The Messenger Vol. 47 No. 2 January 21, 2009

THE

MESSENGER

a publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference

volume 47, number 2 January 21, 2009

Sunday is coming

What about Sundays? (p. 4) Anticipating Sunday (p. 8)

www.emconf.ca/Messenger

editorials

The burden of rest?

T

o a Jew, Sabbath was a time set aside for rest.

God himself rested after all he had created—and he called it holy (Genesis 2:3).

Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, our Saturday.

To commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, we as Christians celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday.

During my growing up years, I remember my parents being fairly insistent on Sunday morning church attendance. On mornings when we unable to attend, we would generally hold a service at home.

Some people older than I am may remember other Sunday traditions or restrictions. The prohibition against playing sports on Sunday seems to have been common, based on our staff coffee break talk. I’ve read stories of children confined to the living room couch with only the Bible to read; no “fun” activities allowed.

Some of these restrictions may remind us of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time who had Sabbathkeeping down to a science—they knew exactly what was permitted on the Sabbath. To these, Jesus

INTERIM EDITOR Rebecca Buhler rbuhler@emconf.ca

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Erica Fehr

efehr@emconf.ca

Address changes and submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 4 – February 18 (copy due February 6)

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said, “Woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry” (Luke 11:46).

In this issue, Jeff Plett tells of two incidents where Jesus confronted the Pharisees’ preconceived ideas about Sabbath. The letter of the law had become more important than the spirit of it, and Jesus condemns this.

Today, Sabbath-keeping seems quite different. Some churches offer services on days other than Sunday. We have many options of activity—shopping, going to movies, outdoor recreation, participation in sports, even working.

We use the excuse that we’re doing what rests us, yet we don’t cease from doing and truly rest.

While I don’t support a return to the forced inactivity of the Pharisees, I wonder if we can’t recover the beauty of reserving a day simply to rest and to worship.

While our work during the week may energize us, we need times of rest to renew us. Without rest, even exciting work can soon become toil.

We also need to cease doing to remember who created us and

THE MESSENGER is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpublished material is not returned except by request.

Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors.

THE MESSENGER is published twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St., Steinbach, Man.

enables us in the first place. As Jocelyn Plett says in her article, we can think that our efforts make us great and give us value. Rest allows us to cease from striving and learn that the world continues to turn without our efforts. We are reminded that the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) is the true sustainter and enabler of our efforts.

Physically, our bodies need rest beyond our nights’ sleep.

Even in physical training, our bodies’ endurance is built up more by interval training (bursts of activity followed by rest or low-intensity activity) than by continuous activity. Rest allows the body time to recover and to be built up.

Emotionally, if we continue to pour into others, but leave no time for God to fill us anew, we will end up empty, with nothing left to give.

In all areas, a balance between work and rest is needed. How we practice this may look different for each of us, but it remains an important practice and a topic T worthy of discussion. M Rebecca Buhler

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MESSENGER

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THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

letter Wisdom and governance In an immediate post election time of economic uncertainty, when political stability, civility and statesmanship are critical, there is a need for Canadians and Parliament to transition from divisive and partisan politics to focused good governance. We need more than rhetoric about civility in the House of Commons.

Canada needs a renewed practice of civility where humility, self-control, respect, courtesy, and good manners are practiced.

The political and economic uncertainty in our nation is palpable as we watch recession play out across the world stage. All national party leaders have stated that we are on the verge of a recession, the degree of which is uncertain. Canadians already face this reality.

The Canadian government faces certain limitations on what it can do in the face of global economic turmoil and there is legitimate disagreement among Canadians as well as our political leaders about what course of action the government can and should take.

Resolving the course of action needed for this situation requires careful thought and the exploration of many possibilities.

Careful thought and exploration requires open dialogue—the willingness to discuss, listen and consider alternatives.

I respectfully appeal to the leaders of our nation, the Members of our House of Commons and Senate and make these requests: A plea for civility: After expressing the desire for a new level of cooperation and civility in the House of Commons, the rancour, barbs and vitriol among Parliamentarians and their partisan supporters has escalated. All people of goodwill are encouraged to compel our political leaders to remember their commitment to civility and to personally and collectively take responsibility to treat their colleagues on both sides of the floor of the House with dignity and respect. In fact, we as citizens also need to practice civility and respect in our communication with and about Parliamentarians on this issue, as well as in our conversations around the dinner table, with colleagues and neighbours, in our letters to the editor and calls to talk shows.

A plea for integrity: The language of coup and constitutional crisis may be overstated. There is a need to be disciplined in our rhetoric and choice of words to avoid creating instability and crisis beyond the serious issues already

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

confronting the nation. Now is not the time to play into people’s fears, but rather to explore possibilities, articulate principles and search for common ground.

A plea for statesmanship: It is vital that we consider the role of government.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans the focus is on the role of the government and government leaders, who are called ministers of God and who are to govern for our good. This is the duty of Parliament and this supersedes partisanship. The term statesman, still one of the most complimentary descriptions one can assign to a politician or civic leader, has historically been reserved for one who is able to transcend partisanship or parochial interests for the greater good.

A plea for grace: In all human interaction the practice of apology, forgiveness and changed patterns of behaviour are integral to living and working with others. Yet an admission of fault or error has come to be considered fatal in politics. Asking forgiveness and forgiving others. Some may argue that this is not how the real world of politics works. Well, perhaps it is time for something different. Sincere apologies extended and forgiveness granted would go a long way.

These disciplines, civility, integrity, statesmanship and extending grace, would be significant steps toward restoring and improving the functionality

Letters to the Editor Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger.

Letters by hand or fax require a handwritten signature. All letters require a name, an address and a phone number.

Letters can be edited for length, clarity, legality, and taste. The focus of letters is to be on an issue, not a personality.

The views and opinions expressed by the writers are their own, and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference.

All publication of letters is subject to the policy approved January 2002 by the EMC Board of Church Ministries. of Parliament and fostering political cohesion in uncertain times. It would help to restore the faith of citizens in a system intended for our good, and in our elected representatives.

Good governance produces peace and security in the best of times and the worst of times.

Bruce J. Clemenger, President The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada EMC is a member of EFC. This letter is shortened from an open letter to Parliamentarians and fellow Canadians.

E-mail address updates Note that all EM Conference office staff have new e-mail addresses. Please remove any old addresses from your e-mail address book and replace with the following:

Ward Parkinson, Canadian Church Planting Coordinator, Board of Leadership and Outreach: wparkinson@emconf.ca

General Inquiries info@emconf.ca The Messenger messenger@emconf.ca

Ruth Anne Peters, Adminstrative Secretary, Board of Missions, Board of Trustees and General Board: rapeters@emconf.ca

Rebecca Buhler, Administrative Secretary, Board of Church Ministries; Assistant Editor, The Messenger: rbuhler@emconf.ca

Gerald Reimer, Conference Youth Minister, Board of Church Ministries and Board of Missions: greimer@emconf.ca

Tim Dyck, General Secretary; Executive Secretary for Board of Missions, Board of Trustees and General Board: tdyck@emconf.ca

Terry Smith, Executive Secretary, Board of Church Ministries; Editor, The Messenger: tsmith@emconf.ca (on sabbatical to May 1, 2009)

Wannetta Fast, Accountant: wfast@emconf.ca

David Thiessen, Conference Pastor, Board of Leadership and Outreach: dthiessen@emconf.ca

Erica Fehr, Administrative Secretary, Board of Leadership and Outreach: efehr@emconf.ca

Ken Zacharias, Foreign Secretary, Board of Missions: kzacharias@emconf.ca

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What about

Sundays?

