Mission
Virginia Mennonite Conference equips pastors, lay leaders, and congregants for worship and service, and to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to neighbors near and far.
Bulletin notes
Sunday, November 3, 2024
If you have a bulletin announcement to share, email a succinct blurb to [email protected] by Wednesdays at noon.
Virginia Mennonite Conference
Check out INSIGHT: A word from the Conference Ministry Team — The new Conference Ministry Team (Maren, Tyedmers Hange, Phil Kniss, Juan Carlos Malvaez, and June Miller) was commissioned on October 6 at Ridgeway Mennonite Church/Manantia de Vida. You can read what they have to say on our website.
Living Theology Conversations for Local Leaders: On November 12 from 12 to 1:30 pm, join Eastern Mennonite Seminary alums Chad Miller and Steve Pardini, and Dr. Sarah Bixler for theology-centered conversations over lunch. The topic will center around the idea of passing our faith to our children. How do we handle the tension of wanting to include everyone and the call to individual commitment to the life of faith? How flexible is our theology of baptism and communion? Does it matter that our children choose our faith? Open to clergy and lay leaders. With support from EMS, lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by emailing Chad at [email protected].
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.
VMC Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study: VMC Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study: Join us for fellowship, bible study, and worship on Tuesday mornings at Park View Mennonite Church. Breakfast 6:45 am, study 7:00 am. If you can’t make it in person, you can livestream the study or watch recordings of previous studies on the VMC Men’s YouTube page. For further information, you can visit the Men’s Bible Study webpage.
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! 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
NEW! Check out the Lead/Follow podcast, hosted by executive director Glen Guyton, on the Mennonite Church USA YouTube channel! This week is with Mackenzie Miller in how she claimed Anabaptist theology as her own. Click here to view.
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! Eastern Mennonite Seminary is excited to announce that Felipe Hinojosa will be our guest speaker for the 2024 Augsburger Lectureship. He is Professor of History and the Jackson Family Chair for Baylor University in Latin American, as well as the author of two award-winning books. In light of the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism, Dr. Hinojosa will be speaking on Quiet Riots: The Promise of Interethnic Anti-Racism and the Future of Anabaptism. Mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 7, Martin Chapel, 7:00pm.
Pleasant View’s Fall Banquet: You are invited to join Pleasant View at 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Eastern Mennonite School for our fall banquet! The banquet is a chance for all of us to pause and reflect on the stories of Pleasant View in the company of loving community. Join us for food, music, fellowship, and the gift of friendship that Pleasant View offers. We have a limited number of seats available. Please RSVP to Pam Miller at [email protected] or call 540-560-1134 by November 1, 2024.
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.
Menonite 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
Nov 5 Men’s Bible Study
Feb 1 2025 Winter Delegate Assembly