Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

News

Bulletin Announcements

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Spruce Lake Retreat invites you to Spring Family Weekend, April 29 – May 1. It’ll be a great weekend for enjoying family time together, and for becoming spiritually refreshed. Worship and teaching will be led by Spruce Lake’s Worship Team and speaker Bill Martin. A highlight is the annual Trout Fishing Derby for all ages – but especially for the kids. Bring your PA fishing license to fish for prizes in the lake stocked with trout. To reserve your spot, call 800-822-7505. Find out more at www.sprucelake.org.

It’s Spring Cleanup Time at the historic 1770 Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse! Volunteers are needed to help clean up the grounds and surrounding neighborhood. Come get your hands dirty – no special skills are required, and it will be fun for the whole family. Saturdays, April 2 & 23, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch is provided. Please RSVP to Liz Einsig Wise at 267-240-7966 or gmht@meetinghouse.info.

Penn View Christian School is looking for quilts! If you have a quilt you purchased at a past Penn View Country Fair & Auction and are willing to donate it back to the school or to simply offer it for display at this year’s 50th annual event on May 20-21, please contact Kelly Yetter, Fundraising Coordinator at 215-723-1196 x 1280.

Job / Volunteer Opportunities

Swamp Mennonite Church seeks part-time (20 hours) Minister of Music and Worship and part time (20 hours) youth pastor. For further information about Swamp, as well as job descriptions, visit www.justswamp.org. Interested persons may also contact Cliff Mease at cjmease@gmail.com for more information on the Minister of Music and Worship position and Laura Rush at lrush32@ptd.net for more information on the Youth Pastor position.

ASSETS Montco seeks an interim Executive Director with passion and energy to restart its microenterprise training program for low to moderate income persons. Initial tasks include board development, fund raising and grant writing. Starts as a volunteer position with reimbursed expenses. For information, contact Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Church, norristownnewlife@gmail.com or 484-322-0442.

Conference announces staff realignment

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Noel Santiago has accepted a position as LEADership Minister for Spiritual Transformation. Executive Minister Ertell Whigham invited Noel into a continuing staff role following his transition from the executive minister responsibilities. According to board chair John Goshow, “We are pleased that Noel will be continuing to offer his significant ministry gifts within the congregations and ministries of Franconia Conference.”

Gay Brunt Miller will assume the role of Director of Administration. Her LEADership Minster responsibilities will be transferred to other Conference staff. Gay will work directly with Ertell Whigham who was named Executive minister earlier this month. This is a familiar role for Gay as she worked with similar responsibilities previously with Franconia Conference.

Both roles are effective immediately. Other staff positions remain unchanged at this time though some continued realignment is projected in the work of LEADership ministers as responsibilities and workloads are adjusted.

An invitation to transformation on the Damascus Road

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Sharon Williams, Nueva Vida Norristown New Life

No matter what you think of the Beatles, drummer Ringo Starr had it right when he sang that peace, trust, and love—“you know, it don’t come easy.” The same thing goes for change.

For several years, Franconia Conference has been on the forefront of change. It’s been a “love-hate” relationship, to say the least. At Fall Assembly we sang, “People from every nation and tongue, from generation to generation” (Israel Houghton, You are good, 2001). People from different cultural backgrounds and generations continue to embrace Jesus, the church, and the Anabaptist vision in both Franconia Conference and Eastern District Conference. God’s Dream is alive among us. So is change.

Since 1997, Franconia Conference has taken some steps toward becoming a multicultural conference. But the root of white Mennonite identity runs deep, and the work of dismantling racism in our conference “system” signaled that necessary change was coming. Predictable resistance and conflict ensued revealing that we have a long way to go.

The Spirit invites us to a new identity that encompasses all our people and congregations. We need to redefine how we engage in mission. We need a different way of dealing with power and leadership issues—a different way of being the people of God together.

I believe that God’s transformation is available for us. The Damascus Road Anti-racism analysis training offers an in-depth analysis of how power and identity shape us as a people and as a church. It opens a whole new way of understanding the God’s reign in the Anabaptist perspective.

Transformation is hard and change can be scary. However, change that honors God and moves the church closer to God’s Kingdom is the most exciting, fulfilling, life-giving transformation we can ever experience. Can we trust God in this process of new learnings, new understandings, new ways of being the Church? For such a time as this?

The 11th annual Damascus Road Anti-racism Analysis Training is Friday–Sunday, February 25-27, at Philadelphia Mennonite High School. Will you come, with leaders of your congregation and our conference, to lay a new foundation and understanding for the transformation that God has for us?

Training details and registration are available here.

Worship Leader Training Sparks Interest

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Deadline extended for local worship leader training event.

Swamp Mennonite Church will host “Sunday Morning Spark,” a day-long worship leader training seminar on February 19, 2011. The event will feature workshops led by respected pastors and leaders on topics covering the spectrum of worship leading activities, including corporate prayer, Scripture- reading, story-telling, effective liturgy, and creative congregational involvement.

“This event was birthed from our own need as a church,” says Emily Ralph, Swamp’s Minister of Worship. “We were looking for a resource for our own worship leaders, something that could empower and inspire them on Sunday mornings.”

