December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23
My soul doth magnify the LORD DeskTop
A prayer during Sunday worship thanked God for the Happy birthday to MEDA “good news of credit, employment and enterprise.” Amen. his year’s MEDA convention celebrated 50 years of profitable service (see page 14). I always thought MCC This little Babe Twas the most practical manifestation of Mennonite hile preparing some readings for a performance of piety, but I was wrong. Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” this MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) W Advent season, I looked into the life of poet Robert deals in bottom-line reality with slogans like “Business Southwell (1561-1595). Britten used several of Southwell’s solutions for poverty” and “Putting our equity where our poems in his work, including the one featured on the back faith is.” In MCC you talk about “sustainable development.” cover, “This little Babe.” In MEDA you talk about “profits.” Southwell’s vision of the infant Christ is startling—the In a way, MEDA is a breath of fresh air. Here you can be a baby’s shivering vulnerability is quickly transposed into the capitalist and a Christian without apology. Here you can quaking of hell as the warrior babe mounts a fierce attack admit that you like to live well and want to help others against evil. Perhaps this militant vision resonated with make money so they can live well. The convention was very Britten—he composed the work in 1942 while crossing the different from church conventions I’m used to. There were submarine-infested Atlantic. speakers and workshops, but much of the time was for Southwell, too, was writing in the midst of war as the “networking” and having fun together. Lots of tours and newly reformed English church fought to stamp out Catholi- time for exploring the city. The tour of choice involved flying cism. Southwell, a Catholic priest and leader of the perse- to Churchill for a day to watch the polar bears. cuted minority, was hanged for treason at the age of 33. And you can do quick fundraising in this group. After a So Southwell, like the Anabaptist martyrs, recognized the crokinole tournament, the boards were sold for $1,000 each. paradox of that babe in the manger—a helpless fragility I was intrigued by the juxtapositions: people enjoying their combined with confidence in the almighty power of God. wealth but enjoying even more being able to fund remarkable In what is probably his most famous poem, “The Burning projects around the world. More than one person told me that Babe,” Southwell again strives to portray the paradox of the many of the business people at the convention would have incarnation, this time with the collision of cold and heat: left the church long ago if it weren’t for MEDA. Many feel As I in hoary winter night stood shivering in the snow, constantly criticized by the church for making money, and yet Surprised was I with sudden heat which made my heart to glow; the church always wants that money. And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near, My conclusion was that the seeming contradictions within A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear... MEDA are not so different from what I live with every day. The babe is weeping because none are coming to warm We North Americans are all part of the rich minority in the themselves at his fire of love. As the vision of that burning world and we struggle to be Christian within our abun- babe disappears, the poet realizes that it is Christmas Day. dance. We can wallow in perpetual guilt or we can live in Perhaps the babe in the manger will draw us into new gratitude, offering what we can to others. And there is much imaginative territory this Christmas season as we contem- generous offering going on in MEDA. plate the mysteries of his birth.—Margaret Loewen Reimer
Mission statement: Published by Canadian National correspondent: Leona Dueck Penner, Mennonite Publishing Service, Canadian Mennonite Winnipeg, Man. Phone: (204) 888-6781 serves primarily the people and churches of E-mail: [email protected] Mennonite Church Canada and its five area Regional correspondents: conferences. Canadian Mennonite is a bi-weekly Anabaptist/ Mennonite Eastern Canada: Maurice Martin, Phone: (519) 662-1031 periodical which seeks to promote covenantal relationships within the E-mail: [email protected] church (Hebrews 10:23-25). It provides channels for sharing accurate and Manitoba: Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Phone: (204) 745-2208 fair information, faith profiles, inspirational/educational materials, news E-mail: [email protected] and analysis of issues facing the church. Saskatchewan: Karin Fehderau, Phone: (306) 933-4209 E-mail: [email protected] Head office: 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON N2L 6H7 Alberta: Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Phone: (780) 436-3431 Phone: (519) 884-3810 Toll-free: 800-378-2524 Fax: (519) 884-3331 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] British Columbia: Angelika Dawson, Phone: (604) 870-0494 Interim Editor/Publisher: Margaret Loewen Reimer E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Board of directors: British Columbia: Henry Neufeld, Aiden S. Enns. Staff: Betti Erb, associate editor; Natasha Krahn, admin. assistant; Alberta: Brenda Tiessen-Wiens, Jan Wilhelm. Saskatchewan: Bernie Tammy Sawatzky, art director; Barb Draper, editorial assistant. Thiessen. Manitoba: Ron Loeppky, Bernie Wiebe, Paul Krahn. Advertising: Barbara Burkholder Phone: 800-316-4052 Ontario: Lloyd Koch, Mary Lymburner, Betty Dyck, Brice Balmer. Fax: (519) 884-3331 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.canadianmennonite.org
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2 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 ThisIssue
December 1, 2003 4UpClose Volume 7, Number 23 Paths to ministry 4 Woodcrafters 5
6 Faith&Life Advent 6 Christmas gifts 8
9Arts&Culture Abuse web site 9
10 InConversation Page 10 Emke Retro 10 Letters 11 Family Ties 12
13 WiderChurch MEDA convention 14 Grebel atrium 16 Page 20 AIDS training 20 Focus on Mission/Service 24
Website preview 28 LocalChurch Get a preview of the next B.C. women’s retreat 29 Canadian Mennonite before Eby lecture 31 Page 16 it comes in the mail. Ukrainian schools 32 Selections are posted on our web site at www.canadianmennonite.org on the Thursday before the 34 TheChurches issue date. So you can check out the Dec. 22 issue by Dec. 18. 38 ToMorrow
Cover: Mary Rejoicing Acrylic painting by Chad Friesen. www.godseyeart.com
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 3 UpClose
Saskatoon, Sask. Bitter experiences shape pastoral ministry f you were to ask the average pew with a combine. Suddenly Quiring was Quiring chose to work in Mennonite sitter how the Mennonite church thrust into a crisis situation for which Church Canada, knowing that he I has changed in the last decade, you he had little training. could not agree with some of the basic would probably hear about more Many of the kids in his youth group tenets and practices of the church in women behind the pulpit. Other than were from homes without strong which he grew up. At the same time, that, some suprising trends have church ties and Quiring found himself he wants to affirm what was good emerged in recent years. providing spiritual care and grief about his former church community. One is that churches are increas- counselling for people outside the “Here [in MC Canada] I feel like I fit ingly drawing on leaders from outside religious commu- in well,” he says. “I find a biblical groups. Within Mennonite Church nity. Their appre- combination of evangelical and Saskatchewan, about one-third of ciation was Anabaptist convictions, and I can focus pastoral leadership comes from other rewarding. But my energy on the ministry rather than denominations or Mennonite confer- when he directed on defending the ongoing exploration ences. his funeral of my faith.”—Karin Fehderau Ken Quiring is one such pastor. He message to reach has been pastor of North Star hurting family Mennonite church in Drake, Saskatch- members, some ewan, since 1999. Quiring is tall and churchgoers felt Edmonton, Alta. lanky; his intense gaze adds punch to Quiring he missed an his words. opportunity to Catholic spirituality Quiring’s faith journey began in a preach an evangelistic message. small Mennonite conference in Mani- There were hurtful confrontations. A strengthens prison toba. Despite his church’s sincere year later, he and his wife Yolanda ministry intentions to introduce its youth to resigned. salvation, Quiring picked up the idea Now carrying hurt and frustration peaking with Don Stoesz gives that God was mean-spirited, and that from his childhood and community, one a sense that here is a man Sdeeply connected to the church, one could never know for sure if he or Quiring began to look for answers not in the limited sense of a particular she was going to heaven. His fear- beyond his own church group. He congregation, but in a broad spiritual filled childhood led to confused and attended some sessions of Mennonite sense. searching teen years. World Conference in 1990, and noticed Stoesz is a member of the Bergthal “For awhile I explored punk rock especially one female Mennonite Church near and the culture that goes with it,” he preacher. He was im- Didsbury, Alberta, along said, pointing out that the movement pressed with her compe- with his wife Naomi and focused on social equality and taught tence and the grace of her Paths to four children, Matthew, him about certain social issues. Years leadership style. She Justin, Kevin and Sonya. ministry He also has a strong later, he returned to Christian faith happened to be a semi- and went to Bible college—a good nary professor. connection to Catholicism. The depth of Catholic place, he thought, to look for answers. “I decided that if I ever went to spirituality and worship, and its After college he cast about for some- seminary, I would attend one with strong sense of the sacred, have been thing to do. It was a toss-up between professors like her,” said Quiring. profoundly meaningful in his work as pastoral work and a Mennonite Through the encouragement of friends, a prison chaplain at the Bowden Central Committee assignment— he went to Associated Mennonite institution. somewhere he could continue to learn. Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Stoesz’s prison ministry involves He chose ministry. Planning to pursue a Master of Arts, pastoral care, counselling and leading “The congregation of Rosenort he was contemplationg a teaching worship for inmates who often go Fellowship Chapel gave me a lot of career in religion and ethics. through a series of crises during their room to work at my beliefs in the Mid-course he realized he needed to incarceration. Stoesz walks alongside them, paying attention to their context of ministry,” he said. sort out his church experiences. The practical and spiritual needs as they Things went smoothly for a number healing and training he received led struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. of years, and then tragedy struck. him to consider ministry again, and he Prisoners, he says, “are interested in Three teenagers from his youth group graduated with a master of divinity in receiving immediate answers to were killed when their car collided 1999.
4 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 UpClose
New Hamburg, Ont. Woodcrafters open shop in New Hamburg Schwartzentruber about the ince it opened in 2001, the project. Furniture and More store—a Schwartzentruber S Mennonite Central Committee and other men Ontario thrift shop—has been a had been successful venture. The store sells donating donated household items and new woodcraft things, including woodcrafts made by articles. Why local volunteers and recycled furniture. not combine To meet customer demand for these woodworking products, the store launched a Wood- with fellow- crafters Network and workshop this ship? fall, housed in a trailer donated by Erb And that’s Gerald Schwartzentruber in the new woodworking shop. Transport. It’s the first venture of its how the work on the lathe. The men share kind, says Gerald Schwartzentruber, Woodcrafters Network came into creative ideas and decide what prod- coordinator. being, with a membership of about 20 ucts to make. Ray Schlegel, manager of Furniture men. Some refinish furniture, some He sees working with wood as and More, approached build new items, and others carve or appreciating God’s creation. “It is important to see wood as a gift to be used as faithful partners with our Creator God, rather than only a bi- questions about faith, trust, family and prison chaplain in Quebec in the late product of ‘our’ craftsmanship,” he wrote parole. They have lost almost everything 1980s and early ‘90s. He graduated with in the Network’s introductory flyer. in their lives as a result of the harm a doctorate in philosophy, with a major Schwartzentruber notes that MCC they have done to others. They are in theology and minors in sociology and has chosen responsible care of the anxious about what life has to offer ethics. environment as one of its top seven them from here on. The rebuilding stage Baum impressed him as someone with priorities during the next three years. is a long one. The most important words a broad sense of the world and a One of the slogans of the organization have to do with willingness to engage society. In prison honesty, trust, ministry, 95 percent of Stoesz’s col- is “recycle, reuse, rejoice.” hope, forgiveness, leagues were Catholic nuns and priests Schwartzentruber transforms stereo grief, confession, whose ministry inspired him. cabinets into cedar chests, and makes acceptance and His disagreements with the Catholic garden gates from the pine frames of belonging.” Church—the rejection of ordination for discarded waterbeds. He goes to Prisoners’ women, celibacy, some hierarchical auctions to see what he can find to struggles have an procedures, and doctrines about the renovate. impact on their purity of Mary—create stumbling blocks Choice items are put into the store’s experience of for his full embrace of Catholicism. silent auction. Bestsellers are chil- worship. The sense Mary, as symbol of the church, is a dren’s beds made from old headboards, of the sacramental Stoesz figure central to Stoesz’s spiritual that Catholic journey. “The Madonna and child is not wood carvings, toys, clocks, old televi- spirituality offers is meaningful in that meant to emphasize the idea of a baby sion and stereo cabinets made into environment. Jesus, but the church within us,” he says. furniture, and garden arbours. “I have been challenged to look deep “If we leave out Mary, we miss the In the back corner of the store is the within myself in order to know how I can feminine aspect of the church that helps Tic Tock Shop, where Laverne respond to the questions of the text, as me love it [the church] more.” Schwartzentruber from Baden repairs well as the questions of the persons with Stoesz recently wrote a book, The clocks for resale, a hobby for 40 years. whom I work,” says Stoesz. “The range of Intimate Presence of God: A Seven Step Schwartzentruber enjoys the emotions experienced in prison life is Spiritual Journey, which reflects on the woodwork, as well as relating to much greater and more frequent than incarnation of Christ. It is available from volunteers. Having been a pastor for the day-to-day life of the parishioner on the author, phone (403) 224-2248, e-mail: the street. My spirituality has had to [email protected]. over 40 years, he sees this as another grow as a result of these real needs.” Don Stoesz has been licensed for form of ministry. Is he retired? He Stoesz’s attraction to Catholicism prison ministry since 1992. Bergthal prefers the term “refocused.” grew out of his experiences studying Mennonite has recommended him for For more information call Gerald with Catholic theologians such as ordination and the process is currently Schwartzentruber at (519) 662-2177. Gregory Baum in 1986, and working as a in progress.—Donita Wiebe-Neufeld —Maurice Martin
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 5 Faith&Life Advent in... Ukraine: A saviour who waits in line
n those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a staying in overpriced inns. It meant census should be taken of the entire Roman world.... the anxiety of wondering if you had And everyone went to his own town to register” (Luke brought the right documents, or if 1:1-2). you’d reach the window before the I Can you imagine the groans after this announcement? clerks stopped for lunch. Most of all, it A census of the entire Roman world? This wasn’t a census meant the dreadful tedium of standing where a clerk turns up at the door with a questionnaire. in line. This surely meant taking time off work and figuring out What is drearier than a line? In what to do with your kids or your aged parents. Soviet times here in Ukraine, almost In those It meant making expensive travel arrangements and every purchase meant standing in days Caesar three lines: one to ascertain the price and order an item, one to pay for it at Augustus the cashier’s desk, and one to claim the item back at the counter. issued a Life is easier now, but there are still decree that a lines for railroad tickets, lines at the bank and at the post office. There are census crowds of edgy people milling about at the Russian consulate in Odessa, should be hoping to complete their paperwork taken of the before the place closes. In Ukraine, tickets for through- entire Roman trains go on sale half an hour before the train arrives at the station. Late at
world.... Dover. New York,
. night, incredible three- and four- And pronged lines—one for each train— form around a single ticket window. everyone One year I read most of Tolstoy’s went to his Resurrection while waiting in line to pay my utility bills. Most organiza- own town to tions here have a special employee whose job it is to pay bills and buy register” tickets—that is, to stand in line. (Luke 1:1-2). The nativity scenes we set out at Christmas depict shepherds and Magi adoring the newborn Jesus. More complicated European scenes might show other visitors—bakers with trays of pastry, girls with garlands of flowers, or musicians. Why has no one thought of setting up an Advent scene with figures of tired, crabby people lined up to register for the Roman census? You The New Testament: A Pictorial Archive From Nineteenth-Century Sources From Archive A Pictorial Testament: New The could inch Mary and Joseph forward a
From little bit every day until they reached
6 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 Faith&Life
Zambia: the surly official at the head of the The day line. Waiting in line: jostling for position Christmas struck in the boring, anxious, tedious, nerve- wracking line. What wouldn’t I do to he day that Christmas struck avoid standing there! was the day I turned my How sweet, therefore, to think of the T thoughts outward and my eyes King of Kings, still inside his mother’s off myself. It was a day I received body, humbly complying with the undeserved blessings through unex- demands of the bureaucracy, just as pected people. we must. The officials who wrote down My husband, Anthony, and I took a Joseph’s name had no idea who he was day trip to Sinazongwe, a small village or why it was significant that he and on Lake Kariba about an hour’s drive from our place in Mary had come to Bethlehem. Choma, Zambia. It was a beautiful drive. The hills were Caesar assumed that they stood in radiant with green—recent rains were an answer to prayer. line at his bidding, but we know that Anthony spotted a man, woman and child waving for a in the providence of God they were ride. I was scared to pick up people, and said, “Don’t stop.” What if it there to fulfill a prophecy. Anthony was not impressed. “When are you going to stop Think of it: Jesus was born while his letting your fear control whether you help others?” he asked. had been It wasn’t too far down the road when I realized that we parents were waiting in line, just as Joseph, Mary we wait. Jesus was born to live every just passed up an opportunity to help a couple and their bit of our boring, anxious life, to bear child. Wait a minute! What if it had been Joseph, Mary and and Jesus our grief and carry our sorrow. In the Jesus on the side of the road? They may have asked some- end, Jesus was born to take our place one for a ride. Would I have helped them? on the I made up my mind that if Anthony wanted to give others in a sad, doomed, slow-moving line of side of the captives headed up a hill to a cross. a ride, I wouldn’t stop him. —Mary Raber Wouldn’t you know it: we ended up giving about 10 people road? They a ride that day. I learned a wonderful lesson about how to The writer, from St. Louis, Missouri, is an MCC use the little that I have—three empty seats—to help may have worker in Odessa, Ukraine. She is an associate others. It was a glimpse of Christmas. member at Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church in asked Winnipeg. We arrived at the lake and were awed by its beauty and white beach. We talked about our six months in Zambia, our someone joys, fears and frustrations. Our trip home was full of stops to help those who were walking a great distance. More than for a ride. once we heard, “God bless you,” as a passenger got out of the Would I truck. I kept thinking that I didn’t deserve that blessing. On the way home, we stopped to see Alfred and Bbodela have helped Munkombwe, who had become like family to us in our first three weeks in Zambia. They were surprised to see us and them? we enjoyed a few hours together. Anthony told them that we had been thinking and praying about helping Gertrude, their eldest daughter, with her schooling. She had been accepted at teachers’ college and we had heard she might not go because of a lack of funds. The family had saved 100,000 Zambian kwacha so far. We Continued on page 8
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 7 Faith&Life
From page 7 said we would give the additional 80,000 kwacha for the priceless gift generously given to those first semester. It was a blessing to see their thankfulness. who do not deserve it. Gertrude’s eyes showed surprise and happiness when she We tried to express how grateful we heard the news. were. As I grasped the father’s hand As we headed out to the truck, Christmas struck. Bbodela and thanked him again, I asked him if came up with a bag of freshly picked green maize cobs and they could afford to give one of their six eggs from their chickens. “For Christmas,” she said. goats away. But they weren’t finished yet. As we neared the truck we His answer will always stick with heard a “baa.” In the back was a goat. “For Christmas,” they me: “Oh yes, by the power of God.” Oh, said again. This goat was from the herd they bought after to have such faith and generosity in Anthony suggested they raise goats so they could have their the face of adversity. May God bless own meat. them richly because they have touched Giving away a goat would reduce their herd, a goat they us and taught me more than they will could have butchered and eaten, a goat from a family ever know.—Karlene Thiessen scrimping to be able to send their daughter to college. A goat The writer, from LaCrete, Alberta, is an MCC we didn’t need. worker in Zambia. Yet they gave out of their poverty. They overwhelmed us, blessed us and taught us what Christmas truly means—a
Christmas gifts, grandmother style iddle-class grandparents like $200 (with a little help from me often struggle over what Justina). M kinds of meaningful Christmas “It would probably have been gifts they can give to grandkids who easier for me to just write out a already have so much. Two conversations cheque,” she said, “but the I had recently offer fresh ways of stocking made giving visible, thinking about this. tangible for my grandsons and Over coffee one day at the Mennonite for all of us throughout the Church Canada offices, Justina Heese, Christmas season.” grandmother of two boys and executive A few days after hearing secretary of MC Canada Formation Justina’s story, I was visiting my Council, told me how she’d begun a new mother, age 87, at her home in a family tradition two years ago. seniors’ complex. I listened in on “Just before Christmas,” she said, “I a meeting where Rose, the went to Ten Thousand Villages and activities co-ordinator, was bought a special Christmas stocking, helping the residents organize a picturing children from all around the Christmas gift-giving project. world. I hung it on the mantelpiece, along Rose carefully explained that with the other stockings, and told my she would buy supplies for gift grandsons that this was the ‘MCC boxes for needy children with the
stocking’ and anyone could put money money they had given. She k Penner into it for the children of Iraq.” asked them what they would like Jonathan, then age seven, became an her to buy, and they agreed on avid promoter of the project. Whenever crayons, colouring books, school anyone came over, he’d say, “We’re supplies, hygiene items and collecting for poor children in Iraq; would candy. Some tenants also knitted
you like to give some money?” slippers. Photo by Leona Duec Largely due to his encouragement, the As Rose was leaving, my mom, Justina Heese with her Christmas stocking family raised $200. whose comprehension is that began a new family tradition. Last year, Jonathan’s response was slipping, said suddenly, “When subtler. Instead of overtly inviting you go shopping tomorrow, I’ll pray that that they would pray too. donations, he’d take down the stocking there’ll be a big sale so you can buy lots of It pleases me to think that there was a each evening and count the money to see gifts for those children who have so little.” “Great-grandmother of a sale” at the store if the gift had grown. Again, they raised The rest of the great-grandmothers agreed the next day!—Leona Dueck Penner
8 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 Arts&Culture