Jeff Plett

Mark 2:23–3:6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

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Mark 3 1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.

2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

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THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

Jesus had to remind the Pharisees that the Sabbath was not created as a law unto itself. Obeying the law was not the all-important issue. God had ordained the Sabbath day for the well-being of His people. The Sabbath rest was His gift to them, to release them from the stress and toll of their everyday work so they could be refreshed both spiritually and physically.

W

hat about Sundays? How do you spend your Sundays? Do you find that it’s restful and quiet; a special day in which to draw closer to God? Mark Buchanan, author of a recent article in Servant magazine (Prairie Bible Institute publication), writes that the essence of Sabbath, or Sunday, is paying attention to God’s voice: “We all know people so self-absorbed and obtuse that they would miss the apocalypse if it happened in their living rooms. Others seem to operate in a sixth sense, deciphering the hand of God in mere whispers and shadows.”

Sunday is the best day, Buchanan says, to “practice the art of attentiveness.” “Sabbath invites us to stop, to relax without guilt, to open our eyes and practice Jesus’ command to watch and pray.”

In the Bible, Jesus also teaches about the Sabbath. We want to study what He is teaching us through two Sabbath controversies. Then we want to ask five questions of ourselves.

The first controversy arises when the Pharisees spot the disciples plucking grain as they saunter through a field. The Pharisees classify this plucking of grain as harvesting, a violation of the Sabbath.

The laxity of the disciples reflects poorly on Jesus as their teacher, and so they question Him, “Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (Mark 2:24).

Jesus’ first response recalls an earlier violation of the law. King David himself, together with his companions, ate the bread of the Presence. This bread was holy, and was to be eaten only by the priests (Lev. 24:5–9, 1 Sam. 21:1–6).

Scripture does not condemn David for eating the bread. He was fleeing for his life from King Saul, and the strict regulations could be set aside. If the law could be set aside for David, how much more could it be set aside for Jesus Christ! Jesus is in a situation of far greater urgency than David, in proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God!

The first Sabbath principle Jesus then responds: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

Jesus had to remind the Pharisees that the Sabbath was not created as a law unto itself.

Obeying the law was not the all-important issue.

God had ordained the Sabbath day for the wellbeing of His people. The Sabbath rest was His gift to them to release them from the stress and toil of their everyday work so they could be refreshed both spiritually and physically.

The Pharisees would argue that if the disciples hadn’t prepared their food for the Sabbath ahead of time, then they should go hungry. Fortunately, Jesus takes a more gentle approach. He teaches that the priority of human needs outweighs the need to conform to strict regulations. God’s laws are not designed to create heavy burdens for His people.

They are there to protect us from sinful harmful ways; God gave His laws for our benefit.

Jesus teaches that the priority of human needs outweighs the need to conform to strict regulations.

The second Sabbath principle “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). In verse 24 we read, “The Pharisees said...why are they doing what is unlawful?” Then notice verse 27, “Then he said to them.”

The Pharisees have their say, but Jesus has the final say. Jesus’ authority far overrules that of the teachers of the law. It is Jesus, the Son of Man, who ultimately decides what is lawful and unlawful, permissible and impermissible.

Friends, let God’s word guide you. Frequently ask the Lord, “Jesus, is this how you see it? Am I still in tune with your view of things?” Allow Him to speak, and to change your understanding if it needs to change. (continued p. 6)

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T

he second Sabbath controversy happens in Mark 3:1–6. Here Jesus is in the synagogue; a man with a shrivelled hand is there, too. Jesus’ opponents are watching his every move. They want to see if He will heal him on the Sabbath and violate their interpretation of the law. Apparently they also saw healing as doing work, therefore it was strictly forbidden.

Jesus doesn’t work in secret, trying to cover up what He’s doing. He will heal this man openly. But before He does so He asks a crucial question of the Pharisees, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4).

Jesus doesn’t work in secret, trying to cover up what He’s doing. He will heal this man openly.

Jesus is angry and distressed at their stubborn hearts. All they care about is their own narrow interpretation of the law. Everything else has to submit to that.

The third Sabbath principle Jesus then lays out another principle: It is lawful and right to do good and to save life on the Sabbath (3:4). Doing good to others is not to be limited only to certain days. Even on a Sabbath one is to do good to others.

Jesus is saying that rules are not an end in themselves. God gave the laws for the benefit of humankind.

God’s two main laws supersede and give His perspective of all the other laws: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).

If we get these two laws right we will get the other laws right too. Then we will understand and do the right thing in all the other laws God commands us to do.

Let’s turn now to the five reflective questions. Let them probe your heart about the way you view and practice Sundays. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and be willing to change.

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On Sundays is my main focus to meet with God and to worship Him? Do I desire to worship God together with others and build them up in doing so?

On Sundays our main focus should be on God—on meeting with Him, worshipping Him, and listening to His voice. We cannot learn to fully love God if we’re constantly on the run.

Mark Buchanan feels that Sundays are different from other days because we make a deliberate choice to come into God’s presence. Together with other Christians we choose to look at our circumstances from a fresh angle. We come away filled, not depleted. This is a gift of God. Is Sunday a day of rest for me, where I am rejuvenated both physically and spiritually? Do I become quiet before God so I can hear His voice?

God knows that our bodies and minds get weary from all the tasks and responsibilities of the week, so He ordained a day of rest for His people (Exodus 20:8–11).

God knows that we need rest, and He designed a special day just for that purpose. He ordained it as a rest-day, and God Himself conformed to what He intended it to be.

Sometimes in the church hallways I hear the remark that someone is about to rush off after the church service to do more work. That concerns me. I don’t think we need more work on Sundays; rather, make it a day of rest, a day of quiet, a day of listening to God’s voice.

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

Do my Sunday activities distinguish my lifestyle from unbelievers, or are they pretty much like the rest of the world?

I believe we can be a strong witness, or a lax witness, by the things we do or don’t do on Sundays. My prayer is that our activities on Sunday will accurately reflect what we believe about God—that worshipping Him, obeying His laws, and learning about Him, is important to us.

I know a number of farmers in the Landmark area who take their Sunday witness very seriously.

These men and women who farm have made a commitment to the Lord not to harvest or do any field work on Sundays! Some weeks are brutal— they hardly get any combining done because it keeps on raining. Finally on Sunday it’s a perfect, sunny day for harvesting. So what do they do? It’s part of their livelihood, but they choose not to go out. Their combines and tractors remain silent. It is God’s day—a day of rest, a day to draw closer to Him. Am I using my Sundays to help others in some way?

Finally, does my Sunday morning frame of mind get carried into the rest of the week? Or, does “Sunday” end on the way home from church?