After an unsuccessful search for existing resources, Swamp’s Worship Planning Team decided to plan their own seminar, gathering talented presenters on the most pressing topics for today’s congregations.

“And now we’re just too excited to keep this great event to ourselves,” Ralph says. “This is a need many
congregations have, so we want to help provide these resources for other churches as well.”

Although the seminar is labeled as a worship leader training, the workshops would also benefit pastors, song leaders, worship teams, Sunday School or Bible study leaders, or even children’s storytellers, Ralph
adds.

The day will consist of five workshops and a lunch from 10am to 3pm, with a bonus session at 3pm that will offer registrants an opportunity to share stories and reflect on the workshops. Workshop leaders include Sue Conrad, a worship leader for the 2011 Mennonite Church USA convention in Pittsburgh, worship pastor Sandy Drescher-Lehman, prayer coordinator Sandy Landes, pastor Blaine Detwiler, and Franconia Mennonite Conference’s director of communication, Steve Kriss.

Throughout the seminar, Swamp Mennonite will be partnering with Hackman’s Bible Bookstore of Allentown to provide worship resources at discounted prices. In addition, Hackman’s will be giving away a free copy of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson- Hartgrove) to each church that attends. Owner Joe Hackman, who is also a worship leader at Swamp, feels that this seminar will be invaluable to the churches his store serves. He is pleased to support it in any way he can, noting that the workshop schedule is “very, very impressive!”

As a result of increased demand, the registration deadline has been extended to February 12. Registration is free and donations will be received to cover the cost of lunch. Nursery care is available
but children must be preregistered.

Swamp Mennonite Church is located on Rosedale Road in Quakertown, Pa. For the most updated information or to register, visit the church website, JustSwamp.com, e-mail Emily Ralph, Minister of Music (Emily@justswamp.com) or call the church office (215-536-7928).

Whigham named Executive Minister

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Harleysville, Pa., February 4 2011—John Goshow, Moderator of Franconia Mennonite Conference, today announced that Ertell M. Whigham Jr. has accepted the position of Executive Minister of the Conference for an initial two year period effective February 3, 2011. Ertell succeeds Noel Santiago who has served in various ministries with the Franconia Mennonite Conference the past fourteen years and more recently as Executive Minister.

The Conference Board and its Executive Committee have met frequently over the past several months to discern the leadership needed to help Franconia Conference achieve its mission, which is to equip leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission. The review process included consultation with current leadership, Mennonite Church USA and resources outside the church.

“Ertell brings a strong background in church leadership, vision cultivation and collaborative management to Franconia Conference,” said Goshow. “Ertell did not ask for this role, but through prayerful discernment, much discussion and listening by the Conference Board, we came to the decision that his gifts and skills meet the needs of Franconia Conference at this time. We are thankful that God’s marvelous Spirit worked in advance to prepare Ertell for this invitation.”

Ertell noted, “I appreciate the confidence the Conference Board has shown by appointing me to this position. My work in Franconia Conference for more than 10 years has been very satisfying and I look forward to the increased responsibility this position will offer. I am very grateful for the service provided by Noel Santiago for the past fourteen years and will be in communication with him about a continuing role on the Franconia Conference staff”.

Ertell has been a valued member of Conference staff since 2000 and has recently provided significant staff leadership and management. He was born and raised in north Philadelphia, and attended the Center for Urban Theological Studies where he majored in Human Resource Management. Ertell served on the pastoral teams of Diamond Street Church of Philadelphia and Bethel Mennonite Church of Norristown, Pa. In 1990 he helped to establish Nueva Vida Norristown New Life, where he is currently an associate pastor. In addition to his ministry experience, Ertell also brings substantial business experience to his new role, having worked for Ehrlich Pest Control for 27 years as a District Manager. He and his wife, Patricia, have three children and five grandchildren.

Franconia Mennonite Conference, one of 21 conferences that comprise Mennonite Church USA, is a network of congregations, ministries, partnerships and initiatives continuing to emerge out of over 300 years of Anabaptist witness and faith in the Western Hemisphere that began in Philadelphia. The Conference is made up of 43 member congregations along with 22 conference-related ministries situated from Atlanta to Vermont. The Franconia Mennonite Conference Board is comprised of the following members: John Goshow, Chair; Miriam Book, Vice Chair; Marta Castillo; Joe Hackman; Jim King; Beny Krisbianto; Jim Laverty; James Longacre Jr.; Randy Nyce; Rina Rampogu; and Nelson Shenk.

Haitian leader marks date of earthquake and requests ongoing prayer

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–a note from Lesly Bertrand, lead pastor, Grace Assembly Network, Haiti

January 12, 2011 makes one year since Haiti has been hit by a 7.5 earthquake at 4:53pm lasting for 35 seconds. About 30% of the country has been destroyed, nearly 300,000 people have been killed, 1.5 million are homeless and 800,000 have been disabled. Fifty hospitals and 1500 school buildings have been destroyed. During this tragedy, the whole world did not leave us alone. People from every nation came to help us in the way that they were able. Through my voice and on behalf of the Haitian people, I want to thank everyone who has given hands to us. Two things, I would like to ask you—first would it be possible to take two minutes to pray for the Haitian nation as we mark this day and ask God to watch us with an eye of mercy but not with an eye of judgment. Second, would you continue to give hands to us to rebuild what has been destroyed? Thank you and may God bless the nation of Haiti.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary sets Pennsylvania and online courses

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Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Pennsylvania, an extension of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va., is offering three evening classes and three online courses during the spring semester, 2011.

