In Jesus' Name
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April 27, 2009 Volume 13 Number 9 Sandbagging (in Jesus’ name) pg. 21 inside Believe behave belong 4 Mennonites go liturgical 16 Focus on Books&Resources 29 2 Canadian Mennonite April 27, 2009 Editorial Why Earth Day? Dick Benner Editor/Publisher that solar energy is part of caring for the creation God has given humans to stew- n our language there are no words in God’s creation of all living things and ard. The Toronto Dominion Friends of for ‘environment,’ ” says Ruby in his asking us, as part of the blessing, to the Environment Foundation, the Elora “IDunstan, an Nlaka’pamux elder, be a part of that continuing creative act Centre for Environmental Excellence “because we have always been taught that by “filling the earth and subduing it.” We and the Kitchener-Waterloo Community this is part of our everyday living. Daily recite, with exuberant joy, the song of Foundation matched these funds. teachings from our parents, grandpar- David: “The earth is the Lord’s and every- We are struck with the innovation of ents and great-grandparents show thing in it, the world and all who the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home us how to look after the foods that live in it.” in Waterloo, Ont., which, according to a we depend on and that are part of Still, stories and theological story by Wally Kroeker in Marketplace the environment, and that’s also statements can be interesting parts magazine, has introduced innovative part of spirituality.” of our literature and form an im- “green” practices into its business, such Many of us are fresh from portant part of a developing ethos as using energy-efficient computers, consciousness-raising activities on in stewardship, peace and justice. drought-resistant plants and 100 percent Earth Day (April 22). Could it be that, on If they are only on paper, though, and not recycled paper products, and by reducing a warming planet plagued by diminishing integrated into our daily living, they can the use of traditional formaldehyde em- supplies of fossil fuels and the melting of remain wonderfully symbolic but not balming fluid. The funeral home, aware glaciers worldwide, it just might be the very dynamic. of the 65 percent still selecting coffins right time to get the arm’s length buzz We salute those among us who have over cremation, found a small family- word “environment” out of our vocabu- moved from the symbolic to the practical, owned company in Ontario that pro- lary and adopt the First Nations’ mantra by making it a part of their spirituality. duces chemical-free caskets using un- of making this a part of our spirituality? We commend, as brought to our treated local softwoods (poplar, pine and Yes, we are making a good start by attention by the Mennonite Creation ash) and non-toxic glue. forming the Mennonite Creation Care Care Network, Milverton Mennonite Many of us have joined the 100-Mile Network of persons making this a Fellowship, Ont., that already installed a Diet to change the way we eat. Locally lifestyle priority. This serious group is WaterFurnace® earth energy system for raised and produced food has been called sharing compelling stories of individuals its new building’s heating and cooling “the new organic”—better tasting, better and agencies doing creative acts of “car- needs in the summer of 1991. There are for the earth, better for local economies, ing” and calling congregations to account two large, underground, parallel, hori- and better for our health. From reviving with an energy audit. zontal loops in the back of the church to the family farm to reconnecting with And as good stewards of God’s earth, service the sanctuary and basement, and the seasons, this local food movement is we have made it an operational part of one loop in the front to service the offices. turning good eating into a revolution. our theology for 14 years now, by declar- We applaud Rolf Thiessen, the Are we ready to adopt our First ing in our 1995 Confession of Faith in a Rockway Mennonite Collegiate teacher Nations’ mantra in making this a part of Mennonite Perspective that, “as stewards in charge of a solar energy project that our spirituality? Can we do away with of God’s earth, we are called to care for motivated students to raise $15,000 over Earth Day and make every day a time the earth and to bring rest and renewal to three years to install six solar panels on of “creation caring”? It could be a way of the land and everything that lives on it.” the southern exposure of their Kitchener, banning the word “environment” from As people of the Book, we share delight Ont., school building. Thiessen says our vocabulary forever. About the cover: Circulation: Please contact Lisa Jacky toll-free at Fifty Canadian Mennonite University volunteers, including students and 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 or by e-mail at office@ faculty, spent two-and-a-half hours creating a sandbag dike around a home canadianmennonite.org for subscriptions and ad- just south of Winnipeg earlier this month as the Red River began to crest after dress changes. Subscriptions can also be ordered at record flooding south of the border. See story on page 21. our web site. We acknowledge the financial support of PHOTO: CORDELLA FRIESEN, CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. ISSN 1480-042X PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Believe behave belong 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO CANADIAN MENNONITE contentsFormer Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service board member Henry 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5 Neufeld makes a case that the church has put the cart before the horse WATERLOO ON N2L 6H7 by insisting that people believe and behave like Christians before they are Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 permitted to belong to the church. Web site: canadianmennonite.org Please send all material to be considered for publication to: And the two shall become one 15 General submission address: [email protected] Manitoba correspondent Evelyn Rempel Petkau reports on the mer- Readers Write: [email protected] ger of Niverville Mennonite Church and the Elim EMMC congregation, Milestones announcements: [email protected] in an effort to be a more fruitful community witness. Obituaries: Karen Suderman, [email protected] Calendar announcements: [email protected] Sandbagging (in Jesus’ name) 21 Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/ Canadian Mennonite University students, faculty and staff help save Obituaries/Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. one house from the rising Red River by creating a dike of 5,000 sandbags Reprint requests: [email protected] around it. Mission statement: Canadian Mennonite (CM) is a bi-weekly Anabaptist/ Serving the poor and lonely 23 Mennonite-oriented periodical which seeks to promote covenantal relation- Marlene Froese urges MEDA diners to live out their faith. ships within the church (Hebrews 10:23-25). It provides channels for sharing Since her own retirement she has supervised berry pickers, accurate and fair information, faith profiles, inspirational/educational materials, helped find housing for low-income families, and worked and news and analyses of issues facing the church. In fulfilling its mission, the as a chef for seniors. She is waiting to see where God leads primary constituency of CM is the people and churches of Mennonite Church next. Canada and its five related area churches. CM also welcomes readers from the broader inter-Mennonite and inter-church scene. Editorial freedom is expressed Mennonite ‘chic’ 25 through seeking and speaking the truth in love and by providing a balance of Alexa Dirks, a member of Jubilee Mennonite Church, perspectives in news and commentary. CM will be a vehicle through which Winnipeg, is now a Juno Award-winner. Chic Gamine, mutual accountability can be exercised within the community of believers; the the band she sings in, was honoured in the Roots and paper also encourages its readers to have open hearts and minds in the process Traditional Album of the Year category. of discerning God’s will. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has Focus on Books&Resources 29 promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and The seven-page 2009 spring special section features an interview good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging with prolific authorPaul Loewen, four book reviews and the one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25, Books&Resources listing. NRSV). Board of Directors (by appointing body): Regular features: MC Canada: Ed Janzen, John Goossen; MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: For discussion 6 Readers write 7 Milestones 11 Doris Daley Haysom; MC Saskatchewan: Joe Neufeld; MC Manitoba: Al Pontius’ Puddle 11 Schools Directory 36 Yellow Pages 36 Friesen; MC Eastern Canada: Larry Cornies; Elected by CMPS: Margaret Ewen Calendar 38 Classifieds 38 Peters, Joanna Reesor-McDowell, Tobi Thiessen Board Chair: Larry Cornies, [email protected], 519-854-9204 Why Earth Day? 2 Head Office Staff: Dick Benner Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] On receiving graciously 8 Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Mike Strathdee Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Dance Lesson No. 4: Healing touch 9 Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Melissa Miller Advertising: Karen Suderman, [email protected], toll-free voice See you in Saskatoon 10 mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext.