Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Ambler

Cooking for Palestine

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by Jacob Curtis

Do you know Sam and Jehan Kuttab? When I ask Philadelphia-area Mennonites that question, I’m always surprised by how many of them say enthusiastically, “Yes! I know the Kuttabs! They had me over to their house in Wyncote.” 

And then their eyes light up as they try to describe it. How mouth-wateringly delicious Jehan’s Palestinian cooking was. How the entire house was filled with the aroma of cardamom, sumac, and za’atar. How they felt when they tasted her perfectly spiced musakhan—tender chicken falling off the bone beneath a blanket of caramelized onions, all of it fragrant with allspice and turmeric. How they savored her mahshi—stuffed vegetables bursting with the warmth of cinnamon and the brightness of fresh mint. How the meal was a feast for the senses and a love letter to Palestine. 

And when they’re done talking about the food, they talk about all the people they were introduced to—this warm, welcoming Palestinian clan of parents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, all making them feel like they belonged. 

If you’ve had this experience yourself, you’re already nodding along. And if you haven’t, you should. At the end of this article, I’m going to tell you how you can learn to cook Palestinian-style from Jehan herself … while helping to raise money for peace in Palestine. But before I get there, a little background:

Sam’s parents, George and Frocina, moved to the United States when Sam was 11 years old. While they were still in Palestine, the family had connected with Mennonites who were working for peace and justice there. So when they arrived in Philadelphia, they went looking for a church home among the Mennonites. First, they landed at Diamond Street Mennonite. When they moved to Wyncote, they transferred to the little Mennonite church in Ambler where my wife Michelle and I are now pastors. They stayed, they settled in, and the congregation fell in love with them. People at our church still smile when they talk about the Kuttabs.

Eventually, Sam and Jehan started attending Oxford Circle Mennonite, where they’re still active members. And even though they’ve lived away from Palestine for decades now, they stay connected with folks back home. They’ve heard how friends and family have been threatened, harassed and denied basic civil rights under the Israeli occupation. When Hamas launched an attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,000 Israelis and taking 250 more as hostages, the Kuttabs were sad and scared. And since that day, their grief and fear have only increased as Israel has bombarded and besieged Gaza, killing over 78,000 Palestinians, and leaving those who remain homeless, traumatized, maimed, and starving. 

What would you do if your people were being massacred? Sam’s response to this horror has been to turn to the teachings of Jesus. “Love your enemies,” Jesus said. Sam has tried to do that. In the aftermath of the Hamas attacks, he connected with Justin Marshall, a young Jewish man who is also passionate about peace and justice in Palestine. Together, they founded the Prayers for Peace Alliance, a group of Philadelphia-area Palestinians and Jews determined to show that their two people don’t have to be enemies. Together, they’ve been visiting local Christian churches with a simple message: “Pray for us. Pray for peace in Palestine.” 

Things have only gotten worse in Gaza. But Sam and Justin and their friends continue to do their work—building relationships, raising support, organizing, protesting, teaching, persuading, and praying. Which brings us full circle—to cooking for Palestine. This fall, you have a chance to learn from Jehan while raising money to support the work of Prayers for Peace. 

On Saturday, October 4, Ambler Mennonite has invited Jehan to teach Palestinian cooking classes in our building (90 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Ambler, PA). Anyone who’s interested can come at 1pm, 3pm, or 5pm for a 1½ hour class. There will be Palestinian music playing, Palestinian decorations, and, of course, you’ll leave with the delicious cuisine you now know how to make yourself!

We’re asking participants to register in advance here. The cost is $40 (though more is welcome). All of the proceeds will go to Prayers for Peace Alliance. And when you’re done cooking, you can stick around to talk to representatives of Prayers for Peace and Mennonite Action about how to support peace in Palestine. We hope to see you there! 

Visit AmblerMennoniteChurch.com/CookingClass

Jacob Curtis

Jacob Curtis is co-pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite Church with his wife, Michelle.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.   

