Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Zion

Community Prayer Nights Gather Christians for Hope and Healing

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by Brenda Oelschlager

Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) welcomed neighbors from across the region on May 4 for the first of a series of Community Prayer Nights. This heartfelt evening of unity, worship, and intercession was held to lift up individuals, families, and organizations impacted by acts of chaos and injustice beyond their control. 

Rooted in Christ’s call to love God and neighbor (Mark 12:30-31), the evening invited participants to share in song, prayer, and communion—asking God to bring peace to anxious hearts and hope to troubled communities. 

This new series of prayer services draws inspiration from a pre-election prayer and communion gathering that Zion Mennonite hosted with local congregations in November 2024. With a broader vision, the current initiative now includes invitations to Christian churches in nearby towns, building a growing circle of support and spiritual solidarity. 

Four area faith leaders offered prayers throughout the night, each woven between hymns and reflective worship: 

  • Steve Godsall-Myers, retired Lutheran pastor, Advent Lutheran, (Harleysville, PA)
  • Jenny Fujita, member of Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite
  • David Heckler, Lutheran pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran and Christ UCC, (Quakertown, PA)
  • Mike Hendrick, retired chaplain and member of Zion Mennonite 

The presence, prayers, and voices of the community made the evening deeply meaningful as a time to seek God’s presence and strengthen bonds of fellowship. 

Upcoming Community Prayer Services: 

  • Sunday, June 1, 7 p.m. at Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church
  • Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. at Zwingli UCC in Souderton 

Additional dates for July and August will be announced soon. All are welcome to attend these ecumenical gatherings. 

Brenda Oelschlager

Brenda Oelschlager attends Zion Mennonite. Her past work has included community relations positions in the Pennridge and Souderton Area School districts and also with the Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton, PA.  

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 Youth Group Service Project Honors God and Creation

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By Abby Nyce, Souderton (PA) congregation

For years as part of its community service and creation care, Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) has annually cleaned litter out of West Street Park in Souderton. Since the park is a block from Souderton Mennonite, and Zion wanted to cooperate with other churches in some of its initiatives, for the last two years, Zion and Souderton have worked together to pick up litter in the park on a Saturday morning in May. 

Participants from Zion and Souderton who participated in the Chestnut Park Street cleanup, with the trash that they gathered. Photo by Ned Leight. 

As someone who enjoys community service, I found that picking up trash with the youth group of another Mosaic congregation, Zion, benefited both the park and the participants. Serving the community, even in something as small as picking up trash, allows for God to influence that community by motivating us, His children, to act rightly. We are called to serve through Him and care for others as He has cared for us, reflecting that care to the public.  

I committed to more than 30 hours of community service during my junior year of high school, and I have gone on multiple mission trips with the Souderton youth group. Community service is a way for me to serve the Lord in ways that have great impact over time, and to represent the Lord in the community.  

Removing trash from a park is an act that seems small, but it preserves the creation that our good God created for His people. By doing so, we worship Him and respect the planet we call our home.  

Photo by Jess McQuade
Photo by Jess McQuade
Photo by Jess McQuade

Abby Nyce

Abby Nyce is entering her senior year at Souderton Area High School. She’s involved in the high school’s Interact Club and National Honor Society, both involving community service. 

Art, Hospitality, and the Holy Spirit on a Mosaic Learning Tour

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by Sonya Stauffer Kurtz

Recently I traveled with five other Mosaic pastors from multi-staff congregations on a learning tour to England and Calais, France to learn more about neo-Anabaptist churches and refugee support. What I brought home was a new appreciation for art, hospitality, and the work of the Holy Spirit in ministry. 

From left: Aldo Siahaan (Philadelphia Praise Center), Juliet Kilpin (Peaceful Borders), Steve Kriss (Executive Minister, Mosaic Conference), Jeff Wright (Blooming Glen[PA]), Roger Kurtz and Sonya Stauffer Kurtz (Zion [Souderton, PA]), Simon Jones, Dave Greiser (Salford [Harleysville, PA]). Photo shared by Aldo Siahaan.

Yeovil Community Church in West Country England is a thriving community-oriented congregation meeting in a former car dealership. Sarah Horder, leadership team member, was one of our hosts.  

At dinner the first evening she said, “I have something for all of you.” She proceeded to pull out colorful drawings that she had made, one for each visitor, three of whom she first met that afternoon. 

The art included a page of scripture and words of encouragement. Sarah explained, “God woke me up very early this morning. I often wake up in the night, so I get up, make art, and pray for people.”  

Each picture was different and beautiful and spoke directly to us. It was one of the most surprising gifts I’ve ever received. This woman hadn’t even met us yet, and she was praying for us in the night, making art, and receiving words from the Spirit on our behalf!   

For me she had the story of the widow’s oil from the book of Kings: A promise that God would use what I have and that it would bring life to others.  

The Widow’s Oil, artwork by Sarah Horder. Photo by Sonya Stauffer Kurtz. 

It turns out Sarah’s role in the congregation is to be a prophetic and prayerful presence. Her words of encouragement happen regularly and are very valued. 

