Worship this Sunday, May 27, 2018
Worship Leader: Joyce Peachey Lind
Song Leader: Nancy Heisey
Children’s Time: Ruth Stoltzfus Jost
Scripture Readers: Betty and Keaton Shenk; Malia and Jennifer North Bauman
Preacher: Jennifer Davis Sensenig
Pastoral Prayer: Jordan Luther
Prelude/Offertory: Matthew Hunsberger
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17
Bulletin: 052718-Bulletin.docx
Upcoming CMC Events
Mon, May 28 CMC office closed (Memorial Day)
Wed, May 30 Women’s Bible Study, 9-10:15 am, Room 109
Sun, June 3 Monthly Potluck at Westover Park, Shelter #4
CMC Events and Announcements
CMC Compassion Fund: Thank you for the generous offering on Sunday, May 20th which raised $1,070 for our compassion fund. If you are aware of a need within our CMC family that could be alleviated in part by financial support, please consider making a compassion fund request. The request form and the grant guidelines are available on the CMC website at https://cmcva.org/commissions/administration-commission/grants-and-compassion-committee/.
CMC Women's Bible Study–Spring Series. Bring your Bible and bring a friend to CMC’s women's Bible study, Wednesdays in May from 9-10:15 am in Room 109. Pastor Jennifer will lead this series following the scriptures that were in focus the previous Sunday–so a few passages from the Gospel of John, the Pentecost story from Acts, and additional scriptures relevant for the church today. Bring your little ones! Childcare provided.
Adult Education Class in Room 109, Sunday, May 27. Our last class on biblical interpretation of LGBTQ issues will primarily discuss what we have learned and how best to talk about this issue with Christians who are more conservative than we are–as well as challenge those who may be more liberal! For further help, browse the last three lessons (20-22) here: https://eewc.com/tag/hermeneutics-series/ — Reta Finger
Memorial Day Hymn Sing. Join Jeremy Nafziger at Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center for an alternative Memorial Day hymn sing. We'll sing hymns that were significant to those who have gone before us in faith, honoring and celebrating their commitment to following Jesus by singing their favorite hymns. Join us for singing at 6:00 PM in the (air-conditioned) log house at VBMHC, 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. You are also welcome to bring a picnic dinner and eat on the hill-top overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. Monday, May 28, at 6:00 PM.
Send-Off for Philip and Belen Yoder. On Saturday, June 2 from 6-8 pm all are invited to drop in at Joe and Mim Yoder’s place at Hidden Meadow Farm to extend well wishes to Philip and Belen Yoder as they prepare to leave for a term of service with MCC in Cambodia. Joe and Mim’s address is 3632 Hidden Meadow Lane, Keezletown. Questions? Call Mim at 540-476-3632.
Pennington Baby Shower. Please come and shower Megan & Zach Pennington with love and celebrate the soon arrival of their daughter Hazel Elizabeth Pennington. The drop-in shower is in the CMC Fellowship Hall, Saturday, June 9 from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. Drop by during these hours and stay for a few minutes or as long as you wish. Zach & Megan are registered at www.Amazon.com:
Walking Roots Music Camp. Greg and Seth of the Walking Roots Band invite all rising 3rd – 6th graders to join them for Walking Roots Music Camp, June 18-22. Check out the link for more information! http://www.singmehigh.com/walking-roots-camp
Parents of 4 year olds through 5th graders: mark your calendars for CMC’s Vacation Bible School on Friday evening and Saturday, July 27-28! Want to lead a station or assist in this enjoyable event? Speak with Marsha Thomas or contact her at Marsha.thomas8417@gmail.com.
Highland Retreat Summer Camps. It’s time to register for summer camp at Highland Retreat! CMC will contribute $75 per camper to Highland to help with registration costs for CMC families. When you register your child online at www.highlandretreat.org, you will be asked to use a coupon code and a transfer code. If you don’t have the code, contact the CMC office at cmc_office@cmcva.org or 540-433-2148. After you enter the code, the $75 will be deducted from your total. If you need additional financial assistance, Highland has some scholarship funds available. For scholarship information, call Highland at 540-705-0554.
Missing Your Travel Mug? Your Barbie doll? Your hat? Or your favorite pan? Take a look in the lost and found cabinet under the church mailboxes. Unclaimed lost and found items will be taken to Gift and Thrift in early June.
