MWR : Articles : April 12, 2010

Last updated November 24.

Send letters to the editor, or suggestions for our stories or Web site, to MWR‘s editors.

Articles : April 12, 2010

Celebrating the arts

We hosted the Mennonite Arts Weekend Feb. 5-7. Response was fantastic despite snow in the region. We had record attendance for the weekend with the furthest attendees coming from Winnipeg, Man. — one of our presenters, the House of Doc (Matthew Harder, Rebecca Harder, Dan Wiebe and David Graham). Others who shared their talents included J. Daniel Hess, Sidney King, Ted Swartz, Todd Davis, Jayne Holsinger, Ken Nafziger, Naomi Pridjian and Juanita Yoder. We are thankful to be able to hold these biennial celebrations to encourage creative expression in Mennonite communities. We hope even more people will attend in February 2012.
New, founding pastors

At a special congregational meeting on March 7, the congregation called Nelson Kraybill as lead pastor.
Delving into history

Our winter Bible study session, led by Pastor Eric Deckert, was titled “Missing Scriptures: Why Isn’t that Book in the New Testament?”

Our name, others’ definition

Everence, the new name of Mennonite Mutual Aid, will take some getting used to. Especially since it comes without the burden, or benefit, of a definition. It’s a blank slate for our perceptions of what MMA is.

Alumnus writes music for Bethel students, faculty

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Contemporary classical composer Paul Rudy performed in Krehbiel Auditorium as a Bethel College student.

Farm aid renews ties to Ukraine

INMAN, Kan. — At first, some Ukrainian farmers worried the Mennonites might be coming back for their ancestral farms.
Franconia Conference study under way

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa. — As LaVern Yutzy, a consultant, performs a review of Franconia Conference of Mennonite Church USA, the conference has appointed leaders to provide oversight for the assessment.
Goshen flag switch protests anthem

GOSHEN, Ind. — Instead of the U.S. and U.N. flags, the poles in front of Goshen College held for a few hours a flag depicting the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and a flag showing the planet Earth.
Missing ex-pastor found dead

Joe Rosa, a former pastor and church planter who had been missing for more than 10 months and charged with several crimes, was found dead April 1 in White Deer Township, Pa.
Thousands mourn Ky. family

MARROWBONE, Ky. — Hearts were heavy but cheeks were mostly dry March 30 as more than 3,000 mourners gathered to say goodbye to nine members of a Mennonite community who perished in a fiery crash on Interstate 65 near Munfordville.