|
|
News archive
Contact: Laurie L. Oswald (316) 283-5100, E-mail: LaurieO@MennoniteUSA.org
Delegates from Mennonite Church
USA to bond with global family at Africa 2003
|
 |
 |
Kenyetta Aduma, director of
the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board Office of Cross-Cultural
Relations, discusses global issues with Pakisa Tshimika,
associate executive secretary of Networks and Projects
for Mennonite World Conference, during an Executive
Board meeting in Pasadena, Calif., in June 2002. (photoby
Laurie L. Oswald)
|
by Laurie L. Oswald
NEWTON, Kan. (MC USA) -- Kenyetta Aduma remembers how her
father dreamed of going to Africa. He never did, but Aduma
will when she attends the Mennonite World Conference Assembly
Gathered as a Mennonite Church USA Executive Board delegate.
When she returns home from the assembly at Africa 2003, to
be held Aug. 11-17, in Bulwayo, Zimbabwe, she'll bring her
father pictures, memories and a deeper sense of their roots
as African-American people, she said.
"I remember growing up how my father always wanted to
go to Africa and never got a chance," said Aduma, director
of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board Office of Cross-Cultural
Relations. "It's very exciting to know I can share my
experience with my family. In a sense, I'll be going for my
father and mother, for my church family, for the wider church.
"It will be a gift to experience this kind of fellowship
on a world-wide level. People will be coming together globally
from so many backgrounds. It will provide a rich multicultural
and multiracial fellowship. We can seek God together and encourage
each to do God's work."
Three other people of color will join Aduma in Africa 2003,
when they attend the assembly as recipients of a Schowalter
Foundation Grant. They are Erica Littlewolf of the Northern
Cheyenne Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Zenobia Sowell-Bianchi
of Chicago and Juan Montes of Reedley, Calif.
These four people -- with four more adult delegates and a
Youth Summit delegate sent by the Executive Board -- will
report their experiences back home. Their insights will help
Mennonite Church USA congregations, area conferences and agencies
to learn from many cultures and to share gifts in mutually
beneficial ways. The adult delegates are Jim Schrag, executive
director of Mennonite Church USA; D. Duane Oswald, incoming
Mennonite Church USA moderator; Miriam Book of Harlesyville,
Pa.; and Jeanne Zook of Portland. The youth delegate is Erin
Huebert of Wichita. Nancy Heisey, president-elect of Mennonite
World Conference, has also served as a delegate for Mennonite
Church USA.
The delegate assembly set partnering with the global church
as one of three priorities for this last biennium, Schrag
said. The Executive Board sends its Firstfruits donation each
year to MWC. Since Mennonite Church USA began in February
2002, the Executive Board has sent donations of $130,000 --
or about 5 percent of its total budget -- to MWC as part of
its involvement in the church's new funding system, Firstfruits.
"We're looking for relationships with others around the
world that can help us reflect and learn about who we are
as a nation and what our role is," Schrag said. "But
in order to know who we are, we need to take seriously who
others are, and be in relationship with them.
"Being in these relationships can help us face up to
our own poverty and privilege. Our poverty could be said to
be spiritual, and our privilege is economic. By partnering
with Mennonite World Conference, we will grow in our self-understanding
and our mutuality with others."
Littlewolf hopes to establish more of this mutuality. The
22-year-old college student hopes to gain compassion for people
whose struggles are different and yet similar to those felt
by her people, she said. On the reservation, they may struggle
with drug addiction and depression. In other lands, people
may experience war and oppression. But the same God will strengthen
all people of faith, as they learn to strengthen each other.
"The Lord calls each and everyone of us to see Him through
another's eyes, and MWC can broaden my horizons to see more,"
said Littlewolf, who has worked for the last three summers
at her home congregation, White River Mennonite Church, in
Busby, Mont., in Mennonite Central Committee's Summer Service
Program.
"We can get so caught up in our many problems on the
reservation. This will help me to see people who have different
-- or even the same -- problems, and to look out of my own
box to learn from them."
Zenobia Sowell-Bianchi said her self-understanding, like Aduma's,
is deeply linked with Africa, as it represents her ethnic
roots as an African-American. She is a member of Bethel Community
Church in Chicago. She is also a member of the executive board
of the African-American Mennonite Association, a constituency
group that relates to the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board.