We can easily get distracted from the Sunday purpose we started out with. Let’s strive to carry the Sunday frame of mind into the rest of the week.

That is where we live out the principles we’ve learned about on Sunday. Allow the teachings of Jesus Christ to bless you and others throughout the week.

God invites us to enter more fully into His Sabbath, into His rest so that we can know Him more deeply. God separated this day from other days and ordained it as holy. He kept the Sabbath Himself. God rested. Then He turned and said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.

Come, and you will find rest for your souls” T (Matthew 11:28–29). Amen. M Jeff Plett is pastor of Evangelical Fellowship Church in Fort Frances, Ont. This article is based on a sermon preached in September 2006.

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One of Jesus’ Sabbath principles is that it is lawful to do good for others on Sundays. Look for kind things you could do for others. You could visit the sick or elderly. You could nurture relationships within the church. A good way to nurture love is by spending time with each other and praying for each other when a need arises. We could do much more of that.

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

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Contact SCHS for more info at 326-3537 www.schs.ca schs@schs.ca

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Anticipating

S

Sundays

ince we started going out for Indian food on Sundays for lunch our anticipation for the Day of the Lord has been heightened considerably. It’s not the delicious food which makes the anticipation so sweet, but the Sunday customs we have made into habit, a haven within the week that affords us the ability to rest and enjoy the day.

About a year ago Josh and I started to frequent the nearby Indian family-run restaurant after church. We start the day by joining our very beloved church family for worship and “the preach,” as they call it. Then follows a cup of tea and a cookie with the church body out under the boma (the large two walled structure on the church grounds that gives shelter from the rain and the hot sun). We loiter luxuriously with our hot cuppas (no matter how hot it is outside), enjoying the company of those with whom we worship. This is usually the time when we ask around to see what people are doing for lunch and, should we find someone with no plans, we invite them to the Raphia with us.

What we like about the Raphia is that we can sit outside under the umbrella enjoying the sun and garden while we watch Judah jump on the trampoline or play on the playground. We have the chance to sit back and relax with homemade strawberry juice and pickled mango while we wait for our spicy Indian dishes.

What I have come to enjoy about our Sabbath ritual is that it embodies the freedom that God ordained for us to enjoy on this day.

Living in a former French colony has forced us to embrace a culture of slow eating. Despite the frustration of being at the mercy of our server, this custom of taking it easier when we dine has helped our process towards resting on the Sabbath. The fact that we don’t have to cook or clean up after the lunch, which can last for hours some days, means we have the freedom of inviting innumerable friends to spend the afternoon with us—extending the time we can enjoy each other’s 8

Jocelyn R. Plett

Josh, Jocelyn and Judah R. Plett enjoy lunch at the Raphia with friends.

company. The rest of the day is “full” of napping, popcorn for supper (after the lunch at Raphia no one could think of eating more than that), and time spent playing as a family.

What I have come to enjoy about our Sabbath ritual is that it embodies the freedom that God ordained for us to enjoy on this day. Our weekly obligations can subtly cause us to think we are as great as our efforts show us to be. Our chosen Sunday custom frees us from this and affords us rest, and time to to enjoy the company of T people with no agendas or time constraints. M Jocelyn R. Plett (Prairie Rose) lives with her husband Josh and son Judah in Madagascar, where they serve as EMC associate missionaries under Mission Aviation Fellowship.

The pdf booklet on CD

Peace Sermons by EMCers (2008) is now available.

Cost: $2 each ($4 if mailed) To order, contact the national office: 204-326-6401 or rbuhler@emconf.ca

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

with our missionaries Papua New Guinea

A new work among the Saniyo?

My wife Laurel and I have worked with New Tribes Mission and the people of Pukapuki since 1994. Pukapuki is a village on the April River in the Sepik region of PNG. We had the privilege of seeing a church established there in 1997.

Of the 200 Saniyo people in Pukapuki about 35 are believers and meet together regularly.

The Saniyo language group consists of about 1,500 people. Most of those people live in five villages on another river system to the west of the April River—a day and a half hike from Pukapuki.

In the 1970s another mission worked among these folks. At the time, very few of them understood the trade language, Pidgin English. The missionaries taught them Pidgin and shared the gospel with them, but they had very little understanding of the culture of the people. The people wholeheartedly embraced the teaching and a “church” was established. Or was it?

During our culture and language study of the Saniyo people, we spent a lot of time trying to understand their worldview. About five families in the village of Pukapuki were a part of the “church.” Much of their “church” terminology sounded fine but as we dug deeper a different picture surfaced: God was seen as the big ancestral spirit. He looked after the “Christian” family line. Satan was seen as the chief evil spirit that led other spirits in causing sickness, calamity and death. God and Satan were seen as working together to punish those who didn’t meet the mark.

There is a list of dos and don’ts that aren’t much different from the list we see in religious circles around the world. The

Men at Moropute church meeting

Papua New Guinea is considered a Christian society. Unfortunately much of Christianity looks very similar to syncretized animism.

Ten Commandments form the basis for them. If someone’s good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, they’ll live to see gray hair and end up in Heaven when they die. If not, they’ll see sickness, calamity, perhaps an early death, and end up in the place of fire when they die. The term for this is Syncretized Animism.

Sound familiar? Most of the religions of the world are based on works: what we do in our strength to gain God’s favour. Papua New Guinea is considered a Christian society. Unfortunately much of Christianity looks very similar to what I described above.

Early in 2008, I went on a survey to the other villages to see what the next step should be to expand the work among the Saniyo people.

We found a very religious society.

The largest village, Moropute, had four church services while we were there. Of the population of around 300, about 280 attended all the services. In the village of Mapowe we asked the leaders when the last village fight happened. They thought awhile and then answered, “1989.” It reminded me very much of some of the isolated religious societies we find in our own country. Although

Tim and church leader Mike read the Bible lesson in Saniyo.

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the grassroots thinking was the same as those five families in Pukapuki we were thrilled to find a few of the leaders that had a good understanding of the gospel of grace. There was an excitement about hearing the Word of God in their language as I shared on Sunday morning.

They also desire the Bible and the ability to read it in their language.

It’s a different new work than we have been involved with before. Could you pray with us as we look at ways of bringing the true light of the gospel to these folks and finishing the work with the Saniyo people?

Tim Schroder

Tim and Laurel Schroder (Pelly) have served in Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Mission. They are now on North American assignment for a year.

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Paraguay

Fireworks and new beginnings

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and started the New Year with a bang. We sure did. Both Christmas (December 24 at midnight) and New Year’s are celebrated here with a lot of fireworks and we contributed our share of noise.

We finished our first trimester of Guarani classes on December 19 and began our second trimester on January 5. Our two-week break was busy. We spent a few days getting the proper documents and have now applied for permanent residency in Paraguay. We celebrated with friends on Christmas Eve. We also attended the CEMP (Evangelical Mennonite Conference of Paraguay) youth camp held December 25–28. About 75 campers attended and seemed to enjoy the activities and speakers. It was great to see four of last year’s Bible school students plan the camp and take turns as speakers. After camp was over we went home for a few days, and spent time working on immigration paperwork. We went to Ytororõ for New Year’s.

