the complete newsletter.

Life
Together
December 2011
St. Jacobs Mennonite Church
www.sjmc.on.ca
The Gift of Altered Christmas Visions
Written By: Marcia B. Shantz, Life Together Content Coordinator
A
t the October House of Friendship fundraising dinner the guest speaker
described herself as a very average person. She talked about how her very
average acts of compassion grew slowly over time, preparing her heart for
what was yet to come in her life -- the needed capacity for increased compassion. She
talked about her desire to make a difference. This quest took her all over the world to
places of hardship. Sometimes she felt useless. And when she’d return home, there too,
she sometimes felt useless. After all, she’s just average, what could she do? She’d hear
that familiar saying run through her head: “Don’t just stand there, do something!”
But then, somewhere along the years, she heard this turn-of-phrase: “Don’t just do
something, stand there!” That was one of those ‘aha!’ moments in her life -- perhaps in
all of our lives too at some points. She reminded the dinner listeners that each of us do
make a difference in the average things we do, for if no one did average things (that
often start with a need or an idea) there would be, in this case, no House of Friendship.
Then one night in late November, with press time closing in and no Christmas material for this front page, I was awoken with
these “gifts”:
n I saw Lori Martin’s beautiful photograph of the Algonquin heart-shaped stone she stumbled upon. (LT March/April 2011).
n I saw the “Be still...” magnet I bought this summer.
n I heard the quote reference from House of Friendship’s guest speaker: “Don’t just do something, stand there!”
n And that’s when I knew December’s LT was ready to go to press, albeit with a slightly altered Christmas vision for page 1, but OK!
~ A Christmas and New Year Prayer ~
May we accept this gift periodically to just “stand there” (corporately as a congregation and individually) to allow the
Christ Child Jesus to help us truly hear the Nativity’s message. This 2011 Christmas, may Christ prepare our average hearts
to give compassion, and to also receive compassion. May our day-to-day living throughout all of 2012 be that of
a simple, contented life of thanks-living*. Amen. (*Thanks-living term borrowed from Canadian Mennonite editorial; October 17, 2011.)
Contributing Writers
Merry Christmas - Page 1
The Gift of Altered Christmas Visions
By: Marcia B. Shantz
Life Together
Light of the World
Written By: Vaughn Bender, Editor
Vision View - Page 4
By: Brent Horst (L)
Christian Formation Page 5
By: Charles Kruger (R)
Reader’s Review - Page 7
The Gift of Reading Books
By: Alice Brubacher
Children’s Challenge Page 10
- And Life and Times Page 14
Peacemaking Ponderings - Page 11
The Mennonite Story Inc.
By: Nelson Scheifele
Reflections - Page 12-13
Blessings of Fostering and
Welcoming
By: Elmer & Beatrice Sauder
Thankfulness - Page 15
By: Laverne Martin
- And Christmas Memories Page 16
Thank-You To:
St. Jacobs Printery
- and Karen Sauder (SJMC) - Distribution
SJMC - 2
(Formerly The Beacon est. 1967 &
Keystone Literary Society newspaper, prior).
W
hen celebrating Christmas
in 2011 it’s easy to get
distracted by the popular
views of a great time to receive
gifts, visit relatives (more gifts) and
wonderful meals and feasts with
every imaginable treat. These are no
doubt pleasant happenings, which
should and will be enjoyed.
Pastor’s Pen - Page 3
How Do You Measure 10 Years?
By: Wendy Janzen
Getting To Know ... - Page 6-7
A Visit with Shirley Robinson
By: Doris Kramer
... our newsletter since 1979.
But why all the feasting and gifts
and what have they to do with
Christmas?
We are reminded during this Advent season that the very word Christmas contains
its true meaning: Christ and mass. The word “mass” signifies “celebration”, and
so Christmas or Christ’s mass is in reality the Celebration of Christ.”
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
The bearing of gifts is in remembrance of three wise men who saw a star and
through their ability to interpret the astrological marvel they eventually found
Jesus and showered Him with precious gifts.
Your editorial team commends the stories of this Christmas publication which
highlight opportunities to grow in faith together, to demonstrate God’s love to our
neighbours (and to our international neighbours) and to be like light to others –
from caring through fostering to outreach through the journey of a special quilt or
the impact of The Mennonite Story Inc., not just for visitors, but you and me also.
After a hearty Christmas meal and the unwrapping of a gift or two - this edition
of Life Together will be an excellent read and help to focus us as well with the
stories and happening of our faith community and re-balance us with some
‘altered Christmas Visions’. Thank you to all that have shared in the gift of this
newsletter.
And as we enjoy all of the wonderful holiday lighting, which adorns our trees,
homes and communities, may we be reminded of the true spirit and light of
Christmas.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
We extend our best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.
~ Marcia, Larry and Vaughn
Thank-you extra photographers!
Cal Cressman, Sue Shantz, Heather Weber.
Editorial Team
Vaughn Bender - Editor
Marcia Shantz - Coordinator & Design Layout
Larry Shantz - Layout & Photography
Visit the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church Website - www.sjmc.on.ca
... in the Latin language,
the word pastor means a shepherd.
Pastor’s Pen
How Do You Measure 10 Years?
Written By: Wendy Janzen, Pastor
i We experienced the births of our sons
Levi in July ’06 and Kai April ’10, (as well
as three miscarriages).
i And my mother-in-law passed away in
June ’11.
J
anuary 1st, 2012 marks the 10-year
anniversary of my ministry at SJMC.
