Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Easter

The Israelites, Haiti, and the Lamb of God

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by Sam Charles

The narrative of the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt is one of the most compelling and well-known stories in the Bible. It resonates profoundly with Haiti’s history, when we consider the Haitian people’s subjugation by the French in what was then called the colony of Saint Domingue. Just like the Israelites were forced to live in slavery for centuries, the Haitian people also suffered under harsh conditions.  

The Israelites found themselves in a state of desolation and despair, with no human hope for escaping their situation any hope for escaping oppression (c.f. Frame, 2013). When they cried out to God, God listened and intervened, delivering them from the oppressive forces. This deliverance is a testament to the Lord’s benevolence, responsiveness to his people’s needs, and faithfulness to his promises. 

One of the most important parts of this story is the slaughter of a lamb. The Israelites were told by God through Moses to kill a lamb and spread its blood on the sides and tops of their doorframes. This act protected them from the final plague in Egypt. The lamb, which had to be a year old and without defects, symbolized innocence and purity. This sacrifice wasn’t just about physical protection—it also marked the beginning of their journey to spiritual, social, and political liberation (c.f. Exodus 12:1–14). 

This paschal lamb served as a prototype for Jesus Christ, who was cruelly executed on the cross. Jesus selflessly sacrificed his life to bear the sins of humanity and take upon himself the burden of our collective guilt. 

The prophet Isaiah said, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV).  

This assertion may seem perplexing or contradictory. It suggests that Jesus’ wounds, his suffering and death can heal our inner pain—our guilt, shame, and moral failures. Yet, we recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God, who through his death, facilitated the spiritual liberation of all who believe in him. John 1:29 says,” Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. (NIV) 

Happy Passover! 

Samuel Charles

Samuel Charles is the pastor of Bethel Worship and Teaching Center in Levittown, PA and a member of Mosaic’s Intercultural Committee.

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. 

Holy Week in America as Strangers and Aliens

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by Stephen Kriss

“Are you a US citizen?” 

“Yes.” 

“Travel safe and have a good night.” 

On the highway between San Antonio and Harlingen, there’s a border checkpoint. I’ve driven through this checkpoint before and been stopped and checked thoroughly. This time I was asked a simple question and invited to keep it moving under the setting Texas sun. I had flown into San Antonio and driven to visit with two former South Central Mennonite Conference congregations near the border who are seeking membership in Mosaic. 

Since the beginning of the year, I have spent significant work time navigating the changing immigration landscape. This has included paying attention to the vulnerability of the hundreds of persons in Mosaic Conference congregations who are not yet citizens of the USA. They are from dozens of countries. They have a variety of visas and statuses. Our growth as a conference has largely been comprised of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants. With the rapid changes in immigration enforcement, sometimes menacing rhetoric, and traumatizing stories told by the media, recent immigrants are on high alert. 

According to recent research, one out of 18 members of evangelical churches in the U.S. are at risk or are household members of those at risk of deportation based on the current enforcement practices and policies. Many recent immigrants are Christian. The reality of shared faith binds us together in ways that should complicate our thinking as Jesus followers living in the U.S. 

The future of U.S. Christianity relies on the vibrant faith of recent immigrants who are establishing new churches, renovating older church facilities, and bringing authenticity and global-mindedness to our ongoing faith expression and practices. 

As Anabaptists, we have a sensitive history with migration. Our Conference readily traces our story to the migrations of German-speaking families to Philadelphia almost 400 years ago. While we could rely on the invitation of William Penn for our settling (at least sometimes), we didn’t have the permission of the Lenape who we settled alongside.   

We maintained for generations a set of distinct identities while the U.S. American experiment played out over the next centuries. Historic Mennonites are now a deeply embedded part of the American story, having reaped the benefits of citizenship and land holding, capitalism and mutuality for generations.   

My citizenship is both a privilege of birth and a responsibility. Privileges are not meant only for my individual good. I can easily pass through a checkpoint with my light skin, blue eyes, and graying hair. As a son of Appalachia and of Slovak immigrants, I recognize that while all our individual decisions can have consequences, our privileges do too. 