  • John M. Miller, author of a recent book on Revelation, will teach
    “Revelation: Making Sense of its Message,” Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.,
    January 17-May 2. This class will be held at the Lancaster campus facilities.
  • Steve Kriss, director of communication and leadership development for
    Franconia Mennonite Conference, will teach “Religious Imagination in
    Contemporary Culture,” Mondays, 6:30-9:30 p.m., January 31-May 2. This class will be held in the Philadelphia area.

    • Seminary online courses are:

  • “Christ in a Communication Culture: Communicating in Today’s Global,
    Digital, Relational World,” led by Julie Gochenour, adjunct instructor;
  • “Ethics and Nonviolence: Sermon on the Mount” led by N. Gerald Shenk,
    adjunct instructor;
  • “Anabaptism Today,” led by Mark Thiessen Nation, professor of theology.

    • These courses begin January 10 and end April 29 and may be taken for
    academic credit.

    For more information, contact Mark Wenger at
    717-397-5190 or email wengermr@emu.edu. More information is also available
    on the EMS Lancaster website www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary.

    Mennonite Church USA board reaffirms decision churchwide gathering set for Phoenix 2013; moves to establish secondary meeting location

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    During the Jan. 7–9 meeting of the Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA in Tampa, Fla., the board took the following action:

    “The Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA expresses its gratitude for the prayers and counsel given by members across our church as we have considered the issues relating to the location of the 2013 convention. This decision-making process has brought us to a deeper level of sharing and understanding and to a common expression of our desire to be a church through which the healing and hope of God flow to the world.

    “After spending time in discernment and consideration of the counsel of many, and knowing that the prayers of the church are with us, we reaffirm the prior January 2009 decision of the Executive Board to hold the 2013 convention in Phoenix, Ariz. We are committed to work on creative ways to include those delegates who, because of conscience or concerns for safety, will be unable to gather with the church in Phoenix and at a minimum to find a satellite location at which delegates can participate in the delegate work of the assembly.

    “As we make this decision, we reaffirm our commitment to the 11 action items described in the “Recommendations Regarding the Churchwide Convention in 2013,” dated Dec. 21, 2010. As an Executive Board, we are deeply grateful for the prayers and support of the entire church as we have struggled with the many issues involved in this decision. We pray that we would continue to find ways to let God’s healing and hope flow throughout our church and to the world.”

    The 11 commitments are as follows:

    1. We will encourage our churches to teach the scriptures about God’s will in regards to ministering to all immigrants and seek to provide a loving and just embrace of all peoples in the congregations of Mennonite Church USA, regardless of their legal immigration status.

    2 We will encourage pastors and leaders to become instruments of grace, peace, justice and joy in their churches and communities by offering spiritual, emotional and physical support to immigrants in our communities.

    3. We will seek to avoid the partisan political rhetoric about immigration that divides our nation and our church. Rather, we will to work to bridge our differences through respectful conversation based on our common Christian commitments and the resolution on immigration adopted in 2003.

    4. We will include Racial/Ethnic groups an integral part of the new churchwide “Investing in Hope” purposeful planning process and its implementation.

    5. We will create a multi-ethnic task force with appropriate staffing to address the needs of immigrants and Racial/Ethnic groups within Mennonite Church USA.

    6. We will give serious attention and energy to our anti-racism priority by inviting an outside group to conduct an anti-racism audit at the Pittsburgh 2011 convention.

    7. We will reevaluate the purpose and expenses of biennial conventions, in order to make these gatherings more accessible to all who wish to attend. Further, we will attempt to provide for alternate regional locations and/or technology to bring the convention activities and delegate discussions to the many who cannot attend the convention for various reasons, including cost, inability to take time off work, and/or a hostile environment for immigrants.

    8. We will change the program planning process for future conventions by designating that 50 percent of the planning committees for the 2013 convention be Racial/Ethnic people. Further, we will designate that 40 percent of the seminars, worship services, and service activities at the 2013 convention be focused on the churchwide priority of anti-racism, and continue with 20 percent at future conventions.

    9. We will clarify the process and significance of the adoption, application and staffing for follow-up of church statements, such as the 2003 statement on immigration, so that the expectations for the outcomes of their adoption are clear.

    10. We will pray for our governmental authorities, that God would give them wisdom and compassion, and that they would enact legislation to protect and benefit all of the immigrants in our nation.

    11. We will support the programs of our agencies and affiliated Anabaptist institutions that offer appropriate services to people who are undocumented. Further, we will advocate changing laws that harm recent immigrants or prevent them from receiving humanitarian aid. We will advocate for just and fair means by which undocumented people can achieve legal status.