weLink
Vol.
4, No. 3: Feb. 11, 2009
- Remembering Edith Johns
- Regional meetings
- From our IN-MI Conference Resource Advocate
- Reflections on an interchurch peace gathering
- IN-MI Mennonite Women support for Evie Shellenberger
- Events
- At Bethany Christian Schools
- In the wider church
If
possible, please include blurbs from weLink (as applicable) in your church
bulletins and/or newsletters. Thank you!
Remembering Edith Johns
Please remember in prayer the family of Edith M. Johns, 85, of Benton Mennonite, Goshen, Ind., who
passed away Feb. 5. Edith was the wife of Galen Johns, who served IN-MI
Conference from 1953 to 1970 as conference secretary and from 1977 to 1986 as
executive secretary. Edith was a professional quilter and was involved with
many church quilting circles in the area. She also was a member of the Goshen
Aphasia Support Group. Edith and Galen’s daughter, Lois Johns Kaufmann, serves
as conference minister for Central District Conference. Their son, Loren Johns,
serves as associate professor of New Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary. A funeral service was held Sunday, Feb. 8, at Benton Mennonite.
Edith’s obituary may be read online: www.etruth.com/Know/Obits/Story.aspx?ID=474698
Regional meetings
We look forward to seeing you at our regional
meetings this Saturday, Feb. 14, at Ninth Street Community Church in Saginaw, Mich., and next Saturday, Feb. 21, at First Mennonite
of Indianapolis. We appreciate the gift of time and effort you make when we
meet!
We
believe that each delegate’s presence will make a difference during these times
of worship and discernment. In
addition to sharing creative congregational responses to financial challenges,
delegates will be asked to offer their best thinking about conference finances
and a significantly modified staffing proposal. The Transition Team is
depending on delegates to consider the strengths and challenges of this
proposal. We invite your prayers for the Spirit’s leading.
The
meeting times are 9:30
a.m. – 4 p.m. EST. Docket materials have been sent to all delegates. These materials also are
available online: im.mennonite.net/events/cluster_meetings/cluster_meetings.php
Please
RSVP by Friday, Feb. 13, for the Feb. 21 gathering. Thank you!
If you are new to the
conference and/or to the role of conference delegate, you may find the
Transition Team background information helpful: im.mennonite.net/who_we_are/transition_team/transition_team_members.php
From our IN-MI Conference Resource Advocate
Planning Vacation
Bible School? I encourage you to consider the Faith & Life
Resources packet, “Catching the Spirit.” Children will learn stories from the book of
Acts with creative activities and excellent applications. The materials include
plans for fun worship, interactive dramas, and a CD of songs. Participants will
learn how to talk about Jesus and what they can do to help God’s mission around
the world. You may request a five-day free preview of the packet. Call 800
245-7894, e-mail flr@mph.org or see online: www.faithandliferesources.org/curriculum
-- Eldon Stoltzfus, IN-MI Conference Resource
Advocate
Reflections on an interchurch peace gathering
Julia Gingrich of Waterford Mennonite, Goshen,
Ind., and Rich Meyer of Benton Mennonite, Goshen, represented IN-MI
Conference at an interchurch peace conference Jan. 13–17 in Philadelphia, Pa., titled “Heeding
God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace.” The event was co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the
Church of the Brethren, and Mennonite Church USA. Read Julia’s reflections: im.mennonite.net/news/news.php
IN-MI Mennonite Women support for Evie Shellenberger
Evie and Wally Shellenberger
of Paoli (Ind.) Mennonite Fellowship are spending this
school year in Iran with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Last fall, at
the annual IN-MI Mennonite Women’s Retreat at Amigo Centre, participants
committed to pray for Evie; she will serve as the
retreat speaker this fall. Women across the conference are invited to pray for Evie and send notes of encouragement. Read a letter
from Evie to IN-MI Mennonite Women and a reflection
she wrote, “Singing God’s song in a foreign land,” online: im.mennonite.net/news/news.php
Events
Invite someone to the AMBS open house! Seminary students say that a pastor or mentor
is one of the most important reasons they decided to pursue seminary study and
ministry. Encourage someone in your congregation to attend the Open House at Associated
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., on Saturday, March 7, to
learn more about seminary study, financial aid and campus life. Send an online
invitation: www.ambs.edu/open-house/share
The 18th Annual
Mennonite Youth Choir Festival will be held at Goshen (Ind.) College March 14–15. This festival is bringing
together young people from Indiana, Michigan and Ohio to make music together! After
rehearsing on Saturday, the 130 participants (grades 3–8) will present a worship concert at 2 p.m. Sunday (prelude
begins at 1:30 p.m.). Guest director: James Heiks
of Appleton, Wis., who has taught choral music in public schools for 30 years
and also served on Goshen College’s music faculty (2004–2007)
will conduct for the second time. Cost for the concert: $5/adult, $3/senior or student.