Our priority for the next several months will continue to be learning Guarani. Pray that we will have energy and be focused on this task, keeping the reasons we are doing this (even if they are not specific yet) in the front of our minds to motivate us. Related to this, pray that we will know how to balance our home life and our studies, so that we will not feel overwhelmed, and will have time to spend with our daughter Zipporah.

We are still praying, looking, discussing and waiting for what God has in store for us once we are done our classes in five or six months. We assume we will be moving to another city, but where, for what, and with whom are still big questions. We know that God has a plan and we will be patient. Pray that we will be wise and discerning as doors open and close, as we look for the way of the Lord.

We all need to know God better, to have a deeper relationship with Him, to trust Him, to hear Him, to have complete joy and peace in Him as we completely depend on Him. Please pray that this would continue to happen in our lives for His glory and honour in Paraguay.

Travis and Rosey Zacharias Travis and Rosey Zacharias (Kleefeld) live and serve in Paraguay.

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Register early—before February 20, 2009 • $50/person after February 29, 2008 • $60/person group rate for 3 or more from one church • $40/person

Christal SBC 1-204-326-6451 Above: At Call camp, Travis at was Register in charge of games,online the LCDat www.sbcollege.ca projector, all things related to the computer, as well as helping out with sound.

Top right: Group discussion after a camp session.

Right: Rosey sits and visits with youth.

with Dr. John Neufeld

Register early—before February 20, 2009• $50/person

after February 20, 2009 • $60/person group rate for 3 or more from one church • $40/person

Call Christal at SBC 1-204-326-6451 or register online at www.sbcollege.ca

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

with our churches

Church ladies party!

Fort Frances, Ont.: On December 4, a Thursday evening, the ladies from Fort Frances had a Christmas celebration.

The church was lit up with mini lights and candles to set the tone.

We had a lovely program where we sang some carols and had a few silly jokes. Yvonne Friesen sang Heirlooms by Amy Grant, and then our guest speaker Minna Thiessen spoke about family. She said it is important to make and keep special traditions, and to keep family close relationally.

Instead of doing a gift exchange, we put together newborn kits for MCC. We managed to complete 15 kits and still had many extra items. We also had a prayer of blessing over the kits asking God to bless the mothers and babies who would receive each one so that they might feel the love with which these were given.

There was lots of Christmas baking to sample and apple cider to drink, along with a wonderful time to chat with each other. All in all, it was a good start to December and the Christmas season.

Yvonne Friesen

Fort Frances ladies gathered on December 4 to celebrate Christmas.

Guest speaker Minna Thiessen

AFC children dedicated Anola, Man.: This fall at Anola Fellowship Chapel we were pleased to hold a service where six couples dedicated their children to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We as a church also stood as an indication of our support and approval.

Jessica Wichers

births

Couples and children involved in the dedication are: Brian and Rachel Davis with Jesse, Corey and Angie Sawatzky with Ella, Sheldon and Justina Barkman with Jelana, Mike and Candace Cousins with Alicia, Dan and Melissa Cosens with Talitha and Seth, and Walter and Velda Dyck with Jacob. Pastor Jack Cosens led the service.

YANG – to Wenbo Yang and Liping Peng of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Haylee, on November 7, 2008.

FRIESEN – to Kurt and Audrey Friesen of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Spencer Paul, on December 22, 2008.

BRUBAKER – to Clare and Charlene Brubaker of Emo, Ont., a son, Sean Stephen, on November 15, 2008.

WIEBE – to Dallas and Tara Wiebe of Steinbach, Man., a son, Logan Seth, on January 2, 2009.

FRIESEN – to Darcy and Yvonne Friesen of Fort Frances, Ont., a son, Trent Jacob, on December 17, 2008.

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

wedding KLASSEN – CAMPUZANO: Paul Klassen and Mari Tere Garcia Campuzano were married on November 8, 2008, in Mexico City, Mexico.

The couple lives in Winnipeg, Man.

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MCC increases aid, advocacy for Gaza In the midst of air strikes, ground battles and a rising death toll, Mennonite Central Committee partner organizations in Gaza are distributing food, water and blankets to Gazans who have lost their homes.

On January 6, MCC approved an emergency response package that brings the monetary value of MCC’s humanitarian responses in Gaza in 2008 and early 2009 to almost $345,000.

ance, MCC is calling for prayers for peace and urging the governments of Canada and the U.S. to work for an end to the fighting.

In a letter to the Canadian government, MCC Canada writes: “MCC believes that peace and security for all people in the region can only be gained through peaceful means. It cannot come from rocket attacks. It cannot come from bombing and air strikes. A lasting peace can only be achieved as all parties, including In addition to humanitarian assistance, MCC Hamas, engage in political negotiations to address is calling for prayers for peace and urging the the issues that divide them.” governments of Canada and the U.S. to work A letter from MCC U.S. for an end to the fighting. to the U.S. government states: “Fundamentally, a The latest emergency response resolution to this conflict must address includes shipping a large container of root causes. The use of military force only blankets and relief kits to Gaza and adds to the grievances that Palestinians providing $30,000 to locally purchase and Israelis feel. It does nothing to food and other urgently needed address the root causes that lead the supplies. peoples of the region to feel insecure.”

In addition to humanitarian assistBoth letters urge their respective

governments to insist that all parties allow humanitarian aid to reach the most vulnerable people in Gaza.

Before Israel’s military operations began on Dec. 27, 2008, humanitarian conditions were already desperate in Gaza due to an 18-month economic blockade, according to Rick Janzen, a director of MCC’s programs in the Middle East and Europe.

The United Nations reports that there is now an almost total blackout in many parts of Gaza. About 70 percent of the population has no running water due to electricity cuts and the lack of fuel to run back-up generators. Thousands of homes have been damaged, and it has become increasingly difficult for families to stay in them given the cold weather.

MCC is encouraging Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches to write letters to their representatives in government and urge them to use their influence to end the violence in Gaza and Israel. MCC’s Web site, mcc.org, provides more information on ways to respond to the Gaza crisis.

MCC

Free aid not solution in Haiti: CMU Professor A trip to Haiti in May was both a blessing and a challenge for Ray Vander Zaag, a professor at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), where he teaches International Development Studies.

“It was great to be back to see friends and be part of Haitian culture again,” says Vander Zaag, who lived in Haiti from 1985–93 while serving with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, and again in 1997 while doing doctoral research.

Yet being there was also a challenge.

“It broke my heart to see how conditions have deteriorated for so many” he says.

Vander Zaag was in Haiti as part of an international fact-finding mission on the right to food. The trip was sponsored by the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, an organization created by the government of Canada.

Since the right to food is enshrined in Haiti’s constitution, the mission called on the Haitian government to take immediate steps to resolve the problem.

Vander Zaag says, “There are many competing explanations to explain the causes of the food crisis.”