As a dentist, she previously traveled to West Africa on dental
and medical mission trips. But she's never been to Zimbabwe
and hopes this trip can add new dimensions of solidarity with
the wider African family.
"On these other mission trips, my African brothers and
sisters said they don't understand how we can be of the same
color and yet live so far away," she said. "I've
told them that because of our common heritage, even though
we are miles apart, we do share the same evils of slavery,
which sent many of us to all parts of the world.
"For that reason, Mennonite World Conference will be
an emotional, as well as a spiritual experience for me. I
look forward to sharing Christ in all our similarities as
well as our differences. I will be blessed and hope to be
a blessing."
Montes is a member of Iglesia Menonita Hispana in Reedley,
and executive director of the Hispanic Mennonite Church, another
constituent group of Mennonite Church USA.
"I want to gain a better understanding of the global
Mennonite family and to encourage other people of color, particularly
Hispanics, to develop global relationships," he said.
Oswald believes that Mennonite Church USA can strengthen these
global relationships by relating more mutually to people,
even though power and privilege make mutuality a challenge.
"As a U.S. church body, we need to learn how to be equal
partners in the Mennonite World Conference fellowship, rather
than being in the power position," Oswald. "This
is a challenge, because in being part of the only remaining
superpower in the world, we tend to try to dominate, as in
evidence by some of the foreign policies of the Bush administration.
"But it's my hope that our church won't be viewed in
this way, and that we can begin to understand that all people
-- no one group, no one race, no one country, no one Mennonite
denomination -- is no better than any other. We are all part
of one body with many gifts. Mutuality happens when we share
our struggles and weaknesses, as well as our gifts and strengths."
A commonality shared by worldwide body of Mennonite people
is its need to focus more intentionally on its youth and young
adults, said Huebert, volunteer coordinator for Inter-Faith
Ministries for AmeriCorps and Vista in Wichita. She is a graduate
of Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and grew up in Bethesda
Mennonite Church in Henderson, Neb., the congregation that
helped to sponsor her MWC trip.
During the summit, she will share her findings of a survey
she conducted on young adults in Mennonite Church USA. Young
adults sent back about 34 completed surveys from the 107 she
sent, Huebert said. MWC created the survey so that youth delegates
from participating national churches could bring their findings
to the summit.
"Many of the answers to the survey questions weren't
a big surprise to me, such as the fact that young adults for
the most part don't feel connected to the church," Huebert
said. "Many respondents also said they struggled with
how to relate their Mennonite background with the political
issues of our day, such as terrorism, or how to relate their
faith to religious pluralism." Photos available.
Laurie L. Oswald is news service director for Mennonite
Church USA
Missional CD project proclaims
one message through many voices.
|
|
 |
| Doug and Jude Krehbiel, mission
musicians for Mennonite Mission Network, are preparing
to introduce some of their songs for Let It Flow Through
You, a CD depicting the mission values of Mennonite
Church USA. They will introduce some of the songs at
the "Many Voices, One Spirit" concert July
4 at Atlanta 2003. The CD, sponsored by the Mission
Network, will be released in Atlanta July 3. (photo
by Laurie L. Oswald) |
by Laurie L. Oswald
NEWTON, Kan. (MC USA) -- Doug Krehbiel woke up in the night
with a tune about the missional church running through his
mind. He whispered the words and tapped the beat into his
bedside tape recorder to avoid waking his wife and music partner,
Jude.
The impromptu recording helped him capture ideas for one of
10 songs for the CD, Let It Flow Through You, sponsored by
Mennonite Mission Network and scheduled for release July 3
in Atlanta 2003, the churchwide biennial assembly convention.
The Mission Network commissioned the Krehbiel duo -- mission
musicians for the Mission Network -- to do this project to
depict the missional values of Mennonite Church USA.
And so for the last 15 months, the duo has lived and breathed
the missional vision. To glean ideas for their original songs,
they read books, interviewed ethnic leaders, met with a reference
group to fine-tune their work, recorded in their home studio
and sang in the night. The final CD reflects the cultures
and musical styles of many Mennonites, including Native Americans,
Laotians, African-Americans, Anglos, Hispanics and West Africans
and gifts of 10 other musicians on vocals and instrumentals.