For those of us who proclaim the reconciling love of Jesus in a broken and beautiful world, in this holy week can join Jesus as he weeps over Jerusalem. We can find ourselves in the story of Jesus’ Passion, as the disciples earnest in their desire to see the kingdom come in the ways that would restore Israel’s greatness. We can see our own betrayal of Jesus embodied in Judas and in Peter. We can join again in faithful and disoriented weeping with the Marys and Salome. 

And we can prepare for the surprise and ultimate hope of resurrection that brings us true freedom. In duty, we join the women at the tomb with a sense of dread and responsibility. As we wait, we may find ourselves surprised and overcome in the ways the Spirit shows up.   

We speak of the possibility of what we know and have seen. We find others who come running with us (like Peter and John) to find out that resurrection power is still living among us as we face these days with eyes wide open. And we say these words again in the midst of fear and in the midst of hope for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. 

Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Even in America. 

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Stephen Kriss, please email skriss@mosaicmennonites.org.

Life Anew

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by Steve Kriss, Executive Minister

Signs of resurrection and new life can be difficult to imagine or perceive.  While the disciples didn’t have the wherewithal to walk closely with Jesus from Maundy Thursday through the horrors of Good Friday, the reality of Easter and the resurrection was even harder to comprehend. It was a story trusted to women first, the disciples were mostly incredulous and avoidant.  Thomas even took an “I’ll believe it when I see it and touch it” kind of stance that wouldn’t be that far away from most of our approaches to faith and life.

I’ve been struck this season of Lent by the texts that have been provoking something new: the dry bones of Ezekiel, Jesus’ healing of the man born blind.   Can dry bones live?   What happens when we go to where we are sent to find ourselves seeing the world anew?

As I’m past my first 100 days in the Conference Executive Minister role, I’m starting to glimpse the possibilities of new life for us and seeing signs along the way of the Spirit’s invitation on how we might live together as people of God’s peace, extending that peace to others both locally and globally.

This week in Intersectings we are highlighting the newness of Mary Nitzsche’s appointment to the role of Associate Executive Minister.  Mary will bring wisdom, groundedness, experience and compassionate care to the role and to our Conference system of about 100 active credentialed leaders as well as retired credentialed persons.   I’m excited about the new thing that Mary’s “yes” will bring to us.   It’s a step along the way toward finding the place that God is calling us as Franconia Conference in this time.

Easter was the culminating event in the life and ministry of Jesus, though he returned to teach and instruct through the Ascension.  Pentecost (June 4 this year) represents the Spirit’s arrival, the gifts of speaking the word of Christ’s peace to everyone.  In these next weeks from Easter to Pentecost, I invite  you to join me in prayer to seek what God might be asking of us individually, congregationally and as a Conference-wide community from South Philly to Vermont and including our credentialed pastors in Metro DC, Mexico, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. How might the Spirit empower us to speak and embody Christ’s peace anew?  What signs of new life and resurrection do we see along the way?  And how might we be that living sign for others who are seeking, searching, hoping, struggling toward the Way which we know means restoration of sight, freedom from bondage, good news for the poor?

Loss of a Loved One

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by Aldo Siahaan

As we approach Easter, I am thinking of lost loved ones. Before Christ was risen, he first had to die. Anyone would be sad to lose a loved one, especially when faced with the reality that we will not see our loved ones on this earth again as they leave us to appear before the Creator.

In February, my wife and I took our then-1 month old son to Indonesia with the purpose of introducing him to our family. At first, we just wanted to make this introductory event simple, but one of my sisters, Yanti Rinawati, insisted on making it a big event because it coincided with her birthday. We are very happy because all went well. The event was nice, we were able to introduce our son to the family, and the overall trip went smoothly.

One week after our return to the United States, I received news that that same sister, Yanti Rinawati, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition because of heart failure. We were not able to talk to her even by phone because her condition was so critical. A few days later, Yanti Rinawati left us and the earth forever. My wife and I felt so sad; we cried for many days, remembering Yanti’s kindness.

Indeed, I lost my sister, but I am grateful my family and I were `prepared` more than a week before her departure; we had a warning that her time on earth was coming to an end. I cannot imagine the feeling of Abdulhamid al-Yousef who lost his wife and 9 month old twin babies in the Syrian chemical attack last week. He had no warning. I also cannot imagine the feelings of 8 year old Jonathan Martinez’s parents, as they lost Jonathan in the North Park Elementary School shooting in San Bernandino just a few days ago. We could make a long list of the people we love who have departed from us without warning. The loss of a loved one can be devastating, with or without a warning.

