Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Congregational Profiles

Congregational Profile: Methacton Mennonite Church

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by Bobbi Smisko, Methacton congregation

The word ubuntu came to mind today as I reflected on our growing church community. Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu word that is often translated as humanity towards others, but the translation I love best is I am because you are.  This thought holds the nugget of Christian belief that without the community, we cannot be whole.  We need each other.

We at Methacton congregation are currently living into the meaning of ubuntu.  We are a diverse church community located in a middle- to upper-middle-class suburban area.  We are unlike the original founders in dress, lifestyle, and some worship forms but we hold the same inner values presented to us clearly by Jesus so many years ago—the greatest value being Love.

Photo by John Mast

Most of our members do not live near the church.  We are scattered in every direction, in some cases thirty miles from our building.  But we are never disconnected in our hearts. During the week, we are the church in various ways.  We call each other to chat, lend a hand, take meals to the sick, volunteer at a prison, feed the homeless, and support mission around the world. We come together during the week for a memoir writing group, to make knitted throws for an inner-city mission, to maintain the building and grounds, or to plan for our future.  Soon after beginning to attend Methacton, folks discover that they are needed in some way, that their gifts will help to bond us even closer.

In our small congregation of approximately fifty people, with an average of thirty-five attending on any given Sunday, we have some families who were brought up as Mennonites, a few having been in our congregation since they were children.  Others have moved from diverse faith backgrounds and easily blend into our family. One family arrived here from Tanzania several decades ago and their children were raised to adulthood here.  One couple came from Eritrea and found a safe place here after escaping as refugees from the terror in their home country. We have members who grew up as preacher’s kids and folks who are new to Christian faith and everyone in between.  And we welcome everyone through our doors. 

We also are building pathways to our neighbors.  A tragic occurrence brought us all together some months ago when our massive, historic, nearly 400-year-old oak tree suddenly spilt in two and fell to the ground, barely missing several people who had gathered to check on it after a branch had fallen.

A weaving full of Methacton’s “God Stories” – Lent 2019. (Photo by John Drescher-Lehman)

The whole neighborhood mourned the loss; they had found great joy in its beauty, grace, and history.  It had stood for generations as a beacon of hope.  We had phone calls and notes and people stopping at the church to ask how they could help.  Out of that great loss came opportunities to join in special occasions of remembering and establishing deeper relationships within the township.  In concert with the local historical society, we now hold an annual Celebration of the Oak Tree.

Seeds for this community in Fairview Village were planted years ago—280 years ago, to be exact. They took root, surviving many seasons of struggle. These days, our Sunday worship is eclectic, creative, deeply spiritual, and brought forth with great love for the God we all worship and for one another.  We listen to each other’s God Stories and are instilled with new hope about how God works within us.

We are building genuine Christian community here at Methacton.  Our goal is to answer the call of Jesus as he prayed to his father, “Make them One as you and I are One.”  I believe we are on the path to that end.

Congregational Profile: Deep Run East Mennonite Church

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by Sharon Rice, Deep Run East congregation

As one of the oldest congregations in Franconia Conference (founded in the mid-1700s), Deep Run East in Perkasie, PA seeks to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, with prayer as our foundation.  We at Deep Run East envision a community of faith that will glorify God in worship, open our lives to our community, and share our gifts and resources in faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Sorting socks at Hands in Service (photo by Barb Rice)

For the past 7 years, we have been participating in something we call “Salt and Light.”  The idea originated from an ​article our mission commission read that was about an alternative to traditional Sunday morning worship, in which we would go outside the church building to worship by serving the community. 

Building upon this idea, we began a Salt and Light Sunday in 2012.  People signed up for various service projects, from doing yard work for neighbors to picking up trash along the roads, to visiting the elderly and shut-ins, to volunteering in a food pantry, and more.  After our morning activities we gathered back at the church to share about our experiences.  Many of us found this practice invaluable and rewarding. 

Pricing items at Worthwhile Thrift (photo by Barb Rice)

It was decided that we would continue this as an annual event.  ​Starting in 2013, we did “Saturday Salt & Light Day.” Then in 2015 we went back to Sunday and in 2017 did “Salt & Light Weekend,” with projects available on both days. After each Salt and Light day or weekend, we met back at the church to discuss our experiences in serving.