All week long I kept noticing art, hospitality, and the Holy Spirit! 

Stuart and Sian Murray-Williams, of the Anabaptist Mennonite Network, hosted us in their London home for a day. Stuart’s latest book, The New Anabaptists, includes the stories of Peaceful Borders and Arnott Road Baptist, a small church restart in their neighborhood.  

Peaceful Borders staff took us under the English Channel to Calais, France, a modest town where migrants and refugees, people on the move from places like Syria, Afghanistan, and Eritrea gather to try to cross into the UK.  

Most refugees live in tents, moving from place to place as they are able.  

Our destination was the Maria Skobtsova House, a haven for particularly vulnerable refugee women and children. There we met Mennonite Mission Network workers Joseph and Rachel Givens, and some of the women living at the house. 

The first thing I noticed in the house is that one whole wall is full of art. Informal, everyday art created by the women, kids, and volunteers. The house is both peaceful and can be very chaotic. Daily Taizé prayer grounds the volunteers and guests in something bigger and stronger than the systems and powers that they must navigate daily.   

At the house there is a lot of conversation, regular meals, and trying to live in the moment, because nothing is permanent or predictable when you are a refugee. 

In a refugee day center, watercolor paintings of boats caught my eye. Along with English and French classes, workshops on legal issues, and a place to charge your phone, the center provides art supplies to help people process their experiences.   

Veronique, a longtime volunteer, explained, “we used to just distribute things to refugees, but slowly we realized that just being with people was more important. It’s been kind of a conversion for us.” 

In my task-oriented American pastoral life it is good to be reminded that being with, creating art, and the work of the Holy Spirit are important and can be used by God to work for Kingdom ends. 

Sonya Stauffer Kurtz

Sonya Stauffer Kurtz is lead pastor at Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA. Originally from Iowa, she has lived and worked in Europe, Africa and North America. She is inspired by learning about the work of the Spirit in the global church.

Mental Health Sunday at Zion Mennonite

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by Mike Ford, Maureen Gingerich, and Jessica Fenchel

“We all have dips in our life trajectory, we all have low times emotionally. And in these times, it’s good to get help, it’s important to be there for each other,” visiting speaker Jessica Fenchel shared during the sermon time at Zion (Souderton, PA) during a recent worship service and intergenerational Sunday school on mental health. We read Galatians 6:2 and Matthew 25:35-36 to remind us that we need to be a community of healing for each other, and that mental health is just as important as physical health. 

Fenchel, Senior Vice President at Access Services, was joined by Maureen Gingerich, Vice President of Integrated Health Services at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation, to speak with the Zion congregation on this topic, and provide space for questions and answers during Sunday school.  

Sharing about the scope of the problem, Fenchel cited, “As many as 70% of high school students in Montgomery County report prolonged experiences of depression and anxiety.” 

Emphasizing the negative effects of loneliness and isolation on our health, Gingerich pointed out that the “lack of social connection can be as impactful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, according to research shared in the Surgeon General’s 2023 Advisory on the Health Effects of Social Connection & Community”. 

Yet there is good news: we heal in community. Faith and spirituality are a significant part of healing and growth for most people, and we, as followers of Jesus, can be part of that community of healing. We can create spaces of vulnerability where people can share safely.  We can be good listeners. We can cultivate congregational cultures where people feel welcomed, validated, and accepted. We can provide resources for professional help. We can build and maintain caring relationships now so that when times of crisis come, we can step into the gap to support others. 

Fenchel reminded us that “We sometimes refer to vulnerability as brave, but it shouldn’t have to feel so brave to be honest about how we’re really doing.” Our congregations can have a role in creating a feeling of safety about sharing honestly.  

Gingrich emphasized the importance of community, saying, “Community helps us build and maintain healing connections that sustain us through life’s challenges and joys.”

The COVID-19 pandemic and digital media have affected the way we interact with each other, making it easier not to interact face-to-face. Yet personal, face-to-face interaction is the way God has wired us to best relate to and care for each other. Time together in community, and wise use of technology to enhance our relationships, and professional help for those facing trauma, death, depression, and isolation are all beneficial supports that offer the potential for healing and holistic wellness.  

For those seeking to connect with a professional counselor or therapist, talk to a pastor or consider these resources:  

Mike Ford

Mike Ford loves Jesus and people, and has combined those two loves for the last 40 years through work on a college campus, Program Director at two Christian camps, hospital chaplaincy, and serving as a Youth Pastor and Preaching Pastor at several Mennonite congregations. Mike oversees Zion’s Jr/Sr High youth ministry and helps with its outreach activities. 

Maureen Gingerich

Maureen Gingerich, MPH, MSW, LCSW, has 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field, the majority of which have been with St. Luke’s Penn Foundation. She currently serves as Vice President of Integrated Health Services, overseeing the areas of quality, licensing/accreditation, navigation, Administrative Case Management, and HealthConnections.