Winnipeg, Man. Winnipeg, Man. Voices join to end abuse CD exceeds concert of voices in song and pipes all play a separate role for a expectations word on October 18 celebrated larger combined purpose.” t doesn’t happen often that a A the launching of a new web site She was followed by Sarah Klassen, collection of songs for children created by Mennonite Central Commit- Winnipeg writer of poetry and fiction. I quickly finds a home in places tee’s Women’s Concerns Network and Monica Schroeder’s songs of comfort and ranging from Sunday school to hosted by Voices for Non-Violence, a hope brought the evening to a close. seminary. But that is what has program of MCC Manitoba. The event November was Domestic Violence happened with “God’s love is for was held at Crossways-in-Common, a month in Canada. Go to www.mcc.org/ everybody,” a recording of “songs for building shared by Hope Mennonite abuse to get help for abuse, for helping small and tall,” by Bryan Moyer Church, Young United Church and four abused persons and for resources on Suderman. the topic.—From MCC Manitoba The CD is in its third pressing— community organizations. 3,000 copies in total—since its release Voices for Non-Violence continues release by Joanie Enns by Mennonite Church Canada a year MCC’s 30-year legacy of working with ago. Congregations, camps, seminary women in preventative and restorative courses, schools, ecumenical assemblies approaches to domestic violence and have been using the music. It will also sexual abuse. be used in a forthcoming Vacation “We believe that every person has the Bible School curriculum. The project is right to live in a non-violent environ- generating income for the ministries of ment, and that we have the responsibil- MC Canada. ity to help create such an environment,” “It was amazing,” says Suderman. “I was in Hall 4 in Bulawayo [at says Eleanor Epp-Stobbe, coordinator of Mennonite World Conference in Voices for Non-Violence. “Let us join our Zimbabwe] when a man came up to voices…in peace to end violence,” she me, said ‘Hey! Disciples-In-Training!’ said to the audience. and began singing one of my songs. House of Doc offered bluegrass, He’s an elementary school teacher in Celtic and blues music, and paid Zimbabwe, and has been enjoying homage to a rich gospel tradition. these songs with his class.” Kathryn Mitchell Loewen, former Suderman and his family recently MCC Canada Women’s Concerns moved from Winnipeg to Stouffville, coordinator, was web project coordina- Ontario. He sees his primary minis- tries as music-maker and homemaker. tor and tour guide in launching the His wife Julie is a teacher and son site. Matthew is settling into grade one. “I see the pipe organ here behind Suderman continues to be surprised the musicians…. It is a very fitting Monica Schroeder sings at the at the reception his songs are receiv- metaphor for abuse work,” says concert to launch a new web site ing, from children’s liturgies in a Mitchell Loewen. “The individual promoting non-violence. Catholic church in northwestern Ontario to a monastic community in Vermont. “But the most rewarding thing,” says Suderman, “is when a child comes up to me and says ‘I like your songs’ and they tell me which is their favourite. Or when a parent says ‘Our kids ask for your CD all the time—it’s a good thing we like it as much as they do!’” Suderman has been doing perform- ances and interactive concerts in schools and churches. “God’s love is for everybody: Songs for small and tall” is available from the MC Canada Resource Centre, phone 1-800-665- 1954.—From MC Canada release
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 9 InConversation
Only 350 shopping days til next Christmas In December 1986, the first column that we are now in the age of grace, so Christmas, I will do my best to refrain called “Fly on the newsprint” appeared it shouldn’t matter if I’ve done some from any temptation. in Mennonite Reporter. That column bad things this year because I’ve been “My grandma says that I should ask kept readers chuckling every other forgiven so you have to bring me my for a tea set and some recipe books for issue until the end of 1995. With this presents anyway. Christmas. But I’d rather have a issue, we launch a retrospective of Ivan “This year for Christmas I would Women in Ministry Communion Set, Emke’s best columns. like a John the Baptist waterproof doll like the one my Aunt Glenna told me ometime in mid-November, our and the board game, ‘Shun,’ which I about. Also, I’d like a Barbie foot local newspaper began to promise to play with all of my friends washing doll and a hymnal with S publish whole pages of “letters inclusive language. to Santa.” In order to better under- “Since we do not eat cookies at stand the generation which will be home, I will leave you a bowl of unsalted peanuts for your snack. paying my pension, I read these Emke Retro letters. The average one went some- Please do not throw the shells away, as they make good compost material. thing like this: Ivan Emke “Dear Santa: My name is Ryan “Have a safe trip, and I hope that all Payne and I am three years old. This of this extra work for you doesn’t year I’ve been real good so I’d like a make you lose a sense of the true Doctor Dreadful Food Lab, a Mighty meaning of Christmas. Faithfully Morphin Power Rangers set, some yours, Melanie G-G. Biker Mice from Mars and a Creepy and cousins. My dad is going to leave “P.S. Are you a conservative Crawlers Workshop. I’ll leave out a out some of his lentil soup for you. You Mennonite yourself, or maybe Amish? crab sandwich for you and a turnip for don’t have to eat it, though. Just give Is that why you drive a sleigh? My dad the reindeer. Your friend, Ryan.” it to the dog. That’s what I do. Have a says that while he doesn’t believe in After a couple of weeks, I got tired of safe trip. you, he still supports your stance reading the same old stuff over and “P.S. I understand that you some- against the use of fossil fuels.” over. “If only there could be more times go by the name of ‘St. Nicholas.’ Now wouldn’t letters like that be a variety,” I sighed, “more soul.” So I got That means we have the same first refreshing change?—December 26, to thinking that maybe the Reporter name. Does that mean that we are 1994 should publish letters to Santa. Surely related? And are you related to a John Klaus who is now in Paraguay with our young could come up with more Letters creative pleas. MCC? His mother used to babysit my Now, I know that there are some uncle.” readers who would be troubled by this Here’s another Mennonite child’s link with the more commercial ele- letter to Santa. Pen pals are ments of Christmas. They would no “Dear Mr. Claus: My name is friends for life doubt write their own letters (al- Melanie Graber-Gruber and I am six years old. I have been good this year, The following is another letter inspired though not to Santa). by a note about Words of Cheer pen But our job in the Mennonite media even though I had to start school in September. I have tried to be quiet and pals (Sept. 22, page 34). is to go boldly into territory that Would you be interested to hear someone else has already abandoned. simple, but my teacher says I need to speak up more in class and stop from a 90-year-old lady who has had And this area seems ripe to me. As I many years of satisfaction from Words envision it, a letter to Santa in the humming hymn tunes when I’m supposed to be doing my sums. So of Cheer pen pals? Reporter might be something like this: When I was 12 years old I wrote a “Dear Santa Claus: My name is already I feel the pressure of the world. letter to Words of Cheer, our Sunday Nicholas Toews-Wiens and I am school paper, hoping some girl my age almost five years old. I have tried to be “But I do not wear makeup or jewelry of any kind, except for a 12 would write to me. I received several good this year, even though my letters, and a few of these girls became Sunday school teacher keeps telling disciples watch that I won at the Sunday school picnic for guessing the very dear friends. me that I was born in sin and that is We wrote, we visited, we phoned. why I am so mischievous. But my big number of calories in a marshmallow. While my tradition forbids me to Now I’m the only one living. brother Larry, who went to Bible However, Anna (Horst) Yeager’s school for almost a whole term, said swear to be good from now until
10 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 InConversation daughter still comes to visit me. She scriptures. Christians believe that games may fool some people, but the and her husband were here again this Christ will ultimately deliver us from inadequate funding for this bill fools fall. They live in Chambersburg, this world of sin and death. no one. There is little chance it will Pennsylvania. It has been an enrich- It is the third and fourth layers of improve outcomes in most school ing experience.—Mary Shantz, Cam- an action show which would make a districts. bridge, Ont. “little girl be so excited and oddly On the other hand, the comprehen- comforted.” Children can sense that sive Dodd-Miller “Act to Leave No there is conflict around them. They Child Behind,” which CDF supports, also have a sense that some persons addresses all the needs of children, Myth of redemption are kinder and gentler than others. including childcare, health insurance works in subconscious Children are excited by the tension for all children, Head Start for every around them, and comforted by their eligible child, housing, nutrition, and Thank you for publishing Sue experience of being delivered from prevention of child abuse and ne- Steiner’s sermons, particularly “The discomfort or fear. glect.—Donna A. Lawrence, director, myth of redemptive violence” (Nov. 3, I am not suggesting that children Children’s Defense Fund, New York, page 6). Using “Gunsmoke” as an are aware of the myth of deliverance N.Y. example was a good choice. Why does a underlying action shows. In fact, many TV show like this continue to be so adult viewers are also unaware of this. attractive? Perhaps that is what makes the myth It seems to me there are four levels so effective—it works below our Letters express the opinion of the to a show like this. First, the action of consciousness. writer, not necessarily those of killing the gunslinger is seen as an Perhaps Christians can find ways of Canadian Mennonite or the church. immediate way of eliminating the using their story of deliverance to We publish as many as space permits, threat. It is like capital punishment— reach those who cannot imagine unless they attack individuals or an executed person will never again deliverance in ways other than become too repetitious. Letters are commit a crime. This could be labelled “redemptive violence.”—Jim edited for length and style. See page 2 the utilitarian level. Suderman, Winnipeg, Man. for address information. Second, even though viewers know the outcome of the action, the produc- ers create enough suspense and unexpected twists, so that there is a Education bill sigh of relief at the arrival of the fools no one “happy ending”—an entertainment level. Third, the forces of good always In “Military recruitment increasing in overcome the forces of evil—a moral U.S. schools” (Aug. 25, page 25), the view of the world. U.S. president’s education bill is Fourth, the most important level is a incorrectly referred to as the “Leave myth of deliverance. The good guy not No Child Behind Act.” only kills the bad guy, he also “deliv- The words, Leave No Child Behind, ers” the world from evil so that Dodge are actually the trademarked slogan of City is once again in a land of “prom- the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), ise.” an organization that has given chil- This myth of deliverance makes a dren a voice in the halls of power for show like “Gunsmoke” popular for 30 years. Christians. In the Exodus story, God The Bush administration cleverly delivers his people from Egypt; the named its single-issue education bill theme of deliverance pervades the “No Child Left Behind.” The word
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Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 11 InConversation “The people want to live without war.” — Asma Daoud Homooshi, mother/homemaker
Hear what ordinary Iraqis are saying. Iraq: Emerging Voices A new MCC DVD/Video. Learn more about Iraq. Do more for Iraq. Contact your nearest MCC office for a copy of the DVD/Video and to support MCC work in Iraq. Learn more on the worldwide web at www.mcc.org/iraq. Mennonite Central Canada (888) 622-6337 Committee U.S. (888) 563-4676
Sharing our sorrows In her 70s, when my maternal grand- the losses were and how they affected and proclaim the Christian hope that mother no longer had children or individuals and the family as a whole. Jesus has conquered death. Some grandchildren in her care, she sank into About 30 years after my brother died, I congregations offer “longest night” a deep depression. Her psychiatrist asked my dad how he coped with the loss. I services for those who are grieving. I believed that she was having a delayed was surprised to hear that he had little appreciate the comfort they bring as grief reaction “for her dead babies”— capacity to “feel” his son’s death at the individuals name their losses in the Jimmy, Dorothy and Bobby who died as time, because he was catapulted back into community of believers. infants, and Bill who died in a car the trauma of his own brother’s death, long Grief counsellors stress the need to accident when he was a young adult. recognize the loss, and to psychically In a tragic coincidence, my father’s shift from relating to the loved one as a brother William, who was travelling living presence to a sustaining memory. with Bill, also died that night. The process includes naming what one Each family has its stories of death Family valued about the loved one, letting go of and loss. The losses of these young lives Ties the attachment, and, while claiming that shadows my early memories. The grief of history, reinvesting energy in the living my parents and grandparents took up Melissa world. Individual grief journeys—both occupancy in a corner of their hearts, Miller the pace and the form—are each unique. like a persistent and unpleasant guest. “Earth has no sorrows that heaven Though little was said, the deaths cannot heal,” we remind ourselves in a hovered around our family dynamics. familiar hymn. When I think of my When my brother died in a car family’s accumulated grief, I sometimes accident in 1969, his loss added to our held in silence. Dad didn’t stay stuck there wonder if that’s true. One thing I do burden. We struggled on in our solitary though. In his retirement years, he read know is that sorrows shared in the ways. about grief, prayed and let go of those he’d community of faith are eased. Griefs have a way of piling up, buried years before. The writer, a counsellor and author, operates particularly when carried alone. My own Many Mennonite churches mark Family Ties in Winnipeg. She is a member of experiences with infertility and miscar- Eternity Sunday or Totensontag as the Charleswood Mennonite Church. riages led me back to my grandmother’s church year ends. In various ways, babies and to my family’s grief—what churches remember those who have died
12 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 WiderChurch WiderChurch
Gaza City, Gaza Bulldozers come to Rafah...again hen the bulldozers came “it stadiums. was like an earthquake,” said Rafah, in addition to being one of the WFayez Abd el-Banna. He lost a most volatile parts of the occupied four-storey home in October when Palestinian territories—it is close to the Israeli military tanks attacked the border with Egypt and to Israeli refugee camps of Rafah, southern settlements—is also the most economi- Gaza Strip and left 278 families cally depressed. Poverty and unemploy- homeless. ment hover between 70 and 80 percent. On November 9, Mennonite Central Although the stated objective of the Committee and the Culture and Free military raids in October was to seal Thought Association, an MCC partner tunnels used for smuggling cigarettes, in the Gaza Strip, distributed food people, and weapons between Egypt and Rafah, Palestinians and international observers believe that the demolitions were part of an Israeli strategy to
“Where are we going to control the border with Egypt. Weaver Alain Epp Photo by It is not the first time Rafah resi- Fayez Abd el-Banna is interviewed by live? In tents? How are we dents have lost their homes. Most of a Rafah television station during going to live?” them are descendants of Palestinian MCC’s distribution of food. refugees who lost their homes during the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and have Rafah’s residents their existence as been forbidden by Israel to return to stateless refugees.—From MCC parcels and blankets. Each family their villages. The recent house release by Alain Epp Weaver received basic supplies such as oil, demolitions have reinforced for flour, beans and cheese—enough to last a family of seven for two weeks. Baghdad, Iraq MCC contributed $14,146 for the local purchase of the food and blankets. School kits for children in Baghdad MCC also joined with Catholic Relief he 570 girls crammed into 10 dusty Services in late October in another The Ministry of Education eventually classrooms at Bureir Bin Khuder provided desks and blackboards. food distribution to more than 400 TPrimary School here recently Now the 30 teachers are being paid families in Rafah. received school kits from Mennonite new salaries. The students are eager, “This assistance is…a sign of solidar- Central Committee and Architects for now that they have materials to use. But ity from churches in Canada and the People in Need. difficulties remain. United States,” said Sami Barhoum, a In one classroom of 67 students, “Water is the biggest problem in this member of Rafah’s local emergency Beyda Ahmed and Sabreen Abdelkhal area,” said Helga Fleischhacker, admin- committee, which ensures that relief is share a narrow wooden bench. They look istrator of Architects for People in Need. distributed fairly and efficiently. at the items in their kit. With MCC’s support, water tankers are Recipients remain fearful of what “My favourite subject is Arabic,” says delivering clean water and jerry cans to Beyda. “I like the crayons and pencils the future holds. “Winter is coming residents of Hai Tareq. the best—for writing.” When the girls go MCC has also helped Indonesian soon,” said Im Zuheir Dohan. “Where home at noon, more than 700 boys come churches to assist Iraqi children. The are we going to live? In tents? How are for four hours of classes. Inter-Church Body of Solo, which works we going to live?” Mainly Shi’i families from southern for unity among Protestant churches in The United Nations and the Rafah Iraq settled years ago in this Baghdad Indonesia, recently donated $867 to help governor’s office have counted at least slum. The former regime proclaimed the ship school kits to Iraq. Indonesian 1,250 people who lost their homes settlement illegal, and for 30 years Hai television had shown images of Iraqi during October demolitions. The past Tareq has not received municipal suffering, and Indonesians of all faiths three years of demolitions have left services such as water and electricity. were looking for ways to help. over 5,000 people homeless in Rafah Raw sewage runs alongside paths and Since the war in Iraq officially ended, roads. alone. Some have found temporary MCC has provided 86,846 school kits. Nor were school buildings provided. In —From MCC releases lodging with extended families. Others 1976 the community built this school. are living in tents, schools and football
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 13 WiderChurch
Winnipeg, Man. MEDA celebrates 50 years of ‘doing business’ ust over 500 people gathered to “Micro-enterprise was invented by how small businesses can achieve celebrate “MEDA at 50” at the MEDA,” said Redekop, “and now it is success. In “The future of international J Fairmont Hotel here October 30 to being trumpeted by the New York development,” Damian Von November 2. Times as a new discovery.” Stauffenberg, formerly with the World The anniversary convention in- MEDA should draw from the Bank, noted that MEDA’s style of cluded a look at the history of MEDA “untapped equity sitting in the pews,” micro-finance is the new “fad” in (Mennonite Economic Development suggested Peter Dueck, director of a development. Associates), a call to be global citizens new MEDA/MCC program in Vancou- Ruth Shapiro of CIDA (Canadian by Lloyd Axworthy (former Minister of ver. “We need to put our equity where International Development Agency) Foreign Affairs), and performances by our faith is!” spoke of the need to engage “civil a variety of area musicians. There was There were many excellent seminars society” in developmental issues, a lots of time for networking, tours and to attend. A popular one is the “Eco- theme echoed by Kiberia Kinweenjewa even a crokinole tournament. nomic forecast and commentary” from East Africa. We need civil struc- The mission of MEDA is “to bring provided by economists Henry Rempel tures that involve human rights and hope, opportunity and economic well- of the University of Manitoba and Jim empower people, said Kinweenjewa. He being to low income people around the Harder of Bluffton College in Ohio. also emphasized that “Mennonites need world through a business-oriented Their clear analysis of world trends to work with Africans in the quest for approach to development.” Other and trade patterns was fascinating to peace” before development can happen. slogans heard during the convention: this newcomer. Lloyd Axworthy, at the Friday evening “Opting for the poor while keeping an I discovered, for example, that the banquet, made a passionate plea for a eye on the bottom line,” and “Search- United States is the world’s largest change in thinking and way of doing ing out ways for the poor to dine at the foreign debtor, and that de-linking business—to become global citizens. The global table.” The annual report was subsidies from production would solve former politician is currently heading entitled, “We mean business.” many problems of trade. At the heart of efforts to change governments’ focus Mingling in the halls and meeting capitalism’s troubles is executive pay, from national security to human rooms, however, were not only business which has ballooned to 400 times the security, and from military intervention people, but church leaders, school average wage earner. Also staggering to the “responsibility to protect” people presidents and even students. One of was the statistic that there are cur- in conflict situations. MEDA’s goals is to develop more rently more people in the world than Convention-goers were treated to a connections with students and churches. the total of those who have ever lived. parade of local musicians: baritone MEDA members are proud of their Another fascinating seminar told Phil Ens and the Faith and Life Male organization. the story of Mennonites in Russia from Choir, a string trio, and the Winnipeg “MEDA programs are the best-kept a business perspective. Mennonite Mennonite Children’s Choir. George secrets that Mennonites have,” de- factories produced 12 percent of all and Esther Wiebe led singing. Song- clared Milo Shantz of Ontario in his agricultural machines in Russia, said writer Steve Bell and Michael Card look at the past. Rudolf Duerksen paid Wally Kroeker, editor of Marketplace, were featured at a fundraising concert tribute to MEDA’s legacy in Paraguay, MEDA’s magazine, and much of the during the weekend. a combination of Christian compassion flour. H.A. Niebuhr designed his flour Preacher for the Sunday morning and micro-credit that spurred develop- mills on the Pillsbury model in the service was Renee Sauder of Waterloo, ment for both Mennonites and indig- United States, which he had visited. Ontario, who suggested that one’s enous people. Some of these large factories provided calling is where one’s work and true Odette Austil, a long-time MEDA housing and medical services for their passion coincide. Building on the employee in Haiti, said she continues employees. (Niebuhr even built a spa example of Lydia in the New Testa- to be inspired by MEDA’s vision of based on the German model.) ment, she commended listeners for empowering the poor, despite experi- Architect Rudy Friesen showed the using their talents to help others. encing six management changes and evolution of Mennonite buildings in During the annual meeting, which five government coups. Russia, including commercial build- was efficiently brief, members heard But will the vision survive into the ings in cities. Johann Esau, Mennonite that donations were up 10 percent, to next generation? Cal Redekop pro- mayor of Ekaterinoslav (now $1.3 million this year. Canadian board posed agenda for the future: 1) glo- Dnepropetrovsk), built a tram system members are (from west to east): balize the MEDA structure, 2) involve for his city and founded a university. Lorna Goertz, Kevin Neufeldt, Paul more women, 3) energize young people Ken Reddig filled in the story of those Tiessen, Dave Guenther, Lee Friesen, by helping them study business in an who moved to the U.S. John Fast, Gloria Eby, Ron Mathies Anabaptist setting, 4) share MEDA In “How to succeed when Wal-Mart and Doug Wagner.—Margaret Loewen insights with the global development comes to town,” Reg Litz from the Reimer community. University of Manitoba shared tips on
14 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 WiderChurch ‘MEDA began with ‘flying mission’ Anniversary EDA (Mennonite Economic both to attract more members and to symbol Development Associates) had make it easier to obtain government Mits beginning in the “Flying funds. (A long-time partner of MEDA is The Inukshuk, a familiar Canadian mission” of 1952 when six North the Canadian International Develop- icon inherited from the Arctic Inuit, Americans flew to Paraguay at their own ment Agency.) was the symbol of the MEDA conven- expense to see how they could help Meanwhile, Mennonites were forming tion, “Business as a calling, 2003.” The Mennonite war refugees there. other associations: Church, Industry and Inuit erected these figures of stone to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Business Associates (CIBA) in 1969, and mark the way for those who followed. had helped resettle these 5,000 Mennonite Business Associates (MBA) in Appearing in animated video clips Mennonites from Russia and provided 1973. These two joined to form aid, but these refugees had no means to Mennonite Industry and Business during the rebuild their lives. Associates (MIBA) in 1976. sessions, the In December 1953, MCC director Orie In 1981, MIBA and MEDA merged to Inukshuk was Miller and seven other men decided to help people in business and the profes- to remind form an organization that would provide sions “connect faith and work in a needy MEDA venture capital for needy people. Among world.” members of the founders of MEDA were Ed J. Peters Today, MEDA has about 3,000 those who of California (chair), Erie Sauder of Ohio, members and 190 staff in over 30 showed the C.A. DeFehr of Manitoba and Edward G. countries. It operates out of three North way, as well as Snyder of Ontario. Most of the projects American offices: Winnipeg; Waterloo, bringing to for the first decade were in Paraguay. Ontario, where MEDA president Allan Initially, MEDA was organized as a Sauder is located; and Lancaster, mind the corporation. Each member was expected Pennsylvania. many “sepa- to buy five common shares at $10 each, “Product lines” of MEDA include rate stones” and ten preferred shares at $100 each. micro-finance, production-marketing making up The 10 charter members pledged a linkages, investment fund development, MEDA, each minimum of $5,000 each. Membership community economic development, and supporting in grew slowly, to 126 in 1971. member services.—Margaret Loewen a common In 1974, MEDA changed from a for- Reimer purpose, giving direction to those who profit corporation to a not-for-profit one, will follow.
