Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

missional

Garden Chapel Camp Blessed By Rising Teacher/Summer Service Worker

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By Colin Ingram

Courtney GC Intern photo - webCourtney Drew thought all she was doing was helping to set-up and decorate the room of her Grandmother’s elementary school class a few days before school started. She was in middle school at the time and was not expecting the onslaught of thank-you notes she received from the students. From that time on, Courtney desired to be a teacher.

As an elementary and special education major at Delaware State University, Courtney has learned a lot about teaching. Through the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) summer service program, she is now applying what she has learned in the classroom to her work as the assistant director for Garden Chapel’s summer camp in Dover, New Jersey. Her program supervisor is Garden Chapel member Amy Zorilla.

“I start my student teaching soon, so I really feel like this is preparing me to become a teacher because I have different age groups and there’s always a conflict—someone who’s not paying attention or maybe doesn’t concentrate as easily,” Courtney said. “It’s up to me to find a way to keep everyone engaged and make them want to be involved.”

According to Courtney, the overall goal of the camp is to reinforce the Christian faith of the children.

As the assistant director, along with director Vison McCrae, she is responsible for the smooth running of the camp. Some of her responsibilities include filling out paperwork, handling and making registration forms and permission slips, operating parent and camper orientations, and camp counseling.

The six-week Garden Chapel Summer Camp runs from June 29 to August 7. About 25 campers ages 5 to 12 gather from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The camp operates as two three-week sessions. The kids are from the church and surrounding community.

“I learned from Courtney how to discipline the kids better than I could have on my own and show them to do what they are supposed to,” counselor Ashely Smith said.

When she’s not calming kids or settling their disputes as a counselor, she is helping run the camp activities. The kids learn drama lessons at theatre, make crafts in art lessons, watch movies, play basketball, and jump on a moon bounce during free time. Each day campers have a devotion time before attending two separate Bible studies for older and younger kids. Overseeing the activities has helped prepare her as a teacher to lead children.

“Her authority with the kids makes me think of her as a leader,” counselor Michael McCall said. “She knows what to do and what to say.”

Courtney discovered the MCC service program when she was looking for grants to use for Garden Chapel’s camp. In past summers, Courtney was a camp counselor for Peer Place camp programs.

New Hope Fellowship Utilizes Service Worker

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Deborah Intern photoDeborah Nganga is looking to spice up her Spanish and step up her leadership through serving at New Hope Fellowship as a summer service worker through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

Eighteen-year-old Deborah has attended New Hope in Alexandria, VA for about seven years and is looking to learn leadership skills while serving at her church in the 10-week MCC Summer Service Program from June 8th to August 17th. She is working under the direction of New Hope’s pastor Kirk Hanger and his wife Marilyn. New Hope meets for Sunday worship at Bethany Lutheran Church.

As an MCC service worker, Deborah is helping New Hope in whatever way needed. Some of her staple work is helping the church secretary with office work. Another assignment is interviewing church members and writing articles on them. She also assisted with New Hope’s Vacation Bible Schools (VBS). In addition, Deborah will also be going on a service trip to Mexico for two weeks, as a part of her summer work.

“Overall, I think it’s an opportunity for her to be involved in her local church and to experience a variety of ministry opportunities,” Pastor Kirk said. “She’s helping us, but I think in the process she’s growing, stepping out of her comfort zone.”

For VBS, Deborah helped teach and supervise the kids. Her main responsibility was leading arts and crafts. Furthermore, she created a puppet show series to teach lessons about the Bible.

New Hope also ran a shorter VBS at one member’s apartment complex for the kids of the community. Deborah found it somewhat challenging, because most of the kids spoke Spanish. Deborah said although uncertain at first, she was glad to see the kids participate in singing.

“It was actually very good, the kids were actually very interested and asked a lot of questions,” Deborah said.

Just as she is teaching, she has also been learning some Spanish for the two-week Mexico trip. Part of her service program is equipping her by expanding her reach to people by learning Spanish. She has been required to complete online Spanish programs. The first week of her Mexico trip involves medical service. Her second week she will work at an orphanage.

In past summers Deborah worked at an animal clinic. In her free time, she likes to read, watch movies and go swimming. Deborah plans to study accounting at the University of Mary Washington as she starts her freshman year in August.

Philadelphia Praise Prepares Future Leader through Summer Service

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by Colin Ingram

Cindy_PPC Intern photoPhiladelphia Praise Center (PPC) is preparing the young Alexandra Cindy Angela for leadership through the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Summer Service Program. Alexandra Cindy Angela, who goes by Cindy, has been attending PPC for the last year and a half. She is currently studying communication and entrepreneurship at Temple University and is ministering through the summer service program for 10 weeks, from June 14 to August 21. Orientation for the program was in Goshen, IN during her first week.

