MWR : Articles : June 8, 2009

Articles : June 8, 2009

Following Jesus today

Prior to our Easter celebration, the congregation shared in a Tenebrae service and communion on Maundy Thursday. The question posed was “How do you follow Jesus today?” What were the news headlines 2,000 years ago? Did the Jews suppress the reports about an empty tomb? The disciples weren’t sure what to do and secluded themselves in an upper room. But they had to check out the story of the women about the empty tomb and the men in white. Christians are all witnesses to the events of the day since the resurrection is the basis of our faith. Death no longer reigns since nothing can stop God’s love.
Miracle testimonies

March was devoted to “Miracles in March,” when individuals gave their personal testimonies. Harold Unruh, Lucinda Hiebert, Jenny Girard and Courtney Becker participated. Their testimonies were very inspiring.

Pro-life violence a contradiction

During the “Summer of Mercy” anti-abortion protests in Wichita, Kan., in 1991, a Mennonite Brethren pastor in the city said he heard a wake-up call for his congregation. “We haven’t done what we can to prevent the murder of life,” Gordon Bergman told MWR. “I have urged the people to look to the Lord to see what we need to be doing.”

Books’ return to Europe closes circle of history

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Four record books from one of the earliest Mennonite congregations, salvaged from the ruins of World War II, are preparing to cross the Atlantic Ocean again.
History’s timeline recharted

WITMARSUM, the Netherlands — Inspired by an American father and daughter’s project nearly 25 years ago, a Dutch father-daughter pair has put Anabaptist history on a timeline chart.
Writings leave family a gift

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Joanne Juhnke, a data librarian in Madison, Wis., and her father, James Juhnke, a retired historian in Wichita, know the value of documents.

Artist’s inspiration

I want to call attention to a sculpture, “Holodomor,” prominently featured in the Westhaven Center for the Arts at Trinidad, Calif.
Bible or culture?

Several letters in recent issues have raised the gay issue to a different level. Robert Kauffman believes “we cannot use the Bible as a legalistic guide to belief and behavior.” Alongside this letter, five people from Iowa state their belief that “the Bible is still relevant today.” Ray Horst refers to “wider grace.” Kauffman refers to “requiring women to wear head coverings” and “not to wear jewelry” and says, “I thought we were past that type of literal interpretation.” Both Kauffman and Horst refer to divorce and remarriage. Since these issues have been accepted through the “cultural and historical context” of the Bible, then others should be decided on the same basis. Culture and history become the guiding principles.
Rules of dialogue

I greatly appreciate Mennonite Weekly Review’s policy of keeping the conversation on the sexuality issue open, although I often wince at the way writers express themselves in overstatement and disparagement of their opponents. Obviously, feelings are raw.