CMC Happenings
Jim and Anna Bishop, members at Community since 1973, gave reflections in the July 3 worship service on the theme, “Laughter: Music of the Heart.” They offered pointers that have helped strengthen their marriage over the past 44 years and noted ways that humor often provided a bond when things came unglued. As part of their presentation, they repeated vows that they wrote to each other for a marriage recommitment ceremony held in July, 2002.
Hannah Kraybilll was commissioned during the July 3 service for one year of Mennonite Voluntary Service in San Francisco, working as a dependency drug court assistant.
Worship starting time moved up a half hour on June 19 for the remainder of the summer. A worship series on Jesus’ parables, “Thy Kingdom Come on Earth,” continued with Jennifer Davis Sensenig of pastoral team focusing on the Parable of the Sower/Seeds (Matt. 13:1-23) and Jason Gerlach reflecting on the Parable of Wheat & Weeds (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43), and Davis Sensenig speaking on the Parables of the Mustard Seed & Yeast (Matt. 13:31-33) on July 10 and the Parable of the Treasure and Pearl (Matt. 13:44-46) to conclude the series on July 17.
John and Glenda Leonard and daughters Anisa and Karen were commissioned during the June 26 service for a two-year teaching term at Rosslyn Academy, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nineteen members of the church youth group who attended the Mennonite Church USA youth convention July 4-7 in Pittsburgh, Pa., along with youth pastor Jason Gerlach, led the worship service July 24.
Community Mennonite joined other area Mennonite congregations for a joint worship service in Yoder Arena at EMU’s University Commons on July 31 for the closing session of Virginia Mennonite Conference. The service featured special music and corporate singing, sharing by Jamaican delegates to VMC and a message, “Move Out With Joy,” by Danisa Tdlovu, president of Mennonite World Conference.
A month-long series on “Money Matters” began Aug. 14 with associate pastor Steve Schumm, using the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matt. 25-1-13) and the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) to explore the question, “What do we value?” Jennifer Davis Sensenig responded to the question, “What is enough?” on Aug. 21 and “How do we become generous?” on Aug. 28.
Karina Simensen and Matthew Detrow were baptized into church membership during the Aug. 14 worship service.
A parent/child dedication service was part of the Aug. 21 service: Hannah Marie Johnston, parents, Andy and Brooke Johnston; Simon and Nina Dula, parents Peter Dula and Ilsa Ackerman; and Eliza Kate Long, parents Chris and Becky Long. – Jim Bishop