How do you measure 10 years in the
life of a congregation and pastor? Here are
a few stats from 10 years ago that help but
obviously don’t paint the full picture.
In 2002:
i Harold Hildebrand Schlegel was pastor,
and Winston Martin was interim pastor
during Barb Smith-Morrison’s maternity
leave.
i Sue Shantz just started as Leadership
Council Chair.
i We underwent a building renovation
to build a third pastor’s office in the office
wing.
i Roy Brubacher passed away in March
of that year.
i Heather Shantz was baptized in June,
outside on the lawn. She was (I think) the
first baptism by immersion at SJMC.
i Larry & Marcia Shantz was the first
SJMC wedding I officiated in August.
i Zachary Cressman was dedicated in a
parent-child dedication.
These ten years included some major
personal life milestones also:
i I graduated from Associated Mennonite
Biblical Seminary (AMBS) with my M.Div.
in May ’02.
i My dad passed away in April ’03.
i Chip and I were married in May ’03.
i I was ordained in February ’06.
i We bought a new house, renovated it
and moved from Waterloo to Kitchener in
‘06.
In some ways, ten years seems like a long
time. But in the life span of a person, let
alone of a congregation, it is peanuts. Much
has happened in the life of the congregation
over these ten years. We have experienced
many joys and sorrows together as we have
marked the passing of life through births
and deaths; have celebrated baptisms,
weddings and anniversaries; gone on
retreats and service trips; engaged in much
discernment and seeking of God’s will
together; strengthened our partnerships
with BBI and Grace Lao, and so much
more...
All I can say for sure is that it is by God’s
grace that we have enjoyed these ten years
together. Without God’s guidance my
ministry, our ministry, doesn’t amount to
much. As we know from 1 Corinthians
3:6-7, we might do the planting and the
watering, but it is God who gives the
growth. “So neither the one who plants nor
the one who waters is anything, but only
God who gives the growth.”
I am immensely grateful for my ten
years here at SJMC. You have been
loving and supportive and tremendously
encouraging. Thanks be to God! May God
guide and direct us as we continue to seek
God’s kingdom together.
Photos are a wonderful way to chronicle
the “measurement of 10 years”, so LT has
collected a few samplings:
cWendy’s Installation at SJMC ‘02.
cWendy’s AMBS Graduation with a
surprise visit from Bob & Sue Shantz ‘02.
cWendy & Youth to Toronto TOOLS ‘02.
cWendy w/ Larry & Marcia wedding ‘02.
cZachary Cressman born ‘02.
cBender Janzen Family having fun at the
SJMC Advent Festival in November 2011!
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
Life Together - December 2011
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 3
Vision View
... demonstrating God’s love in our
neighbourhoods and the world.
Keeping Christ In All That We Do
W
SJMC Logo (circa 1980s). Art design by Marilyn
Wideman Feil. Wall hanging fabric drafting
technique, piecing, quilting by Alice (Snider)
Brubacher, “with help from Marilyn.”
Written By: Brent Horst, Leadership Council Vice-Chairperson
hat does it mean for us to “demonstrate God’s love
in our neighbourhoods and the world”? Does our
demonstration of God’s love look different than the love
that many humans have for each other? How do those who are
impacted by our service in the world know that our motivation
comes from a “faith centered in Jesus Christ”?
At Christmastime we sometimes hear the phrase “keep Christ in
Christmas”. This is often to counteract the tendency to use “Xmas”
and the focus on the secular and general consumerism. But what
do we really mean by that statement? How can we live in a way
that keeps Christ in all that we do?
Mennonites often refer to ourselves as Anabaptist Christians
and our major Mennonite institutions have been careful to include
Christ in their mission, vision and statements of purpose.
Here are some examples:
i Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC) tagline is: “Relief,
development and peace in the name of Christ.”
i Mennonite Church Eastern Canada's (MCEC) vision is:
"Extending the Peace of Jesus Christ by making disciples,
growing congregations and forming leaders."
“We seek to celebrate and listen to
the Living God;
empowered by the Holy Spirit
to be a welcoming, caring community
of faith centered in Jesus Christ;
and to demonstrate God’s love
in our neighbourhoods and the world.”
- SJMC Vision Statement
But those who benefit from our acts of service don’t usually read
our mission or vision statements. So how do they know it’s in the
name of Christ that we share God’s love in our neighbourhoods
and the world? I’m not advocating having hungry people sit
through a sermon before they can eat, or preach the gospel while
ignoring social justice issues, but I am wondering how we keep
Christ in our acts of service?
At the April Delegate session of MCEC, Executive Minister
David Martin commended congregations in sharing in the name of
Christ. But he also wondered if we do enough to share the person
of Christ?
We would all agree that we are called to be disciples, but let’s
remember what Christ asked of his disciples. Although it did
include serving others, Christ’s focus was mainly about tending
the souls of those they met, more than their physical bodies.
Christ always pointed to the Father and the new Kingdom. He
was so much more than a social activist trying to improve human
conditions.
Let’s keep Christ in Christmas as well as keeping Christ in all
that we do so that others will come to know the One who motivates
us to love God and others.
i Mennonite Church Canada’s (MC Canada) vision is: “God
calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and, by the power of the
Holy Spirit to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace so that
God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.”
i At SJMC we also mention God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ
in our own vision statement.
This must be the difference between our congregation, groups
of Mennonite congregations (MCEC and MC Canada), Mennonite
service organizations (MCC, MDS, etc.), and those service groups
that don’t mention Christ in their mission statements.
