December 21, 2009 Volume 13 Number 24 Blessed are they that mourn pg. 16-17 inside Christmas unsanitized 4 The positive IMPaCT of fellowship 19 Fanfare of Canadian Hymns 28 2 Canadian Mennonite December 21, 2009 Editorial “All peaceful solutions have failed and the cycle of failure continues,” he said. “Negotiations have always ended in no Bethlehem lies results.” As with the Berlin Wall, he pleaded with his audience that this wall must come down. In its place should be a peacefully? bridge—a bridge that can transcend the Dick Benner centuries-old enmity that has held two Editor/Publisher suffering peoples hostage, a bridge that can span the hostility and fears of people little town of Bethlehem, College, recently told an overflow crowd who both claim the ancient patriarch how still we see thee lie,” at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Abraham as their spiritual father. “Odidn’t—and doesn’t— Kitchener, Ont., that before the State The hymn writer Brooks had one of his square with reality, despite of Israel was created in 1948, scores right: “the hopes and fears of all the peaceful sentiments hymn “[Palestine] was fully populated by the years, are met in thee tonight.” writer Phillip Brooks wanted to Arabs, Muslims and Christians. In May it be so in the year of our Lord, bring to his Anglican parish in order to create a Jewish homeland 2010. Philadelphia, Pa., during Advent in for the Jews fleeing persecution in the mid-19th century. Europe, large portions of the in- Meet your board member His was the tourist’s view, hav- digenous people had to be forceful- Doris Daley of Turner ing just returned from a short visit to the ly replaced and never allowed to return.” Valley, Alta., is place that gets our special attention during Very little has changed since 6 AD. Canadian Mennonite’s this season of the year. While we sing this Taxes are still central to political control. cowboy poet as well beloved hymn today, we in the western Israel, aided annually by some tax-funded as a representative of world can so blithely fall into the “tourist’s $3 billion from the United States and MC Alberta on our myth” of a peaceful birthing place for the benefiting to the tune of $1.25 billion from 12-member board. As a writer of western Christ child. free trade agreements with both the U.S. poetry, who performs at private and At the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem, and Canada, is not satisfied with control corporate events and at festivals all over under the heavy hand of Roman oc- of 88 percent of the land on which it has North America, she was recently recog- cupation, was not the place to go for a been building settlements, but is now nized by the Western Music Association quiet family vacation. It was the place constructing a wall as a means of security. as the “best female cowboy poet,” as well where Caesar Augustus wanted all of the In order to tamp down negative world as the “best cowboy poet” for her CD en- citizenry to enrol in the local tax office. It opinion about the wall, Israel calls it a titled Beneath a Western Sky. She worked would have been chaos for all of his Jewish “fence,” a euphemism Awad rejects out for Ten Thousand Villages in Akron, Pa., subjects to pay up in their hometowns. So, of hand as a lie: “Yes, walls can be used to and New Hamburg, Ont., for 15 years with the assistance of Pilate, the governor, protect, but they can also be used to en- before moving back home to Alberta. and Herod, the Judean monarch, the “oc- close and imprison the other group, with She and her husband, Bob Haysom, are cupied” were reminded again to whom few doors in the wall controlled by the members of Trinity Mennonite Church they owed their allegiance. jailer so that he and the Jewish popula- near Calgary, where she has served on Fast forward to Bethlehem in 2009. A tion can move at free will.” the worship committee and church majority of the residents are still under Awad, a gentle man with a vision to de- council. She can be reached via e-mail occupation. Ironically, the “occupied” are liver his people, is running out of patience. at [email protected] or by phone at now the “occupiers.” Everyone says they want peace in this 403-933-4434. More information about Most Westerners forget, Bishara never-ending conflict, he gestured with a her as a poet can be found on her website Awad, president of Bethlehem Bible raised hand, even the Israeli government. dorisdaley.com. About the cover: Circulation: Please contact Lisa Jacky toll-free at A Ukrainian child ponders the memorial to 30,000 victims of Soviet terror, 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 