Mission Possible: Neighbors, small seeds, and a refrigerator

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by Randy Martin & Jacob Curtis

In the summer of 2024, Ambler (PA) Mennonite provided a three-month sabbatical for our pastors. We decided that while they were away, we wanted to get more curious about Jesus’ mandate to love our neighbors. Backed by a Missional Operations Grant from Mosaic Mennonite Conference, we brought in a series of speakers from community organizations. We asked them, “What are you seeing and hearing around Ambler? Who are our neighbors? What gifts are they bringing and what challenges are they facing? And how can we be present with them?”

As we listened to these speakers, we began to make connections. Mark Boorse, the Director of Program Development at Access Services, talked to us about his work with people who are unhoused. He shared a photo of an ice-fishing tent he’d set up for a couple sheltering by the river in Norristown. We recognized them because we had helped them find housing during the winter of 2021! We started to see how our church could be one small part of a whole web of care.

Tom Albright and church members on the prayer walk around Ambler. Photo by Randy Martin.

This connecting phenomenon happened again when our speakers from WeCare Ambler asked if we could partner with them, another church, and a local food cupboard to pay back rent for a mother facing eviction. Together, we paid two-thirds of it. When the woman’s employer heard what we were doing, they agreed to pay the final third. When everything was settled with the landlord, the mother texted us, “Oh wow. Thank you so-o-o much…It was a struggle trying to figure things out. I am so grateful. Thank you.”

State Senator Maria Collett (second from right) was one of the elected representatives who celebrated the launch of the new community fridge at Ambler Mennonite on March 29. Pastor Michelle Curtis in the center. Photo from Maria Collett’s Facebook page.

To process everything we were learning, we turned to Tom Albright, a former pastor of Ripple Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Tom met with us six times, planned question-and-answer sessions with the speakers, and led “circle church” services to discern where we were seeing the kingdom of God in action. He also took us on a prayer walk through Ambler, stopping to pray outside some of the organizations we had learned about earlier as well as important sites from our church’s history.

Retired pastor Tom Albright leading a “circle church” session to reflect on local mission. Photo by Randy Martin.

We see these seeds growing. Several of us are volunteering at a monthly food distribution event led by Chosen 300 Ministries. We recently hosted a free Saturday lunch at the church to celebrate the launch of our new community fridge. The refrigerator is a way to supplement the dry goods that most food pantries offer with fresh foods that require refrigeration. The fridge is located outside our front doors, so people can stop by anytime to take what they need or give what they can. Getting this project off the ground has been a real cooperative effort, with help from local individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.  

Brian Jenkins runs the monthly Chosen 300 food-distribution event in Ambler. Pastor Michelle Curtis is pictured center left. Photo shared by Brian Jenkins.

Ambler Mennonite is also a part of the first cohort of congregations in the new Vibrant Mosaic initiative. We’ll be learning more about local mission and doing more local mission experiments with grant funding. We’re excited to see what God will do next! 

Randy Martin

Randy Martin chairs Ambler’s Ministry Team. 

Jacob Curtis

Jacob Curtis copastors Ambler Mennonite with his wife Michelle. 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.   

Peace Nights Connect Mosaic Youth

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by Rachel Mateti

 

The fall 2024 Peace Nights were funded in part by a Mosaic Conference Missional Operations Grant (MOG) requested by Salford (PA) Mennonite. The grant helped to cover expenses for food, supplies, and transportation for the Mosaic youth groups who participated. 

 

This fall, youth from around the southeastern PA congregations of Mosaic Conference have the unique opportunity to come together to learn about the peaceable way of Jesus through fellowship, formation, worship, and games.  

The original idea for the Fall 2024 series of four Peace Nights was a collaboration between Ambler (PA), Salford (PA), Zion (Souderton, PA), Whitehall (Allentown, PA) and Plains (Hatfield, PA), with the support of Mosaic’s youth formation team.  

A slide from the teaching portion of the “Peace with God” session on Sept. 14. Photo by Rose Bender Cook.  

