Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Noel Santiago

Franconia Conference Review Steering Committee receives feedback, revises timeline for reconstituting the Conference Board

by

Stephen Kriss

The Franconia Conference Review Steering Committee expresses appreciation for the feedback on the Conference Review composed by LaVern Yutzy of Mennonite Health Services Alliance. As the timeframe for responses ends this weekend, the committee is moving ahead with the reconstitution of the Conference’s board of directors, naming at least five persons to open roles including moderator, assistant moderator, finance committee chairperson and at large members. The committee will receive nominations until June 9, 2010. Nominations for board positions can be sent by email to the Franconia Conference Nominating Committee (Donella Clemens, Mike Derstine, Beny Krisbianto, and Joy Sutter) at nominations@mosaicmennonites.org. The committee is abbreviating the nominating period to move toward fulfillment of the review’s recommendations while working with the board’s timeline for upcoming meetings.

The Review Steering Committee intends to submit a suggested slate of names for affirmation by conference delegates to the current board at the scheduled June 21, 2010, meeting. Following the approval of the slate, the committee plans to initiate public meetings sometime in mid-July that will offer time for delegate feedback and response as well as presenting a financial update of the Conference’s situation. In the meantime, the immediate recommendations from the report approved by the board in early May move toward fulfillment. Noel Santiago and Ertell Whigham continue to negotiate their interim staff leadership roles while other staff work toward the implementation of the LEAD platform among conference congregations.

The Steering Committee continues to appreciate the hearty engagement with the review process, including affirmations and nominations as well as challenges and concerns. While numerous nominations for the open board positions have already been received, the committee anticipates further suggestions and invites prayerful consideration as the discernment process continues over the next weeks. Over the next days, the committee intends to solicit nominations from conference pastors and looks forward to the contributions of current and future board members toward a hopeful future.

Unto you a gift is given

by

Noel Santiago
nsantiago@mosaicmennonites.org

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

What was the best Christmas present you ever received?

“Oh wow!” I cried, when I saw the foot long tractor trailer toy truck, complete with realistic turning radius. It had a red cab and green trailer with doors that opened and a little ramp for cattle to climb up on.

I was at my cousins’ house in New Holland, Pa. They had just arrived from Puerto Rico almost a year earlier – all nine of them – and had lived in the attic of our house for three months before finding their own home. I was nine years old and loved playing with my cousin Jose.

I was not expecting to get a gift for Christmas this year because my family wanted to give my cousins the experience of Christmas, complete with the meal, the gifts and the singing. So imagine my surprise when as the names on the gifts where being read and given to each person, that my name was called out.

“Is this right?” I thought. But sure enough there was a long rectangular box, wrapped in beautiful Christmas paper with a bow on top and my name on it. What an unexpected surprise!

I wonder if this might have been something like what those shepherds in the fields might have felt (in addition to overwhelming fear). It was an ordinary night–watching sheep, talking around a campfire and trying to keep warm in the cool night. Suddenly, a voice calls out–and it’s addressing them. What a surprise! Unexpected! Is this real?

The news comes to them that a gift has been given – a savior in the form of a baby; in a manger, wrapped, not with beautiful, ornate Christmas paper, but lowly, humble, swaddling clothes. It’s hardly what they would have expected. Yet as if to confirm that they were not dreaming a multitude of angels appeared, all bearing a word of great joy, the tidings of this grand, good news! Unbelievable!

What about you today? How have you been unexpectedly surprised by a gift given? A gift not earned; not worked for by you; not expected. Just given.

There’s a second part to this wonderful gift given to humanity – and that is the need to receive that gift. Many of us have received the gift of Christ given long ago and continue to do so everyday. Yet, many people haven’t yet received this wonderful, glorious gift. Who around us this year needs a gift? What gift does the One given want to give? How can you and I be the messengers of this wonderful gift of good news for all people?

I’m grateful to my Mennonite/Anabaptist sisters and brothers. I received a gift long ago, unexpectedly, because of these sisters and brothers in the faith. They pulled together a collection of gifts to ensure that everyone in the house that day could hold wide their hands and receive a gift.

May all of us in this Christmas season hold wide the hands of our hearts in receiving, first the gift of the life of God’s son and to be a messenger of the good news that “Unto you a gift is given.”