Thank you. Thank you for the support we have felt since the death of Dave's father. The church sent a beautiful plant, and many people have given us cards or expressed their sympathy. We are grateful to be part of a caring community. –Dave Graybill and Brenda Martin
Following is an update we recently received from CMCers Millard and Joyce Osborne:
Since our move to California a year ago we realize our lives have taken a radical shift in several ways. After being a part of CMC for 18 years, it became necessary for us to move closer to family for personal help and support. The most practical solution was to accept the invitation of our family here in CA to join them in an inter-generational household. This includes our daughter and family, Marylin and Brad Wakefield, plus their son Tyler and his 2 sons, Davin and Havin, 13 and 8 respectively. We are located on scenic Clear Lake, between Santa Rosa and Ukiah, north of San Francisco. Besides the lake we are surrounded by vineyards and the wine industry, plus groves of pears, apricots, walnuts, etc. Our community is defined by a series of small towns around the lake, which serve both vacationers and permanent residents.
We have become regular participants at a small Presbyterian church which is active in local ministries, but it has been a big change from what we loved at CMC. Health wise we deal with the realities of advancing age as we both mark our 86th birthdays this year. Joyce manages getting around with 2 walkers, one for inside the home, and a 4 wheeler for going out. Millard serves as a major caregiver and driver to get around.
We both help with the necessary household chores and shopping as we can, and experience the time constraints of doctor appointments and therapy sessions common to elder care. Joyce enjoys volunteering for someone learning English as a second language, or for remedial reading. We both enjoy reading, doing puzzles, keeping up with some sports on TV, as well as listening to the podcasts from CMC and following your happenings via the Newsweeklies and Sunday sharing. We are thankful that we can enjoy a safe and comfortable life here and join all of you in praying for our nation and our world in these troubling times. Blessings to all, Millard and Joyce Osborne; email: mnjosb2017@gmail.com
CMC Small Groups. Would you like to be part of a small group? Anabaptists believe that the Christian life should be lived alongside others, not in isolation. CMC small groups provide settings for deeper relationships, and a community to share fellowship, study, personal encouragement, counsel, practical support, outreach, and fun. Small groups are made up of 6-12 adults, plus children, who meet weekly or bi-weekly. CMC encourages all regular attenders to participate in small-group life. If you are interested in joining a small group, please contact Heather Harris at heatherjill_81@hotmail.com. –Pastoral Team.
Resurrection Life Flows On. Easter may be over, but the Easter season has just begun. Want some proof? Look no further than the "CMC Today" bulletin board on the west wall of the fellowship hall for the most recent photo collage featuring April worship services, children's time, Sunday school and other activities. To its right, a photo display from Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, several updated Bishop blatherings and a 'congregational report' for Jan.-Feb. 2018 from Mennonite World Review. — Jim Bishop
May Eye? Sorry, bad pun from the Punsylvania pundit, but hoping it helps call your attention to the visual feast awaiting you with a double poster of photographs and memories from May 2015 on the "CMC Yesterday" bulletin board on the east wall of the fellowship hall. — Jim Bishop
Greening CMC: Educating ourselves. “You're glumping the pond where the Humming-Fish hummed!” The Lorax’s phrase might have well described water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Happily, things have improved, with a recent report that Chesapeake Bay water quality has reached a record high. This is due in large part to recognizing that “We are all downstream, we are all upstream” – reducing pollution in places like our Shenandoah Valley has helped improve water for our downstream neighbors. Mennonite Creation Care Network is calling congregations to keep up the good work by organizing river clean ups this summer.
Sunday School Connection. Below is a weekly note for families of children (age 4 and up) who use the Shine curriculum. Each Sunday you will find faith nurture ideas that coordinate with the weekly Sunday school session plans.
James 2:1–13: “Respecting others” Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week’s story. (1) Read James 2:1-7. Who are the people lacking respect in your community? What might your family do to encourage and care for them? (2) Name your favorite animal. How is having favorite things different from choosing just our favorite people? (3) Go out of your way to show kindness and respect to someone you don’t know.
Did you know? In Kenya, one way to show respect to an elder is to hold their right wrist with your left hand, then shake it.
Prayer for the week: God, forgive us for the times we have mistreated people because they are different from us in some way. Help us to treat others fairly. Amen.
