complete newsletter.

Life
Together
Oct/Nov 2010
St. Jacobs Mennonite Church
www.sjmc.on.ca
“Blessed are the Peacemakers ...”
(From the Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes from Matthew 5:3-10)
‘Knotty Night’
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 (7:00pm)
- SJMC Gathering Room No experience required - will train!
Leave the dirty supper dishes in the sink!
Many hands make light work!
Earl Martin demonstrates that you can knot and
smile at the same time! (Knotty Night Photo - 2008.)
This missional evening of knotting comforters for global relief
distribution, and local needs too, is coordinated by SJMC’s
hardworking WMCEC (Women of Mennonite Church Eastern
Canada). Invite a friend to join you.
These 3 Youth and Mentor pairs (right) are planning on making
‘Knotty Night’ a time to get together and to do something to help
those in need. They are encouraging other Y/M pairs available, and
everyone else from the congregation to join them to ‘tie the knot!’
Max Bender (gr. 6) & Larry Shantz
Emma Bender (gr. 8) & Kaitlin Sauder
Hannah Bender (gr. 11) & Marcia Shantz
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Contributing Writers
Pastor’s Pen - Page 3
Dance to the Tension of a World on
Edge
By: Mark Diller Harder
Getting to Know ... - Pages 4 & 5
The Willms Family
By: Doris Kramer
Vacation Bible School - Page 5 & 16
Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison
to Palace
By: Suzanne Smith
Reflections - Page 6
Roy S. (Swartz) Koch Remembering 21 years of ministry at
SJMC
By: Elmer Sauder
Reader’s Review-Page 7
By: Alice Brubacher (L)
Vision View - Page 15
By: Sandy Shantz (R)
Expressions - Page 7
By: Lily Roth (L)
Expressions -Page 12
By: Nicole Neufeld (R)
Children’s Challenge - Pages 10&11
Can you guess who?
Thanks to the special assistance
received from a helpful guy for
coordinating this edition.
Thankfulness - Page 13
A Very Memorable First
Thanksgiving
By: Abby Horst
Life and Times - Page 14
A glimpse into the hearts and minds
of Janet Bauman, Laverne Brubacher,
Leah Bauman, and Margaret Metzger.
Thank-You To:
St. Jacobs Printery
- and Karen Sauder (SJMC) - Distribution
SJMC - 2
Editorial
Thankfulness
Written By: Vaughn Bender
“rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7)
I
n the harvest season and throughout the year we have much to be thankful for.
This edition’s Vision View asks how do we embrace the challenge of responding
to the poor, the homeless, the marginalized? Recent visiting professor Dan EppThiessen from Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), Winnipeg, MB assured us
it is both possible to lament and to praise. There is much can be found to lament
about in our troubled world. Blessed with freedoms, resources, health care and
security – opportunities to be thankful abound as well.
But do we overflow we thankfulness?
A read of the Thankfulness column by Abby Horst herein indicates that
hopefully as a congregation and community there is a strong demonstration of an
overflowing of thankfulness. Like a mustard seed, one young person’s lament and
care for the situation of others quickly turned into an outpouring and overflowing
act, or praise, to share with others. And so together we can be encouraged by this
call to service which is no doubt rooted and strengthened in the faith which we
have been taught and which we strive to live out and build up together as a faith
community.
This month’s edition also includes photos and snippets of other stories of
thankfulness and praise. One of our youth, Lily Roth speaks of the personal
joy experienced through the pursuit of her passion for dance. Our Pastor’s Pen
encourages us to ‘dance’ in a different way to the tension of a world on edge…testing
our faith by putting ourselves out-there a bit where we might be vulnerable…but
also then have the opportunity to experience our faith in a very real way.
Life Together seeks to capture and chronicle a sense of our roots and share
about our new experiences. Remembering a former SJMC pastor, Roy S. (Swartz)
Koch reminds us of our rich history, and our regular column, featuring the Willms
family marks the thankfulness of ‘getting to know’ an expanding and strengthened
community at SJMC. And
the stories highlighted in
this column merely touch
on the other inspiring
columns
and
stories
shared in these pages of
this Autumn edition of
Life Together.
