Conference Assembly 2022
Preparing for Fall Assembly – “Where is the Lord?”
by Ken Burkholder
I’m currently reading Conrad Kanagy’s series of books entitled, “A Church Dismantled – A Kingdom Restored.” With the bold words of a prophet, the keen insights of a sociologist, and the loving heart of a pastor, Kanagy explores the stark challenges and unique opportunities facing the Western church today. I find these books to be stimulating, provocative, inspiring, and disturbing…all at the same time!
Drawing parallels with God’s people in exile at the time of the prophet Jeremiah, Kanagy beckons us to regularly be asking, “Where is the Lord?” Amid our challenges, disappointments, uncertainties, and opportunities, we must be attentive to what the Lord is saying and doing among us, always asking, “Where is the Lord?” Kanagy warns against the false “mantles” of the church and cautions us against resisting the movement of the Spirit. Rather, we’re called to actively join with the work of God’s Spirit in restoring the authentic, Jesus-centered, Spirit-filled Kingdom of God.
As we approach and prepare to gather for Mosaic’s Fall Assembly – with a theme of chesed: God’s constant, steadfast, and faithful love – I urge us, as the people of God, to continue to be prayerfully asking, “Where is the Lord?” What is the Lord saying, and calling us to, at this particular time? Where is the Lord in our midst? How can we actively join with the movement of God’s Spirit among us in His work of dismantling and restoration, being open and obedient to His leading?
In continued preparations for Fall Assembly, I want to highlight a few important updates and reminders, as we seek to discern, “Where is the Lord?”
How can we actively join with the movement of God’s Spirit among us in His work of dismantling and restoration, being open and obedient to His leading?
KEN BURKHOLDER
Call to Prayer
Thank you to the many congregations and individuals who’ve participated in the Conference initiative of listening prayer and sharing your feedback with the Conference Prayer Ministry Team. If you haven’t already submitted your feedback, please do so by emailing Marta Castillo. And please keep praying for Assembly!
Listening Task Force
The Mosaic Board appointed this group with a task of leading a conference-wide listening process and reviewing Mosaic Conference’s relationships with MC USA. The task force is working diligently. More information can be found here. If your Mosaic community has not had an opportunity to talk with members of the Listening Task Force, please contact any one of the following members: Aldo Siahaan, Jenny Fujita, or Nathan Good.
The task force will share their findings and recommendations with the Mosaic Board in late September. In early October, the Board will then provide an update on these findings, and further information, in preparation for Fall Assembly.
Assembly Scattered
These gatherings will provide an opportunity for additional discernment, learning, and conversation prior to Assembly. Please plan now to join us in October.
Assembly Gathered
Saturday, November 5, 2022; 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church. There will NOT be a virtual option this year. Registration opens tomorrow, Friday, September 9. Please encourage all of your delegates to register!
Please continue to check the Conference Assembly website for information and updates: https://mosaicmennonites.org/assembly/
Ken Burkholder
Ken Burkholder is the moderator of Mosaic Mennonite Conference and Lead Pastor of Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church. He previously served for 16½ years as lead pastor of Deep Run East Mennonite Church in Perkasie, PA. Ken is married to Karen (Frankenfield) Burkholder, and has two young adult children – Alyssa and Justin.
Mosaic Fall Assembly Details Taking Shape
by Brooke Martin
For the first time since Eastern District Conference and Franconia Mennonite Conference reconciled and formed a new Conference, we will be gathering IN PERSON for Assembly as Mosaic Conference!
The 2022 Fall Assembly will be held on one day, Saturday, November 5, from 9:30am-6:30pm (ET) at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church. Worship, delegate sessions, fellowship, and food from Mosaic communities will be intertwined throughout the day. The entire Assembly will be on Saturday this year.
I am thankful for the many behind-the-scenes volunteers, Board members, and the Assembly team members over the past few years for their diligence and intentional work to create quality, virtual delegate sessions. This year, virtual participation is not an option. All participants will be in-person at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church.
If your congregation or CRM has not yet submitted their delegate names for the Assembly, please do so soon. The delegate submission deadline is Friday, August 19. Please send your delegate names to: office@mosaicmennonite.org.
Assembly Registration will begin on September 9. Further details will be coming.
Please join us in prayer as we prepare for our Fall Assembly on November 5.
Brooke Martin
Brooke Martin is the Youth and Community Formation Pastor for Mosaic Conference. Brooke lives in Telford with her husband, Nathaniel, and their two children.
On Walking Before the Lord: Lessons from Psalm 116
By Kris Wint, Pastor, Finland Mennonite Church
Editor’s Note: Mosaic’s upcoming Fall Assembly theme is based on Psalms 116 & 117.
I am not fond of running. Lately, however, I have found myself running four to five times a week to train for an upcoming sprint triathlon. Interestingly, the Holy Spirit has been using these training runs for more than my worldly goal of increasing physical endurance; the Holy Spirit has also been using them to teach and remind me of two foundational truths found in Psalm 116.
First, the Holy Spirit reminds me that the way I run (or walk) matters. Psalm 116 celebrates the faithfulness of the Lord, declaring that he is gracious, righteous, and merciful (v. 5, NRSV). In verse 9, we see the psalmist’s response to this faithful God: “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” This word “walk” has little to do with an actual stride; rather, it implies living and behaving as God directs. Is my posture consistent with that of Jesus?
Second, as runners know, where we run matters. Last week, the track where I normally run was closed, so I opted for plan B on a path I hadn’t run before. Unfortunately, this path had sections of loosely packed stones, obstacles, compacted grass-covered dirt, and a run-down sidewalk. Probably to no one’s surprise, it took more energy to run on these sections than on the straight and smooth track surface. “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 116:9, emphasis mine). The word “before” indicates location in the presence of the Lord. The place where we walk matters, and when we are walking “before” the Lord, we are standing on him as our sure foundation. Are my positions consistent with those of Jesus?
Putting the two words together, then, “walking before” describes both how and where we walk – our postures and positions. This way of walking echoes a previous command of God: “You must therefore be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn to the right or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32, NRS). Division is not a stranger to us. In a country divided by lefts and rights, we hear a different way being commanded for followers of Jesus. Walk straight. Do not turn aside.
How are we guilty of turning aside? We turn aside when we find ourselves believing, teaching, and declaring unbiblical and un-Christlike theological positions. However, we equally veer off the path when we find ourselves acting from unbiblical and un-Christlike postures (see 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 5:1-2, Galatians 5:16-25, James 3:13-18).
So, what are we to do when we realize that we have abandoned the posture and position of Christ? (Spoiler alert: each of us misses the mark daily.) The only faithful response is to confess and repent. We confess to our Lord and to one another. We repent by coming back to the sure foundation, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord. I pray that we all have the courage to run this race together, walking in grace and truth, and training to move forward together with the posture and positions of Christ.
Gracious is the Lord and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
-Psalm 116:5-9 (NRSV)
Kris Wint
Kris Wint is the Lead Pastor at Finland Mennonite Church in Pennsburg, PA and is also a Mosaic board member.