 

The first Peace Night of the series took place in September at Zion, on the theme of Peace with God. Around 70 persons were in attendance, including youth and leaders from the above-named congregations and Souderton (PA), Ebenezer (Souderton, PA), Indonesian Light Church (Philadelphia, PA), and Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA). The second meeting took place on October 6 at Plains with the theme “Peace with Self.” 

“The idea for Peace Nights started as a way for churches in southeastern PA in Mosaic Conference to share resources and provide programming for youth faith formation,” shares Andrew Zetts, Associate Pastor of Youth and Outreach at Salford.  

Youth and leaders from Whitehall (PA) Mennonite. Photo provided by Rose Bender Cook. 

 

“As I ran the idea by other Conference youth leaders, a few goals emerged. In addition to sharing resources and gathering a critical mass of youth in one place, we wanted to live into Mosaic’s intercultural priority and bring youth from various geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds together to develop meaningful relationships; and to teach peace theology as a foundational part of living out the ways of Jesus.”

At Plains, the youth group is small but growing, with grades 6-12 together. It can be hard to provide spiritually invigorating activities for a large age range. Peace Nights are one of the few places they can interact with other Mennonite peers in a church setting. 

Youth from eight congregations work together during the games portion of the first Peace Night. Photo by Rose Bender Cook.  

 

Instead of one shared culture, multiple cultures are represented at Peace Nights. Instead of most kids knowing each other, the majority are meeting for the first time. Awkwardness abounds, but a willingness to participate has prevailed. Through games like 9 squares (provided by Bloomin Glen [PA] Mennonite), and “Get -to-Know-You” Bingo (crafted by Andrew Zetts) youth have opportunities to make connections while having fun. Good food energizes everyone to talk and fellowship around tables deepens relationships. 

Loud voices singing together in worship has been a blessing. Youth seeing other youth singing boldly invigorates the whole group and creates a spirit of readiness for our teaching time. Teaching is followed by discussion groups that give youth a chance to come together and internalize the message they have heard. It is beautiful to observe. 

Participants from Deep Run East led worship. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual.  

 As Andrew Zetts shared, Peace Nights have a many purposes (sharing of resources, teaching peace theology, making connections outside our own congregations) but I also see Peace Nights as a place for youth to belong. Even those who might have held back in the beginning of our gathering seem to find their place throughout the night.  

Being Mennonite in our modern world can sometimes make a person stick out or feel different. Being a Christian youth can also feel alienating at times. Finding a place of belonging is, therefore, vital in keeping our youth engaged, connected, and inspired to follow Jesus. 

Peace Night worship. Photo by Mike Ford. 

The third Peace Night took place at Zion on Saturday, Nov. 9, 5-7:30pm; the theme was Peace with Creation. Our last gathering will be on Sunday, December 8 at Plains where we will look at Peace with Others; all Mosaic youth in 6th-12th grade and their youth leaders are invited to join us.

Plans for future gatherings in 2025 are underway and will be shared with congregations soon. As a leader, I am encouraged to see this vision come to fruition and to hear other leaders express their sense of energy and hope for the future of these gatherings. 

Participants gather outside for games. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual. 

Rachel Mateti

Rachel Mateti is the Children and Youth Minister at Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA). She is married with three kids and lives in Telford, PA. She enjoys reading when she finds the time and recently picked up running as a hobby.

Joint Prayer Service for the People of Palestine and Israel

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by Eileen Kinch

A version of this article originally appeared in Anabaptist World and is reprinted with permission.  

On March 17, five Mosaic congregations, Ambler (PA), Methacton (Norristown, PA), Perkasie (PA), Salford (Harleysville, PA), and Plains (Hatfield, PA), held a joint service of prayer, singing, lament, and hope for the people of Palestine and Israel, as the humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Gaza worsens. 

Pastors of the five congregations, Jacob Curtis (Ambler [PA]), Sandy Dresher-Lehman (Methacton [Norristown, PA]), Wayne Nitzsche (Perkasie [PA]), Dave Greiser (Salford [Harleysville, PA]) and Mike Derstine (Plains [Hatfield, PA]), offer the call to prayer. Photo by Joel Alderfer. 

