-> Online registration is closed. If you missed the deadline, call Diane Bowman at (540) 434-9727. <-
Theme & Worship: "Jesus, God's Love Made Flesh"
In this fourth gathering focused on being Centered in Christ Jesus, we move to the heart of the matter, affirming that Jesus mediates God’s love to us. It is the only way we can approach God whose essence is “light inaccessible,” whose name is unspeakable, and whose “thoughts are not our thoughts.” We hope to give voice to this wonder in our worship together.
On Thursday evening, we will continue our reflection on 175 years of VMC gatherings as various representatives share how they have experienced the love of God along the I-40 corridor from Knoxville to Rocky Mount. From I John 4, we will consider God’s unfailing love in the past, present and future.
On Friday, we will hear Bible teacher, Jennifer Davis Sensenig, illustrate I John 4:9 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” We will interact with well-known theologian, Stanley Hauerwas. In our evening worship we will hear pastor Isaac Villegas explore the I John 4 exhortation, ‘Let us love one another.’ We will close the service with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the most intimate invitation to share in God’s love.
Speakers
Stanley Hauerwas is a Christian theologian and ethicist. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame and is currently the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School with a joint appointment at the Duke University School of Law. Dr. Hauerwas has written extensively including Resident Aliens which he co-authored with William Willimon.
Jennifer Davis Sensenig is lead pastor of Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. She earned an MDiv from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary with a concentration in Biblical studies and has formerly served as pastor of Cedar Falls Mennonite Church (IA) and Pasadena Mennonite Church (CA). She leads Bible studies and preaches in settings across the wider church and serves as vice chair of the Mennonite Education Agency Board of Directors.
Isaac Villegas is pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship in North Carolina. He is the child of Latin American immigrants to Los Angeles. He grew up in the Roman Catholic Church until his family joined the pentecostal/charismatic movement. He began worshiping with Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship while attending Duke Divinity School. After completing a Masters of Divinity, the congregation called him to be their pastor. Isaac is the co-author of Presence: Giving and Receiving God, and writes regularly for The Mennonite and the Mennonite Weekly Review.
Assembly Schedule
Thursday, June 24
11:30am-6:00 pm Registration
5:00-6:00 Dinner
6:45 Gathering music
7:00-8:45 Worship: “God is Love”
Stories of God’s love in VMC’s history
8:45-9:30 Registration
9:00-10:00 Third Way Media presentation: Reaching Beyond Mennonites: Your Voice in the Media
Friday, June 25
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
7:00-8:00 Pastors’ Breakfast sponsored by Everence (formerly MMA)
8:15-9:00 Bible Study: “God’s Love Expressed in Jesus” with Jennifer Davis Sensenig
9:00-11:45 Delegate Session #1
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch
1:15-3:30 Delegate Session #2
3:45-5:15 Plenary Seminar:
“The Difference Anabaptism Makes”
with Stanley Hauerwas, interviewed by
Peter Dula
5:30-6:30 Dinner
6:45 Gathering music
7:00-8:45 Worship: “Love One Another”
with Isaac Villegas
9:00-10:00 Coffeehouse entertainment
Saturday, June 26
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
7:00-8:00 Mennonite Women’s Breakfast
with Carol Tobin
7:00-800 Mennonite Men’s Breakfast with Skip Tobin
8:30-9:45 Workshop session #1
10:00-11:15 Workshop session #2
11:30-12:30 Lunch
Workshops
Assembly will feature two workshop sessions on Saturday morning, from 8:30-9:45 and 10:00-11:15 am. Four of the following workshops will be scheduled in each session. (Some presenters are to be confirmed.)
Re-reading the Bible with Christ in the Center
Led by Jennifer Davis Sensenig, pastor, Community Mennonite Church
What in the World is God Doing?
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Led by Joanna Marshall, Perspectives Global Developer, Instructor, Coordinator
Telling Scripture by Heart
Led by Dan Longenecker, former pastor and chaplain, member of Network of Biblical Storytellers
Stephen Ministry: Congregations Caring for Those Who Grieve
Led by Wayne Campbell, Stephen Ministry
Urban Ministry and Spirituality – Church's Urban Mission
Led by Sang Jin Choi, Pastor of Fourth Street Community Fellowship/ Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid (APPA); UN representative, GCS International
Leading a Small Group that People Want to Attend
Led by Luke Weaver, pastor, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church
The Word Became Flesh and Moved Into the Neighborhood
Led by Duane Beck, Pastor, Raleigh Mennonite Church
A Pastoral Approach Towards Persons with Homosexual Orientation
Led by Spiritual Discernment Committee of VMC’s Faith and Life Commission
BYOH! (Bring Your Own Hymnal)
Worship at Assembly 2010 has been declared BYOH—bring your own hymnal! The congregations of Eastern Carolina District do not have enough hymnals for everyone. Assembly participants who can bring their own copy of the Hymnal: A Worship Book are requested to do so. (Some hymnals will be available for those who do not have one.)
World Neighbors
Be informed and inspired by Virginia Mennonite Missions’ workers serving in various cultures. See their displays and talk with them as they share about God’s work in the world.
Lodging
Dorm room lodging on campus is available in Metcalf Hall. Rooms are arranged in suites with 2 beds per room, 5 rooms in each suite, and one bathroom in each suite. Families will be assigned to adjacent rooms. (A child under 5 may stay in a room with both parents, using their own mattress or portable crib.) Full linens are included in the room price, including 2 flat sheets, 1 towel, 1 washcloth, blanket and pillow (with
pillowcase) for each person. Each suite will not be filled to capacity.
