News

First summit of the Mennonite Early Childhood Network

April 23, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

MEA_Summit_2013March — Front, left to right: Tracy Hough, assistant professor of education, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va.; Kathryn Aschliman, MECN coordinator and emeriti professor of early childhood education, Goshen (Ind.) College; Linda Martin, former director, Salford Mennonite Child Care Centers, Harleysville, Pa.; Standing, left to right: Louise Matthews, director, The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center of Bluffton (Ohio) University; Tami Keim, professor of early childhood education, Hesston (Kan.) College; Elaine Moyer, senior director, Mennonite Education Agency; June Hershberger, founder of Early Childhood Innovative Connections and executive director, Diamond Street Early Childhood Center, Akron, Pa.; Linda Taylor, assistant professor of early childhood education, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.

by Louise Matthews, Mennonite Education Agency

Eight women, six of whom were current members of the Mennonite Early Childhood Network (MECN) Council, gathered in the home of Linda and Vernon Martin of Salford congregation (Harleysville, Pa.), March 15-17, for the first summit meeting of MECN. Since 2006, members of the MECN Council have been meeting through monthly conference calls to provide information and support for parents and early educators of children, birth through kindergarten, primarily through e-mails to members and on its website.

Kathryn Aschliman, MECN coordinator, and Elaine Moyer, Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) senior director, former principal of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, and a member of Salford congregation, planned the agenda and facilitated the event for early childhood professionals from Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The three-day summit included time to reflect on the mission statement, to explore current trends in care and education of young children, and to brainstorm about ways that MECN can continue to provide support for others in the early childhood field. The need for additional funding for MECN initiatives and resources was also discussed.

For a glimpse of local programs, Linda Martin provided an opportunity for attendees to visit Salford Mennonite Child Care Centers (SMCCC) in two locations: Salford Mennonite Church and the intergenerational child care program located in the Dock Woods Retirement Community in Lansdale (Pa.). Linda was the director of SMCCC for nearly 20 years and is currently serving on the board.

As an initial outcome of the summit, MECN will invite responses from churches, child care and education programs, and parents through a needs assessment survey to learn how MECN can best serve young children through the adults who teach and care for them. Responses to the survey will clarify the needs and help determine direction for future MECN initiatives.

According to Moyer, “MECN continues to support the very important future of the church—young children. It was a privilege to be with a group of educational leaders dedicated to early childhood education, wondering how MECN can best network and support parents, churches and early childhood centers.”

Louise Matthews, director of The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center of Bluffton University, led the Sunday morning worship. Reflecting on the message highlighted in the picture book, Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell, she said “We are gifted differently and have unique opportunities to be advocates for young children in direct and indirect ways through our various roles as educators and directors.” Inspired by her involvement with MECN, Louise is in the early phase of creating an online resource called “Books & More” in the form of short video clips to highlight books and follow-up activities for those who work with young children. These YouTube videos will be accessible at www.bluffton.edu/lionlamb in the near future.

June Hershberger, founder of Early Childhood Innovative Connections and executive director of Diamond Street Early Childhood Center in Akron, Pa., commented, “As a center director, I would like teacher resources and classroom resources that relate specifically to Anabaptist views on issues such as peaceful reconciliation of conflict, nonviolent classrooms and the use of technology with young children, as well as faith-indicators for MEA accreditation at the prekindergarten level and possibly endorsement of age-appropriate peace and Bible curriculum.”

Aschliman summarized the summit well: “What a memorable weekend it was!—such hospitality of caring for body and soul; such group synergy; such long-term visioning; such inspiration, such passion for young children, their families, and the church. We departed with the assurance that ‘The God of love and peace shall be with you (II Cor. 13:11).’”

For more information about MECN, visit www.MennoniteEducation.org/MECN.

Executive Board OKs two resolutions for Phoenix

April 17, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

by Gordon Houser, The Mennonite (reposted by permission)

At its last meeting before the delegate assembly in Phoenix in July, the Executive Board (EB) of Mennonite Church USA met April 4-6 in Kansas City, Mo., and decided to send to delegates two resolutions for their consideration.