"An organization firmly grounded in principle that produces results." U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
"A true pioneer in attacking the underpinnings of poverty." World Vision International
"Providing exemplary leadership in business approaches to international development." Mennonite Central Committee
"Impressive down-to-earth business sense." Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
These are just a few of the compliments sent to Mennonite Economic Development Associates for our 50th anniversary. But they're really addressed to all our supporters—without you, MEDA's work would not be possible!
If you want to connect your faith and work in a needy world, contact MEDA at 1-800-665-7026 or visit www.meda.org
Read all the congratulatory notes at www.meda.org/50th/congrats.html
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 15 WiderChurch
Waterloo, Ont. Grebel dedicates ‘stunning’ new atrium n November 9, with the sun and the custodial streaming in through the huge crew helped the O windows, Conrad Grebel college deal with University College had a service of the inconvenience dedication for its new facilities, and chaos. including a new four-storey atrium. Carolyn Sherk, The new facilities include a student former board apartment building, residence exten- chair, presented sion, renovations and, tying it all Toews with a together, the John E. Toews Atrium. copy of the plaque Toews was honoured because of his that names the success in development and atrium in his fundraising as Grebel president from honour. Toews 1996 to 2003. commented that Renovations generated student the atrium was lounge space and more music studios. “stunning,” far The apartment building houses 32 beyond his students in 8 apartments. Together expectations. with the 26 new beds in the residence, David the residence population has increased Johnston, presi- by 50 percent, to 174. dent of the The atrium, linking the residence University of and office/classroom building, is the Waterloo, also Grebel photo fulfillment of a 25-year dream, a commended the college on the stun- After the ceremony, people toured dream which came true during the ning construction. He noted the three the new facilities and visited in the 40th anniversary year of the college. distinctives of Conrad Grebel Univer- dining hall over coffee.—Maurice The project was funded by donations, sity College: Mennonite religion and Martin beginning with a $500,000 “challenge” culture, music, and peace studies. gift. This campaign eventually raised $1,402,000. The atrium becomes the “gathering space” for the college. Winnipeg, Man. “It is both a physical structure, and a symbol of the mystery and miracle of CMU welcomes single board structure community building,” said Paetkau. anadian Mennonite University of Winnipeg (chair); Kerry Enns of And it creates accessibility to all floors adopted a single board structure Gretna, Man. (vice-chair); Lois Coleman with the addition of an elevator. The C and a new mission statement at Neufeld of Winnipeg (secretary); Jake coffee bar is named “Common Ground” its board meetings October 24-25. Thiessen of Altona, Man. (chair of to symbolize this community space. “There’s no question this represents finance); Eleanor Andres, Winnipeg; A commissoned sculpture, entitled an historic shift in how CMU is gov- Walter Bergen, Abbotsford, B.C.; Ruth “Ties that bind,” was fashioned in erned,” says Gerald Gerbrandt, presi- Friesen of Edmonton (appointed by copper plate by artist Jo-Anne Harder, dent. “It’s the end of an era, and the Mennonite Church Canada); Harvey and funded by D’Arcy and Anne beginning of another…one which Goossen, Kitchener, Ont.; Ken Kliewer, Luxton. Harder noted that creating strongly positions us to move forward.” Altona, Man.; Ed Reimer, Winnipeg; On Saturday morning, the boards of Harold Hildebrand Schlegel, Elkhart, the work was “both gratifying and Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Indiana; and Jane Woelk of Winnipeg terrifying.” The large wall sculpture Concord College and Menno Simons (appointed by Mennonite Brethren portrays themes of place, memory and College met a final time as distinct Manitoba). identity, separation and assimilation. boards. The meetings concluded with The board will also include one faculty Paetkau and vice-chair Dawn Regier reminiscing and celebration. Each board and one student representative, and has paid tribute to the many persons who reflected on how it had gained an an option of appointing two members-at- worked on the project. Arnie Bender increased sense of cooperation with the large. The first extended meeting is was project manager with Protrend others. scheduled for December 5-6. Construction. Paul Penner, operations Then the boards met as the newly The board has representation from a manager at Grebel, was applauded for constituted CMU Council. Its first act broad range of Mennonite churches. While both ownership conferences— his extraordinary efforts during the was to elect an integrated CMU Board of Governors. Members are: Herta Janzen Mennonite Church Canada and construction. The “coping committee”
16 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 WiderChurch
Barriere, B.C. “I’ve never been involved with charity Breaking down barriers in Barriere before,” said Rob Rutten, chair of the committee. Rutten lost his home and he first disaster came in August community dynamics had changed. business to the fire. with flames that scaled moun- The second disaster came in October Volunteers began framing, pouring Ttains, scorched highways and when a tired community learned of concrete, laying tile and running wires. leapt across rivers. As wildfire en- another setback—Tolko Sawmill, the Further up Highway 5, they assembled gulfed a sawmill and homes went up town’s largest employer, announced roof trusses with volunteers from the in smoke, the North Thompson area of that it would not reopen. Evangelical Free Church. British Columbia heated to unbear- The random path of fire had already Karen Medland, pastor of the able temperatures. divided the population. Seventy-nine United Church, had begun working in One man, exposed to more heat than homes were destroyed while houses Barriere before the fire. From her he could handle, dove repeatedly into next door survived unscathed. Barri- perspective, the fire provided a unique the river, returning to fight the blaze ers formed between haves and have- opportunity to work together. that threatened his toolshed. nots, the insured and uninsured, the “A door has opened into so many Young boys stranded at a mountain employed and unemployed. people’s hearts,” said Medland. “Our cabin watched the flames close in Asking for assistance was difficult. God of grace and love has come to around them. With no paddles or life Some turned to the church, others to surface and broken down more barri- jackets, they got into a rowboat and the newly formed Community Recovery ers than we could imagine.” floated out the fire in the lake with Committee for the North Thompson. MDS volunteers here will work moose, bear and other wildlife. The volunteer labour of Mennonite through the winter. Those interested in A firefighter, struggling to protect a Disaster Service (MDS) was one assisting can phone (250) 672-5666. neighbour’s home, burst through a resource. In September, MDS volun- MDS is also collecting donations at 306- wall of flame when the fire came at teers helped with cleanup and organiz- 2265 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg, MB him from two directions. The home ing a recovery committee. R3T 5J3.—MDS release by Ted Houser was saved but the man spent 21 days in a burn unit. As the ashes settled across the valley, the stories painted a picture of a community transformed by fire. In addition to visible scars of burned homes and blackened hillsides,
Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba—have appointees, there are also members from the Evangelical Mennonite Conference and the Evan- gelical Mennonite Mission Conference. The other milestone was the ap- proval of CMU’s new mission state- ment. It reads: “Canadian Mennonite University is an innovative Christian university, rooted in the Anabaptist faith, moved and transformed by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Through teaching, research and service CMU inspires and equips women and men for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.” This statement will be supplemented by two further state- ments—a series of basic commitments, and some program-specific statements (for Menno Simons College, CMU main campus and Outtatown—formerly the School of Discipleship).—From CMU
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 17 WiderChurch Fishing for peace ’m slouched comfortably in the nose of a fishing boat. The only sounds I Ihear are the rumble of waterfalls, the whiz of lures through the air and the calls of waterfowl companions. Suddenly there’s laughter. As we make our way to the other boat, my Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) colleague, Art Arbour, exclaims, with arms stretched a metre apart, “I caught a Northern Pike this big.” It has been a good day. Maria and Lillian Swain and their daughters have invited the members of the CPT Asubpeeschoseewagong project at Grassy Narrows, Ontario, A resident of Grassy Narrows looks up the road to a clear-cut area. out for a day of angling. We love to fish, but the day also fit with our ment process set up by the Ontario We are also here to address the mission to be peacemakers. government. structural violence that affects the In November 2002, CPT was asked After their concerns were repeatedly Anishinaabe nation on a daily basis. to be present at a blockade Grassy dismissed, they set up the blockade as One way we do that is by connecting Narrows residents put up to assert a last resort. non-native people in Kenora—and their rights to their traditional lands. Life at the blockade has been quiet elsewhere—with their First Nations Initially, CPT’s role centred on keeping this autumn since logging trucks have neighbours here at Grassy Narrows. the blockade peaceful, but it soon stopped using the road past Grassy The more connections we make, the became apparent that we needed to Narrows. But logging continues in the more we can begin to restore a rela- help address the structural violence community’s traditional area, and a tionship that has been tarnished for that underpins the reasons for the roving blockade could go up at a too long. Fishing together is a start. blockade. Relationship-building is moment’s notice. CPT’s role in trying —Nicholas Klassen fundamental to such work. That’s to keep things nonviolent will be as The writer, who served as a CPT reservist at where fishing fits in. vital as ever. Grassy Narrows, is from Vancouver. The necessity of repairing the strained relationship between natives and non-natives cannot be overstated. You’ve heard this story before: settlers came to these parts and flooded the Winnipeg, Man. Anishinaabe (Ojibway) with hydro- electric development, forced them into Martens joins team supporting logging protest residential schools and reserves, isa Martens of Manitoba, who clear-cutting is about how I go about dumped mercury into their waterways returned from Iraq in June after a being a Christian white person,” Martens and logged their hunting grounds. Lfive-month stint there with Chris- stated. “Fortunately for my people, the Although the blockade reacts tian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), has joined indigenous people haven’t broken the against encroaching clear-cuts, the a CPT project near Kenora, Ontario, treaties from their end. Their part is to dispute is bigger than logging. As Joe where First Nations people are protesting let people of European descent and other Fobister of Grassy Narrows succinctly clear-cut logging. immigrants live here. puts it: “Treaty rights are the issue.” Martens and a CPT delegation of five “But, corporations and governments people left for the area on October 31. are breaking the treaties from the other In 1873, Joe’s ancestors signed a (The delegation joined the full-time end, by clear-cutting for example, and Treaty #3 with the Canadian govern- CPTers for 10 days.) They are supporting that’s where I’m partly responsible.” ment to enshrine their right to hunt the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum In recent decades, Grassy Narrows and trap. It is hard, however, to trap in Anishnabek (Grassy Narrows First people have dealt with residential a clear-cut. Abitibi Consolidated, the Nation) to reduce the risk of violence schools, forced displacement, flooding by pulp and paper company, logs the while citizens work to stop Abitibi hydroelectric dams and mercury poison- forest with little appreciation for Consolidated from clear-cutting the area. ing from the pulp and paper industry. residents’ right to trap, hunt, pick CPT has been connected with the Treaty 3, made with the federal govern- berries, harvest wild rice and pray in Grassy Narrows people since 1999. ment, is supposed to protect the land for the forest. For years, residents partici- “Working with the people of the use of indigenous people. Asubpeeschoseewagong as they stop the But Abitibi gets its tree-cutting rights pated in the official forest manage-
18 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 WiderChurch
® New Waterford, N.S. well, forcing people to apply for social Englischer Wunderbalsam assistance or seek employment “Kraft und Wirkung” New ‘frame’ work elsewhere. MCC’s presence here began with an builds cooperation invitation from local business owners wanting to identify their economic in Maritimes strengths and weaknesses. MCC commissioned a volunteer couple, onflict between labour and experienced in economic development, management has led to genera- to begin the foundational work for a C tions of division in this Cape new business venture. New Waterford Breton coal-mining town of 7,000 Art and Frame was the result of their people. Since the industry’s complete efforts. collapse in the late 1990s, the Sisters of Last spring, responsibility for the Charity, in partnership with Mennonite cooperative passed on to New Dawn Central Committee, have been encour- Industries, a local development agency. aging people to work together. “Some people had The benefits of the original Englischer really lost their Wunderbalsam® recipe have been well acknowledged since 1883. bearings,” says Martin McCarthy, • Promotes Vigor and Vitality! production manager • 100% natural stomach bitter; taken after a good meal it helps soothe, strengthen, at New Waterford cleanse and balance the digestive system. Art and Frame, a business started by For retail distributors near you, contact: the sisters and MCC. Sapphire Horizons Inc. Ideas for economic Phone: 403-237-6549 • Fax 403-237-6518 E-mail: [email protected] development offered by the new company represent a signifi- cant shift as people Plan your giving! begin working on a more cooperative basis. “Entrepreneurship is an issue for us,” www.giftforlife.ca says McCarthy. It has been a challenge for people to start their own businesses. Margei Gillis believes that artists and members of the from the provincial government. And In the past, decisions new art and frame cooperative will have the most there are several versions of Treat 3 and were made on their impact on Cape Breton’s economic future. many interpretations. After trying behalf in a confronta- conversational and legal means for years tional labour-versus- management “We really need new business that is to stop the clear-cutting, members have manner. not connected to the collapse of the now put up a series of blockades. But times have changed and so have coal mines,” says Margei Gillis of the “They want to share responsibility for people’s attitudes. Those who have Sisters of Charity, a board member of the forest instead of having decisions chosen to stay in the community New Dawn. “It’s going to be the artists, made without their genuine input,” says Martens. Chemicals spraying is poison- despite massive layoffs want to take not the politicians” who will make the ing the berries and fishing is being greater responsibility for their eco- difference, she says. threatened. nomic future. The business, although not yet self- CPT members are present at the Cape Breton’s economy suffered its sustaining, is promoting its products blockades and in the community to first major setback in the early 1990s “off-island” to tourists, through trade reduce the risk of violence, to encourage when the federal government an- shows, on the Internet and to dis- provincial and federal governments to nounced a moratorium on cod fishing. placed Cape Bretoners looking for respect the treaties and to invite church Cheap offshore coal dealt the region reminders of home.—From MCC folks and others to work for better another massive blow and by 1998 the Canada release relations between themselves and province’s mining sector was gone as indigenous nations.—From CPT release
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 19 WiderChurch
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia People with AIDS become care providers oyful ululations filled the room Central Com- during a recent graduation mittee, includes J ceremony here for AIDS care training in providers. caring for Although more than 500 people wounds, mas- have completed the 10-day training sage and course offered by the Meserete Kristos mobilizing Church (Mennonite), this class was resources. The different. Nearly all of them are HIV- program pays positive. HIV-positive Care at home is crucial in a country care providers where some 2.1 million people live with 10 birr—about AIDS, and hospital beds and medicines $1.52—for each are in short supply. But even family home visit. members who have been taught that Most of the HIV can’t be spread through casual graduates, who contact often shy away from interac- range from Photo by Matthew Lester tion, says Samson Estifanos, former teenagers to Shewarezad Ayalkibet, left, and Tirunesh Belachew, gradu- director of the program. They fear the grandparents, ates from the AIDS care program, discuss their struggles illness and its stigma. have already with HIV. “HIV-positive people have less fear,” seen spouses, he says. “And this service [as care- parents or children die. Their stories terrified that her unfaithful husband givers] also gives them a function in illustrate the devastating impact that would contract HIV from a prostitute. society.” AIDS is having on Ethiopian families. She begged church leaders for permis- The course, supported by Mennonite Bekelech Anito a mother of four, was sion to divorce, but the church was hesitant to get involved. They knew she would not be able to support herself is she left her husband. “We didn’t give her case proper attention,” admits a church elder. Anito’s husband begged her forgive- ness before he died of AIDS. Now she is living with the disease. Zewdie Negussie, a farmer in his late 20s, believes he got AIDS from used needles after he was diagnosed with !" # tuberculosis. Others tell of involvement in prosti- tution and witchcraft before becoming ! $ " % Christians. Not all have found full ! &! & '& acceptance within the church, but they ! ( "" % ) are grateful for those who have shown *+(& ! ! God’s love. Now it’s their turn to return " ( ( some of that love as they care for others. ( % ) MCC supports the AIDS training through its Generations at Risk program. In addition to training care N N providers and raising awareness about N N AIDS, the church offers counselling services, support for orphans, rehabili- tative training for prostitutes and street children, and support groups. —MCC release
20 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 WiderChurch
Langley, B.C.