Since 1980, the duo, called "Road Less Travelled,"
has collaborated to create folk music, give concerts and record
eight albums. But they said that nothing rivals the collaboration
of this project, reflecting many voices but one message --
that God calls Mennonite people to join God's mission wherever
they are and whoever they are.
"Doug and I have done a lot of collaborating with each
other over the years, but it was exciting working with people
from so many different backgrounds," Jude Krehbiel said.
"My vision of the missional church has been stretched,
and the project has broadened my horizons."
Doug Krehbiel said, "Despite our many ethnicities, what
ties us together is standing up for our faith, in spite of
persecution. We should feel a special kinship and offer our
support for non-Anglos who are suffering today for their faith
in many lands, such as Latin America and Asia, whereas some
of our European ancestors suffered similarly in generations
past. It's one continuum."
At this juncture on the continuum, the Krehbiels' world has
gone global. They heard stories of Laotian pastors jailed
for refusing to renounce their faith; worked for days to find
a recording of a Cheyenne drum beat or learn Hispanic phrases;
and listened to John Powell, the Mission Network's director
of missional church development, create an African-American
spiritual on the spot.
This diversity wove other lands into the Krehbiels' lyrics,
and nuances of blues, gospel, reggae, rock, four-part harmony
and tribal celebrations into their characteristic folk style.
"We're still mostly an Anglo church, so we have so much
to learn from our other ethnic brothers and sisters,"
Doug Krehbiel said. "We heard stories about how Hispanic
people were tortured and killed for their faith, and about
people who spoke out about injustices."
For example, "Jesus, You Have Called Us" grew out
of stories about persecuted Laotian pastors, using I Cor.15:
58 as text. As Jude Krehbiel sang this song, people wiped
away tears: "Jesus you have called us/You will never
leave us/Give us the strength to follow you." In Lao,
she sang, "Pah Jesu song em kha/Bo kheuy jak hang hem/Kho
sem kam lang/Hai kha tam pai." The translation was by
Kuaying Teng, the Mission Network's minister of multicultural
ministries.
"And I was just blown away by the musical talent of all
the people who worked on this project," Doug Krehbiel
said. "We didn't try to duplicate pure ethnic music from
the various cultures -- it's beyond our ability anyway. We
still sound like Doug and Jude with some new influences. But
because of all the diverse help we received, these songs can
hopefully represent a sampling of our amazing multicultural
church."
All of this was challenge enough. But one more challenge faced
them. They created and recorded the music at the same time
they did about 60 presentations. They toured, visited congregations
and attend events to share this missional vision. Paradoxically,
the most exhausting aspect of their work was the most exhilarating.
They gained energy from sharing the music in true Anabaptist
style -- with their community, they said.
"My biggest challenge was trying to be creative in the
recording studio after spending so many days on the road,"
Jude Krehbiel said. "But the concerts have also been
my biggest joy and were very helpful. Being out in the churches
gave us a chance to hear people sing these songs, to get feedback
on what works and what doesn't, to feel their support."
Doug Krehbiel said, "My biggest joy was also the community
and participatory aspect of this project. Unlike our other
work, we wrote these songs to be mainly used by groups --
congregations, worship teams, or as special numbers during
offertories.
"At concerts when we were teaching these new songs, I
sometimes only had to strum the first chord, and then I'd
just hang on for the ride. Mennonites know how to sing, and
by the second verse, they had already spun out four parts.
For me, these concerts brought the idea of the Anabaptist
spirit full circle. Here we were as a community, reflecting
on what it means to be missional as we worshipped together."
On a much larger communal scale, the duo will share the project
at Atlanta 2003. During a July 4 celebration, "Many Voices,
One Spirit," they will lead the audience in singing some
of the project's songs. The Krehbiels will be masters of ceremony
at the event that will have music and other material representing
some of the cultural diversity in Mennonite Church USA.
Mission Network staff and Mennonite Church USA Executive Board
Office of Convention Planning staff believe " Road Less
Travelled" is the right pair to pave the way for a multicultural
evening of worship, fellowship and artistic expression.
"In planning the July 4 event, our biggest goal was to
be missional in nature ... and being missional means many
things to many different people," said Kent Miller, the
Mission Network's event coordinator for Atlanta.