2000 years ago, it was foretold to Mary. She was warned by the Holy Spirit that she would give birth to a son who would be the Savior. Her son, Jesus, healed the sick, released people from the bondage of the devil, brought positive change to the lives of many people through his teachings and the miracles he performed. Then came the day that we do not know if Mary had a warning for. The day she watched her innocent, sinless son treated like a criminal; stripped, spat on, given a crown of thorns, whipped 39 times, forced to carry the cross he would then be crucified to death on. What makes his story different from the others I have mentioned, different from yesterday, today and tomorrow, is that Jesus did die, but Jesus then rose from the grave on the third day. The tomb left empty to prove he was alive.

But Jesus’ story may not be that different from the others, as the word of the Lord says of Jesus that, “he who believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16). As we remember Jesus’s death and resurrection, may we commemorate the loved ones who have left us, remember that one day we too will leave this world, but the good news is for those who believe in Jesus, we will rise up and live eternally with him in heaven.


Aldo Siahaan is pastor of Philadelphia Praise Center, and on staff at Franconia Conference as a LEADership Minister.

Extravagant, reckless love

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Emilyby Emily Ralph, eralphservant@mosaicmennonites.org

“When I was growing up, I was only allowed one scoop of ice cream for snack,” I told my congregation’s children a number of years ago during our Easter Sunday service.  I wrinkled my nose as I looked at the piddly scoop of ice cream in my hands.  “That’s not very extravagant, is it?”

Such a big word deserved a big illustration, so I pulled out a giant mixing bowl and began scooping ice cream out of a bucket.  Eventually, I gave up and just dumped in the whole gallon, much to the children’s delight.

The boys and girls pushed in closer around the kitchen cart with their eyes wide, gasping as I squeezed an entire bottle of chocolate syrup onto the ice cream, giggling and bouncing on their toes as I covered the surface with sprinkles, unable to contain their excitement as I added cans of whip cream and finished it off with a whole jar of cherries.

God’s love isn’t just a scoop of ice cream, I told the children as their eyes remained glued to the overflowing bowl of goodness.  God’s love is extravagant—like this giant ice cream sundae.  A love so extravagant that it couldn’t stay dead.  A love so extravagant that it came back to life again.

Years later, children and adults alike tell me that they still remember the illustration of the extravagant love of God.  And that word, “extravagant,” has remained a favorite in my vocabulary.

On a recent Sunday, I visited Souderton (Pa.) congregation for a service celebrating the congregation’s partnership with Urban Promise, a ministry that works with kids in the heart of Camden, New Jersey.  The ministry’s director, Bruce Main, shared the story from Matthew 26 of the woman who poured a bottle of perfume on Jesus’ head.  The disciples responded with shock: “What a waste!”  Most of us, Main suggested, would have responded to that woman’s act of love with the same disgust as the disciples—how could she be so reckless?

As Main encouraged us to love recklessly, I found myself thinking about traditional Swiss-German Mennonite values: living simply, frugally.  What a difference there is in how we hear “love extravagantly” and “love recklessly!”  While they mean virtually the same thing, extravagance can be controlled: we can weigh the options, evaluate the outcome, and then, when we decide our love will be effective, love extravagantly.

But what Main, and I believe Jesus, is encouraging us to do is to love with risk.  To pour our love out in ways that we can’t control, can’t predict, ways that may not be efficient, may seemingly not be effective.

Jesus poured out his life knowing that we might still say, “No thanks.”  If we are truly going to join God in God’s mission in the world, we can’t control how people will respond to our love.  We can’t prevent our love from being rejected or ignored.  Perhaps the greatest hindrance to mission is our fear that our experiments will fail and our money, time, or emotional energy will have been needlessly depleted.

May we instead judge extravagant love by the act, not the outcome.  May we see reckless love not as carelessness, but as overflowing compassion.  And may our extravagant love draw others to a God who first recklessly “wasted” his love on us.

