September/October Archives

• The Second Wave of Transformation — a message from Jim Schrag is Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA
• Equipping is now online - It’s been a long time coming, but Equipping is now available online.
• Convention 2009 video available - An online video promoting Convention 2009 is now available for viewing.
  
• Updates from the Generosity Project - New Generosity Project resources are now available on the Mennonite Church USA Web site.
• Treasurers Handbook - The handbook contains basic information for congregational treasurers.

Pastors & Leaders

• Mileage rate increase - The Internal Revenue Service announced June 23 an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008.
• Mission Sunday materials have arrived! - Mission Sunday is Nov. 9, 2008.
• Urban Leaders Network Meeting, Oct. 24 to 25, 2008, in Manhattan, N.Y.
• Pastors Week at AMBS - Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, will share findings about how mainline churches are experiencing renewal
• Continuing education opportunities - Upcoming events at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
• Pastoral Studies Distance Education - Undergraduate ministry training is available with the Pastoral Studies Distance Education program.
• January offerings at AMBS
• Paraguay study tour coordinated with Mennonite World Conference
• School for Leadership Training 2009 encourages engagement with specific cultural changes in areas such as communication media, relationships between races and genders, and scientific and societal discoveries about how humans function in the world.

Christian Education

• Herald Press: Short Review - Beliefs: Mennonite Faith and Practice, Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book, Beyond the Law: Living the Sermon on the Mount, Meeting Our Multifaith Neighbors
• Featured Resources:
  Your Treasure, Your Heart: Women and the Stewardship of Money, Purpose: Stories of Faith and Promise,10 percent off orders of 200 or more Close to Home pamphlets, Submit by Sept. 15: A second volume of Words for Worship, Order Advent-Christmas bulletins by Sept. 1, Hymnal Concordance on CD, Proclamation by Design: The Visual Arts in Worship, Beyond Me: Grounding Youth Ministry in God’s Story, YouthGuide

Mission, Evangelism and Peacemaking

• Peace and Justice Support Network - In this Equipping packet, look for the Peace and Justice Support Network’s leadership team’s open letter to Mennonite Church USA congregations.
• New mission bank teaching tools - Watch your mailboxes for the newest addition to the mission bank family, China, Spirit alive: leading and teaching.

Worship

• Mennonite Heritage Sunday, Oct. 26 - Despite the stereotypes, our heritage as Mennonites is not simply white and Germanic.
• Music Grants - Mennonite Church USA congregations are invited to apply for grants for assistance with music ministry needs.