We Rise
Two and a half weeks ago, Central District Conference (CDC) leaders held our annual visioning retreat in our church building. As part of the opening meditation, Conference Minister Doug Luginbill played the song “We Rise” by Batya Levine. The soulful lyrics wove their way into our process of creating the…
500 and Counting
Mennonites are part of a movement known as Anabaptism that erupted in central Europe 500 years ago. “Anabaptist” (meaning Re-Baptizer) was not a chosen name. Critics created it to highlight the key act that set these folks apart. At a time when the universal baptism of infants issued one not…
An Invitation for Drawing Near
On September 7, we will be starting a worship series centered on “Anabaptism at 500,” marking that anniversary by exploring stories of those within the Anabaptist streams both historical and modern. You will hear more about that series and what all to expect from it soon. But for now I…
Sabbatical Observations
Hello again, Yesterday was my first day back with the church after a restorative Sabbatical. Here are some non-comprehensive observations from these three months: Time goes slower out of routine. Not sure on the physics, but my brain says it’s true. After a week of touring Rome, Anabaptist beginnings in…
Preparing for Peace
A few weeks ago a number of us gathered at the church on a Saturday to participate in an Active Bystander Intervention and De-Escalation training. The Leadership Team at CMC had coordinated this training through the organization DC Peace Team in response to questions about how we as a congregation…
Summer Gratitude
Written by: Robin Walton It is July 30, but my summer interim pastor of pastoral care stint is about to come to an end. (If only the cool, less humid winds of September were here to mark the end of this “summer.”) Today, as I consider the things that were…
Improvising Joy
By: Bethany Davey This weekend, I will partake in one of my favorite improvisational workshops: a musical improv intensive. If this conjures visions of theatre-loving adults (sometimes beautifully, sometimes awkwardly) playing pretend and making up songs onstage while other theatre-loving adults watch and eagerly await their turn for the limelight…well,…
On Purpose
By: Bethany Davey During our most recent Worship Commission meeting, someone* reflected on the ways our community is connected in purpose. Their reflection led me to consider what we do and how we are connected on purpose, in service to a shared sense of community and call. So much of what we do…
Wisdom, Strength, Renewal and Resolve
[Written by Robin Walton] I am so excited that we are going to focus on Anabaptism’s 500th anniversary this fall. If the 15 year old Robin could hear me say that she was excited about 16th century history, she would not believe it. When I got the 500th anniversary special edition of Anabaptist…
Wisdom for the Church
Last weekend myself and a handful of others from CMC attended the yearly gathering of the Central District Conference (CDC). This year was at Bluffton University (Go Beavers!) and carried on the theme “Listen! Wisdom is Calling.” The three worship services for the gathering were themed around wisdom from the…