BIBLICAL VISION Of ECOJUSTICE THE FIREFLY 12 ENTRY ROOM 14 SPECIAL RESPONSE PROCESS 16- ____ / __..-- -~ .--- DECEMBER 2010 VOL.159 NO. 10 WWW.BRETHREN.ORG u .. publish with the voice of thanksgiving) and tell of all thy wondrous works)) (Psa. 26: 7b KJV) . Interim Editor: Randy Miller Publisher: Wendy McFadden News: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Subscriptions: Diane Stroyeck Design: The Concept Mill 8 Shalom: the biblical vision of ecojustice Noted theologian and author Rosemary Radford Ruether encourages us to take another look at biblical stewardship as it has been filtered through conventional Western understanding. Perhaps we have misread Genesis 1 :28, which instructs humanity to" .. fill the earth and subdue it ..." Has our understanding of this instruc­ tion in Genesis led to an imbalance in which we see ourselves as autonomous own­ ers, rather than caretakers of the earth under God? DEPARTMENTS 12 The firefly 2 From the Publisher She wasn't sure what to expect when she entered the remote Mayan village in 3 In Touch Guatemala. But what emerged amid the wood and tin huts, machete-toting field­ 6 Reflections workers, and a tool shed filled with fireflies caught her and her companions by sur­ 7 The Buzz 20 News prise, and slowly opened their eyes to a renewed sense of hope and compassion. 24 Media Review 25 Youth Life 16 Can we agree? 26 2010 Index In this second installment in our periodic series on the Special Response Process, Robert 28 Letters 31 Turning Points Johansen asks that, whether or not we actually can agree, we at least treat one another 32 Editorial with dignity and respect-basic Golden Rule stuff that, sadly, seems to evaporate too often when those with opposing viewpoints have come together in recent years. 18 God's wisdom is the pathway of love Bob Neff wraps up his series on God's way in wisdom's path with an examination of the story of the Magi, and a new understanding of wisdom that has emerged in the process of preparing this series. "In a world gone awry," he says, "the sage advice is to enjoy the simple gift of a mealtime with friends. In the scene of Mother and Child, the grace of God is revealed to strangers and wise men. The Incarnation is the high­ est form of wisdom. God's way is an invitation to enjoy our humanity and relation­ ships, because God's love dwells among us in this one named Immanuel." Messenger December 2010 ■ HOW TO REACH US MESSENGER t used to be that I had trouble keeping track of baby Jesus. When our 1451 Dundee Avenue l youngest child was small, she would tuck Jesus safely into a purse or small con­ Elgin, IL 60120 tainer. He would be missing, then, when I packed away the creche and hauled the Subscriptions: Christmas boxes into the attic. In a busy household, it was no small feat to make sure [email protected] that he was where he needed to be by the next Christmas. Phone: 847-742-5100 ext. 247 After all, what kind of Christmas would it be if we couldn't find Jesus? Fax: 847-742-6103 But finding Jesus may turn out to be inconvenient. What Jesus brings "makes for a Advertising: great deal of Christmas discomfort, in a society that stands for comfort and total secu­ [email protected] Phone: 800-323-8039 rity and status," according to Sister Joan Chittister in a reflection written years ago for Fax: 847-742-1407 Whose Birthday Is It Anyway? (but unfortunately even more Editorial: relevant today). [email protected] "We like 'peace through strength,' we say. Then we spend Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 263 the money of the poor on the militaristic agendas of the Fax: 847-742-6103 mighty. We don't have enough money for day care or educa­ Subscription rates: tion or job retraining programs in this country, we insist. We $17.50 individual rate don't have enough money to develop the earth, but we have - $32 for 2 years $14.50 gift rate enough money to arm the heavens. Our peace is clearly not in $14.50 church club rate the crib-our peace is in the sword," Chittister writes. - $27 for 2 years "We look for Jesus in the clean and the comfortable, not in $ 1.25 student (per month) the down and out, not in the uncouth, not in shepherds, not in If you move, clip address label mangers. We expect a syrup and butter Jesus, not the one and send with new address to who cleansed the temple or called the Pharisees hypocrites or told Pilate he had no MESSENGER Subscriptions, at the authority over him." above address. Allow at least five weeks for address change. And then Chittister quotes part of the Church of the Brethren tag line. Well, actually, she quotes the Gospel of Matthew: She points out that the Magi "departed to their Connect electronically: For a free subscription to Newsline, own