MCC sessions around ‘God’s table’ The day concluded with prayer and song, and participants feeling that nspirational and informational” local Mennonite church, was fighting they had been nourished “around was how one attendee described to get his stolen cattle back. Artolah God’s table.”—From MCC B.C. release Ithe annual sessions of Mennonite was spending weeks in the city— Central Committee British Columbia, hours away from his farm—negotiat- held at South Langley Mennonite ing with the police. Brethren Church on November 1. “It was the least I could do,” Nathan The day included storytelling, power said, “helping ensure that this year’s point presentations, video and work- food supply was realized, showing shops, as well as business meetings for Christ’s love to a Nicaraguan brother MCC’s Supportive Care Services and and his family.” Social Housing Society. Roger Neill shared his elation as he Keynote speaker Gladys Oyat from saw justice done for Ivan Barrows, a Uganda shared her enthusiasm about man imprisoned for 29 years for the theme for the day, “Around God’s breaking a window. Because of the table.” efforts of Neill, a Christian journalist “‘Around God’s table’ depicts service, and the church that partnered with like Jesus’ last supper with his MCC, Barrows was restored to his disciples,” she said, adding that the family who thought he was dead. theme verse—Romans 12:4-5 (the Nine months later, Barrows was body of Christ having many members) awarded $9 million Jamaican for the also depicts sharing, as we share our illegal incarceration, Neill said, gifts with one another. describing the outcome as a miracle Oyat described the difficulty of life from God. “I know that the Lord will in Uganda. Even though the war has maintain the cause of the afflicted, ended, it is not over, she said. She and the right of the poor,” he said. described those living in camps, and how thousands of children are ab- ducted and forced to fight. But the church is bringing hope. “It is amazing that many of you Last Minute Christmas Gift recognize the suffering of Ugandans even though you have never met us,” In God’s Image: A Global she said. “You have given food, in the Anabaptist Family name of Christ, you have supported Ray Dirks assembled this book of art, religious leaders with training, you have sponsored students through the photos, and stories of shared faith Global Family project, you have from 17 countries. Broadly covering supported us as we have fought AIDS. all major regions of the world, the You are bringing resources around photographs highlight the everyday life God’s table. You don’t know us, but you serve those in need.” of faith, work, family, and friends. The day included the official separa- Together the art and photographs por- tion of MCC Social Housing Society tray the backbone of church and community, the ordinary people. from MCC B.C., and a change of name to More Than a Roof Mennonite Beautiful, full-color coffee-table book. Housing. MTR Mennonite Housing will relate to MCC B.C. much the same Published by Herald Press in cooperation with Mennonite World way that Mennonite Disaster Service Conference and Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery. and Ten Thousand Villages do. Stories and images from Nicaragua and Jamaica brought to life the many Paper, 148 pages, $29.99 ways that voluntary service workers Hardcover, $34.99 strive for justice among those in need. Nathan Janz told of weeding a field in Nicaragua because the farmer, 1 800 245-7894 • www.heraldpress.com Arcadio Artolah, also the pastor of the
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 21 WiderChurch Laird, Sask. MCC Centre for Saskatchewan on its way Coaldale, Alta. ver 200 people attended the In Regina, a remarkable turnaround MCC Alberta hears opening session of the in leadership has occurred. For a long plea from Uganda O Mennonite Central Committee time, two different groups ran the Saskatchewan annual meeting at Villages program, one in Saskatoon s head of a girls school in Laird Mennonite Church on October and the other in Regina. After strug- northern Uganda, Gladys Oyat 31 and November 1. gling through persistent revenue A lives with the knowledge that Over the course of two days, del- losses this past year, the independent any of her 550 students could disappear egates chose a new chair for the board, board in Regina stepped down. The against their will and never come back. reflected on MCC Saskatchewan’s new Saskatchewan board has opened a Oyat spoke to the 150 people gathered in the Coaldale Mennonite vision, and heard from several speak- new store in Regina, bringing the total Church on October 24-25 for the 36th ers, including Ron Mathies, director of number of Village stores in Saskatch- sessions of Mennonite Central Com- MCC, and Rick and Jan Janzen, ewan to four. mittee Alberta. She spoke about the Middle East directors. They marvelled A controversial topic that has 17-year conflict in Uganda where more at the against-all-odds advancements brought delegates to their feet on than 26,000 children have been achieve by MCC Saskatchewan during numerous occasions has seemingly abducted, including about 5,000 in the the past year. cooled down. After a series of meetings past year. To start the weekend, MCC auc- in March, the redevelopment of the About 800,000 of the 1.2 million tioned off a kilim, a 40-year-old hand- Saskatoon office has gone ahead. people in the Ocholi region have been woven rug from Iraq. Brought back by Construction began in spring and left homeless and live in refugee camps. “Keep praying for us,” said Oyat. George and Pearl Richert who worked Phase 1 of the MCC Centre should be Her visit to increase awareness and to on an MCC assessment team in Iraq, finished by Christmas. muster international pressure for an the rug was sold for $2,000 to a group Peter Schroeder, project manager, is end to the fighting in northern Uganda from Osler Mennonite Church. The excited about the progress being made. has been sponsored by MCC and kilim will be on display in the church. “A lot of the constituency was MEDA (Mennonite Economic Develop- On Saturday, the emphasis was on concerned about the cost,” he noted, ment Associates. reports and elections. John Elias of but money is being saved. “We thought Rachel and Everest, who are Saskatoon replaces Lucille Wall as we would need a water and sewer working in a prison ministry in board chair. Elias has been connected system coming into the building and Uganda, delighted the crowd with a to MCC over 24 years, mainly in the also build a retaining wall,” but the lively rendition of the song, “Jesus set me free.” Who wouldn’t be enthused field of mental health. He has also sewer system wasn’t necessary and about their Jesus, when hearing the worked with Ten Thousand Villages as the retaining wall was financed in part joy that emanated from them. a consultant. by the adjoining business, reducing During the Friday evening service, The reporting was upbeat. Dennis the cost by approximately $40,000. Esther Epp-Tiessen of MCC Canada Heinrichs talked about Ten Thousand An MCC fundraiser in mid-Septem- Peace Ministries brought an update on Villages’ mission to create work for ber at the 45th Street office brought in Iraq. people in developing countries. Plans $20,000. “The soul of Iraq is suffering, and to open a new store in Saskatoon are “We still need more volunteers,” he the future is uncertain,” she said. on the way. pointed out. “It’s slower going with However, they are a people of dignity, volunteers but great hospitality, resilience and strength. The relief buckets and school more cost- kits that MCC sent showed the people effective.” Cost that someone cared. effective is Nathaniel Bimba spoke on Liberia, what people in Yayumi Uyeno on the Summerbridge Saskatchewan program of MCC Canada, and John want to hear. Hubert on his recent trip to Iran. Renova- MCC is for everyone—there is tions reflect the always room for one more at God’s vision approved table. This invitation was extended at the delegate over and over as people gathered for the meeting. meeting in Mennonite Mutual Insurance March: “...that reported growth in premium income, in we become a the number of policyholders and stronger, more participating churches, and in commer- effective cial insurance policies. Twenty percent
Photo by Karin Fehderau witness in our of the organization’s net income is Students from MCC’s International Visitor Exchange Pro- community.”— contributed to MCC Alberta. gram lead worship during the MCC Saskatchewan meeting. Karin Fehderau
22 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch
As soon as the building permit is in place, the work on a new office building for MCC Alberta, attached to the SOUTH-EAST travel LTD. existing thrift store, will begin at 2946 32 St. NE in Calgary. This $1.5 million is pleased to announce project will also house Mennonite Mutual Insurance, Mennonite Church Alberta, and the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta. The Mennonite Heritage Tour Two new thrift stores were opened in to the Homeland of the Kleine Gemeinde, Holdeman, the past year, in addition to the Calgary Chortizer, Sommerfelder, and Old Kolony Mennonites and Lethbridge stores. The Edmonton Tour is sponsored by the Hanover Steinbach Historical Society Inc. store opened on May 3 and an outlet store opened in southeast Calgary. A Journey of History and Faith The Kanadier Concerns office changed its name to Services for Low May 30 - June 14, 2004 Tour Host: Delbert Plett, Q.C. German Mennonites. The office moved & Adina Reger in July from Lethbridge to Taber, where Trip Itinerary: Ukraine, Poland it shares a building with the school Space limited - Reserve now with a deposit A special service division and the Lethbridge Community We invite you to bring your friends and family. College. Video clips introduced us to two Speak to those who have already taken this journey will be held to success stories of Low German and they will agree that it is a worthwhile investment. Mennonites—a welding business and a commemorate the family greenhouse project. 200th anniversary of the The MCC relief sale in Didsbury in Please call: SOUTH-EAST Travel Ltd. Molotschna Colony June raised $114,000. Coaldale will for your brochures and any inquiries host the 2004 sale on June 18-19. A Contact Helen Funk or email: [email protected] silent auction was entertaining as well We specialize in all types of travel. as income generating. The 2004 budget of $2.77 million (a 4 percent increase) SOUTH-EAST Travel Box: 20708 Steinbach, MB R0A 2T2 was accepted. 204.326.9411 1.800.304.6548 (f) 204.326.3795 Other reports included the MCC women’s network, refugee sponsorship and peace ministries. Erwin Braun, who has chaired the MCC Alberta board for the past five years, handed the reins over to Phil Klassen. The grace for meals reminded us that around God’s table hunger ends and freedom, peace, justice and mercy reign. —Anne Neufeld
News brief World church leaders meet Secretaries of Christian World Commun- ions met in Cyprus on October 20-26 with Larry Miller, executive secretary of Mennonite World Conference, as modera- tor. Miller was elected chair for 2003 and 2004. Representatives of 18 denomina- tions, including evangelical and reform Protestant churches, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and interchurch bodies, at- tended. Each day began with prayers. Like every year, much of the meeting was devoted to reports from each communion. Among the presentations was a history of Cyprus and the roots of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Bishop Nikiforos, abbot of the Monastery of Kykkos, hosted the event.—From MWC release
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 23 A special advertising supplement LocalChurch
From British Columbia: Lynn Carlson of From Ontario: Anita Streicher of Heidel-
Hanceville, Community church, teacher berg; Hawkesville Mennonite Church, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in Uganda; Miriam Maxcy of Port teacher in South Korea; Duncan Taylor Coquitlam, English teacher in Laos; of Barrie, Harvest Bible Chapel, teacher Jonathan Tomm of Vernon, Baptist in Zambia; Paul Sauder of Waterloo, Erb church, AIDS coordinator in Lesotho. Street Mennonite Church, tutor in Indonesia. Sharon Schroeder of From Alberta: Sara Laflamme of Grand Stratford, Avon Mennonite Church, Prairie, English tutor in Indonesia; documentation for Asia action groups in Bonnie Mikalson of Calgary, Foothills Hong Kong.
Mennonite Church, English tutor in ○○○○○○ ○○○○ Germany; Laura Paetkau of Gem, From Quebec: Emily Houweling of Mission Rosemary Mennonite Church, daycare Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Christian Reformed, worker in Egypt. English tutor in Haiti.—From MCC & Service release From Saskatchewan: Casadi Weber of Guernsey, Mennonite Brethren church, day-care assistant in Bolivia. SALTers begin Sampling life in Albania From Manitoba: Stacey Dyck of assignments Starbuck, Springstein Mennonite A sabbatical leave and an invitation Church, children’s shelter in Ukraine; from friends working in Albania led Leon Akron, Pa.—Fifteen Canadians partici- Tristan Isaak of Winnipeg, Jubilee and Naomi Zimmerman and their four pated in a SALT orientation at Menno- Mennonite Church, development worker children to spend August to October in nite Central Committee headquarters in Philippines; Angela Reimer of Lezhe, Albania, under Eastern Menno- August 23-29. SALT (Serving And Winnipeg, Fort Garry Evangelical nite Missions. Learning Together) is a one-year Mennonite Church, nursery school overseas program for young adults. teacher in Tanzania. The family lived in a one-bedroom flat
24 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 A special advertising supplement WiderChurch LocalChurch and studied language for four weeks. Park, Vancouver, and ended on October Leon, president of Rosedale Bible 25 at Pier 21 in Halifax, a significant site College in Ohio, and Naomi taught to Zondervan and his wife—they first English, gave seminars on family and touched Canadian soil here when they worked with kids’ clubs. Son Caleb, 11, emigrated from Holland shortly after learned to play soccer and even gave World War II. some lessons in baseball. The 7,700-kilometre walk raised The Zimmermans, who learned to live $75,000.—Foodgrains Bank release with frequent electric and water cuts, worshipped with Albanian believers and had frequent opportunities to preach, teach and travel.
“It was an exciting challenge for us to live out our faith in a setting where there are so few Christian models,” said Leon.—From EMM release
Walk for world hunger George Zondervan, 69, recently Some day completed a seven-month “Food for all” you’ll take the time walk across Canada. He raised money for world hunger through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Some day The walk began on March 29 in Stanley you’ll taste another culture Some day plore you’ll do something different... God’s mission for your life Start x Toll-free 1-866-866-2872 http//:Service.MennoniteMission.net today
Call for a list of Christian Service,Learning Service Opportunities: and Discipleship Close to home OPPORTUNITIES and around the world. I Mennonite Voluntary Service (U.S.) Mennonite I Service Adventure (U.S.) Central I Youth Venture Committee ® Mennonite I SOOP (In cooperation with MCC Canada) Mission I RAD (Reaching and Discipling) Network I DEO (Discipleship, Encounter, Outreach) 1-888-622-6337 I DOOR (Discovering Oportunities for Outreach The mission agency of Mennonite Church USA and Reflection) www.mcc.org/serve
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 25 Canadian Mennonite Yellow Page
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Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 27 LocalChurch LocalChurch
Coaldale, Alta. Coaldale church gives thanks for 75 years hanksgiving weekend marked the refugee families and contributed 75th anniversary of Coaldale financial aid to a home for the aged T Mennonite Church. The motto for in Zaporizhya. Recently a number the celebration was Psalm 78:1: “Give of people travelled to El Salvador to ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline teach and help rebuild. Locally, your ears to the words of my mouth.” many are involved with the food Saturday’s program included bank, Handi Bus and hospital. reminiscing and early history. A power Many people have devoted time to point presentation provided an Mennonite Disaster Service, the overview of the many ministers who MCC store and Ten Thousand served without pay, as well as choirs, Villages. The first MCC sale in youth groups and members who Alberta was held in Coaldale in 1975. served at home and abroad. Ed Balzer presented a meditation Peter Unger, a lay minister from on Sunday morning, and C.L. Dick 1947 to 1956, paid tribute to the many in the afternoon. servants of the church. The first We praise God for the dedication meetings were held in homes. Sunday of our ministers, Sunday school School began in 1930. The first Vaca- teachers and guest speakers who tion Bible school was held jointly with inspired us to serve in the name of Bethany Janzen relays greetings from her the United Church, with 225 pupils. Christ. Members of our church have grandfather, Norman Bergen, a former Catechism classes began in 1931. touched the lives of people through- minister in Coaldale. Students sat in the front row and were out the world.—From report by expected to answer questions. Baptism Olga Epp was held on or near Pentecost, depend- ing on the availability of a bishop. Plum Coulee, Man. Frank W. Dyck organized the first choir, a tradition we have upheld. Congregation pays tribute to pastor’s 40 years Our first salaried pastor was hired n November 9, Plum Coulee my life and you have modelled retire- in 1967, when the lot fell on Peter and Bergthaler church celebrated a ment in continued service in the Helen Retzlaff. In the ensuing years, O joyous occasion—Henry Neufeld’s kingdom of God,” said Siemens. He Norman and Irma Bergen, Peter and 40 years of faithful ministry. The invited others to honour Neufeld by Justine Funk, Ed and Agnes Balzer, celebration began with congregational “speaking words of blessing to a man singing and special music focusing on who has blessed us.” served us well. God’s faithfulness. Wayne Rempel referred to Neufeld’s Erna Goertzen presented the work Allen Funk, lay minister, spoke words inspiring others, especially the youth. of the three women’s organizations. of appreciation for Neufeld’s four Brian Derksen related how Neufeld’s The Taber group, begun in 1930, has decades of leadership. He highlighted interest in young people has shaped his disbanded because of the age of its Neufeld’s career as a public school life. Neufeld’s daughter Sharon spoke members. The Sunbeam group began teacher, deacon, and lay minister in a about her father’s “solemn and serious in 1945, Goodwill Club in 1968. duo-language church. commitment to his calling as deacon. Joan Willms reported on mission In Funk’s words, Neufeld was “always When we answer the call to lead, we projects. Church plants were at- a leader, a spokesperson and a mediator, enable others,” she said. tempted in Purple Springs, Barnwell, who always gave honour and glory to Neufeld’s grandson Carl, who grew up God.” in Brazil with missionary parents, Taber and Lethbridge. The first two A full sanctuary, including members related how he is “following in grandpa’s did not materialize. Taber was active of his family, heard Neufeld speak on footsteps—teacher, public speaking, for many years but closed its doors a “The man named Jesus.” Neufeld drew history, debating.” few years ago. Lethbridge celebrated attention to some of Jesus’ powerful In response, Neufeld articulated deep its 25th anniversary last February. illustrations. “Make sure you’re follow- appreciation for the support of his wife, Helen Willms Bergen served for 33 ing Jesus,” he said. Anne. His last word? “Thank you for years in Taiwan. A number of nurses Following worship, everyone was letting God work in your lives. I want to did shorter stints in South America invited to a fellowship lunch. Glen continue to do the work that is left for and northern Canada. In the past 15 Siemens, current pastor, paid tribute to me to do. And maybe slow down a bit.” years our group has sponsored four Neufeld. “You have been here for most of —From report by Cleo Heinrichs
28 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch
Hope, B.C. Rhythm of seasons inspires B.C. women s leaves fell outside, women at theme was evident: a the B.C. Women in Mission freshly cut evergreen A retreat at Camp Squeah experi- tree, Christmas lights, enced not only the beauty of autumn, and artificial snow. As but that of spring, summer and winter. the garden must rest The theme for this year’s October in wintertime, so there 17-19 retreat was “The rhythm of the are times when we garden,” led by sisters Benita must slow down to be Warkentin of Greendale and Angelika rejuvenated. Dawson of Abbotsford. In four ses- Love and hurry are sions, the speakers went through the incompatible, said seasonal changes in the garden, Dawson. Jesus knew comparing them to seasons in the the value of rest after Christian life. work and spent time in Multi-media presentations intro- communion with God. duced each worship service. While a So must we. string trio played selections from Warkentin led a Vivaldi’s “Four seasons,” slides of communion service nature, in the appropriate season, that integrated all of Benita Warkentin (left) and Angelica Dawson lead were shown. the seasons and worship at the women’s retreat. Dawson opened the Friday evening included a time of session on spring against the back- sharing and prayer. The two sisters Participants affirmed the weekend ground of a white picket fence deco- also led singing throughout the with comments such as, “Wonderful,” rated with blossoms, flowerpots and a weekend, accompanied by piano, “I loved the music,” and “Best retreat quilt pieced with spring pictures. guitar and the string ensemble. I’ve ever attended.”—Amy Dueckman Spring, with its flowering plants and beautiful colours, is a time of rebirth, she said. Spring’s plantings show us that anything worthwhile takes an investment of time, and that it is not we who produce the results, but God. A hammock and plants decorated the stage for Saturday’s session on summer. “Summer is one big holiday— or is it?” asked Warkentin as she talked about the busiest time of year for a gardener. Reading the parable of sower and seed from Mathew 13, she gave examples of how many who have heard the Word fail to lead productive lives. The heart must be cultivated, she said, so that the thorns and rocks in our lives don’t choke out the good things. Dawson took the stage, now deco- rated with a hay bale, colourful leaves and a Thanksgiving quilt, for the Reigning Wagner tenor Ben Heppner returns to his musical roots to sing Handel’s timeless masterpiece. Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets, Messiah will be performed twice! segment on fall. This is a bittersweet time for gardeners, she noted, with Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir | Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony | Howard Dyck, Conductor Suzie LeBlanc, Soprano Daniel Taylor, Countertenor Ben Heppner, Tenor James Westman, Bass-Baritone plants dying and bright colours fading. | | | JACKMAN This season can teach us lessons about SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 • 7:30PM FOUNDATION life, for in the barren times we must SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 • 2:30PM Performance Sponsors rely on God. $ $ $ Dawson led the final session on 40 36 32 Centre In The Square 578-1570 | 1 800 265-8977 Season Sponsor Sunday morning. This time the winter
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 29 LocalChurch Tips for a fabulous Christmas et me make a few things clear time, I should have right off the top. I am frugal ready pain relievers, L(unless you’re talking about cough suppressant, a dessert or cowboy boots). My best digital ear thermom- adult Christmases were living on a eter, a humidifier, voluntary service stipend of $45 a electrolyte replace- month. So Christmas and its hoopla ment fluid and nasal can be paralyzing for Scrooges like me. lubricant. Even so, I recently went to the In my spare time, library to see what popular magazines I can make Santa have to say about the season. I found dolls out of two-litre the following tips to make my holidays plastic pop bottles, fabulous and festive: gilded placemats •Spray my tinsel with Static Guard to covered with or- combat static electricity. ganza and gold trim, •Make a wreath out of toothpicks and cinnamon stick eight pounds of cranberries. reindeer place cards, •Give miniature shortbread cookies to and cross-stitched all my friends. snowflake orna- •Watch National Lampoon’s Christ- ments. I have step- mas Vacation. by-step directions on •Clear out the front closet, prepare how to carve a party refreshments, get out the nativity scene out of Christmas music, and type up recipes gourds and turn hay on festive paper for a cookie exchange. bales into a Santa •Host a skating party and a potluck Village. dinner, attend a yoga class, do a Travel and Leisure Christmas crossword, volunteer at a suggests I spend soup kitchen, take an elderly friend Christmas shopping, see a doctor about anxiety, bobsledding in the read The Gift of the Magi aloud, and Adirondacks, eating pen a heartfelt letter to a loved one. lobster puff pastry at •Decorate theme trees for every room a Swiss Chateau, or in the house. enjoying the view Better Homes and Gardens wants atop the Park Hyatt me to breathe new life into my holiday Hotel in Tokyo. greeting card display with playful The same maga- spiral cording. It also advocates using zines that want me 100 lights and 40 ornaments for every to lose 10 pounds vertical foot of tree. before Christmas Oprah suggests I create my own have recipes for family, give a goat to the Heifer Swiss cheese tarts, Project, teach someone to read, donate Mexican wedding cookies, Portuguese shopper and gravy maker. Me—I a cell phone to a victim of domestic salt cod casserole for Christmas Eve, surrender. Brushing, blushing, wrap- violence, take my pet to visit people in Cape Breton cranberry loaf, Ukrainian ping, gluing, shopping, baking, weav- the hospital, read to the blind, give boiled wheat, and chocolate raspberry ing, rushing, frosting, accessorizing, away a book I love. Yule log decorated with sugared rose glossing, sparkling—I am defeated. Good Housekeeping suggests I go petals. I will hang a wreath on the door, shopping with a friend, while For Boxing Day, they offer exciting wrap a few presents, listen to Dylan Chatelaine tells me to leave my credit new suggestions for turkey pizza, Thomas reading “A Child’s Christmas cards at home. Gift ideas include peace turkey and greens, turkey pilaf, and in Wales,” and celebrate on December of mind with pet insurance, a second Asian turkey noodle stir-fry. 25 with the comforting knowledge that computer, hand blown Venetian glass I adore the people in my world who Easter is less than four months ornaments ($60 each), silk sachets take some of this to heart: my mom—a away.—Doris Daley made of antique Japanese kimonos, black belt decorator and hostess; my The above is from “a little piece I wrote for the and a chic CD case filled with CDs. sister—baker of fruitcakes and Trinity Mennonite Church Christmas gathering” To prevent illness during this busy mincemeat tarts; my husband—tree in Calgary last year, says the writer.