One resolution, “Protecting and Nurturing Our Children and Youth,” seeks to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect and encourage the adoption of policies and practices to protect children and youth in the church community. Because of concern for liability issues, the board decided to recommend its adoption, “pending legal counsel.”

Another resolution, on creation care, calls for congregations and members to care for creation as part of the good news of Jesus Christ. EB members recommended this without discussion.

A third resolution, on Israel/Palestine, had gone to the Constituency Leaders Council’s meeting in March for discussion.

However, said Dave Boshart and David Sutter, co-chairs of the resolutions committee, “nearly all table groups at CLC discouraged or had significant reservations about presenting the resolution … to the delegate assembly.”

The committee did agree that the topic was important, and EB’s executive committee asked, What do we want to achieve?

Eventually, EB agreed on the following: “Executive Board desires to have conversation in the church which helps us understand both Israeli and Palestinian narratives and the Christian and American narrative in relation to them, and which helps us understand how we interpret the Bible in regard to these issues, particularly how we understand Christian Zionism.”

In an unprecedented occurrence, much of EB’s business time was spent in executive session, which means the press is not allowed to report on what is said.

In an April 8 email, moderator Dick Thomas said: “We spent about one-third of our meeting in either executive session or in session with agency staff and media present [but] where we requested no reporting of the conversation. Some of this conversation had to do with internal board processes and some with matters of discernment that will be reported after further conversation with individuals or groups that could not be at the board meeting.”

In other business, EB decided to reduced its number of meetings per biennium from seven to six, with one meeting in a non-convention year held by teleconference and the summer meeting in a convention year held at the convention site, with no meeting in the fall. EB members recognized the need for cutting budget but lamented the loss of meeting time.

Larry Hauder said, “It’s hard to build relationships with fewer meetings.”

Executive director Ervin Stutzman noted that the Purposeful Plan, which guides the work of the church, did not say anything about “our need for God.”

The board agreed to add the following to the document:”We recognize that because of sin, all have fallen short of the Creator’s intent, marred the image of God in which we were created, disrupted order in the world and limited our love for others. Therefore, through the reconciling power of Jesus Christ, we seek to walk in righteousness, or ‘right-relatedness’ with God and others.”

And in the section under Holistic Christian Witness, they added the following sentence: “Our allegiance to Jesus Christ calls us to love our enemies, demonstrating our willingness to die for our convictions but not to kill for them.”

Seeking peace and pursuing it with Conference youth

April 16, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

by Don McDonough, Arise

What happens when a youth group from a 274-year-old congregation (Methacton) meets with the youth from a community outreach that is just about a year old (Arise)? What happens when you then pile those youth in a couple of vans and drive two hours to a cabin where they will be cooped up for a couple of days? What happens when you add to this mix three 50-something-year-old leaders who want to connect with these kids and have a serious discussion about being peacemakers? You get a weekend when all of us learned a lot about each other and probably a little more about ourselves, a weekend when we all learned that we can have a lot of fun together.

The teenagers could not have been more different. The ethnic differences were the first to fade away and as we got to know each other better, a variety of other differences began to surface. The students were raised and shaped in different contexts and by different influences. Some attend church regularly, others don’t. They came from five different high schools, each of which had its own culture and its own idea of what is cool. One youth described the car that they wanted their grandfather to buy for their 16^th birthday. How must that have sounded to the person next to them who never knew their grandparents and for whom the hope of owning a car seemed so far out of reach?

Despite our differences, we were able to bond and soon shared freely about ourselves and our lives. Our discussions centered around peace issues; more than just war or mass shootings, we talked about an attitude of peace. The youth shared about bullying, social media abuse, and sports violence. For the older leaders, it was sad to see how the very activities we used participate in for relaxation and community building have turned into a competitive, anxiety-causing force. Even the cheerleaders shared how their focus was less on encouraging their team and more on degrading the other team. How do we become peacemakers in this environment?