One theory holds that the crisis is the

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result of how foreign governments have the countryside...increasing rural encouraged Haiti to open its markets to productivity will increase rural incomes, cheaper imported food. “As prices on and provide more locally-grown food.” imported food have risen, it is harder for Vander Zaag doesn’t want to poor people to buy staple goods,” says discourage North Americans from Vander Zaag. wanting to help people in Haiti. “But we Another theory emphasizes the weak need to do it in a way that doesn’t cause capacity and will of successive Haitian more problems for them in the longgovernments to deliver effective services term.” to the poor, he adds.

CMU “Because of the ongoing political and economic crises in Haiti, Western aid donors and private charities have responded with short-term food aid programs,” he says.

The problem with this approach, he notes, is that while it helps people in the short-term, “it is a short-sighted approach to the problem. It discourages development and home-grown economic activity.” Assistance is also creating “a paternalistic sense of dependency” in Haiti.

The solution to the food crisis in Haiti is not to send more free aid, he says. Rather, the Haitian government, aid groups, and Ray Vander Zaag (fourth from left, standing) with members Haitian grassroots organizations of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic need to “invest in farmers in Development fact-finding mission and local Haitian staff.

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

stewardship today Sherri Grosz

H

When it’s dark enough, even a little light will do!

ow do you feel when you are in the dark? When you can’t see your hand in front of your face? If you were in the dark, wouldn’t you be glad for the guidance of light to keep you safe?

As Christians, we are called to be a light to the world and to let our light shine. We may be only one small light surrounded by vast, and sometimes overwhelming, darkness. We may wonder what difference we could make.

The good news is that one small light will act as a guide to anyone lost in the darkness of night.

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Picture a candle in the window— it does not cast much light but it can serve as a beacon on a dark night.

In the midst of our economic turmoil, where headlines continually shout that it’s bad and it may yet become worse, could we be light for each other and find our way together? Are we willing to risk sharing our stories of faith, hope and struggle with each other? Is there a place where we could meet together to explore questions of how to live faithfully with our finances?

Do you live in a manner that’s counter to our culture and resist the pull to spend and acquire more things?

Are you a family that chooses to live on one income so that one spouse can have more time available to their children, family and community? Are you a young person giving of yourself for a year by volunteering and serving others?

Can we freely talk about our journey towards contentment, the knowledge that we do have enough and that God cares for us, regardless of our current circumstance? Have you decided to give regularly to your church, even though it means you must give up extras like restaurants and movies? Are you a business person who tries to balance decisions based on what is best for your employees and customers rather than basing decisions solely on profit?

Are we willing to risk sharing stories of our struggles, doubts and fears? Perhaps you are the person who struggles with the feeling you won’t have enough? Do you fear looking at your bank or credit card statements?

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

In the midst of our economic turmoil, where headlines continually shout that it’s bad and it may yet become worse, could we be light for each other and find our way together?

Are you struggling with how to manage household finances in a godly manner?

Are you willing to take a risk and share your story, your hopes and your fears? Are you willing to provide a safe space for others to share? Mennonite Foundation of Canada has resources that can help start these conversations. They are free for any of our conference churches and their members. Let’s discover what the Bible teaches about faith, money, and contentment and T be a light to each other and to the world. M Sherri Grosz is a stewardship consultant at Mennonite Foundation of Canada (Kitchener, Ont.). For stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit mennofoundation.ca.

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Summit evaluates Gather ’Round curriculum As the Gather ’Round curriculum moves into its third year of use (and fifth year of writing), staff and denominational representatives met in Elgin, Ill., to evaluate the materials and make plans for the future. A key resource for a November “summit” was data collected through a major curriculum survey conducted in Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Church Canada and Church of the Brethren congregations across North America (see sidebar).

Participants affirmed the importance of faith formation and Christian education in the life of the church, and grappled with the difficulty today in training and equipping teachers. Teachers tend to serve for shorter periods of time and are less available for training events.

Though the curriculum from the outset was developed with a special emphasis on “embedding” teacher training into the teacher’s guides, the group recognized a need to build even more teaching assistance into the curriculum.

The Gather ’Round team brainstormed ways the curriculum can be adapted for midweek use, church retreats, and other alternate settings.

The group learned how sessions in the teacher’s guides are being redesigned to streamline the flow and make it easier to follow. Editors are also giving extra attention to age-appropriateness, particularly at the Preschool level. In addition, more teacher assistance is being provided through the quarterly “Roundabout” newsletter, an expanded “Roundabout Online” e-newsletter, and recent upgrades to the Gather ’Round website, www.gatherround.org.

In a wide-ranging conversation about Christian education in a post-modern era, participants reflected on the trend toward small group gatherings outside the traditional Sunday school setting.

The Gather ’Round team brainstormed ways the curriculum can be adapted for midweek use, church retreats, and other alternate settings.

The team was heartened by survey data that showed a high percentage of congregations using denominational curricula. When choosing resources,

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congregations reported placing a higher priority on theological orientation and denominational values than on price.

Among both Mennonite and Brethren congregations, Gather ’Round was the dominant choice for children’s Sunday school programs. Distant second and third choices were materials by David C. Cook and Group.

A significant number of congregations reported having few or no children.

These demographics are a challenge for denominational publishers. The Gather ’Round project is small compared with other available Sunday school materials, as most small denominations have found it impossible to continue this sort of publishing. Not lost on the meeting attendees were the realities of the current economic climate as it pertains to church budgets.

The group spent considerable time analyzing ways to ensure that each Gather ’Round component is financially viable—particularly the signature Talkabout take-home item and Connect,

a resource for parents and caregivers.

Recognizing that some congregations are already using Connect as a general adult Bible study, the Gather ’Round team is planning to broaden the writing so that the books can be used easily by all adults. There will still be content aimed at parents and caregivers.

The group also explored ways to keep broadening the base for Gather ’Round.

This unique curriculum already appeals to other denominations, and orders on the website have increased significantly.

Gather ’Round is a cooperative publishing project of Brethren Press and Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN), the publishing ministry of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. Users come from a wide range of other denominations, including congregations from several cooperative users—United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, Moravian Church, and Mennonite Brethren.

MPN release

Gather ’Round plans for the future Selected curriculum survey findings: • 23.5% response rate (272 in total) from surveys sent to 1,156 congregations in Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.

• 58 survey responses came from Canada.

• 54% of churches have worship attendance between 26 and 125; 54% of churches have Sunday school attendance between 26 and 100.

• 91% of churches surveyed have children’s Sunday school; 82% have junior and/or senior youth Sunday school; 94% have adult Sunday school.

• In 22% of the churches, the Sunday school attendance is declining.

Some churches are exploring mid-week Christian formation options.

• 91% of churches indicated that Sunday school is “crucial” or “very important” in growing faith; 53% of the churches provide no training for their Sunday school teachers.

Free!

A new issue of Theodidaktos: Journal for EMC theology and education is available from the Conference office 204-326-6401 rbuhler@emconf.ca

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

MDS “blessed” and a “blessing” “I loved every minute of it. I learned that where people are in need, God is there, too,” said Daniel, who recently returned home from serving with Mennonite Disaster Service in Port Sulphur, La. Even with the troubling economy, reduced retirement accounts, and fear of uncertainty, MDS is experiencing a bumper year in projects and volunteer service.