SJMC - 4
SJMC’s Christmas tradition of collecting socks, mittens, scarves, gloves,
and hats for the various programs of House of Friendship.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - December 2011
Christian Formation
... a careful reflection of what our
BBI friends have to offer us
is transformational.
Much To Consider
Written By: Charles Kruger, Christian Formation Ministry Member
impediment to the centrality of our church in our lives. Our friends
in Benin, by keeping their faith life on the tips of their tongues,
maintain their focus through a day that would seem very difficult
to us.
Although we may decide not to worship and express ourselves
in the same ways other cultures choose, a careful reflection of what
our BBI friends have to offer us is transformational. Their influence
on us is transformational. …Amen?
Linda & Charles Kruger and Sandy Shantz with the BBI plaque they were
presented with on their visit to BBI in July 2011.
O
ur partnership with the Benin Bible Institute (BBI) has
given our church much to consider.
We and our partner have a common belief in the
centrality of Christ for our lives and the importance of the church
for our world. But our brothers and sisters in Benin have much to
teach us about commitment. The integration of church and daily
life is a struggle for us in SJMC.
The way we allow our world and its inherent distractions
to command our attention, can pull us from a Christ centered
Anabaptist lifestyle. We hardly find time to intently consider what
our theology calls us to do with our lives, let alone live according
to God’s calling.
The administrators, professors and staff of BBI have made their
lives one with the calling of their commitment to the church. Their
commitment and zeal to spread the work of the church and their
faith is positively overwhelming.
From greeting each other in the name of Christ, to prayer for the
moments of the day before they embark on a task, to thanking God
aloud, for many daily blessings, our friends at BBI have much to
teach us. Did I mention that they have four church services a week?
One of the gifts we can receive from our Beninese friends is the
ability to study and review the Bible in a manner that translates
into a profound, compact way of understanding the scripture’s
relation to daily life.
The pushes and pulls of life in Benin are complicated and
seldom easy. Much of what we take for granted, transportation,
household conveniences, accessible food, education, and much
else are consuming for the Beninese on a daily and hourly basis.
We tend to rationalize, using the busyness of our lives as an
Life Together - December 2011
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 5
Getting To Know ...
“... Kindle in us love’s compassion
so that everyone may see in our fellowship
the promise of a new humanity.“ (HWB #420)
A Visit with Shirley Robinson
Written By: Doris Kramer
I
n late 2010, when Shirley Robinson first
came to our church, she felt she was a
member. On May 29, 2011 she formally
did become a member. I quote from
Shirley’s words in that day’s SJMC bulletin:
“I moved away from the security and
fellowship of a tight community when I
left home to study for a degree in London,
England. Frightened and very naïve and
longing to be accepted by my new, very
worldly and cosmopolitan student friends
and lost the practice of attending church on
a regular basis but never lost my faith... I
have always been aware of a growing void
in my life and a recent move to Canada and
an even more recent move to St. Jacobs, I
believe, has been the result of trying to rediscover that familiar sense of community.
From the moment I walked through the
doors of SJMC you have been so welcoming and made me feel like I belong. Thank
you! I know being true to God is a daily
practice but you’ve taught me practicing alone is in no way as rewarding
as practicing with a fun, creative,
passionate and compassionate community as you.”
Shirley was born on April 14,
1966 in Otley (Yorkshire) England
to Pauline White and Peter Robinson.
She has two older siblings, a sister
and a brother, who reside in England.
They have each given her a niece and a
nephew. Her parents are now 80-yearsold and continue to live independently
in a village. Shirley’s father was a muffler
salesman who loved remodeling houses,
so the family moved frequently, living
in various villages. He’d fix up a house,
then move to another that was in need
of repairs. The Robinsons were a warm,
loving family. Her parents were involved in
the Anglican church, especially her mother,
who served in various capacities over the
years. Shirley said she often tells folks, “My
father is a salesman, my mother is a saint.”
Before their marriage, her mother worked
in a bank. After the children were older, she
returned to school and became a “nursery
nurse”, a caregiver. In this new career she
worked in a Church of England Home for
handicapped children, as a matron in an
Old Peoples’ Home and in a School for the
Deaf, preparing students for university.
SJMC - 6
The school system in England is different
from the Canadian system: Shirley went
to Junior School from ages 4 to 13 and to
Secondary School until age 18. Then she
studied at Martin’s School of Art in London
for four years, earning a degree in Graphic
Design, specializing in advertising. While
attending college she worked as a waitress,
earning a bit of money and meeting
interesting people. For one year she worked
at an advertising agency there.
Aware that she had lived a very sheltered
life, she felt the need to become more
informed about the larger world in order to
be a more effective worker. So, she decided
to take “a trip around the world.” In 1986
she left England,
accompanied
only by the book, The Lonely Planet Guide
and traveled to Austria where she worked
briefly. Then she went to communist
Hungary (Budapest), Czechoslovakia
(Prague), and on to Poland where she had
a friend she had met while waitressing in
England. She went back to England briefly
and then traveled to Hong Kong, Thailand,
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (the whole
series of Islands) and then on to Australia.
Through this trip she secured a job with an
advertising agency and worked in Hong
Kong for nearly three years.
Before her travels she had a boyfriend
back in England. By FAX he asked for her
hand in marriage; she quit her job, returned
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
to England and in 1993 they were married.
