Place of Meeting October 2014

Place of Meeting

Won’t you be my neighbour?

Who is my neighbour? It’s such a simple theme to start out the fall season at TUMC, and yet profound, as we discovered in reflecting on it more deeply throughout September. The It Takes a Village event after the service on Sept. 14 was a delightful reminder that we are indeed a village to one another, a community that offers many opportunities to build friendships, to serve one another as neighbours, and to experience the grace, joy and peace of Christ. More inside...

Toronto United Mennonite Church October 2014

Place of Meeting

Scene around TUMC

is the meaning of the Huron word “toronton,” from which our city gets its name. Fittingly, it can also mean “plenty” or “abundance.”

Place of Meeting is also the monthly newsletter of Toronto United Mennonite Church. May you find plenty here to enjoy and ponder. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation as a whole.

Contributions of all kinds are enthusiastically received, through the mail folder in the lobby or at dmartens@pathcom.com Next deadline Nov. 4, 2014 Have you discovered the allcolour online version of Place of Meeting, complete with live weblinks? Check this month’s issue out here: issuu.com/pomeditor/docs/ pom_oct_2014l You can also request an email subscription to the colour version in PDF form or a monthly link to the current online issue. Please send a request to dmartens@pathcom.com Editor: Doreen Martens

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String players accompany worship on Sept. 14; Peter Haresnape shows the kids his neighbour-hood map on Sept. 28; bread and wine await on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 5.

Aurora House: An Update

By Mary Klein

J

esus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

(Mt. 18.3)

On Sept 14, during TUMC’s “It Takes a Village” event, Aurora House had a steady stream of visitors to the 6 Lark St. porch. As part of our display, we had a selection of logo designs that had been submitted for a crowd-sourcing design logo contest. One of the children was immediately drawn to the picture of a house with a heart in it. She wanted us to know that this was her chosen logo, as it showed that people cared. She later came back with a sign she had drawn, with the words, “Vote for this one” with an arrow pointed to the “heart house”. She was serious! Although this was not the logo that received the highest number of votes, I hope that we will not forget the heart and wisdom of this child who knows what is important –– that people care enough to provide a home for those who need care.

In a recently released report, The Incidence of Human Trafficking in Ontario, it was stated that “The four biggest challenges that organizations faced when assisting victims of trafficking were as follows: organizational funding/financial resources (46.9%), lack of housing (46.2%), providing financial support to the victim (42.7%), and finding counselling for the victim (37.1%).”* Victims of human trafficking are being put into shelters for violence against women which do not address their particular needs and where they do not feel safe. There is also a need to provide longer term care and counselling for trauma for these persons. We are partnering with the Mennonite New Life Centre to help address these needs.

The Aurora House working group is in the process of submitting an application for a federal not-for-profit incorporation, with the assistance of ex-officio member Marilyn Zehr and Aldred Neufeldt. The first board members of Aurora House will be Christy Langschmidt, Lisa Horrocks, Mary Klein and Sherry D’Mello. As a member of Aurora House, TUMC will appoint two members to the Aurora House board. The other member, the Mennonite New Life Centre, will appoint one member to the board. There will be one appointee from the GTA Mennonite Community and one appointee from the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ Sisters), who have already offered their expertise and advice in the implementation of this project. There will be at least one member at large.

In collaboration with the Space Task Force, the Aurora House group is working closely with our architect, Melana Janzen, on the design for the house. There will be three separate units that will house up to seven people. The proposed design allows for the possibility of having a family stay in the home, as well as an individual who will be available in case of emergency. We are currently seeking pricing from contractors and are hoping for a late fall start to the construction.

Our next steps include writing our bylaws and applying for charitable status. We are grateful to Elizabeth Loewen, who has generously offered to hold a benefit concert for Aurora House in November. We are in conversation with the TUMC Board about how fundraising will be organized until such time as we become a registered charity.

We ask for your prayers for a timely resolution for all of these matters and that each step will be taken in a wise and discerning manner.

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”. (Luke 1:78) * Ontario Coalition Research Initiative, Alliance Against Modern Slavery. June 2014, p. 34. www.allianceagainstmodernslavery.org

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Vacation Bible Camp: an inter-Mennonite effort Toronto Chinese Mennonite brings new energy to Danforth initiative

By Tobi Thiessen

W

hile many Mennonite churches, indeed churches of all denominations, run summer vacation bible school (VBS) programs for children, TUMC has never done so. With our congregation coming from across Toronto, it didn’t make sense to organize a summer program within our walls.