30 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch Ordination unbiblical, declares lecturer resenting the 17th annual Speaking from his Mennonite did note that sometimes people were Benjamin Eby Lecture at Brethren background, Toews noted commissioned for a particular minis- P Conrad Grebel University that the MB church was always try. College on November 7, John E. Toews ambivalent about ordination. He Moving to the historical context, declared, “Ordination for church observed that John Howard Yoder and Toews noted that the practice of ministry through the laying on of the Concern group were convinced ordination emerged in the third hands as practised in the church is that there is no ground in the New century as part of the centralization without biblical Testament to see and institutionaliza- foundation.” ordination for some tion of the church. Toews, president and not for others. ‘In most denominations, He also addressed of the college from Two issues have the matter of “call.” 1996-2003 and a emerged for Toews: 1) ordination is viewed as Affirmation for New Testament The practice of ordina- ministry should be scholar, began his tion has a weak biblical a sacrament, giving based on giftedness lecture on a foundation, and 2) How lifetime status to those plus the affirmation of personal note. He do we relate ordination the Christian commu- to the New Testament who are ordained. nity, not from an comes from a Toews family with a long emphasis on the inner sense of call. He history of church spiritual gifting of all Mennonites have tried noted wryly that he leaders. He has spent 20 years teach- Christians for the to desacramentalize has often dealt with ing and training church leaders. He ministries of the eager seminarians believes in the importance of clearly- church? [ordination].’ who felt thus “called.” defined church leadership. Toews focused What are his But for 45 years, Toews has strug- particularly on I suggestions for the gled with the concept of ordination. Timothy 4:14, which church? He said “It seems to be out of sync with an could be seen as the only text support- Mennonites should discontinue the Anabaptist view of the church,” he ing ordination. The “laying on of use of ordination language, and said. “In most denominations, ordina- hands” in this text, however, is associ- unhook it from special status. Ministry tion is viewed as a sacrament, giving ated with receiving charismatic gifts, belongs to the whole people of God. lifetime status to those who are not conferring office. Timothy has Some are gifted to lead, to enable ordained. Mennonites have tried to received a special endowment of the others to use their gifts. These leader- ‘desacramentalize’ it, but it still is Spirit, associated with prophecy. This ship roles can be discerned by the seen by many to confer special privi- is affirmed by the community laying church. The church does need leaders. lege and status.” on hands. He invited the church to develop a He added that in some places, Timothy was never called an elder creative ceremony to bless and com- ordination “has even been strength- or a pastor. He was simply Paul’s mission people for specific ministries. ened by adding the anointing of oil, assistant. So it is not clear what Responses to his lecture were normally in biblical thought associated “laying on of hands” means in this varied. What is the nature of sacra- with the special status of kingship....” context. It may even refer to Timothy’s ment in a world already largely The early church rejected anointing baptism, Toews concluded. desacralized (i.e. secular)? was one because it set apart a priesthood. In exploring similar passages, Toews question. Another person asked whether our view of ordination is really concerned with status. He sees it as a functional term—gifts plus And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, responsibility equals ordination. In the stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? New Testament, perhaps baptism itself is an ordination for ministry. It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came Another respondent asked whether without packages, boxes or bags. ordination has to be totally biblically based, or whether it has its own h/ And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. historical, ecclesial legitimacy. Toews Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. responded: “Then let’s be honest about this.” What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a Toews’ lecture will be published in store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit the Spring 2004 issue of the Conrad more? ~Dr. Seuss Grebel Review.—Maurice Martin
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Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 31 LocalChurch Education in Ukraine: Stories of hardship and hope In October, six educators from North America visited Ukrainian schools on a Mennonite Central learning tour. Canadian participants were Angelika Dawson and Art Janzen from Abbotsford, B.C. Following are reports on that trip. eaves carpeted the pathway to Kiev School #31. Inside, students Lhad decorated the windows and doors with leaves for Teacher’s Day, the first weekend in October. Flowers and chocolates covered the tables in the office of Tamara Vasilievna Vecherkovskaya, director of the school. The day was an appropriate begin- ning for Mennonite Central Commit- tee’s learning tour for educators. The
Photo by Angelika Dawson Photo by group visited schools in Kiev, Tokmak Art Janzen from British Columbia presents flowers in honour of Teacher’s Day region (former Molotschna Mennonite to Tamara Vecherkovskaya, director of School #31 in Kiev. Mary Raber (right) colony) and the city of Melitopol. The translates. North Americans met with teachers and students from pre-school to secondary school, and visited a teach- plants, however, created a cheerful ers’ college and two internats— atmosphere. Christian ethics residential schools for children from Ukrainian teachers wanted to know replacing Soviet difficult situations. what challenges their North American At each school, the guests were colleagues face. values given a cultural presentation and “We have many of the same prob- observed classes in session. Although lems that you have,” said Rose magine your entire worldview uniforms were not required, the dress Malamma, a teacher from California being called into question and I having to rebuild from scratch. code was conservative and formal. who spoke to a question about disci- Where would you turn for new Along with the usual courses—math, pline. “Having money doesn’t mean values? After the collapse of the geography, physics, literature, art and you don’t have any problems.” Ukraine Soviet Union, educators have faced music—a school in Molochansk taught teachers sighed when they learned this challenge. children traditional Ukrainian embroi- that their visitors live quite comfort- Some teachers have turned to dery and its relevance for today. ably on their salaries. Christian ethics. Ukrainian law Although the set-up of the classroom Despite the difficulties, it was forbids teaching of religion, but in 4 was more formal than in North evident that the teachers love their provinces out of 24, a subject called America, interaction between teacher profession. “Christian ethics” is being taught. and student was familiar, something “It’s our calling; we love children,” Students study the lives of Bible that has been changing since the said a teacher from Molochansk. “They heroes, the Ten Commandments, and the life and teachings of Christ. collapse of the Soviet Union. also give us a lot—it’s a magical Teachers are expected to be “Compared with when I went to thing.” Christians, although not all are, and school, what I saw today is very “Our teachers are here because they have special training. Children progressive,” said Olga Novikova, a love their work and they love our attend the classes with the written curriculum writer who toured a Kiev students,” Vecherkovskaya said. permission of parents. school with the MCC group. “Allowing It was this commitment despite North American teachers who kids to make choices and even differ hardships that impressed the learning visited Ukraine in October met with the teacher—this helps because tour. people involved in this work at our kids feel listened to.” MCC provided grants to help schools REALIS, a Christian education centre obtain textbooks and materials. It also in Kiev. Sergei Timchenko, director, It was evident that resources are described its mission as working with minimal. Most teachers in Ukraine gives scholarships for students in the educators “so that the light of Christ seek other means of income to supple- Tokmak region. Students who receive can be seen in this country.” ment their meagre salaries. Schools, these scholarships return to their “We have this clear space between hallways were dark and most class- villages to teach for a time.—Angelika the necessity of moral education and rooms dimly lit to save money. Potted Dawson
32 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch Children given new chance at House of Hope ergei is a quiet boy, but not too “and it looks as though they’re enjoy- “I tell the kids, ‘If the cops stop us, shy to approach a visitor. ing a wonderful, happy childhood,” tell them we don’t have room to give S“I want to show you something,” he noted Ivan Demyanenko, the pastor of them a lift,’” he jokes. says softly, and leads me down the hall the tiny church that founded House of Over time the staff do see positive to his bedroom at House of Hope in Hope. But at night he once heard nine- changes in the children. For example, Priazovske, Ukraine. He takes a Lego year-old Sergei crying. a boy who joined House of Hope earlier contraption from the table and puts it “Why are you crying?” Ivan asked in the year could not stop stealing. He into my hand. him. would creep about the rooms at “It’s an airplane,” he explains, “I have a little sister and I want her night...once making off with the adding immediately, “I want to show to live with me,” Sergei replied. possessions of 13 sleeping people! you something else.” This time we go Sergei’s father left his family and “We tried everything,” remembers to his classroom where he rummages disappeared and his mother has Kostya. “We lectured him. We pun- around in his desk until he finds an rejected him. “We try to do everything ished him. We had the other children album of drawings: trees, fields, possible so that our children would be talk to him. Nothing worked. Finally another airplane, a building. well and have all they need,” explains we asked, ‘What is it that you want?’ “These are good pictures, Sergei,” I Ivan. “But inside every one of them “He said, ‘I want everything. As soon say. “You must like to draw.” has a feeling of worthlessness, of as I see that someone else has some- “God makes me do it,” he answers. frustration. These children show thing, my hands stretch out to take The 26 children at House of Hope feelings of grief and a sense of having it.’” hunger for contact with caring adults. been injured by life.” At their wits’ end, the staff told the Few parents ever visit. The goal of the staff at House of boy to make a list of everything he The children all play and have fun Hope is that each child will come to wanted. He worked on it for several know Christ. days, filling three sheets on both sides. “Not all of these children will finish When he was finished, everyone set nobody knowing how this is done,” higher education,” says director about giving the boy as much as they Sergei says. “The highest value now is Svyetlana Chervonchenko. “But if they could from the list. survival, making a living.” find peace with God, they will know “That went on for a couple of days,” Sergei is afraid that Christian ethics how to live.” says Kostya, “And then he started will become another ideology rather than an encounter with the living God. Besides daily prayer, the children giving the things back!” Others do not share his caution. regularly attend worship and visit the Does he still steal? Hope to People, an evangelical mission, homes of church members. Konstantin “Well,” Kostya grins, “maybe only creates curriculum and information about (Kostya) Borodin, a Baptist member once every couple of months, and then Christian ethics for teachers. who works at the home, drives the only from one person at a time. And he Elena Obednikova and Olga children to church on Sundays, piling prays that God would help him stop Novikova work with Hope to People in far more than the legal limit into a stealing!”—Mary Raber the city of Rovno, where they meet with small car. teachers weekly. Because of good The writer works with MCC in Ukraine. teachers in Christian ethics, Christian clubs have developed in some schools. “Children go to Christian club and invite their friends,” says Obednikova. “Here the kids say, ‘Before Christian Do you want to ensure that ethics my life was totally different; I Mennonites in Canada didn’t understand my parents, for example.’ Then they tell other children keep talking to each other? what their teachers have taught them.” The ethics classes are also addressing social concerns, and school directors Support the CANADIAN MENNONITE have noted changes in the lives of students who take part. ENDOWMENT FUND MCC supports weekly discussion groups for teachers and scholarships for Your gift will strengthen the communication ministry students at the Ostrog Academy National University, an institution that of Canadian Mennonite. grants teachers’ certificates in Chris- tian ethics. MCC has also funded For more information call curriculum materials, developed by Mennonite Foundation Hope to People and the Ostrog Acad- of Canada at 1-888-212-7759 emy.—Angelika Dawson
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 33 LocalChurch TheChurches
appreciation for the wisdom of Mennonite church; the trunk is past leaders who seemed to the conference providing “lead by muddling through,” essential nutrients to the avoiding the two “ditches” on thriving branches, the congre- the side of the road: authority- gations. as-uniformity on one side and “Renewed diversity-as-individualism on congregationalism” might the other. describe an emerging vision. It Integration in 1988 brought suggests that the congregation together two polity struc- is still “the core unit of the tures—one focused more on church” and its ministries need centralized authority, the other to be supported by conference, on congregational authority. not the other way around. Authority and autonomy Worship is central to who we issues add to the complexity of are, yet the conference does the discussion on leadership. not provide resources for it. Is Mellinger and Martin a larger role required? suggest: “While we need to In summary, the report Photo by Jake Olfert Photo by Jake come to greater clarity on our urges the conference 1) to Planners for Assembly 2004 met at the Winkler Bergthaler understanding of leadership, address its identity during the Church in September to view the facilities and begin planning we believe that some compo- next year, 2) take a stronger for the July 7-11 event. The theme will be “Enough for all,” nents of this discussion will leadership role, and 3) see its based on the feeding of the five thousand. Back row, from left: include being ‘wise guides,’ essential purpose to resource Dan Dyck (staff, Program Committee), George H. Ens (Local ‘expressing the heart of congregations, call and nurture Hosting chair), Craig Friesen (Program Committee chair), Pam MCEC,’ and ‘passionately pastors, and provide a Peters-Pries (staff, Program Committee), Mildred Roth (Pro- holding up and articulating missional vision for congrega- gram Committee). Front row: Karen Peters (staff, Program the larger vision of MCEC.’” tions. Committee), Viola Enns Woelk (Children’s Assembly coordina- 3. Purpose/Mission (What More specific suggestions tor), Pam Driedger (Worship coordinator), and Karen are we about? Why do we will be reported in an Schellenberg (Program Committee). exist?) upcoming issue. People spoke with appreciation and theological roots. Now of two things: support for MennoniteMennonite Church Church there is an emerging pastoral leaders, and resources MennoniteMennonite Church Church EasternEastern Canada Canada multiculturalism and greater for congregations. ManitobaManitoba theological diversity. There is much affirmation Report on vision In this large conference of for the conference policies on Young adult offers and identity process 14,000 people, there has been a calling, training, placement, to be travelling loss of “family feeling.” How evaluation and nurture of In August, MC Eastern might we generate a sense of pastors. Congregations have preacher Canada hired Marianne identity and belonging within benefited from conference The Young Adult Council of Mellinger and Maurice Martin our present realities? asks the assistance in their relationship MC Manitoba, which facili- to develop a renewed vision, report. with their pastors. tates fellowship and service identity and ministry model Many members appreciate MC Eastern Canada is a opportunites, has approached for the conference. They that MC Eastern Canada has “resource-rich” conference. John Klassen, director of conducted over 20 interviews been able to live with diversity. Congregations frequently Leadership Ministries, with an with staff, commission At the same time, people consult with conference staff exciting proposal. members and ministerial desire something that “holds on a variety of concerns. It is One of their group, James cluster groups. us together,” and makes us not clear whether conference Peters, is willing to visit At a November 19 meeting, “mutually accountable in some should continue to provide congregations on Sunday they identified three key fashion.” While there is little centralized programming, or morning to offer a message on issues that need attention as desire for a centralized primarily assist congregations the role of young adults in the MC Eastern Canada shapes its authority, there is recognition to work locally. However, church. He is willing to be a future. that on some issues the “doing together what we “travelling young adult 1. Identity (Who are we? conference may wish to cannot do alone” is still preacher.” What holds us together?) express more authority. important in mission and Peters comes with Klassen’s The conference is in its 15th 2. Leadership (What does it service, as well as youth and strong endorsement. “He year since the integration of mean to lead? What kind of young adult work. preached his first sermon at three former conferences. In leadership do we need?) Is there an emerging vision? the age of 17 in the Winkler addition to a common Ger- Most people resonate with the The image of a tree suggests a Bergthaler Mennonite Church manic “ethnicity,” those three phrase “leading as wise conference rooted in Scripture, where I served as pastor,” said groups had common historical guides.” Many spoke with Anabaptism and the larger Klassen. Peters has continued
34 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 TheChurches to preach since then. “James is individuals from various parts decommissioning service for its Crosland remarked, “On a good communicator, a of the province are travelling old church building. Investiga- Sunday we worship; on creative preacher and has a to Winnipeg to learn, together tions into alternative uses for Monday we floor curl!” deep love for Christ and the with people from other the building all met with dead church.” Peters is in his final provinces, about the ends, so plans were reluctantly MennoniteMennonite Church Church year of Bachelor of Theology Mennonite Church Canada made to tear it down. BritishBritish Columbia Columbia studies at Canadian vision. When the Tofield historical Mennonite University. “The hope is that we can be society heard about the Christmas gift Peters is willing to visit up a resource for local churches,” proposed demolition, however, suggestion to eight congregations between said Margaret Ewen Peters, co- they quickly requested a January and April on a first pastor of Hanley Mennonite postponement. The society has Looking for the perfect come, first served basis. Call and one of the participants. dreams of building a historic Christmas gift? Why not him at (204) 786-6781. Each person, or his or her village, and expressed interest consider sending a child to MC Manitoba is blessed to church, has put up the cost of in the old sanctuary. camp? have a healthy number of tuition. The rest of the cost is Demolition of the building For many campers, the camp young adults who are passion- absorbed by MC Canada. has been postponed until experience is possible only ate about their faith, their Other trainees are Ray spring while the society because of Camp Squeah’s discipleship and the church, Friesen, pastor of Zion explores its idea. Bob Campership Fund. The said Klassen. “It’s exciting to Mennonite in Swift Current; Crosland, Tofield pastor, said generosity of donors has made witness their ministry at our Ed Olfert, pastor of Grace that the congregation feels it possible for children from camps, in service assignments Mennonite in Prince Albert; good about this possibility for low-income families to attend. and in our congregations. They Eileen Wiebe from Mount its old building. Those who receive these funds not only wish to be part of Royal Mennonite in Saskatoon; “Our decommissioning are grateful for the opportu- congregational life but to Bruno Baerg of MCC Sas- service was very meaningful,” nity it grants their children. contribute their numerous katchewan; Ken Bechtel, he said. “Of course, there are A mother of four children, gifts in a wide variety of ways.” conference minister; and Eric feelings of sadness, but there is all of whom received Olfert, Missional Formation also a good feeling of moving campership assistance to MennoniteMennonite Church Church Facilitator for MC Saskatch- on. If the building could be attend Squeah, writes, “Our SaskatchewanSaskatchewan ewan. used like this, it would be family thanks you very much ideal.” for the wonderful gift of Seven taking missional MennoniteMennonite Church Church The Tofield congregation is allowing our children to attend church training AlbertaAlberta now worshipping in a multi- camp. It’s become a very purpose facility just across the important event in their lives.” Seven people from Saskatch- Saying goodbye yard from the old church. With If you would like to contrib- ewan are taking part in a to church building the recent installation of a ute to the Campership Fund, Missional Church training better speaker system, worship phone Camp Squeah at 1-800- course in Winnipeg. On August 17, Tofield services are working well in 380-2267, or check the web site Over four weekends, these Mennonite Church had a the gymnasium. at www.campsqueah.bc.ca.
From our Aligning ourselves with healing and hope leaders As we move into the Advent season, I’ve we are bearers of hope and healing Canada to engage congrega- been reflecting on our Vision: Healing through the power of God’s spirit, tions in redemptive activities and Hope statement. The statement despite our own shortcomings. “across the street and around the world.” assumes a world in which many are Financial restraints don’t allow us to do I’m reminded of the many we met at unhealthy, broken and hurting, and all that we long to do. But in spite of Mennonite World Conference in filled with despair. I thought about this theological concerns about how best to be Zimbabwe who are being faithful in very at the November General Board faithful, and wrestling to discern God’s difficult situations, living out the hope meetings as we worked through a desire for us, I still see God at work in us that we have in Christ, challenging us to number of difficult issues. and through us. God continues to bring work alongside them. As a national church we continue to hope for a new way of living and healing As I think about all these, I am face challenges financially, theologically that comes from the one who can even encouraged to continue to work with our and culturally. In the midst of these resurrect the dead. congregations and area conferences difficulties we are called to be communi- As I’m writing this, an MC Canada through Mennonite Church Canada, ties of healing and hope through the learning tour is travelling through believing that God is at work in our power of the resurrected Christ. Colombia, learning how Colombian lives, just as God has been through the Sometimes the issues blind me to the Mennonites are living out this vision in a centuries and larger picture of what we are about— country ravaged by violence and despair. through our sisters aligning ourselves with what God is They are proclaiming the redemptive love and brothers around already doing in our world—bringing of Christ which changes individuals and the world. new life and forgiveness into situations challenges structural evil. I’m thinking about the Missional Henry Krause, modera- that need the redemptive touch of Christ tor of Mennonite Church and of Christ’s church. Training which will be taking place in Canada I’ve been reminded of the many ways December, helping leaders from across
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 35 AdvertisingLocalChurch
Employment opportunities
36 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 TheChurches
Transitions Ont., a son, Clayton Michael, Transitions Nov. 11. Births Scapinello—to Jen and Board hears from Richard, Emmanuel Bender—to Tammy and Jim, Mennonite Church, Winkler, Manitoba leaders Cassel Mennonite, Tavistock, Man., a daughter, Kaylee Rae ennonite Church Manitoba staff and pastors met with Ont., a daughter, Melanie Lynn, Nov. 7. MC Canada’s General Board over lunch on Victoria, Oct. 24. Steinmann Ramer—to MNovember 7. Brenneman—to Amanda and Candace Steinmann and Phil Participants expressed the need for increased communica- Mark, Tavistock Mennonite, Ramer, Steinmann Mennonite, tion and ownership of conference programs by the person in Ont., a son, Drew Kenneth Baden, Ont., a daughter, the pew, and concern over decision making processes. Mark, Nov. 5. Alyson MacKenzie, Oct. 6. “I wonder sometimes if we haven’t left behind the average Cornelson—to Shelley and church member in the process of restructuring,” said Hermann Tim, Bergthaler Mennonite, Marriages Dueck of First Mennonite. “Things were complicated as they Rosenfeld, Man., a son, Bowen Snyder-Stortini—Eric and were.... How do we inform the average church member? How Timothy, Nov. 7. do we create an interest?” Elliot—to Michelle and Shane, Cathy, Hanover Mennonite, Ont., Oct. 4 Dueck’s comments contrasted with the messages Erin Cedar Valley Mennonite, Morash is picking up at her church, North Kildonan Mission, B.C., a son, Jonathan Deaths Mennonite. She reported that interest in MC Canada is Douglas Huber, July 19. catching among her youth and young adult groups. The young Froese—to Sylvia and John, Dueck—Lillian, 81, Nutana people want to know what it means to be part of MC Canada. Bethel Mennonite, Winnipeg, Park Mennonite, Saskatoon, “My young adults especially identify with MC Canada, but Man., a son, Nicholas Ryan, Sask., Nov. 10. they are very worried about its future—and hence their own,” Nov. 7. Dyck—Helena (Penner), 100, she said. People from all perspectives are reading Canadian Funk—to Susan (Ens) and First Mennonite, Saskatoon, Mennonite “cover to cover,” asking for extra copies of news James, Nutana Park Oct. 16. releases, and even discussing conference issues around the Mennonite, Saskatoon, Sask., a Janzen—Maria, 77, Coaldale dinner table, she noted. daughter, Elizabeth (Ella) Mennonite, Alta., Oct. 23. Others said that delegates at assemblies want to be more Marie Ens, Aug. 12. Klassen—J. Ronald, 55, involved, rather than feeling that they are “rubber-stamping” Grant—to Tina and Ian, Coaldale Mennonite, Alta., decisions made by leaders. Planners of the 2004 assembly are Community Mennonite, Sept. 22. planning for table discussion groups to discern issues. Some Drayton, Ont., a son, Jacob Lichty—Edwin, 83, Hanover leaders are recommending that the General Board restructure Noah, Nov. 5. Mennonite, Ont., Oct. 22. the assembly agenda so that more delegate involvement Lichti—to Kim and Chris, Loewen—John P., 95, occurs. Steinmann Mennonite, Baden, Bergthal Mennonite, Didsbury, Pastors also talked about ways their churches are minister- Ont., a son, Garrett John, Alta., Sept. 20. ing in their contexts. Oct. 30. Regehr—Arthur, 90, First Dori Zerbe Cornelsen, pastor of an inner city church, said Neufeld—to Lori and Cornie, Mennonite, Saskatoon, Nov. 9. when people ask how Hope Mennonite impacts the inner city, Grace Mennonite, Winkler, she responds that it’s more a question of, “How does the inner Man., a son, Gabriel Noah, Baptisms city impact us?” It’s not unusual for homeless people or Oct. 19. substance abusers to wander into a worship service seeking Reed—to Jodie and Fred, Fort Garry Mennonite help. Coaldale Mennonite, Alta., a Fellowship, Winnipeg, For her congregation, “diversity is just assumed as part of son, Jared Thomas, Oct. 30. Man.—Zachary Entz, Nov. 16. normal human life, and that it’s part of the church Roth—to Gail and Mike, too...faithful Christian behaviour is not necessarily always Steinmann Mennonite, Baden, what we assumed it was.” Diversity also extends to how people define ministries. Norm Voth, Director of Evangelism and Service in Manitoba, noted the broad definition of “evangelism” that he has encountered. Some definitions “are diametrically opposed to each other.” Voth is particularly encouraged with his connections to “non-Caucasian” congregations. He and conference minister John Klassen are helping to provide leadership training to congregations in the Winnipeg area that include Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, Hispanic and Korean groups. Voth said, “I think we caught a glimpse of eternity when we had our first multi-cultural leadership training event.” He noted how the five language groups would process the informa- tion provided. “It was encouraging...to see the kind of interest that there is. One of those churches has more than half of its members involved in leadership training.” Klassen added that he sees a lot of passion in the constitu- ency—a sign that shows people care. —MC Canada release by Dan Dyck
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 37 ToLocalMorrowChurch
Invitation to join a the discussion group will be conferences around the world enjoyed the hospitality of the social work forum the formation of an association are being encouraged to Riverton Fellowship Circle, similar to other Mennonite translate and distribute viewed facilities and planned Normal, Ill.—A social work professional organizations. materials to local churches. the program, scheduled for professor in the United States —From release Worship materials and July 26-29. is working to form a new additional resources are The group also worked on a organization, the Association available at www.mwc- proposal to organize native of Anabaptist-Mennonite Resources for cmm.org.—From MWC release Mennonite congregations in Social Work Professionals. World Fellowship Canada and the United States. Dan Liechty of Illinois State Sunday These meetings, hosted by University perceives a “glaring Native Mennonite Home Street Mennonite lack in input from the social Strasbourg, France— assembly in Manitoba Church in Winnipeg, led to an work perspective” in recent Mennonite World Conference invitation to Steve Cheramie health care and social issues is inviting churches to observe Winnipeg, Man.—Next Risingsun to speak to the documents for congregations. World Fellowship Sunday on summer, several hundred Home Street congregation on Initially, he would like to see January 25. It’s a time to native Mennonites from across Sunday. discussion of the issues. celebrate the growing interac- North America are expected to Risingsun pastors two He is inviting social work tion of churches across gather for an assembly in congregations and serves on professionals to join a listserv national and cultural bounda- Riverton, Manitoba. the board of Mennonite discussion group. To join, e- ries. To begin planning, repre- Mission Network, the mission mail: [email protected]. The This year, worship materials sentatives of Mennonite agency of Mennonite Church group is a forum for ethical, for World Fellowship Sunday Church Canada Native USA.—From MC Canada practical, personal and have been prepared by Ministries, United Native release professional issues (no European Mennonites who Ministries and Mennonite particular degrees or job encourage congregations to be Indian Leaders Council met in descriptions required). Liechty messengers of peace in a Winnipeg and Riverton from Correction hopes that one of the fruits of troubled world. Mennonite November 5-9. The group The list of Mennonite publishers (Nov. 3, page 19) included some telephone numbers that are no longer in use. All telephone orders for Herald Press and Faith & Life Resources are through the Mennonite Publishing Network toll-free number: 1-800-245-7894. E-mail for Herald Press: [email protected] and for Faith & Life Resources: [email protected].