Jessica Fenchel

Jessica Fenchel is Vice President of Behavioral Health and Chief Operating Officer at Access Services. She has been at Access Services for over 10 years, during which she was key in the startup of innovative initiatives across multiple service spaces including crisis, forensics, schools, and homelessness.

Bearing Witness to the Lives of Neighbors We’ve Lost

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by Pat Freed, Zion congregation

A Memorial to the Lost, comprised of around 90 shirts representing the lives lost to gun violence in Montgomery County in the past five years, on Zion Mennonite’s campus. Photo by Alice Wolfgang.

At the corner of Cherry Lane and Front Street in Souderton, PA, there are about 90 colorful T-shirts waving in the breeze. They bear witness to deaths by gun violence in Montgomery County over the last five years. Each shirt tells the name, age, and date of death of someone dearly loved and continually mourned by their families and friends. 

Zion (Souderton, PA) Mennonite has partnered with Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, an organization that focuses on faith communities as a key group in helping to solve the problem of gun violence. Our intention in hosting a Memorial to the Lost on the Zion campus is to raise awareness and inspire action to end this epidemic of gun violence. 

Our youth group participated in making the T-shirts, and they found the simple act of writing on the shirts to be personal and powerful. The names belong to real people who were our neighbors. We pray that God will take our efforts and make an incredible difference in our community and everywhere. 

In 2023, the Salford (Harleysville, PA) and Plains (Hatfield, PA) congregations also held Memorials to the Lost honoring the lives of those who had died because of gun violence locally. 

Members of the Zion youth group write on the colorful shirts that are a part of the Memorial to the Lost. Photo by Mike Ford.
Participants installed the T-shirts for the Memorial and offered prayers for those who’ve died and their loved ones on a rainy Sunday. Photo by Mike Ford.

As a follow up to this installation, Zion, along with other local churches, will be hosting a Gun Violence Awareness Walk in Souderton on Sunday, April 21, 2024. We will walk through town as witnesses for peace and change. At the end of the walk, participants will sign letters to their lawmakers to encourage them to implement more common-sense gun laws. All are welcome to walk and pray together to heed God’s call to end gun violence. 

Patrice Freed

Patrice Freed grew up at Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) and still worships there. She’s a grandmother to nine and loves the outdoors and working for peace and justice.

Just Eat the Food

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By Jordan Luther

On Sunday, July 17, my congregation (Zion) chartered a bus from Souderton, PA to worship with our Christian siblings at Philadelphia Praise Center, Nations Worship Center, and Indonesian Light Church in South Philadelphia.  

We spent several months planning for this trip. As Pastor Hendy Matahelemual has already shared, this idea was born over lunch in early May. The pastors of our respective congregations met and collaborated on what it would look to have our own Mennonite World Conference where we would worship, fellowship, and share a meal together. 

Leading up to our visit, the Zion congregation did our part to prepare for the trip. We dedicated our July worship series to the importance of the global church and our Mosaic relationships. We studied the story of Peter and Cornelius from Acts 10 as our biblical and theological framework before our visit. Below is an excerpt from my sermon on Sunday, July 10. 

What does it look like to participate in a global, intercultural church? 

The simple answer. It looks a lot like eating different foods. 

Eating the local food and graciously accepting hospitality is one of the best things we can do as cultural outsiders. Eating another’s food opens doors to new relationships and for the Spirit of God to shake things up. 

If I had to summarize our Bible story from Acts 10 today into one sentence, it would be this: just eat the food. 

What does it look like to participate in a global, intercultural church? 

JORDAN LUTHER
Photo provided by Indonesian Light Church

We too often tell this story from only Peter’s perspective. We easily forget that God is at work in both Cornelius and Peter’s lives. God desires to bring them both together, despite their cultural differences, in a spirit of mutual transformation. 

Both Peter and Cornelius are mutually transformed through their meeting. God’s initiative to bring them together gives us a taste—literally—of what it is like to come together as a global, intercultural church. 

Their story shows us that the best place to start becoming an intercultural church is to just eat the food. 

Photo by Nations Worship Center
Photo by Nations Worship Center

Perhaps eating new foods is a simple but profound act of surrendering to God’s mission to bring all people together through Jesus Christ our Lord—without having to sacrifice our deep cultural identities. Can it really be this simple? 

Yes! Just eat the food. 

May we, like Peter and Cornelius, lean into the blurred lines between who is guest and host. May we do so with the confidence that it is God who is setting the table and bringing us together. May we come to the table eager to learn from one another in a spirit of mutual transformation. 

God has set the table. We just need to show up… And eat the food. 

Just eat the food.

Jordan Luther

Jordan Luther is the former Associate Pastor of Faith Formation at Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, PA. He is starting Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation this fall and attends Wild Church at FernRock Retreat.

Congregational Profile: Zion Mennonite Church

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Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA, asks you to pray for youth who will soon be baptized, for their new Associate Pastor of Faith Formation, Jordan Luther, who will join them in June, and that Zion may grow in grace as they follow God’s call in their community.  See the below video to learn more about Zion and their Bean Bag Food Program.