Do you have an announcement for the Newsletter? Submit your announcement to the office by noon on Thursday. Announcements received after the deadline will be printed the following week. Announcements run between 1-3 weeks.
Our Local Mennonite Schools
Bethany Christian Schools
Bethany will be hosting class reunions and activities for its alumni and their families on Saturday, September 28. The following graduating classes will hold their reunions: 1959, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014. Reunion classes will meet Saturday afternoon at Bethany for visiting followed by a catered dinner. Alumni interested in attending should register by September 17.
Learn more and register.
Goshen College
Historic European Anabaptist Costume Prints: The Kraybill Collection, will be on exhibit at the Goshen College Library Gallery, September 1 - November 17, with a public reception on Sunday, September 8, 2:00 p.m. Colored engravings that depict Anabaptists in Switzerland, Alsace and the Palatinate from c. 1700 to 1900 will be displayed. The prints were collected in Europe by Paul and Jean Kraybill and given to the Mennonite Historical Library in 2018. Also on display will be smaller groups of images of Dutch and Russian Mennonte costumes, a few actual costumes and other contextual objects. A special tribute is given to Melvin Gingerich (1902-75) for his research and book,
Mennonite Attire through Four Centuries (1970). The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Mennonite-Amish Museum committee at Goshen College.
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)
AMBS Anabaptist Short Course Bundle includes four online courses to deepen your understanding of Anabaptist history, thought and witness. Noncredit courses last six weeks each, with no grades and no papers! CEUs available. Register online for $995.
Learn more.
Our Mennonite Institutions
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
MCC Bike Michiana is September 13-15. Join other bicycle enthusiasts of all skill levels for an enjoyable experience of pedaling the beautiful lake and farmland region of southern Michigan and northern Indiana. You will be supporting the mission and service of MCC. Terrain is rolling and flat. The fee is $125 per adult and $40 per each additional child (up to age 15). This includes cabin lodging at Amigo Centre, maps, SAG, T-shirt and meals (Saturday-Sunday). Friday dinner is available for an additional $9. Brochures are on the literature rack by the mailboxes or
learn more and register online.
MCC Michiana Relief Sale
The Relief Sale Composting and Recycling Committee is excited about the growing commitment at the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale to maximizing good (“sharing God’s love and compassion for all in the name of Christ”) while also minimizing the negative impacts of unnecessary waste. They are especially grateful to the Relief Sale Board for their commitment to purchasing compostable food containers, which makes this initiative possible. Volunteers are needed to help attendees place refuse in correct containers.
Contact Aaron Gerber to sign-up for the following times:
- Friday, September 27 in the evening at 5:30-7:00, 7:00-8:00 or 8:00-9:00.
- Saturday, September 28 in the morning at 10:00-11:30, 11:30-1:00 p.m. and in the afternoon at 1:00-3:00 or 3:00-5:00.
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Join Michiana MEDA's fall dinner program on September 19. The event will feature a presentation from Todd Zeltwenger of Cultivate Culinary, a food rescue program which works with local suppliers to get food to those who need it most in our community. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Everence's Corporate Office, 1110 North Main Street, Goshen, IN. Cost is $20/adult and $5/student, which is payable at the event. RSVP by September 13 by
emailing Abbe or calling 574-355-3607.
Mennonite Church USA
Make plans to attend the fall webinar series from MC USA for pastors and congregational leaders,
Putting Jesus on the Ballot: Anabaptism and American Politics, led by Scott Peterson, leadership pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona. The three-part series begins on Tuesday, September 17.
Learn more and register.
Mennonite Creation Care
In a column based on tips by Carole Suderman, Boulder Mennonite Church, Boulder, Colorado, Carole has been offering her congregations challenges like these for the past 20 years. Tips are adapted for a broader audience.
Do you always use the AC in your car out of habit? Here are ways to keep cool in a car without wasting fuel:
- Roll down car windows instead. Tests have shown that the drag from open car windows at 65 mph reduces fuel efficiency by 2 to 3% while the AC reduces efficiency by 15%.
- When returning to a hot car, open all the doors for a minute to let the hot air out. Then, for best fuel economy, wait to turn on the air conditioning until you reach cruising speed. AC reduces mileage most during acceleration. Once the car has cooled, turn the AC off or to a lower temperature.
- Keep a spray bottle of water in the car.
Learn more about rolling windows down vs. AC.
