Lodging
VMC will not provide lodging for this year's Assembly. However, several arrangements have been made to assist you in making your own lodging arrangements:
The EMU Guest House has been reserved for VMC on Thursday and Friday nights. Rates are $27.50/night for single occupancy and $42.50 for double occupancy. Call (540) 432-4280 to make reservations. The Guest House can also connect you with local homes who would be willing to host guests at these rates. You are responsible to make reservations with the Guest House by Wed., July 15.
Group discount rates have been negotiated at a local Comfort Inn. Rooms are $85 per night plus tax, with breakfast included. Call (540) 433-6066 and indicate that you are attending Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly. You can receive this discount if you make reservations by Friday, July 3. The Comfort Inn is located at 1440 East Market St., at I81 Exit 247A.
Meals
Breakfasts: Breakfasts will not be provided this year, with the exception of three "special breakfasts." Unless you are
pre-registered to attend these events, you will be on your own for breakfasts. A list of local restaurants will be available for your convenience.
• Friday — Pastors' Breakfast, EMHS Dining Hall,
compliments of Mennonite Mutual Aid-Harrisonburg, for active pastors and their spouses.
• Saturday — Mennonite Men and Mennonite Women breakfasts, Park View Mennonite Church, open to all adult Assembly participants.
Lunch & Dinner: Be sure to pre-register for the meals you plan to eat. Meals will be in the Eastern Mennonite High School Dining Hall. (Please note that we may not be able to accommodate all special food needs.)
• Thursday dinner — Lasagna dinner
• Friday's lunch — Sandwiches and sides
• Friday dinner — Barbecue chicken breast dinner
• Saturday lunch — Baked potato bar
Worship
Part three in the series Centered in Jesus Christ, we focus on Jesus is Our Peace. On Thursday evening, we establish the way of Jesus as the norm, the way of God "on earth as it is in heaven." David Shenk will address this in the evening worship and Friday morning Bible study.
Friday evening we engage God's call to be peacemakers. Vignettes from current mission workers and missional church workers from VMC will focus on ministry of reconciliation, culminating in the commissioning of newly-appointed overseers, pastors and VMM mission workers. A "Taste of Missions" under a tent will follow the service and offer foods from countries where VMM intersects with outreach and witness.
In the Saturday morning Bible study, Dorothy Jean Weaver will help us with the challenging text, “be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Jesus’ example guides us into the way of his peace in the world.
Speakers
David W. Shenk
David W. Shenk was born to pioneer Mennonite missionaries in Tanzania, and has invested a life-time in missions and peacemaking in a world of religious pluralism. For sixteen years he served within Muslim communities in Somalia and Kenya. At present he is Global Consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions. His interest in Christian peacemaking and witness has taken him into some 100 countries. He has authored or co-authored sixteen books on the mission of the church in our pluralist world. He holds a doctorate in religious studies education with course work in anthropology from New York University.
Dorothy Jean Weaver
Dorothy Jean Weaver is Professor of New Testament at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA, where she has taught since 1984. She holds a PhD in New Testament Studies from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA. Weaver has written extensively and spoken publicly in the US, Canada, and the Middle East. Her publications include Matthew's Missionary Discourse: A Literary Critical Analysis (Sheffield, 1990) and Bread for the Enemy: A Peace and Justice Lectionary (Mennonite Church Peace and Justice Committee, 2001); and she co-chairs the Matthew Section of the Society of Biblical Literature. Weaver co-leads Middle East study tours for EMS and Middle East work groups for Virginia Mennonite Missions; and she has taught New Testament courses in Beirut, Lebanon, in Bethlehem, Palestine, and in Cairo, Egypt. She is a member of Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA.
Nursery and childcare will be provided each evening during worship (6:45-8:45pm). Nursery care and children's activities will also be available during the day, but require pre-registration. Times for daytime activities are Friday 8:00-noon, Friday 1:00-5:30pm, and Saturday 8:00-noon. Nursery care is for children age 0-2. For children age 3 through 5th grade (just completed) activities will include field trips, Bible stories, music, games and crafts. Regina Brubaker and Anna Katherine Eby are coordinating this year's children's activities. Download children's schedule (doc)
Registration Policy
The registration deadline has passed. Online registration is now closed.
A refund (less a $20 non-refundable registration fee) will be given for all cancellations received on or before July 10 . No money can be refunded for cancellations after this date, even if meals are not used. You will receive a registration confirmation letter via U.S. mail.
As the purpose of the registration fee is to help cover the expenses of Assembly, and charging this fee has allowed VMC to “break even" for the last two years, we ask everyone who participates in Assembly events to register and pay the fee. However, registration is not required to attend worship, or to attend only one workshop.
Some partial scholarships are available. If interested, call (540) 434-9727 to inquire before registering.
Return registration form (and make checks payable) to:
Virginia Mennonite Conference
901 Parkwood Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Contact Virginia Mennonite Conference:
Tel: (540) 434-9727 Fax: (540) 434-7627
901 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg , VA 22802
info@vmconf.org