Life
Together
Merry Christmas
Winter 2012
St. Jacobs Mennonite Church
www.sjmc.on.ca
Learning to give begins in the home ... literally!
Recycled Milk Bags (exterior bags only) = Woven Bedding Mats
*Please bring bags laid flat.*
Exterior milk bags (350!) are woven into one bedding mattress; approx. 6’
x 3’ dim.); distributed in developing countries by local Christian agency.
Attention: More mat weavers needed! Perfect ‘from-home’ mission project.
Ask Marcia Shantz for contact information.
SJMC Collection Box (lower foyer).
Contributing Writers
... our newsletter since 1979.
(Formerly The Beacon est. 1967 and
Keystone Literary Society newspaper prior).
Pastor’s Pen - Page 3
Flood of Mercy: The Work of
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
(MCEC)
By: Kevin Derksen
The Simple Joys of Christmas be Yours
Vision View - Page 4
So, just who is our neighbour?
By: Sandy Shantz
i SJMC Missions Facilitation
motto says it best:
“... keeping our call to be a people of
Mission.”
Christian Formation - Page 5
Engaging Scripture
By: Nelson Scheifele
Getting To Know ... - Page 6
A Visit With Michele Dunsford
By: Doris Kramer
Peacemaking Ponderings - Page 7
Mennonite Central Committee
Mobile Meat Canner: Love in a can!
By: Ryan Martin
Peacemaking Ponderings Pages 10-11
31 Years Ago! VS in France (1981)
By: Elroy Wideman
Missions Facilitation - Page 11
How many pounds of food (cash) did
SJMC collect?
By: Doris Bean
Reflections - Pages 12-13
Dusting off the Bible for the 21st
Century: Mennonite Church Canada
Assembly 2012 - Vancouver
By: Lori Martin
Reflections - Page 16
Volunteering at Summer
Camp
By: Earl and Alice Martin
Thank-You To:
St. Jacobs Printery
- and Karen Sauder (SJMC) - Distribution
SJMC - 2
Life Together
Merry Christmas from Larry, Marcia and Vaughn; Life Together Team
The “Legend” of Giving
i Our front cover shows a
missional heart begins in the home
... literally!
Zehrs Grocery Tapes
*Bring flat, not rolled; Zehrs only.*
$ to House of Friendship
Tabulated by: Floyd Buehler
SJMC Collection Box (upper foyer)
Campbell’s Labels
*Bring the whole label; laid flat.*
www.labelsforeducation.ca
$ to Rockway Mennonite Collegiate
Coordinated by: SJMC Women
SJMC Collection Box (upper foyer)
i Small, seemingly insignificant,
everyday household items can
find another use and help benefit:
neighbour, stranger and earth.
... yes, it takes a little extra effort.
Postage Stamps (all countries)
*Cut to 1/4” border, where possible.
$ to Canadian Bible Society
Coordinated by: SJMC Women
SJMC Collection Box (upper foyer)
i The “legend” of giving (R)
shows just a few of many options to
participate in. This is all we had
room for; there are many more,
... seek them out!
Empty Pop Cans
*Rinsed and flattened.*
$ to a local child’s wheelchair needs.
Coordinated by: Monica Cressman
SJMC Collection Box (lower foyer)
i*Little extra care tips* make the
volunteer end-user’s job so much
more pleasant! (*See legend.*)
Think: How would “I” like to receive
this item to work with?
A Profound Thank-YOU SJMC!
We receive thank-yous for our work
on Life Together. Those kind words
truly buoy us up, and help us as we
face starting the next edition!
However, we are the first to say
the newsletter would not happen
if it weren’t for the many willing
participants at SJMC. Thank-you!!!
This ‘recycled’ LT graphic (above)
is our 2012 blessing for everyone!
Used Greeting Cards
*Inside pg can stay; cut out names.*
$ to MCC. Used cards (all kinds) are
sold for scrapbooking supplies.
Donate to a MCC Thrift Shop
Used/Old Wax Candles
*All colours and types; not in tins.*
$ to MCC. Wax candles are melted,
mixed with wood shavings and
formed into fire starters for re-sale.
Donate to a MCC Thrift Shop
Household Papers, Newspapers
*No phone books, cardboard, or
plastic, metal, wood, garbage, etc.*
$ to MCC. Donate to a MCC Thrift
Shop Parking Lot Paper Bin.
Egg Cartons
*Clean cartons; no trays*.
Accepted: Cardboard, pastic, styro.
$ to Mennonite Central Committee
Donate to a MCC Thirft Shop
Electronic E-Waste
Read: www.mcco.ca/stories/
news/ mcc-wants-your-e-waste
$ to Mennonite Central Committee
Donate to a MCC Thrift Shop
Editorial Team
Vaughn Bender - Editor
Marcia Shantz - Coordination & Editing
Larry Shantz - Layout & Photography
Visit the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church website - www.sjmc.on.ca
Pastor’s Pen
... in the Latin language,
the word pastor means a shepherd.
Flood of Mercy: The Work of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Written By: Kevin Derksen, Pastor
comforts and disturbs, flooding us with a
mercy that may yet wash away elements
of our lives that we’re reticent to let go of.
God is doing something new in a baby born
in Bethlehem, but that newness may bring
with it growing pains and difficult changes.
I have recently joined the Congregational
Ministries Council of Mennonite Church
Eastern Canada (MCEC), so I hear “Flood of
Mercy” in the context of some of the things
MCEC is up to. Congregational Ministries
is one of the important areas in which
MCEC works, and its Council provides
a reference group to affirm, question and
hold accountable what MCEC does in this
area.
T
he theme for Advent at SJMC this
year is “Flood of Mercy,” and our
Worship Ministy is working with the
many water images that the texts for this
season offer.
What’s striking about water as an image
is that it has the potential to sustain life, but
also to destroy. Our bodies and spirits both
need regular watering, but hurricane Sandy
reminded us again this fall that water can
be a powerful and uncontrollable force.
In the Bible we read about the River of
Life, and Jesus says that he comes to offer
living water. But the Bible also uses the
image of the sea to express the power of
chaos and destruction.
