By Sharon Williams
Nueva Vida Norristown New Life (NVNNL) is celebrating 25 years of unity in Christ! The congregation came together on July 1, 1990—a most unusual integration of three Mennonite churches of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Norristown.
Everyone in the Franconia Conference community, former members and attendees of the four congregations, and the Norristown community is invited to the Homecoming Fiesta and Concert, Saturday, July 11. A free pork roast dinner will be served outdoors at 5:30 p.m., followed by a concert with James Crumbly and Friends at 7 p.m. at the church. An offering will be received to support the congregation’s Enlarging Our Place in God’s World fund.
James Crumbly of Tampa, Florida, is an accomplished pianist and composer who led worship at the 2010 Franconia Conference Assembly, and has ministered several times with the NVNNL congregation. He taught Jazz Ensemble, Adult Voice Ensemble, and Songwriting at the Patel Conservatory of The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. His strong background in classical, gospel, and jazz gives him a uniquely eclectic sound. Enjoy a sample of James’s piano artistry.
The worship celebration, Living God’s Promises Together, will be held Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. James Crumbly will lead worship with the congregation’s bilingual worship team and pastors Ángel Tamayo, Marta Castillo, and Ertell Whigham.
The congregation is also hosting Mennonite World Conference guests for our outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 26, 10:30 a.m., followed by a fellowship meal. Everyone is welcome, and we especially hope to welcome persons en route to the Philadelphia airport following Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg.
Sharon K. Williams is a musician, editor and congregational/non-profit consultant. She serves the Lord with the Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation as minister of worship.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.