COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH Harrisonburg, VA.
A new worship series that began Jan. 13 is titled “Whatever happened to . . .” with a focus on “topics that once were frequent subjects for sermons but are seldom preached about anymore.” Interim pastoral team member Shirley Yoder Brubaker spoke on hell and on nonconformity. Meg Wightman of pastoral team spoke on holiness and CMC member Nancy Heisey, chair of the Bible and religion department at EMU, responded to “whatever happened to salvation/sin?” Members were invited to suggest additional topics. -
CMC’s oldest members, Paul T. and Marjorie Guengerich, are featured in a new one-hour documentary produced by Media Ministries on “Embracing Aging.” The video was shown Jan. 20 at the church with comments from Sheri Hartzler and Wayne Gehman of the congregation who worked on the project and from Marjorie herself. The documentary aired locally Jan. 6 on WHSV-TV 3.
A “Speakeasy” was held the evening of Jan. 13 at the church for persons to share their visions for pastoral leadership as the search is under way for a new lead pastor. The search committee has received names of 25 potential candidates. All were contacted, with five interested in coming to CMC. The committee's next step is to narrow the list to two or three and to present one candidate in June.
Community Mennonite participated in an ecumenical program, HARTS (Harrisonburg-Rockingham Thermal Shelter), opening its recently-acquired Dean house across the street from the church to homeless persons, Jan. 21-28. Volunteers gave a total of 262 hours in assisting the average of nine persons who showed up each night - preparing and serving meals, staying overnight and doing laundry and cleaning. Several other churches in Rockingham County will be using the Dean house to participate in the HARTS program.
The congregation held an Ash Wednesday service the evening of Feb. 6.
Worship services on Lenten theme began Feb. 10, with pastoral team and congregational members speaking on movement from wandering, loneliness and despair (“Out of the Depths . . .) toward a path that leads to the promise of resurrection (. . . into New Life”).
Adult Sunday school course offerings during January-February included: Parenting Teenagers, Bible Study: the Gospel of John, Young Adult class, Open Window, Sunday Bunch, Silent Prayer, Quilting and Conversation, Coffee and Conversation and a college student class.
Membership transfer: Chris Long, from Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite Church.
Birth: Caitlin Hope, Feb. 29 (Leap Year Day) to Jason and Tonya Yoder Rupp.
- Jim Bishop