Last year, MDS had a total of 12 binational projects; as this year begins, MDS already has 14 new projects.

In addition, a monumental wave of volunteerism has increased by 200 people for winter projects alone (January through March). Between January and March, MDS will have an estimated 350 volunteers putting in roughly 2,800 hours per week.

In the face of global economic stress that has, unfortunately, overshadowed the need for families to return home, houses still need to be built. The desire to return home has not diminished for disaster survivors, although, for some, the reality has been forgotten.

MDS staff is very optimistic about the great start to the New Year. Currently, MDS has an abundance of people who are skilled, and willing to volunteer their time for the needs of displaced neighbors.

Simply stated, “We’re abundantly blessed,” says Cathie Kearsley, MDS Director of Human Resources.

“Building houses is one thing, building hope is another, and MDS strives to do both.”

There are many ways to measure the strength and growth of a grassroots organization like MDS rather than mere financial numbers. “MDS is spiritually healthy and very strong,” Kearsley said optimistically. MDS’ strength and depth are, in large part, due to two things.

First, it has a healthy volunteer base (90 percent Anabaptist), which brings a variety of people from all walks of life. Second, it has a vision to serve an “invisible society” located on the fringes of North America. The elderly, disabled, single parents, uninsured and underinsured continue to find joy and renewed hope that is, put simply, beyond words.

Scott Sundberg, MDS Director of

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

Catalina and Lloyd stand by their newly built wheelchair ramp, New Orleans, La. (Photo by Julie Kauffman)

Communications, expressed an important component of MDS ministry.

“The intangibles of the mission and ministry of MDS are enormous and very much a part of what keeps volunteers coming back and donations coming in.

How can one measure hope, love, and dignity?” Every day MDS volunteers and homeowners witness intangible “blessings” of service.

Judy, a recently returned homeowner in Newton, Tex., says, “I feel as if I’ve received a blessing. MDS did come and fix my porch. It is beautiful. Not only did they fix the porch, but they brought joy into my life and heart.”

Constance, from Wichita, Kan., commented about what she learned during her trip. “What I learned at the construction site pales to what I learned working with the people who are MDS. I have spent these few weeks with my family. We have prayed together, studied together, gone to church together. My spirit has been nurtured and my heart filled. It has been good to be with God’s people.”

Catalina, a New Orleans resident, recently had MDS build her husband a wheelchair ramp. “The Mennonites are the best thing that has happened to me.

They are real people and helped me believe that God is always there for us.”

“Despite the many factors that overshadow the needs of people living on the outskirts of society, MDS continues to place God first through service to those in need,” Sundberg said. “Building houses is one thing, building hope is another, and MDS strives to do both.”

MDS

In memory of ROSE KORNELSEN July 22, 1931–Jan. 16, 2003 Mother You can only have one mother, Loving, kind and true, No other friend in all the world Will be so true to you.

For all her love and kindness She asked nothing in return If all the world deserted us To our Mother we could turn.

For those of you who have a mother Treasure her with care, For you will never know her value ‘Til you see that she’s not there.

To hear her voice To see her smile To sit and talk with her awhile To be together in the same old way Would be our dearest wish today.

Mom, we love and miss you!

Her Family

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EMC and

Statement of Faith Church Practices A 25-part series

Barry Plett

The Board of Leadership and Outreach has invited EMC pastors and other leaders to reflect on the meaning of our Statement of Faith and Church Practices. These writings are intended to inform and to invite conversation.

In the end, this 25-part series might be published as a booklet. Have you heard a sermon on these articles? Encourage the preacher to forward the material to The Messenger.

6. SATAN We believe Satan is a personal spirit being. He heads the kingdom of all evil and opposes God and all that is holy, pure and just (Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 10:17–21; Ephesians 6:10–18; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 12).

The destiny of Satan will be the lake of fire, which God prepared for him and his angels (Matthew 25:41; Romans 8:38–39; Galatians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 1:19–23; 2:1–3; 3:10; 6:10–18; Colossians 1:13; 2:14–15; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12; 20:7–10).

Statement of Faith Article 6: Satan

T

he atrocities presented through media reports, of Satan’s work in people, at times manifesting itself cruelties each one of us have experienced or through demonization. witnessed, and the depravity we find within These extremes will be kept in perspective when our own minds, leaves little doubt that evil we clearly understand the answer to God’s rhetorical exists everywhere in our world. question to Isaiah: “‘To whom will you compare Me or Similarly, most people accept the notion that Satan or who is my equal,’ says the Holy One.” God is sovereign some devilish being exists who heads up the propensity and omnipotent in our world. Christ is the central figure toward evil in our world. in history and in the work of redeeming mankind to Though the doctrine of Satan is generally accepted, himself. Satan at his best can only oppose what God is and his destructive schemes are something we battle already doing. constantly, this is not often addressed in Sunday As Christ’s people, we need not focus on opposition morning sermons, articles, or books. to Satan and his work but rather walk forward Throughout history, the church has wavered between confidently as members and representatives of the T an overemphasis on the demonic and nearly complete kingdom of God. M denial of his existence or relevance. In giving Satan more “air time” than he deserves, the church has Barry Plett is unnecessarily incited fear and angst in the lives of many senior pastor of young and immature believers. An equally spiritually Blumenort debilitating emphasis is the notion that Satan, demons, EM Church in and demonization are only relevant in animistic, Blumenort, Man. uneducated, and backward tribal societies.

Not surprisingly, our medical and psychological experts have almost completely turned their back on the possibility of such things existing in our civilized western world.

What should be of concern to Bible-believing Christians is that even though Jesus and the disciples frequently encountered demonic possession in various forms, our colleges and seminaries are graduating “trained counseling experts” Throughout history, the church who have never been introduced to has wavered between an overdemonic activity as one of the problems emphasis on the demonic and people need to be freed from in order to enjoy the abundant Christian life. We do nearly complete denial of his not need counselors who cast demons out existence or relevance. of everyone who is depressed or suffering from anxiety, but we do need pastors and counselors who understand the possibility

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THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

pictures of God Joanna Plett

O

The gospel Jesus preached: The Kingdom of God

ne week a few years ago, I led five people through his power and miracles (Matthew 12:28). His in prayer as they received Christ. This is a parables provide more pictures of the Kingdom. comfortable statement. It includes numerical This concept of the kingdom shatters the boundary data and is based on a concrete, measurable between the physical and the spiritual, the present and act of salvation. In looking at Jesus’ gospel, however, the future: The gospel Jesus preached was a message of salvation looks less like a moment in time than a living simultaneously in these four realms. process in relationship.

This includes the promise and the expectation of Jesus, in fact, never preached “salvation” as we supernatural power from the spiritual realm breaking define it, perhaps because he had not yet died or into the physical realm through the Holy Spirit and risen. Yet he constantly—and sometimes frivolously, it effecting the future through the present. seems—granted forgiveness to people he encountered.

This gospel of the kingdom blurs the line of “saved” He came with a very specific message, but seemed and “unsaved.” At the same time, it entails a holistic less concerned with some statement of faith than our spirituality that undermines the need for such lines. missional focus tends to be.