"We felt Doug and Jude created quality music that showed
how many different ways people in the church are living out
what it means to invite others into the kingdom of God. We
want them to be a center-piece for other artists who share
their gifts that night."
Jorge Vallejos, director of the Office of Convention Planning,
said, "We are thrilled that Doug and Jude are sharing
this project with us at the convention. But the burning passion
to share the love of Jesus through good music in many styles
is something that's been in their hearts for a long time.
"Even if we hadn't gone through this whole transformational
process about becoming more missional, they would have created
this kind of CD anyway. They just naturally have a love of
good music and a love of God."
Those who won't be in Atlanta to attend the concert or to
purchase Let It Flow Through You at the convention may purchase
a CD for $15 (U.S.) and $22 (Can.) at Provident Bookstores;
Mennonite Media, 1-800-999-3534; or the web site: musicians.mennonitemission.net.
Cassettes will be available in the fall. For booking information,
call toll-free at 1-866-866-2872. (The web address has many
features, including their touring schedule, MP3 excerpts from
the CD and a downloadable songbook for use by congregational
musicians and worship teams). Photos available.
Laurie L. Oswald is news service director for Mennonite
Church USA
Native Americans play integral
part in Mennonite history.
|
|
by Laurie L. Oswald
 |
Betty (left) and Lawrence Hart
present Chris Graber with the gift of a Native American
blanket during a Mennonite Indian Leaders Council (MILC)
meeting in Newton, Kan., in January 2002. Betty Hart
is a MILC staff person for Oklahoma, and Lawrence Hart
is a MILK representative. Graber, who was a former staff
person for MILC, now works for Mennonite Mission Network
in Newton for human resources and services. (photo by
Laurie L. Oswald)
|
This is the first of a three-part
series about ministries of the Native American people in Mennonite
Church USA. This first story explores the history of the Mennonite
Indian Leader's Council, part of the former General Conference
Mennonite Church. The second story will describe the history
of United Native Ministries, part of the former Mennonite
Church. And the third story will depict how both are in the
process of forming Ministries to Native Congregations, the
merger of the groups in the new denomination.
NEWTON, Kan. (MC USA) -- Native Americans have been part of
Mennonite history longer than most people think, and Lawrence
Hart hopes that Mennonite Church USA understands their legacy
and embraces their future.
Hart -- a Native American who's served in ministry to his
people for 40 years -- often tells how missionary involvement
among Cheyenne and Arapaho people in Oklahoma in the late
1800s helped develop Mennonite educators and missional vision.
And as a founding member of the Mennonite Indian Leader's
Council (MILC), which began in the former General Conference
Mennonite Church in 1968, Hart hopes that history will be
passed on to new generations within Mennonite Church USA,
he said.
To help pass on the legacy and gifts of Native peoples, MILC
is in the process of merging with United Native Ministries
(UNM), which began in the former Mennonite Church in 1984.
The two bodies are forming the new Ministries to Native Congregations
(MNC), a constituent group that will relate to the new denomination.
"We seem to focus on how Native people are recently becoming
more a part of the church, but we already share a long history
together -- it's not just something that has recently popped
up," said Hart, a longtime member of Koinonia Mennonite
Church in Clinton, Okla., one of four Native congregations
in that state.
"Long before we used the term 'missional,' the leaders
of the General Conference and its constituents were very missional.
The GC mission board did some of its first missionary work
among the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in Oklahoma, even before
statehood.
"Many of the mission workers served here as educators
with the late Brinton Darlington, a Quaker who established
the first school for Cheyenne and Arapaho children. Darlington
struggled with finding teachers for this unpopulated area,
until he connected with the General Conference, which responded
positively."
The Darlington school became a training ground for such people
as the late Cornelius H. Wedel, the first president of Bethel
College in North Newton and the late H.H. Ewert, who founded
the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Man., he said.
And one of the first converts on the mission field was the
late Maggie Leonard, an Arapaho student at the Darlington
school.
Hart has helped develop MILC over the years with such board
members as Marvin Yoyokie, MILC president; Steve Cheramie
Risingsun, a Native American pastor who is also a UNM member;
and Willis Busenitz, a Caucasian Mennonite who has been pastor
of White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont.,
for more than 30 years.