We hope you enjoy your
read of this edition and
we express our on-going
appreciation to all those
who have contributed to
its content and publication.
Please remember to continue to capture photos of special events and share your
snippets and goods news for our upcoming Christmas Edition.
Editorial Team
Vaughn Bender - Editor
Marcia Shantz - Coordination & Editing
Larry Shantz - Layout & Photography
Visit the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church website - www.sjmc.on.ca
Pastor’s Pen
... in the Latin language,
the word pastor means a shepherd.
Dance to the Tension of a World on Edge
Written By: Mark Diller Harder, Pastor
I
don’t really know how to dance. In fact
I look pretty silly if I try. You would
think a musician with a good sense
of rhythm would be able to translate that
into graceful body movements, but it
just doesn’t happen. Maybe it is lack of
experience. Maybe it is un-coordination.
Maybe it is a psychological remnant from
a general Mennonite frowning on dancing.
Dancing takes a kind of sophistication and
pizzazz. You need to be able to navigate
that combination of music, rhythm,
body movements, grace, poise, and selfconfidence (or self-consciousness) all while
adapting to your particular surroundings.
Dancing does not come easy.
D
When I was on Mennonite Voluntary
Service (MVS) at Welcome Inn Community
Centre and Church in Hamilton, MVS came
out with a brightly coloured t-shirt with the
logo “Dance to the Tension of a World on
the Edge.” It was a challenge to those of us
living in intentional community with other
young adults and typically working in lowincome settings with its array of difficult
issues. The phrase caught my imagination.
It captured what I often felt as I tried to sort
through the tough issues of our society and
how we respond as Christians.
‘dancing’ phrase. We heard from Moses,
who stood on the very edge of the Promised
Land … and paused and reflected on this
new reality. How will we live in this new
land? What are the new temptations we
will have as ‘landed’ people? How will we
negotiate the inevitable tensions as those
with power and influence and control?
How will we respond to the orphan, widow
and stranger? How will we give our first
fruits? What new issues and tensions will
dominate our lives and call out the full
depth of our discernment and faith?
In so many ways our world is ‘on edge.’
The world can be disorientating, confusing,
demanding and unpredictable. Issues and
situations that arise can be overwhelming
with no easy answers or directions.
Discerning how to live faithfully in our
world does not come easy. Our natural
temptation is to flee or hide and not engage
our world. And yet a phrase like this, and
the gospel itself, calls us to step into that
very tension of a world on the edge…
and try to dance. This dancing will be
awkward, trying, uncomfortable and at
times funny-looking. We will get ourselves
into situations where we don’t know what
to do or say. It will get us into trouble. It
will make us take risks and it will make us
vulnerable. And yet, the joy and freedom
and energy of dancing come when we dare
to put ourselves on the edge.
We have begun a new year at St. Jacobs
Mennonite. There is much to anticipate.
There is promise and potential; temptation
and risk. I hope we find ourselves ‘on
the edge.’ I hope the ‘safe option’ does
not become our default. I hope we take
some chances and risks and dare to make
ourselves vulnerable. I hope we attempt to
dance to the many tensions of our world.
Why? Because that so often is where we
find God. That is where our faith becomes
real. That is where we discover the freedom
and joy of Christ. Will you have this dance?
We began our fall worship with a series
on Deuteronomy where we used this
Christmas Memories for Life Together
o you have a “Christmas memory” (long ago or recent) that you would share for Life Together in only 1-4 sentences? It might be
‘very special’, or ‘profoundly significant’, or simply ‘warm-hearted/nostolgic’. (All ages!)
Ideas might include (limitless): a special kind deed or gift given/received, finding hope in a difficult time, a favourite Christmas
Carol, a favourite food, a family tradition (new or old), volunteering, maybe even a Christmas birth, etc. - tell us why these memories hold
a spot in your heart. If the memory pertains to a certain point in history, or country of origin, or simply is ‘how it was’ in your life at the
time, please include this for the benefit of the reader to give context. If you have several memories, put them in a point-form sentence.
Please submit by Sunday, November 14 to either: [email protected] or, put a handwritten note in the LT box on foyer table or,
call Marcia at 519.576.8559. Include name (required) and age (optional) - these will be printed with the memory. Space will be limited;
editing discretion applies. A special welcome to participate by those persons who read the announcement sheet by mail or email. - LT.