Salvation becomes not so much an act of changing If, just for the sake of exploration, we set aside the categories as a process of being drawn ever deeper into idea of the measurable conversion the heart of God and His Kingdom. experience, what might salvation The appeal of this kingdom gospel is its What did Jesus preach? look like? What did Jesus preach? ability to address both practical and spiritual And what might we And what might we have overlooked issues, its wide open doors, and its power to in our focus on the moment of truly effect change in our lives and our world. have overlooked in our conversion?

As Jesus invites us to enter the kingdom, focus on the moment of he draws us nearer to the heart of God. He Paging through the gospels, conversion? the first thing that strikes me is invites us to the grace of God and offers Jesus’ constant reference to the healing for our physical and emotional pain.

“Kingdom of God” As we draw nearer, we see both God and ourselves or the “Kingdom more clearly, revealing God’s glory and perfection, of Heaven.” In some and our own imperfection. In a classic salvation cases, He says it is dialogue, perhaps this is the point of “conversion:” coming; in others, where we see God and ourselves as we are and he says it is here. The make the choice to continue drawing nearer disciples, too, announce and being transformed by the principles of that the Kingdom of Heaven the kingdom, or to abandon the kingdom for T is near. our own version of reality. M What is this Kingdom of Heaven, and what does it mean for us? As Jesus told Pilate, His kingdom is not a kingdom of this world (John 18:36). At the same time, however, he states that the Kingdom of God is already here

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

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DAVID F. DUECK 1923–2008 David F. Dueck (Dad) was born on a farm near Rosenort, Manitoba on October 10, 1923, the youngest of 13 children born to John and Aganetha Dueck. At age 15 he gave his life to Christ, and he was baptized on September 8, 1940 at the Rosenort Evangelical Mennonite Church.

In the fall of 1947 Dad enrolled at the Steinbach Bible Institute. During his second year of Bible School, Dad met and fell in love with Lydia Kroeker. After a brief courtship they were married on August 28, 1949.

In the fall Dad returned to take his final year of Bible School. Even though Dad was busy with studies, he and Mom took time on Sundays to minister at a nearby Indian Reservation.

In 1951, Dad began his 13 year teaching career in northern Manitoba. Because of Dad’s desire to reach the lost for Christ, teaching was an opportunity to go to communities that had no Christian ministry. It didn’t take long for Dad to start

a Sunday School in these communities.

In 1965, due to various circumstances in his life, Dad knew that God was calling him to be in full-time ministry. His first church in that capacity was Evangelical Mennonite Church in Swift Current, Sask., where he was instrumental in building a new church. He planted churches in Calgary and Saskatoon, and also ministered in Kamsack, Sask., and Peace River, Alta.

Dad and Mom were greatly influenced by the Revival Movement, and the month of July would usually find them camping in the foothills and enjoying the fellowship of others whose desire was to experience God’s grace and forgiveness in a deeper way.

In 1985 Dad gave the work of the church in Saskatoon over to another couple so he could begin work as a chaplain in the Correctional Centre. This work really suited Dad’s shepherd heart as he ministered to inmates, ran errands for them, and gave them the gift of his friendship.

On December 15, 1988, Mom died of lung cancer, and Dad was very lonely until he met Gertrude Martens and she agreed to be his wife. They were married on April 21, 1990.

In 1991 Dad officially retired, and at that time they moved to Swift Current where Gertie had a home. There Dad became active in the Evangelical Mennonite Church, leading care groups and visiting in homes, the hospital and nursing homes. Dad and Gertie were also active in the seniors’ group called Barnabas Group, and with bowling on Mondays.

In 2002 Dad was diagnosed with

In memory of ANDREW SIEMENS Jan. 21, 1991–Jan. 23, 2003 God made a brother so loving and kind And I had the honour of calling him mine.

Whoever said sorrow can heal in time could never have had a brother like mine.

As you were you will always be.

Treasured forever in my memory.

We miss you so much, Andrew.

Love, Mom and Dad, Jeremy, Carly

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kidney failure and had to begin dialysis.

He also began showing signs of senile dementia, and in time it became too difficult for Gertie to look after him at home. In January 2007 he was able to move into the Pioneer Lodge where he received excellent care until his going to be with the Lord on December 5, 2008.

We want to thank Gertie for being a loving and caring wife to Dad for over 18 years, being the friend and companion he needed, and faithfully loving and caring for him during his dialysis and loss of memory.

David Dueck is survived by his wife, Gertrude Dueck; two daughters, Twylla (Bob) Sutton of Saskatoon, Sask., and Laural Ann (Jeff) Plett of Fort Frances, Ont.; three sons, Quintin (Lorraine) Dueck of St. Walburg, Sask., Clare (Lynn) Dueck of Edmonton, Alta., and Tim (Judy) Dueck of Calgary, Alta.; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; Gertie’s four step-children and their spouses, children, and grandchildren; as well as many other relatives and friends. He was pre-deceased by his parents, John and Aganetha Dueck; his first wife, Lydia Dueck; one grandson, Darcy Dueck, and 11 brothers and sisters.

His Family

coming events January 30–February 1 Break Forth Canada The largest equipping and renewal conference in North America Speakers include: Phil Callaway, John Eldredge, Frank Peretti, and more Edmonton, Alta.

780-417-5082 info@breakforthministries.com www.breakforthcanada.com

March 13–14 SBC Leadership Conference Growing Bible Savvy People Speaker: Dr John Neufeld Steinbach Bible College Steinbach, Man. 204-326-6451 www.sbcollege.ca

July 3–5, 2009 EMC Annual Convention Radical Discipleship: Increasing the Kingdom’s footprint in our world Speaker: Dr. Pierre Gilbert Riverton Recreation Centre Riverton, Man. 204-326-6401 www.emconf.ca

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

shoulder tapping THE EMC seeks a full- or part-time archivist to fill the equivalent of a one-year term position at the Conference office in Steinbach, Man. The archivist will work with the Conference’s archival collection, about 300 boxes of materials, and periodicals and books. The main goal of the year is to prepare the collection for transfer to a suitable archival facility.

A full job description and list of qualifications are available upon request.

The archivist is to be committed to a personal Christian faith and work well within a denominational office setting. Salary details are available upon request. Interviews for the position will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Please contact General Secretary Tim Dyck at tdyck@emconf.ca or 204-326-6401.

WYMARK EMC, a country church located 20 miles southeast of Swift Current, Sask., is accepting applications for lead pastor. We aim to be a friendly, family-welcoming church body of 70 to 90 people, and seek a pastor who can encourage us by word and example to grow to maturity in Christ. Enquiries can be directed to the Pastoral Search Committee at 306-773-9089 (leave a message) or funkfarm@gmail.com (Paul Funk).

MORRIS FELLOWSHIP Chapel (EMC), located in Morris, Man., is looking for a full-time pastor for a congregation of about 120. Previous pastoral experience and leadership abilities are assets.

For job description and information, please call Brian Klassen at 204-746-8102.

RESERVE FELLOWSHIP Chapel (EMC), located in Sioux Valley (west-central Man.), seeks a fulltime pastoral couple to serve the church and to develop long-term relationships with people of the community. Direct inquiries to church planting coordinator Ward Parkinson, 204-326-6401, e-mail: wparkinson@emconf.ca.