During this time she continued to work
in advertising. Her husband worked as a
producer of TV commercials and she helped
create materials for him. This experience
encouraged her to become a freelancer
for film and television producers, always
in the art departments; e.g. Chocolat,
Gosford Park, Swept from the Sea, Proof,
BBC period dramas and others. She went
from job to job, seven days a week and had
a house in London but seldom was there.
Recognizing this as an unhealthy lifestyle
and experiencing burnout, she returned to
advertising.
Because she had friends here, she
visited our country and, as she said, “I
fell in love with Canada.” She applied
for entry as a skilled worker in the film
industry, but faced many hurdles in getting
the government to accept her and her
portfolio. Four years later, in July 2007,
she was finally accepted. She says, “I
was incredibly happy!” She came to
Toronto on September 14, 2007 and
she started a job with a Toronto
advertising agency shortly after.
In 2010 she was offered a job an
advertising agency in Waterloo
Region. She was excited for the
move to a smaller area and to be
living in a village again!
After a few months she was
unemployed. This was a very difficult time
for Shirley. She named several SJMC folks
who came to her rescue during this time
of discouragement. The original document
mentioned these names individually,
but realizing the list of names was quite
substantial, and not to miss someone,
we have acknowledged those “rescuers”
this way with a BIG THANK-YOU! She
is grateful for this church connection.
This past July she began working full
time at Home Hardware Furniture in St.
Jacobs. She loves this company and is
proud to wear the red shirt. Shirley feels
it’s a coincidence that she works at Home
Hardware since her maternal grandfather
in England owned a hardware store, R.W.
White Hardware.
Shirley is a very active person. She gets
up at 6.00 a.m. to meet Bonnie Parsons and
Life Together - December 2011
Reader’s Review
... for the joy of reading!
The Gift of Reading Books
Written By: Alice Brubacher, Librarian
T
houghts of Christmas bring to mind gifts: a host of tangible and intangible items that we choose carefully to give to others.
Sometimes, we may even give gifts to ourselves: think of a comfortable chair, perhaps a fireplace, a cozy afghan, a mug of hot apple
cider and a book! Reading and books in themselves are wonderful gifts that enrich our lives all year. So, from our SJMC library, we
offer suggestions for a gift to yourself this season.
Gift Package #1 ~
Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm
the Soul and A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider:
Words to Stimulate the Mind and Delight the Spirit
(edited by N.J. Lindquist). Both are collections of
heartwarming short stories that are perfect to pick up for a quick
read in a busy life.
Gift Package #2 ~
Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is The Night
(by Liz Curtis Higgs). These two books are based
on the beloved Old Testament story of Ruth and
Naomi, but set in Scotland in another time and place. The author’s
writing is rich with historical detail and living, breathing characters.
Gift Package #3 ~
Pony Express Christmas (by Sigmund Brouwer).
Stopping briefly at way stations every ten to fifteen
miles for a fresh horse, Pony Express riders in the
1860s rode in a relay system from Missouri to California. This book
tells a heartwarming tale of a rider’s encounter with an injured father
and his son on the prairie in a blizzard. And An Old-Fashioned
Christmas: Four Inspirational Love Stories From Christmases Gone
By (by Sally Laity (et al)). Four authors have written four short
novels set in Philadelphia, North Carolina, Kansas and Alaska, that
tell of tears and fears, hope and despair, selfishness and generosity,
all the ingredients of human relationships. The conclusion of each story happens at Christmastime, forming a common bond to these
heartwarming tales.
Enjoy your Christmas gift of reading!
Getting To Know...Shirley Robinson (from page 6)
walk their dogs together. Most mornings
she works out at the gym. She describes
herself as a sports fanatic: running, biking,
cross-country skiing and more. On summer
Sunday mornings she bikes with Stew
Sauder, Oscar Weber, Brent Horst, Maynard
Wideman, and others and sometimes is
joined by her friends. However, she is
also interested in the arts and does some
volunteer work locally in graphic design
and creating web content for a health food
store.
Because this issue of Life Together is
a Christmas issue, I asked Shirley about
Life Together - December 2011
her family traditions. Her memories
of Christmas are mixed. Shirley and
her siblings weren’t allowed to open
presents until after Christmas dinner
when everything was cleaned up. It was
frustrating as a child, but as an adult the
lessons it taught become clear. In the
morning they went to church where she
and her mother sang in the choir; they also
joined the choir to go caroling. A great aunt
usually came, as her grandparents were
deceased, plus aunts, uncles and cousins.
They had a tree with old ornaments and
Christmas cards hung on crepe paper
strips fastened to the wall. Often they
played games (her mother is a passionate
Scrabble player) and did jigsaw puzzles. A
memorable gift she received when she was
12 or 13-years-old was an artist’s easel with
canvas and paints. This year she’ll be in
Canada for Christmas since she is planning
a trip to England in February to celebrate
her mother’s 80th birthday.
Shirley, your church family is grateful
that you have chosen to worship with us.
We feel that you are very much a part of us.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 7
SJMC S
1
5
2
6
3
7
4
(1) SJMC Saints Men’s Slo-Pitch RIM League. September: (2-4) Gathering
Sunday: Heather Weber and her yummy sticky buns; Inter-generational
Sunday School “gets down” together!; “The Story We Find Ourselves
In” is the 2011-2012 theme, with pastor Wendy Janzen reading scripture
from the scroll. (5-7) Milestone Sunday: William Johnson (age 18 prayer
shawl); Gr. 9 & Gr. 3 Bible presentations. (8) Youth and Mentors games.