Walking together on the road to Easter

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by Emily Ralph, eralphservant@mosaicmennonites.org

It’s a familiar story, especially for those who have grown up in the church.  So how do we retell the story of Jesus’ passion and resurrection year after year in ways that open us up, once again, to the pain, the beauty, and the wonder of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory over death?

dove scripture picture
Members at Souderton congregation contributed artwork made of scripture. Photo provided.

The season of Lent, celebrated for the forty days leading up to Easter, marks Christ’s journey to Jerusalem.  It invites those who follow Jesus to walk with him by remembering his life, practicing disciplines of fasting and sacrifice, and engaging in deeper commitment to their brothers and sisters in the church.

Souderton (Pa.) congregation began Lent by diving deeper into Mennonite Church USA’s “Year of the Bible” with an art project.  Members of the congregation were invited to choose a word or phrase from scripture on which they wanted to meditate and to write it over and over on a panel using colors to create images.  These panels became banners that hung in the front of their sanctuary during the Lenten season.

Souderton wasn’t the only congregation to celebrate the imaginative Spirit.  Swamp (Quakertown, Pa.) spent Lent exploring God as creator, “littering” the steps of their platform with items created by members of the congregation, symbols of God’s unique creative work in them.  Their children memorized Psalm 139, which they recited on Palm Sunday after leading the entire congregation in a procession, joyfully waving palm branches.

Plains maps
Plains congregation used maps to illustrate their prayers for their region, country, and world. Photo by Dawn Ranck.

Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week and was the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem to the adoration of the crowds.  The week soon turned more somber, however, as Jesus ate his final meal with his disciples, washing their feet, and predicting his betrayal.  These events are remembered on Maundy Thursday.

Conference congregations reenacted Christ’s humility with their own experiences of footwashing.  Traditionally, Mennonites have practiced footwashing in groups divided by gender.  At Perkiomenville (Pa.) congregation this year, footwashing was one of several stations that members could visit, which, for the first time, allowed married couples or family members to wash each other’s feet.

Good Friday vigil
Franconia Conference members joined Christians from all over the Philadelphia region for a Good Friday vigil outside a gun shop. Photo by Jim McIntire.

In addition to footwashing, Plains (Hatfield, Pa.) congregation acted out Christ’s care and humility by setting up prayer stations with large maps of the world, the country, and their region.  Members could pray for and mark areas on each map with a dot or a heart.

Compassion for the community continued to spread into Good Friday, the day when followers of Jesus remember his death on the cross.  Members of churches all over the Philadelphia region gathered outside a gun shop in the city for a Good Friday vigil.  As these believers stood against violence in the city, others gathered in Good Friday services to remember that Jesus’ death made peace and reconciliation with God, and one another, possible.

Salford power outage
Salford congregation spent part of its Good Friday service in the dark, thanks to an unexpected power outage. Photo by Emily Ralph

Just when Good Friday seemed like it couldn’t get any darker, Salford (Harleysville, Pa.) congregation’s evening service was suddenly interrupted by a power outage.  For just a few, brief moments the congregation was surprised by the darkness and powerless to do anything but sit in the shadow of the cross.

There was a hush in Franconia Conference on the Saturday of Holy Week, as though the Church was holding its breath, waiting for the joy they knew was coming on Easter morning.

And the joy did come—in colors and flowers, in song and story, in food and hope and promise.  Crosses were draped in white and lilies and hyacinths and forsythia decorated sanctuaries.  Congregations met as the sun rose, around breakfast tables, and in their morning services to celebrate an empty tomb.

Philadelphia Praise Center viewed a video in which church members took to the city streets to ask people about the significance of Easter.  Blooming Glen (Pa.) congregation acted out the resurrection story in a chilly sunrise service and a member at Deep Run East (Perkasie, Pa.) built a custom tomb to display on Easter morning. In Vermont, members of Bethany congregation participated in an ecumenical sunrise service on the side of Mt Killington and then, after brunch, were led in worship by a new generation of storytellers–their children.

It’s a familiar story, and yet it’s born fresh each year as we once again walk with Jesus through Lent, Holy Week, and the Easter season.  In this story, we recognize what theologian H.S. Bender once wrote: we live on the resurrection side of the cross.  May we continue to celebrate Christ’s resurrection by living our lives as a resurrected people.

He is risen: He is risen indeed!

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