Articles : May 23, 2011
Congregations
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Dethroning king stomach
The Chamber Singers of Eastern Mennonite University, under the direction of Kenneth J. Nafziger, presented music March 6. Our sermon that day was “Dethrone King Stomach,” an introduction to 40 days of fasting and prayer.
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White House responds to children
“Talkabout” is a paragraph featured in our weekly church bulletin giving the Scripture of the Bible story explored by the children that Sunday. It gives ideas for talking about the story, suggestions for applying it and a short prayer.
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The Judas in us all
On Youth Sunday, March 6, Lindale’s good-sized MYF did a very commendable piece of work with the worship service, on the topic “The Judas in Us All.” Sponsors Jeremy and Jody Byler, Tara and Cara Kauffman and Luke and Cindy Voth helped plan and lead the service.
Editorial
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World turned upside down
Four years from now, Mennonite World Conference will try something different — holding an assembly in North America. In the two decades since the last one, the Mennonite world has turned upside down.
Feature
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Thrift shop provides peaceful sanctuary amid violence
WINNIPEG, Man. — Margarite Courchene lives alone in the North End of Winnipeg and doesn’t leave her home when it is dark outside.
Letters
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Lingering questions
Though a new Mennonite Church USA office building in Elkhart, Ind., will soon be finished, dedicated and occupied, many questions linger.
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Choice to exclude
The April 18 issue reported that a gay Mennonite pastor was expelled from a U.S.-Canadian worship committee despite his contributions to the church. My church uses two song books for which he was the project editor. Sadly, the “primary reason” is that he is in a committed relationship with another man — which, according to another report (“Seminary Ex-President Can Return to Ministry,” April 18), appears more difficult for the church to accept than forgiving failure in a heterosexual relationship. A third report notes the appointment of a person to watch over inclusivity in the church in issues related to racism and immigration (“New Role to Focus on Antiracism, immigration,” May 2) but does not mention including our fellow Christians because of their sexual orientation.
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Wrong inclusion
“Goshen Students Urge Inclusion of Gay Faculty” (May 9) saddens me very much. How much better it would be to have a heading such as “Students urge Holy Spirit-filled and evangelistic faculty.” The article quotes a Goshen professor who writes of “extraordinarily gifted [GLBTQ] students.” I do not believe this area of “inclusion” comes from a gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Sharing the peace
On the occasion of the retirement of Susan Mark Landis as minister of peace and justice from Mennonite Church USA (“Ministry of Peace,” May 2), my experience working with her and hundreds of others on the touring, gymnasium-sized Peace Factory exhibit convinced me that Susan’s gift is channeling spiritual energy. The miniscule budget of the Peace and Justice Network was a mere sliver of the power that thousands of volunteers gave to her causes in response to her loving, affirming nature.
News
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Concerns of South rise to top for MWC
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The rise of Anabaptist-related churches in the global South is becoming much more than a matter of membership. At a meeting of the Mennonite World Conference Executive Committee May 4-10, actions on staffing and structures reflected that growth.
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