Tickets are available at the door. See: www.youthchoir.mennonite.net/Festival_2008/Letter
Shane Claiborne to speak on “Living a countercultural faith.” Shane Claiborne, founding partner of The Simple Way Community and author (The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President), will be at Goshen (Ind.) College March 18–20. Public events planned for his stay are two chapels: March 18 and 20, both at 10 a.m. in the Church-Chapel (also College Mennonite); and an event on March 19, 7–8 p.m. at the Goshen Theater (Downtown 808). All are welcome! See: gconline.goshen.edu/public/prod/eventcal/bin/?dMonth=Mar&dYear=2009 (scroll to March 18 for the link)
“Caring
for the aging brain in the twenty-first century.” This seminar, to be held Friday, March 20, 8:15 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
at Greencroft Senior Center, Goshen, Ind., is for professionals who work with older adults, including
physicians; nurses; pastors; social workers, psychologists and private practice
therapists; staff of nursing homes, retirement centers and other senior
services; and other interested professionals. Speaker: Malaz Boustani, M.D. Co-sponsors: Oaklawn
and Greencroft. Cost: $50. CEUs: 5.5. Register by March 13. Call 574 537-2680 or see online: www.oaklawn.org/news
Mexico
study and travel course, May–June 2009. For the third year, Goshen (Ind.)
College is offering a continuing education study-and-travel course for adults
titled, “Our Mexican Neighbors.” This five-week night class meets twice each in
May and June, and includes a one-week trip to Mexico City and Cuernavaca.
Highlights include a visit to Teotihuacan, historic Mexico City, a briefing at
the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, a walking tour of Cuernavaca, and a field trip
to the village of Buenavista. Class dates are
Wednesday evenings, May 20, 27, June 10,
17. Tour to Mexico is May 30–June 6.
For details contact Dr. Mary Moretto (574 535-7458 or
marym@goshen.edu)
or course instructor Professor Delmar Good (574 535-7452 or delgg@goshen.edu).
See a brochure online: www.goshen.edu/daes/Home
At Bethany Christian Schools
Pastors Day. For
42 area pastors, it was back to school on Jan. 21. For photos and comments from
some pastors, see: www.bethanycs.net/Pastors_Day_2009
Bethany Christian High School to present the
musical, Rags: Feb.
26, 27, 28 and March 1. Rags is a personal look at the
plight of Russian Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. Human
relationships and lots of humor accompany a family's encounters with poverty,
tradition vs. America, exploitation of workers, the start of the labor movement,
the boss system, and the inner strength that carries them through. Performances
are at 7:30 p.m. Thurs. and Sat., 8 p.m. Fri., and 3 p.m. Sun. Cost: $8/adult,
$6/student. Call 574 534-2567 for tickets. See: www.bethanycs.net/rags
In the wider church
Volunteer office assistant sought. The Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADNet) is seeking additional volunteer office assistant(s) to work 4–12 hours/week in its office at College Mennonite, Goshen, Ind. The ideal person will have good organizational skills and be familiar with common computer applications. Contact Paul Leichty: 574 535-7053
The India
Children’s Choir will come to Indiana this year to share their testimony of
how the Hmar people of northeast India found Christ, as told through their
musical, “Headhunters to Heart Hunters.” Their desire is to inspire and
encourage the Body of Christ in their missions and ministry to their
communities and the world. The dates available for hosting in Indiana are June 3–7 and June 17 or 18. If you
would like to welcome these children to your church, contact Dori Frankel: 800 265-8236 or dfrankel@bftw.org.
Also see online: www.bftw.org
weLink serves to connect IN-MI Conference congregations to
each other, to Amigo Centre and Bethany Christian Schools, and to the wider
church. It is published on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. weLink issues are archived
on the conference web site at: im.mennonite.net/news/welink/welink.php
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the weLink mailing list, contact the conference office: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Editor: Annette Brill Bergstresser, annette@im.mennonite.net (Send
material for the Feb. 25 weLink
by noon on Feb. 23.)
Indiana-Michigan
Mennonite Conference
Mailing address: 212 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526-3723
Phone: 574 534-4006; 800 288-8486
E-mail: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Web site: www.im.mennonite.net