This year, the mission commission defined the vision of Salt and Light as the following: “Salt and Light seeks to cultivate a lifestyle of service in members of Deep Run East by engaging in the regular practice of serving others as we are called to do by Jesus.”  We further decided to extend Salt and Light to be a ​season​ of serving during Lent.  Doing this provided opportunities for individuals to participate in more than one project if desired.  Projects included counting pills for a Healthy Ninos trip, serving at Hands in Service (Warrington), helping at Pennridge FISH, sorting clothing and other merchandise at the new Plumsteadville Worthwhile Thrift Store, and much more.  The Sunday after Lent, people again had the opportunity to share regarding their experiences.

The group who volunteered at Worthwhile Thrift (photo by Terri Nyce)

We had a positive response to turning Salt and Light into a season. Doing so provided more flexibility for people with busy schedules to participate. Our goal as followers of Jesus is to incorporate this type of service as a ​lifestyle​ rather than simply as a once-and-done event to check off our “to-do” list, and we are believing that we have a good start! 

 

Prayer requests for Deep Run East:
*  for our Summer Bible School Leaders, our many volunteer crew leaders/teachers and the approximately 170 children and youth that will attend our programs from June 24-28. Our prayer is that God’s Spirit will be at work in the lives of the children and their families, and that many seeds of Christ’s Kingdom will be planted.

* for our “Building on the Past, Envisioning the Future” process as we intentionally dream together and seek out ways to use our resources at DRE to bless and fulfill needs in our local community.
 
* prayer as we seek to build relationships in our community, that as we meet new people these may turn into growing friendships.

Congregational Profile: Spring Mount Mennonite Church

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by Chris Nickels, pastor

A well-known children’s book has become a symbol for Spring Mount Mennonite Church—with a slight edit to the title. After helping a local relief worker collect supplies for the people of Haiti (following the devastating earthquake in 2010), she deemed us, “The Little Church That Could.” I think this name calls to mind both our history, as well as how we seek to participate in what God is doing in our community today. 

Our congregation is located in the Perkiomen Valley—a community known today for recreational activities at Spring Mountain and the Perkiomen Trail, for hosting the Philadelphia Folk Fest, and for having the best cheesesteak (at the Collegeville Italian Bakery and Moccia’s Train Stop, and I am right about this). A century ago, it was a resort town for residents from Philadelphia. Local Mennonites found ways to build relationships with neighbors through Sunday School, summer Bible School, and eventually the founding of our congregation. 

We believe that each member is a minister, and that it’s important to sit around the table with each other. A monthly Table Church service helps us worship in an unconventional way and lets us practice valued aspects of Anabaptist tradition—communal interpretation of scripture, and listening for the guidance of the Spirit. As fellow pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler writes, “In our Mennonite church, the interpretation of the Bible doesn’t belong to the preacher alone. It belongs to us, to God’s people. We ask questions, comment on what we’ve heard, fill in the gaps, tell each other ‘thank you’ for the work done here among us.”[1] Ok, sometimes we argue a little bit, too. Yet the Spirit illuminates. 

Building relationships with neighbors continues and helps us notice where God is at work.

Food insecurity is an issue here, which has led us to participate in supporting the Daily Bread Community Food Pantry and the Perk Valley Power Packs program. More recently, we sensed a deeper way that we could meet needs and also make friends in our neighborhood was by hosting free Community Meals. The meals are very well attended, and we hope that the neighborhood will view our space as their “meeting house” too.  

The last few years have put us in contact with local veterans. Some of us received trauma training specific to military and combat veterans, and the whole congregation has demonstrated compassion to foster healing from the wounds of war. In cooperation with a local veterans’ network, we hope to soon establish a healing circle for veterans at our meetinghouse —a restorative, safe space where veterans can share their stories and civilians can listen and hold space for them. We are learning to see these relationships as a way we live into our calling as a Peace Church. 

Autism Sensory Resources

In order to better serve our community, we desire to make our building more accessible to all. Part of this work will entail raising support for physical upgrades. But it has also meant learning to support our members with autism in worship and church life and to learn from their giftedness.  Our worship space includes a picture schedule (icons that depict the worship order) and a “success station” with sensory items, seat cushions, and information about local service providers.

