Sunday School Program
The MCOB Sunday School is a program of Christian education for the youth of the congregation. With the use of a chosen curriculum, parents and other interested participants volunteer to teach classes for one month at a time. Teaching Sunday school provides a special opportunity for participation in the congregation: Individuals learn to know the youth of the congregation, have an opportunity to review and study Bible stories and scripture, and may share their own unique faith perspectives with the youth.
Ten Thousand Villages
Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America. Its mission is to provide vital, fair income to Third World people by selling their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or under-employed. The income the artisans earn helps pay for food, education, health care and housing.
In November 1997, the Mennonite Congregation of Boston assisted in the opening of a Ten Thousand Villages retail store at 694 Massachusetts Ave. in Central Square, Cambridge. MCOB’s involvement stems from sponsorship for many years of a one-day sale of MCC Self-Help crafts in Cambridge. The store seemed a natural progression from the sale. The congregation continues to support and assist in its operation. A second and third store have since opened in the Coolidge Corner neighborhood of Brookline and in downtown Boston close to Downtown Crossing.
Ten Thousand Villages is always in need of volunteers to assist and complement the staff of the store in any number of ways. MCOB participants interested in exploring volunteer opportunities at the stores, or in learning more about Ten Thousand Villages, please call the stores directly at (617) 277-7700 (Brookline), or (617) 372-8743 (Boston).
Annual Fall Retreat
MCOB plans and organizes a Fall retreat every October. The retreat normally takes place on a weekend in October, although the date varies slightly from year to year. In recent years, the retreat has been held at the Miramar Retreat Center, Duxbury, MA.
The Fall Retreat offers a time to relax, reflect and socialize with others in the Congregation. Programming around a particular theme is planned by the Church Council. A Worship Service with Communion takes place at 10:30 am on Sunday. The retreat is an enjoyable day, and all are encouraged to participate, including newcomers to the congregation. To insure that money is not a barrier to attendance, MCOB assumes expenses for the whole weekend. Participants contribute as they are able. For more information, contact menncob@gmail.com .
Membership
MCOB receives new members on an irregular schedule. At the present time, the Congregation recognizes two types of membership: full members (or simply members) and associate members. Full members are received by transfer of church letter, baptism, or confession of faith. Associate members are generally received following a declaration of intention to be associated with the congregation, but without transfer, baptism or confession. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member or an associate member of the congregation can speak with our pastor, Bruce Bradshaw, for more information and/or to plan a service of reception.