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1 The Parrot | September 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
THE ParrotCOMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
SEPTEMBER 2015
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
1 Mennonite Men, 7:00 p.m. 4 Parrot Gallery Reception 6 to 9 p.m. Watercolor illustrations by John Sumereau for In the Trunk of Grandma’s Car authored by Donna Stoltzfus 9 Mennonite Women Canning @Eastside Community Kitchen, 6:45–8:30 p.m. 6 Care of Creation Sunday 13 Christian Ed begins, resume two-service schedule 13 Blessing of the backpacks 18–20 ACC youth retreat 20 Peace Sunday 25–27 Church retreat at Black Rock 30 Green Parking Lot Gala 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Last September, CMCL’s congre-gational council assigned three
subcommittees complementary tasks: one to encourage volunteering by matching attenders with their in-terests; one to address inefficiencies and redundancies in the congrega-tional structure; and one to envision five-year goals.
It is this last task that Andrea Lommen, Susan Gascho-Cooke and I have had the privilege of contribut-ing to over the past year.
A brainstorming session came up with 12 potential goals. After a process of discernment, revision, and soliciting feedback from council and the congregation through a survey and other means, our subcommittee is pleased to submit the following:
For 2015–2020 CMCL is commit-ted to focusing on two areas: increas-ing relational bonds in our church and enhancing our youth program.
We commit to expanding our relational bonds with each other through new and existing programs and activities during, surrounding, and outside of Sunday morning services.
We also commit to building a program for our youth in which they can discover and participate in church life, and be nurtured in spirit, knowledge and relationships.
While this statement of focus is not meant to detract from other worthy goals or emphases, we feel it represents a tremendous opportunity for CMCL to enrich the experience of community and spirituality and to provide benefits for years to come.
We hope this vision will help to ignite our collective passion and focus our energies as we work to-gether to make an impact for Christ’s kingdom amongst ourselves, our community, and the wider world.
—Adam Miller
New congregational priorities
Send calendar items to Rachel Kraybill Stahl: [email protected]
We commit to expanding relational bonds in our church and to enhancing our youth program.
2 The Parrot | September 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
CMCL NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Chairs or representatives of church committees are invited to send in updates, news or high-lights to share with the congregation. Email to Beth at [email protected].
CMCL MENNONITE WOMEN
Women’s fall gatheringsCMCL women can look forward to upcoming events offering women of all ages and walks of life opportunities to gather and learn from one another.
We’ve started a blog (cmclmennonitewomen.wordpress.com) where you can find details about our activities, RSVP, and share thoughts and ideas with the group. You can also access the blog through the church’s website (www.communitymennonite.org/about-us/blog-and-newsletter).
Below is a listing of fall events. Please mark your calendar and contact us if you have questions, feedback, or ideas. We’re looking forward to spending time together in the coming months.
Lynn Sommer ([email protected]) Anne Bingaman ([email protected])
SEPTEMBERCanning @ Eastside Community KitchenWednesday, Sept. 9, 20156:45–8:30 p.m.Eastside Community Kitchen347 N. Plum St., Lancaster
Gather for a canning workshop! Rod Houser and Jim King will share their knowledge of preserving, and will guide us through the process of canning locally-grown plums. Please bring your own PINT-size canning jar. All other supplies will be provided. Please consider sharing reflections you have about how can-ning played a part in the lives of the women (and men) in your family. We’d love to create a space to share stories and advice.
OCTOBERCookbook Talk & Shared MealSunday, Oct. 18, 20154:00 p.m.Home of Gwen Eberly, Marietta
We’ll have the pleasure of a talk by Cara Longacre Hurst, daughter of Doris Longacre who authored the More with Less Cookbook series. Cara will present briefly, then we will enjoy food cooked using More With Less recipes.
NOVEMBERRemembering NepalSaturday, Nov. 14, 20156:30 p.m.Home of Janet Lind, Strasburg
Hear from local experts about what’s been happening in Nepal since April’s earthquake, and how we might get involved with relief efforts. Appetizers will be provided from Himalayan Curry and Grill. The discussion will be led by Mary Ellen Francescani and Rachel Sommer—representing MCC’s efforts in Nepal.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Life and vision flourishFrom Sunday morning Christian Education to Peace School to Mennonite Convention in Kansas City, CMCL kids—preschoolers to seniors—have been deeply engaging in anti-oppression work.
They are learning to read the Bible with wonder and questions, think-ing creatively and critically about life application.
In age-appropriate ways, they are asking hard questions about systemic oppressions such as hetero-normativity, racism, sexism and classism as they affect our denomi-nation, congregation and personal journeys. The Anabaptist call to justice and peacemaking is alive inside our youth! Its energy should not be left in the Christian Ed wing, but rather serve to direct our con-gregational vision to continue to find ways to support our children and youth at CMCL, as well as chal-lenge us to maintain engagement in our own anti-oppression work.
We are looking forward to an-other great year of Christian Ed, be-ginning in September. If you would like to help foster the life and vision in our children and youth, please contact Chris Hoover Seidel, director of Children and Youth Programs at [email protected].
—Chris Hoover Seidel
3 The Parrot | September 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
GREENSPACE
Floral airport terminalIt’s called mountain mint. Pycnanthe-mum muticum is its Latin name.
This #1 pollinator plant will bring more diversity to your backyard than any other garden plant.
A veritable airport terminal, mountain mint is abuzz with insects I have never seen before—wasps, bees, butterflies, beetles, flies—many with unbelievable color!
