| | April 2009 ArchivesMennonite Church USA- Prophets among us—We Mennonites are receiving calls to repentance these days by some who are outside our circles of relationship. Repentance might seem like strong language to the people who are issuing these calls, but that’s the way it sounds to me.
- How will your congregation respond?—By now your congregation should have received a mailing with information about Mennonite Church USA’s new health benefit plan for pastors and church workers. The Corinthian Plan is a response to a mandate by Mennonite Church USA delegates in 2007 that called for developing a way “to cover all of our pastors with basic health insurance.”
- Lever and Kauffmann named to Denominational Ministry roles—Lee Lever of Moundridge, Kan. Lee Lever of Moundridge, Kan., and Nancy Kauffmann of Goshen, Ind., have been named to Denominational Ministry roles.
- April 30 is early registration deadline for Convention 2009—The early registration deadline for Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 is April 30. May 22 is the deadline for reserving a convention meal package.
- Convention Chronicle available for download—Youth sponsors and pastors were sent the final edition of Convention Chronicle for Convention 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. Convention Chronicle is a newsletter created and distributed by Executive Leadership to provide youth sponsors and pastors helpful information for preparing to participate in Mennonite Church USA Conventions.
- Receive donations online—Is your congregation one of the hundreds taking advantage of the giving Web site for Mennonite Church USA? Any Mennonite Church USA congregation, area conference or organization is able to receive secure debit/credit card donations through the site.
- Time to appoint delegates for Convention 2009—Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 is only months away, and congregations should have either appointed or be in the process of appointing delegates for the Delegate Assembly. The Delegate Assembly is the decision-making body of Mennonite Church USA and meets every two years as part of Mennonite Church USA conventions.
Pastors and leaders- Continuing Education Event: Unmarried Couples Living Together—Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary will host a day-long workshop Thursday, June 4, for pastors on issues related to unmarried couples living together.
- Coming soon from Mennonite Publishing Network:
- Via: Exploring the Way of Christ, an introduction to faith for new believers
- Beyond Our Fears: Following Jesus in Times of Crisis
- Merge: A Guidebook for Youth Service Trips
- Dealing with Overwhelming Debt (Close to Home pamphlet)
- Dealing with Gambling Addiction (Close to Home pamphlet)
- Youth Worship Source Book
- Words for Worship II
- Recommended for Christian caregivers
- Reach out with Close to Home pamphlets
Creative worship resources
- Word of Mouth: Creative Ways to Present Scripture
- Through Laughter and Tears: The Church Celebrates
- With Heart & Hands
- Proclamation by Design
- New from Herald Press:
- Pax Avalon Conflict Revolution
- Pax Avalon Poster
- Like a Mustard Seed: Mennonites in Paraguay
- The Dark Night: A Gift of God
- The Jewish-Christian Schism Revisited: John Howard Yoder
- Coming soon from Herald Press:Julia’s Words—“With her poet’s eye and her compassionate heart, Judith L. Roth tells a story of friendship that turns the barrier of difference into an opportunity for growth.
- Missional Leaders meeting May 2 to 4—Come to the Missional Leaders meeting in Denver at the Ramada Inn Downtown Denver. The theme is “Leading by Example,” and the event will include “Dwelling in the Word,” a case study and worship in local congregations on Sunday morning.
- Urban Leaders Network dinner/gathering at Convention 2009 (open to all)—Enjoy the July 1 evening gathering/dinner with urban ministry practitioners in Columbus: Hear stories of church planting and church revitalization, witness the presentation of the 2009 George and Pearl Kauffman Urban Leader Award, and network and fellowship with each other.
Also available - Purchase high-quality blue vinyl covers with the same attractive Hymnal: A Worship Book design, at www.mpn.net.
- God With Us Today: Devotions for Families
Christian educationMission, evangelism and peacemakingWorship- Giving our primary allegiance to God is focus of new resources — A national identity resolution by the Delegate Assembly at San José 2007 has prompted the development of new resources for helping congregations and their members follow Jesus in a world that is not.
- Connect summer worship with education—This summer’s issue of Leader magazine offers a weekly worship guide connected to the summer Gather ’Round Sunday school curriculum, on the theme “Letters to the Early Churches.”
- Worship to go!—This summer, provide busy families with an easy way to grow in faith by giving them a Talkabout and a copy of Connect (the Gather ’Round parent/caregiver guide) to use at home or on vacation.
- Coming soon: Words for Worship 2—Edited by Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2 offers fresh prayers, litanies and other worship resources prepared for use throughout the church year.
| |
|