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 3
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)
The Willms Family (L-R): Jonah, Paul, Rachel and Alice
Written By: Doris Kramer
W
hen arriving at the Willms
Family home in Waterloo, I was
met at the door by an excited
Alice Willms with, “We’re going to have
a tea party!” Brother Jonah soon joined
his sister and I had a warm welcome. A
tour of the house was led by the children,
each to their own room. Alice’s bed was
graced by a cross-stitched quilt made by
her great-grandmother, Alice Martin of our
congregation.
Paul and Rachel (Brubacher) Willms and
children have been attending SJMC for
about three years and enjoy this community,
feeling “welcomed and at home.”
Rachel has been active in teaching
Sunday School and Vacation
Bible School.
Paul Walter Willms
was born in Kitchener to
Waldemar (Wally) and
Annemarie
(Neufeld)
Willms on February 27,
1969. Paul’s mother is
a sister to three of our
members – Susanne Ens,
Frieda Klassen and Lily
Unruh. Paul’s younger sister
Anita, married to Corey Riddall,
comes to Sunday School with their
children, Ben and Eden. They also live in
Waterloo. Paul’s retired parents continue
to reside in the same Waterloo house Paul
grew up in. Previously his father worked
in an auto body shop. His mother was in
an administrative position in computer
services at University of Waterloo in the
early days of computers.
Paul’s schooling began in 1974 in
Waterloo’s brand new N.A. MacEachern
Public School, where he attended through
Grade 6. He then moved to MacGregor
Public School (Grades 7, 8), Waterloo
Collegiate Institute (high school) and
then entered the Co-op program at the
University of Waterloo where he studied
Urban Planning, receiving his Bachelor of
Environmental Studies in 1993. His co-op
work terms took him to Halifax, Toronto,
Brampton and Aylesbury Dale, England.
Following graduation, he worked for two
years for Huron County, living in the town
of Bayfield. He then studied in Brussels,
SJMC - 4
Belgium for two years where he received
his Master’s Degree. His career took him
to Toronto: two years with Toronto Home
Builders Association and five years with
the Toronto Conservation Authority. For
the past five years he has been working in
Cambridge, Ontario as an Environmental
Planner, pursuing his passion of caring
for the environment. He attended Sunday
School and church at W-K United Mennonite
Church, where he was MYF president for
three years.
After university, Rachel spent a summer
in Europe with friends, lived at a kibbutz
in Israel for five months, working in the
kitchen and at a pomelo (fruit) grove.
She taught English in Taiwan for two
years and in Brussels, Belgium for seven
months, where she joined Paul when he
was studying there. She had taught English
to immigrants in Toronto for several years
after her travels. Paul had gone to Europe
several times, to Thailand, Indonesia and
Russia. They’re settled now in Waterloo.
Earlier they lived in Orangeville for five
years in what was their “dream home.” It
was an old house where Paul restored
each room. He told me August 16
is a special date for them as they
bought a house, sold a house
and married – all on an August
16th, but not all in the same
year. Paul gave a romantic
spin on their meeting each
other. He used to fish off
the St. Jacobs bridge and
because Rachel lived at the
top of the hill and walked
down into town, he’s sure
their eyes met at some time or
other. It’s a good story, but they
really met through a dinner with
mutual friends.
Rachel Beth Brubacher was born in
Kitchener on August 24, 1970. She is well
known to many in our congregation as she
is the daughter of Laverne and Ella (Martin)
Brubacher. She is the granddaughter of Roy
and Minerva Brubacher (both deceased)
and Moses (deceased) and Alice Martin.
These families had leading roles in the life
of our SJMC congregation. Rachel attended
church services, Sunday School, Vacation
Bible School and MYF activities here and
has fond memories of those times. Her
school years through Grade 8 were at St.
Jacobs Public School, followed by four years
at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and one
year at Bluevale Collegiate. At Wilfrid
Laurier University she studied Community
Psychology for three years, earning her BA
degree and later at York University, she
graduated with a B. of Education degree.
