Mission Commission

Mission Commission has general responsibility for outreach activities of the congregation as it shares Christ’s love in the local community, and as it partners with other ecumenical and Mennonite agencies.

Members 2011 - 2012

Mission Commission Co-Coordinators Dave Powell & Ann Frank (thru 8/31/13)

Community Missions Steve Driver (thru 8/31/13)

Congregational Outreach Bob Fritz (thru 8/31/13)

El Salvador Subcommittee Co-Chr. Dave Powell (thru 8/31/12)

El Salvador Subcommittee Co-Chr. Kristi Wenger (thru 8/31/12)

So. District/Conference Missions Ann Frank (thru 8/31/12)

Virginia Relief Sale Representative Louise Swartz (thru 8/31/12)

Virginia Relief Sale Representative Dave Mininger (thru 8/31/13)

General Mennonite Missions Terry Miller (thru 8/31/12)

Mennonite Disaster Service Rep. Dave Mininger (thru 8/31/13)

Announcements

Please reserve the date March 27 at 7:00 pm. Everence will be presenting a free public event “What’s so Funny About Money?” by Ted and Company. Get a new perspective on your relationship with God and money. Everence of Harrisonburg presents the Ted and Company show What’s so Funny About Money? Ted Swartz and Jeff Raught have created a musical comedy surrounding stewardship and what we do with it. This humorous and thought-provoking stage show explores our discomfort with talking about money, the financial pressures we face, our use of time, and yes even cheese and crackers.

David Kline, an Amish farmer, naturalist and author will share his passion for creation care and sustainable farming practices at EMU. Kline will speak from 8:30 - 10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9 in Common Grounds Coffeehouse in University Commons and then at university chapel in Lehman Auditorium from 10-10:30 a.m., on Friday, Feb. 10. Admission is free for both. For more information contact Jim Yoder at 540-432- or email yoderjm@emu.edu.

Our Community Place in Harrisonburg invites you to join in a delicious monthly "Night Out!" - a night when OCP transforms into a restaurant and serves fancy four course meals. On February 11, we celebrate Black History Month with Miss Sadie's Soul Food: choice of catfish or fried chicken with side options of collard greens, black eyed peas, corn bread, baked mac & cheese, and more. Choices of lemon pound cake and apple and cherry pie for dessert. 25% of proceeds go to help La Gonave, a community in Haiti where folks usually eat one plate of rice every other day. Please call 540-442-7727, email ourcommunityplace@gmail.com, or visit ourcommunityplace.org for more information or to make your reservation between 5pm and 8pm today.

Eastern Mennonite School Open House and Student Visitation Day for students K-12 and their families will take place Friday, February 10, 2012. Students may visit for a half day (8AM-Noon) or a whole day (8 am - 3 pm). Applications are now being accepted for the 2012-13 school, with limited availability in some grades. For more information on applying or to reserve a spot for Open House and Student Visitation Day, contact Crystal Jackson, Admissions Counselor, at 236.6021 or jacksonc@emhs.net.

Eastern Mennonite School Alumni Board Fundraiser – March 25 at 2:30 pm, Legacy Five will be in concert at the EMHS Auditorium. Contact Diana Berkshire, 236-6024 or berkshired@easternmennoniteschool.org for tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at Red Front, and Ruth’s Books. All proceeds benefit financial aid for students.

Women in Conversation—Join the conversation with other Mennonite women across the country at one of two biennial retreats (April 13-15 in Mt. Pleasant, Pa.; April 27-29 in Hesston, Ks.) jointly sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. Pastor Meghan Good (Albany Mennonite Church, Albany, OR) will serve as guest speaker, and the weekends will also feature time for worship, workshops, fellowship and rest. Visit laurelville.org/women-in-conversation or call 800.839.1021 to register or to learn more about these extraordinary retreats.

Great Whitewater Connection—Find out what over 200 youth experienced before and after the Mennonite Church USA convention last summer. Designed to connect youth across the Mennonite church, this whitewater rafting retreat is still available for an incredible $50/person. This year’s event (July 6-8 at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) will feature speaker Kent Miller and worship leader Jeremy Kempf. Due to its popularity, the Great Whitewater Connection fills up fast; reserve your places today at Laurelville.org/whitewater or by calling 800.839.1021. NOTE: You can also watch highlights from last year's retreats at Laurelville.org/whitewater-video.

Partners in Mission is announcing an immediate opportunity! The Wollega Church in Ethiopia has extended an invitation for a service and learning team, led by Carl Hansen, to help them build a rural satellite campus in Nekempte for Meserete Kristos College, their denominational seminary. Tentative dates are for two to three weeks in March, and the estimated cost per person is $2,000. If you have interest in participating in or supporting this group, call VMMissions at 540-434-9727 or email partners@vmmissions.org.

The Shenandoah Valley Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Ruel Burkholder, will begin its 2012 season with our first chorus practice on February, 5, 2012, 2:30 p.m. at the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. Men from ages 13 to 99, who enjoy singing a cappella music, are invited to join the group. Subsequent practices are scheduled for Sunday afternoons in February and March, ending with two concerts, including benefit offerings for missions and service, planned for 7:00 p.m. March 23, 2012 at Springdale Mennonite Church and 3:30 p.m. March 25, 2012 at Dayton Mennonite Church. For more information contact Roman Miller (540-867-0854; roman.miller@northriver.coop)