So we hold these two sides of water
together during Advent. God both
I suspect that Congregational Ministries,
and MCEC more generally, would resonate
with the two sides of the water imagery
that we are exploring this Advent. God is
both comforting and disturbing, nudging
us in exciting directions that may also feel
at times unsettling.
Congregational Ministries is engaging
with a flood of initiatives and conversations
this fall, many of which have come
unsolicited - including some from outside
the Mennonite church. There are exciting
developments with partnership ministries
and significant conversations happening
around faith formation.
There is a vibrant collection of new and
emerging congregations within MCEC,
many of which are giving our church
a more multicultural face. I am excited
about what MCEC is doing, and have felt a
renewed sense of our investment as a local
congregation in the ministry of our area
church.
In a few months time, we will be invited
to join in a celebration of MCEC’s ministry
past and future as our area church celebrates
its 25th Anniversary. This will happen in
conjunction with MCEC’s spring Annual
Church Gathering (April 26-27, 2013),
held just around the corner at Rockway
Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener. Our
ministerial cluster will be hosting the event,
and there are lots of ways to get involved
(especially around facilities, ushers and
parking). Talk to Mark, Wendy or me if
you’d like to help, and plan to attend some
of the public worship celebrations.
I invite us to continue holding MCEC
in prayer – certainly Congregational
Ministries, but also its Missions, Leadership,
Executive and Administrative arms. God’s
flood of mercy can feel both exhilarating
and overwhelming, yet we embrace the
new thing God is doing together.
i MCEC is our church, engaging
in the mission of God to which we
have all been called. Thanks be to
God for showing the way.
Visit: www.mcec.ca
Christmas prayers for:
The Suderman Family
Andrew, Karen, Samantha
Andrew
and
Karen
Suderman,
Mennonite Church Canada Witness,
Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA), work directly with churches to
rediscover the gospel of reconciling love, peace and justice in a post-apartheid
context and a culture deeply impacted by HIV-AIDS. (See page 11 for tour info.)
Life Together - Winter 2012
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 3
Vision View
... O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come, ... (HWB #328)
So, just who is our neighbour?
Written By: Sandy Shantz, SJMC Leadership Council Chair
i And of course, the age old question:
Who is our neighbour? And do we believe
that God is in all and through all, or just in
those who believe or live exactly as we do?
The Leader periodical is a resource
for leaders published by MennoMedia
to “inspire, equip and empower both
pastors and lay leaders in helping their
congregations fulfill the missional vision
of the Mennonite Church Canada and
Mennonite Church USA.”
SJMC Logo; circa 1980s.
Art design by Marilyn Wideman.
Wall hanging fabric drafting technique, piecing,
and quilting by Alice (Snider) Brubacher.
A
s I prepare to write this Vision
View article, I am reflecting on
yesterday’s (November 18) Sunday
School class and worship centred on Mark
12:28-34 – The Great Commandment. Jesus
calls us to love God above all else and to
love our neighbour as ourselves.
Our real lives are messy and complicated.
We are hurt; we make mistakes. It is God’s
grace that allows us to extend love to each
other in all our humanness.
i If God IS love, what does that mean?
i If God is in us and part of us, then
by loving God above all else, do we also
love that part of us that is God or that God
occupies?
iAs we love our neighbour as
ourselves, do we then also love that part of
them that is God or that God occupies, and
so honour and love God as well?
This recent winter edition, which looks
forward to Lent and Easter, focuses on
opportunities to work at relationship
between Christians and other faith
communities. There are stories about
good dialogue and friendships being
created and nourished especially between
the Abrahamic communities of Jews,
Christians and Muslims but also amongst
Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs. Some of the
conversations began at the time of 9-11
when feelings and opinions ran hot.
i In all of this I can’t help but think these
relationships require, from all parties, a
recognition of and deep love for the heart
of God in each other.
Our SJMC Vision Statement calls us to be
“a welcoming, caring community of faith
centred in Jesus Christ; and to demonstrate
God’s love in our neighbourhoods and the
world.”
i How do we recognize God in each other,
and in those outside our normal circle?
The MCEC publication Sprout (Fall 2012)
was in our mailboxes recently. In it is an
article “Out of This Dark and Heavy Soil”
(pg. 11) written by Troy Watson, Spiritual
Life Director and Pastor from MCEC’s
Emerging/Exploring congregation, Quest
Christian Community in St. Catharines.
I would encourage you to read the whole
article.
In it he asks the question:
i “What would we do in this situation,
if a prostitute entered a church or social
gathering, and began weeping and kissing
the feet of someone we assumed was a
Spirit-filled Christian Leader? Who did
Jesus connect with and commend as
understanding God here – the religious
guy or the sex trade worker? Who are we
in this story?”
i Is our faith centred strongly enough in
Jesus Christ, and our desire to demonstrate
God’s love strong enough to respond with
the compassion that Jesus had in that same
situation?
i Our SJMC Vision Statement
is words; living into these words
is our individual and collective
challenge!
“We seek to celebrate and
listen to the Living God;
empowered by
the Holy Spirit
to be a welcoming,
caring community of faith
centred in Jesus Christ;
and to demonstrate
God’s love
in our neighbourhoods
and the world.”
eee
- SJMC Vision Statement -
~ A Christmas Prayer ~
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all Thy dear children in Thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.
... from the Christmas carol, “Away in a Manger” (verse 3)
SJMC - 4
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Winter 2012
Christian Formation
Engaging Scripture
Written By: Nelson Scheifele, Christian Formation Ministry Chair
... engaging scripture creatively,
and in community.
Photo Left: Daryl Roth portraying the apostle Paul writing
his letter to Philemon.
Contrast that with its possible opposite:
i Cursed are those who show no mercy,
the revengeful who demand an eye for an
eye, for when the time comes, they will
not experience God’s mercy or forgiveness.
Do you feel the power and tension of the
contrast?
H
ow do we meaningfully and
creatively engage scripture in ways
that make it alive and impacting?
