Come and experience a company of brothers seeking a meaningful life that matters in retirement. Mennonite Men is hosting a retreat for men contemplating retirement, recently starting retirement, or have been retired for significant periods of time. Led by Leon Bauman, participants will examine habits for a healthy retirement, define “doing” and “being”, set goals for this life stage beyond financial matters and find purpose in and beyond “work”. Gatherings will include focused conversations, meaningful rituals, and delicious meals together. There will also be time for solitude in the rolling hills, meadows, and woods of The Hermitage.

Location:  The Hermitage (11321 Dutch Settlement Rd, Three Rivers, MI 49093)

Date: 5:00 Friday – 4:30 Saturday, October 18-19

Cost: Suggested donation range of $120-150. (Includes room, meals, and Living that Matters: Honest Conversations for Men of Faith)

Registration: see form below.  Register by September 15. Limited to the first 12 registrations with a $50 deposit.

Get more information.

Register here.

• Your generosity blessed us during our weGive Week campaign in June! We received a total of $6801 from individual donors, which is more than double the amount received in other fundraising events in this past year. Even though we were short of our goal, we’re encouraged by the growing trend in our individual donor base. Thank-you for supporting IMMC with your dollars and your prayers!
• Pastors who are responding with a “yes!” when invited to serve in congregational leadership. Derrick Ramer will begin as pastor at Benton on August 1 and Becky Helmuth will begin as pastoral team leader (half-time) at North Goshen on September 1. Becky also began as interim pastor (half-time) at East Goshen on July 1.

• Joanne Gallardo joined the worship service at Mennonite Fellowship of Bloomington on Sunday evening July 7 and was blessed by the worshipful meal they shared together, as well as discussing recent changes at IMMC.
• On June 26, Sharon met with conference ministers who are working with emerging congregations. This resourcing conversation happens monthly, via zoom.
• Stewardship Team members gathered for lunch at the conference office on Wednesday June 26. This was our only in-person meeting during the year, as monthly meetings are held via zoom.
• IMMC staff members Michelle, Clayton, Joanne, and Sharon gathered for lunch on Wednesday July 10, taking some time for fun and fellowship in the middle of our annual archiving day.

• First Mennonite Church will host a pastoral candidate who, if called, would fill one of two openings in their congregation. Interim pastors Suella Gerber and Richard Kauffman serve as search guides for their search committee. We invite your prayers for wisdom and clarity as they interact with their candidate this weekend and as the search committee continues a search to fill their second position.
• Healthy Boundaries training is required every three years for credentialed leaders. Please check here for upcoming seminars: Healthy Boundaries Training | Mennonite Church USA (mennoniteusa.org).
• If you are a chaplain interested in joining a quarterly chaplain cluster group, please contact Joanne at joanne@im.mennonite.net.
• If you are a congregational coach, save the date for our next training on 10/16/24.

We are still busy with year end calculations and reporting and do not yet have it finalized. We will include the financial report in an upcoming communication.

This month, Conference Co-Minister Joanne Gallardo reflects on what it means to be patriotic in her article Five things Friday roundup: How to actually be patriotic.

Now Hiring a Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry!

College Mennonite Church seeks an individual who brings relational and administrative gifts to the task of walking with our congregation in the area of youth and children’s ministry. See the job description here. This is a salaried 50% position, with paid vacation time and retirement benefits. Interested applicants can send a resume and cover letter to cmc@collegemennonite.org.