8
Snaps
5
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6
2
7
3
8
4
(1-2) Chicken/Sausage BBQ ($3,593.78, after expenses). (3) SS class
making “Bible brownies” w/ Bible ingredients. (4) Lecture series
w/ professor Marlene Epp (L) “Refugees: ‘Us’ and ‘Them.’ Past and
Present”, and guest speaker (R) from Mennonite Coalition for Refugee
Support (MCRS). (5-7) Benin Bible Institute guests visit SJMC - some
snaps: Visit to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Men’s Breakfast at Steckle Heritage
Farm and Benefit Concert to help raise funds for plumbing repairs at
BBI. (8) Baptismal Sunday w/ Micah Diller Harder & Abigail Johnson.
Children’s Challenge: Who Are We Now?
We were once children like you! Can you guess who we are?
These 3 have more in common than unknowingly choosing the same Bible verse!
One Rambling Riddle: “I attended a one-room school in Ontario for eight years
but took Grade nine by correspondence in Alberta.”
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) Smile...for if you smile, others smile and soon there
will be miles of smiles. 2) Pray. Pray every day. For the more you pray the less you
say, the better it will pay. 3) Honesty is a big reward.
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Being late for any social function or activity. Clutter. Cleaning
windows. Cooked spinich. Fishy tasting fish.
Ten Telling Tales: Food...cooking, baking, new recipes, entertaining. Music...
singing, listening to classical music (“Messiah”). Playing games. Crafts. Reading.
Sleepovers with grandchildren. Clean jokes. Camping. Travelling. Chocolate
covered almonds.
God’s Gospel Guidance (Proverbs 3:5&6 KJV): “Trust in the LORD with all
thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths.”
One Rambling Riddle: “I have moved at least 15 times, lived in 3 provinces and
in 2 countries.”
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) For every action there is a reaction. 2) “A hundred
years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I
lived in, or the kind of car I drove; however, the world will be different because
I was important in the life a child.” (- Forest E. Witcraft). 3) Try to look at things
from all other perspectives.
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Hockey games with more fighting than hockey. Mosquitoes
while picking berries. Freezing rain. Heights. Swimming in cold water.
Ten Telling Tales: Love children. Object lessons for children’s story. Oldest but
smallest in the family. Reading. Camping. Dog sled rides as a child. Ages 1-4, our
main transportation was flying. As a child, I had to watch for bears when out on
bike rides. “Strong Start: letters, sounds and words”. ECE (Early Childhood Education).
God’s Gospel Guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths.”
One Rambling Riddle: “After moving...Ontario really made a “mark” on my life.”
Three Thinking Thoughts: 1) It is not that God is silent; we are just listening for
the wrong answer. 2) 2 teach is 2 touch a life 4ever. 3) Do unto others as though
you were the others!
Five ‘Foul’ Frowns: Strong perfumes. Blue cheese. EQAO school testing (Education
Quality and Accountability Office). Red food colouring. Bug bites.
Ten Telling Tales: Visited 13 countries but lived in 5. Games. Genealogy. Camping.
Native studies. European chocolate. Lived behind bars...(for safety). Facilitator of
children. Scrapbooking. Outdoors.
God’s Gospel Guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6): “Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and
he will direct thy paths.”
Oct/Nov ‘11 Answers: Cliff (a noun) Wideman , Doug (‘dug’ a past-tense verb) Shantz, Pat (a verb) (King) Weber.
SJMC - 10
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - December 2011
Peacemaking Ponderings
... near and far, and
in downtown St. Jacobs!
The Mennonite Story Inc.
Written and Presented By: Nelson Scheifele to SJMC on Sunday, October 2, 2011
Y
esterday was an historic day in the life of the Mennonite
Story/Visitor Centre here in uptown St. Jacobs. As of
October 1, 2011 the Mennonite Story, now an incorporated
registered charity, became a ministry on its own, no longer
connected with the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. A document has
been signed transferring all assets and governance responsibilities
to The Mennonite Story Inc. Board of Directors.
The six-member board is comprised of: Anne Brubacher,
Kevin Derksen, Del Gingrich (Manager), Kathryn Good, Brent
Horst, Nelson Scheifele (Chair), and Jenny Shantz. We solicit the
continued support and prayers of the SJMC congregation as we
lead and guide this very significant ministry in the community.
The genius of the Mennonite Story is that, instead of the
incredible cost of sending people to the mission field to share our
faith story, the world comes to St. Jacobs, eager and ready to hear
our story. To illustrate this, let me tell you, in part, a story shared
with Mark Diller Harder this week by *Ruth Boehm, a pastor at
Faith Mennonite Church in Leamington, Ontario.
testimony. I smiled as I used to work at the Mennonite Story. I asked
his permission to share this story so that it could encourage the
people of St. Jacobs Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Story
volunteers. It illustrates that the witness of the staff and volunteers
at the Mennonite Story can have a long-lasting impact. May God
bless you in this public witness to the community.”
Every volunteer who serves there can tell wonderful stories of
people from all over the world they meet and have significant
dialogue with daily. On behalf of the board, thank you to SJMC
for so generously supporting this ministry since 1979. Continue to
pray for the board and volunteers as we continue this ministry,
independent of SJMC, but with the support of many area churches.
*Note: Ruth Boehm grew up in the SJMC congregation and is the
daughter of SJMC’s John and Leah Boehm.
(Nelson) A gentleman by the name of Ed is being re-baptized
today at Faith Mennonite Church. He gave me permission to share
part of his faith story with you.