We were so blessed to have Ron Wycoff-Kolb along. Ron shared passionately about how God convicted him to become a conscientious objector even though he had voluntarily joined the military during the Vietnam War. We listened intently as he told the story of his family’s rejection and the price he had to pay for following this call to peacemaking. We were challenged; in the end, a diverse group of teens and a few post-mid-lifers found some common ground. May all of us be brave enough to take a costly stand for peace, whatever our context and whatever our age.

Reaching out across cultures in Souderton

April 11, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

Souderton--Wendy & students — Wendy (far left) has been hosting a small group for Chinese exchange students since 2011.

by Alyssa Kerns, Souderton

When Wendy Wong came to the United States from Hong Kong 22 years ago, she was befriended by a Chinese woman who worked with Wendy’s husband Kim.

Fast forward to March 2011 when Wendy met Peter, a Chinese exchange student staying with Martin and Rebecca Reeser. “I wanted to provide a community for Peter and other Chinese students in the area, just as Kim’s coworker did for me,” Wendy said. She arranged to take Peter to a Chinese church in Bluebell. The Chinese church connected Wendy with other host families in the area and the International Chinese Student Outreach began to take shape.

Working with AnneMarie, who is from the church in Bluebell and speaks different Chinese dialects, Wendy developed a monthly Bible study for the students. Currently, about 16-20 Chinese exchange students from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and Faith Christian Academy come to Souderton Mennonite Church once a month for an afternoon and evening of games, cooking, worship, Bible study, and discussion.

Wendy and the students have learned from each other in the meetings. “The students asked to have authentic Chinese food at our meetings,” said Wendy. “I grew up in Hong Kong, in the southern part of China and most of the students are from the northern part, which has different food. So I bought the ingredients and they offered to help cook and teach me.”

“Christianity is not taught in China and is a very different concept to the students,” Wendy explained. So she uses the Bible Study time to reinforce what the students are learning about Christianity at school and from their host families and to discuss what they are learning within the context of their cultural background.

In the fall of 2012, Wendy was looking for another adult fluent in Mandarin who could help with small group discussions. She met Jimmy and Lisa Kuo, a brother and sister studying at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield. “We heard from a seminary classmate that Wendy needed help from people who could communicate with the students in Mandarin. Since we are fluent in Mandarin and passionate about sharing the Good News with people, there was no reason why we would not get involved in helping the Chinese students experience the love of God in Jesus Christ through genuine relationships,” said Jimmy and Lisa.

The monthly meetings give Jimmy and Lisa an opportunity to connect with the students in several different ways. “We do things from cooking and Bible studies to just casual conversations with the students,” Jimmy and Lisa explained. “We make sure that everything we do is relational, incarnational, relevant, and intentional. The purpose of the outreach for us is to create an environment for the students to encounter God in every little thing we do as a community.”

“We enjoy building relationships with the students, and we appreciate that they continue to challenge us and move us outside our comfort zone,” Lisa and Jimmy added. “Although we were born in Taiwan, we were raised in New Zealand. Therefore, we have had to learn much from the Chinese students about their culture and worldview. Only when we value people by taking the time to listen to their stories do we know where God is already working in their lives and where God wants us to partner with Him to bring in the story of Christ to make their stories complete.”

Wendy is already looking ahead to fall 2013. “Jimmy and Lisa graduate in July and AnnaMarie won’t be able to help in the fall, so I am praying for God’s guidance in how to continue this ministry,” said Wendy.

The students also are encouraging Wendy in this ministry. “There are three seniors at Faith Academy who have accepted Jesus since the beginning of this outreach. Their faith is strong and they experience God in person. It is God’s grace that gives me the opportunity to witness His marvelous love through these students. They have even encouraged me to keep hosting this program so other Chinese students will come to Christ.”

God is already near: an adventure with the Fire Marshal

April 10, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

Bethany Birches--Dave and stairwell — Before ….

by Brandon Bergey, Bethany Birches Camp

This is a story about a recent requirement on Bethany Birches Camp by the office of the Vermont State Fire Marshal.