Danforth Mennonite Church, however, had the opposite history. Their congregation has historically been more focused on their geographic location at Danforth and Woodbine, and they used VBS as a method of community outreach. TUMC and MNLChurch children were also invited to attend, an opportunity TUMC families enjoyed for years.

Over time, it became difficult for Danforth to continue to provide all the volunteer leadership, or finance the program. TUMC, which in some years accounted for almost half the students, stepped in with an annual financial contribution (usually a Loose Change project in spring), and provided some volunteers through the parents of kids who attended, or some youth.

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Vacation Bible Camp

Danforth pastor Tim Reimer, a strong advocate of inter-church cooperation, saw continued challenges for Danforth as the primary organizer, and meanwhile saw opportunity at nearby Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, both in terms of volunteer energy, children and space. Tim approached TCMC pastor Brian Quan, who was immediately interested.

Youth, young adults and parents from TCMC got involved, running the program for one year at Danforth, and the next year hosting it in their own building.

This August, under the theme “Welcome! Give and Receive God’s Great Love,” TCMC again hosted Vacation Bible Camp. Three TUMC kids attended – Micah and Jared Olfert, and Ava Gerber. Photos here show Micah, Jared, Ava and others enjoying worship, drama, music and lessons. For a fuller sense, you might watch the 7-minute slideshow posted

by TCMC at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/61658495/ VBC%202014%20Slideshow.mp4.

A thank you letter Greetings Brother and Sisters of TUMC, We were so very excited to receive your very generous gift of $550 to support our Vacation bible camp this year. This money will go towards materials for VBC 2015 and to MCC to support the relief work of displaced families in Gaza.

We had a great week of VBC in August with 31 children from our neighbourhood.

Peace and Blessings from all of us at TCMC! Brian Quan Pastor

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TUMCers in mission: A trip to the Ebola front lines

By Herb Buckwalter

O

n Aug. 31, Ginny and I travelled to MCC Akron PA to volunteer for a two-week SOOP (Service Opportunities for Older Persons) assignment.

Soon after our arrival I was contacted by GlobalMedic asking me to go on a mission to West Africa.

I switched gears to focus on preparing for this new opportunity. It took a day to obtain the necessary vaccines and medications. The next day we travelled to Washington DC to get visas from the embassies of Liberia and Sierra Leone. After a week in PA we returned to Toronto.

GlobalMedic sent five 16’ by 16’ tents, 60,000 pairs of gloves, 14,000 containment bags, 3,200 isolation gowns, 1,200 coveralls, 36,000 masks and 16 large Physician Travel Packs containing medicines that will be used to treat symptoms of Ebola. These goods arrived, by air freight, in Monrovia, Liberia, and Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Rachel, my colleague, and I supervised the distribution of the equipment to local partners and provided training sessions on how to set up the tents.These partners are Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Islamic Dawah Training Centre (ITDC), and Haikal Foundation. They, in turn, gave this much needed equipment to several hospitals and Ebola treatment centres. The Ministries of Health of both countries participated in these events.

Above right: One of many educational signs in Monrovia and Freetown.

Right: Basic virus containment procedure –– bleach and water, now seen at airports, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, offices and banks.

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A trip to the Ebola front lines The last three days of the trip were in Freetown during the country-wide lockdown. The government intent was for volunteers to go house to house to provide soap, to educate people about Ebola, and to encourage those with symptoms to seek treatment.

Many people in Sierra Leone depend on selling in the grey market to earn enough to buy daily food. Having to stay off the streets meant little or no food for the duration of the lockdown. My colleague and I 'endured' the lockdown in a hotel with other NGO's. It was disappointing not to see more of the life of the city and interact with local partners.

This Ebola virus outbreak is a multi-layered, complex emergency. New developments occur on a daily basis. The world has been slow to respond for a variety of reasons. It was meaningful to be part of a small group of organizations that are actually supporting these countries in their struggle to contain this massive public health crisis.