country by another way." the Church of the Brethren That is, they embarked on "another way of living," as we Brethren say. That's what e-mail news report, write finding baby Jesus requires. [email protected]. May you be blessed this season with Christmas discomfort and joy. Visit MESSENGER online at www.brethren.org/messenger. A free study guide for each issue of MESSENGER is available at this site, along with other information. MESSE NG ER is the official publication of the Church of the Brethren. Member of the Associated Church Press. Biblical quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version. Copyright © December 2010 , Church of the Brethren. MESSE NGER (ISSN 0026-0355) is published 10 times a year by Brethren Press, Church of the Brethren. Periodicals postage paid at Elgin, Ill., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MESSENGER, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694. ~ Printed on recycled paper \:ti (20% post consumer) Messenger Dece m ber 2010 CONGREGATIONCLOSE-UP Pastor's passion leads to 'Story Barn Project' annual district auction took place Nov. 6 Celebration ties into Florence church's anniversary at Camp Harmony (Hooversville, Pa.). Proceeds benefit district ministries., . Bob Neff and Chris Bowman led a contin­ A passion for barns and their stories is one of the outcomes of a recent sabbatical uing education event on "Preaching for Nina B. Lanctot, pastor of Florence Church of the Brethren Mennonite Beyond Sunday Morning" Nov. 12 at The (Constantine, Mich.). In the coming year she will interview local residents to learn Village at Morrisons Cove in Martinsburg, the stories of their barns. Pa . .. Bermudian Church of the Brethren Through photography, taped interviews, a blog, and gatherings of interested peo­ (East Berlin, Pa.) hosted the final deacon ple, Lanctot aims to share the Story Barn Project with the local community and training event of the year on Nov. 14 ... , churches. Pole barns, centennial barns, The Outdoor Ministries Association held remade barns, and abandoned barns are all its annual retreat Nov. 14-18 at Camp of interest as part of the story of changing Eder (Fairfield, Pa.). farm culture. The Florence church's rural her­ Southeast Camp Bethel held its annual itage will also be celebrated as part of the Brethren Heritage Day Festival on Oct. 2, project as it celebrates in 2011 the 80th including food, crafts, 34 vendors, and anniversary of its official founding in the train rides for kids ... World Hunger Church of the Brethren (Florence has also Auction events in Virlina District raised joined Mennonite Church USA as an affiliat­ more than $55,000 this year, up about 10 ed congregation in the last 15 years). percent from the previous year. .. As a recipient of a Lilly National Clergy Brethren Woods and Camp Bethel Renewal Grant, Lanctot explored "Vibrant received Outdoor Ministries Association Rural Churches and Communities." A pastor environmental grants this year for spe­ with an urban background, Lanctot wanted cial projects. to experience rural life on small farms over a two-month stay. When Ezra Graber, long Midwest Windfall (Ind.) Church of the time Constantine seed corn farmer, learned Brethren held its final worship service Barns built by George Sherck, first pastor of that Lanctot grew up in Philadelphia, he said Aug. 29 before closing and signing over Florence Church of the Brethren, are of spe- the property to the district .. .. Timbercrest cial interest to current pastor Nina Lanctot of her project, "You have a lot to learn!" Senior Living Community (North as she develops a "Story Barn Project." And so in Lanctot's sabbatical away from Manchester, Ind.) on Oct. 19 offered a free the congregation in February and March, she seminar for pastors on "Emotional lived and worked on small farms in Costa Rica. After studying Spanish as a child and Intelligence and Pastoral Relationships." . through college, Lanctot's life-long dream was to gain fluency. After two months in .. Illinois/Wisconsin District is planning a Costa Rica on her own, Lanctot returned for two weeks in the summer with her fami­ district youth disaster relief trip to ly to find that indeed, conversational Spanish flowed with ease. Spanish is used fre­ Tennessee June 19-25 . Springfield quently at Florence and in the local community. (Ill.) First Church of the Brethren is host­ A potluck kick-off for the Story Barn Project took place Nov. 21 at the home of ing an alternative holiday fair Dec. 3-4. Karla Kauffman. The former Gleason Farm was purchased recently by Kauffman and has been renamed Maple Tree Meadows. The story of the main barn and a tour were Ozarks/Plains Western Plains held its part of the evening.