The Sunday morning adult Study Hour
has engaged the scriptures in some creative
ways recently, ways that I commend for
everyone. They include:
n paraphrasing
n contrasting
n summarizing
n contextualizing
Let me briefly exemplify each:
Paraphrasing
Eugene Peterson’s, The Message, has
been used with great effectiveness at SJMC.
His paraphrasing of scripture is often
jolting, thought provoking and convicting.
Why? Because it breaks us away from the
routine, “we’ve heard it all before,” and the
rhythms with which we are so comfortable.
Suddenly we are exposed and challenged
as we hear the text in new ways.
Contrasting
The
Message
has
become
a
frequently used resource in our adult
Study Hour, offering new and fresh ways
to hear scripture. Why not try your own
paraphrasing Biblical passages? It can be a
compelling way to enrich your Bible study.
In a recent study of the Beatitudes, class
members adopted the familiar pattern of
the Psalms and Proverbs by contrasting
the righteous with the wicked. We explored
contrasting the “blessed’s” of the Beatitudes
with its opposite, using the word “cursed”
as the most accurate antonym of blessed.
Class members were invited to contrast
each “blessed are...” Beatitude with their
chosen “cursed are...” version. Consider
the beatitude in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are
the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Life Together - Winter 2012
Consider
further
the
opposite
of Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God.” What discomforting
emotions we experience when considering
the contrast:
i Cursed are those who promote prejudice,
hatred, distrust and dissension, for they
can never be God’s children. Take time to
compose your own contrasting opposites
for the other Beatitudes. You will never
read the Beatitudes in the same way.
Summarizing
On a Sunday devoted to the Biblical
call to manage our possessions faithfully,
class members were invited to consider
the context of the whole Biblical message,
rather than relying on short passages, or
only a verse or two to make a point.
Participants
were
challenged
to
summarize what the Bible teaches about
our responsibilities for the resources under
our control by using the technology social
media form of a Twitter message, restricted
to only 140 characters. Here is one among a
number of very creative responses:
i God owns everything. We are caretakers.
Wealth has power to replace God. Use
it lavishly for God’s Kingdom; the poor,
oppressed and creation. Your eternity is
tied to it.
How would you summarize the Biblical
message about your responsibility for
what you possess? Give it a try. Practice
summarizing the Bible’s message on other
themes, being as brief as possible.
Contextualizing
Another powerful tool for making
scripture meaningful is to contextualize
it to make it contemporary and relevant
for today. We have all experienced the
numbing effect of reading the multitude of
Old Testament rules and prohibitions given
to the Children of Israel. Such “archaic”
demands seem to have no relevance for
us. Derek Suderman shared a teaching of
his professor, Waldemar Janzen, which
changes the message of one passage in a
powerful way. Exodus 21:28-32 (look it
up) speaks about the consequences if an
owner’s ox injures (gores) someone. Of
course this has no meaning for us.
i Or does it?
Consider for a moment what the ox
meant to an ancient Old Testament family.
Their ox was a prized asset, providing
them with labour, income, security, food,
and prestige. Losing an ox would create a
major economic crisis for the family.
Now consider the passage when brought
into our modern context, by replacing
the word ‘ox’ with ‘investments’, and the
word ‘gores’ with ‘injures or kills’. When
you apply these changes, it might read
(summarized and contextualized):
i If an investment injures or kills people,
that investment must be destroyed, but
the owner of the investment will not be
held responsible. If, however, investments
habitually injure, kill and harm people,
and the owner has been warned, but
ignores the impact of those investments,
both the owner and the investments must
be destroyed.
Do we dare use such a guideline for
our mutual funds and other investments?
Contextualizing the Biblical text by using
contemporary images can be convicting
and potentially life changing.
If we believe the Bible to be a living
document, let’s be bold to explore it, using
creative methods to open its message and
allow it to speak boldly to us.
As the Apostle Paul writes to his protégé,
Timothy, “All scripture is useful, …showing
us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting
our mistakes, training us to live God’s
way.” (1 Timothy 3:16b; a paraphrase from
The Message.)
iI
believe scripture can be most
useful when we engage it creatively,
in community, and in language and
images we can understand.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 5
Getting To Know . . .
“... Kindle in us love’s compassion
so that everyone may see in our fellowship
the promise of a new humanity.” (HWB #420)
A Visit With Michele Dunsford
Written By: Doris Kramer
M
ichele
Dunsford’s
spiritual
journey at St. Jacobs Mennonite
Church began in June of this year
when, in her words, “I met Barbara Horst
from this congregation. The moment I
walked in the front doors at SJMC I knew
that God had directed me here. I began
to realize over the subsequent weeks that
God had plans for me. I had sought God’s
presence and found it in the
heart of the SJMC congregation.
I became more connected
to God, listened to the Holy
Spirit and realized my need
to share by God-given gifts
by seeking membership in the
congregation.” On an earlier
occasion she was also introduced
to Ella and Laverne Brubacher at
a Scrabble evening—two SJMC
connections!
When Michele was in Grade
6 she began attending Sunday
School and Worship Services
at Erindale Bible Chapel in
Mississauga. It was just down the
street from her home, so she was
able to walk there. She became
active in the congregation
and at age 16 was baptized by
immersion. Throughout high
school she sang in the church
choir in which singers were
required to give their personal
testimonies when they sang away from
home. Michele reported, “I recall being
filled with the Spirit and continuing my
life aware of God’s grace. In later years I
maintained my faith through life’s trials
and tribulations, remaining committed to
God’s will in my life.”
Michele was born to Miriam Rose and
James Dunsford in Toronto on March 7,
1958. Her father was a solider who met his
bride in Brighton, England. Her mother
still resides in Michele’s childhood home in
Mississauga.
Michele could always walk to the
schools she attended in Mississauga for
kindergarten through to high school.
As a young child she remembers being
called “Bubbles”, since she cried about
everything, especially when teachers
SJMC - 6
tried to change this left-handed child into
a right-handed writer. Nevertheless, she
loved school, joined Brownies and Girl
Guides clubs and played baseball.