Calendar k British Columbia December 13, 14: Christmas banquet (13) and choral worship (14) at Peace
Photo by Dan Dyc Mennonite Church, Richmond. Van Hoa Chau, a member of MC Canada’s Formation Council, presents a plaque to Mennonite Phone (604) 278-0111. Church Canada on behalf of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam. Chau estimates membership to be December 14: “Shine your about 10,000 people, in small congregations throughout the hill country. The plaque, with Psalm light” musical service with 21:2 in Vietnamese calligraphy, recognizes MC Canada support. Staff accepting the gift on behalf choir, hand-bell choir, chil- of MC Canada are, back row from left: Kirsten Schroeder, Ingrid Miller, Jane Zheng, Gordon Janzen, dren’s group at West Pam Peters-Pries; middle row: Peter Rempel, Ingrid Janzen Lamp, Lloyd Plett, Daksha Parshotam, Abbotsford Mennonite Church, Grant Klassen, Van Hoa Chau, Jack Suderman; front: Elsie Rempel, Justina Heese, Kathy Fast. B.C., 6:30 p.m.
38 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 ToMorrow
December 18: Kids’ Christ- Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. with Ontario Collegiate, Kitchener, 7:30 p.m. mas Party at First United Ernest Epp. December 14: Lessons and Spanish Mennonite Church, February 14-15: Shekinah December 5, 6: Four choirs carols with Pax Christi Vancouver, 6:00 p.m. Phone Fun Days. Christmas concert (Menno Chorale at Grace Church on- (604) 325-3407. February 27-28: Mennonite Singers, Inter-Mennonite the-hill, Toronto, 3:00 p.m. Call December 21: Christmas Church Saskatchewan annual Children’s, Rockway Colle- (416) 494-7889. program and banquet at First sessions in Rosetown. giate, Conrad Grebel chapel United Spanish Mennonite, March 3: MEDA breakfast at choirs) at St. Matthew’s United States Vancouver, 4:30 p.m. Phone Grainfields Restaurant, Lutheran Church, Kitchener, (604) 325-3407. Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. January 26-29: Pastors Week December 24: “Shine your March 27: Shekinah December 7: Christmas at Associated Mennonite light” musical service with fundraising banquet at Mount concert at United Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Theme: choir, hand-bell choir, chil- Royal Mennonite Church, Educational Institute, Leam- Effective ministerial leader- dren’s group at West Saskatoon. ington, 7:30 p.m. ship. Phone 1-800-964-2627, e- Abbotsford Mennonite Church, December 11: Open house at mail: [email protected]. B.C., 6:30 p.m. Manitoba TourMagination office (9 March 25-28: Mennonite March 12-13: Youth workers Willow St., Waterloo) with Health Assembly in San conference at Columbia Bible December 11, 18: Winnipeg John Ruth, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Francisco. Phone: (219) 534- College, Abbotsford on worship Mennonite Elementary School December 12: Christmas 9689, e-mail: and discipleship, with Tom and Christmas concerts: Agassiz at concert at Rockway Mennonite [email protected]. Christine Sine. Phone (604) Bethel Mennonite (11); Bedson 853-3567, ext. 323. at Immanuel Pentecostal (18), 7:00 p.m. Alberta December 13: House of Doc concert, “Christmas at our January 23-25: Junior Snow house,” at Franco-Manitoban Camp at Camp Valaqua. Centre, Winnipeg, 2:00 and February 14-15: Mennonite 7:00 p.m. Men’s Curling Bonspiel in December 13: Advent concert Didsbury. Contact Herman of North Kildonan Mennonite Epp at (780) 335-3894. Church Quartet, 7:00 p.m. February 20-22: Senior Snow January 9-11: Senior youth Camp at Camp Valaqua. retreat at Camp Koinonia. February 27-28: Mennonite January 16-18: Junior youth Church Alberta 75th delegate retreat at Camp Koinonia. sessions at Rosemary January 19-21: “Church in Mennonite Church. Ministry Seminars” on March 19-20: Missional spiritual formation and Church training at Camp discipleship ministry with Jim Valaqua. Holm at Canadian Mennonite University. Phone Diane Saskatchewan Hiebert at 1-877-231-4570. January 23-25: Young adult December 12: Shekinah retreat at Camp Koinonia. Fundraiser at Timberlodge February 7: Canadian with A Buncha’ Guys, 7:00 p.m. Mennonite annual meeting Call Russ Regier at (306) 249- and banquet at Douglas 3650. Mennonite, Winnipeg. Meeting December 19: Christmas 4:00 p.m. Banquet 6:00 p.m. concert at Rosthern Junior Speaker: Ken Reddig. Contact College, 7:00 p.m. Ron Loeppky at (204) 261- January 2-3: RJC Alumni 4949. Tournament of Memories. February 13-15: Junior youth January 7: MEDA breakfast retreat at Camp Moose Lake. at Grainfields Restaurant, February 20-21: Annual Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. Tammy session of MC Manitoba at Forrester on women in Whitewater Mennonite, business. Boissevain. January 24: MC Saskatch- March 5-7: Retreat for ewan Camping Commission families with mentally fundraiser. handicapped members at January 30-February 1: Camp Assiniboia. Senior high retreat at March 12-14: Junior high Shekinah Retreat Centre. youth retreats at Camps February 4: MEDA breakfast Koinonia and Moose Lake. at Grainfields Restaurant,
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 39 This little Babe This little Babe so few days old, Is come to rifle Satan’s fold; All hell doth at his presence quake, Though he himself for cold do shake; For in this weak unarmed wise The gates of hell he will surprise....
My soul with Christ join thou in fight; Stick to the tents that he hath pight [pitched]. Within his crib is surest ward; This little Babe will be thy guard. If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, Then flit not from this heavenly Boy. From painting by Correggio. ~Robert Southwell (1561-1595) The poet, a priest and leader of the persecuted Catholic Church in Reformation England, was hanged for treason at the age of 33. See page 2. WiderChurch
Langley, B.C.
MCC sessions around ‘God’s table’ The day concluded with prayer and song, and participants feeling that nspirational and informational” local Mennonite church, was fighting they had been nourished “around was how one attendee described to get his stolen cattle back. Artolah God’s table.”—From MCC B.C. release Ithe annual sessions of Mennonite was spending weeks in the city— Central Committee British Columbia, hours away from his farm—negotiat- held at South Langley Mennonite ing with the police. Brethren Church on November 1. “It was the least I could do,” Nathan The day included storytelling, power said, “helping ensure that this year’s point presentations, video and work- food supply was realized, showing shops, as well as business meetings for Christ’s love to a Nicaraguan brother MCC’s Supportive Care Services and and his family.” Social Housing Society. Roger Neill shared his elation as he Keynote speaker Gladys Oyat from saw justice done for Ivan Barrows, a Uganda shared her enthusiasm about man imprisoned for 29 years for the theme for the day, “Around God’s breaking a window. Because of the table.” efforts of Neill, a Christian journalist “‘Around God’s table’ depicts service, and the church that partnered with like Jesus’ last supper with his MCC, Barrows was restored to his disciples,” she said, adding that the family who thought he was dead. theme verse—Romans 12:4-5 (the Nine months later, Barrows was body of Christ having many members) awarded $9 million Jamaican for the also depicts sharing, as we share our illegal incarceration, Neill said, gifts with one another. describing the outcome as a miracle Oyat described the difficulty of life from God. “I know that the Lord will in Uganda. Even though the war has maintain the cause of the afflicted, ended, it is not over, she said. She and the right of the poor,” he said. described those living in camps, and how thousands of children are ab- ducted and forced to fight. But the church is bringing hope. “It is amazing that many of you Last Minute Christmas Gift recognize the suffering of Ugandans even though you have never met us,” In God’s Image: A Global she said. “You have given food, in the Anabaptist Family name of Christ, you have supported Ray Dirks assembled this book of art, religious leaders with training, you have sponsored students through the photos, and stories of shared faith Global Family project, you have from 17 countries. Broadly covering supported us as we have fought AIDS. all major regions of the world, the You are bringing resources around photographs highlight the everyday life God’s table. You don’t know us, but you serve those in need.” of faith, work, family, and friends. The day included the official separa- Together the art and photographs por- tion of MCC Social Housing Society tray the backbone of church and community, the ordinary people. from MCC B.C., and a change of name to More Than a Roof Mennonite Beautiful, full-color coffee-table book. Housing. MTR Mennonite Housing will relate to MCC B.C. much the same Published by Herald Press in cooperation with Mennonite World way that Mennonite Disaster Service Conference and Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery. and Ten Thousand Villages do. Stories and images from Nicaragua and Jamaica brought to life the many Paper, 148 pages, $29.99 ways that voluntary service workers Hardcover, $34.99 strive for justice among those in need. Nathan Janz told of weeding a field in Nicaragua because the farmer, 1 800 245-7894 • www.heraldpress.com Arcadio Artolah, also the pastor of the
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 21 WiderChurch Laird, Sask. MCC Centre for Saskatchewan on its way Coaldale, Alta. ver 200 people attended the In Regina, a remarkable turnaround MCC Alberta hears opening session of the in leadership has occurred. For a long plea from Uganda O Mennonite Central Committee time, two different groups ran the Saskatchewan annual meeting at Villages program, one in Saskatoon s head of a girls school in Laird Mennonite Church on October and the other in Regina. After strug- northern Uganda, Gladys Oyat 31 and November 1. gling through persistent revenue A lives with the knowledge that Over the course of two days, del- losses this past year, the independent any of her 550 students could disappear egates chose a new chair for the board, board in Regina stepped down. The against their will and never come back. reflected on MCC Saskatchewan’s new Saskatchewan board has opened a Oyat spoke to the 150 people gathered in the Coaldale Mennonite vision, and heard from several speak- new store in Regina, bringing the total Church on October 24-25 for the 36th ers, including Ron Mathies, director of number of Village stores in Saskatch- sessions of Mennonite Central Com- MCC, and Rick and Jan Janzen, ewan to four. mittee Alberta. She spoke about the Middle East directors. They marvelled A controversial topic that has 17-year conflict in Uganda where more at the against-all-odds advancements brought delegates to their feet on than 26,000 children have been achieve by MCC Saskatchewan during numerous occasions has seemingly abducted, including about 5,000 in the the past year. cooled down. After a series of meetings past year. To start the weekend, MCC auc- in March, the redevelopment of the About 800,000 of the 1.2 million tioned off a kilim, a 40-year-old hand- Saskatoon office has gone ahead. people in the Ocholi region have been woven rug from Iraq. Brought back by Construction began in spring and left homeless and live in refugee camps. “Keep praying for us,” said Oyat. George and Pearl Richert who worked Phase 1 of the MCC Centre should be Her visit to increase awareness and to on an MCC assessment team in Iraq, finished by Christmas. muster international pressure for an the rug was sold for $2,000 to a group Peter Schroeder, project manager, is end to the fighting in northern Uganda from Osler Mennonite Church. The excited about the progress being made. has been sponsored by MCC and kilim will be on display in the church. “A lot of the constituency was MEDA (Mennonite Economic Develop- On Saturday, the emphasis was on concerned about the cost,” he noted, ment Associates. reports and elections. John Elias of but money is being saved. “We thought Rachel and Everest, who are Saskatoon replaces Lucille Wall as we would need a water and sewer working in a prison ministry in board chair. Elias has been connected system coming into the building and Uganda, delighted the crowd with a to MCC over 24 years, mainly in the also build a retaining wall,” but the lively rendition of the song, “Jesus set me free.” Who wouldn’t be enthused field of mental health. He has also sewer system wasn’t necessary and about their Jesus, when hearing the worked with Ten Thousand Villages as the retaining wall was financed in part joy that emanated from them. a consultant. by the adjoining business, reducing During the Friday evening service, The reporting was upbeat. Dennis the cost by approximately $40,000. Esther Epp-Tiessen of MCC Canada Heinrichs talked about Ten Thousand An MCC fundraiser in mid-Septem- Peace Ministries brought an update on Villages’ mission to create work for ber at the 45th Street office brought in Iraq. people in developing countries. Plans $20,000. “The soul of Iraq is suffering, and to open a new store in Saskatoon are “We still need more volunteers,” he the future is uncertain,” she said. on the way. pointed out. “It’s slower going with However, they are a people of dignity, volunteers but great hospitality, resilience and strength. The relief buckets and school more cost- kits that MCC sent showed the people effective.” Cost that someone cared. effective is Nathaniel Bimba spoke on Liberia, what people in Yayumi Uyeno on the Summerbridge Saskatchewan program of MCC Canada, and John want to hear. Hubert on his recent trip to Iran. Renova- MCC is for everyone—there is tions reflect the always room for one more at God’s vision approved table. This invitation was extended at the delegate over and over as people gathered for the meeting. meeting in Mennonite Mutual Insurance March: “...that reported growth in premium income, in we become a the number of policyholders and stronger, more participating churches, and in commer- effective cial insurance policies. Twenty percent
Photo by Karin Fehderau witness in our of the organization’s net income is Students from MCC’s International Visitor Exchange Pro- community.”— contributed to MCC Alberta. gram lead worship during the MCC Saskatchewan meeting. Karin Fehderau
22 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch
As soon as the building permit is in place, the work on a new office building for MCC Alberta, attached to the SOUTH-EAST travel LTD. existing thrift store, will begin at 2946 32 St. NE in Calgary. This $1.5 million is pleased to announce project will also house Mennonite Mutual Insurance, Mennonite Church Alberta, and the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta. The Mennonite Heritage Tour Two new thrift stores were opened in to the Homeland of the Kleine Gemeinde, Holdeman, the past year, in addition to the Calgary Chortizer, Sommerfelder, and Old Kolony Mennonites and Lethbridge stores. The Edmonton Tour is sponsored by the Hanover Steinbach Historical Society Inc. store opened on May 3 and an outlet store opened in southeast Calgary. A Journey of History and Faith The Kanadier Concerns office changed its name to Services for Low May 30 - June 14, 2004 Tour Host: Delbert Plett, Q.C. German Mennonites. The office moved & Adina Reger in July from Lethbridge to Taber, where Trip Itinerary: Ukraine, Poland it shares a building with the school Space limited - Reserve now with a deposit A special service division and the Lethbridge Community We invite you to bring your friends and family. College. Video clips introduced us to two Speak to those who have already taken this journey will be held to success stories of Low German and they will agree that it is a worthwhile investment. Mennonites—a welding business and a commemorate the family greenhouse project. 200th anniversary of the The MCC relief sale in Didsbury in Please call: SOUTH-EAST Travel Ltd. Molotschna Colony June raised $114,000. Coaldale will for your brochures and any inquiries host the 2004 sale on June 18-19. A Contact Helen Funk or email: [email protected] silent auction was entertaining as well We specialize in all types of travel. as income generating. The 2004 budget of $2.77 million (a 4 percent increase) SOUTH-EAST Travel Box: 20708 Steinbach, MB R0A 2T2 was accepted. 204.326.9411 1.800.304.6548 (f) 204.326.3795 Other reports included the MCC women’s network, refugee sponsorship and peace ministries. Erwin Braun, who has chaired the MCC Alberta board for the past five years, handed the reins over to Phil Klassen. The grace for meals reminded us that around God’s table hunger ends and freedom, peace, justice and mercy reign. —Anne Neufeld
News brief World church leaders meet Secretaries of Christian World Commun- ions met in Cyprus on October 20-26 with Larry Miller, executive secretary of Mennonite World Conference, as modera- tor. Miller was elected chair for 2003 and 2004. Representatives of 18 denomina- tions, including evangelical and reform Protestant churches, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and interchurch bodies, at- tended. Each day began with prayers. Like every year, much of the meeting was devoted to reports from each communion. Among the presentations was a history of Cyprus and the roots of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Bishop Nikiforos, abbot of the Monastery of Kykkos, hosted the event.—From MWC release
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 23 A special advertising supplement LocalChurch
From British Columbia: Lynn Carlson of From Ontario: Anita Streicher of Heidel-
Hanceville, Community church, teacher berg; Hawkesville Mennonite Church, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in Uganda; Miriam Maxcy of Port teacher in South Korea; Duncan Taylor Coquitlam, English teacher in Laos; of Barrie, Harvest Bible Chapel, teacher Jonathan Tomm of Vernon, Baptist in Zambia; Paul Sauder of Waterloo, Erb church, AIDS coordinator in Lesotho. Street Mennonite Church, tutor in Indonesia. Sharon Schroeder of From Alberta: Sara Laflamme of Grand Stratford, Avon Mennonite Church, Prairie, English tutor in Indonesia; documentation for Asia action groups in Bonnie Mikalson of Calgary, Foothills Hong Kong.
Mennonite Church, English tutor in ○○○○○○ ○○○○ Germany; Laura Paetkau of Gem, From Quebec: Emily Houweling of Mission Rosemary Mennonite Church, daycare Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Christian Reformed, worker in Egypt. English tutor in Haiti.—From MCC & Service release From Saskatchewan: Casadi Weber of Guernsey, Mennonite Brethren church, day-care assistant in Bolivia. SALTers begin Sampling life in Albania From Manitoba: Stacey Dyck of assignments Starbuck, Springstein Mennonite A sabbatical leave and an invitation Church, children’s shelter in Ukraine; from friends working in Albania led Leon Akron, Pa.—Fifteen Canadians partici- Tristan Isaak of Winnipeg, Jubilee and Naomi Zimmerman and their four pated in a SALT orientation at Menno- Mennonite Church, development worker children to spend August to October in nite Central Committee headquarters in Philippines; Angela Reimer of Lezhe, Albania, under Eastern Menno- August 23-29. SALT (Serving And Winnipeg, Fort Garry Evangelical nite Missions. Learning Together) is a one-year Mennonite Church, nursery school overseas program for young adults. teacher in Tanzania. The family lived in a one-bedroom flat
24 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 A special advertising supplement WiderChurch LocalChurch and studied language for four weeks. Park, Vancouver, and ended on October Leon, president of Rosedale Bible 25 at Pier 21 in Halifax, a significant site College in Ohio, and Naomi taught to Zondervan and his wife—they first English, gave seminars on family and touched Canadian soil here when they worked with kids’ clubs. Son Caleb, 11, emigrated from Holland shortly after learned to play soccer and even gave World War II. some lessons in baseball. The 7,700-kilometre walk raised The Zimmermans, who learned to live $75,000.—Foodgrains Bank release with frequent electric and water cuts, worshipped with Albanian believers and had frequent opportunities to preach, teach and travel.