These members said they sit on the shoulders of those who
came before them, such as the late Malcolm Wenger, who was
the visionary that helped begin MILC and foster the spirit
of collaboration between the church and Native people. Wenger
died in late February of this year in Newton. He lived with
the Northern Cheyenne people for 22 years while serving with
the former GC Commission on Home Ministries and served in
Native ministries for most of his adult life.
"Malcolm's gentle and fathering spirit brought a real
collaboration," said Risingsun, a pastor at Poarch Community
Church in Alabama and Native Christian Fellowship in Louisiana.
"From the beginning, he helped foster the spirit that
the Native people should take the lead and not the missionaries.
As a result, the Native people helped set much of the direction
and values of the group."
Because of this collaboration, many ministries have sprung
out of MILC, which has 10 member congregations. That includes
the four Cheyenne and Arapaho congregations in Oklahoma; three
Hopi congregations in Arizona; and three Northern Cheyenne
congregations in Montana.
The ministries include the Native Leadership Development Fund
that trains Native pastors to replace the aging Anglo missionaries
and that develops lay leaders. MILC also helped to develop
a 13-week Bible study series on the peace foundations of Native
people and how it intersects with biblical traditions and
materials on creation stewardship. A more recent ministry
involves repatriation, working for the proper burial of more
than 100,000 unidentified Native American human remains.
Busenitz said he's excited that MILC and UNM are merging,
because he feels the unified effort will strengthen existing
ministries and will bring a stronger voice on the Native perspectives
into Mennonite Church USA.
"I'm convinced that we need the larger church needs us,
and we need the larger church," Busenitz said. "The
Native people bring a unique perspective on the life and care
of the earth, and other values, such as honoring and respecting
elders, rather than only revering youth, and that nothing
matters more than relationships." Photos available.
MPN ends year with operating
surplus, looks to next phase of "barn raising."
|
|
by Jack Scott
Joint Release for Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church
Canada
Contact: Jack Scott, (724) 887-8500, E-mail: jscott@mph.org
SCOTTDALE, Pa. (MPN) - In a remarkable turn-around, the Mennonite
Publishing Network's (MPN) recent fiscal year ended with an
operating surplus of $485,493.
The Mennonite Publishing Network's phase two of its "barn
raising" campaign received this boost of good news from
its auditor and encouragement from its board. The MPN interim
board of directors, made up of the Joint Executive Committee
of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA, met June
12 to receive the audited results of the fiscal year that
ended Jan. 31.
This is MPN's second fully certified annual audit since the
merger of the former Faith & Life Press with Mennonite
Publishing House. The positive news follows an operating loss
of $793,079 in fiscal 2002. The surplus was due in large part
to the achievement of greater operating efficiencies and other
cost reductions.
An executive committee of the board consists of chair Ron
Sawatsky, vice-chair Ervin Stutzman and secretary-treasurer
Jim Harder. They've provided leadership for the publishing
agency since the Joint Executive Committee took over as the
interim board in March 2002.
Because of the decision to close the MPN printing press division
in December 2002, the audit assessed a one-time charge of
$422,735 for employee severance payments and equipment write-down
against the year's operating surplus, yielding a bottom line
increase in unrestricted net assets of $51,758 for the year.
This compares to a loss of more than $1.7 million in net assets
during fiscal 2002
"These are truly remarkable year-to-year financial improvements,"
Harder said. "But perhaps most critical for the future
of MPN and its supportive church constituency is the 21.7
percent reduction in comprehensive MPN indebtedness that was
also achieved during the past year."
Harder informed the board that MPN ended the fiscal year with
$4,382,638 in total indebtedness, a $1,211,659 reduction from
the nearly $5.6 million of debt held one year earlier. About
half of the debt reduction was realized from the barn raising
campaign donations from church members and former debenture
note holders. The remainder was funded from improved MPN operating
results at Provident Bookstores, Herald Press, and Faith &
Life Resources.
For the fiscal year, total donations to MPN from U.S. sources
came to $608,098. Donations from Canada totaled $42,957 (U.S.
equivalent). An additional $32,057 was received by Mennonite
Church USA for the purpose of restoring supplemental health
insurance benefits for MPH retirees.