Hospitals and treatment centres simply don't have what it takes to deal with this virus. GlobalMedic is in the process of gathering supplies that protect healthcare workers for a second shipment to West Africa next week. Pray for the people of West Africa; that the dire predications of casualties don't come true. www.globalmedic.ca Left, from top: The market in Monrovia,Liberia; tent training day; a Global Medic tent in front of Adventist Cooper Hospital, Monrovia. Such tents are used to triage patients; those found to have Ebola symptoms will be sent to an Ebola treatment centre. This way the hospital can continue to operate without fear of quarantine.

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A visit with Old Order friends On Oct. 2, the Heritage Club sponsored a visit to the KW area that included the St. Jacob's Market, the Mennonite Visitors' Centre, the farm of Stuart Horst, Floradale Mennonite Church, and the farm of Harvey and Viola Brubacher, Wallenstein.

Dalton and Carol Jantzi were the trip leaders on a great day with Old Order Mennonites. Thanks to Dalton Jantzi for the photos.

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A visit with Old Order friends

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A visit with Old Order friends

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Singing with joy

D

o you sometimes feel awkward singing in church? Do you think everyone else does it better than you? Is the melody just too high for your voice; hard for you to hear? Do you feel like you can hear the harmony parts but hesitate to try harmonizing because you’re not sure if you’re right?

These are just a few of the anxieties MOST people have about singing in public; and let’s not kid ourselves, singing in church is singing in public.

Jeff Taylor will lead 4 sessions during the Christian Education hour beginning Oct. 19 to help all of us become more confident about our singing voices. These sessions will focus on a variety of issues, the special challenges for men in congregational singing, active listening, hearing (not reading) musical patterns that come up in almost all of our music, hearing (not reading) harmony parts.

This is not a series on vocal technique or reading music, it is focused on the needs of the vast majority of singers. Those with lots of musical skill will find value in these sessions and will be able to model for others, so there will be something for everyone.

We are doing this because we believe God hears and enjoys our singing and wants us to enjoy it too. Join us in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. beginning Oct. 19.

Upcoming Events Here’s a list of events on TUMC’s calendar that you don’t want to miss!

Oct. 12 - Thanksgiving Oct. 26 (Saturday) - GTA Cluster event Nov. 9 - Peace Sunday Nov. 26 - Eternity Sunday Nov. 30 - Advent I - we will be celebrating communion; in the evening, the Advent Carol Sing Dec. 7 - Advent II Dec. 14 - Advent III Dec. 21 - Advent IV Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve evening candlelight service Dec. 25 - Christmas Day - no service at TUMC – from the Worship Committee

Kids sing during the worship service on Sept. 28. Musical training starts young, but you’re never too old to learn a few new things.

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Path of Thorns: Soviet Mennonite Life under Communist and Nazi Rule

By Faye Tiessen

H

arvey Dyck, professor emeritus of history at the University of Toronto, has masterfully translated (together with Sarah Dyck) and introduced the diary of Jacob Neufeld (1895-1960).

rested as “enemies of the people”.

Harvey read a passage of the diary when the wives of those who had been sentenced to five years in the Gulag were allowed 10 to 15 minutes to say goodbye to their husbands. Neufeld was concerned about Lene and his young family at home.

On Sept. 17, the Heritage Club viewed pictures from the life of the Neufeld family, and heard excerpts from Path of Thorns. Jacob’s son, Jake Neufeld, and his wife, Frieda, came from Niagara–on–the–Lake to be a part of the evening. Jake and his sister Erika Neufeld Thiessen, whom many at TUMC remember, lived through the incredible experiences of the years 1933-1949 that are so vividly recorded in this book.

“All of them (the wives) wanted to ‘play their role’as best they could and care for the children until we meet again. Yet here too, these courageous, loving, sacrificial heroes were thinking chiefly of our fate. God the Lord would stand by them and sustain them and the children.”

Jacob’s story of the Mennonites in the Soviet Union is told in three parts: 1) Five years in the Gulag (1933-1939) 2) Tiefenwege: Soviet Mennonite Life and Suffering (1929-1949) 3) A Memoir Letter from Jacob Neufeld to his wife Lene (Thiessen) Neufeld on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary.

Other pictures were from 1943, when whole Mennonite villages fled with the German forces as they retreated from Russia. The winter was severe, and pictures showed horses floundering. Most wagon drivers on this Trek were women, unaccustomed to handling horses. Each night they had to find water and fodder for cows and horses, then sleep in the wagons to make sure the animals didn’t run away. There are some in our congregation who experienced the Trek.

