MWR : Articles : July 20, 2009

Last updated November 24.

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Articles : July 20, 2009

Catch the Spirit

“Catch the Spirit” was the theme of our summer Bible school.
Drawn In, Sent Out

Fifteen adults from our congregation traveled to Nampa, Idaho, for the 15th annual meeting of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, “Treasure Valley 2009.”
Firefly finale

Crocodile Dock Vacation Bible School swamped 114 children and 40 volunteers with fun every morning as they learned to be fearless kids shining God’s light.

Lift up justice with righteousness

“That’s not fair!” people say when they’re cheated, mistreated or otherwise wronged. Generally, Christians believe things need to be just in order to be right. Yet sometimes we act as though injustice doesn’t merit our attention as much as righteousness does.

Amish place of rest

GOSHEN, Ind. — Sam Bontrager became interested in people’s behavior and emotional stability while working at his family’s plumbing, heating and electric business.

Pink Menno views

A letter of concern to my “Pink” brothers and sisters: The debate within Mennonite Church USA regarding full acceptance of non-celibate gays and lesbians has been among believers with sincere differences in how we interpret Scripture. However, at the convention the nature of the “dialogue” changed, and lines of appropriate behavior were crossed.
Proposal response

I appreciate aspects of Richard Kauffman’s proposal on ways to move forward in the church even though we lack unity of understanding regarding the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons. Challenging and changing times beg for creative ideas and proposals. In this spirit, I would like to raise two concerns with what he has proposed.
Unconscious racism

I haven’t read much recently in MWR about the anti-racism program started by Mennonite Church USA some time ago.

MCC calls for prayer for colony in Bolivia

WINNIPEG, Man. — Mennonite Central Committee is reaching out to an Old Colony Mennonite community in Bolivia where numerous rapes recently came to light.
MCC executive director’s travel to Paraguay impeded

As thousands of people gathered for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15 in Asunción, Paraguay, Arli Klassen wasn’t among them.