Both Rachel and Paul loved to travel.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Rachel’s teaching career was in
Brampton for four years. Now she’s in
her third year at Rockway Public School
(Kitchener) teaching Grade 4. She loves
teaching. Jonah is in Grade 1 and Alice in Jr.
Kindergarten at N.A. MacEachern School
– the same school where their father had
attended. Jonah and Alice are both enjoying
swimming and music lessons. Jonah loves
anything outdoors, especially climbing and
exploring. Alice enjoys collecting rocks and
shells.
Both Paul and Rachel love to read but
find, with work and family responsibilities,
most reading is work and child related.
Paul recently read a book about Paraguay
because of his father’s connections there.
They have other interests but most revolve
around family life at this period of their
lives. They go biking, camping and canoeing
together. Their backyard is also a major part
of their interests. They’ve planted apple,
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
... St. Jacobs Community VBS,
since 1935.
Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace
Written By: Suzanne Smith
T
he St. Jacobs Community Vacation Bible School was held this
year from August 16 to 20 at Calvary United Church. One
hundred and sixty (160) children between the ages of 4 and
14 participated, along with approximately 75 volunteers.
The theme this year was Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison
to Palace. The Grades 1 to 5 children were divided into groups
representing the Tribes of Israel: Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad,
Joseph, Judah, Levi, Reuben and Simeon.
Each morning the children gathered with their tribes outside the
church. At 9:00am they would enter the sanctuary to the sounds of
the worship band playing and singing. During the morning worship
time, we would sing, pray and follow the story of Joseph. We also
met ‘Conestoga Jones’ and ‘Heidelberg Harry’, two archaeologists
in search of the lost treasures and strike it rich! They also received
guidance from a very wise ‘Mummy.’
Community Tea. Wednesday night for the youth was a pizza party
and sleepover.
After the opening service each day, the children spent their
morning creating crafts, playing games, listening to the Bible story
retell, knotting comforters, and eating snacks. At the end of each
morning, everyone would gather in the sanctuary before heading
home for the rest of the day.
The youth had a separate curriculum, which they followed each
day. On Wednesday they went swimming and spent time at the
Village Manor in St. Jacobs preparing food and setting up for their
Each year the VBS Committee selects a mission project to direct
the week’s offerings toward. This year the Yvonne Martin Memorial
Fund was selected to be the recipient of the offering. This money
is being used to train Haitian doctors and nurses so they will be
able to provide ongoing health care to the Haitian people. (Yvonne
Martin, a Woolwich area retired nurse, was killed in the earthquake
which devasted Haiti in January 2010, while on a medical mission
trip there.) On the Wednesday we had a visit from Marilyn
Raymer, who was travelling with Yvonne on the mission when the
earthquake occurred. She was able to share about the work that
they were going to be doing in Haiti and also to tell us more about
Yvonne as a person. The children also brought in over 270 items,
such as towels, shampoo, toothpaste, and soap to be donated to
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to put into relief kits.
On Thursday night we held the annual St. Jacobs Community
BBQ. Attendees were treated to a meal of gourmet hot dogs, chips
and cookies, followed by a service in the sanctuary celebrating a
wonderful week! (See Did You Know? ... pages 11, 13 & 15.)
Getting to Know ... The Willms Family (continued from page 4)
pear and apricot trees, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry and ground cherry plants and the children get to pick and eat as they desire. This
must make gardener Grandpa Laverne proud.
Their house shows their interest in art, including an interesting painting done by Paul in Grade 8, paintings by Mother Ella and others,
a whole table where the children make crafts and artistic artifacts from travels. Paul and Rachel are both on an ongoing spiritual journey.
Rachel feels inspired and nourished by the sermons and conversations with members.
The tea party with the children was special, Alice having her own pot of apple juice (pretend tea) and apple cake made by Rachel and
Alice. It is Ella’s recipe and very good. When I left for home I had a bag of four apples from their trees, a little container of raspberries
and a piece of apple cake. It was a good time indeed!
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 5
Reflections
... pausing to reflect on where God meets us in our
daily lives, including the remembrance of a pastor.