According to the MCC website, the Summer Service Program aims to have young people of color serve through working at their church and in their community. Service workers are often involved in running a peace camp, an urban garden, or being a health educator.

“My responsibility is to assist the church to be a part of the community,” Cindy said.

Cindy’s responsibilities include church involvement in the community, working with PPC’s peace camp, video editing and graphic design. Part of her role includes translating and taking people to the hospital or to a lawyer. One event she helped with was a block party called “Passport Day.” Pastor of PPC, Aldo Siahaan is her director. In addition, she reports to a church elder and a deacon.

“The future of the church is the young generation, and we are trying to prepare her to be a future leader of the church,” Pastor Aldo said.

As one of her main service responsibilities, Cindy is the program director for peace camp. She manages the overall vision, planning and activities. She also determined this summer’s theme for the camp — “Painting Tomorrow” — and each week’s theme focus: family, friends, the present, and the future. Cindy is also in charge of the roster, communication with parents, distributing lunches, and organizing teachers and volunteers. Some things she has incorporated into the camp are career talks from various professionals, including a medical doctor, an accountant and a farmer, and visiting urban gardens.

Cindy stated, “This work is much more rewarding [than waitressing]. I think it makes me grow more as a person, and as a Christian.”

The peace camp is an outreach to the community that has been running at PPC for five years. Kids from the neighborhood ages seven to 14, divided into a younger and older group for activities and lessons,  attend the four-week program at PPC from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

“The kids really love [Cindy], our camp director; for example, she knew how to track with them to get them to do what they needed to do,” camp volunteer Hanggia Nadeak said.

Cindy hopes to work in a job in the field of communication when she finishes school at Temple and is open to the possibility of using her studies for the church in the future. In her free time, her passions include writing and music.

 

Ministry Intern Merges Science, Art Into Health in Allentown

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by Colin Ingram

Both left and right brained, Ripple summer intern Hannah Yoder weaves science and art together as she carves out her ministry path in Allentown bringing hope and health.

Hannah_RIPPLE Intern webHannah joins Ripple Allentown as a Ministry Inquiry Program intern. She is shadowing Ripple’s five pastors throughout the summer. Under the direction of Pastor Angela Moyer her service lasts from May 30 to August 15.   Hannah double majors in nursing and art at Goshen College. When home from college, Hannah goes to Akron (PA) Mennonite Church.   Ripple is a frequent placement site for Goshen College students.

“One of the important parts is living in Allentown,” Hannah said, when asked about fitting into Ripple’s mission. “Living here you’re constantly engaged with the community.”

With room to pursue her interests and talents, responsibilities include working at a medical clinic, creating a grief mural, starting a material resource center, and leading involvement in a city summer art project.

“It’s a lot of piecing together different parts of what Ripple does in the community,” Hannah said.

As a nursing student, Hannah works with the street medicine clinic that meets Wednesdays at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Allentown, where Ripple meets on Sundays for worship.

She may help coordinate an emerging material resource center (MRC) to gather people together and encourage serving others. The materials collected, such as blankets, would go to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and be distributed around the world.  In terms of art, the mural will include memories of people processing the deaths of loved ones, including those from the Ripple community.

The 10-week summer internship is part of the Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP), connected through Mennonite colleges and universities. A Mennonite Church USA initiative, the program is supported by Franconia Conference, as well as other area conferences. The program is designed for college students to explore ministry, job shadow a pastor, and discover ministry gifts.

“It’s a way to call out students who might have interest in church leadership or have pastoral gifts and give them an opportunity to try out their gifts to see if they’re interested in it,” Pastor Angela said.

In her free time at Goshen, Hannah is involved with Student Senate, environmental club, and Art Club.

Towamencin Youth Inspires and Blesses

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Peter Zucca 2 - 7-3-15 - web
Photo courtesy of www.peterpowerhouse.org

“As a church, we have often felt as if we are part of both Peter’s struggles as well as his celebrations. He has such a positive personality that he draws people into his life’s story and in the end, we are always inspired and blessed through each and every victory in his life.  Peter has taught me how to trust God with a smile on my face.” –Mike Clemmer, pastor at Towamencin Mennonite Church.

 

Plains Mennonite to Celebrate 250th Anniversary

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By Colin Ingram

plains photo 6-11-15Plains Mennonite Church survives across the span of 250 years enduring winters by fire, societal change by faith, and technological advances by flexibility. The faithful people of the congregation worship on the same flat land plot since 1765. Older than the United States, Plains testifies to God’s grace in the eternal Jesus. Biblical principles mold the community of believers set to follow an everlasting God who works salvation through history.