(Ed’s Words: Quote) “Several years ago I had the good fortune
of having the Mennonite faith explained to me by a lady at The
Mennonite Story in St. Jacobs. I was quite impressed. This opened
the door to my exploring the Mennonite faith. …I have several
Mennonite friends who invited me to their Mennonite churches
and it dawned on me that Faith Mennonite Church is just down
the road from my home so I started checking it out by coming to
Sunday services and learned that FMC is a wonderful church filled
with terrific people.”
(Ruth’s Words: Quote) “Ed shared these words as part of his
Life Together - December 2011
If you have never been for a visit, or it’s been a while, this is
a wonderful multi-media journey for family of all ages, friends,
small groups, etc. Hours are listed on the website below.
www.stjacobs.com/mennonite-story
1406 King Street North, St. Jacobs, Ontario; Phone: 519.664.3518
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 11
Reflections
... pausing to reflect on where God meets us in our
daily lives, including opening our hearts & homes.
n Life Together Preamble: So many times an article’s topic for Life Together could easily be placed under several of our
“readers write” column headings. The following article by Elmer and Beatrice Sauder is no exception. And so we simply take
this opportunity to refresh readers’ eyes of these column headings, with an invitation to deliberately pause to reflect on how God is
guiding our lives through a life of peacemaking and thankfulness and the various ways we can express them as followers of Christ.
We thank ALL the writers who contribute to LT - whether you write one time, regularly or every-now-and then. - LT
i Did You Know? ... snippets and tidbits from our daily lives, not usually found in our weekly church papers.
i Expressions ... inspiried creativity.
i Peacemaking Ponderings ... near and far, far and near.
i Reflections ... pausing to reflect on where God meets us in our daily lives, including _______ (this changes with each article).
i Thankfulness ... a four-seasons perspective on being thankful.
Blessings of Fostering and Welcoming
Written By: Elmer and Beatrice Sauder
(*Now called Family and Children’s Services of
the Waterloo Region. www.facswaterloo.org)
C
elebrating 60 years of marriage
(October 6, 1951 - October 6, 2011)
gives a couple pause to look back
over a lifetime together. How timely and a
coincidence that the Life Together content
coordinator (Marcia Shantz) contacts us,
unknowing of our anniversary, to reflect
on the “gift” of being a foster family to
children in need within our community.
Our first experience in opening
up our home to children in need of
childcare was for a family of immigrants.
We did this for several years during the day
while the parents worked. Many years later
one of the children who had been overseas
for several years dropped in to pay us a
surprise visit and express her appreciation
for what we did for the family. To this day
when we happen to meet them we receive
very warm greetings.
Children’s Aid Society* was very often
in need of foster parents and we decided
we could perhaps do this for short terms.
It was a demanding but a satisfying
experience to provide love and care
for these young needy children. It was very
easy to get quite attached to them and not
easy to see them leave. We tried our best
to provide them with love and security and
often wonder how they fared in later life.
SJMC - 12
Another way that we opened our home
to strangers was by hosting adult students
from Uganda. Over several years we hosted
three business administration students that
were attending Wilfrid Laurier University
in Waterloo. We would have them in our
home for meals and visiting – take them
to see sights in Ontario like Niagara Falls
– invite them to church, etc. One of the
students who had been President of the
Gideons spoke at our church on a Sunday
evening. We kept in contact with them
until the Idi Amin Regime took over and
it was not until much later that we again
had contact with one of them. It was a rich
experience hosting these students from a
different culture.
the normal activities of growing up in our
busy household, but his greatest passion
was fishing.
We also often opened our home to guest
speakers, mission workers, choir members,
etc. who came to our church. Sometimes
this was for overnight or perhaps only
for a meal. This again provided time for
us to receive a wealth of information and
Christian fellowship.
When Beatrice began her 17-year
position as Hostess/Cashier at the Stone
Crock Restaurant in St. Jacobs we decided
to not take in any more children from
Children’s Aid, but it wasn’t long before
we got a call asking if we could look after a
6-year-old boy for just two weeks. Joey Van
Der Veen came to our home. That was 35
years ago and he is still part of our family!
Joe went to elementary school in St.
Jacobs, high school at Elmira District
Secondary School, and graduated from
Seneca College. He attended Sunday School
and Church with us and was involved in
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - December 2011
Reflections
(Continued from page 12 - Elmer and Beatrice Sauder)
From a very early age he would go to the St. Jacobs Millrace and
come home with fish often including fair sized Pike - the largest
was a 9-pound Pike. He accompanied family members on various
fishing trips over the years and now he has his own boat and loves
to fish in the bigger lakes trying to catch a trophy fish. Joe enjoys
taking our family members and friends out watching them battle
Lake Ontario Salmon. We have pictures proving his success as an
avid fisherman and some of our boys received sore muscles after
battling the fish.
We thank God for sixty years of marriage filled with the blessings
of giving and receiving. [Sauder Family photo below.]
Joe lives in Toronto, operates his own Pallet business and we are
in contact with him once or twice a week.
Over the past eight years he was involved in the restoration
of a 1928 Model A Ford car and he surprised Elmer (Beatrice
kept the surprise) this summer by bringing the car here and
wanting us to keep it for a few months enjoying the bumpy drive
occasionally. This certainly brought back memories of owning a
1929 Model A in the mid 1940s.
Our home and backyard were always open to large groups of
children playing and having fun as our children welcomed many
friends to our place during their growing up years.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 New International Version (NIV)
~ This passage was used in our wedding ceremony 60 years ago on October 6, 1951. ~
Sincerely, Elmer and Beatrice Sauder
Life Together - December 2011
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 13
Life and Times
Henry Shantz (82) – February 12, 1929. 1st Childhood Home: Wallenstein, ON. Now: Heidelberg, ON.
