MWR : Engaging peace issues

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Nov. 2, 2009 issue

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Tags: Congregations

Engaging peace issues

Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita, Kan.

By Barbara Gingrich

We said “Farewell” to our Bethel College Ministry Inquiry Program student, Daniel Klaassen, as he returned to school in August.

And we said “Welcome” to Susan Wheeler, a master of divinity student from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She will work with pastors Lois and Tom Harder through May 2010 in a variety of pastoral duties. She and her husband, Lee, live in Hesston.

Josh Stieber, an Iraq War veteran, spoke to a large gathering in the fellowship hall Sept. 6. He is walking and biking across the country, telling of his physical and spiritual journey to becoming a conscientious objector. It was a moving talk. He spoke the next morning at Bethel College convocation before heading out west.

Nathan Toews, just recently back from a Christian Peacemaker Teams witness in Colombia, shared his experience Sept. 20. Toews lives and works in Austin, Texas, but was an active part of LAMC.

The first annual LAMC Family Peace Festival was held Sept. 26. This was a chance to invite the church’s neighbors to a party with food, peace “tattoos,” opportunity to make peace cranes and peace lilies. We also filled 95 hygiene kits for Inter-Faith Ministries’ homeless program, many containing personal peace notes from the children. The 5 Times Harder (pastors and children) entertained with peace songs, and Lawrence of Elyria was there with some special friends.

The Peace Pole, a limestone column with “May Peace Prevail” in 10 languages, was planted in the church yard and dedicated in September. This is a gift from the memorials of Peter Bartel and Harold Plenert.

Wedding anniversary: Don and Elsie Steelberg, 50th, Sept. 26.

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