The audit firm's representative at the annual meeting noted
that a $75,886 non-cash "foreign currency adjustment"
charge was necessary to properly reflect the book value of
the $1.2 million (Canadian funds) still owed Mennonite Church
Canada, in light of the declining foreign exchange value of
the U.S. dollar. This charge effectively reduced MPN's calculated
net worth by $24,124 for the year, but should not affect cash
reserves insofar as MPN expects to use Canadian sales revenue
to pay back this loan in future years, MPN's controller, Christopher
Ronallo, said to the board.
Ben Sprunger, MPN's interim executive director, reported that
MPN is still fragile, but there is ample reason for optimism.
Besides returning the business operations to stability through
reduced costs and overheads, and successful audit this year,
he noted successes:
o Refocus from a publishing house to a publishing network
that is more closely linked with its Mennonite Church constituency.
o Restructure with new business division alignments for a
smaller, nimbler, more focused effort.
o Divestiture of on-site production, printing and manufacturing
to out-sourcing and contract production.
o Recovery from financial fragility to stability through longer-term
loans, and providing adequate cash for taking early discounts
on accounts payable.
Sales for MPN of $16.3 million dollars were only down slightly
from the previous year, even with the closing of the in-house
printing service. At the same time, overheads and total wage
costs were substantially decreased as staff (not including
the Provident Bookstores) were decreased from nearly 100 full-time
equivalents to less than 39.
"We have a $2.3 million loan that is due Aug. 31,"
Sawatsky said. "We have already paid down nearly $800,000
of that, but it is critical that we have contributions or
pledges to cover the balance of $1.5 million by the time school
starts this fall."
Congregations throughout the United States and Canada have
just received packets of bulletin inserts, pledge cards and
a letter that explains phase two of the barn raising. A three-person
debt reduction committee that is supporting the barn raising
campaign is also seeking larger donations from individuals
or corporate donors.
"If we can pay off this loan, we will not need to return
to congregations for further special contributions to pay
down debt," said Jack Scott, MPN's development director.
"The publishing and bookstores should be able to pay
down the remaining debt over the next decade through normal
debt servicing.
Future fundraising will then be focused on new projects such
as a refreshment of the successful Jubilee children's Sunday
school curriculum, additional volumes in the Believers Church
Bible Commentary Series, or a supplement to Hymnal, A Worship
Book.
Jack Scott is director of marketing and development for
Mennonite Publishing Network.
Bluffton, Ohio, congregation
receives grant from Calvin Institute
|
|
by LuAnn Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio (MC USA) -- First Mennonite Church in Bluffton
has received a Worship Renewal grant of $12,330. Funding
was awarded by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship,
Grand Rapids, Mich. The Bluffton project will assist congregations
in their support of families who face the death of a loved
one.
First Mennonite's grant, "Worship and Rituals in Times
of Death: Expressions of Healing Within Faith Communities"
will explore the faith community's role in the grieving
process. Components of the project include interviewing
congregations in northwest Ohio who share an interest in
this work, developing additional worship resources for memorial
services and as aides to families and hosting a one-day
workshop in the spring of 2004 for regional pastors and
lay leaders in various aspects of congregational support.
"We are delighted that our grant proposal was accepted
for funding," said LuAnn Steiner, director of First
Mennonite's grant committee. "We look forward to the
work and sincerely appreciate the opportunity that this
grant provides."
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship grant program,
now in its fourth year, generated interest from nearly every
part of North America and from many denominations. This
year the Institute awarded more than $700,000 to 54 churches
and organizations representing 18 denominations in the United
States and Canada. The Institute received more than 300
proposals from 33 denominations, 40 states and three provinces.
"Because of the tremendous response, the selection
process was extremely difficult," said John Witvliet,
director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. "We
were especially grateful for so many proposals that give
evidence of deep theological reflection on the meaning of
worship."
Funded grants represent a broad range of projects including:
developing worship-education training programs for youth
and adults; integrating the arts in worship; developing
a worship model to meet the special needs of the elderly;
and learning about worship practices and songs from other
cultures.
"Through the grant program we hope to encourage grass
roots worship renewal in worship communities so that they
are able to reflect on the purpose of worship and develop
practices that will impact the worship life of their community
for years to come," said Cindy Holtrop, director of
the Worship Renewal Grants Program.
