Middle School Retreat: Timeless stories of God’s transforming power and grace

Brad Kolb

[dropcap]The[/dropcap] weather was nearly perfect when middle school students, youth workers, and youth pastors from Virginia Mennonite Conference gathered at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Retreat Center in Wirtz, Va., on September 20 and 21 for the conference’s annual Middle School Retreat. With full sunshine and temperatures in the upper 50s, both the youth and…

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Spirit instinct!

Clyde G. Kratz

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.…

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Making disciples as we go!

Hundreds gathered for worship, delegate sessions and workshops to engage a fundamental call of Jesus: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. This theme also guided each Bible study, testimony, worship message and delegate table conversation over the two-day Assembly, July 24-26, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Va. Clyde G. Kratz, Executive Conference…

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Anabaptist Renewal Circles hosts national gathering in Pennsylvania

Beryl Jantzi

A national gathering of MC USA pastors, agency representatives and interested church members took place at the Weaverland Mennonite Church in Lancaster County, Pa. July 10-12. About 160 registered for the event with 15 in attendance from Virginia Mennonite Conference. Participants came from many states and other parts of the church. “For me, in a…

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Mennonite Hispanic Initiative: developing leaders with IBA

Skip Tobin

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if immigrant church leaders had a place to gather and grow together in understanding how to live into the good news in their new Virginia contexts? This is what actually happens through Mennonite Hispanic Initiative’s Instituto Biblico Anabautista (IBA) study center. IBA’s purpose is to promote theological-biblical training of Spanish-speaking leaders…

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Mennonite Women of Virginia to host annual Fall Retreat

Everyone is invited to Mennonite Women of Virginia annual Fall Retreat. The Retreat will be held at the Richmond Marriott West (Hotel) in Glen Allen, Virginia (Richmond) on November 7-9, 2014. Registration starts at 4:00 pm. Our speakers will be Brenda Walton, Machelle Bender, Sharon Miller, Marian Buckwalter. Our theme for this Year’s Retreat is…

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Conference Endorsed Ministries: MDS and CrossRoads Heritage Center

MDS continues rebuilding homes and lives after Sandy On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey. The effects of this superstorm are still being felt by many persons along the East Coast and in the Appalachian mountains. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) of Virginia has been extensively involved with rebuilding homes and the…

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Leaders explore theme of baptism and memberships at second Pastoral Leaders Consultation event in Powhatan

Clyde G. Kratz

Powhatan Mennonite Church was the location of the second Pastoral Leaders Consultation held on Friday, May 2. Tim Kennel, pastor of the congregation, hosted the event along with the assistance of the hospitality committee that provided refreshments, abundance of food for the noon meal, and generous friendships. A worship team from the congregation provided a…

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Assembly will explore Making Disciples As We Go!

Shirley Yoder Brubaker

What will you enjoy most when attending VMC’s annual Assembly this July in Charlottesville? The robust singing in the evening worship service? Animated discussions around your delegate table? A new idea for your congregation garnered from a workshop? Sitting around the supper table with friends you rarely get to see? Or, perhaps, just basking in…

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