“It was an exciting challenge for us to live out our faith in a setting where there are so few Christian models,” said Leon.—From EMM release
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Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 25 Canadian Mennonite Yellow Page
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26 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 Canadian Mennonite Yellow Page
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Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 27 LocalChurch LocalChurch
Coaldale, Alta. Coaldale church gives thanks for 75 years hanksgiving weekend marked the refugee families and contributed 75th anniversary of Coaldale financial aid to a home for the aged T Mennonite Church. The motto for in Zaporizhya. Recently a number the celebration was Psalm 78:1: “Give of people travelled to El Salvador to ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline teach and help rebuild. Locally, your ears to the words of my mouth.” many are involved with the food Saturday’s program included bank, Handi Bus and hospital. reminiscing and early history. A power Many people have devoted time to point presentation provided an Mennonite Disaster Service, the overview of the many ministers who MCC store and Ten Thousand served without pay, as well as choirs, Villages. The first MCC sale in youth groups and members who Alberta was held in Coaldale in 1975. served at home and abroad. Ed Balzer presented a meditation Peter Unger, a lay minister from on Sunday morning, and C.L. Dick 1947 to 1956, paid tribute to the many in the afternoon. servants of the church. The first We praise God for the dedication meetings were held in homes. Sunday of our ministers, Sunday school School began in 1930. The first Vaca- teachers and guest speakers who tion Bible school was held jointly with inspired us to serve in the name of Bethany Janzen relays greetings from her the United Church, with 225 pupils. Christ. Members of our church have grandfather, Norman Bergen, a former Catechism classes began in 1931. touched the lives of people through- minister in Coaldale. Students sat in the front row and were out the world.—From report by expected to answer questions. Baptism Olga Epp was held on or near Pentecost, depend- ing on the availability of a bishop. Plum Coulee, Man. Frank W. Dyck organized the first choir, a tradition we have upheld. Congregation pays tribute to pastor’s 40 years Our first salaried pastor was hired n November 9, Plum Coulee my life and you have modelled retire- in 1967, when the lot fell on Peter and Bergthaler church celebrated a ment in continued service in the Helen Retzlaff. In the ensuing years, O joyous occasion—Henry Neufeld’s kingdom of God,” said Siemens. He Norman and Irma Bergen, Peter and 40 years of faithful ministry. The invited others to honour Neufeld by Justine Funk, Ed and Agnes Balzer, celebration began with congregational “speaking words of blessing to a man singing and special music focusing on who has blessed us.” served us well. God’s faithfulness. Wayne Rempel referred to Neufeld’s Erna Goertzen presented the work Allen Funk, lay minister, spoke words inspiring others, especially the youth. of the three women’s organizations. of appreciation for Neufeld’s four Brian Derksen related how Neufeld’s The Taber group, begun in 1930, has decades of leadership. He highlighted interest in young people has shaped his disbanded because of the age of its Neufeld’s career as a public school life. Neufeld’s daughter Sharon spoke members. The Sunbeam group began teacher, deacon, and lay minister in a about her father’s “solemn and serious in 1945, Goodwill Club in 1968. duo-language church. commitment to his calling as deacon. Joan Willms reported on mission In Funk’s words, Neufeld was “always When we answer the call to lead, we projects. Church plants were at- a leader, a spokesperson and a mediator, enable others,” she said. tempted in Purple Springs, Barnwell, who always gave honour and glory to Neufeld’s grandson Carl, who grew up God.” in Brazil with missionary parents, Taber and Lethbridge. The first two A full sanctuary, including members related how he is “following in grandpa’s did not materialize. Taber was active of his family, heard Neufeld speak on footsteps—teacher, public speaking, for many years but closed its doors a “The man named Jesus.” Neufeld drew history, debating.” few years ago. Lethbridge celebrated attention to some of Jesus’ powerful In response, Neufeld articulated deep its 25th anniversary last February. illustrations. “Make sure you’re follow- appreciation for the support of his wife, Helen Willms Bergen served for 33 ing Jesus,” he said. Anne. His last word? “Thank you for years in Taiwan. A number of nurses Following worship, everyone was letting God work in your lives. I want to did shorter stints in South America invited to a fellowship lunch. Glen continue to do the work that is left for and northern Canada. In the past 15 Siemens, current pastor, paid tribute to me to do. And maybe slow down a bit.” years our group has sponsored four Neufeld. “You have been here for most of —From report by Cleo Heinrichs
28 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch
Hope, B.C. Rhythm of seasons inspires B.C. women s leaves fell outside, women at theme was evident: a the B.C. Women in Mission freshly cut evergreen A retreat at Camp Squeah experi- tree, Christmas lights, enced not only the beauty of autumn, and artificial snow. As but that of spring, summer and winter. the garden must rest The theme for this year’s October in wintertime, so there 17-19 retreat was “The rhythm of the are times when we garden,” led by sisters Benita must slow down to be Warkentin of Greendale and Angelika rejuvenated. Dawson of Abbotsford. In four ses- Love and hurry are sions, the speakers went through the incompatible, said seasonal changes in the garden, Dawson. Jesus knew comparing them to seasons in the the value of rest after Christian life. work and spent time in Multi-media presentations intro- communion with God. duced each worship service. While a So must we. string trio played selections from Warkentin led a Vivaldi’s “Four seasons,” slides of communion service nature, in the appropriate season, that integrated all of Benita Warkentin (left) and Angelica Dawson lead were shown. the seasons and worship at the women’s retreat. Dawson opened the Friday evening included a time of session on spring against the back- sharing and prayer. The two sisters Participants affirmed the weekend ground of a white picket fence deco- also led singing throughout the with comments such as, “Wonderful,” rated with blossoms, flowerpots and a weekend, accompanied by piano, “I loved the music,” and “Best retreat quilt pieced with spring pictures. guitar and the string ensemble. I’ve ever attended.”—Amy Dueckman Spring, with its flowering plants and beautiful colours, is a time of rebirth, she said. Spring’s plantings show us that anything worthwhile takes an investment of time, and that it is not we who produce the results, but God. A hammock and plants decorated the stage for Saturday’s session on summer. “Summer is one big holiday— or is it?” asked Warkentin as she talked about the busiest time of year for a gardener. Reading the parable of sower and seed from Mathew 13, she gave examples of how many who have heard the Word fail to lead productive lives. The heart must be cultivated, she said, so that the thorns and rocks in our lives don’t choke out the good things. Dawson took the stage, now deco- rated with a hay bale, colourful leaves and a Thanksgiving quilt, for the Reigning Wagner tenor Ben Heppner returns to his musical roots to sing Handel’s timeless masterpiece. Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets, Messiah will be performed twice! segment on fall. This is a bittersweet time for gardeners, she noted, with Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir | Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony | Howard Dyck, Conductor Suzie LeBlanc, Soprano Daniel Taylor, Countertenor Ben Heppner, Tenor James Westman, Bass-Baritone plants dying and bright colours fading. | | | JACKMAN This season can teach us lessons about SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 • 7:30PM FOUNDATION life, for in the barren times we must SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 • 2:30PM Performance Sponsors rely on God. $ $ $ Dawson led the final session on 40 36 32 Centre In The Square 578-1570 | 1 800 265-8977 Season Sponsor Sunday morning. This time the winter
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 29 LocalChurch Tips for a fabulous Christmas et me make a few things clear time, I should have right off the top. I am frugal ready pain relievers, L(unless you’re talking about cough suppressant, a dessert or cowboy boots). My best digital ear thermom- adult Christmases were living on a eter, a humidifier, voluntary service stipend of $45 a electrolyte replace- month. So Christmas and its hoopla ment fluid and nasal can be paralyzing for Scrooges like me. lubricant. Even so, I recently went to the In my spare time, library to see what popular magazines I can make Santa have to say about the season. I found dolls out of two-litre the following tips to make my holidays plastic pop bottles, fabulous and festive: gilded placemats •Spray my tinsel with Static Guard to covered with or- combat static electricity. ganza and gold trim, •Make a wreath out of toothpicks and cinnamon stick eight pounds of cranberries. reindeer place cards, •Give miniature shortbread cookies to and cross-stitched all my friends. snowflake orna- •Watch National Lampoon’s Christ- ments. I have step- mas Vacation. by-step directions on •Clear out the front closet, prepare how to carve a party refreshments, get out the nativity scene out of Christmas music, and type up recipes gourds and turn hay on festive paper for a cookie exchange. bales into a Santa •Host a skating party and a potluck Village. dinner, attend a yoga class, do a Travel and Leisure Christmas crossword, volunteer at a suggests I spend soup kitchen, take an elderly friend Christmas shopping, see a doctor about anxiety, bobsledding in the read The Gift of the Magi aloud, and Adirondacks, eating pen a heartfelt letter to a loved one. lobster puff pastry at •Decorate theme trees for every room a Swiss Chateau, or in the house. enjoying the view Better Homes and Gardens wants atop the Park Hyatt me to breathe new life into my holiday Hotel in Tokyo. greeting card display with playful The same maga- spiral cording. It also advocates using zines that want me 100 lights and 40 ornaments for every to lose 10 pounds vertical foot of tree. before Christmas Oprah suggests I create my own have recipes for family, give a goat to the Heifer Swiss cheese tarts, Project, teach someone to read, donate Mexican wedding cookies, Portuguese shopper and gravy maker. Me—I a cell phone to a victim of domestic salt cod casserole for Christmas Eve, surrender. Brushing, blushing, wrap- violence, take my pet to visit people in Cape Breton cranberry loaf, Ukrainian ping, gluing, shopping, baking, weav- the hospital, read to the blind, give boiled wheat, and chocolate raspberry ing, rushing, frosting, accessorizing, away a book I love. Yule log decorated with sugared rose glossing, sparkling—I am defeated. Good Housekeeping suggests I go petals. I will hang a wreath on the door, shopping with a friend, while For Boxing Day, they offer exciting wrap a few presents, listen to Dylan Chatelaine tells me to leave my credit new suggestions for turkey pizza, Thomas reading “A Child’s Christmas cards at home. Gift ideas include peace turkey and greens, turkey pilaf, and in Wales,” and celebrate on December of mind with pet insurance, a second Asian turkey noodle stir-fry. 25 with the comforting knowledge that computer, hand blown Venetian glass I adore the people in my world who Easter is less than four months ornaments ($60 each), silk sachets take some of this to heart: my mom—a away.—Doris Daley made of antique Japanese kimonos, black belt decorator and hostess; my The above is from “a little piece I wrote for the and a chic CD case filled with CDs. sister—baker of fruitcakes and Trinity Mennonite Church Christmas gathering” To prevent illness during this busy mincemeat tarts; my husband—tree in Calgary last year, says the writer.
30 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch Ordination unbiblical, declares lecturer resenting the 17th annual Speaking from his Mennonite did note that sometimes people were Benjamin Eby Lecture at Brethren background, Toews noted commissioned for a particular minis- P Conrad Grebel University that the MB church was always try. College on November 7, John E. Toews ambivalent about ordination. He Moving to the historical context, declared, “Ordination for church observed that John Howard Yoder and Toews noted that the practice of ministry through the laying on of the Concern group were convinced ordination emerged in the third hands as practised in the church is that there is no ground in the New century as part of the centralization without biblical Testament to see and institutionaliza- foundation.” ordination for some tion of the church. Toews, president and not for others. ‘In most denominations, He also addressed of the college from Two issues have the matter of “call.” 1996-2003 and a emerged for Toews: 1) ordination is viewed as Affirmation for New Testament The practice of ordina- ministry should be scholar, began his tion has a weak biblical a sacrament, giving based on giftedness lecture on a foundation, and 2) How lifetime status to those plus the affirmation of personal note. He do we relate ordination the Christian commu- to the New Testament who are ordained. nity, not from an comes from a Toews family with a long emphasis on the inner sense of call. He history of church spiritual gifting of all Mennonites have tried noted wryly that he leaders. He has spent 20 years teach- Christians for the to desacramentalize has often dealt with ing and training church leaders. He ministries of the eager seminarians believes in the importance of clearly- church? [ordination].’ who felt thus “called.” defined church leadership. Toews focused What are his But for 45 years, Toews has strug- particularly on I suggestions for the gled with the concept of ordination. Timothy 4:14, which church? He said “It seems to be out of sync with an could be seen as the only text support- Mennonites should discontinue the Anabaptist view of the church,” he ing ordination. The “laying on of use of ordination language, and said. “In most denominations, ordina- hands” in this text, however, is associ- unhook it from special status. Ministry tion is viewed as a sacrament, giving ated with receiving charismatic gifts, belongs to the whole people of God. lifetime status to those who are not conferring office. Timothy has Some are gifted to lead, to enable ordained. Mennonites have tried to received a special endowment of the others to use their gifts. These leader- ‘desacramentalize’ it, but it still is Spirit, associated with prophecy. This ship roles can be discerned by the seen by many to confer special privi- is affirmed by the community laying church. The church does need leaders. lege and status.” on hands. He invited the church to develop a He added that in some places, Timothy was never called an elder creative ceremony to bless and com- ordination “has even been strength- or a pastor. He was simply Paul’s mission people for specific ministries. ened by adding the anointing of oil, assistant. So it is not clear what Responses to his lecture were normally in biblical thought associated “laying on of hands” means in this varied. What is the nature of sacra- with the special status of kingship....” context. It may even refer to Timothy’s ment in a world already largely The early church rejected anointing baptism, Toews concluded. desacralized (i.e. secular)? was one because it set apart a priesthood. In exploring similar passages, Toews question. Another person asked whether our view of ordination is really concerned with status. He sees it as a functional term—gifts plus And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, responsibility equals ordination. In the stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? New Testament, perhaps baptism itself is an ordination for ministry. It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came Another respondent asked whether without packages, boxes or bags. ordination has to be totally biblically based, or whether it has its own h/ And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. historical, ecclesial legitimacy. Toews Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. responded: “Then let’s be honest about this.” What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a Toews’ lecture will be published in store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit the Spring 2004 issue of the Conrad more? ~Dr. Seuss Grebel Review.—Maurice Martin
www.everwonder.com/david/thegrinc
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 31 LocalChurch Education in Ukraine: Stories of hardship and hope In October, six educators from North America visited Ukrainian schools on a Mennonite Central learning tour. Canadian participants were Angelika Dawson and Art Janzen from Abbotsford, B.C. Following are reports on that trip. eaves carpeted the pathway to Kiev School #31. Inside, students Lhad decorated the windows and doors with leaves for Teacher’s Day, the first weekend in October. Flowers and chocolates covered the tables in the office of Tamara Vasilievna Vecherkovskaya, director of the school. The day was an appropriate begin- ning for Mennonite Central Commit- tee’s learning tour for educators. The
Photo by Angelika Dawson Photo by group visited schools in Kiev, Tokmak Art Janzen from British Columbia presents flowers in honour of Teacher’s Day region (former Molotschna Mennonite to Tamara Vecherkovskaya, director of School #31 in Kiev. Mary Raber (right) colony) and the city of Melitopol. The translates. North Americans met with teachers and students from pre-school to secondary school, and visited a teach- plants, however, created a cheerful ers’ college and two internats— atmosphere. Christian ethics residential schools for children from Ukrainian teachers wanted to know replacing Soviet difficult situations. what challenges their North American At each school, the guests were colleagues face. values given a cultural presentation and “We have many of the same prob- observed classes in session. Although lems that you have,” said Rose magine your entire worldview uniforms were not required, the dress Malamma, a teacher from California being called into question and I having to rebuild from scratch. code was conservative and formal. who spoke to a question about disci- Where would you turn for new Along with the usual courses—math, pline. “Having money doesn’t mean values? After the collapse of the geography, physics, literature, art and you don’t have any problems.” Ukraine Soviet Union, educators have faced music—a school in Molochansk taught teachers sighed when they learned this challenge. children traditional Ukrainian embroi- that their visitors live quite comfort- Some teachers have turned to dery and its relevance for today. ably on their salaries. Christian ethics. Ukrainian law Although the set-up of the classroom Despite the difficulties, it was forbids teaching of religion, but in 4 was more formal than in North evident that the teachers love their provinces out of 24, a subject called America, interaction between teacher profession. “Christian ethics” is being taught. and student was familiar, something “It’s our calling; we love children,” Students study the lives of Bible that has been changing since the said a teacher from Molochansk. “They heroes, the Ten Commandments, and the life and teachings of Christ. collapse of the Soviet Union. also give us a lot—it’s a magical Teachers are expected to be “Compared with when I went to thing.” Christians, although not all are, and school, what I saw today is very “Our teachers are here because they have special training. Children progressive,” said Olga Novikova, a love their work and they love our attend the classes with the written curriculum writer who toured a Kiev students,” Vecherkovskaya said. permission of parents. school with the MCC group. “Allowing It was this commitment despite North American teachers who kids to make choices and even differ hardships that impressed the learning visited Ukraine in October met with the teacher—this helps because tour. people involved in this work at our kids feel listened to.” MCC provided grants to help schools REALIS, a Christian education centre obtain textbooks and materials. It also in Kiev. Sergei Timchenko, director, It was evident that resources are described its mission as working with minimal. Most teachers in Ukraine gives scholarships for students in the educators “so that the light of Christ seek other means of income to supple- Tokmak region. Students who receive can be seen in this country.” ment their meagre salaries. Schools, these scholarships return to their “We have this clear space between hallways were dark and most class- villages to teach for a time.—Angelika the necessity of moral education and rooms dimly lit to save money. Potted Dawson
32 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 LocalChurch Children given new chance at House of Hope ergei is a quiet boy, but not too “and it looks as though they’re enjoy- “I tell the kids, ‘If the cops stop us, shy to approach a visitor. ing a wonderful, happy childhood,” tell them we don’t have room to give S“I want to show you something,” he noted Ivan Demyanenko, the pastor of them a lift,’” he jokes. says softly, and leads me down the hall the tiny church that founded House of Over time the staff do see positive to his bedroom at House of Hope in Hope. But at night he once heard nine- changes in the children. For example, Priazovske, Ukraine. He takes a Lego year-old Sergei crying. a boy who joined House of Hope earlier contraption from the table and puts it “Why are you crying?” Ivan asked in the year could not stop stealing. He into my hand. him. would creep about the rooms at “It’s an airplane,” he explains, “I have a little sister and I want her night...once making off with the adding immediately, “I want to show to live with me,” Sergei replied. possessions of 13 sleeping people! you something else.” This time we go Sergei’s father left his family and “We tried everything,” remembers to his classroom where he rummages disappeared and his mother has Kostya. “We lectured him. We pun- around in his desk until he finds an rejected him. “We try to do everything ished him. We had the other children album of drawings: trees, fields, possible so that our children would be talk to him. Nothing worked. Finally another airplane, a building. well and have all they need,” explains we asked, ‘What is it that you want?’ “These are good pictures, Sergei,” I Ivan. “But inside every one of them “He said, ‘I want everything. As soon say. “You must like to draw.” has a feeling of worthlessness, of as I see that someone else has some- “God makes me do it,” he answers. frustration. These children show thing, my hands stretch out to take The 26 children at House of Hope feelings of grief and a sense of having it.’” hunger for contact with caring adults. been injured by life.” At their wits’ end, the staff told the Few parents ever visit. The goal of the staff at House of boy to make a list of everything he The children all play and have fun Hope is that each child will come to wanted. He worked on it for several know Christ. days, filling three sheets on both sides. “Not all of these children will finish When he was finished, everyone set nobody knowing how this is done,” higher education,” says director about giving the boy as much as they Sergei says. “The highest value now is Svyetlana Chervonchenko. “But if they could from the list. survival, making a living.” find peace with God, they will know “That went on for a couple of days,” Sergei is afraid that Christian ethics how to live.” says Kostya, “And then he started will become another ideology rather than an encounter with the living God. Besides daily prayer, the children giving the things back!” Others do not share his caution. regularly attend worship and visit the Does he still steal? Hope to People, an evangelical mission, homes of church members. Konstantin “Well,” Kostya grins, “maybe only creates curriculum and information about (Kostya) Borodin, a Baptist member once every couple of months, and then Christian ethics for teachers. who works at the home, drives the only from one person at a time. And he Elena Obednikova and Olga children to church on Sundays, piling prays that God would help him stop Novikova work with Hope to People in far more than the legal limit into a stealing!”—Mary Raber the city of Rovno, where they meet with small car. teachers weekly. Because of good The writer works with MCC in Ukraine. teachers in Christian ethics, Christian clubs have developed in some schools. “Children go to Christian club and invite their friends,” says Obednikova. “Here the kids say, ‘Before Christian Do you want to ensure that ethics my life was totally different; I Mennonites in Canada didn’t understand my parents, for example.’ Then they tell other children keep talking to each other? what their teachers have taught them.” The ethics classes are also addressing social concerns, and school directors Support the CANADIAN MENNONITE have noted changes in the lives of students who take part. ENDOWMENT FUND MCC supports weekly discussion groups for teachers and scholarships for Your gift will strengthen the communication ministry students at the Ostrog Academy National University, an institution that of Canadian Mennonite. grants teachers’ certificates in Chris- tian ethics. MCC has also funded For more information call curriculum materials, developed by Mennonite Foundation Hope to People and the Ostrog Acad- of Canada at 1-888-212-7759 emy.—Angelika Dawson
