Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Conference Assembly

Assembly 2023: Gathering to Worship God’s Faithful Truth

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by Jennifer Svetlik

Around 250 people gathered for worship during Mosaic’s Assembly on November 4, centered on the theme of emet, God’s faithful truth. Songs and scriptures were proclaimed in the languages of Mosaic congregations, prayers were offered, and newly credentialed leaders were anointed and offered anointing to all present who wished to receive it.  

There was a time of remembering the seven credentialed leaders that had died over the past year, one who had retired, as well as a congregation that had closed, and three congregations who had left Mosaic.  

As representatives from Line Lexington (PA) and Towamencin (Kulpsville, PA) congregations came forward for prayer, Mosaic representatives laid hands on them, and Executive Minister Steve Kriss offered a prayer. 

“We have the privilege today to do something that Mennonites have not often done well… These communities are still our neighbors, our siblings,” said Kriss. “We pray for the three congregations who have left Mosaic to flourish…and may we overextend our greetings of peace, embrace of love, and shared joy.”   

In her sermon, Hyacinth Stevens, Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee East Coast, offered guidance for the rest of the day, “Let us not prioritize schedules over the practice of presence.”  

Morning and afternoon delegate sessions followed worship. Read more about the delegate sessions here.

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is a member of the communication team, helping with editing, writing, and content creation. She was born near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in an intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.

Mosaic Assembly 2023 Report: Bound Together, Sharing Differences 

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by Jennifer Svetlik

Hyacinth Stevens, Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee East Coast, was the speaker during Mosaic Assembly Worship.

To read more about the worship service, click here.

“Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken, bind us together, Lord, with love,” prayed Hyacinth Stevens, Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee East Coast, in her sermon during Mosaic Assembly Worship on November 4. In subsequent delegate sessions, more than 300 persons gathered would reflect on the question, “What binds us together as Mosaic?”  

This was just the second time that Mosaic Conference gathered in-person for Assembly, bringing together delegates from California, Florida, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church.  

After a transformational worship service that centered on Psalm 116 & 117 and the theme of emet, God’s faithful truth, delegates called on the Holy Spirit as they gathered to give feedback during the delegate sessions.  

The morning delegate session, led by Angela Moyer Walter, Conference Moderator, began with an introduction of the Mosaic moderators, Board, staff, and committees, greetings from Jon Carlson, MC USA Moderator, and a prayer from Roy Williams, Assistant Conference Moderator. Delegates got acquainted using an identity chart as a tool to help “bring your whole self to the meeting,” explained Gwen Groff, Mosaic Board member and Pastor of Bethany (VT).  

At the beginning of the morning delegate session, Angela Moyer Walter introduced Mosaic’s boards, committees and staff members.

After table discussion, a communion service in Spanish, Indonesian, and English invited everyone to “bring to Christ in communion all the beautiful and broken parts of us.” 

An extended time for lunch and fellowship preceded the afternoon delegate session, in which the Pathway Steering Team provided context on the feedback gathered over the past year.   

Members of the Pathway Steering Team provided background information for the afternoon delegate session.

Pathway Steering Team member Mark Reiff explained, “The newness of Mosaic Conference means we need to ask, ‘Who are we?’ before we ask, ‘With whom do we affiliate?’” Reiff continued, “There is a lot of breadth in how each of our congregations come to Mosaic’s missional, formational, and intercultural priorities and articulating that helps us as we dream about what God is calling us to.”  

In table groups, delegates shared feedback on the Pathway Strategic Planning listening tour summary and named what goals they would have for Mosaic’s three priorities and how to achieve the goals.  Themes that emerged from the large group sharing time were the desire for more opportunities for fellowship and deeper relationships, more connection and communication between congregations, and a greater emphasis on antiracism. Some felt impatient with the Pathway process, and others recognized the difficulty of communicating across differences.  

After hearing the large group feedback, Marta Castillo, Associate Executive Minister responded, “We ask you to continue to pray, and to trust that we love and care for the Conference as much as you do, to trust that we are taking time to do this with as much integrity as we can. Thank you for your participation in this process.”  

A highlight of the afternoon was a session on peacebuilding and reconciliation through drumming, led by George and Mukarabe Makinto, Associate Pastors of LA Faith Chapel. The room was divided into parts, each given a phrase from Ephesians 4:1-6, to offer repeatedly with a rhythmic instrument or beating of hands on the tables. “Each rhythm is different, just like life, and when it comes together, builds a beautiful mosaic of rhythm,” Makinto shared.  