In high school she coached baseball with
her father, and refereed basketball and
volleyball games. Michele sang in her high
school choir and travelled with the band to
perform at other high schools in Ontario.
The sciences were her favourite subjects.
She became bilingual (English/French)
and also studied Latin.
Following high school, Michele trained
on the job as a pharmacist’s assistant,
followed by positions as a bank teller, a
sales representative for a Niagara winery,
and an employee in finance at Sheridan
College. There she became a full-time
student in their two-year Athletic Therapy
program. She began working for the Peel
Police Department in the criminal records
department until she was recruited as a
police officer and trained at the Ontario
Police College in Aylmer. For 17 years
she worked as a front line police officer
with responsibilities in child abuse and
homicide investigations, school education
programs, and more.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Wanting a change of pace, she decided
to follow her interest in carpentry, began a
course in skilled trades at Conestoga College
and found a job in house construction. She
currently works as a finish coordinator at a
major Kitchener construction site.
Michele is a multi-talented person with a
broad range of interests. She enjoys movies,
singing (and is excited to
have joined December’s
Mennonite Mass Choir to
sing Handel’s “Messiah”
for the first time!) and is
currently reading through
the Bible for the second
time. Other interests are:
cooking
from
scratch,
reading cookbooks and
historical fiction, camping,
being outdoors, fixing
things, and keeping a
journal. She has written
a
children’s
book,
volunteered with Habitat
for Humanity and owns a
chocolate lab dog named
Mavis.
“How Great Thou Art” is
Michele’s favourite hymn.
Her favourite Bible verse is
from Isaiah 48:17 (NRSV):
“I am the Lord your God
who teaches you for your
own good, who leads you in the way you
should go.” Her SJMC faith partner is
Melinda Metzger. Because Michele has
experienced significant losses in her life,
her goal is to do a lot of good by helping
others. On August 19, 2012 Michele became
a member of our church. We appreciate her
contributions to our community of faith.
Welcome!
Michele as worship leader during the series,
“Seek Peace and Pursue It” in October.
Life Together - Winter 2012
... in our daily lives,
far and near.
Peacemaking Ponderings
MCC Mobile Meat Canner: Love in a can!
Written By: Ryan Martin, Chairperson, Elmira Meat Canning Committee
four days over 400 volunteers converge to
can meat.
their fragile early growing years, let alone
myself or other family members.
Meat is ground up, put in a can and
cooked in a pressure cooker. Cans are
then cleaned and inspected for dents then
labeled and packaged to go on for export
and used by MCC and its partners in a
variety of material relief and development
projects around the world.
Working within the food system as a
farmer, and realizing the potential for food
production in the world, also disheartens
me when I realize what really keeps food
from getting into the hands of all people
around the world fairly. Most times
malnutrition and the inability of a nation,
or group of people to feed themselves, are
caused by war, oppressive governments,
corrupt governments, unfair global trade,
and many other manmade disasters.
Another major part of the project is
raising the funds for the process. The
Elmira project costs about $130,000 for
about 40,000 pounds of meat to be canned
into 21,000 cans.
F
ive years ago I was watching my wife
Lori play baseball when I received
a call requesting some help on the
Mennonite Central Committee’s Elmira
Meat Canning Committee. This was a
project I knew of, volunteered a few shifts
for over the years and something that
really seemed to coincide with the current
Mennonite culture I live in.
The opportunity came at a good time; I
had recently finished some other volunteer
work and was looking for something to
get involved in but didn’t have any direct
interests or hints as to what to get into.
After thinking about it I agreed to chair the
committee and have done so for the past
four canning seasons.
For those who are not familiar with
the project, MCC owns and operates a
portable meat canning trailer that tours
North America from October to the end
of April, stopping at about 32 Mennonite
communities to can meat.
At each stop a local committee organizes
the volunteers, the meat and the supplies
for the canning. All canning sites combined;
roughly 500,000 cans of meat are produced
every year.
The Elmira stop takes place just north of
Elmira at the Elmira Produce Auction Coop building on Arthur Street. During those
Life Together - Winter 2012
MCC canned meat has been a part of
MCC relief efforts since the early years of
MCC as it was first shipped to the Ukraine
in post WWII Europe. Since then canned
meat has been among the most requested
items of relief that MCC offers. It provides a
quality product that is full of vital nutrients
desperately needed by the people who
request it.
To say I was taking a step out of my
comfort zone to work on this committee
was ... an understatement! However the
timing of that phone call in my life really
was a voice guiding me towards something
I could help with.
I was blessed to meet wonderful,
hard working volunteers who bent over
backwards to make this project fly. God has
also helped in many ways by allowing this
project to begin and continue to operate
within the difficult federal regulations of
processing and exporting meat from the
Canadian system.
Drought alone will not cause starvation;
it only exasperates a problem that exists
due to unfair circumstances.
I also must remind myself not to be
discouraged by the large need for food, but
focus on the quality food the meat canning
project does produce, and the people who
we will be able to help. I do know that
people appreciate a product someone
takes care to produce, knowing it will help
someone else.
Every can is handled by at least 12
people! Twenty-four loving hands touch
every can that will feed anywhere between
two and 20 people each depending upon
how it is prepared for serving!
i This project tells somebody
somewhere, that someone cares,
and I am blessed to be a small part
of that.
Visit: www.canning.mcc.org
Every year I have to take a step back
from time to time to remind myself of the
people this meat will eventually feed. It is
easy to get caught up in the production of
canned meat and forget about the many
circumstances people around the world are
suffering from that cause the need for such
products.
Recently becoming a parent has also
made me appreciate the easy availability to
quality food we enjoy every day in this part
of the world. I could not imagine not being
able to feed my own child properly during
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 7
SJMC Snaps
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
(1-9) June’s Church-Family Camping at Riverstone Retreat Centre (Durham, ON);
Cal Cressman photos. The Sunday morning worship service and baptisms photos
were in Summer 2012 LT. (2) Kai Bender and Charlie Derksen cooling off with a drink.
