THE Parrot - Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster · PDF file1 The Parrot | March 2015 ......
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1 The Parrot | March 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER THE Parrot COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER MARCH 2015 MARCH CALENDAR 1 Mentor/Mentee Banquet 3 Mennonite Men 6 Parrot Gallery Reception 6–9 p.m. Chris Hoover Seidel Full Circle: The Art of Reclaiming Faith & Repossessing Self 8 Daylight Savings Time Begins 11 Prospective Member Dinner 14 Child Safety Training 15 Venture Club Observatory Night 15 Junior Youth Game Night 20–22 Mennonite Women’s Retreat 25 Congregational Council Conference Room 29 Palm Sunday C MCL has long been concerned about how best to address the needs of teenagers in our congrega- tion. How should we convey our values to the youth and affirm their place in our community? Do we need a youth pastor? Currently, several processes are in motion. 1. Council and committees are looking to rein in CMCL’s sprawling structure. e hope is a new or fine- tuned organizational structure will make clear where staff is needed. 2. Staff relations is examining the role and duties of staff. 3. Council and staff relations are studying what staffing level, both hired and volunteer, is appropriate for a congregation of our size. When this work is done, council and staff relations hope to have a clearer picture of how to use our resources to address congregational needs. Last October, Susan draſted a memo to staff relations titled, “Re- sponding to the Children & Youth Auxiliary Program Needs.” In it she outlined ways that she and Chad planned to increase their presence with the youth. is year, Susan and Chad have become more involved with Chris- tian education and senior and junior youth activities. While time spent with youth is a valuable way for our pastors to build relationships, we must acknowledge they will have less time with other priorities. At the end of her memo, Susan said she did not see her and Chad’s increased participation with the youth as the permanent solution to concerns about children and youth programs. But the shiſt does offer breathing space. Please be assured that address- ing the needs of our youth is a prior- ity as new planning takes shape. Youth concerns remain a priority Send calendar items to Rachel Kraybill Stahl: [email protected]
Transcript of THE Parrot - Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster · PDF file1 The Parrot | March 2015 ......
1 The Parrot | March 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
THE ParrotCOMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
MARCH 2015
MARCH CALENDAR
1 Mentor/Mentee Banquet 3 Mennonite Men 6 Parrot Gallery Reception 6–9 p.m. Chris Hoover Seidel Full Circle: The Art of Reclaiming Faith & Repossessing Self 8 Daylight Savings Time Begins 11 Prospective Member Dinner 14 Child Safety Training 15 Venture Club Observatory Night 15 Junior Youth Game Night 20–22 Mennonite Women’s Retreat 25 Congregational Council Conference Room 29 Palm Sunday
CMCL has long been concerned about how best to address the
needs of teenagers in our congrega-tion. How should we convey our values to the youth and affirm their place in our community? Do we need a youth pastor?
Currently, several processes are in motion.
1. Council and committees are looking to rein in CMCL’s sprawling structure. The hope is a new or fine-tuned organizational structure will make clear where staff is needed.
2. Staff relations is examining the role and duties of staff.
3. Council and staff relations are studying what staffing level, both hired and volunteer, is appropriate for a congregation of our size.
When this work is done, council and staff relations hope to have a clearer picture of how to use our resources to address congregational needs.
Last October, Susan drafted a memo to staff relations titled, “Re-sponding to the Children & Youth Auxiliary Program Needs.” In it she outlined ways that she and Chad planned to increase their presence with the youth.
This year, Susan and Chad have become more involved with Chris-tian education and senior and junior youth activities. While time spent with youth is a valuable way for our pastors to build relationships, we must acknowledge they will have less time with other priorities.
At the end of her memo, Susan said she did not see her and Chad’s increased participation with the youth as the permanent solution to concerns about children and youth programs.
But the shift does offer breathing space. Please be assured that address-ing the needs of our youth is a prior-ity as new planning takes shape.