Harvey’s introduction and analysis (pages 350) informs the reader about the historical background of the period Neufeld writes about.

Erika Neufeld Thiessen shared the story of the Trek with 10- to 12-year-olds here at TUMC many years ago. They found it fascinating.

Harvey explained that Jacob was crippled with arthritis after his difficult Gulag years, when he was sent east to work on building a railway, and then to manage a pig farm. He was pictured at his typewriter recording the events he felt it his duty to relate. He has given us an “unsurpassed grasp of Soviet life.”

Harvey explained that Neufeld was head of the Land Committee, who had to decide how to manage under the new Communist regime in the 1920s. The Verband had two representatives in each village, who resisted communization and opposition to religion. They “got under the skin” of Communists and were ar-

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The last selection read by Harvey was “Home at Last.” When Neufeld finally came home, he found the village of Gnadenfeld neglected, dilapidated, with untended gardens. “Many fathers had been deported, and their families slaved away in the collective to stay alive.” Jascha (son Jake) did not know him. “My family’s deep poverty and the dismal conditions around my wife crushed me.” Erika and son Heinz came home from school, and “Deeply moved, I saw standing beside me, two skinny, pale and ragged figures …but they were still my beloved children.” Neufeld realized he would need God’s strength and support to walk the path of fatherly love and faithfulness.

We applaud Harvey Dyck, not only for this book, but for his immense contribution to Mennonite history. Harvey has spent many years working to arouse interest in the Mennonite story, and holding conferences with universities in Ukraine. Over the years he has pioneered the retrieval of Mennonite material from archives in Ukraine.

It Takes a Village He may be a little too literal-minded, but shaggy-headed Sherman the puppet was an enthusiastic learner on Sept. 14, It Takes a Village Sunday, when he got some practical demonstrations of the role of community in sharing life and faith. Highlights included a child dedication for Everett, son of Aaron Penner and Courtney Cauthon, presentation of Bibles to Grade 3 students, and a stirring sermon by Lori Unger reflecting on the broader meanings of “neighbour.” Afterward, our building was transformed into TUMC Village, with various spots representing the ministries of the church. Participants were encouraged to get a sticker in their “passports” at each spot, with a prize for visiting them all!

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It Takes a Village

Clockwise from top right: a sign directs villagers to important spots; the Town Hall issues a challenge from the property committee (lots of trash was collected!); the Park offers a place to chat; hungry folks enjoy lunch at the Market.

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It Takes a Village

Clockwise from right: At the Neighbour’s House, a chance to learn more about Aurora House; hanging out on the Neighbour’s lawn; getting a passport “stickered” at the Church; a “homeless” man in a dim corner reminds us that marginalized people are part of our village, too.

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It Takes a Village

Clockwise from top right: In the Church, a worship “jobs board” highlights ways to participate in leading worship; at the Community Centre (Venture Club) participants make their own lapel buttons; at the Bank, filling out a quiz brings a reward of sweet cash; the TUMC Cafe offers coffee, tea and goodies; reflections on what our “village” is all about.

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A financial update

By Jon Brandt

O

ne of the significant challenges of growth and new projects is continuing to remember the current, the foundation of the, work that is being

done.

This year we have committed to at least two new and exciting things. One is the Aurora House and the renovations of 6 Lark to make this possible. So much good is happening here and we appreciate the strong commitment all of us have made to this ministry.

The second is an additional full-time pastor. Last fall we called Michele to be our associate pastor on a full-time basis, recognizing the need for additional resources within our community. This was a good decision and we are reaping the benefits of it already.

The challenge then comes in the financial report at right.

We made a commitment to increase our budget to support the growing ministries of the church. At this point, however, our giving hasn’t kept track with that increase. So, as we move into the last four months of the year, the board is asking that you remember the ministries of the church and continue to give generously. We are working hard to not have to make any cuts to the church’s commitment to the many valuable outside agencies that we support.

Thank you for your participation in the life of TUMC. Together we are doing God’s work.

Pastor Marilyn Zehr leads the children’s time on World Communion Sunday. Marilyn marked her 5th anniversary as TUMC’s pastor on the same day, Oct. 5.

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