Local Events and Opportunities:
On Sunday, April 3rd, Rachel Smucker, the East Coast Admissions Counselor of Goshen College, will be at Park View Mennonite Church (1600 College Ave.) during the worship service from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. and during Sunday school from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to provide information about Goshen College. She will be available to answer any questions that the youth group may have about college and the application process. In addition to the April 3rd Park View Mennonite Church visit, Rachel will travel to Harrisonburg High School on April 4th and Eastern Mennonite High School on April 5th. She will be in the cafeteria during the lunch hour, at both schools.
EMU athletics director and parent, Dave King, recently co-authored a new book “Overplayed: A Parent’s Guide to Sanity in the World of Youth Sports.” The book launch party is Sunday April 3 from 5-7 p.m. in the President’s Reception room in University Commons at EMU. Author comments will be at 6 p.m. Books will be available for $15. Refreshments will be served. There may also be a surprise or two. All are invited!
Syrian Refugee Crisis Fundraising Event: There is still room available the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) International Student Organization (ISO) Annual Spring Fundraiser Dinner on Saturday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. in EMU’s Martin Greeting Hall (Campus Center). The ISO hosts an annual event to raise awareness of a specific current tragedy. This year we have chosen to reach out to and support Syrian refugees. We are saddened by the idea of families being forcibly driven out of their homes and having to flee to foreign lands, becoming refugees and essentially starting over, all in hopes of saving their lives and the lives of their children. At the fundraising event, a number of speakers will share their stories, similar experiences and knowledge of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. In addition to a delicious meal and informative speakers, there will also be a silent auction. All proceeds will be donated to the local Refugee Resettlement office. We would appreciate your presence and participation in this important event! Entrance admittance is $20.00 per person. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 6th to iso@emu.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!
Leading into the Common Good: an Anabaptist Perspective is a conference for practitioners, scholars and students. Come join us to discuss a future leadership paradigm. The workshop topics are Emergent Leadership, Leading Innovation, People Management Ethics, Developing Resilient Organizations, and Authentic Leadership. The first session begins Thursday, April 7 and continues through noon Saturday, April 9. For registration and more information: emu.edu/leadership-conference
EMU leadership conference to create a new paradigm of “Leading into the Common Good.” Author and speaker Peter Block headlines a list of notable speakers for “Leading into the Common Good: An Anabaptist Perspective,” a conference for practitioners, scholars and students April 7-9, 2016, at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). Block, a well-known expert on organizational development, community building and civic engagement, will address the conference live via video. Many other speakers and workshop leaders will provide input over the two days. Learn more at http://emu.edu/now/news/2016/02/emu-leadership-conference-to-create-a-new-paradigm-of-leading-into-the-common-good/
You are invited to an evening of musical entertainment featuring Matthew Stearn, Jeremiah Padilla and Tara Davis, Saturday, April 9 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Park View Mennonite Church. Tickets are $15 at door and refreshments are provided. Proceeds will benefit Virginia Mennonite Missions workers Steve and Bethany Tobin Horst.
The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, under the direction of Janet Hostetter, will present “Rising on Wings of Song" Sunday, April 10, 4:00 p.m. at EMU’s Lehman Auditorium. The concert will feature hammered dulcimer player, Timothy Seaman and celtic harpist, Ann Robinson from Williamsburg, Virginia. Tickets are available on-line at emu.edu/box-office or by calling 540-432-4582. Admission is $15 for adults/$12 for seniors and students and $7 for children age 12 and under. Young singers (ages 5-18) wishing to participate in the programs of SVCC should call 540-432-4650 for more information.
A Folk Instrument Workshop featuring hammered dulcimer player, Timothy Seaman and Celtic harpist, Ann Robinson will take place on Saturday, April 9, 10:00-11:00 am in Eastern Mennonite High School’s auditorium. Seaman and Robinson are quality musicians from the Williamsburg area who capably play a variety of instruments including dulcimers, fiddle, penny whistles and more. The workshop is sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir and is open to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door.
"Holy and Beloved" is a gathering for women who minister in many ways. Come to share your passions and encourage each other on April 16, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Discipleship Center, Eastern Mennonite University. The day includes worship, workshops and lunch. Cost is $20 and childcare is provided. www.emu.edu/seminary/women-in-ministry.
Small Church Big Impact is a workshop to address the unique challenges for small and/or rural VMC congregations (100 active members or less), Saturday, April 16, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, at Shady Oak Fellowship Hall (part of Weavers Mennonite Church), 2501 Rawley Pike, Harrisonburg, Va. David Boshart, Moderator-Elect of Mennonite Church USA, will be our plenary speaker. Learn more and register at virginiaconference.org/news/small-church-big-impact/
Plan to attend Virginia Mennonite Missions' Auction & Family Missions Festival, May 13-14. Join us on Friday at 5:30 pm for a Hispanic meal catered by Mennonite Hispanic Initiative, with an auction following at 6:00 pm by Ministry Support Teams to benefit mission workers. The fun continues on Saturday (11:30 am to 3:00 pm) with Family Missions Festival, including tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), model airplanes and drone, a soccer tournament, balloon animals, bouncy house, great music, and more! Visit booths highlighting our work and workers around the world, and get your 'passport' stamped for a prize!
Register Now for Kaleidoscope Summer Camp! Camps are available for ages 7 to 18 and run from June 26 through August 4. Fun activities, great counselors, Christ-centered worship, amazing food and new friends! Information is on the web at www.wcrc.info or call us at 866-566-9272.
The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale will be celebrating its 50th sale this year! If you have pictures of some of the early sales that you would be interested in sharing, please email 50yearsofsales@gmail.com.
Employment and Volunteer Opportunities:
AVA Care of Harrisonburg has scheduled a training event for anyone interested in volunteering as a nurse (RN/LPN) or a client advocate. AVA Care provides services to those facing unintended pregnancies. Nurses administer pregnancy tests, and educate clients based on their pregnancy test result. Client advocates provide crisis intervention advocacy, and options education. Join us Fri. & Sat., April 8 & 9, from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. For more information, or to participate contact Nancy Martin at nancy@avacareforyou, or 540.434.0685.
Looking for a job? There are positions available for youth (Lifeguards, staff-in-training, support and counselor assistants) and adults (counselors, camp secretary, media/adventure specialist, program/worship coordinator, aquatic director, camp nurse, cooks, maintenance assistants). Job descriptions available here: http://goo.gl/w7OjGE, and the application is available here: http://goo.gl/gjkkDS
Prayer Request:
Please pray for Shawn and Laura Green and their three boys as their service reappointment to Italy has been delayed because of lack of funding. The Italian Mennonite Church is anxious for their return to ministry. Pray that adequate support can be raised for their release. The Greens serve with Virginia Mennonite Missions.
Virginia Mennonite Missions Prayer Request:
April 3
Lift up the young girls and mothers who attend a Bible Study with Norma Teles in Albania. Pray that they will understand what Jesus has to offer them.