Metamora Mennonite Church

Celebrate Communion: Sunday, January 3

As we begin a new year and a new decade, it's good to focus on the center of our life and faith, the person of Jesus.  As we think about 2010, and celebrate communion together, we will focus on the wisdom and reconciliation of God.      

All who are followers of Jesus are welcome to join us at the Lord's table.   

While we sometimes celebrate foot washing with communion, we will not be observing foot washing this Sunday.  

Worship begins at 10:15 am.  Sunday school is prior to worship at 9 am.

Please contact the church office with any questions.

Event Cancellation Procedure

Sometimes is snows!  Other times is snows so much we have to cancel church events.  While this is fun for children who love to sled, it's no fun if you drive all the way to church in the snow, only to find the service has been cancelled.  So, here is how you will know if church is cancelled.

1. Check WEEK-TV and WHOI, both local TV channels.  We post our event cancellations on those two stations.
2. Check the website.  We will post all cancellations on the website.
3. Listen for a phone call.  If you are a regular member of MMC, you are a part of our Event Cancellation Phone Tree (click here to get a copy).  

Just so you know, we are biased towards not canceling church.  We also know that people have different tolerances for driving in the snow.  Even if church is not cancelled, if you are not comfortable driving, please stay home.  We love you and we'll see you again next Sunday.

Church will always be cancelled if the parking lot is not passable, we have no heat or we have no power.  If you don't have power, rendering your tv, computer and phone useless, assume we do not have church and stay home and stay warm.   

If you have any questions, please send Pastor Michael an e-mail at mikemmc@mtco.com 

Bursting in and breaking out!

 

Chuck Neufeld to visit MMC

Next Sunday, October 25,  Illinois Mennonite Conference Minister, Chuck Neufeld, will be at Metamora Mennonite Church.  He will preach during the 10:15 am worship service!  He's also bringing his guitar!  Chuck is a fabulous musician and brings a message of hope and encouragement to God's people the church.

Join us for Sunday school for all ages @ 9 am, Fellowship Time beginning at 9:45 am, and worship beginning at 10:15 am.

Nursery care is available during Sunday school and worship.

August 30: Forgiveness, Part 3

On Sunday, August 30 we will wrap up our series on forgiveness and celebrate communion together. Please join us!  Worship starts at 9 am.

This Sunday at MMC: "Forgiveness, part 1"

Sunday, August 2, we are starting a two-week series on Forgiveness.  Forgiveness is something that cuts to the heart of all of our relationships.  How do we respond to the real and perceived hurts of real life?  How do we respond to the real and perceived injustices that come our way?  We have many available responses.  Some of them come quite naturally, and often lead to the accumulation of hurts.  Others, like forgiveness, don't come quite as naturally, but hold out the possibility of newness of life. 

The first week of the series, we will talk about forgiveness as that which subverts the cycle of revenge and opens up space for new life.  The second week we will explore Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant to discover that forgiveness is about a different way of life.

Worship begins at 9 am.  Nursery and Kid's Celebration are available during worship. 

If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

Does the church arrogantly think all other religions are wrong?

There was a time in American life when people would ask, "What denomination are you?", assuming that you were Christian.  Today people ask, "What religion are you?".   Things have changed.  We live in a pluralistic culture where people of many varying faiths, or none at all, live side by side in community.

How do we relate to people of other faiths and beliefs as followers of Jesus?  The perception of many outside the church is that Christians respond by making arrogant judgments on all others religions, declaring them wrong.  In the process of defending Christianity as "right" have Christians engaged in some very unJesus-like behavior, not valuing or respecting other people?

That is what we will explore this Sunday in worship at Metamora Mennonite.  

Worship begins at 9 am. Nursery and Kid's church is available for infants through 5th grade students.

If you have any questions, please contact the church office!

Next Sunday: Is the church homophobic?

This Sunday, July 12, we will continue our series They Like Jesus But Not the Church with a message on homosexuality.

There is a perception by many (actually most) outside of the church that the church is homophobic and does not demonstrate the love of Jesus towards the homosexual community.   Is there truth in that perception?  Have Christians in subtle and not so subtle ways treated homosexual persons with an irrational fear that leads to anger and hatred?  How do we embody the love of Jesus in the midst of this hotly debated and tension filled topic? 

Worship is at 9 am!  Nursery care and children's church are available during the service for birth through 5th grade. 

Sunday, July 5: Nate Rauh speaking @ MMC

This Sunday, July 5, 2009, we welcome Nate Rauh to MMC.  Nate is a Metamora Native who is connected to MMC.  He recently finished his undergraduate degree at Wheaton College and is heading to Duke Divinity School to begin graduate school this Fall.

Nate brings a love for Jesus and His church, as well as a sharp mind and a unique perspective as a young adult!  He has also spent significant time doing ministry in Ethiopia in the context of HIV/Aids and how the church responds.  As we consider what it looks like to be the church in our current place and time, Nate has much to offer!

Worship begins @ 9 am!  Kid's church and nursery are available during worship!

If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

Is the church male-dominated? Does it oppress women?

There is a perception by many outside of the church that the church is male-dominated and restricts the role of women.  The perception is partially correct because, in reality, some local churches are male-dominated and do restrict the role of women.  While this is not true of every local church, it's true in enough local churches to cause women to ask, 'Are women valued in the church?" and "How do women's gifts take expression in the church?:  These are ironic questions given the radical inclusion of women demonstrated by Jesus.  Yet, they remain. 

What do the scriptures say about the role of women in Jesus' church?  How do we understand them and apply them in our context today?    That is what we are exploring in week 3 of our series, "They Like Jesus but Not the Church."   

Come ready to explore what it means to follow Jesus in the complex and rapidly changing environment of American culture!

Worship begins at 9 am!  Nursery and Kid's Celebration are available from birth through 5th grade!  

Contact the church office with questions!  309.367.4892 or metmenno@mtco.com