Max Bender (12) – June 13, 1999. 1st Childhood Home: St. Jacobs, ON. Now: St. Jacobs, but moving to Conestogo soon!!
Rachel Johnson (21) – November 29, 1990. 1st Childhood Home: Dundas, ON. Now: Various...and St. Jacobs, ON.
Raylene (Bowman) Cooper – October 13, 1959. 1st Childhood Home: St. Jacobs, ON. Now: Waterloo, ON.
What are some of your favourite smells/sounds/tastes?
Henry: New cut hay. Warm rain. Popcorn. Turkey dinner. Steam train. Baking bread. Cream pie.
Max: Smells: The post office. Ham dinner. Popcorn. Sounds: Music. Gym shoes squeeking on floor. Popcorn popping. Babies talking.
Rachel: Vanilla. Fall. Laundry dried outside on the clothesline. Skis carving on ice. Family laughing. Tea. Homemade cookies/muffins.
Raylene: Baking cinnamon buns. Hyacinths. Classical music. Fall leaves. Freshly-squeezed lemons. Scented candles. Fabric softener.
Things you might not know about me?
Henry: Had a Harley in 1948/49. President of Hog Producers (1972). Built 7 houses. Collect Carnival Glass. No Cdn. Shantz 1st cousins.
Max: I enjoy the Arts. I have a new dog (Bentley). I love to eat. I love to dress up.
[Tastes: Desserts. Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Lime popsicles.]
Rachel: Lived in Switzerland & Denmark. Cut 9”off my hair for Cancer patients. Certified lifeguard & instructor. Cdn. & British citizen.
Raylene: Colombia, S. America service project (1998). Played oboe in highschool. Europe w/ EDSS Band. Went on hot air balloon ride.
What are some notable personality traits that others would say you have?
Henry: Friendly. Dependable. Organized. Creative. Get things done.
Max: Funny. Polite. Always smiling. Thoughtful. Loud. Talkative. Creative. Neat.
Rachel: Funny. Outgoing. Organized. Loyal. Peacemaking (among siblings).
Raylene: Forgetful. Caring. Quiet. Thoughtful. Helpful.
What are some of your interests?
Henry: Travel. Gardening. Woodworking. Eating out. Antique malls. Walking.
Max: Drawing. Music. Drama. Sports (hockey).
Rachel: Camping. Skiing. Travelling. Road biking & touring. The environment. Reading.
Raylene: Camping. Reading. Social time with friends. Singing. Walking.
What are some of your favourite lifetime memories?
Henry: Fishing with boys. First trip West. Wedding day. Climb the China Wall. Being in Red Square.
Max: Family trips: Disney (2006), Cuba (2008), East Coast (2009). Now moving. NHL games with my Dad. The day we got Bentley.
Rachel: Family living/touring Europe. Skiing the Alps. Algonquin camping. Visiting family in England. Trip to China (Rockway ‘08).
Raylene: Family camping. Family gatherings. Warm vacations in the sun. Trip to West Coast. Whitewater rafting.
What are you presently doing? / And what other vocation(s) might you have chosen (or still would choose)?
Henry: Retired from farming and building cupboards. / Carpenter.
Max: Grade 7 at St. Jacobs Public School. / Animator or actor.
Rachel: City Hamilton (Transportation Planner) & 3rd year U.Waterloo (Hon. Environment&Resource Studies; Minor Geography). [+**]
Raylene: Pricing Analyst at Home Hardware. / Personal Support Worker.
What are some places where you like to play and/or ponder?
Henry: Back yard. Driving. My chair.
Max: Outdoors. Listening to my iPod. Walking my dog. Playing with my dog.
Rachel: My room. Outdoors, near water. While skiing/biking. [**Future: Teaching. Live/travel world!!! Different cool enviroment jobs.]
Raylene: While out walking. Enjoying outdoors/camping. During/after hearing or participating in music.
What are some items on your … “To Do In My Lifetime” list?
Henry: Do nothing. Go to Iceland. Panama Canal. Watch TV.
Max: Go back to the East Coast again because when we went in 2009, I had a broken leg.
Rachel: Bike across Canada. Climb Mt. Everest. Learn to cook like my Mum!
Raylene: Travel. Voluntary service project.
SJMC - 14
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - December 2011
Thankfulness
... a four-seasons perspective
on being thankful.
The Story of the Double Star Quilt
Written By: Laverne Martin
O
ctober 29, 2011 was the day of the quilt auction for the
Elmira and District Association for Community Living
(EDCL). One of the last quilts to be auctioned was a Double
Star cross-stitched quilt in light and dark blue on white. It had a
pieced boarder with a star-like pattern in the same colours. I had a
particularly close connection to this quilt.
After donating a quilt that Norma and I had made for The Stroke
Recovery Association (Cambridge) some years earlier, we decided
to donate the next quilt that we would make to the EDCL. We
both worked for EDCL for 15 years and our hearts went out to
the people being served there. Norma worked in one of the Elmira
group homes creating a home environment for the ladies. I worked
as an instructor at ARC Industries Adult Training Centre (Elmira)
in their day program. I also was a bus driver bringing in people
from as far away as Millbank and Wellesley.
At the October EDCL sale the quilt looked beautiful on the stand.
