potluck supper + games nights
Regular event
Once a month, we gather for games. Come to the HMC building any time from 6pm; we'll eat a potluck supper together at around 6:30pm, and start the games from around 7pm. Bring a game or two or just show up and see what's on the table!
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Kid-friendly; there are usually 3 - 5 games going at any one time, and range from simple through to all-evening strategy sessions. If games aren't your thing, bring a craft with you, or just come for the conversation. This is a casual and fun event, and friends and family are welcome.
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Coming up (dates subject to change; we'll update here if that happens):
Friday, March 13
Friday, May 15
Friday, June 19
Friday, July 17
Friday, August 14
Friday, September 18
Friday, October 16
Friday, November 6
Friday, December 18
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let's eat together: lunch after church
Regular event
Once a month, we go out together for lunch to a local restaurant. Come join us! We'll leave the building after Second Hour gets done and make our way to this month's venue.
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Coming up (dates subject to change; we'll update here if that happens):
Sunday, April 19
Sunday, May 3
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, July 12
Sunday, August 9
Sunday, September 13
Sunday, October 11
Sunday, November 8
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potluck fellowship meals
Regular event
Potluck Fellowship Meals take place on the fourth Sunday of every month (with a few exceptions - see below). It's a great opportunity to hang out and enjoy some community with your church family.
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Please bring something to share - dishes that work for those with food restrictions are particularly welcome! These include: Gluten-free, and FODMAP-friendly (need some recipe suggestions for that last one? start here...).
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Upcoming dates:
Sunday, March 22
Sunday, April 12 (Easter Sunday potluck brunch)
Sunday, May 24
Sunday, June 28
Sunday, July 26
Sunday, August 23
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, December 20 (Christmas potluck brunch)
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Exceptions to the "every fourth Sunday" pattern:
We celebrate Easter Sunday with a potluck brunch, and skip our regular fellowship meal that month. The summer pool party is our potluck meal for whichever month it takes place. We also skip the meal in November and December due to Thanksgiving and Christmas busyness - but there are many other celebrations to take their place, including our our Christmas Banquet in early December, and our Christmas Brunch on the morning of the Sunday before Christmas.
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strength and grace in numbers
Important info
Thank you for your contributions to our shared life. We rely on one another and it's beautiful!
Use the links below to check the upcoming rosters.
If you're scheduled for a day that no longer works for you, please arrange a switch with someone else on the schedule, and email the updated information to admin@houstonmennonite.org. Thank you!
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working toward zero waste
Item added July 25, 2019
Did you know?
27,000 trees are cut down EVERY DAY just to supply us with toilet paper.
And it's imperative that we keep trees in the ground; they may be one of our best solutions to the climate crisis.
At Houston Mennonite, we're working towards zero waste. All our paper products - toilet paper, paper towel, tissues, napkins, printer paper - are made from recycled paper. And we encourage you to minimize the use of paper altogether, and use cleaning cloths and dishcloths wherever possible. You can find both in the drawers of the kitchen island. Everything is laundered regularly so you know it's clean!
We also have reusable boxes available in the kitchen any time you need them for leftovers, and of course you know where our recycling bins are. Please read the labels before putting anything into recycling and if in doubt - throw it in the trash. Contamination of recycling loads can cause the whole load to go to landfill.
And remember - do what you can, when you can! None of us can do this perfectly, and that's OK. "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly." Thank you for your efforts, and we'll keep improving together!
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thanks for wearing your name tag
Item added June 6, 2019
Thank you for wearing your HMC name tag on Sunday mornings!
Wearing one makes HMC a more welcoming place for guests, and can be helpful for everyone. Guests are now invited to have stick-on name tags too.
Your name tag can be found on the hooks near the door to the offices, just outside the common space. Please develop the habit of wearing it every week!
Contact Administrative Assistant Janine at houstonmennonite@gmail.com if you don't have a name tag and would like one.
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saving the planet one lunchbox at a time
Item added June 6, 2019
The HMC kitchen now has reusable plastic containers in a variety of sizes. Return the containers next week, if you remember, or continue to reuse them at home.