The Spirit continues to form this “Little Church That Could,” and it is a joy to serve Christ together.

Prayer requests for Spring Mount:
* for the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit to surround our congregation, as a number of our members are currently struggling with illness, hospitalizations, and the loss of loved ones.
* prayer as we seek to build relationships in our community, that as we meet new people these may turn into growing friendships

[1] Melissa Florer-Bixler, Fire By Night: Finding God in the Pages of the Old Testament (Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2019) 35.

Congregational Profile: Zion Mennonite Church

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Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA, asks you to pray for youth who will soon be baptized, for their new Associate Pastor of Faith Formation, Jordan Luther, who will join them in June, and that Zion may grow in grace as they follow God’s call in their community.  See the below video to learn more about Zion and their Bean Bag Food Program.

 

 

Introducing Indonesian Light Congregation

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Indonesian Light Church (ILC) was founded on January 22, 2012 in Philadelphia, in the home of one of the elders.  On that day, the first service took place with other nine congregations and was led by Pastor Pison Sinambela. When it began, it was known as Indonesian Lutheran Fellowship.ILC2

In July 2013, the congregation moved to its present location at 1612 South Broad Street.

We also meet in the church for our weekly bible study, led by the elders or one of the rotating preaching team.

In March, the congregation changed its name to Indonesian Light and began the process to join the Mennonite family.

Our Mission: Indonesian Light Church (ILC) is a Christian Family of Believers providing spiritual and physical aid to the Indonesian community in the Philadelphia area. ILC is a growing congregation and aspires to be a good servant to the people of Philadelphia and beyond,  and as a role model with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:8).

Our Vision: ILC’s vision is to be a church and a body of Christ which gives light, has strong roots, and is fruitful for the purpose of sharing with others (Matthew 5:14).

Introducing Perkiomenville Mennonite Church

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PerkiomenvillePerkiomenville Mennonite Church started in 1935 as a Sunday school for the children in the Perkiomenville area.

Outreach is in the congregation’s DNA, and has guided the mission and activities of the congregation since it began; we provide pastoral care to those inside the church while also considering how our congregational life and activities will benefit those outside the church. In addition to local ministry, we also value our relationships with churches in Latin America and Europe.

We are a dynamic, multi-generational fellowship with many children. Our worship services include inspirational singing—both traditional and newer songs—and practical, biblically-based sermons.

Mission Statement

To be the people of God who, led by the Holy Spirit, live out the Biblical teaching to love God and care for people. 

Vision Statement

To make disciples who know Jesus personally, nurture them to maturity, equip them for ministry and empower them for mission.

Strategy

  • Grow – Discipleship is at the core of our church as we seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord and in our knowledge of his word, and putting our faith into practice.
  • Show – Care is a hallmark of our church; showing care to each other and to all who come into our building.
  • Go – We all have a God-given commission to go and share Jesus with others.
  • Flow – As we GROW, SHOW, and GO, God’s grace and power will FLOW from us in rivers of living water!

Introducing Nueva Vida Norristown New Life

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Nueva Vida Norristown New Life

Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Mennonite Church is located in Norristown, Pa., on the corner of Marshall and Swede streets, about a block from the Montgomery County Courthouse.

The intercultural, multilingual, urban Mennonite church that exists today was formed by God in 1990 through the joining together of three Mennonite congregations in Norristown—one Latino, one African American, and one Anglo and African American. The vision of God’s healing work of restoration, reconciliation, and transformation brought us together to become a living house of prayer for all peoples.

Nueva Vida Norristown New Life has three associate pastors: Ertell Whigham, Angel Tamayo, and Marta Castillo. The three associate pastors—there is no senior pastor—serve on a leadership team that represents the diversity of the congregation.

The calling of Norristown New Life is to be a diverse body of believers who

  • Worship the Lord in unity
  • Experience the transforming and gifting power of the Holy Spirit
  • Proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation through Jesus Christ in word and deed

Our witness to the gospel of Christ includes but is not limited to: bilingual services twice a month; outdoor services and picnics once a month in the summer; an internet café; voter ID clinics; translation services; The Benefit Bank (which connects people to social services and tax prep); Backyard Bible School; small group activities; and more.