I remember it well… standing in the basement and looking out one of the windows; feeling both angst and joy. The angst was related to discovering a problem for which the solution was unknown to me. The joy was related to sensing that God was near and that an adventure lies ahead.

Bethany Birches--Dave and sheet rock — … and after!

In short, the adventure was to quickly update a building as required for safety regulations. And, to do this with minimal resources in a short season that is not usually focused on infrastructure but rather on preparation for summer camp. The greatest challenges were:

Lack of available money
Lack of available time
To synthesize my own desire to upgrade the building, meet the fire marshal’s requirements and accomplish the board’s mandate to spend as little as possible.

While we spent a hare more than “as little as possible” (choosing real wood for wall finish instead of wood paneling or sheet rock, for example) we kept it very close to bare minimum. On top of that, we were finally able to insulate the roof of the building and upgrade its R value from 1.75 to 40! Talk about savings in the long run!

Bethany Birches--ceiling insulation — Before …

As to the other challenges, money became available. In just a few months we received $75,000 for the work. We spent almost all of it on the project. The money made some additional time available which helped a lot. This confirmed my sense that God was not only near, but working through the authorities (Romans 13).

However, in order to upgrade the building in this process, I spent more time than maybe I ought. While the rest of my work did not suffer, per se, I look back and realize it cost me personally. Our dog died while I wasn’t paying attention and a new challenge related to falling asleep started during this season of elevated stress. How much is an upgraded building worth? Paying through suffering and loss for the sake of Christ is cheap. Suffering and loss feel expensive, though, if not in the service of the King. It is evident that numerous guests to camp have already appreciated the upgrades. I hope that the price I paid personally are useful to God.

Bethany Birches--cabin lofts finished — … and after!

Here’s an interesting point – when God breaks into our lives, “work” and “personal space” are not allowed to remain separate. When having a child, one loses sleep. That sleep deprivation affects productivity at work. Or, when something stressful happens at work, relationships or chores at home are allowed to suffer. What this shows me is that our lives are not as segregated as we sometimes long for them to be. We are one person carrying with us whatever we are currently carrying, wherever we go. If the pain of a broken relationship is currently something we carry, we carry that pain to work and to home and to a dinner party and when walking the dog. While this appears to be an unpleasant fact of life, one that we try to deny often, I give thanks to God that we are made in a way that allows us to be whole.

As I prayed in this blog post, “God, join us… in all our endeavors,” I’ve since realized that if God is already near, my prayer ought to be more like “God, soften my heart and open my mind so I may see you and your guidance. And give me the willingness to bear any cost for your sake. I trust what Jesus has said: that if I release and entrust my life to you, I may finally possess it.”

Rockhill Comm. merges with Community Home Services

April 9, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

Rockhill Mennonite Community merges with Community Home Services and announces new CEO

Sellersville, PA – The Boards of Directors of Rockhill Mennonite Community and Community Home Services are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership. Rockhill Mennonite Community is a continuing care retirement community with a long history of providing residential care in Sellersville. Community Home Services of Souderton, established in 1995, is a licensed Home Care provider. Both organizations are Conference Related Ministries of Franconia Conference and are non-profit and faith based, with a like minded vision to provide seniors in this area with quality and compassionate care in a variety of settings.

Therefore, effective July 1, 2013, Community Home Services will become a subsidiary of Rockhill Mennonite Community. The new entity, a registered 501(c)(3) corporation, will be known as RM Home Services but will continue doing business as Community Home Services.

“We are excited about this venture,” affirms Mary Tidey, Executive Director of Community Home Services. “In aligning ourselves with the talent, leadership and resources of Rockhill Mennonite Community, we will continue to build on our reputation for providing the best in home care. This announcement is the culmination of many months of work on the parts of the leaders of both organizations. It represents a new milestone for us as we position ourselves to grow within the changing landscape of healthcare.”