(5) Daniel Schroeder Kipfer happy to have campfire “smores”! (6) Brent Horst picks
out a few guitar tunes. (7) Youth cooling off in the river. (8) Lucy Derksen and Janice
Cressman having fun. (9) Zachary, Tina and Mark Cressman tubing on the river.
(10-12) June’s Annual Grace Lao Mennonite Church and SJMC “Outdoor” Worship
Service/Sunday School Picnic was rained out: (10) Pastors Mark and Yoel lead
worship service inside at SJMC; Grace Lao Girls’ Chorus; GLMC and SJMC potluck
with Lao sushi and Waterloo County devilled eggs! (13) SJMC’s MennoHomes Bike
Team (L-R) Stew Sauder, Robert & Brenda Poole, Maynard Wideman, Oscar Weber,
and Brent Horst raised $3,655 for “Outspok’n for Affordale Housing”.
SJMC Snaps
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
(1) One of many SJMC Connections small groups. (2) August’s Baptism and
Membership Sunday, (L-R) Carly Annis and Michele Dunsford. (3) September’s
grape juice making with Sue Shantz and Donna Johnson (and Jennifer Elliott not
pictured); this grape juice is also used for SJMC communion services.
(4-6) September’s SJMC children and youth Sunday School presentations.
(7-8) SJMC Annual Chicken & Sausage BBQ raised $3,700.00 (net) to capital
fund. (9) SJMC Seniors’ Group October Tour; look for story in Spring ‘13 LT.
(10-12) October and November’s Peace Series “Seek Peace and Pursue It”, along
with Fall Food Drive (see pg. 11). (13) September’s Child and Parent Dedication
families are: (L-R) Nadia, Kristine (Martin) & Ryan Clemmer; Hazel, Meredith,
Daniel & Eli Bigham; Henry, Kim (Wideman) & Jeff Shantz; Daniel, Carolyn
Neumann VanderBurgh, Ian VanderBurgh & Joshua.
... in our daily lives,
near and far.
Peacemaking Ponderings
31 Years Ago! Voluntary Service in France (1981)
Written By: Elroy Wideman
the French 190mm; our doors 32”— the
French 812mm. And all instructions were
in French.
The site was excavated, but to our
surprise we had to dig the clay soil for the
footings with shovels and a wheelbarrow
(photo opposite page).
We didn’t have a transit for levelling out
the footing height. However, that Sunday’s
all-night rain proved to be our biggest
blessing, with a foot of water covering
our footings. Gerry and I jumped in and
hammered stakes into the ground at the
foundation corners with a nail at water
height (protect those stakes at all costs!).
W
(L-R): *Vera & *Nelson Snyder, Gerry Snyder, *Glen Brubacher, Elroy Wideman at Toronto Airport.
here does the time go?! As I try
to recall what happened 31 years
ago on a 6-week voluntary service
term (April 26-June 5, 1981) in France, I
have had this opportunity to reflect back on
a service trip that extended the compassion
of Christ through my carpentry skills (and
some ingenuity!) J.
The Mission Project Background:
Longtime Mennonite Board of Missions
workers, Robert and Lois Witmer were
serving in Paris, France (1956-1985) with
Mission Mennonite Française. In 1961, in
the church basement of Eglise Evangelique
Mennonite de Chatenay-Malabry, a
mission began to assist mentally challenged
persons. During the next 20 years it was
continually expanding.
The Witmers had requested to have
carpenters, an electrician and some
labourers come to assist them with two
building projects on the go:
1) a 5-storey Sheltered Workshop (Les Amis
de l’Atelier). Here, mentally challenged
persons worked at cleaning and packaging
Air France headphones, and also repaired
telephones, wire lamps, etc.
2) a foundation for a pre-fab house (right)
The SJMC Announcement: Laverne
Brubacher (Menno S. Martin Contractor
Ltd.) made the announcement at church
one Sunday morning. He then went on to
tap three guys (ages 35-42) on the shoulder:
*Glen Brubacher and myself (MSM
SJMC - 10
carpenters), and Gerry Snyder (Gemor
Electric Ltd.). Laverne gave Glen and I the
time off work for six weeks. *Nelson and
*Vera Snyder were also very interested and
volunteered to go. Vera helped Lois with
meals and laundry, and Nelson kept us
guys on track.
It made for a perfectly level site for our
1,000-cement block foundation, including
the basement walls. Robert and Glen got
rid of the water with sump pumps. Nelson
was our mortar mixer. It was a team effort!
(photo below).
Reality Hits: On the first morning of
work (Tuesday), reality hit when Robert
spoke English to us, and French to all his
staff!
Working and Leisure Time: We worked
mostly Monday to Friday. If we worked
Monday to Saturday, we were given
Monday off the following week.
The Task: In nearby Verrieres-le-Buisson,
our main task was to build a cement block
foundation for a prefab house (pictured
above), which was the actual purchase
from the Paris Home and Garden Show’s
model home (used).
More Reality: As we got going further
on the project, another challenge was
our Canadian Imperial measurement
system verses the French metric system.
For example: our step risers are 7 ½”—
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
The Mission had two cars, and Robert
arranged for us to use them. He also
suggested different trips for us to take on
our time off.
One long weekend we drove to
Switzerland and visited in the home of Paul
and Linda Frey, both from SJMC, and their
son Ben. And there were weekends when
Glen, Gerry and I had a Canadian tour
guide—Nancy Frey from SJMC. Nancy
(18) was working as a nanny in the Paris
area and she knew places of interest, bus
routes and subways, and we English guys
“followed the leader.” One late evening we
even jumped a turn style to catch the late
Life Together - Winter 2012
Peacemaking Ponderings (“31 Years Ago!...” - continued from page 12)
Note 1: *Denotes deceased.
Note 2: 2012 Update from Robert Witmer:
From a 1961 mission seedling in a church
basement, the Association became a Foundation
in 2011, and celebrated its 50th Anniversary!
This program flourishes today with 75 centres,
and employs more than 2,000 staff persons. A
commerative book is in the works to emphasize
the North American and French Mennonite
Partnership in Mission and Service in the name
of Christ.
