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Conference 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…
Read MoreA small congregation reaches out in a big way
3:16 Christian Community Church is a relatively small group that has made it our mission to be a big part of our surrounding community. We are located in a suburban setting on the edge of Hickory, N.C. We began our creative reputation by purchasing a building in 2016 that was never meant to be a…
Read MoreBig Spring serves Page County neighbors
Big Spring Mennonite Church is deeply involved in many ways in Page County, Virginia. Our regular Wednesday noon prayer group prays for the needs and hopes of our community. We are reaching beyond those gathered for worship by attending quarterly events at the assisted-living facility of one of our members, and volunteering at a…
Read MoreHospitality: Ministry in the Neighborhood
Recently I enjoyed a fun and dynamic time with my three-year-old granddaughter. She was adamant that I “look” at the plethora of things she wanted to show me. I don’t speak Spanish and she doesn’t speak English. Her mother was born in D.R. Congo, grew up in Kenya and the US, but now serves with…
Read MoreSunday schools shape Christian faith
The Sunday school movement in Virginia Mennonite Conference had an uncertain beginning 150 years ago. In 1869, seventeen Virginia ministers barely got the two-thirds majority needed to pass a resolution allowing Sunday schools. Only one of the three bishops in that 1869 Conference meeting supported Sunday schools. Fortunately that supporting bishop presided over Emanuel Suter’s…
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