or by e-mail at office@ oppression and tribulation that was unveiled in Zaporizhya, Ukraine, on canadianmennonite.org for subscriptions and ad- Oct. 10. For story and more photos, see pages 16-17. dress changes. Subscriptions can also be ordered at our web site. We acknowledge the financial support of PHOTO: T. DYCK, SPECIAL TO CANADIAN MENNONITE the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. ISSN 1480-042X PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Christmas unsanitized 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO CANADIAN MENNONITE contentsSo often, our Christmases are defined by our bathrobe 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5 pageants and the Hallmark card sentimentality we offer WATERLOO ON N2L 6H7 to friends and family. This year, we present two articles and Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 a poem that, in the words of Dan Epp-Tiessen, declare: Web site: canadianmennonite.org ‘Christmas is not about Jesus being born into perfect stables Please send all material to be considered for publication to: or perfect families or a perfect world. Christmas is about Jesus being General submission address: [email protected] born into a world that is deeply broken and hurting, a world in need of Readers Write: [email protected] healing and redemption.’ Milestones announcements: [email protected] Obituaries: Lisa Metzger, [email protected] Future of Camp Assiniboia Forest under evaluation 13 Calendar announcements: [email protected] MC Manitoba delegates ponder whether to preserve or possibly sell the Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/Obituaries/ pristine property at their fall meeting. Also on the agenda: 1 percent hike Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. in congregational giving and a lack of consultation with all congregations. Reprint requests: [email protected] ‘I was a stranger’ 21 Canadian Mennonite (CM) is a bi-weekly Anabaptist/ Mission statement: National correspondent Rachel Bergen interviews Canadian Mennonite-oriented periodical which seeks to promote covenantal relationships within the church (Hebrews 10:23-25). It provides channels for sharing accurate Mennonite University students who attended a UN seminar on dis- and fair information, faith profiles, inspirational/educational materials, and news placed persons. and analyses of issues facing the church. In fulfilling its mission, the primary con- Meet Danisa Ndlovu 25 stituency of CM is the people and churches of Mennonite Church Canada and its New Mennonite World Conference president stresses five related area churches.CM also welcomes readers from the broader inter-Men- the importance of global assemblies during meetings in nonite and inter-church scene. Editorial freedom is expressed through seeking and speaking the truth in love and by providing a balance of perspectives in news and Manitoba this fall. commentary. CM will be a vehicle through which mutual accountability can be Seventy-five years of Mennonites in the Fraser Valley 26 exercised within the community of believers; the paper also encourages its readers B.C. correspondent Amy Dueckman reports on a new photo exhibit at to have open hearts and minds in the process of discerning God’s will. Abbotsford’s Reach Gallery that chronicles three-quarters of a century of Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has prom- Mennonite life and service. ised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25, NRSV). Regular features: For discussion 7 Readers write 8 Pontius’ Puddle 8 Board of Directors (by appointing body): Milestones 12 Schools Directory 29 Calendar 30 MC Canada: John Goossen, Joon Hyoung Park, Les Klassen Hamm; Classifieds 30 MC B.C.: Linda Matties, Ed Janzen; MC Alberta: Doris Daley Haysom; MC Saskatchewan: Joe Neufeld; MC Manitoba: Al Friesen; Bethlehem lies peacefully? 2 MC Eastern Canada: Larry Cornies; Dick Benner CMPS: Margaret Ewen Peters, Joanna Reesor-McDowell, Tobi Thiessen Board Chair: Larry Cornies, [email protected], 519-854-9204 A pastor’s dirty little secret 9 Phil Wagler Head Office Staff: Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] A spirituality beyond generosity 10 Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Will Braun Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Three-week schedule Advertising: Lisa Metzger, [email protected], toll-free voice mail: Our next issue will be published in three 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 weeks’ time, on Jan. 11, 2010. Correspondents: Rachel Bergen, National Correspondent, [email protected], 204-885- 2565 ext. 259; Amy Dueckman, B.C.