Visit: www.mennonite-chatenay.com
Visit: www.lesamisdelatelier.org
Visit: www.aede.fr
subway when it refused to open with our
ticket! The sightseeing certainly added to
our time in France.
In Summary: We left France just as they
were beginning to construct the house,
but we were told the foundation was
accurate. What a relief! The six weeks were
a challenging and rewarding experience,
and admittedly, sometimes frustrating too
as we used methods of work we would
not have done on a construction site at
home, like backfilling the foundation with
shovels and wheelbarrows (call in the
sub-trades). St. Jacobs Mennonite Church
contributed by paying our plane fares.
Lodging, laundry, meals and fellowship
were provided by the Witmers.
History Repeats Itself: Just as I was
tapped on the shoulder 31 years ago to
consider Voluntary Service, 31 years later
I was tapped on the shoulder again to
consider this opportunity to write for Life
Together. I’m glad I did both!
And what goes around, comes around:
Robert Witmer (L) translates the Sunday
morning message at SJMC (October 2011) by
Bonaventure Akowanou (R), administrator at
Benin Bible Institute (BBI), Benin, West Africa.
... keeping our call to be
a people of Mission.
Missions Facilitation
How many pounds of food did SJMC collect?
Written By: Doris Bean, Missions Facilitation Ministry Leader
i LT Preamble: Welcome to Missions!
A regular LT column begins in Spring ‘13.
D
o you ever wonder:
i How many pounds of food/
cash were collected in food drives?
i Where do Christmas socks/mittens go?
i What are the current needs and mission
projects at SJMC?
i What are upcoming volunteering and
service opportunities/information?
Answers and info available through:
i www.sjmc.on.ca/about us/missions
i Life Together 2013 editions
i Missions members: Doris Bean, Wendy
Janzen, Donna Johnson, Alisha Martin,
and Ryan Martin.
Life Together - Winter 2012
February 2013 Opportunity:
Connect with what God is doing in
South Africa by joining SJMC’s Andrew
and Karen Suderman, and take part in a
Mennonite Church Canada Learning Tour.
(See page 3.)
The group will gather daily for times of
worship, reflection and conversation.
SJMC Summer 2012 Food Drive:
i646 items of food and personal hygiene,
i$935.00 cash; all to benefit Woolwich
Community Services (WCS).
SJMC Fall 2012 Food Drive:
i341 pounds donated to The Food Bank
of Waterloo Region (FBWR), and
i$855.00 cash equally to FBWR and WCS.
Together, gain a greater appreciation for
God’s creation in South Africa and God’s
wonderful work of reconciliation, hope
and healing.
V i s i t : w w w. m e n n o n i t e c h u r c h . c a /
getinvolved/lt/SATour.html
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 11
Reflections
... pausing to reflect on where God meets us in our
daily lives, including a summer Church Assembly.
Written By: Lori Martin - Lori and Ryan Martin were SJMC delegates to MC Canada Assembly 2012
THURSDAY - July 12
Thursday night kicked off the
Assembly with a rousing worship
time together. A highlight for us was
the welcome and music by the First
Nations communities that call that area
their home. The entire evening was
very informative, and a good overview
to start the weekend.
T
his past spring when I first received word that
Following welcome and worship,
SJMC needed delegates for the Mennonite we delved into the nitty-gritty business
Church Canada Assembly in Vancouver, I section:
basically swept the information to the back of my
conscious mind and carried on as usual.
FRIDAY
Besides, how could a farmer, his wife, and their
17-month-old son leave their parched farmland in
Ontario and jet set to Vancouver for the weekend
in the middle of July!? Thankfully we have superb
farm partners and a very supportive church family,
so the dream of attending soon became a reality!
The Assembly took place in Richmond, BC, a
suburb of Vancouver. We had a bit of sightseeing
time on the Thursday before the event began, but
we were zonked from our early morning departure;
not to mention the 3-hour time change! We were
able to visit the Olympic Oval (above photo) that
was used for speed skating in 2010, so that was
pretty cool!
The theme focussed on:
nthe need to look at scripture with fresh eyes in a
community setting.
nwe were encouraged to delight in scripture.
napproach the Bible with fresh eyes for a new
time.
ndiscover tools for scripture discernment.
napproach it all from an Anabaptist/Mennonite
perspective, where the life and witness of Jesus
Christ is central.
SJMC - 12
Friday morning’s highlight was
hearing Gerald Gerbrandt, retiring
President of Canadian Mennonite
University speak. He spoke about
the sentiment in churches today that
scripture does not have the same
“clout” as it did in the past. He talked
about many factors that he believes
might account for the decline in Biblical
nfeatured financial reports
ncommittee appointments
(& farewells)
nvarious ministry reports from:
i Mennonite Church Canada
i Canadian Mennonite University
i Conrad Grebel University College
i Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary
i Columbia Bible College
i MennoMedia
- July 13
literacy today. He is an engaging and
passionate speaker!
Friday supper was amazing! We
travelled by bus to Peace Mennonite
Church, and were treated to a scrumptious BBQ supper and multicultural
entertainment! It was great food and
fellowship to end off the day!
SATURDAY - July 14
Saturday was another wonderful
experience. Tom Yoder Neufeld,
Professor
of
Religious
Studies
(New Testament) at Conrad Grebel
University College gave a provocative
talk about not using the Bible to settle
an argument. He argues that it should
be used to start or continue one. He
encouraged us to work with the Bible
so that we are hungry for more. A cool
quote of his was: “We don’t trust God
because we trust the Bible, we trust the
Bible because we trust God.”
One of my favourite humourists, Ted
Swartz, was also part of the Assembly.
Although he was unable to attend
(family wedding), he provided us
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
with a number of hilarious short video
enactments of particular scriptures
we were studying. He is so good at
providing humour to make stories of
the Bible come to life!
On Saturday I had signed up for
“Word on the street”, a workshop
that would take us off the Assembly
grounds to various parts of Vancouver.
This seminar was all afternoon, and
boy, was it worth it!
