News
Community VBS at Stephens City engages area church relationships
This summer, nine churches in the Stephens City area built relationships by participating in a vibrant Community Vacation Bible School. Pastor James Musser explored the idea of working together as smaller faith communities with a few local pastors. The interest grew and we ended up with people committed from a total of 9 churches in…
Oasis of Hope awarded ‘Peace Mug’ by VMC Peace Committee
On July 27, Spencer Bradford, Virginia Mennonite Conference Peace Committee co-chair, addressed the delegate session at the VMC assembly in Chesapeake, Va., for the annual presentation of the VMC ‘Peace Mug.’ Spencer described Oasis of Hope, the organization that is honored with the mug. Oasis of Hope is a community of people in Newport News,…
After all these years…
On July 9, 1972, at the age of 22, in the seventh month of my marriage with Ruth Ann Augsburger, I was ordained to the ministry in Bluesky, Alberta, Canada. Yes, that is now 40 years! (That would be three children, 2.75 grandchildren, 3 congregational ministry assignments, “x” number of conference and churchwide service assignments,…
“Close Encounters of the God Kind” at Middle School Retreat
Middle school youth in grades 6-8 and adult sponsors are invited from all Conference churches to the Virginia Mennonite Conference Middle School Retreat, September 22–23, 2012, at Smith Mountain Lake. Join us for a weekend of worship, faith stories, energetic activities, and friendship building! The retreat is held at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference…
Organic church planters’ Greenhouse event coming to Harrisonburg
An excellent opportunity to continue to learn and grow as followers of Jesus is coming up soon. On October 19-21, Virginia Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Hispanic Initiative (MHI) will host an “Organic Church Planters’ Greenhouse” intensive training with Neil Cole from Church Multiplication Resources (CMAR), held at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. A Greenhouse is a three-day…
“Sister Care” retreat is coming to Virginia
Sisters seeking spiritual renewal and a fun getaway will get both at “We are God’s Beloved Daughters,” the Mennonite Women of Virginia Fall Retreat Sept. 21-23 at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center in Lynchburg, Va. Guest speakers Carolyn Heggen and Rhoda Keener will present “Sister Care: Equipping Women for Caring Ministry.” Early registration deadline is…
FMC ‘cyber Sunday school’ connects with mission workers abroad
For the month of May, the youth of First Mennonite Church of Richmond participated in a cyber Sunday school class, in which the Internet served as a classroom resource and as a global window to visit Mennonite missionaries and young people, worldwide. The first Sunday we familiarized ourselves with use of the Internet in the…
Judith R. Trumbo appointed Chair of FLC
Judith R. Trumbo has been appointed as Chair of the Faith & Life Commission, beginning Sept. 1, 2012. A member of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, she was formerly chair of the Church Council. Judith has also served in various leadership capacities for Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, Va., currently Director of Perioperative Services and Organizational Excellence. She…
With Pedal Power, cyclists of all ages gear up to support community development, missions
A year ago, Calvin and Eve Bixler were the youngest riders in the annual Bike Shenandoah. The siblings, six and two-years-old, respectively, completed the five-mile ride with their parents, Sarah and Ben, whose bikes were outfitted to bring the little ones along. “We really enjoy biking,” Sarah, who attends Eastside Church, said recently. “It’s good…
Jan Emswiler selected as EMS Science Alumni Honor Award recipient
Since the spring of 2006, the Eastern Mennonite High School Science Department has honored an alumnus each year who “exemplifies both a life of service to others consistent with God’s calling and a significant achievement in an area of science.” Past recipients have included doctors, educators, and even a robotics expert currently employed by Google,…
Patchwork Pantry celebrates 20 years of service
The Patchwork Food Pantry, which serves Harrisonburg and Rockingham County residents in need with a three-day supply of staple foods, opened May 27, 1992, out of the Community Mennonite Church building at 70 South High Street. Each Wednesday night from 7-8 p.m. 25 volunteers serve food to approximately 50 families. An additional three volunteers play…
African Pentecostalism, a recipe for global church growth
On Saturday, May 19, 28 followers of Jesus from both Calvary and Eastern District congregations gathered in Williamsburg Mennonite Church to discuss what is a disciple and how do we make them? Two persons from international cultures and communities—Phil Detweiler who served with Mennonite Missions Network for 21 years in Africa and Skip Tobin who…