Allegheny Miscellany 
By: David Mishler, Conference Minister
Volume 32 - November 2020

#1 – 48 delegates from 10 congregations joined AMC’s Fall Faith and Life Gathering
   On a sunny November Saturday Allegheny delegates and visitors participated in our second virtual meeting to share the work of our conference.  This “optional” meeting engaged the  collaborative work of determining how to effectively steward the proceeds generated from the sale of the International Guest House property.  Numerous appreciative comments were received about the spirit of the meeting, the generative work in breakout rooms as we dove into scripture, and the thoughfulness of making ourselves more aware of both the “racial covenants” of the past and the disenfranchising of Native Americans some two centuries ago that accompany the property.  Since the meeting we have learned that the racial covenants have been stricken from the deed, and we are still researching how best to address the complicated indigenous history of the region of the nation’s capitol.                                         
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​#2 – AMC to participate again in “Giving Tuesday”
   Repeat announcement - Mark your calendars for December 1st – Giving Tuesday 2020.  Allegheny is experiencing strong support through this year of COVID-19.  And in order to remain on track for a balanced 2020-21 fiscal year, we seek your ongoing contributions to meet our current obligations and grow needed ministries in our growing conference.  On December 1, we ask you to go to our website – alleghenymennoniteconference.org – and use our PayPal link to send in a contribution of $25 (or more!).  If you have a PayPal account, using it eliminates transfer fees.  But if you use your credit card, it’s also quite simple.  Either way, please identify your contribution as “Giving Tuesday” in the memo area.  Last year we received over $2,300 from 23 contributors (almost 2% of our annual budget)!  This year’s goal - a 30% increase – 30 contributors/$3,000 for this celebration of giving.  Will you join us?​

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#3 – From Our Treasurer, Karin Miller – four other ways to support Allegheny
--As we approach the season of giving (or at least being inundated with requests!) we ask you to give until it feels good (a quote I heard many times from a former fundraiser friend).  Allegheny has registered on AmazonSmile where all Amazon purchases are eligible for a 0.5% gift to the charitable organization of your choice.  Just choose Allegheny Mennonite Conference – same products, same service, no fees, no extra cost!
--Use Bing and Support a Cause – donate with Microsoft Rewards – www.bing.com/give -  - join Microsoft Rewards and you can support AMC simply by searching with Bing.
--Donate points from hotel loyalty, airline loyalty programs, and transferable currencies which allow you to donate your points.  Check online to see what’s possible.
--Don’t forget that Everence credit card purchases are eligible for their My Neighbor program.  Just identify Allegheny as your neighbor of choice and 1.5% or your credit card purchases come to the conference. Last year we received $1,655.08 from the seven cardholders who chose AMC as “My Neighbor.”

​#4 – Note from our Conference Minister of Children and Youth – Joy Cotchen
With feedback from our pastors and youth leaders, Allegheny’s SnoKamp is cancelled for this coming February.  However, be alert for information about a “Getting Acquainted with other AMC Youth,” a creative interactive Zoom session for a couple of hours sometime in February!
 
#5 – Leadership Council (LC) Retreat - The LC normally meets for a weekend of planning each year in January.  This year, because of COVID, we will be meeting for a scaled down Saturday morning Zoom session on January 23.  Pray for your leaders and for our conference for 2021!

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Who is Allegheny Mennonite Conference?

We are a group of 14 congregations from
​PA, WV, MD, VA and DE who are raising two significant priorities:

to be a conference whose highest priority is to walk in the way of Jesus, the center of our faith, 
​and
to be so committed to place-based ministry, ministry in our local neighborhoods, that everything we do flows out of this commitment to offer Jesus’ reconciliation in our home towns.

We value relationships.  We commit our delegates to be present at three gatherings each year to share what God is doing in our various places, so that we can celebrate and counsel with one another.  Our pastors commit to be engaged regularly in pastor peer gatherings for sharing, education and counsel.

We value diversity. We believe diversity of thought and practice will sharpen one another in extending the reign of God in our neighborhoods.

We value staying at the table.  Not imposing our agenda on one another, yet discerning together how God is speaking into the life of our conference and the lives of our congregations, we aspire as adult siblings to honor one another with ongoing conversation, seeking our future together.

Allegheny Mennonite Conference.

Jesus centered. 
Collaborative. 
Committed to place-based ministry.