Glenn Bauman, Vice Chairman of the Board of Rockhill Mennonite Community and board member of Community Home Services notes that “it has been exciting to be involved in developing this partnership. It has been a lengthy but rewarding process for us all in getting to this place where we can now publicly announce the merger. We are looking forward to the many ways that we can not only serve in-home care to the elderly here on our campus but also in the surrounding community.”

While leadership of both organizations go about the work of integration in the coming months, operations of the CHS office in Souderton will continue as it has for the foreseeable future.

The Board of Directors of Rockhill Mennonite Community is also delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Karen Lehman as RMC’s new Chief Executive Officer. Formerly the Executive Director at Pennswood Village, a retirement community in Newtown, Pa, Ms. Lehman will begin on June 17, 2013.

Ron Hertzler, RMC Board Chair, is pleased with the decision. “The Board of Directors is excited to announce that Karen Lehman will be our new Chief Executive Officer. She brings a wealth of experience to this role having served in leadership roles in other CCRC’s. We anticipate her leadership will bring many wonderful possibilities for Rockhill Mennonite Community in the future.”

Ms. Lehman offers over 24 years experience in the health care and retirement industries. She has successfully led several communities – in Indiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania – in new development and construction projects, operational efficiencies, technological advancements and fiscal management. She is a leader in the senior care field, and promises excellent strategic visioning and planning for RMC. Most notably, Lehman was Chief Operating Officer at Greencroft Retirement Community in Goshen, the largest non-profit CCRC in northern Indiana.

“I am happy to join RMC and serve in the CEO position,” states Lehman. “I look forward to helping set a strategy for the future that takes into consideration how RMC has been positioned for today, but also considers the needs and values of those we will be serving tomorrow.” Lehman’s initial focus will be to work closely with the Board of Directors on governance and operations, “not only to strengthen current programming and structures but also to look at opportunities for RMC to further develop leadership that takes into consideration the needs of all those served.”

Ms. Lehman has led communities both large and small to realize their full potential. She has been responsible for communities with as few as 425 residents to as many as 1,200. Operationally, she has directed staff ranging from 100 to 500 employees.

From an Amish and Mennonite family, Ms. Lehman resides in Furlong, Pa with her husband, Kent Beck. She currently serves as the Treasurer for Mennonite Women USA Board of Directors. She is also serving on the Leading Age (formerly American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) Commission on Ethics. Most recently, she has been appointed to the Board of Resource Partners, a risk-management organization serving nonprofit mission and service agencies within the faith communities of Mennonite, Brethren and Quaker denominations.

In anticipation of joining RMC’s staff and residents, Ms. Lehman states, “Rockhill Mennonite Community is well known for its quality of care and caring, invested employees. I’m excited to be a part of the team that will help guide RMC’s residents and staff into the next chapter of a long and respected story.”

Orville Yoder will continue as Interim CEO until Ms. Lehman assumes her post on June 17th.

*******************

Founded in 1995 by five area retirement communities, Community Home Services of Souderton is a nonprofit ministry serving the Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery Counties of Pennsylvania. Care and Support Services are uniquely designed to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each client and family. For more information, please call (215) 723-1906 or visit us on the web.

Also located in Pennsylvania, situated on 44 acres in Bucks County, Rockhill Mennonite Community has been providing services for over 75 years. A full continuum of care includes 217 Independent Living residences, 53 Personal Care residences, a 90-bed Healthcare Center and Adult Day Services. All of these services are provided under one roof, which permits changing needs to be met by professional, caring staff. For more information, please call (215) 257-2751.

Carrying the cross on Good Friday

April 4, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

Ripple Good Friday cross — Members of Ripple Allentown carry the cross as part of an ecumenical procession in Allentown on Good Friday. Photo by April Bartholomew / The Morning Call.

by Carolyn Albright, Ripple Allentown

This year on Good Friday, Ripple participated in the West End Ecumenical Worship, which involved a procession of the cross, ending at the host church, where 5 congregations joined for a 3 hour worship service. Each church was responsible for leading worship for a 1/2 hour slot.