Several Palestinian-American Christians and Muslims, and Israeli Jews from the Philadelphia area were invited to share their griefs and hopes for Palestine and Israel, including representatives from Philadelphia Palestinians of America, Prayers for Peace Alliance, Friends of Sabeel North America and If Not Now. 

Ambler’s co-pastor Jacob Curtis was the lead organizer. In his opening remarks, he reflected on how Jesus grew up under occupation, and blessed the poor, the grieving, the weak, those hungry and thirsty for justice, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. “When people are powerless, hungry, and thirsty, that is the side Jesus is on,” Curtis emphasized.  

Samuel Kuttab, a Palestinian-American Christian and Mennonite shares his grief and hopes for Palestine. Photo by Jeremi Tumanan. 
Singing together was a key feature of the worship service. Photo by Kiron Mateti. 

The idea for the service emerged from a conversation between Curtis and Samuel Kuttab, a Palestinian-American and former member of Ambler. Curtis asked if Ambler could hold a prayer service for Kuttab and his family. He envisioned a small gathering, but Kuttab said, “throw the doors open.” Nearly 250 people were present in the building, with 50 more attending via livestream. 

Curtis reflected on the suffering and trauma that Israelis have experienced since Hamas’s attack in Israel on October 7, and on how, in Israel’s response to that attack, “Palestinians are hungry, thirsty, sick, and unable to go home. Arabs around the world are increasingly afraid that they will also become targets.”  

A small group lays hands on and prays for Amer Raja, a Palestinian-American, one of a number of guests who shared during the service. Photo by Joel Alderfer. 

“As Palestinians and Arabs grieve, Jesus is with them,” Curtis said, addressing those gathered. “And so are we…As Israelis and Jews grieve, Jesus is with them. And so are we.” 

Readings from Lamentations 5 were interspersed with reflections from Palestinian and Jewish friends. 

Ahlam Kuttab pointed out widespread American culpability in the war in Gaza, given that the U.S. is a leading arms supplier to Israel. Amer Raja shared that the current Muslim month of Ramadan is a joy-filled time of fasting and feasting, but in Gaza, people can’t have these festivities. He finds it hard to be joyful when not everyone can participate. 

Becca Feidelson, a representative from If Not Now, an American Jewish group that organizes for a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis, read the words of a fellow organizer, Ella Israeli. 

“How could we let our pain [from the Holocaust] become this?” Feidelson asked. She reflected on how Jews believe humans are made in the image of God, and each life is sacred. 

The second half of the service offered readings from Matthew 5 paired with reflections about hope. Dina Portnoy, a teacher in Philadelphia who grew up on an Israeli kibbutz that was built on a Palestinian village, said she finds hope in confronting difficult truths. She said some Israeli soldiers are refusing to serve in Gaza, and Israeli activists have lost jobs and are going to jail. 

Around 40 people, mostly children and their grownups, watched the service’s livestream from the basement, while making Birds for Gaza and praying for children in Gaza. Photo by Kiron Mateti. 


 
Samuel Kuttab admitted that being a Mennonite and a Palestinian can be tough. Mennonites emphasize love, and Palestinians are suffering. 

“My faith goes into conflict,” he said. But he believes the Mennonite church has “woken up.” He is encouraged by the work of Mennonite Action, a new peace-advocacy group, and feels Mennonites have legitimacy in political action because “we are a peace church.” 

After the reflections, participants gathered to lay hands on the speakers and pray for them. An offering raised $5,500 for Mennonite Action. 

Following the service, participants shared refreshments and were invited to participate in Mennonite Action’s Holy Week Action to send postcards to local government representatives, urging them to support peace and diplomacy. 

Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch is a writer and editor for the Mosaic communication team. She holds a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in the Ministry of Writing, from Earlham School of Religion. She and her husband, Joel Nofziger, who serves as director of the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, live near Tylersport, PA. They attend Methacton Mennonite Church. Eileen is also a member of Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting in Lancaster County.