Remembering Roy S. (Swartz) Koch
September 6, 1913 - June 12, 2010
Written By: Elmer Sauder
(Elmer Sauder shared these reflections
at “A Service of Remembrance and
Celebration of Roy S. Koch” at St. Jacobs
Mennonite Church on Sunday, August 8,
2010 at 3:00pm. - LT.)
H
ow do you put a 21-year ministry
into a 7-minute time capsule? It is
a challenge!!
Roy S. Koch was born on September
6, 1913 on a farm very close to the Three
Bridges near where the St. Jacobs Mennonite
Church Cemetery is located. Ludwig Koch,
the first minister for the St. Jacobs Church
Mennonite Congregation was his greatgrandfather.
Roy already felt convictions to become a
minister while still in his teens. On a Sunday
afternoon (October 4, 1936), nominations
for a new pastor for St. Jacobs took place.
Instead of the Lot system that had formerly
been used, Roy had a strong feeling that
God was calling him to the Ministry. Roy
had just turned 23, but surrendered to the
will of God. Roy was nominated, answered
some doctrinal questions and listened to
the counsel from the Bishops: C. F. Derstine,
Manasseh Hallman, O.D. Snider, Curtis
Cressman, Rueben Detweiler, and Simon B.
Martin joined in commending Roy to God
and the Ministry. Probably never again
would a congregation nominate, examine,
ordain and install a person as pastor in the
space of one hour.
SJMC - 6
Community Summer Bible School (S.B.S.)
began in St. Jacobs in 1935 with J.B. Martin
as superintendent, but from 1936 on Roy
was very involved with S.B.S. In 1936 our
membership was 296. These numbers led
to the enlargement of our church building.
In 1938 we started to have preaching every
Sunday morning instead of every second
Sunday. Roy had to supplement his income
by raising turnips, raising broilers, working
in a factory, teaching at Ontario Mennonite
Bible School (O.M.B.S.) and conducting
evangelistic meetings.
During Roy’s 21 years of ministry
at St. Jacobs we had annual revival or
evangelistic meetings usually at least a
week in length with large attendance;
special music and efforts made to reach the
unsaved and restore the back sliders. Roy
also served many times as an evangelist in
other areas. Quite a few of Roy’s siblings
served as Sunday School teachers here
at St. Jacobs. Some of you will remember
sitting in SS classes taught by Gladys, Vera,
Lester, Orton or Oliver.
Roy did not go to high school; he had 36
weeks of Bible Study when he was ordained
and then took another 36 weeks of advanced
training at O.M.B.S. In the Fall of 1940, Roy
was accepted at Waterloo College
as a mature student even without
high school. Roy said the tuition was
really high: $62.50 per semester. Roy
graduated in 1944 with a B.A. and was
Head of the class. He then enrolled in
Goshen Biblical Seminary, graduating
in 1945 with a Bachelor in Theology,
then a Bachelor of Divinity followed
by a Master of Divinity. Martha took
a year at Goshen College in 1942 and
graduated from the Bible Depart.
Swarr, Robert Witmer, and Tilman Martin
serving us at St. Jacobs.
There were quite a number of families
living in the Hawkesville area attending
St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. Our
membership in 1949 had risen to 417. A
church in Hawkesville became available
for $100.00 and after renovations, church
services began on January 1, 1950 and Roy
gave the main address that day.
While Roy was Pastor at St. Jacobs he
officiated at many weddings and funerals.
How many here today had Pastor Roy
officiate at their wedding? Roy was very
busy – a family man, husband, father,
pastor, speaker, teacher, writer, bishop,
administrator, principal, etc. etc., but he
always had time to talk and listen.
On October 2-5, 1986 here at St. Jacobs
we had a Congregational Homecoming
and Celebration of Roy S. Koch’s 50 years
in Christian Ministry. What a celebration
that was!!! Today we recognize another
Homecoming – Roy S. Koch has gone
Home – to his Heavenly Home. We at St.
Jacobs Mennonite Church are thankful for
Roy’s 21 years of Ministry to us.
Roy married Martha Horst on
August 8, 1942. They had four
children born in Ontario and then two
more born after they moved to Ohio
in 1957. There are 18 grandchildren
and seven great-grandchildren.
