Bulletin notes

Sunday, November 24, 2024

If you have a bulletin announcement to share, email a succinct blurb to [email protected] by Wednesdays at noon. 

Virginia Mennonite Conference

Opening to Grace Retreat: Join Paula Stoltzfus and Pat Hostetter Martin, Gestalt Pastoral Care (GPC) Ministers, on December 6 & 7 for retreat and renewal using GPC to nurture inner growth work. Experience the healing art of weaving together mind, body, spirit, emotions, and social context into greater integrated wholeness. GPC trusts in God’s Spirit at work in each of us no matter what faith background we come from. All are welcome! For more information and to register, click here. Space is limited, sign up soon to ensure a spot.

Pathways 10.1 is now online. Look for hard copies in your mailbox or at your church. https://virginiaconference.org/read-pathways/

Celebrating Anabaptism at 500

NEW! On Sunday, February 2, from 4-6pm at First Baptist Church of Richmond (2709 Monument Ave.), we will be gathering Mennonites and other Anabaptists from around Virginia for a celebration and exploration of the impact of Anabaptism and how its spiritual commitments are needed today. Greg Boyd, pastor, theologian, and leading voice for the Neo-Anabaptism movement, will be the keynote speaker (via Zoom). Music and a panel of speakers from other denominations will also be featured, followed by a reception. Sponsored and organized by the Eastern District Council of VMC. Mark your calendars now!

Mennonite Arts Weekend: Early-bird registration is open for the 2025 Mennonite Arts Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 7-9. This weekend celebrates the creativity and discipline of Anabaptist Mennonite artists. Find the list of presenters, registration and location information at https://mennoniteartsweekend.org.

On January 21, 2025, upon the 500th anniversary of the beginning of Anabaptism, all are invited to Park View Mennonite Church at 7:00 pm. We will remember our baptisms, our hymns, and our history. Song Leader Andrea Early is choosing hymns from five centuries which will be printed in a booklet to be taken home after the service. The planning committee includes those from the Old Order Mennonite community, the Southeastern Mennonite Conference, and the Virginia Mennonite Conference. If you cannot attend in person, join online at pvmchurch.org.

“Five Centuries, Five Lectures”: Remembering Anabaptist & Mennonite History. All are invited to a 35-45 minute Thursday lecture series January 30th to February 27th. It is free of charge with in-person or online options. These lectures feature Dr. John Roth, Dr. Mary Sprunger, Elwood Yoder, Caleb Schrock-Hurst, and Dr. Andrew Suderman. Locations not yet announced: Stay tuned.

AMBS Pastors & Leaders 2025: Anabaptism at 500: Looking Back, Living Forward: Feb. 17–20 (in person and online). As we celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism, join us to examine how the values of the early Anabaptists still resonate today and can guide us into the future! Gain intercultural perspectives on how reading the Bible in community can help us connect more authentically in our present and future contexts. Speakers (in order of presentation): John D. Roth, PhD; Kelbessa Muleta Demena, MDiv; and Lesley Francisco McClendon, DMin. Register by Jan. 20 and save $50! ambs.edu/pastors-and-leaders

Mennonite Church USA

November marks Native American Heritage month in the United States. Creation Justice Ministries invites us to recognize and seek repair with our Indigenous siblings who have stood as healers of the land for millennia, and who are actively protecting the more than human world. Congregations can study and discuss their “Environmental Justice with Indigenous Peoples” resource. You can also sign up to receive a new resource entitled “Truth, Healing, and Repair: A Resource for Churches on Environmental Justice with Indigenous People,” to be released later this month.

Check out the Lead/Follow podcast, hosted by executive director Glen Guyton, on the Mennonite Church USA YouTube channel! Click here to view current and past seasons.

Follow Jesus ‘25, MC USA Biennial Convention will take place at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8-12, 2025. Planning team includes VMC’s Caleb McClendon from Calvary Community Church. Registration information to come!

Read and subscribe to Equipping, Mennonite Church USA’s quarterly resource newsletter for pastors and ministry leaders. View the most recent issue here: mennoniteusa.org/equipping-april-2024 Subscribe to Equipping here: mennoniteusa.org/equipping-subscribe

Agencies

URGENT NEED! This has been a turbulent weather season. Mennonite Disaster Services is currently working in various sites affected by hurricane Helene. There is a national wait list at mds.org. Shenandoah Valley MDS is focusing on helping neighbors in Southern VA. damaged by the hurricane. If you would like to help, please call Woody Driver at (540) 820-9676. Donations made to VMC churches will be used in VA.

COMING UP! The Second Annual Community Thankfulness Event is to be held at Asbury United Methodist Church located at 205 S. Main Street on November 25 from 7 – 8:30 PM. The Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg-Rockingham is hosting a cultural celebration of our unity in our community. Participating groups and individuals will offer a three to five-minute artistic presentation consisting of music, dance, opera, drama, storytelling, poetry, or some other cultural representation of their faith community. This event is free to the public with light refreshments following the program. Donations are accepted and will benefit Valley Open Doors. For further Information, contact Laura brDouglass at [email protected].

Register Now for Shalom Academy 2025 at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Join us for the Shalom Academy (formerly SLT) from January 6-8, 2025, the the theme: “Release to the Captives: Restorative Justice, Abolition, and Ministry with Incarcerated Persons.” Learn with Chris Hoke (Underground Ministries) Howard Zehr, and David Evans, and more. For more details and to register, click here. Discount expires on November 30, 2024!

The Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center’s annual Christmas event will this year feature a dramatized tour, titled This Solid Ground. In This Solid Ground, visitors will progress through four different buildings on the Heritage Center campus, each with a scene that brings to life what Christmas Eve in 1871 might have been like for Brethren and Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley.  These special tours will take place on December 14, 15, 21 and 22, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm each day. Tours will begin every 15 minutes, with a maximum of 10 persons per group.  Registration is required to attend; for more information and to register, please visit https://brethrenmennoniteheritage.org/heritage-christmas-1.

VMMissions and friends are creating fellowship opportunities for young adults, open to all young adults around the Shenandoah Valley area! On Friday, December 6, a Christmas Party at 7pm will be happening at the VMMissions Barn (601 Parkwood Dr, Harrisonburg) which will include an ugly sweater contest, Minute to Win It games, and more (bring a snack to share). If you or your congregation have questions or would like to be added to the email list for future events, please email [email protected].

Job Opportunities

MennoMedia seeks a full-time and a part-time customer service representative to work from our Harrisonburg office. Customer service representatives are responsible for providing exceptional service to customers, addressing inquiries, and building relationships. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Amy Gingerich, [email protected] or read more at www.mennomedia.org/job-openings/.

Weavers Mennonite Church is starting a new program for after school childcare and is in search of an Activity Leader to head up the program Monday through Friday afternoons. Job responsibilities include watching over the children and facilitating games and imaginative play. For more information about the job and how to apply, please contact Leslie Early at [email protected].

Mennonite Mission Network is looking for a Regional Director of North America (Longer-Term Service) (Full time – Hybrid or In-Office in Elkhart, Indiana or Newton, Kansas, Remote).The Regional Director of North America (Longer-Term Service) will oversee the partnerships and program logistics of Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS), a one-year volunteer service experience for individuals age 20+, and Service Adventure, a 10-month service experience for those who are 17-20 years of age, and other longer-term opportunities. If further interested or to apply, you may visit us at  www.MennoniteMission.net/about/Employment. Please email Mennonite Mission Network – Human Resources if you have additional questions at [email protected].

Upcoming Events

Feb 1 2025 Winter Delegate Assembly