We took public transit to a number
of pre-selected locations around the
city. At each spot, our leader read
aloud scripture verses that related
somehow to what we were seeing. It
was extremely powerful.
Life Together - Winter 2012
Reflections
(“Dusting off the Bible ...” continued from page 12)
SUNDAY - July 15
The Sunday morning worship was open invitation, and
there was a great turnout from local churches. We were blessed
to hear from Tom Yoder Neufeld for a second time, as he
brought the message as part of our worship time. We also heard
a heartbreaking story from a gentleman who was shipped to a
residential school when he was only six-years-old. We closed
out the weekend with communion together. It was really neat to
take communion with so many people!
WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
by Lori:
nWhat about the hard texts? Is the Bible a children’s book?
nHow the Bible came to be
nWord on the street
by Ryan:
nExtending the work of Jesus through discernment in the
21st Century: a workshop studying the ways Jesus interpreted
Gareth Brandt (right), Professor of Practical Theology, CBC, leading the off the current Jewish laws and his method of binding and losing
site workshop "Word on the street", reads from his Bible at a waterfront site in those laws through a new paradigm.
Vancouver. Mark Diller Harder listens on.
SATURDAY - July 14 continued from page 12
At one point, we got off the
subway right downtown at
Canada Place. It was a tourist
area, with tons of nice restaurants,
retail stores and lots of “wellto-do” people. As we walked
east, after only a few blocks,
the neighbourhood told a very
different story. It was obvious that
this was a severely disadvantaged
area of Vancouver.
We passed a “safe injection
site”, which was extremely
difficult to see. I have to admit,
that I felt “on edge” as I walked
through this area. My heart ached
for the people, but I still felt like
an intruder in their world. It
was hard to know what to feel,
but I do know that the images I
saw as we walked through that
neighbourhood will linger with
me forever.
All in all, this workshop was
worth the trip to Vancouver
for me. At a time of church
discernment, it was fitting to step
out of the confines of our cozy
hotel and onto the street to see
the diverse group of people and
cultures that Jesus us calls us to
serve.
nGod’s word in my mouth: Scripture presentation in
worship: a workshop that taught the basics, as well as new
ideas in reading and presenting scripture to our congregations
in a way that brings life to the scripture.
nGetting the “Big Picture” on how we read the Bible: a lesson
in the three major culture shifts over the past 2,000 years or so
from the pre-modern, modern, and post-modern eras, and how
people in each of those contexts may have read and interpreted
scripture differently within each time period.
nWhy the Bible? Young adults on the role and future of
the Bible: a talk focusing on how well young people know the
Bible, how they use scripture, and what role scripture may take
in the church.
nBeing a Faithful Church (BFC): Ryan also participated in
this BFC dialogue. The delegates were asked to approve the
initiation of a framework for scriptural interpretation based
on an analogy of “paths and ditches.” Paths to maintain, and
ditches to avoid while interpreting scripture, in an effort to
discern issues facing congregations.
i In the months since the Assembly, I have thought a lot
For a complete listing of workshop titles and other
information visit: www.mennonitechurch.ca
Life Together - Winter 2012
about my time there. It was such a wonderful experience to
network with so many other Mennonites across Canada, and see
different perspectives on worship and issues. Both Ryan and I
were blessed by the experience. (And Isaac met new friends too!)
A heartfelt thanks to the SJMC congregation for supporting us
both financially and prayerfully!
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 13
Children’s Challenge: Who Are We Now?
We were once children like you! Can you guess who we are?
A Trio of Undeniable Beauty!
Described as: 1) a “famous Italian” of the Renaissance;
2) “precious”, so much so that royalty reveres “her blush”; and
3) ever graceful, “she” visits flowers and trails of the Amazon rainforest.
One Rambling Riddle: “I bore four children; yet I am the mother to 10.”
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) I try to live by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you.” 2) Try to make the best of what you have. 3) Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Weeds. Insect bites. Drivers in a hurry. Going down stairs. Mouse in the
house!
Ten Telling Tales: No “responsibilities”. Retired quilt piecer. Like having visitors. Scrabble.
Word Jumble daily. Reading. Mother/grandmother/great-grandmother. Large family. Walked to
school. A “slow poke”.
God’s Gospel Guidance: (Nehemiah 8:10) “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” and,
(Psalm 118:24) “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
One Rambling Riddle: “I have never lived more than six miles from the farm house where I
was born.”
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) It is the friends you meet along the way that make the journey
worthwhile. 2) Speak kind words and you will hear kind echoes. 3) Give your smiles away.
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Spiders and other creepy creatures. Being late. Impatient drivers that honk.
Alarm clocks. Long lineups and crowds.
Ten Telling Tales: Love Christmas and all things related to Christmas. Farm girl. Very fond of
domestic animals. Walked two miles to a one-room public school. Retired administrative assistant.
Play computer games. Live theatre and POPS symphony. Breakfast with friends. Food Bank
volunteer. Four grandchildren.
God’s Gospel Guidance: (John 15:12) “This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you.”
One Rambling Riddle: “I am a frequent flyer, but I haven’t seen much of the world.”
(This riddle is ironically contrary to the riddle description at the top of this page, and LT editor is chuckling!)
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) There’s got to be a coupon for this somewhere! 2) Never buy
from a store what you can bake yourself. 3) A lot can be solved by turning up the music.
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Lights left on. Spiders. Rainy days. Stepping on Cheerios. Impatient people.
Ten Telling Tales: Mother. Singer. Baker. Preserver. Crazy coupon-er. Tired. Coffee. Teacher.
Forgetful. Enthusiastic.
God’s Gospel Guidance: (Romans 12:12) “Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be
patient in trouble and always be prayerful.”
Summer 2012 Answers: “Sweet Marie” Snider. “Sweet Marie” (Metzger) Fretz. “Sweet William” (Bill) Schmitz.
SJMC - 14
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Winter 2012
Life and Times
Levi Bender (6) – 1st Childhood Home: Waterloo, ON. Now: Kitchener, ON.