The End of Youth Ministry? 

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by Michelle Curtis

I don’t like to read books alone. So when Brooke Martin, Pastor of Youth & Community Formation for Mosaic Conference, invited me to join a book study group for The End of Youth Ministry? by Andrew Root, I jumped at the chance.  

The book study group, comprised of youth Pastors and leaders, gathered around back porches and youth rooms to discuss a few chapters every other week. We lamented the difficulties of leading youth ministries in 2023. We shared how much we love our youth and how much we want them to know Jesus’ love. We waded through the philosophical parts of the book, trying to make sense of how they apply to middle schoolers.  

Some of the biggest takeaways felt like both “aha!” moments and also a reminder that youth ministry should not be different than any other ministry in pointing people to the core of our faith. We, with Paul, proclaim Christ and him crucified. Root’s writings challenged us to help youth walk toward the cross, not away from it.  

© Andrew Root

Instead of focusing primarily on fun, Root told how walking with youth toward the suffering they see and experience can help us all to see our stories as part of Jesus’ story of death and resurrection. When we walk toward suffering together, we can start to see and name how God brings new life out our death experiences. The whole book is based on how a youth group was transformed by the experience of gathering together in a hospital waiting room when one of their members almost died. There they had an opportunity to hear stories of how God brought life out of death in the lives of two adults in their church.  

Among our book study group of youth pastors and directors, I was the only one whose job title didn’t formally include youth or faith formation. I serve as co-Pastor of Ambler Mennonite Church along with my husband, Jacob, and we’ve shared the role of starting a monthly youth group over the last few years.  

Sometimes I feel jealous of churches with the staff and size to gather their youth together every Sunday and Wednesday. But I’ve realized that one of the gifts of our small church is that we are intergenerational by necessity. When we put together boxes of food for our neighbors each December, we intentionally invite the youth, but the whole church has to come together to make it work. We’re too small to do otherwise.  

When my parents were in youth group, it was their whole social network. They had activities most days of the week. Instead of longing for that past, Root encourages us to understand what has shifted over the last few decades. Instead of trying to compete with all the extracurriculars filling the lives of our youth, Root encourages us to see clearly what youth ministry is for: joy. It’s for helping youth to experience the joy in community that grows out of walking through suffering together and seeing how God brings life out of death.  

We’re all still chewing on the book’s implications for each of our ministries. I’m thinking more about how to walk with our youth toward the cross, and how to help them find themselves in God’s story.  

Youth Groups completing various challenges during the Mission Impossible event at Souderton (PA) Mennonite in September 2023. Photo provided by Brooke Martin. 

To be clear, Root is not advocating that we do away with fun. He ends the book in a Dairy Queen with ice cream and friendship. In that spirit, we ended our book study with coffee and Yum-Yum donuts, celebrating the relationships that we’ve built through these weeks together.  

Michelle Curtis

Michelle Christian Curtis is co-pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite Church with her husband, Jacob.

Congregational Profile: Ambler Mennonite Church

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by Dorcas Lehman, Interim Pastor 

90 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Ambler. Photo by Randy Martin

Ambler Mennonite Church is located on the corner of Mt Pleasant Avenue and N. Spring Garden Street in the borough of Ambler, Montgomery County, PA, 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

We want our neighbors, near or far, to know that when you join us for Sunday morning worship, you will find a small congregation that loves to sing, listen to scripture, share concerns and joys, pray for each other and the world, and inspire one another in the way of Jesus. As part of a historic peace church, we hope to share that much-needed perspective, and to live it ourselves.

Whether you arrive by walking, driving, or public transit, you will notice a Monarch butterfly station, a little free library, and a rain garden, reflecting our enjoyment of neighbors, care for the earth, and desire to add beauty to our block.

Our mission statement says: “We are a diverse community of believers following Jesus in building relationships by serving those among and around us with love, and offering the good news of peace, hope, and healing.”

