| | Provide Feedback on the electronic version of Equipping
November/December 2008 Holy Spirit imagination  At the beginning of his 2nd grade year, our grandson was asked by his teacher to post on the bulletin board one of his favorite things to do. He wrote, “I like to think.”
Imagination is the missing ingredient in many things. True, it is only one attribute among the sacred combination of head, heart, hands and feet that preachers describe as parts of the Christian walk. Imagination, from a strictly human perspective, is the source of both the best and the worst fruits of our hearts, hands and feet. But when the source of imagination is the Holy Spirit, imagination ushers us into the realm of God’s intention. We see things in ways similar to how God sees things. Imagination sees visions of what can be. It is the stuff of prophecy—insight into the consequences of the present for the future or the ability to speak of God’s view of our present reality. Are our personal faith and our church life the result of Holy Spirit imagination? Is our worship based on the search of God's intention? Or is worship simply another way for us to confirm what we already think and know? Once I drew some nervous laughter from the congregation when I told them, tongue in cheek, “If I have to be prejudiced, I would prefer to keep the prejudices I’ve already got.” This is the default for most of us. I don’t believe that Holy Spirit imagination is meant to be a special gift for the privileged elite in the church. This is for every believer. We receive this at our baptism. This is part of what it means to “receive the Holy Spirit.” Recently I heard Stanley Green, Executive Director of our mission agency, Mennonite Mission Network, speak what sounded to me like Holy Spirit imagination. He observed that we used to say, “We are in the world but not of it.” But today, he said, perhaps we should confess that “we are of the world but not in it.” Green was speaking of God’s intention for Christians to be “in and for the world.” This transformation will take Holy Spirit imagination for us to understand how to reorder our worship, our sense of where we are called to be and how we are to devote our energies as believers in Christ. Holy Spirit imagination is for all of us! Jim Schrag is Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA back to top | |
|
Equipping is moving online Beginning in January 2009, Equipping will become a primarily Web-based resource published 12 times per year. Subscribers will receive e-mail updates when each issue is published. You can expect a hard copy packet to be mailed four times per year. Those packets will come in January, April, July and October. Be sure to read the insert included in this packet to get all the information you need to ensure you continue receiving this valuable Mennonite Church USA resource. back to top | |
|
Check out the new Mennonite Church USA Web site Have you seen the new www.MennoniteUSA.org? The new site went live in the summer and continues to have new information uploaded regularly. With sections for Mennonite Church USA visitors, youth, members and leaders you’re sure to find something that connects with you. The site also gives you access to the entire Mennonite Church USA directory, daily devotionals, our Confession of Faith and current denominational news. Plus, it’s where you’ll go to find all the information you need for the Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009. back to top | |
|
Online Registration for Convention 2009
Online registration will begin at 8 a.m. EST Dec. 1, 2008, at www.MennoniteUSA.org/convention. Paper registration forms will be sent to congregations and area conferences in November, and you should make copies as needed. Online registration works best if you complete a paper form before logging on to the Web site at wwwMennoniteUSA.org/convention. For more information on registering for Convention 2009, e-mail ConventionInfo@MennoniteUSA.org or call toll-free at 1-866-866-2872 and ask for Convention Planning. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the Convention section of this web site. back to top | |
|
Look for Convention Chronicle
 Has your local youth leader received his or her copy of the Convention Chronicle? This Mennonite Church USA Convention newsletter is designed to give youth sponsors and leaders all the information they need to ensure your youth are prepared for the convention. Watch for a second issue to be mailed to youth sponsors in November. If you missed the September edition, you can view and download it from the Mennonite Church USA Web site by going to www.MennonitUSA.org then clicking on Convention 2009 and selecting “Media and downloads.” Or just click here. Feel free to make copies and distribute to others in your congregation. back to top | |
|
Young Adult Delegate Program
Check out the insert about YODA ( ), the ever-popular acronym for our YOung adult Delegate Assembly program. For the past several Delegate Assemblies (which are a part of conventions), Dave Maurer and Amy Nissley have served as co-planners and facilitators for this program to enhance the experience of young adult delegates. Read all about it and consider appointing young adults (ages 18 to 30) as delegates from your congregation or area conference. back to top | |
|