It was interesting the day of the sale to have a number of ladies
come up to me and to say they put some stitches in that quilt. To
know that so many more loving hands had helped Norma and put
their touches to it made it extra special. “Going once, going twice”,
the auctioneer called for the last bid. The last bid went to Norma’s
friend’s husband from Stroke Recovery. I felt good to know the
quilt went to someone who will appreciate it, and I know that
Norma would be happy too.
After Norma’s stroke in 2005 she could only use her one hand,
but she still wanted to cross-stitch. To help make this possible, I
made a stand for her to use, but I was still needed to thread the
needle and change the hoop. Since I was there anyway I was drawn
into doing some stitches myself. Only a few months before Norma
passed away (February 6, 2011 from cancer) she was on the phone
a lot, organizing who will piece the border for this quilt and who
will do the quilting.
In the years following Norma’s stroke, we met a couple at
Stroke Recovery Association. The lady was quite severely affected
by a stroke and from time to time had very serious health issues.
They were in our home at one time and she saw the quilt Norma
and I were making for donation to the EDCL sale. She remarked
immediately that she wanted that quilt. She and Norma had spent
quite a bit of time on the phone helping each other to cope with the
many difficulties they each faced.
Did You Know?
Mark and Sharon Bauman’s two sons have been busy: Dave,
Crystal and Grayson Bauman have moved (December) from
Thunder Bay, ON to Regina, SK as Dave now has a position with
Environment Canada as an Environmental Officer. Mike Bauman
has graduated (December) from Ontario Police College in Aylmer
and is employed with the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
SJMC facebook - SJMC has both a facebook page and a facebook
group. Look for us if you are on facebook or talk to Wendy Janzen
if you’re curious to know more about this online presence.
SJMC Blog & Sermons - Scripture Unleased blog and weekly
sermons are available on the home page of the SJMC website at
www.sjmc.on.ca
Life Together - December 2011
... snippets and tidbits from our lives not
usually found in our weekly church papers.
Willie Pfohl had an albatross (double eagle) golfing at River Edge
with Laverne Brubacher, Paul Frey, and Harold Martin. That’s 3
under par. He had a 2 on a par 5. Google says the odds of getting
an albatross are 6 million to 1!
Ben Smith will be moving to Cold Lake, Alberta for an 8-month
co-op position with Imperial Oil. Ben is in his second year
at University of Waterloo (Geography and Environmental
Management program).
Dennis Spain has successfully completed his E License to drive
school bus for children with special needs for a local company. He
also continues his commitment to volunteer work with the Out of
the Cold program in Waterloo.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 15
Christmas Memories
Written By: Lori (Brubacher) Martin
C
hristmas brings a mixture of
emotions for me. Of course, it is a
sacred time of year where families
gather to celebrate the birth of Christ with
food, fellowship and traditions…very cool.
In contrast, there is also the distraction of
consumerism and holiday fever…not so
cool.
It is apparent to me that my most treasured
Christmas memories are about special
times spent with my family, not about the
gifts I received. I can remember one very
special Christmas when I was about tenyears-old. It was Christmas Eve and the
snow was blowing hard in Wellington
County outside of Elora. Suddenly, the
power went out. The lights and glitter of
Christmas plunged into darkness. Never
fear, we had tons of candles and lots of
Christmas spirit. We played games and
read stories by candlelight as we hunkered
down for the night. It was amazing. The
memories of that night are so vivid. What
a blessing.
Another special Christmas was spent at
the Jakobstettel Guesthouse in St. Jacobs
with my entire extended Brubacher family.
Yes, all of us! We stayed overnight on
Christmas Eve and celebrated together in
the morning. Talk about a party! The best
part of the celebration by far was pond
hockey on the St. Jacobs Millrace just a hop,
skip and a jump away! Can you believe it?
It was one of the greatest Christmases ever!
Written By: Mark Diller Harder
O
ne of my favourite
Christmas
memories
is making and eating
peppernuts (pfefferneuse in
German) – very small hard
cookies made with flour, butter,
sugar, Rogers Golden Syrup and
various spices (anise and cloves
are the key). You can almost use
them as crokinole pieces!
One year I even brought
buckets of them on the crosscountry youth train trip for Great
SJMC - 16
As a child, I loved coming to the
Christmas Eve service at SJMC because
we all got the little candles to light during
the service. Talk about beautiful! That
was incredible! Singing carols in four-part
harmony with the soft glow of light on our
faces…awesome!
This year as Ryan and I get ready to
celebrate our first Christmas with Isaac,
we are especially mindful of how our little
family experiences this wonderful season.
We want to acknowledge and respect the
traditions of both our families, but also
create some special ones of our own. We
will strive to teach Isaac the true meaning
of Christmas, in hopes that he doesn’t get
drawn into the overwhelming hype that
surrounds this time of year. I heard on the
radio that “they” are forecasting a shortage
of toys for Christmas 2011. Wow, there’s
a distressing headline…what about the
shortages of food, water and justice???
As we enter into this Christmas season,
my hope is that we can continue to create
memories of love and fellowship that will
last a lifetime, while also keeping in mind
all the people in the world who might not
find Christmas so memorable.
Trek I (a Mennonite youth event
in Thunder Bay).
When Rachel and I met, we
would argue over the ‘proper’
recipe, that is, until we combined
the recipes to make peppernuts
for every guest at our wedding.
Now our kids have fun mixing,
rolling out the dough ‘snakes’,
cutting and individually placing
each little peppernut on the many
trays.
(L-R) 2007 Lorena, Nathan & Micah
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - December 2011