Youth concerns remain a priority
Send calendar items to Rachel Kraybill Stahl: [email protected]
2 The Parrot | March 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
A benefit concert to support Men-nonite Central Committee’s work
with children in war-torn Syria is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at James Street Mennonite Church.
Musicians with CMCL connec-tions will be among the performers.
It is the eighth year that the four-person Beyond Ourselves chamber ensemble has held a concert to sup-port MCC’s global work.
Donations from the concert will help MCC provide kindergarten for Syrian refugees. MCC also gives staff training in peace education.
This year the ensemble is teaming up with the 47-member Lancaster Mennonite School Campus Chorale, directed by Marcella Hostetler, chair of the high school music depart-ment. The choir traveled to South Africa in 2013 and plans to visit Brazil next year.
The groups will perform sepa-rately and then combine for a piece arranged specifically for the concert by Patrick Ressler, a 2007 Lancaster Mennonite graduate. The composi-tion, “As They Draw to a Close,” is based on a Walt Whitman poem. In the poem, Whitman explains that the purpose of his poetry is to har-monize nature (and God in it) with his soul.
Ressler, a Goshen College gradu-ate who grew up attending CMCL,
Reaching Out Through Music
MCC’s Global Family education program aids Syrian refugees, ages 4 to 6, by sup-porting this kindergarten in Beirut, Leba-non. The school was started by women from the Palestinian refugee community as a way to respond to the needs of displaced families. About 75 children attend on a daily basis.
Beyond Ourselves chamber musicians, left to right: Christy Kauffman, Doris Hall-Gulati, Rosemary Siegrist Blessing and Ryan Kauffman.
Unemployment and rising costs put education out of reach for many families, and children have dropped out of school. Donors will help MCC provide three levels of kindergarten for ages 4, 5 and 6.
MCC is a relief, development and peace organization of the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. In more than 60 countries, MCC meets basic needs for those suffering in times of war and disaster, works with partners to develop solutions for people struggling to provide for their families, and encourages peacemak-ers who work to bring justice and understanding to conflicts in their communities.
studied music education, composi-tion and theater.
The Beyond Ourselves musicians are saxophonist Ryan Kauffman, violist Christy Kauffman, pianist Rosemary Siegrist Blessing, and clarinetist Doris Hall-Gulati.
The entire freewill offering will benefit MCC’s Global Family pro-gram that helps provide a safe learn-ing environment for children trauma-tized by the conflict in Syria. The war has forced over 9 million to flee their homes, and half are children.
Beyond Ourselves ConcertSunday, March 22, 3:00 p.m.
James Street Mennonite Church
Benefitting MCC’s Global Family Program
3 The Parrot | March 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
GREEN SPACE
Under the SnowMuch has been happening under the layers of dirty snow this month. My thoughts tend to be subterranean these days. Along with the soil test results I wrote about last month, I know Nature has her own way of breaking down and repairing the health of soil, despite the amend-ments we may contribute.
I try to imagine all this earthy ac-tivity taking place beneath our feet—organic matter decaying, minerals washing downward, bustling insects and microbes convening.
So is it any surprise that on this Ash Wednesday evening I chose to go view the stunning film, “Sympho-ny of the Soil?” This film captures the intricacies of our very sustenance taking place in the skin of earth’s surface.
In this “ode to the miracle of the Earth’s topmost layer,” the film con- fronts us with alarming human prac-tices that are killing this precious gift.
Dust-to-dust, my Lenten lament notes the urgency of our vigilant kin-ship with soil. Consider this compre-hensive DVD, available now online.
—Mary Lou Weaver Houser
Members are invited to write occasional or regular columns on subjects that will inter-est and enlighten community members. Feel free to suggest additional or differ-ent subjects beyond what is listed here. Columns should be about 150 words. Email Beth with your ideas at [email protected].
PARENTING
Respectful Disrespect?It can be upsetting when we feel that our child has been disrespectful to us. But rarely, if ever, do young children intend to be disrespectful as they experiment with language and relationships.
If we feel a child has been disre-spectful, it is important to respond in a way that does not thwart communication.