Who would guess? Its inconspicu-ous blossom, a delicate ring of small
flowers above grey-green foliage, is hardly a show-stopper. But the insects know where to go to dine.
And I like it for several other reasons. It flavors my garden mint tea with a nuanced undertone. The velvety gray green foliage works well as filler in a cut-flower bouquet, or as a simple stand-alone touch of greenery. Very aromatic, this herb can be used in potpourri or burned as incense.
But because it is in the mint family, it also makes itself at home in your gar-den. You will have plenty to cut for tea, arrangements, and to give away to friends.
Which takes me to my closing offer: let me know if you want to try some in your own yard!
—Mary Lou Weaver Houser
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Gratitude rampage!“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude,” says author Brené Brown.
When I find myself in a funk or feeling afraid or frustrated, I try to think of things for which I am grate-ful. Sometimes it’s hard, and all I can come up with is, “I’m grateful that people aren’t driving too obnoxiously today.” Start where you are.
I’m trying to pay attention and be in a state of gratitude more often throughout the day. Sometimes when I’m feeling less than my highest self and realize I’m in a downward spiral, I announce, “Gratitude rampage!” I stop and challenge myself to think of as many things as I can for which I am grateful, as quickly as I can. I often end up finding humor in the process. Not only does it improve how I feel, it also puts me in a state of receptivity for more happiness and more of what God wants to show me. What kind of gratitude practice might feel right for you?
—Sonny Ditzler(Editor’s note: Celebrate World Gratitude Day on September 21)
CMCL COMMUNITY INTERESTS
PARENTING
Teaching Our ValuesOur values, the ones that we intentionally attempt to teach our children, may well be learned in ways we don’t notice. How often are our overheard conver-sations about what we like and don’t like, and what we agree with and don’t agree with? An alien observer (as like a young child!) might well think that the common life goal of human beings is to get what we like, to get what we want, and to get our way. A problem arises in practice (theirs!), however, when we parents complain to them about their attempts to get what they want: more at-tention, more sweets, get out of bed, etc. And they certainly have learned, if not mastered, how to get the attention of the powers that be, which is the first step in all communication.
A solution? Talk about why you want what you want, talk about how differ-ent your “tastes” and opinions are from others, and what a wonderfully diverse world we live in (even if your child does not yet understand the words). This helps keep the doors of communication between you and your children wide open (as well as between you and others!).
—Marty DutcherMarty welcomes your comments online at www.ParentingForPartnership.com.
Neighbors are excited to have their lot numbers marked “reserved.” Watch the east edge of parking lot for final clean-up and last phase of planting before the September 30 Gala!
GRANT STREET LOT
4 The Parrot | September 2015 | COMMUNITY MENNONITE CHURCH OF LANCASTER
6th Annual Pedal Harder RideSeptember 12, 2015All proceeds from the Pedal Harder Ride this year will go to rebuilding Nepal after the devastating April 2015 earthquake. Highlights:5k Walk—a noncompetitive hike under the leafy canopy of Grandview Heights.10 Mile Ride—families will love this one as it travels over untrafficked roads at
a leisurely pace.25 Mile Ride—there’s nothing quite like rolling through the back lanes of
Lancaster County farmland and visiting an Amish soft pretzel stand.60 Mile Ride—climbing three of the area’s classic ascents (or bypass the
climbs), this one dares the casual rider to take it to the next level . . . consider this your warning!
New this year . . . meetup post-ride at Tellus360 in downtown Lancaster for lunch and rehydration! Registration and information:
CMCL READS
Recent picksby Lois Martin
Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown. A breathtaking account of nine Americans and their epic quest for the gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer. This is an unforgettable story of the haunt-ing friendship between a blind French girl and a young German boy during World War II. Win-ner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Lila by Marilynne Robinson. An exquisite novel of spiritual redemption, grace, and love. This is the third and possibly best of Robinson’s trilogy including Home and Gilead.
The Fault in our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Books that many of our teens are avidly reading.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tart. A riveting fictional story of a young boy’s quest to protect a prized Dutch painting after a devastating museum explosion.
MEMBER UPDATESHave you seen the new CMCL directory? Check there for the latest contact information for community members.
If you have a new address, phone number, e-mail address, or if there is a new member of your family, please e-mail the office at [email protected].
Your update will be listed in the Parrot newsletter if you wish, as well as collected for the next directory.
New numbersTeman Cooke: 717-207-7627 (cell)Jay & Ruth Martin: 717-293-9892 (home)
CMCL online
Between SundaysGo to www.cmcl.wordpress.com and join others who are following CMCL’s newsletter blog, Between Sundays.
CMCL WebsiteGo to www.communitymennonite.org for general information, downloadable church documents in PDF format, up-to-date calendars, posts of recent sermons and much more.
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 OberholtzerCopy editing: Jeff HawkesProofreading: Rachel Kraybill Stahl
Advisory CommitteePastors: Susan Gascho-Cooke and Chad MartinCouncil Chair: Julia Schrock RosenfeldChurch Office Liaison: Rachel Kraybill Stahl
Guide My Feet parrot art on page 1 by Lynn Sommer.
CMCL Green Parking Lot Gala
Wednesday evening, September 30, 5:30–7:30•Rue de la Pompe gypsy jazz band
• food• children’s activities
• informational presentations
sponsored by Lancaster City, Lancaster County Conservancy, and CMCL
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