PELLY FELLOWSHIP Chapel (EMC) seeks a youth worker or couple to develop a program for youth and junior youth. PFC is a small church in the village of Pelly, located in central Sask., close to the Manitoba border. Submit resume to Pastor John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306-595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship. com.

LEAMINGTON EMMC seeks a full-time senior pastor to minister to a large and growing congregation. Located in the most southern part of Ontario, Leamington was voted Canada’s number one place to live in 2006 by MoneySense Magazine. Our church has many strong committees and programs in place, including a church council and a vibrant Sunday School program.

Our congregation is made up of both Low German- and English-speaking members, and consists of mostly young families. We feature two weekly worship services: a modern English

THE MESSENGER January 21, 2009

Full text of ads available at www.emconf.ca/service.htm

service and a distinctly Low German service.

Th is position is available to start in 2009. Fluency in Low German is an asset. To apply or for information, please contact pst@lemmc.com.

STEINBACH EMC in Steinbach, Man., has a new opportunity to fill a half-time director of worship arts. You have a heart of worship, seeking to worship God in spirit and truth. You enjoy the richness of diversity in music and worship arts.

As a disciple of Christ, you are a willing, and teachable leader. Your love for the Lord and strong faith in Him is reflected in your ability to work well with many artists involved in worship arts ministry here. If this is you, we encourage you to check www.emchurch.com for information and how to respond. Blessings to you as you follow the Lord’s call on your life.

BRIGHTWOOD RANCH, a Christian camp near Edmonton, Alta., serves underprivileged children and youth. Summer positions are paid and include: four-month positions (May to August): Main site program director, tipi village program director, secretary, leadership development program leader, GO Team leader, head cook, wranglers, junior wrangler training program leader, assistant maintenance. Twomonth positions: (July and August) senior counselors, assistant cooks, nurse, wranglers, assistant youth development program leaders, male and female unit leaders. Contact the ranch at bright.wood@hopemission.com.

MENNONITE CENTRAL Committee Canada (MCCC) is hiring for director of human resources, a salaried position.

The director of human resources is responsible for the human function of MCCC. This includes recruitment, screening, placement, maintenance of personnel information and related data, training and care of workers, salary and benefits administration, policy development, national coordination of the Service Program, the Canadian Service

Opportunities for Older People (SOOP) program, and the Uniform Salary and Benefits Committee.

The director of human resources consults and collaborates with provincial and regional HR staff, with MCC HR department in the United States, and is the Canadian representative on the MCC Human Resource Policy Reference Council. This position is also part of the MCC Canada management team.

MCC requires all workers to have a personal Christian faith, be active members of a Christian church, and be committed to the teaching of non-violent biblical peacemaking.

For more information or to apply by February 2, 2009, please contact Marsha Jones at MCC Canada office, phone 204-261-6381 or e-mail mgj@mennonitecc.ca. For a complete assignment description see the MCC web site www.mcc.org.

MENNONITE FOUNDATION of Canada has an immediate opening in our Winnipeg office for a receptionist as a maternity leave replacement.

Th is person will be responsible for front desk and telephone receptions, processing incoming and outgoing mail including deposits and receipting, word processing and various other clerical duties. Experience in a computerized office environment, specifically using Microsoft Office soft ware with proficiency in Word is desired. Applicants should enjoy interacting with the public and possess strong interpersonal and telephone skills. MFC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. A complete job description is available upon request. Processing of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is fi lled. Interested persons should send their resume to: Assistant Manager, Mennonite Foundation of Canada, 12-1325 Markham Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3T 4J6, Ph. 204488-1985, Fax 204-488-1986, E-mail rbjanzen@ mennofoundation.ca, www.mennofoundation. ca.

Paraguay 2009

Mennonite World Conference Assembly Gathered Asunción, Paraguay 14–19 July 2009 “Come together in the way of Jesus Christ.”

– Philippians 2:1–11

Assembly Scattered across Latin America and Caribbean before and after Assembly Gathered

REGISTER NOW! www.mwc-cmm.org

19

KIDS’

corner Loreena Thiessen

A handful of paperclips

S

now is piled high on the lawn and against the fence. The driveway and walk must be cleared again and again. Gusts of wind swirl the snow around the house and it sticks to the windows.

Temperatures dip. Still you go out to school and skate and play with your friends. How do you stay warm?

Does your dog go out with you? How does he stay warm?

“Of course, I know how to stay warm in winter’s cold,” you say. “I wear warm socks and boots, ski pants, a wool toque and mitts. And my dog runs to keep warm and he doesn’t stay out long.”

What about other animals? Bears hibernate and robins and geese fly south. However, many birds do not—sparrows, chickadees, and blue jays, for example.

How do they manage?

People have learned many ways to fight the cold. We build warm homes and cars. We have special clothing.

We follow safety tips like cover up your ears and nose.

Without these we would not survive. But how do animals do it?

The rabbit in your backyard may live in a burrow he has dug under your porch or deck. He may have lined the burrow with grasses and fur. This is where he sleeps in winter. He will come out when the sun is bright and find a spot in the snow or shelter under a branch to sunbathe. He eats twigs and bark. When the snow isn’t too deep he will dig down to find any grasses that remain. His fur becomes denser and if there isn’t a fierce wind it will keep out the cold.

You wear a hat and mitts to keep from losing body heat. The chickadee, on the other hand, is a tiny ball of fluffy feathers. Fill your hand with paper clips. This equals the weight of the chickadee. Because it is so tiny it loses body heat quickly. For the chickadee to stay warm it must eat continuously. Seeds, nuts and insects give it energy to stay warm. At night, chickadees group together in a hollow log or a nest box. Their bodies warm each other.

Another thing chickadees do to keep dry and warm is preen. With their beaks they squeeze oil from a spot on their backs and spread it over their feathers. The

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raindrops and wet snow roll right off and they stay dry.

Chickadees hide black caps bob, feathers fluff food like nuts, seeds icy dance from post to post and insects in tree chickadee hop bark and other hiding places. They can remember precisely where they hid the food and will always find it.

Like people, chickadees, rabbits and other animals have ways to help them survive the harsh winter.

God has designed all his creatures to be capable of learning and adapting in order to live successfully in their environment. He helps us to do just that. Read T Luke 12: 22–31. M

Activity: Winter food for birds You need: 150 grams of shortening 200 grams of bird food mix; this can include birdseed, chopped nuts, oats, coconut flakes, raisins Two clean and dry yogurt containers Metal hook; you can make this from a coat hanger, or a length of wire Ribbon or net bag such as an onion bag String to hang the food on a branch Scissors Do: Heat the shortening until just melted.

Add bird food mix to shortening and stir thoroughly.

Fill yogurt containers.

Insert hook while bird food mixture is still wet.

Store the mixture outside or in the fridge until it is solid.

When mixture is solid cut away the plastic yogurt container.

Tie string to hook.

Hang on a branch where you can see it.

Watch to see which birds come to feed.

THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 PAP Registration #9914