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 33 LocalChurch TheChurches
appreciation for the wisdom of Mennonite church; the trunk is past leaders who seemed to the conference providing “lead by muddling through,” essential nutrients to the avoiding the two “ditches” on thriving branches, the congre- the side of the road: authority- gations. as-uniformity on one side and “Renewed diversity-as-individualism on congregationalism” might the other. describe an emerging vision. It Integration in 1988 brought suggests that the congregation together two polity struc- is still “the core unit of the tures—one focused more on church” and its ministries need centralized authority, the other to be supported by conference, on congregational authority. not the other way around. Authority and autonomy Worship is central to who we issues add to the complexity of are, yet the conference does the discussion on leadership. not provide resources for it. Is Mellinger and Martin a larger role required? suggest: “While we need to In summary, the report Photo by Jake Olfert Photo by Jake come to greater clarity on our urges the conference 1) to Planners for Assembly 2004 met at the Winkler Bergthaler understanding of leadership, address its identity during the Church in September to view the facilities and begin planning we believe that some compo- next year, 2) take a stronger for the July 7-11 event. The theme will be “Enough for all,” nents of this discussion will leadership role, and 3) see its based on the feeding of the five thousand. Back row, from left: include being ‘wise guides,’ essential purpose to resource Dan Dyck (staff, Program Committee), George H. Ens (Local ‘expressing the heart of congregations, call and nurture Hosting chair), Craig Friesen (Program Committee chair), Pam MCEC,’ and ‘passionately pastors, and provide a Peters-Pries (staff, Program Committee), Mildred Roth (Pro- holding up and articulating missional vision for congrega- gram Committee). Front row: Karen Peters (staff, Program the larger vision of MCEC.’” tions. Committee), Viola Enns Woelk (Children’s Assembly coordina- 3. Purpose/Mission (What More specific suggestions tor), Pam Driedger (Worship coordinator), and Karen are we about? Why do we will be reported in an Schellenberg (Program Committee). exist?) upcoming issue. People spoke with appreciation and theological roots. Now of two things: support for MennoniteMennonite Church Church there is an emerging pastoral leaders, and resources MennoniteMennonite Church Church EasternEastern Canada Canada multiculturalism and greater for congregations. ManitobaManitoba theological diversity. There is much affirmation Report on vision In this large conference of for the conference policies on Young adult offers and identity process 14,000 people, there has been a calling, training, placement, to be travelling loss of “family feeling.” How evaluation and nurture of In August, MC Eastern might we generate a sense of pastors. Congregations have preacher Canada hired Marianne identity and belonging within benefited from conference The Young Adult Council of Mellinger and Maurice Martin our present realities? asks the assistance in their relationship MC Manitoba, which facili- to develop a renewed vision, report. with their pastors. tates fellowship and service identity and ministry model Many members appreciate MC Eastern Canada is a opportunites, has approached for the conference. They that MC Eastern Canada has “resource-rich” conference. John Klassen, director of conducted over 20 interviews been able to live with diversity. Congregations frequently Leadership Ministries, with an with staff, commission At the same time, people consult with conference staff exciting proposal. members and ministerial desire something that “holds on a variety of concerns. It is One of their group, James cluster groups. us together,” and makes us not clear whether conference Peters, is willing to visit At a November 19 meeting, “mutually accountable in some should continue to provide congregations on Sunday they identified three key fashion.” While there is little centralized programming, or morning to offer a message on issues that need attention as desire for a centralized primarily assist congregations the role of young adults in the MC Eastern Canada shapes its authority, there is recognition to work locally. However, church. He is willing to be a future. that on some issues the “doing together what we “travelling young adult 1. Identity (Who are we? conference may wish to cannot do alone” is still preacher.” What holds us together?) express more authority. important in mission and Peters comes with Klassen’s The conference is in its 15th 2. Leadership (What does it service, as well as youth and strong endorsement. “He year since the integration of mean to lead? What kind of young adult work. preached his first sermon at three former conferences. In leadership do we need?) Is there an emerging vision? the age of 17 in the Winkler addition to a common Ger- Most people resonate with the The image of a tree suggests a Bergthaler Mennonite Church manic “ethnicity,” those three phrase “leading as wise conference rooted in Scripture, where I served as pastor,” said groups had common historical guides.” Many spoke with Anabaptism and the larger Klassen. Peters has continued
34 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 TheChurches to preach since then. “James is individuals from various parts decommissioning service for its Crosland remarked, “On a good communicator, a of the province are travelling old church building. Investiga- Sunday we worship; on creative preacher and has a to Winnipeg to learn, together tions into alternative uses for Monday we floor curl!” deep love for Christ and the with people from other the building all met with dead church.” Peters is in his final provinces, about the ends, so plans were reluctantly MennoniteMennonite Church Church year of Bachelor of Theology Mennonite Church Canada made to tear it down. BritishBritish Columbia Columbia studies at Canadian vision. When the Tofield historical Mennonite University. “The hope is that we can be society heard about the Christmas gift Peters is willing to visit up a resource for local churches,” proposed demolition, however, suggestion to eight congregations between said Margaret Ewen Peters, co- they quickly requested a January and April on a first pastor of Hanley Mennonite postponement. The society has Looking for the perfect come, first served basis. Call and one of the participants. dreams of building a historic Christmas gift? Why not him at (204) 786-6781. Each person, or his or her village, and expressed interest consider sending a child to MC Manitoba is blessed to church, has put up the cost of in the old sanctuary. camp? have a healthy number of tuition. The rest of the cost is Demolition of the building For many campers, the camp young adults who are passion- absorbed by MC Canada. has been postponed until experience is possible only ate about their faith, their Other trainees are Ray spring while the society because of Camp Squeah’s discipleship and the church, Friesen, pastor of Zion explores its idea. Bob Campership Fund. The said Klassen. “It’s exciting to Mennonite in Swift Current; Crosland, Tofield pastor, said generosity of donors has made witness their ministry at our Ed Olfert, pastor of Grace that the congregation feels it possible for children from camps, in service assignments Mennonite in Prince Albert; good about this possibility for low-income families to attend. and in our congregations. They Eileen Wiebe from Mount its old building. Those who receive these funds not only wish to be part of Royal Mennonite in Saskatoon; “Our decommissioning are grateful for the opportu- congregational life but to Bruno Baerg of MCC Sas- service was very meaningful,” nity it grants their children. contribute their numerous katchewan; Ken Bechtel, he said. “Of course, there are A mother of four children, gifts in a wide variety of ways.” conference minister; and Eric feelings of sadness, but there is all of whom received Olfert, Missional Formation also a good feeling of moving campership assistance to MennoniteMennonite Church Church Facilitator for MC Saskatch- on. If the building could be attend Squeah, writes, “Our SaskatchewanSaskatchewan ewan. used like this, it would be family thanks you very much ideal.” for the wonderful gift of Seven taking missional MennoniteMennonite Church Church The Tofield congregation is allowing our children to attend church training AlbertaAlberta now worshipping in a multi- camp. It’s become a very purpose facility just across the important event in their lives.” Seven people from Saskatch- Saying goodbye yard from the old church. With If you would like to contrib- ewan are taking part in a to church building the recent installation of a ute to the Campership Fund, Missional Church training better speaker system, worship phone Camp Squeah at 1-800- course in Winnipeg. On August 17, Tofield services are working well in 380-2267, or check the web site Over four weekends, these Mennonite Church had a the gymnasium. at www.campsqueah.bc.ca.
From our Aligning ourselves with healing and hope leaders As we move into the Advent season, I’ve we are bearers of hope and healing Canada to engage congrega- been reflecting on our Vision: Healing through the power of God’s spirit, tions in redemptive activities and Hope statement. The statement despite our own shortcomings. “across the street and around the world.” assumes a world in which many are Financial restraints don’t allow us to do I’m reminded of the many we met at unhealthy, broken and hurting, and all that we long to do. But in spite of Mennonite World Conference in filled with despair. I thought about this theological concerns about how best to be Zimbabwe who are being faithful in very at the November General Board faithful, and wrestling to discern God’s difficult situations, living out the hope meetings as we worked through a desire for us, I still see God at work in us that we have in Christ, challenging us to number of difficult issues. and through us. God continues to bring work alongside them. As a national church we continue to hope for a new way of living and healing As I think about all these, I am face challenges financially, theologically that comes from the one who can even encouraged to continue to work with our and culturally. In the midst of these resurrect the dead. congregations and area conferences difficulties we are called to be communi- As I’m writing this, an MC Canada through Mennonite Church Canada, ties of healing and hope through the learning tour is travelling through believing that God is at work in our power of the resurrected Christ. Colombia, learning how Colombian lives, just as God has been through the Sometimes the issues blind me to the Mennonites are living out this vision in a centuries and larger picture of what we are about— country ravaged by violence and despair. through our sisters aligning ourselves with what God is They are proclaiming the redemptive love and brothers around already doing in our world—bringing of Christ which changes individuals and the world. new life and forgiveness into situations challenges structural evil. I’m thinking about the Missional Henry Krause, modera- that need the redemptive touch of Christ tor of Mennonite Church and of Christ’s church. Training which will be taking place in Canada I’ve been reminded of the many ways December, helping leaders from across
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 35 AdvertisingLocalChurch
Employment opportunities
36 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 TheChurches
Transitions Ont., a son, Clayton Michael, Transitions Nov. 11. Births Scapinello—to Jen and Board hears from Richard, Emmanuel Bender—to Tammy and Jim, Mennonite Church, Winkler, Manitoba leaders Cassel Mennonite, Tavistock, Man., a daughter, Kaylee Rae ennonite Church Manitoba staff and pastors met with Ont., a daughter, Melanie Lynn, Nov. 7. MC Canada’s General Board over lunch on Victoria, Oct. 24. Steinmann Ramer—to MNovember 7. Brenneman—to Amanda and Candace Steinmann and Phil Participants expressed the need for increased communica- Mark, Tavistock Mennonite, Ramer, Steinmann Mennonite, tion and ownership of conference programs by the person in Ont., a son, Drew Kenneth Baden, Ont., a daughter, the pew, and concern over decision making processes. Mark, Nov. 5. Alyson MacKenzie, Oct. 6. “I wonder sometimes if we haven’t left behind the average Cornelson—to Shelley and church member in the process of restructuring,” said Hermann Tim, Bergthaler Mennonite, Marriages Dueck of First Mennonite. “Things were complicated as they Rosenfeld, Man., a son, Bowen Snyder-Stortini—Eric and were.... How do we inform the average church member? How Timothy, Nov. 7. do we create an interest?” Elliot—to Michelle and Shane, Cathy, Hanover Mennonite, Ont., Oct. 4 Dueck’s comments contrasted with the messages Erin Cedar Valley Mennonite, Morash is picking up at her church, North Kildonan Mission, B.C., a son, Jonathan Deaths Mennonite. She reported that interest in MC Canada is Douglas Huber, July 19. catching among her youth and young adult groups. The young Froese—to Sylvia and John, Dueck—Lillian, 81, Nutana people want to know what it means to be part of MC Canada. Bethel Mennonite, Winnipeg, Park Mennonite, Saskatoon, “My young adults especially identify with MC Canada, but Man., a son, Nicholas Ryan, Sask., Nov. 10. they are very worried about its future—and hence their own,” Nov. 7. Dyck—Helena (Penner), 100, she said. People from all perspectives are reading Canadian Funk—to Susan (Ens) and First Mennonite, Saskatoon, Mennonite “cover to cover,” asking for extra copies of news James, Nutana Park Oct. 16. releases, and even discussing conference issues around the Mennonite, Saskatoon, Sask., a Janzen—Maria, 77, Coaldale dinner table, she noted. daughter, Elizabeth (Ella) Mennonite, Alta., Oct. 23. Others said that delegates at assemblies want to be more Marie Ens, Aug. 12. Klassen—J. Ronald, 55, involved, rather than feeling that they are “rubber-stamping” Grant—to Tina and Ian, Coaldale Mennonite, Alta., decisions made by leaders. Planners of the 2004 assembly are Community Mennonite, Sept. 22. planning for table discussion groups to discern issues. Some Drayton, Ont., a son, Jacob Lichty—Edwin, 83, Hanover leaders are recommending that the General Board restructure Noah, Nov. 5. Mennonite, Ont., Oct. 22. the assembly agenda so that more delegate involvement Lichti—to Kim and Chris, Loewen—John P., 95, occurs. Steinmann Mennonite, Baden, Bergthal Mennonite, Didsbury, Pastors also talked about ways their churches are minister- Ont., a son, Garrett John, Alta., Sept. 20. ing in their contexts. Oct. 30. Regehr—Arthur, 90, First Dori Zerbe Cornelsen, pastor of an inner city church, said Neufeld—to Lori and Cornie, Mennonite, Saskatoon, Nov. 9. when people ask how Hope Mennonite impacts the inner city, Grace Mennonite, Winkler, she responds that it’s more a question of, “How does the inner Man., a son, Gabriel Noah, Baptisms city impact us?” It’s not unusual for homeless people or Oct. 19. substance abusers to wander into a worship service seeking Reed—to Jodie and Fred, Fort Garry Mennonite help. Coaldale Mennonite, Alta., a Fellowship, Winnipeg, For her congregation, “diversity is just assumed as part of son, Jared Thomas, Oct. 30. Man.—Zachary Entz, Nov. 16. normal human life, and that it’s part of the church Roth—to Gail and Mike, too...faithful Christian behaviour is not necessarily always Steinmann Mennonite, Baden, what we assumed it was.” Diversity also extends to how people define ministries. Norm Voth, Director of Evangelism and Service in Manitoba, noted the broad definition of “evangelism” that he has encountered. Some definitions “are diametrically opposed to each other.” Voth is particularly encouraged with his connections to “non-Caucasian” congregations. He and conference minister John Klassen are helping to provide leadership training to congregations in the Winnipeg area that include Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, Hispanic and Korean groups. Voth said, “I think we caught a glimpse of eternity when we had our first multi-cultural leadership training event.” He noted how the five language groups would process the informa- tion provided. “It was encouraging...to see the kind of interest that there is. One of those churches has more than half of its members involved in leadership training.” Klassen added that he sees a lot of passion in the constitu- ency—a sign that shows people care. —MC Canada release by Dan Dyck
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 37 ToLocalMorrowChurch
Invitation to join a the discussion group will be conferences around the world enjoyed the hospitality of the social work forum the formation of an association are being encouraged to Riverton Fellowship Circle, similar to other Mennonite translate and distribute viewed facilities and planned Normal, Ill.—A social work professional organizations. materials to local churches. the program, scheduled for professor in the United States —From release Worship materials and July 26-29. is working to form a new additional resources are The group also worked on a organization, the Association available at www.mwc- proposal to organize native of Anabaptist-Mennonite Resources for cmm.org.—From MWC release Mennonite congregations in Social Work Professionals. World Fellowship Canada and the United States. Dan Liechty of Illinois State Sunday These meetings, hosted by University perceives a “glaring Native Mennonite Home Street Mennonite lack in input from the social Strasbourg, France— assembly in Manitoba Church in Winnipeg, led to an work perspective” in recent Mennonite World Conference invitation to Steve Cheramie health care and social issues is inviting churches to observe Winnipeg, Man.—Next Risingsun to speak to the documents for congregations. World Fellowship Sunday on summer, several hundred Home Street congregation on Initially, he would like to see January 25. It’s a time to native Mennonites from across Sunday. discussion of the issues. celebrate the growing interac- North America are expected to Risingsun pastors two He is inviting social work tion of churches across gather for an assembly in congregations and serves on professionals to join a listserv national and cultural bounda- Riverton, Manitoba. the board of Mennonite discussion group. To join, e- ries. To begin planning, repre- Mission Network, the mission mail: [email protected]. The This year, worship materials sentatives of Mennonite agency of Mennonite Church group is a forum for ethical, for World Fellowship Sunday Church Canada Native USA.—From MC Canada practical, personal and have been prepared by Ministries, United Native release professional issues (no European Mennonites who Ministries and Mennonite particular degrees or job encourage congregations to be Indian Leaders Council met in descriptions required). Liechty messengers of peace in a Winnipeg and Riverton from Correction hopes that one of the fruits of troubled world. Mennonite November 5-9. The group The list of Mennonite publishers (Nov. 3, page 19) included some telephone numbers that are no longer in use. All telephone orders for Herald Press and Faith & Life Resources are through the Mennonite Publishing Network toll-free number: 1-800-245-7894. E-mail for Herald Press: [email protected] and for Faith & Life Resources: [email protected].
Calendar k British Columbia December 13, 14: Christmas banquet (13) and choral worship (14) at Peace
Photo by Dan Dyc Mennonite Church, Richmond. Van Hoa Chau, a member of MC Canada’s Formation Council, presents a plaque to Mennonite Phone (604) 278-0111. Church Canada on behalf of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam. Chau estimates membership to be December 14: “Shine your about 10,000 people, in small congregations throughout the hill country. The plaque, with Psalm light” musical service with 21:2 in Vietnamese calligraphy, recognizes MC Canada support. Staff accepting the gift on behalf choir, hand-bell choir, chil- of MC Canada are, back row from left: Kirsten Schroeder, Ingrid Miller, Jane Zheng, Gordon Janzen, dren’s group at West Pam Peters-Pries; middle row: Peter Rempel, Ingrid Janzen Lamp, Lloyd Plett, Daksha Parshotam, Abbotsford Mennonite Church, Grant Klassen, Van Hoa Chau, Jack Suderman; front: Elsie Rempel, Justina Heese, Kathy Fast. B.C., 6:30 p.m.
38 Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 ToMorrow
December 18: Kids’ Christ- Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. with Ontario Collegiate, Kitchener, 7:30 p.m. mas Party at First United Ernest Epp. December 14: Lessons and Spanish Mennonite Church, February 14-15: Shekinah December 5, 6: Four choirs carols with Pax Christi Vancouver, 6:00 p.m. Phone Fun Days. Christmas concert (Menno Chorale at Grace Church on- (604) 325-3407. February 27-28: Mennonite Singers, Inter-Mennonite the-hill, Toronto, 3:00 p.m. Call December 21: Christmas Church Saskatchewan annual Children’s, Rockway Colle- (416) 494-7889. program and banquet at First sessions in Rosetown. giate, Conrad Grebel chapel United Spanish Mennonite, March 3: MEDA breakfast at choirs) at St. Matthew’s United States Vancouver, 4:30 p.m. Phone Grainfields Restaurant, Lutheran Church, Kitchener, (604) 325-3407. Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. January 26-29: Pastors Week December 24: “Shine your March 27: Shekinah December 7: Christmas at Associated Mennonite light” musical service with fundraising banquet at Mount concert at United Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Theme: choir, hand-bell choir, chil- Royal Mennonite Church, Educational Institute, Leam- Effective ministerial leader- dren’s group at West Saskatoon. ington, 7:30 p.m. ship. Phone 1-800-964-2627, e- Abbotsford Mennonite Church, December 11: Open house at mail: [email protected]. B.C., 6:30 p.m. Manitoba TourMagination office (9 March 25-28: Mennonite March 12-13: Youth workers Willow St., Waterloo) with Health Assembly in San conference at Columbia Bible December 11, 18: Winnipeg John Ruth, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Francisco. Phone: (219) 534- College, Abbotsford on worship Mennonite Elementary School December 12: Christmas 9689, e-mail: and discipleship, with Tom and Christmas concerts: Agassiz at concert at Rockway Mennonite [email protected]. Christine Sine. Phone (604) Bethel Mennonite (11); Bedson 853-3567, ext. 323. at Immanuel Pentecostal (18), 7:00 p.m. Alberta December 13: House of Doc concert, “Christmas at our January 23-25: Junior Snow house,” at Franco-Manitoban Camp at Camp Valaqua. Centre, Winnipeg, 2:00 and February 14-15: Mennonite 7:00 p.m. Men’s Curling Bonspiel in December 13: Advent concert Didsbury. Contact Herman of North Kildonan Mennonite Epp at (780) 335-3894. Church Quartet, 7:00 p.m. February 20-22: Senior Snow January 9-11: Senior youth Camp at Camp Valaqua. retreat at Camp Koinonia. February 27-28: Mennonite January 16-18: Junior youth Church Alberta 75th delegate retreat at Camp Koinonia. sessions at Rosemary January 19-21: “Church in Mennonite Church. Ministry Seminars” on March 19-20: Missional spiritual formation and Church training at Camp discipleship ministry with Jim Valaqua. Holm at Canadian Mennonite University. Phone Diane Saskatchewan Hiebert at 1-877-231-4570. January 23-25: Young adult December 12: Shekinah retreat at Camp Koinonia. Fundraiser at Timberlodge February 7: Canadian with A Buncha’ Guys, 7:00 p.m. Mennonite annual meeting Call Russ Regier at (306) 249- and banquet at Douglas 3650. Mennonite, Winnipeg. Meeting December 19: Christmas 4:00 p.m. Banquet 6:00 p.m. concert at Rosthern Junior Speaker: Ken Reddig. Contact College, 7:00 p.m. Ron Loeppky at (204) 261- January 2-3: RJC Alumni 4949. Tournament of Memories. February 13-15: Junior youth January 7: MEDA breakfast retreat at Camp Moose Lake. at Grainfields Restaurant, February 20-21: Annual Saskatoon, 7:30 a.m. Tammy session of MC Manitoba at Forrester on women in Whitewater Mennonite, business. Boissevain. January 24: MC Saskatch- March 5-7: Retreat for ewan Camping Commission families with mentally fundraiser. handicapped members at January 30-February 1: Camp Assiniboia. Senior high retreat at March 12-14: Junior high Shekinah Retreat Centre. youth retreats at Camps February 4: MEDA breakfast Koinonia and Moose Lake. at Grainfields Restaurant,
Canadian Mennonite December 1, 2003 Volume 7, Number 23 39 This little Babe This little Babe so few days old, Is come to rifle Satan’s fold; All hell doth at his presence quake, Though he himself for cold do shake; For in this weak unarmed wise The gates of hell he will surprise....
My soul with Christ join thou in fight; Stick to the tents that he hath pight [pitched]. Within his crib is surest ward; This little Babe will be thy guard. If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, Then flit not from this heavenly Boy. From painting by Correggio. ~Robert Southwell (1561-1595) The poet, a priest and leader of the persecuted Catholic Church in Reformation England, was hanged for treason at the age of 33. See page 2.