AMC in front of the rain garden. Photo by Glenn Lehman

As a church that began as a mission with ministries to children and youth, we may have thought, “When we serve others, they may want to be part of us.” But now we think, “We want to provide opportunities for people who want to serve God and contribute to the community, whether or not they become part of the congregation.”

During the past year, we’ve become stronger by honestly facing questions of sustainability, and discovering a wide range of ideas for renewal. Now we’re ready to discern collective vision, and to grow beyond the current number of 45 or so congregants, which reflects a decline from earlier decades.

We come from a variety of backgrounds in culture, ethnicity, education, and lifestyles, and we come together as a worshiping community with Jesus at the center. Some of us live in the borough, and others commute.  Intergenerational relationships are strong. You will especially sense this if you visit on the day of a monthly potluck meal, where you will hear lively conversations rise around good food.

Sylvie and Lena packing Boxes of Love. Photo by Randy Martin

We share a desire for an increased presence in the neighborhood, and renewed connection with other Mennonite congregations nearby. During the Lent-Easter season, we hold joint services with Church of the Brethren, Lutheran, and United Church of Christ congregations. In May, we provide meals and overnight volunteers for the Interfaith Hospitality Network’s emergency shelter program. We fill Boxes of Love with food supplies and support the Wissahickon Valley Boys and Girls Club.

This spring, during Lent, we are following the initiative of Mennonite Church USA’s Creation Care Network to learn, pray, and act in relation to climate injustice. Through Sunday school and worship, we’re noticing the ways that caring for God’s creation is an act of discipleship.

We view ourselves as having a history of capable leadership and gifted laity. We are rooted in a mission initiative that began in 1952, when young adults from larger congregations in Franconia Conference began Sunday school classes in the borough. From that beginning, Summer Bible School was added, then came house church, and the building of the current meetinghouse in 1961.

Pastors Michelle and Jacob Curtis. Photo by Randy Martin

We honor that history, and value the older generation’s wisdom, energy, and resources, even as we transfer leadership and prepare to renew our children and youth ministries.

We are happy to introduce our new co-pastors, Michelle and Jacob Curtis, who will begin their ministry with us in May 2020.

Prayer requests:

  • for Michelle and Jacob Curtis as co-pastors, and our church, as we begin our journey in mutual ministry
  • for wisdom and insight as we discern a collective vision, and move through generational change
  • for creativity and resilience of spirit as we, along with other churches, find ways to practice social solidarity even as we practice social distancing, due to the viral pandemic

Three congregations credential new leaders on Pentecost

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by Sheldon C. Good

Many Christian congregations commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, and three Franconia Conference congregations in particular acknowledged the Spirit’s movement through the credentialing of leaders for ministry.

On June 8, all occurring in southeastern Pennsylvania, Donna Merow was ordained and Danilo Sanchez and Phil Bergey were licensed for ministry. Their credentialing brings the number of credentialed leaders in the conference to approximately 160 men and women serving in at least seven states and four countries.

Merow was ordained for pastoral ministry at the Ambler congregation, where she has pastored for more than four years. LEAD minister Jenifer Eriksen Morales led Merow’s credentialing. Merow chose to be ordained on Pentecost Sunday after discovering she was confirmed in the United Methodist church on Pentecost 40 years prior.

Donna Merow's ordination
LEADership Minister Jenifer Eriksen Morales and members of the congregation pray at the ordination of Donna Merow (seated center), pastor of Ambler Mennonite Church. Photo by Andrew Huth.

“The 40-year journey from one public confession of faith to another,” Merow said, “has been a significant one for me — including marriage and becoming a mother and grandmother, completing college and graduate work, worshipping in multiple traditions other than the one in which I grew up, and facing the challenges of breast cancer and kidney disease.”

Merow was only 12 when the possibility of religious vocation was first suggested to her. Between now and then, she “worked at a church camp, dropped out of college, cared for blind students, got married, and raised two daughters.” She has also been an active participant in churches from several denominations: Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Mennonite.

She described her credentialing ceremony as “an outward acknowledgement of an inward change in identity as I became a pastor in the process of practicing pastoral care.”

