By Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister
My first trip in my role with Franconia Conference over a decade ago was to Guatemala. I traveled with a group of persons from our Conference who began to invest in the lives of communities in rural indigenous villages through Agros International. It was my first glimpse into the global-mindedness of our Conference in both official programs as well as through individual or familial relationships. Though we are rooted firmly in Bucks and Montgomery County, wedged between the metro areas of Allentown, New York City and Philadelphia, we think often like global citizens.
Thomas Friedman, in his well-known book about global economics, The World is Flat, suggests that to survive and flourish into the new millennium, organizations will need to think of themselves as both global and local. This is not new for us. Our immigrant and settler mindset remains with us in many ways, though we’ve been in Pennsylvania for hundreds of years and in some areas the road names bear our familial surnames and reference even our own congregations and faith (see Mennonite Road in Collegeville).
In a time of America first, we know and live otherwise. We live with a sense of the reality of “to whom much is given much is required”. For us in Franconia Conference, as the world became more accessible, we became more aware. Our unusual geography and clusters near major cities on the East Coast provide us ready access to transportation that can take us around the world in 24 hours. With the massive migration of the last decades, the world has also come to us. Sometimes these changes make our heads and hearts spin as we listen to unfamiliar languages in the aisles while shopping at Landis Supermarkets.
As a community in Franconia Conference, we honor the legacy of those from our heartlands who in the early 20th Century, saw the world coming closer and felt compelled to take and live the story in places like Norristown, Rocky Ridge and Bristol. We honor the story of people like Clayton Kratz who in the early 20th century, disappeared in the Ukraine while trying to find ways to assist Mennonites in a time of intense realities. We tell the story of Lois Gunden Clemens, who is recognized as “Among the Righteous” by the state of Israel for her work among refugees during World War II in France. These are our stories and our blessed heritage.
We have invested heavily in the Anabaptist community in Mexico City. Through the MAMA Project, we continually support the health and wellness of communities in Honduras. We’ve built bridges with Anabaptist communities in Indonesia that have transformed us here in the States. We support workers in diverse places through various organizations, as well as regularly sending and supporting longer term initiatives through Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Central Committee. Currently, we have four credentialed pastors who are working outside of the United States in Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Mexico. We regularly produce publications in English, Indonesian, Spanish and Vietnamese and all of the translation is done by partners who live in Asia.
This is one of the things that continues to intrigue me about us. It makes me wonder how we might continue to use these legacies of global connection and our ready points of access through increased ease of transportation and communication, financial resources, along with our communal and individual astuteness and acumen, in our sense of calling as followers of Christ to be both wise as serpents and as innocent as doves in extending the Good News to all people.
This week I returned from London, building on relationships that we have cultivated through the Anabaptist community there. I was there days after the Manchester bombing and preached in London the morning after the incident at London Bridge. The Gospel of Christ’s peace that we know, that we have been given, continues to be brilliantly relevant in these tough times.
God has uniquely situated us at Franconia Conference with global connections and global capacities, hearts provoked to love and care for the places where we are from like Bally and Bridgewater Corners, Souderton and South Philly, while at the same time connecting us to places, people and possibilities globally. In a time when much of the world retreats into fear, we remain people of hope, continually willing to share with neighbors both nearby and faraway, to share this peace that goes beyond comprehension with family, with friends, and even with those who might be called our enemies.
On Sunday June 4, five Franconia Conference congregations (Wellspring, Methacton, Spring Mount, Frederick, and Providence) gathered in Skippack to worship together and have a picnic. Skippack has some historical significance, being the place where Mennonites first settled in Montgomery County. A few centuries later we are still here, seeking to live out a vision of faithful witness to Jesus Christ.
We celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first followers of Jesus (Acts 2), and the gifts of the Spirit present among us today. Worship included speaking and singing in different languages, and a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer included nine languages (Spanish, Indonesian, English, German, Greek, Italian, Kannada, French, Vietnamese). Pastor Sandy Drescher-Lehman of Methacton Mennonite Church presented a children’s story about the birth of the church—complete with birthday cake! —and she and the children led us in a fun birthday song.
The event was a team effort among our congregations, and I think we are discovering that we really enjoy working together and are being blessed in our common activities and growing relationships. Despite the small size of our individual congregations, we are noticing that we benefit from diverse membership and from the wisdom of our elder members. We are realizing that our small congregations can be a blessing to our conference and also to our local communities. We have unique gifts to offer, and by the end of our time together I felt energized for how we might continue to share the love and light of Christ together.
As much as I love sweets, I draw the line with coffee. I like it black. No sugar and no flavored creams. Though I love ice cream, I do not like any coffee flavors. Coffee is best when bitter. When a friend recently heard of my preference to keep sweetener out of my coffee, he commented that it fits my personality and pastoral approach. Perhaps this should offend me but his explanation seemed accurate. He suggested that I do not sugar-coat my observations and understandings. My friend affirmed me for being bitter and for providing space in which others can share of life’s bitterness.
So when I learned the theme for 
Our love has been put to the test in very specific ways as we have walked with congregation members in life and death. I witnessed people expressing their love by sharing meals, sending cards, sitting in silence, in unceasing prayer and in many other acts of love. I know this happens on a daily basis, not only at PMC but in all the churches spread out over our conference.
Beginning as an idea in the Outreach Committee, the five members helped bring their idea to life. The congregation was invited to a meeting to assess the interest; only two people showed up, but they were very enthusiastic. As the idea was discussed, enthusiasm grew, as did the creative ideas. What began as a simple idea for a simple art show turned into an event chock-full of musical performances and a variety of subjective art including landscapes, portraits, handcrafts, and much more.
The event was a resounding success, to which we credit: 1) Having a church structure and a church council that encourages committees to “do their own thing” as long as council feels that it fits in with the church vision and values. 2) A few people willing to risk stepping out of their own comfort zones, and encourage others to use their own creativity. 3) The donation of committed individuals to cover direct expenses, and the church providing space, a few supplies, cleaning services, and the electricity. 4) Martha Kratz drafting her friends to help her create Cafe Fleur in the fellowship hall, and Tim Longacre creating a wonderful entrance, using his gift of set design. 5) Most importantly, the blessing of the Holy Spirit, which has been present to empower, encourage, and guide the planning. We’re counting on the Holy Spirit to continue that work and help us establish and set an example of a Christian community family.
Those who led the event had no idea how much work it was going to be or what the costs might be; they stepped out in faith that God would provide, even though there were only three months to plan it. Some assumed that this would be a one-time event. However, so many guests asked if we were going to do this again next year that we might do it again and extend it into Sunday morning. Some of the stretching of our skills was not easy, but it will be easier if we decide to do it again. We are hoping that some of our new friends will help too, because working together is so much fun.
We are grateful for the members of Bally Mennonite Church who submitted work, and the local artists,and family and friends whose hobbies and creative interests reflect their God-given talents. Without the creativity and network of Julie Longacre and the network and outreach of Gene Galligan, we would not have had as many local artist who shared their art and performed music. We are thankful for those who assisted in supplying and serving free refreshments and lunch and the many additional people who contributed to the success of the event, including The Church of the Good Shepherd in Boyertown for the use of the art racks to display the paintings.
Franconia Mennonite Conference (FMC) together with Living Branches hosted the 
But lately, I have been drawn to perhaps an equally important Christian posture – that it is just as important to be able to receive. Our track record on being grateful receivers is not as stellar as our giving record. When people ask me if they can help me, my response is almost always, “No, I (or we) have things under control.” I wonder if we are not, at times, blocking others from receiving the blessing of giving to us. Do we find ourselves “above” the possibility of receiving from others?