Mike Charter (29) – 1st Childhood Home: Mississauga, ON. Now: St. Jacobs, ON.
Susanne (Neufeld) Ens (78) – 1st Childhood Home: Kronstal, Ukraine. Now: St. Jacobs, ON.
Valerie Metzger (25) – 1st Childhood Home: Waterloo, ON. Now: Prince Rupert, BC.
What are some of your favourite smells/sounds/tastes?
Levi: Honey. Flowers. Nachos. Grapefruit. Birds singing. Woodpecker pecking.
Mike: Fall leaves. Pumpkin pies. Campfires. BIG BLOCK ENGINES!
Susanne: Coffee. Flowers. Fresh air. Rain. Train whistle. Steak. Borscht. Mennonite baked goods.
Valerie: Bacon. Clean laundry. Hearing my fiancé laugh. The sound of my cat purring. Smell of coffee.
Things you might not know about me?
Levi: I have had a broken arm and leg. I went along on the youth MDS trip to Mississippi when I was 2. I am learning to speak French.
Mike: Plays guitar. Coaches hockey.
Susanne: I used to love dancing. I made bricks for my parents’ house (Paraguay). World War II refugee. 2-1/2 weeks overdue /w twins.
Valerie: I like to play video games (the less violent type).
What are some notable personality traits that others would say you have?
Levi: Energetic. Friendly. Team player. Smiley. Silly.
Mike: Loyal. Conservative. Prompt.
Susanne: Generous. Perfectionist. Curious. Cautious. Worrier. Honest. Loving. Caring.
Valerie: Funny. Open minded. Nice. Energetic.
What are some of your interests?
Levi: Baseball / T-ball. Street hockey. Swimming/beach. Camping. Lego and Playmobil.
Mike: Golf. Jumping waves on waverunner. Video games.
Susanne: Knitting. Crocheting. Dominoes. Travel (in the past). Reading.
Valerie: Singing. Acting. Social activities. Games.
What are some of your favourite lifetime memories?
Levi: Retreats at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp. Anna Maria Island, Florida. Blue Jays games. Fraser Lake Camp family camping.
Mike: Luke’s birth. Carribean cruise. Expo ‘86.
Susanne: Meeting my husband. Birth of children. Trips to Brazil.
Valerie: Toronto subway/elderly man says: “No one smiles anymore.” He sings, “Pack Up Your Troubles”. I joined in. It made my day!
What are you presently doing? / And what other vocation(s) might you have chosen (or still would choose)?
Levi: Grade 1 at Elizabeth Ziegler Public School. / Construction worker or demolition crew.
Mike: Self-employed flooring installer. / Own another business.
Susanne: Retired from Food Services at University of Waterloo. / Nurse.
Valerie: Member Services Rep. at Northern Savings Credit Union. /I’ve had other opportunities, but I am happiest working /w people.
What are some places where you like to play and/or ponder?
Levi: My backyard. Silver Lake Mennonite Camp. In our attic.
Mike: Lake Ontario. Golf course. Cottaging.
Susanne: In my chair.
Valerie: Taking a walk, taking in the scenery. On my couch!
What are some items on your … “To Do In My Lifetime” list?
Levi: Travel to Egypt, Africa. Go on a hot air balloon ride and helicopter ride. Climb a mountain.
Mike: Go to Europe. Buy a ‘muscle car’. Masters Golf Tournament.
Susanne: Travel to Israel. See my new great-grandchild-to-be. See grandchildren get married.
Valerie: Just making sure to enjoy every moment: the good and the bad.
Life Together - Winter 2012
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 15
Reflections
... pausing to reflect on where God meets us in
our daily lives, including at summer camp.
Volunteering at Summer Camp
Written By: Earl and Alice Martin
H
elping at summer camp was on our “Bucket List”, so when
the sign-up sheet for volunteers at Silver Lake Mennonite
Camp appeared on the SJMC foyer table we considered it,
checked our schedule and signed up. And then we anticipated July
1-6, 2012 like first-time campers!
The day finally came. On Sunday (July 1) we picked up Marie
Snider and arrived at camp (RR1, Hepworth) about 3:30pm. We
were welcomed by Jake, the camp patrol on his golf cart. He kindly
assisted us with our luggage and showed us to our lodging. We
stayed in one of the small one-room volunteer cabins, which was
beautifully lined with wood and had windows on all sides. Our
room was furnished with two single beds, a small chest, good
reading lamps, one chair, and a mat. Perfect! All we needed for a
week to be mostly outdoors.
We met around the BBQ pit at 5:30pm for our evening meal with
all staff, campers and volunteers, which totalled 175! This first
Sunday meal and the Friday evening banquet in the large dining
hall were the only meals we ate with the whole group. For all other
meals, volunteers were always first in the food line and enjoyed
eating and chatting in our quiet spot on the front deck.
We had great fun working with our SJMC crew, and getting to
know new people. We especially appreciated the clean-up and
dishwashing crew. Our duties in the kitchen were strictly food prep.
We washed, peeled, chopped, stirred, mixed, and gathered fresh
herbs from the nearby kitchen garden. We also baked dinner rolls,
cinnamon buns, bagels, muffins, cookies, and pizzas. Sometimes
our Pam Derksen (R-top) was unrecognizably covered with flour!
Besides kitchen duty, Earl also helped the maintenance crew
build a box for the canoe trailer, put up wash lines by the cabins
and paint the outside of the dining hall.
We also had lots of free time to read, relax, bicycle, hike, and
explore the camp. One evening Pastor Kevin invited the SJMC
volunteers for our own special campfire out by the lake. It was a
beautiful, quiet and peaceful evening.
SJMC volunteers (L-R): Laverne and Ella Brubacher, Earl and Alice Martin,
Marie Snider, Kevin Derksen (camp pastor for the week). Other SJMC
volunteers included: Pam, Charlie and Lucy Derksen, Chip and Kai Bender.
Visit: www.slmc.ca
We both enjoyed getting familiar with Silver Lake Mennonite
Camp and would consider helping again.
SJMC - 16
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Winter 2012