MWR : Getting to know one another

Last updated November 24.

Send letters to the editor, or suggestions for our stories or Web site, to MWR‘s editors.

April 6, 2009 issue

Print this article.

Comment on this article

Tags: Congregations

Getting to know one another

Germantown Mennonite Church, Philadelphia

By Grace Marie Gerber

Getting to know one another in fellowship is an essential part of building church community, and so we at GMC have several ongoing social groups open to anyone interested.

In addition to occasional Sunday potlucks at church after the worship hour, several people have organized events jokingly called the Recurring Occasional Ministry of Potluck Parties, or ROMPP, starting in January. Children as well as adults are welcome. To date several successful gatherings have taken place in members’ homes. GMC men also meet regularly at local cafes for breakfast. The women have established their own gatherings. We are an urban church; most GMC members do not have family roots in the city. So we want to work intentionally at being family to each other in the church setting.

Life at GMC also includes extending hospitality to others outside our fellowship. Twice yearly we participate in Interfaith Hospitality Network, housing and feeding in our church building those who have become homeless. Nearly all church members are involved in one task or another to make sure our guests feel welcome and comfortable during their stay. Amy Yoder McGloughlin, GMC member, coordinates this effort.

Attendance at Sunday worship has been growing. Interim pastor Kipp Gilmore-Clough has brought new vitality to our church. Our pastoral search committee continues their search to call a full-time pastor.

Editor’s note: This article is a corrected version from the one originally posted online.

Comment on the article Getting to know one another

The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.