Drum circle led by George and Mukarabe Makinto, Associate Pastors of LA Faith Chapel.

Later in the afternoon, delegates reflected on which biblical stories and personal experiences shape their understanding of what it means to be a Spirit-led Mosaic Conference.  

To close the day, Assembly participants sang a song written for Mosaic Conference by Makinto and Leadership Minister Emily Ralph Servant, which represented the cries of so many gathered, to remain bound together, sharing across differences: “Let your faithful truth abound… Spirit heal us, Spirit lead us over hills and deepest valleys, prepare ye a way.”

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is a member of the communication team, helping with editing, writing, and content creation. She was born near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in an intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.

10 Things to Know Before Assembly

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1. Take time to read the documents in your docket and other important documents before Assembly. Print out a hard copy (if you want one) of the Assembly docket or bring an electronic device on which you can read a copy. We will not be supplying hard copies for everyone.

2. Enter Souderton Mennonite Church through the main carport entrance. There is a parking lot across the street from Souderton, on Chestnut Street, and parking around the building.

3. Doors open for registration at 9:00 am. Arrive early to avoid a line! Worship will begin at 9:30 am. 

4. Lunch will be offered 12:30-2:00 pm. During the morning and afternoon community connecting time, a light snack, coffee, and tea will be provided. Childcare is available. There is no childcare during lunch.

5. Please bring a handheld rhythm instrument, such as a tambourine, drumsticks, or a shaker egg. We will use these during our afternoon session. If you don’t bring something, hands work great too!

6. Our Assembly Support Fund remains open for online giving and also through a collection basket at lunch. Your gifts offset the travel costs for delegates coming from a distance (FL, CA, VT).

7. A prayer room is located next to the sanctuary from 9:30 am-4 pm. It is available for anyone to pray or receive prayer.

8. Plan to spend some time connecting with others in the Exhibit Hall, where our Conference Related Ministries (CRMs) and other agencies will have tables. The exhibit hall will be open 9-9:30 am, 11-11:30 am, and 12:30-2 pm.

9. Those who attend as guests will have the opportunity to converse at tables with other non-delegates during the delegate sessions.

10. Our Conference has members who speak many languages. Be prepared to greet others in a language other than yours. Here are a few simple greetings to learn:

We look forward to seeing everyone on November 4! Need more information? Visit the Assembly Webpage.

What to Expect at Assembly 2023 

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By Jenn Svetlik

When Mosaic Conference gathers for Assembly on Saturday, November 4, it will be just the second time our conference has gathered fully in-person. Hundreds of delegates and congregational leaders from California, Florida, Vermont, New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania will convene in Souderton, PA to join for worship and prayer, fellowship, strategic planning, discussion, and active listening.  

“Assembly is an opportunity to get to know the breadth and depth of our Conference community,” shared Angela Moyer Walter, Conference Moderator. “So much good work gets done virtually within our Conference. That work in committees is so valuable, but nothing is more important than gathering in person and really getting to connect more deeply.”  

“Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, violence in the Middle East and in many other places, we are called, as people of Christ’s peace, to bear witness to God’s emet, God’s powerful kindness and faithful truth,” Moyer Walter continued. Conference Assembly offers an opportunity for Mosaic delegates and guests to do so, across a variety of differences.  

The day will begin with worship, vibrant music, and a sermon by Hyacinth Stevens of MCC East Coast, who will offer much to reflect on about following Christ in community.  

There will also be the opportunity to recognize newly credentialed leaders. Gathering to anoint and pray for these leaders is a sign of hope for all who are gathered. It is a reminder that God calls new leaders, gives them wisdom, and empowers them to do the work that God has given to our Conference.  

During Assembly, we will also acknowledge the four congregations who have left Mosaic within the past year.  

There will be an extended period for lunch and relationship building, and time to visit the Exhibit Hall, to connect with others beyond one’s own table groups, and to visit Conference Related Ministries and other agencies.  

In the afternoon, delegates will gather for continued discussion around commonalities, differences, and tensions among Mosaic congregations, and an opportunity to work at Mosaic’s strategic plan together. 

“In preparation for Assembly we have been fasting and praying the scriptures together to prepare to listen well to God and to one another,” said Moyer Walter. “At Assembly we are invited to listen to God together, to set aside our own perspectives, and get to know our collective body and listen together.” 