Sanchez was licensed for youth ministry among multiple Anabaptist congregations in and around Allentown. LEAD minister Steve Kriss led the credentialing. Sanchez is primarily working with Whitehall and Ripple, both Franconia congregations, by leading music or teaching children, but is also working alongside Karen Fellowship (independent), Iglesia Menonita Evangelica Restoracion (Lancaster Conference), Christ Fellowship (Eastern District Conference), and Vietnamese Gospel (Franconia Conference).

Sanchez said his licensing felt like an important personal and professional step because many people and institutions, including Franconia Conference and Whitehall, “are recognizing my gifts and willing to walk alongside me as a pastor.” Sanchez, grew up in the Boyertown congregation and has interned with both Souderton congregation and Philadelphia Praise Center while a student at Eastern University. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite Seminary last year with a Master of Divinity degree.

Members of Whitehall Mennonite Church pray over Danilo Sanchez
Members of Whitehall Mennonite Church pray over Danilo Sanchez. Photo by Patti Connolly.

“I finally feel like a pastor,” he said. “I am so honored that God has called me to be a leader. I’m thankful for the ways that Whitehall and Ripple will shape me into the leader God has called me to be.”

Bergey was licensed as interim lead pastor of the Blooming Glen congregation, where he has been a member for about 20 years. Ertell Whigham, executive minister of Franconia Conference, led the credentialing. Bergey is former conference executive of Franconia Mennonite Conference.

In the wake of Firman Gingerich’s resignation as Blooming Glen’s lead pastor, the congregation’s board invited Bergey to assume a part-time interim lead pastorate. The congregation is searching for a long-term pastor.

Phil Bergey
Phil Bergey, interim lead pastor of Blooming Glen.

Bergey preached the morning of his licensing, focusing on the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12. He framed the commencement of his pastoral leadership and the pastoral search processes not as the beginning of a journey but the continuation of a journey. That journey, he said, includes the history of the Blooming Glen congregation, the Anabaptist tradition, and the Christian church, going all the way back to Abraham and Sarah.

Bergey said: “Blooming Glen, like other congregations, has been through pastoral transitions before; it is simply part of a congregation’s life together. And pastoral transitions are especially true for a congregation that is approaching 300 years of age.”

Ministerial Update (April 2014)

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Hadi Sunarto
Hadi Sunarto was licensed as a deacon at Philadelphia Praise Center in March.

Steve Kriss, Director of Leadership Cultivation, provided this update from the March & April meetings of the Credentials and Ministerial Committees:

Hadi Sunarto (East Rutherford, NJ) was approved for a license for specific the ministry of deacon at Philadelphia Praise Center.

Krista Showalter Ehst (Bally, PA) was approved with a license toward ordination to serve as pastor at Alpha (NJ) Mennonite Church.

Bill Martin was approved with a license toward ordination and to serve as associate pastor at Towamencin Mennonite Church.

Danilo Sanchez (Whitehall congregation) was approved to serve as Allentown area youth minister with a license toward ordination.

Donna Merow was approved for ordination and continues to serve as pastor at Ambler (Pa) Mennonite Church.

Several new members have been added to the Ministerial and Credentials committees.

Mike Clemmer (Towamencin) and Marlene Frankenfield (Salford) have been named to the Ministerial Committee.   Heidi Hochstetler (Bally) resigned her position from the committee earlier this year.   Continuing Ministerial Committtee members include:  Verle Brubaker (Swamp), Ken Burkholder (Deep Run East), Carolyn Egli (Whitehall), Janet Panning (Plains), Mary Nitzsche (Blooming Glen), Jim Williams (Nueva Vida Norristown New Life).

Aldo Siahaan (Philadelphia Praise) and Marta Castillo (Nueva Vida Norristown New Life) have been named to three year terms on the credentials committee.    Continuing committee members include:  Rose Bender (Whitehall), Verle Brubaker (Swamp) and Mike Clemmer (Towamencin).

Steve Kriss began serving as Conference staff liaison for both committees since the retirement of Noah Kolb late in 2013.