Mennonite World Conference
From June 25–27, 2019, leaders and members of the four Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Commissions met together for a time of face-to-face discussion, reflection, worship and strategic planning to advance the mission of MWC.
Read more.
Community Announcements
First Friday at The Window
River Oaks Community Church will host the First Friday Meal on September 6, 4:30-7:00 p.m. at The Window. The menu will include ham sandwiches, potato salad, green salad, chips, dessert, water and coffee. The suggested donation is $9; all proceeds benefit The Window and its programs.
Menno-Hof Hymn Sing
Menno-Hof is hosting a hymn sing at the Farmstead Inn Pavilion (just south of Menno-Hof), Sunday, September 8, 5:00 p.m. Enjoy a cappella singing of familiar hymns and afterwards, plan to stay for ice cream and pretzels. Chairs and hymn books will be provided.
Goshen Community Chorale Rehearsals
The Goshen Community Chorale will begin rehearsing for its upcoming 2019-20 season on Tuesday evening, September 10, at College Mennonite Church, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Chorale will be preparing a program of English cathedral music, to be performed with organ and brass, which will take place at the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen on Sunday evening, November 24. The Chorale welcomes new members who have a background in choral singing and who wish to commit themselves to regular attendance at rehearsals and to learning challenging repertoire. Interested persons should
contact the music director, William Mateer, at (574) 533-2562.
Classifieds
Have something to sell, rent or lend? Want to buy or borrow something? Looking for a job or wanting to volunteer? This is the place to have it be known!
Does anyone have a mid-sized, reliable used car that they are interested in selling? Elizabeth Nafziger, daughter of Dan and Evie, is looking for one. A hatchback or station wagon would be ideal. You can call Dan or speak with Elizabeth directly at 574-312-5134.
Emily Krabill and Monica Tarman are looking for someone to provide assistance to them at their new apartment. It would be a paid provider position with Forte. Ideally it would be from 5:30-8:00 p.m., four evenings a week, and 2-3 hours on Saturday. Some of that could be negotiated. The provider would help them accomplish household tasks, shopping, planning and organizing.
Contact Merrill Krabill if you are interested.
The Depot MCC Thrift Shops is seeking a full-time warehouse assistant. Requirements involve being on your feet a major portion of the day along with moderate to heavy lifting. Hourly wage and benefits provided.
Contact Galen Kauffmann, general manager, at 574-534-1828.
Berkey Announcements
Sunday School classes for adults resume this Sunday and there are many options for you to choose from. We hope you will join us.
We welcome back Dan Schrock. Dan was on Sabbatical/Vacation since April 15 and will return to the office next week. Before leaving on sabbatical, Dan created a plan. You may 
Mark Schloneger is out of the office and will return September 2. He is hiking with friends in Utah. While Mark is gone, if you have a pastoral need, please contact Joanne Gallardo.
Beginning this Sunday, September 1, we will once again staff the nursery with volunteers. Because of the age range of Berkey kids, infants through three year olds will now be in the nursery together. Age four and older are encouraged to remain in the sanctuary with their parents and enjoy activities located in the bookcase in the northwest corner of the room.
Check out your listing today in the church directory and let the office know if you have any corrections or updates, including a new photo. If you would like a pdf or printed copy of the directory, you may 
All regular attenders are encouraged to have an online account with 
The Prayer Circle will not be meeting this Monday, September 2. However, the group of three to five people normally meets routinely on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the church offices. We pray for Berkey members who have shared joys and concerns during the worship service, by using the blue prayer cards, or through individual concerns specifically expressed to us. All prayer requests are kept confidential. Additionally, we pray for the life of Berkey Ave, the community surrounding it, and the wider world.
Berkey is hosting a blood drive for American Red Cross on September 6, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. You may schedule your appointment now by visiting the 
Head on over to our Facebook page for a photographic collection of our early history -- complete with difficult to recognize building features, incredible hairstyles and clothing, and who knows what else we will dig up! Play along and see if you can spot anybody you know, and don't forget to like our page if you haven't already!
Do you have an announcement for the Newsletter? Submit your announcement to the office by noon on Thursday. Announcements received after the deadline will be printed the following week. Announcements run between 1-3 weeks.
Fall Fest, September 21, 5:00 p.m.
Berkey owns a Church Video License (CVLI) to show select movies in church. If you plan to show a video or movie, 