Funds for the program were provided through a grant from
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1937,
the Endowment's major areas of concern are community development,
education and religion. For additional information about
the Calvin Institute, contact: Cindy Holtrop at 616-526-6822
or worshipgrants@calvin.edu or see the Institute's web site
at http://www.calvin.edu/worship for a list of grant recipients,
pictures and bios.
For local information about the First Mennonite project,
contact: LuAnn Steiner at 419-358-1341 or steinersl@bluffton.edu.
****Note to the editor: The grant guidelines stipulate that
the Lilly Endowment must be credited as the funding source,
therefore the inclusion of the last sentence.
LuAnn Steiner is assistant director of music at First
Mennonite Church.
Mennofolk 2003, fourth annual
music festival, set for July 20.
|
|
 |
Emily Krabill, the daughter of Merrill
Krabill of Goshen, Ind., plays with a guitar during
the Mennofolk 2002 music festival in Cassopolis, Mich.,
last summer. Kristen Neufeld of Newton, Kan., and her
son, Micah, join in the play. (photo by Spencer Cunningham)
|
by Wendy Chappell-Dick
CASSOPOLIS, Mich. -- The American folk hymn, "Thou True
Vine," found in Hymnal: A Worship Book, is the theme
for Mennofolk 2003 and exemplifies the richness that the American
folk tradition has offered the Anabaptist faith.
Strains of this tradition will echo in modern voices throughout
the fourth annual music festival, set for July 20 at Camp
Friedenswald in Cassopolis. The festival is a project of Central
District Conference and is supported this year by a grant
from the Schowalter Foundation. The festival -- one of North
America's largest gatherings of many folk traditions -- will
include the Mennonite tradition of four-part a capella singing.
Families will find something for everyone at this festival,
which requires no admission or reservations but suggests donations
for the musicians. Performers from across the country will
use styles ranging from Cajun to Latin to bluegrass to pop
to Celtic. Four stages will each have a focus -- traditional
folk music, peace and justice, original singer-songwriters
and children. Swimming, hiking, food and jam sessions will
also be offered.
Many of the performers have sung their original songs for
many years, including Chuck Neufeld, "Road Less Travelled"
and Jerry Holsopple. They are well-known among Mennonites
for their peace and justice work and the ability to offer
song as a primary, powerful force for healing and change.
Many favorites from Mennofolk 2002 are returning, including:
"Cajun Jedi;" hammered- dulcimer sensation Ben Regier;
Lisa Weaver's band, "Piecework"; "andi and
i," a funky duo out of Chicago; Gina Holsopple, a young
woman activist/songwriter from Washington, D.C; and "Radiant,"
with Anita Oliver Barahona singing in Spanish and English
for justice and an awareness of God's love.
"Several," another group from Chicago will perform,
and Andru Bemis will be back with his band, "The Forty
Thieves." Also performing will be Charletta Erb with
"Hoad's Tornado," a folk combo from Goshen, Ind.,
and Rick Reha of Illinois with a gypsy/Celtic set. Keith Hershberger
of Pittsburgh, Pa., will return with another original set.
New performers include Heather Kropf, also from Pittsburgh,
and Brad Yoder, recipient of the prestigious "top college
performer" award this past year. Three new bluegrass
bands also perform. They are "Salford Bluegrass,"
a professional band from Harleysville, Pa.; Anna Draper of
Ann Arbor, Mich.; and "Greasefire Special," a group
that formed at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart,
Ind. Rick Meisterheim will bring his songs of farming, justice
and parity from northern Michigan.
Following the festival, Camp Friedenswald will host a five-day
family music camp, where music lessons, jamming, concerts
and family musical theater will continue to inspire participants.
Performances by Duane Gundy's Dawg band and the "Silver
Tones," a senior citizens' old-time band, among others,
will highlight that week.
Evening concerts are open to the public and begin at 6:30
p.m. Linda Smith-Troyer will provide daily meditations through
music and direct her original musical, The Quiltmaker's Gift.
Children's concerts, child-care activities, arts and crafts,
nature and sports are all included. Will Peebles of Western
Carolina University will return this year, bringing his Indonesian
gamalon and anklung sets for all ages to enjoy. For more information
see www.mennofolk.org.
Photos available.
Wendy Chappell-Dick is the main organizer of Mennofolk
2003.
|