If you are interested in staying at area hotels, this list shows hotels and their distances from the site of Assembly.
Meals
All meals must be pre-registered, including “special” breakfasts. Indicate the number eating each meal on the registration form. All meals will be served in the Fountain Dining Hall, which provides a variety of food, including a vegetarian option at every meal. Menus are available here.
On Friday morning, there will be a Pastors’ Breakfast, compliments of Everence (formerly MMA), for active pastors and their spouses. On Saturday morning, Mennonite Men and Mennonite Women will have breakfasts with guest speakers. Mennonite Men’s and Mennonite Women’s breakfasts are open to all adult Assembly participants.
Nursery and childcare will be provided each evening during worship (6:45-8:45pm). Pre-registration is required for daytime nursery or childcare. Daytime nursery (age 0-2) and childcare (age 3 through grade 5 completed) will be available on Friday 8:00-noon and 1:00-5:30pm.
Activities will include Bible stories, music, outdoor play, games and crafts. A field trip to a nearby Natural Science Museum is offered Saturday morning from 8:15-11:30 for children age 3 through 5th grade. (We are unable to provide nursery care for younger children on Saturday morning.) Tami Nice is coordinating this year’s children’s activities.
Bus to North Carolina State from Virginia
A bus will travel from Harrisonburg to Raleigh, via Richmond, and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis up to a capacity of 56 seats. Tickets are round-trip only and must be reserved when you register for Assembly. (See the registration form for prices.) The itinerary:
Thursday, June 24
8:30 am Bus open for boarding at EMU Commons parking lot
9:00 Departure
9:45 Stop at Waynesboro Rt. 340 Park & Ride
11:15 Arrival at First Mennonite Church in Richmond (brief restroom break)
11:30 Departure from Richmond (one hour lunch stop en route)
3:30 pm Arrival at NC State University
Saturday, June 26
12:30 pm Bus open for boarding
1:00 Departure for Harrisonburg
4:00 Arrival in Richmond
5:45 Arrival in Waynesboro at Rt. 340 Park & Ride
6:30 Arrival in Harrisonburg
Parking Permits
Parking is located in the Dan Allen Parking Deck off Dan Allen Drive. Parking permits will be required for any cars parked on campus between 7:00 am Monday and 5:00 pm Friday. Permits are $2.50/day. Please pre-register for a permit if needed. Permits are not required on the weekend.
Registration Policy
Registration deadline: June 3
After this deadline, meals and daytime child care cannot be guaranteed. You will receive confirmation, a map, and check-in instructions via US mail.
A refund (less a $20 non-refundable registration fee) will be given for all cancellations received on or before June 7. No money can be refunded for cancellations after this date, even if meals or rooms are not used.
The purpose of the registration fee is to help us cover the expenses of Assembly. Charging this fee has allowed us to break even the past several years. In general, we ask everyone who participates in Assembly events to register and pay the fee. However, persons who attend only the plenary seminar and worship sessions do not need to register.
Partial scholarship assistance is available upon request.
-> Online registration is closed. If you missed the deadline, call Diane Bowman at (540) 434-9727.
Make checks payable to:
Virginia Mennonite Conference
901 Parkwood Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
"Conference Assembly Registration" in memo line
Youth Activities
Assembly 2010 features a variety of activities for youth including games, outdoor activities on the NC State campus (and a nearby park), a service project, a late-night video,
coffeehouse entertainment, and more.
At times, youth will join with adults in worship, hear dynamic speakers, and participate in a chosen workshop. At other times, they will meet together with other youth. They will find valuable opportunities for connecting with youth from around the conference, and for learning more about their faith community in the world.
Youth should register for Assembly individually, as adults do, but be sure to fill out the special youth section of the registration form. Youth may choose to lodge with their parents, or together with a youth group and sponsor(s). Youth and sponsors will be charged a reduced registration fee.
Questions? Contact Jason Gerlach, Conference Youth Minister, at jason.gerlach@vmconf.org.
Items Youth Will Need
Bible
Journal
Pen/Pencil
Shoes for outdoor and gym activities
Swimsuit (girls: one piece or full-coverage tankini)
Toiletries, personal items
Clothes for three days and two nights
(As you pack your clothes, keep modesty in mind. Muscle shirts, spaghetti straps, and very short shorts are not
appropriate attire for Assembly. Dress with respect for yourself and others.)
Youth Schedule
Thursday
11:30am-6:00 pm Registration desk open in Talley Student Center (Youth should check in prior to 4:30 pm.)
4:30 Gather in Metcalf Hall dorm lounge
5:00-6:00 Dinner
6:45 Gathering music
7:00 Worship
Youth session and mixer activities
9:00-10:00 Video
Friday
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
8:15-9:00 Bible study with
Jennifer Davis Sensenig
9:00-11:45 Service project
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch
1:15-3:30 Free time, outdoor activities
3:45-5:15 Plenary Seminar with Stanley Hauerwas and Peter Dula
5:30-6:30 Dinner
6:45 Gathering music
7:00-8:45 Worship
9:00-10:00 Coffeehouse entertainment
Saturday
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
8:30-9:45 Outdoor activities
10:00-11:15 Workshop
11:30-12:30 Lunch and send-off
Online registration is closed. If you missed the deadline, call Diane Bowman at (540) 434-9727.
Contact Virginia Mennonite Conference:
Tel: (540) 434-9727 Fax: (540) 434-7627
901 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg , VA 22802
info@vmconf.org