Mennonite Church USA
At the end of a two-year term (Jan. 2016-18), the Panel on Sexual Abuse Prevention created guidelines for response when non-credentialed individuals are accused of sexualized violence in the context of congregations, conferences and organizations. The booklet is now available online: http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/prevention-and-response-sexual-abuse-and-non-credentialed-individuals/
Journey Forward. Iris de León-Hartshorn, associate executive director of Mennonite Church USA, reflects on Mennonite Church USA’s Renewed Commitments that emerged from the Future Church Summit last year, and the denomination-wide Journey Forward process. The following post is adapted from a presentation Iris gave at the April meeting of the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC).
http://mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/our-foundational-documents-our-journey-forward/
Events and Announcements from the Broader Community
Growing Up! A Concert for Kids Club Worker Melody Zimmerman will be Saturday, May 26, 7:00-9:00 pm at The Church of the Incarnation, 292 North Liberty St, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802. Join us for a fantastic evening of music, fellowship, and the chance to be a part of transforming lives. The set list includes original music from Seth Crissman (of the Walking Roots Band) and friends, Nichole Barrows (Ears to the Ground), Sylvia Meyer, Jessamyn Tobin and other talented local musicians. All proceeds will go towards Melody (Tobin) Zimmerman and her work with Kids Club, which aims to mobilize us to better love and serve kids and their families in our neighborhoods. Find out more about Kids Club and Melody’s role at the concert. There will be a suggested donation of $10.
Pastor Duane Beck is the North Carolina Coordinator for Better Angels www.better-angels.org. Better Angels does political reconciliation work to talk and break through the stereotypes that build barriers in families, churches, businesses, and friendships. The Better Angels annual convention is on the EMU campus, June 6-8. Some participants, with limited finances, would appreciate lodging Wednesday through Friday. Contact Pastor Duane duaneebeck@gmail.com, 919 741-4587.
If you are ready to put action into faith, the Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern Mennonite University’s training on Restorative Justice for Resisting Racism and Healing Land (June 9 – 11) will explore the intersections of restorative justice, racial justice, food justice, spirituality, and theology. Visit emu.edu/spi for more information on this and 20 other trainings this May and June.
How Then Shall We Live? A week-long immersion in the wild to bring out the deep wisdom, fierce joy and sacred strength of men. Come wade into the wilds of New Mexico! Highlights include homemade meals in an adobe hacienda, visiting Taos Pueblo, plunging into the waters and canyons of the Rio Grande Gorge, wilderness solos, songs and campfires, morning meditations and biblical analysis in wild places—all designed to open radically new possibilities for men seeking a wilder way of fierce love for God, humanity and our precious earth. Guided by Todd Wynward for adventurous men 18+ in Taos, New Mexico, September 8-15, 2018. For registration information on this Mennonite Men experience, visit www.mennonitemen.org.
Volunteer and Job Opportunities
Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg Rockingham is hiring for one part-time (20 hours/week) position. Neighborhood Resource Specialist – Responsible to provide case management and support services for 4-6 families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and foster relationships with Neighboring Volunteers, engaging both parties throughout their 12-24 month participation in Bridge of Hope’s program. For position summary and qualifications of position, please contact the board chair at: bridgeofhopehr@gmail.com Submit a letter of application, resume and three (3) personal references to the board chair at the email address above. Submission deadline: position open until filled.
Host an IVEP Worker.
Everence will have an IVEP worker beginning August of this year. We are looking for a host family. It is a young woman from Zimbabwe, her English language is very good and she is described as well-grounded, mature, dependable musical and trustworthy. I believe she also really enjoys being around children. Please contact Teresa Boshart Yoder @ Everence if you may be interested and I can give you more information. Everence office 540-437-7422.
VMRC is looking for a host family for Zilian, a young female adult volunteer from China. Zilian has been chosen through the International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) to work with the Wellness and Life Enrichment teams at VMRC August 2018-July 2019. Zilian is a college graduate with social work experience. She is very active in her church, loves to be around children and is eager to work with older adults. Host families are very important to IVEP. A host family must be: Able to provide a private bedroom in their house, are able to host for full or half of the IVEP year, are active in their church, willing to learn from others, intentional about follow-up with the IVEP participant as a member of your family, benefit from a cross cultural experience in their home and receive a monthly stipend of $350. Curious? Learn more by contacting VMRC’s, Emily Young at 540-564-3524 or eyoung@vmrc.org.