Local Events and Opportunities
Blue Ridge Ministries is offering their annual leadership luncheon October 15 at Traditions Restaurant with conversation around the book, The Spacious Heart: Room for Spiritual Awakening. Authors Don Clymer and his sister Sharon Clymer Landis will share their insights and stories as pastors and lay leaders from various denominations dialogue around the table on the topic. Come join others in the conversation. Register at the lower cost by October 1.
Join the 18th annual Bike Shenandoah on Saturday, September 19. Bike Shenandoah is a cycle for service offering five rides for all ages and abilities. The ride starts and ends at Eastern Mennonite School (801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, Va.) and supports NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center, Our Community Place, Roberta Webb Child Care Center, MennoMedia, Mennonite Central Committee and Virginia Mennonite Missions. Visit bikeshenandoah.org or contact bikeshencycle4service@gmail.com
Beldor Church invites you to please join them for their 80-year celebration of ministry Sunday, September 20. If through the years you were part of their worship and ministries, they especially hope you can attend. The event starts at 10 am with socializing and assembling. Worship begins at 11 am with potluck/program of remembrances following. J. David Yoder will preach during worship and provide keynote remembrances from his time as assistant pastor, followed by open-mic for other people. Please bring a "covered dish" to share.
You are invited to Our Community Place's ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE on Monday, September 21 at OCP, 17 East Johnson Street. Doors open at 6:30pm, program begins at 7. The OCP Board of Directors has planned this special event intended to inform the general public of how OCP is doing and allow those who wish to ask questions or voice concerns. Coffee and desserts will be served, followed by a program consisting of stories from community members, vision for the upcoming year, and an update on the currently underway kitchen remodeling. Please consider joining us for this event.
MCC Bike PA 2015: Health for Nigeria – Join 40-50 other riders for a three day bicycle road tour through the beautiful forest and farmland of central Pennsylvania from Sunday, September 20 (all day) to Tuesday, September 22, (all day). Along with enjoying the ride with great company, you'll be supporting MCC's health work in Nigeria. For more information, and to register, see www.mcc.org/get-involved/events/mcc-bikepa2015-health-nigeria Or call Luke Schrock-Hurst in the Harrisonburg, VA based MCC office at (540) 437-1201.
Can we as business and organizational leaders remain fully committed to our Anabaptist values yet work each day with the ambiguous realities inherent in our everyday work world? Is it possible that business and organization leaders can do more to affect positive change in people and communities than church or government organizations? The local Shenandoah Valley MEDA chapter is pleased to invite you and your family to hear Jim Smucker present on Business and Kingdom Building. Jim will draw on his 27 years of experience as a business and community leader. The event will be held on Thursday, September 24, in the Eastern Mennonite University Science Center, room 55, beginning at 7:00 PM. Beverages and light snacks will be provided. If you would like to attend please RSVP to eckardp@emu.edu by Monday, September 21.
Credentialed leaders in Virginia Mennonite Conference are invited to a VMC Pastor’s Breakfast featuring Dr. Darrell Guder, on “Mission-Shaped Communities.” Join us Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 am in Park View Mennonite Church's Fellowship Hall. Reservations are required + $10 for meal by Sept. 18. Register at www.wp.me/P2AxnQ-Iv
Charge up your video camera or phone! The Everence Money Talks video contest starts taking entries Oct.1. It’s open to everyone ages 15 to 25, and you can win the top award of $2,000, split between you and your selected charity. There are also prizes for second and third place. Visit www.everence.com/moneytalks for details and guidelines. The deadline to enter is Nov. 15. Contact Teresa Boshart Yoder with questions at teresa.boshartyoder@everence.com
Discover what it means to join in God’s mission and the paradigm shift in becoming a missional church. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission that has a church in the world. Missional Church: Vision, Learning, Refocus will be a four-day seminar featuring Dr. Darrell Guder. Join us from Monday, September 28, to Thursday, October 1 at various venues in Harrisonburg. Dr. Guder is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Henry Winters Luce Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology. Learn more at www.virginiaconference.org/news/missional-church-seminar/
Come run or walk (or volunteer) with us at the 5K Race for Relief at the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale on October 3 at 8:30am. Proceeds go towards MCC. Sign up online at runwalkjog.com/relief
Spare change can have a powerful impact with My Coins Count, a program of Mennonite Central Committee and Virginia Mennonite Missions, which will be counted at this year's Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale on October 3. Funds this year will go to Kids Club (Shenandoah Valley, Va.); Maranatha School for the Deaf, Jamaica; Joshua Center, Albania; a school for Sudanese refugees, Egypt; and the Village Altonodji, a school for vulnerable children, Chad. Learn more at www.vmmissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-MyCC-infosheet.pdf
If you are looking for a chance to attend the MEDA convention "Growing Business, Building Community" in Richmond, Virginia this November 5-8, here is an opportunity! The Shenandoah Valley MEDA chapter is excited to offer a scholarship to a young adult between the ages of 18 – 25. Check out the link for more details about the convention: http://www.meda.org/meda-convention To apply, please submit a 500-word essay answering the question: Why do you want to attend the MEDA convention? Think about the following: What do you hope to learn or experience by attending the national convention? What is the significance of MEDA? Why is it important that men and women are coming together in faith, to pursue business solutions to poverty? Deadline for essay: Friday, October 2. Please submit your essay to: heidiaderstine@gmail.com
Every day a decision is made regarding an unintended pregnancy. Nearly ⅓ of these pregnancies result in abortion. AVA Care of Harrisonburg provides education on all options, help on all options, help through referrals and community resources, and hope through volunteers willing to care for these women during their most critical moments. We are committed to the sanctity of human life, even in hard cases. If you love to serve and care for women, please contact nancy@avacareforyou.org or 540.434.0685. Training is provided. Check out all AVA Care volunteer opportunities support-avacare.org.
Employment and Volunteer Opportunities:
Virginia Mennonite Missions seeks a full-time Director of Advancement. Qualified candidates should demonstrate a passion for the gospel, an active commitment to the church, strong skills in leadership, communications, and interpersonal relationships, and the ability to organize and motivate a team. Experience in the areas of fundraising and public relations preferred. Interested persons, please contact Dianna Lehman: dianna.lehman@vmmissions.org. More details at http://vmmissions.org/u/bk6
Eastern Mennonite University is seeking applicants for a full time Administrative Assistant for the Undergraduate Dean’s Office. Responsible to provide essential support services to the Undergraduate Dean’s Office. Assists in preparing and developing the undergraduate academic division budget; manages the faculty salary/contract process; plans events; coordinates the summer school program. Provides first-line response to questions addressed to the undergraduate dean’s office; fields phone calls; sorts mail; schedules meetings as requested by the undergraduate academic dean. Collaborates in planning, coordinating and implementing the personnel, information, calendar and events components of the undergraduate academic program of the university. Bachelor’s degree required. At least 3-4 years’ office experience required. Submit letter of application, resume and the contact information for three references to: Human Resources, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, hr@emu.edu . For more information visit our website at www.emu.edu/humanresources. Eastern Mennonite University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing diversity across the institution. EMU conducts criminal background investigations as part of the hiring process.
Virginia Mennonite Missions Prayer Request:
September 20
As new Kids Club ministries begin to launch at several VMC congregations, pray for energy and discernment for Seth and Theresa Crissman as they guide these congregations.