Fellowship, worship, meals, and music are weaved into the fabric of the people of Plains Mennonite Church. Plains will celebrate its 250th year by just that. Gathering for remembrance, the church will host a three day weekend celebration at its location in Hatfield from Friday June 19 to Sunday June 21. The event entails singing, worship, storytelling, meals, and tours.

The Plains story will be told through a Hymn sing, tours of the meetinghouse and historic sites, a music service called “Our Musical Heritage,” and two catered fellowship meals.

Tours will explore the land that over two centuries of Mennonites have walked. Saturday will feature guided bus tours, cemetery tours, and exhibits of artifacts and pictures, according to Alyssa Kerns, Church Administrator of Plains.

Continuing the legacy of worship music a service called Our Musical Heritage led by Justin Yoder will be held Saturday, June 20th at 7pm.

Open for the community, Plains is offering a living history book of congregational endurance, Mennonite heritage, and God’s salvation history all in one weekend celebrating its 250 years. Come join in the celebration and see all the details of the weekend in the 250th Celebration Brochure.

 

Colin Ingram is a summer communication intern at Franconia Mennonite Conference and is a member of Finland Mennonite Church.

Living God’s Promises Together: 25 Years and Beyond

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By Sharon Williams

NVNNL photo 6-11-15 webNueva Vida Norristown New Life (NVNNL) is celebrating 25 years of unity in Christ! The congregation came together on July 1, 1990—a most unusual integration of three Mennonite churches of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Norristown.

Everyone in the Franconia Conference community, former members and attendees of the four congregations, and the Norristown community is invited to the Homecoming Fiesta and Concert, Saturday, July 11. A free pork roast dinner will be served outdoors at 5:30 p.m., followed by a concert with James Crumbly and Friends at 7 p.m. at the church. An offering will be received to support the congregation’s Enlarging Our Place in God’s World fund.

james crumbly 6-11-15James Crumbly of Tampa, Florida, is an accomplished pianist and composer  who led worship at the 2010 Franconia Conference Assembly, and has ministered several times with the NVNNL congregation. He taught Jazz Ensemble, Adult Voice Ensemble, and Songwriting at the Patel Conservatory of The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. His strong background in classical, gospel, and jazz gives him a uniquely eclectic sound. Enjoy a sample of James’s piano artistry.

The worship celebration, Living God’s Promises Together, will be held Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. James Crumbly will lead worship with the congregation’s bilingual worship team and pastors Ángel Tamayo, Marta Castillo, and Ertell Whigham.

The congregation is also hosting Mennonite World Conference guests for our outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 26, 10:30 a.m., followed by a fellowship meal. Everyone is welcome, and we especially hope to welcome persons en route to the Philadelphia airport following Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg.


Sharon K. Williams is a musician, editor and congregational/non-profit consultant. She serves the Lord with the Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation as minister of worship.

 

Liturgies of Healing and Hope

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by Chris Nickels, Pastor at Spring Mount Mennonite Church

Chris Nickels 5-21-15For two days (May 13-14, 2015) a group of thirty-one individuals gathered at Salford Mennonite Church to learn about the experience of veterans and how to provide support for veterans and their families. The title of this seminar was “The Journey Home from War,” a branch of the STAR: Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Resilience program from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. This learning community consisted of veterans, spouses of veterans, representatives from social service and community development agencies, veterans network leaders, and members of congregations from a variety of denominations.

Each person in attendance felt a call to this gathering, and opportunity was given to share about our personal connection with military veterans. As a body, we had combat veterans and war protestors, those suffering post-traumatic stress and those providing care for friends and loved ones who do, pacifists and non-pacifists, clergy and laity. Our differences did not prevent us from discovering that we have so much in common. All of us have been touched by war in some way, and are feeling the need to respond in compassion, care, and support of veterans and their families.

As the seminar concluded we were sent out to embody what we had learned together. Some action steps I noted include:

  • Raising awareness about the physical and spiritual needs of veterans (and their families).
  • Developing mutuality in our relationships as we commit to learn from each other.
  • Being committed to helping returning veterans find “meaningful work…that rewards the soul,” as my friend Glen articulates so well.

Looking back, it feels like a good description of this experience could be a liturgy of healing and hope. Sometimes liturgy is thought of as “the work of the people.” Liturgies consist of work that is intentional and repeated, and so I’m reminded of the important ongoing work that will emerge from this training and these relationships. Liturgy is also a way we are drawn into the restoring, reconciling, healing work of Jesus Christ, who announces hope and good news for all.

In the midst of the work of these two days, my mind kept recalling words from Psalm 34:

“seek peace, and pursue it…
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.”

May we find ways to embody these words, and may God extend this space of healing and hope deeper into our communities and into our hearts.