Additional copies of the Feb. 3 issue of The Mennonite
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It’s why people from across Mennonite Church USA are joining together to explore our national identity. We want to live in Christ-like ways that share God’s healing and hope with others, especially in a world with so much pain, despair and violence.

Use these resources to explore the ways God is calling you to reassess your identity as an American Christian who gives your primary allegiance to Christ – following Jesus in a world that is not.

T he Anabaptist tradition is one that for centuries has found Mennonites living and witnessing in ways that stand in contrast to the broader culture. Today, in the context of 21st Century North America, our culture presents us with a new set of challenges for following Jesus and joining God’s work in the world.

• Congregational Bible study on national identity
• National Identity resolution passed by San Jose 2007 delegates

Congregational stories

Chicago congregation provides bread and bridges for body and soul — by Laurie Oswald Robinson

Among all the people there was great joy — by June Galle Krehbiel

Soul-searching leads pastor to take radical journey for Jesus — Laurie Oswald Robinson

Immigrant churches call Mennonite Church USA beyond their comfort zone — Ken Beidler

Struggle for faithfulness bonds national churches — Laurie Oswald Robinson

New Orleans presence in line with Mennonite Church USA presence — June Galle Krehbiel

A Brooklyn-Goshen Connection -- Ryan Miller is the editorial director of Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA

Go and do what is right and good - June Galle Krehbiel is a freelance writer from Moundridge, Kan.

Spiritual homelessness leads to working with homeless in Harvey County — Laurie Oswald Robinson

Articles

Allegiance at the Fault Lines — by J. Nelson Kraybill

Now bunking at Camp Survival: HEROD, ZWINGLI and ME — By Joel Kauffmann

Same Questions, Different Answers — Janeen Bertsche Johnson

Tongue screws and testimony — Alan Kreider

Why I am a Mennonite — Michelle E. Armster

Identity and security: Lessons from Mennonite history — Rich Preheim

Dramas

“Readers Theater scripts for congregations

Professional screenwriters Don Yost and Joel Kauffmann have written a series of dramatic sketches.

• Welcome to Camp Survival
  
• A, Like, Self-inflicted Tongue Screw
  
• This Land Is Whose Land?
  
• Three Leeches Cake

Ponzi Scheme— Drama for "Following Jesus in a world that is not" worship resource.

Written by Rachel Miller Jacobs, who is pastor of Christian Formation at Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend, Ind.

Worship & study

“Living in the empire” worship series resource

Worship service: Following Jesus in a world that is not

Ponzi Scheme— Drama for National Identity Worship Service

National identity poster

Visual table photo – Following Jesus in a world that is not

A Call To Prayer

Sermons

Daniel in Babylon — Megan M. Ramer, pastor, Chicago (Ill.) MennoniteChurch

Empire Series

• Colossians 1— Ron Adams, pastor, East Chestnut Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.
• Colossians 3: 1-17— Ron Adams, pastor, East Chestnut Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.
• Colossians 3: 18-46— Ron Adams, pastor, East Chestnut Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.
  
• Colossians 2:1-23 — Sue Conrad, pastor, East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.

Help me save my people — Cyneatha Millsaps , pastor, Community Mennonite Church, Markham, Ill.

Sermon to Mennonite Convention 2007 in San Jose, Calif. — Jennifer Davis Sensenig, pastor, Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va.

Before Esther Comes Vashti — by Joel Miller

Hymns of Dangerous Praise — by Iris de León-Hartshorn

Zacchaeus — by Rod Stafford