Sunday, February 12
- 9:30am CCMC Worship with Zoom connections (contact Anne for details on how to join)
- Speaker: Suzanne
- 10:45am Sermon Discussion
Tuesday, February 14
- 7:00pm ARCC meeting via Zoom (contact Anne for details on how to join)
- Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle, continued
Thursday, February 16
- 7:00pm Bible Study on Genesis with Shane (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
Sunday, February 19
- 9:30am NSMC Hybrid Worship at Civic Center and Zoom (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Speaker: Anne or Shane
- 10:45am Sermon Discussion
Report from the Church Retreat
Fifteen of us, 3 from CCMC. 11 from NSMC, and Ric Hudgens gathered at Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center for the 2023 retreat, the 27th year that NSMC has gathered there, not including 2021 and 2022 when we had gatherings on Zoom instead.
Ric led the Saturday morning and early afternoon sessions on the Five Life Standards from Living More With Less by Doris Janzen Longacre. (Anne and Shelly shared time with Sammy and enjoyed her refreshing activities!)
Mennonite Live took place Saturday evening with Shane and Phil as energetic co-emcees. We missed our musicians, but folks rose to the occasion with a Name that Hymn game, pastor trivia–both offered by Shelly and Kenton–and a Guess the Recipe game brought by Karen Kym. Gerry did some science demos and Shane and Sammy sang and enacted a song from Frozen. Good times!
Sunday’s worship and Saturday’s sessions were sent out over Zoom, courtesy of Chuck and his tech expertise and Doug Wiseman’s Starlink satellite dish!
An enormous “thank you” to them and to all participants!
Recordings of the sessions–and of Mennonite Live–are available. Let Anne know if you would like to view the recording.
Here is the group photo from the weekend.
Coffee Houses at CCMC
Mark your calendars–CCMC is starting up their coffee houses again beginning March 4 with Andi and I and Kathryn Mueller’s Kettle Corn, and a second one May 6 with Hilda’s husband’s band Not Done Yet. Please join us! Doors will open at 7, music begins at 7:30 pm.
What happens when you hold a Mennonite Church USA conference ministers retreat in San Francisco, California? Lots of chocolate (Ghirardelli, of course), conversation and connection! Connie Zehr, moderator and acting conference minister of New York Mennonite Conference, reflects on her experience at her first conference minister’s retreat. Read more of her reflections here: mennoniteusa.org/connections-chocolate
For Frank Scoffield Sánchez, a speaker at Mennonite Church USA’s recent Hope for the Future conference for BIPOC leaders, his example of faith as he was growing up was full of contradictions. When he and his wife became Mennonite, about seven years ago, he began to ask questions about these contradictions. Read more of his thoughts here: mennoniteusa.org/time-as-this
–from Creation Justice Ministries
Lenten Resource
The Lenten season continues, and our 2023 Lent Resource features a daily practice to reflect on and care for the earth. Download the action-calendar here.
–from Creation Justice Tips | United Methodist Church
Make it Real
Soil isn’t just dirt. It’s a habitat for millions of microbes that are essential for growing nutritious food for all. Discontinue the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on your lawn and land. Love your microbes and you love everyone who eats food.
Store Food Properly
Avoid food waste by storing it properly. Especially when stored in plastic, fruit may ripen more quickly than you can use it. Vegetables are sensitive to the ripening gases, so a basic rule is to separate fruit and vegetables. Some produce does best on the counter; others, in a cool, dry place; and some are better in the fridge. Find out what does best where.
MCC Thrifty 50 Challenge
Do you want to help our planet but aren’t sure where to start? MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Thrift is celebrating their 50th anniversary by issuing 50 challenges to help us be more equipped to care for our planet. We’ll include one challenge each week for the next 50 weeks.
Week 36 | Dirty dishes challenge
Raise your hand if you like cleaning up after mealtime! Now, if you raised your hand, can we be friends?
This week, let’s make the not-so-fun, everyday task of cleaning up dirty dishes a little more sustainable.
You may be wondering, how do I make this daily task eco-friendly? Here are a few tips to help get you started:
- Fill your dishwasher all the way before running it.
- Use the “delay” button and run your dishwasher in the middle of the night during “off-peak” energy use hours when hydro rates are lower.
- Use an eco-friendly dishwasher liquid and dish soap. Check out these recommended soaps for a start.
- Once you’re done washing any dishes in the sink, use your dishwater to water your plants, making sure the dish soap you used is plant-friendly.
Kitchen Tip of the Week
–from The Washington Post
Start Composting
Probably the simplest way to use your scraps is to compost them. Even if you live in a city or don’t have access to a composter, just freeze any scraps and take them to your local farmers market or communal composting bin.
Some quick research with your local sanitation department or farmers markets can help identify the closest compost bins to you.