Worship in the Woods is the summer vespers series of the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center. Join us Sundays at 7 PM from July 12 through August 9 in our beautiful, outdoor, wooded amphitheater!

Our service on July 12 will feature Matthew Bucher as speaker, with cellist Ed Gant providing special music.

Matthew Bucher, his wife Greta, and their sons live in the northeast neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he serves as the pastor of Immanuel Mennonite Church. Greta and Matthew first met while serving with Mennonite Central Committee in Egypt. Matthew worked with the Coptic Orthodox Church and focused on teaching, peacebuilding, and networking. Upon returning to the United States, he moved to Harrisonburg to study and graduated from Eastern Mennonite University's dual degree program, M.Div. and M.A. in Conflict Transformation, in 2015. Matthew regularly returns to the Middle East and occasionally teaches at Eastern Mennonite University and James Madison University. Matthew loves reading, practicing Arabic, playing pickleball, and connecting with neighbors.

Edward Gant resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia with his wife, Lori. He holds a DMA from the University of Iowa. Dr. Gant has served on the music faculties of Luther College in Iowa, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania and James Madison University. He is currently on the faculty of the American Public University System (APUS) and has served as principal cellist in the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and the Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Richmond Symphony in Richmond, Virginia and the Roanoke Symphony in Roanoke, Virginia. An active recitalist, teacher and freelance musician, he has performed internationally, in the United Kingdom, Austria and Italy. As a Certified Music Practitioner, he served on the staff at VMRC providing therapeutic music to the residents and at RMH in the behavioral health units.

Please bring your own lawn chair for seating. An offering will be taken to support the ongoing mission of the Heritage Center. Parking is available in the field at the top of our hill. Golf cart assistance is available for those who wish it; if handicap parking is needed at the bottom of the amphitheater, please request it when you arrive.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Pavilion.