Here are some tips:•Notice when you feel your child
was disrespectful (clue: you got upset).
•Review what your child said or did, without assuming any reason for it. Ask yourself, why else might my child have said or done this? Once you come up with other possible reasons, your upset will dissipate, and your face and body language will show your openness.
•Reassure your child that he or she did not do anything bad even though you were initially upset. And add this: there is nothing wrong about you (parent) getting upset, either. It is what healthy human beings do when expectations are not met.Then tell your child that you know
he or she likely did not mean to be disrespectful but you wanted to ask to be sure. Then just wait, being open to any additional conversation, if any.
Thank your child for being willing to listen and talk with you.
—Marty Dutcher
COMMUNITY INTERESTS
CMCL online
Between SundaysGo to www.cmcl.wordpress.com and join others who are following CMCL’s newsletter blog, Between Sundays.
Website transformation: www.communitymennonite.orgCMCL’s new site is built on a WordPress theme adapted by developers at Men-nonite Dot Net. The content adapts seamlessly to smartphones and tablet displays. The content has also been re-organized to make it easier to navigate to information. Look for these features:
•Church calendar, recent sermons and special announcements on bottom bar on home page
•Sermon, worship bulletin, announcement bulletin and Parrot newsletter archive
•Link to CMCL blogpost•Parrot Gallery feature on current show•Directions for subscribing to sermon podcast•Council and Congregational Meeting minutes archive
(use password: parrot)•Policies forms and guidelines (use password: parrot)•New attender online registration• Important CMCL documents (use password: parrot)•Up-to-date childcare schedule•Up-to-date worship schedule•Coming soon: up-to-date usher/greeter schedule
Online updates: Rachel Kraybill Stahl, [email protected]
4 The Parrot | March 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
CLASSIFIEDClassifieds editor needed to collect and edit ads.
For SaleTradeFree
WantedRoommate—Kathryn Ramer is look-ing for a roommate to share a two bedroom apartment somewhere in the Lancaster area starting sometime in the next few months. Please con-tact her at 717-471-9219 if interested.
ENTERTAINMENTEntertainment editor needed to collect or solicit (or write)—then edit—reviews or recommendations.
Reviews or Recommendations
FilmBookMusicArt Exhibits
MEMBER UPDATESMember updates editor needed to find out things and let us know what’s going on.
We’d like to know about: •High School & College Graduations•College Students•Young Adult Volunteers•New Jobs•Members in Mission•Weddings•Retirements•Deaths
BirthsTeya Claire Magdalen Weaver, born to Magdalen Hess and Steve Weaver, February 16, 2015
CMCL DIRECTORYNew AttendersUpdates
The Parrotis published monthly by Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster328 West Orange StreetLancaster, PA 17603
email: [email protected]: www.communitymennonite.orgblog: www.cmcl.wordpress.com
Managing editor and layout Beth OberholtzerOccasional copy editing: Jeff HawkesProofreading: Rachel Kraybill Stahl
Advisory CommitteeLead Pastor: Susan Gascho-CookeCouncil Chair: Julia Schrock RosenfeldChurch Office Liaison: Rachel Kraybill Stahl
Guide My Feet parrot art on page 1 by Lynn Sommer.
Send information for the newsletter to the editors listed in specific sections.Send directory updates to Rachel Kraybill Stahl: [email protected]
Interested in managing stuff, having fun or being in-the-know? Edit the classified, entertainment or member updates section:
Email Beth at [email protected] to volunteer to edit one of the above three sections. (Space for each section will expand as needed.)
NEW IN THE LIBRARY
Lost in a Blizzard! The Towner Bus Tragedy by Alyce Mitchem Jenkins
On March 26, 1931, a fast moving blizzard engulfed a bus driver and 20 children on their way home from Pleasant Hill school in Colorado. The story of their lives before, during and after the tragedy is told with photos, maps and some fictional dialogue.
Written on a fourth grade level, this book may interest older children also.
Available in March. Look for it on the book stand labeled “books by CMCLers.”
—Kate Couturier