What to Expect: Prayer Room 

The Pathway Forward Process invites us “To share in the practice of continued prayer and fasting so that we may discern, yield, and listen to the Spirit among us.” 

All are invited to take time during Assembly to spend time in the prayer room.  It is provided as a space for intercessors to gather and pray onsite for the Assembly participants and proceedings. Intercessors who are not onsite can commit to praying from where they are. Each is invited to pray for a one-hour block of time from the start of Assembly until its conclusion. 

Any assembly attendees who want a quiet space for prayer and reflection can visit the prayer room. (The prayer room will be located in a room off of the back of the sanctuary. Please follow the signs.) If an intercessor is present, they will be available to pray with any who comes in and desires prayer.  

While the focus of the prayer room centers on the Assembly proceedings, the prayers can include personal concerns that attendees may have beyond the Assembly agenda.  

In the delegate sessions, we will learn about rhythm and peacebuilding with a drum, led by Makinto, Associate Pastor of Los Angeles Faith Chapel. Participants should bring a handheld rhythm instrument such as a tambourine, drumsticks, or a shaker egg. (Or plan to clap along.) “Rhythm is a heavenly heartbeat that touches the body and mind and interconnects different parts of our essential being. It heals our heart, it soothes our soul,” Makinto shared.  

In the afternoon, those gathered will celebrate communion, an embodied practice that unifies us as followers of Jesus. “The intention in celebrating communion at Assembly is to gather as the body of Christ, from many congregations and groups in the context of Mosaic, to remember the new covenant and Jesus’s return,” said Marta Castillo, Associate Executive Minister. “It is a unifying and holy space to be in together.”   

Beyond the Saturday main event is a weekend of connecting and being community together. It begins on Friday with the Renewing Nations and Generations annual gathering for People of the Global Majority/People of Color. The gathering is a chance to reconnect, worship together, eat together, and learn together on this year’s theme of migration.  

We look forward to seeing you at Mosaic’s Assembly on November 4. For further information, please see Mosaic’s Assembly website.  

Jenn Svetlik

Jennifer Svetlik (she/her) directs children’s education and justice Initiatives at Salford Mennonite Church and works in fundraising and marketing for Roots of Justice. She and her partner Sheldon have two young children and live in Lansdale, PA.

This is an Important Message From the Assembly Flight Crew

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Good day!  This is your flight tech crew speaking. Welcome and thank you for flying Mosaic Conference Airlines.  

We are happy that you have come aboard and made us your Conference of choice.  We know there are many other conferences that you can choose and we value your participation in our virtual assembly.

My name is Scott Roth and I will be your captain on Flight Assembly 2020, departing on Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 am (EST)/8:00 am (PST). You won’t be seeing me much during the flight because I will be in the cockpit making sure we can fly you to your appropriate Zoom destination.

We want your flight experience with us to be special.  During this season of pandemic and tense times, the conference flight crew of Assembly 2020 wants you to have the time of your life (under these circumstances).  

Expect to hear stories of God’s movement among us and through us, how our conference is growing, and future plans for the conference. Please see your inflight guide, available in six languages. (This inflight guide will be referred to as the “docket” during our time together, so make sure you can access it.)

While we are in flight, delegates will break into small groups for discussions.  These groups will be handled within Zoom. Please be patient during the times of transition.  For those that have interpretation needs, this is being handled with care, using interpretation channels built directly into Zoom.

As we fly along on Saturday, November 7, we want you to be aware of certain things we expect of you.  

  1. Each delegate will need to log into the zoom meeting on his/her own device. (This will be necessary as we break into our assigned, diverse small groups.) 
  2. Please ensure that you have downloaded Zoom onto your computer or device. Prior to assembly, create a login and test to make sure you can access Zoom.  
  3. We encourage you to experience our pre-flight Zoom session to test your connection on 
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10-11 am (EST)/ 7-8 am (PST)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1:30-2:30pm (EST)/ 10:30-11:30am (PST).  

Click here to test your connection any time during these times.  

Here is our pre-flight check-list.  To ensure your best inflight experience, please follow these guidelines: 

  1. Please make sure you have “booked your seat” (registered for assembly). If you have not registered, please do so immediately by clicking here.  Registration is required to ensure you have a seat on the plane.  For security, access to Zoom will only be given to registered participants. 
  2. On the morning of your flight, please be present for boarding at 10:45 am (EST)/7:45 am (PST).  This will give you time to be comfortable in your seat as we prepare for take off.  We will not be having any food/beverage service on this flight, so please bring your own.  
  3. Finally, if you have questions about using Zoom or need further assistance, please view our tutorial video below!
  4. We will land and disembark by 1:15 pm (EST)/10:15 am (PST).  
  5. Finally, we invite you to our afterflight celebration of worship on Sunday, November 8, 11:00 am (EST)/8:00 am (PST).  Tune in via YouTube or Facebook Live. I will be your captain as well for this celebration. No pre-booking (registration) is required for Sunday’s worship. Invite your friends and enjoy this time of celebration!

