MWR : Articles : Dec. 21, 2009

Last updated December 16.

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Articles : Dec. 21, 2009

48 hours of prayer

We had guests from United Revival Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., here for the weekend.
Examining divisive topics

During the past two months, our worship service and second hour study period were designed to continue prodding us to reflect on current subjects that are often divisive in our efforts to be faithful to God.
Radical hospitality

We began a 10-week focus on radical hospitality Sept. 20.

Quotes from 2009
- It’s a dream come true — the thrill of seeing our brothers and sisters from around the globe singing each other’s songs. — Paul Dueck of Leamington, Ont., song leader at the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay

EMS student releases CD

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Along with writing papers and reading books, first-year Eastern Mennonite Seminary student Jessica Crawford has been busy producing a recording.
Patchwork ministers to body and soul

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Christmas is an especially busy time for Patchwork Pantry. Located at Community Mennonite Church, Patchwork normally distributes about 1,000 pounds of food to local people each week.

Lighten up a little

As a “Mennonite humorist” (somewhat of an oxymoron), I found Rhoda Janzen’s book, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home, uproariously funny.
Lincoln and COs

At the Menno Simons Historical Library at Eastern Mennonite University, I have been cataloging Civil War entries from photocopies of original accounts, often from newspapers of 1861 to 1865. Other citations are from more recent books on the Civil War. Recently I was intrigued to encounter mention of President Abraham Lincoln’s attitude toward the peace position of Mennonites.
Palestinian suffering

Thank you for telling about some of the suffering of Palestinians under Israel’s occupation. There are many hundreds of tragic stories. To learn more, read about Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Rabbis for Human Rights, Gush Shalom and B’Tselem, all Israeli organizations. Their information is eye-opening. Or read the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, whose correspondent Gideon Levy recently wrote of Israel, “We don’t want peace.”