Just another way HMC is trying to help each other be environmentally friendlier. See Linda Washburn (Care Team) if you have any questions.
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june is pride month
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June is Pride Month, and we wrap our arms around our LGBTQ+ members in joy and celebration. How we love you! We can't imagine our community without you and the richness you bring to our lives together.
Thank you for helping to make us, US!! You help make Houston Mennonite complete.
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2. Spiritual Inquiry & Worship Sharing
A time of quiet reflection and discussion based on Quaker traditions.
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Meets in: Pastor's Office
Facilitators: Claude & Katharine Jager-Rubinson
Last day: Ongoing
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Attend once, drop in and out, or come to all - you don't need to have been part of the earlier sessions to attend the later ones. No registration required.
children's sunday school volunteers needed
Item added Apr 25, 2019
Our congregation has recently been blessed with an abundance of children. One of our responsibilities as their family of faith is to help raise them up in the ways of Christ.
This is done in part through Children's Sunday School, which occurs during Second Hour. We currently have two classes, one for children 6 - 9 (Children's class), and one for children 10 - 14 (Junior Youth class).
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We need additional volunteers to help teach these classes. If you have a heart for working with children, here is your opportunity to make a difference in a really meaningful and potentially life-changing way.
The curriculum for the classes has already been set up, so your main task is to show up and teach. Qualifications include having regular attendance for at least 6 months, and passing a standard background check.
If you are interested, please contact David Cooper or Lauren Hall and we will work on getting you set up. Thanks!
creator space: saturday, may 11
Item added May 2, 2019
Our next Creator Space will be on Saturday, May 11. Come along to the HMC building any time between noon and 4pm (bring your lunch if you want) and be creative!
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In previous sessions, we've had people doing calligraphy, beading, embroidery, weaving, card-making, glass-etching, and more. The kitchen's available if your creativity is the edible sort, or you can set up at a table in the common space.
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Bring all the equipment and materials you'll need for your activity; this is a do-your-own-thing event. Kids are welcome, but no childcare is provided so make sure they have a craft to do too!
faith communities keeping children and youth safe
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Dove's Nest is an organization devoted empowering and equipping faith communities to keep children and youth safe in their homes, churches, and communities. Houston Mennonite Church joins them in these goals, and uses the Safe Sanctuaries guidelines for all volunteers working with children and young people at HMC.
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As April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, we're featuring some resources for parents provided by Dove's Nest, including this "Parenting for Prevention" study guide.
directory updates - it's that time again
Item added Apr 4, 2019
We're making updates to the Houston Mennonite Church Directory. For privacy, the directory is only distributed to those who are listed in it.
If that's you, please check your entry and let us know ANY updates - have you moved house? Got a new cellphone number? Perhaps we have your birthday wrong, or it's never been listed? Please send any updates or changes to houstonmennonite@gmail.com
If you're not yet in the directory, and you'd like to be, we'd love to include you (and when these updates are made, you'll receive a copy of the latest version). For new entries, please let us know any of the below that you're comfortable with:
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First and last names for everyone in the family
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Birthdays (no year needed) for everyone in the family
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Email addresses as appropriate
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Cell phone numbers as appropriate
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Street address, including ZIP code
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Wedding anniversary (no year needed) if applicable
Please send any updates or new additions by Friday, April 26. After that, our next round of updates will be in September.
Questions? Talk to Kathryn Bauchelle.
potluck supper + games nights
Regular event
Once a month, we gather for games. Come to the HMC building any time from 6pm; we'll eat a potluck supper together at around 6:30pm, and start the games from around 7pm. Bring a game or two or just show up and see what's on the table!
​
Kid-friendly; there are usually 3 - 5 games going at any one time, and range from simple through to all-evening strategy sessions. If games aren't your thing, bring a craft with you, or just come for the conversation. This is a casual and fun event, and friends and family are welcome.
​
Coming up (dates subject to change; we'll update here if that happens):
Friday, March 13
Friday, May 15
Friday, June 19
Friday, July 17
Friday, August 14
Friday, September 18
Friday, October 16
Friday, November 6
Friday, December 18
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