We here at Mosaic Conference Airlines are excited to have you join us on Flight Assembly 2020.  In closing, as your virtual captain for the weekend, I want to thank you again for choosing us.  

Only 23 More Days

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No, I’m not talking about the presidential election.  But I am looking forward to the first Assembly of Mosaic Mennonite Conference in just 23 days from today, November 7-8, 2020. 

The assembly is in 23 days!

Like many of you, I am disappointed that the first Mosaic Assembly (and my first as moderator) will be held via Zoom, rather than in-person.  One of the annual highlights of assembly for me is the opportunity to connect in-person with so many people across our conference community.  I’m saddened that this will not occur.  

I’m grateful, however, that we can still gather with one another in a way that helps to foster safety and care for each other.  And, I’m excited about the many terrific and creative plans that are taking shape for Fall Assembly.  You won’t want to miss it! If you have not yet registered for assembly, please do so now, by clicking here. It will take less than a minute. We want to ensure everyone is registered ahead of time. 

What can you expect in the delegate sessions on Saturday?  Brevity. The sessions will be much shorter than usual, due to us meeting via Zoom.  For some, this may be music to your ears.  The final schedule is being finalized, but we are anticipating approximately 2 ½ hours total in delegate sessions on Saturday. Our starting times are 11am (Eastern)/8am (Pacific). 

One of the significant agenda items is to celebrate, bless, and affirm eight congregations, located in Florida, as official members of Mosaic Conference.  We hope to have “live” sharing and reporting from these congregations. Welcoming these diverse faith communities into the conference is another tangible expression of us “living-into” our new name: Mosaic.

The other key agenda item is to highlight an updated vision/mission statement for the conference.  One of the charges for our reconciled conference from the Structure and Identity Task Force was “for the Board to address the articulation of the mission and values…to be brought to the Delegate Assembly for affirmation at the 2020 Annual Assembly.”  

The Conference Board, with input and feedback from staff, has been diligently working at this. We will offer a draft vision/mission statement at assembly, with time for delegate discussion and counsel.

In addition to these two agenda items, we will hear an update from the newly-formed Mosaic Conference Nominating committee, as well as receive greetings/blessing from several church-related agencies.

In the midst of the challenges we’ve all experienced in 2020, I’m grateful for the ways that I’ve witnessed God working among us as Mosaic Mennonite Conference. I look forward to gathering together, in 23 days, to celebrate what God has been doing.

Virtual Prayer Room at Assembly

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by Noel Santiago, Leadership Minister

Our Conference Assembly, November 7-8, will celebrate the theme “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” based on the Lord’s prayer: 

9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,  12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9b-13, ESV)

Once again, delegates and participants will have the opportunity to access a prayer room as part of the assembly. This year it will be a virtual prayer room. This will be a first but we want to continue to adapt and adjust to these changing times. 

During these prayer times we have experienced God’s presence ministering among us. God has encouraged, healed, and empowered persons as they have spent time in the prayer room. 

The virtual prayer room will be available via zoom on Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 11:00 am – 1:15 pm (EST)/8:00 am – 10:15 am (PST). Intercessors will be available to pray with those who desire prayer.

The purpose of the prayer room is:

  • To pray and intercede for the delegates as the Spirit leads and as they deliberate.
  • To pray for and minister to anyone who would like prayer.

Even though this will not be an in-person event, we have found that God still moves mightily in our midst when we gather to pray, even if it’s virtually.

As we look ahead to our virtual gathering in November, consider taking time to pray for the Conference Assembly. Pray for our leadership, the delegates, and all who will be present. Pray that God’s unfolding reign will come in great power as we gather. Pray that God’s presence will be evident as God’s Spirit moves, walks, and enlivens our interactions. And, if you are so desire, feel free to drop in via zoom and pray online with us during the assembly.

Members of Mosaic Conference will gather virtually for the Conference Assembly this year.  Celebrating the theme “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” assembly will be held on November 7-8, 2020, on a combination of platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and Zoom.