We had announced this for many weeks in advance so many Ripple folks showed up on our front porch, which was along the processional route, where we joyfully and willingly joined the procession, which had started at the Episcopal church just a few blocks away. Isaiah, 6, and his sister, Marinette, 8, regular “Ripple Kids,” were the first to speak up to help carry the cross.

As we solemnly walked along, one woman stopped her car, jumped out, and took photos of us with her cell phone. Others slowed down as they drove past, and once, while crossing a street as the light changed, the drivers respectfully let us pass, as they would have a funeral procession (ironic). As Isaiah tired of carrying the heavy cross, he readily asked for help and for someone else to take a turn. For me, this was a symbol of the community building that goes on at Ripple; we all carry one another’s burdens at different times, and he so innocently enacted this truth.

Getting closer to the church, Isaiah also innocently asked (after observing the newspaper photographer snapping hundreds of photos), “Are we in a parade?”

“Sort of,” I responded, explaining that we were remembering the day Jesus died on the cross, showing us his love for us.

“THIS cross?” Isaiah asked.

“Not exactly, but one just like it,” I answered.

Inside the church, with its stained glass windows, formal pews and high altar, the children became respectfully quiet. During Ripple’s part of the worship, Isaiah helped with the prayer, repeating a regular phrase he has learned at Ripple. I said, “God loves the world,” and he joyfully responded, “And Jesus loves me!”

And that’s the simple message Ripple spreads, as we carry the cross–and one another’s burdens–in this urban setting.

My journey isn’t over: talking about teen cancer

April 3, 2013 by Emily Ralph Servant

by Lindsey Laverty, Souderton congregation

In February, I was privileged to have my vision for a Teen Cancer Awareness Night come true. The event was held on February 23 at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, where I am a junior, in honor of my 19 year old sister Emilee, who passed away on November 1 of dedifferentiated chordoma.

At first, my only hope for the night was that it would inspire people to talk about teen cancer, a topic people generally avoid. As I researched teen cancer further, however, I was shocked to find that teens and young adults with cancer have been ignored. Research shows that when it comes to cancer, the medical field is not quite sure what to do with this age group.

My purpose for the night blossomed into the idea that not only did people need to begin to talk about teen cancer, they needed to learn more about it. Originally, my plan was to have someone from the medical field come talk, but I realized that hearing the facts would not be as helpful as hearing the stories and experiences of teens themselves.

Thus began the process of assembling a student panel, which would act as a voice for all teens with cancer. As I got into contact with students it became clear to me that God had already hand picked them. Each of them had a different perspective, a unique story, and an inspiring message. In the end, the student panel was made up of Chad Burger, a 2012 graduate of Souderton High School who is still undergoing treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma, Kayla McClanahan, a freshman at Upper Bucks Christian School who lost her sister to brain cancer, Leah Moore, a 2010 graduate of Christopher Dock who was diagnosed with nodular melanoma and is currently cancer free, and myself.

After the event, I had many come up to me and tell me the student panel is what impressed them most. The topics ranged from planned interview questions to audience questions. In fact, the audience was so involved that their questions took more than an hour. Each student contributed stories, advice, and reflections that I will never forget.

Kayla confronted the belief that because it’s been a year since her sister passed away, she should get over it. “Just because my sister died doesn’t mean that it’s over,” she said. “My journey isn’t over, it’s still every day.”

Chad encouraged people to be honest with teens that have cancer, saying, “Don’t shy away from things, talking-wise and question-wise.”

Leah expressed how many times when she tried to talk to her friends about how she was doing or what she was feeling, they often seemed uninterested and consumed in their own lives. “They seemed to just want to talk about their lives,” she shared. “To me that was like, excuse me?” All of us agreed that feeling a sense of normalcy was what we all strived for most.

Teen Cancer Awareness Night was attended by more than 250 people and raised $5000 for cancer research. It went beyond my wildest dreams and I can confidently say it is because of God: He brought together the student panel, the creation and donation of the student artwork, and all the desserts for the coffee house. God blessed the night and, through my work on organizing it, showed me what happens when my passion meets the world’s need.

Find out more about teen cancer at teenslivingwithcancer.org.

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