors and Leaders Update On April 5, I had the privilege of providing a meditation for Asheville Mennonite Church via Zoom. Followers of Jesus were commemorating the hope they held as the processional headed for Jerusalem. It was a time of hopeful acknowledgement that the future will be different. As it turned out in biblical…
Read MoreThis time of crisis requires adaptations, innovations, and perseverance by faith leaders
April 3, 2020 Pastors and Leaders within Virginia Mennonite Conference, As I anticipate celebrating Palm Sunday, I fondly remember children walking into the meetinghouse waving palm branches and smiling boldly; their enthusiasm was in the air. I remember the uplifting singing and the sense of a celebrative mood. I am celebrating today that our congregations…
Read MoreLeading through difficult choices
Jesus instructed the blind man to go to the pool of Siloam to receive his sight (John 9). Not knowing what to expect, he stumbled and made his way to the pool, and received his sight. Blindness is a relevant metaphor for the circumstances many leaders have experienced. They are moving forward into the unknown,…
Read MoreConference responds to the coronavirus
This letter and list of resources was sent to Virginia Mennonite Conference leaders on March 19, 2020. Dear Virginia Mennonite Conference Leaders, Hope springs forth! Rosy pink blossoms of the redbud are blooming, a dazzling yellow on the forsythia, and the soft pink of the apple blossoms display the hopeful magnificence of spring. But…
Read MoreVMC offices closed to public until further notice
In response to recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Virginia Mennonite Conference offices are closed until further notice. Additionally, in-person meetings have been cancelled. VMC will continue to evaluate the situation. Thank you for your understanding. If you have Conference business or questions, you can contact Executive Conference Minister Clyde G. Kratz or…
Read MoreVMRC community engagement reflects heritage
Core values create a foundation for an organization’s mission and purpose. Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community embraces its heritage, one of its core values: We are Christ-centered, rooted in our Anabaptist heritage of stewardship, service, justice and compassion. “As part of VMRC’s vision to be a destination for those who want to age well in…
Read MoreEngaging the community by embracing anti-bias education
Immanuel Mennonite Church founded the Roberta Webb Child Care Center (RWCCC), and it was established as its own entity on November 14, 1994. In celebration of our twenty-fifth anniversary, we are embracing and reflecting on the values, character and legacy of our namesake, Mrs. Roberta Anna Morgan Webb (1889-1990). She engaged the community with a…
Read MoreNewBridges supports a community of neighbors
Mennonite churches wanting to serve the more recent immigrant communities to the Shenandoah Valley launched NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center in 2000. We are located in downtown Harrisonburg and connect with hundreds of individuals and families in our region who have questions ranging from where to find English classes to where one can locate affordable healthcare.…
Read MoreRooted in Christ as God’s beloved daughters
When did you last splotch colors of paint on your hand, then stamp your handprint on paper? This was the beginning of a beautiful piece of art at Women’s Retreat as we reflected on being Rooted in Christ. Each session we added something more to the picture — roots growing deep, branches high and…
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