While Roy was at St. Jacobs we
started using assistant pastors. We
had David Shank, Peter Wiebe, Paul
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
Reader’s Review
“There is a time for everything, a time for every activity
under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die,”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1,2)
Written By: Alice Brubacher, Church Librarian
e
“Our Turn to Parent: Shared
Experiences and Practical Advice on Caring
for Aging Parents in Canada” (by Barbara
Dunn and Linda Scott)
T
he senior years of life receive much
attention in literature and news media.
A tremendous amount of information
is spread across many sources including
government agencies, community services,
medical and financial institutions and the
Internet. Often retrieving necessary and
practical information is a confusing, timeconsuming and overwhelming process. The
authors’ hope is that in their book readers will
discover a resource to reduce the confusion.
Each chapter covers a major caregiving issue
and offers practical information as well as tips,
resources and personal stories.
The fact that it’s “your turn to parent”
doesn’t suggest that your mother or father has
suddenly become a child. Rather, you will try
to embody the attributes of a good parent in
order to communicate and work through all
the questions and emotions of these evolving
situations. There are a variety of check lists
such as questions to ask when choosing
assistive devices, e.g. canes and walkers, or
when touring prospective care facilities. The
procedure in Ontario for gaining admission into
long-term care facilities is explained in detail
(see Chapter 5). In chapters 6 and 7 medical
issues, financial and legal issues are dealt with.
The book ends with a comprehensive Senior
and Caregiver Resource Guide.
In addition, these two picture books may be
very helpful when small children are part of
family units involved in the above transitions:
e “My Little Grandmother Often Forgets”
(by Reeve Lindbergh)
e “What’s Happening to Grandpa”
(by Maria Shriver).
Expressions
Written By: Lily Roth
W
hen I was younger, my parents
(Daryl Roth and Stephanie
Kramer) told me that I was to do
some kind of sport, as to have some kind
of physical activity. Now, I’m not really
the sort of person who enjoys sports that
much, but when the idea of taking dance
lessons was suggested I was all for it. So,
I started dance at the age of four in PrePrimary Ballet at Contemporary School of
Dance. It was a good choice. I have since
made numerous good friends, taken on
jazz as well as ballet and have had so much
fun in the process.
Dance is intense and exciting, and yet
it is still relaxing and calming. It takes a
lot of concentration and lots of hard work.
Most of my dance classes are late at night
and often are quite exhausting.
My emotions greatly affect the way I
dance; if I’m feeling bad I typically don’t
want to go to dance, but as soon as I’m
there I feel much better; seeing my friends
and moving distract me and long after
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
... inspired creativity.
I’m still feeling great! It works the other
way too. I can go to dance feeling great
and by the end I’m feeling horrible, either
from exhaustion or from a disagreement
between friends and such. But overall
dance doesn’t usually affect my emotions
too much; I’m generally delighted to
go there and still remain in high spirits
afterwards.
I have accomplished so much in dance,
entering Grade 6 Ballet and Intermediate
Foundations Jazz this year and getting
a merit for my first ever ballet exam last
year, as well as taking part in ten end of
the year recitals.
Dance is probably one of the greatest
things that has happened to me, I will
never regret it.
Dance is the
hidden language of the soul.
~ Martha Graham (1894-1991),
American dancer and choreographer.
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 7
SJMC S
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5
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3
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1) Young people’s initiative: use creative skills, make greeting cards, sell to cong.,
proceeds to MCC. 2) Pastor Darrel Toews, Breslau MC of KW Perimeter Cluster
Pulpit Exchange. 3-4) MBCI choir/band: instruments stretched north to south
walls of sanctuary, literally! (Kevin & Pam’s former high school.) Milestone
Ministry (age 18) Prayer Shawls: (5) Jesse Bean (L), Kassi Fritz (R); (6) Michelle
Poole (L), Amanda Forsyth (R). 7) Junior Youth Group Sleepover. 8) 2010 Quilt
Festival: 950 Visitors; $5,400 proceeds; 2010 grand total: $53,892 - all to MCC!!!
8
Snaps
5
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6
2
7
3
8
4
1) SJMC youth making music during Sunday School. 2) Grace Lao Mennonite
Church and SJMC Church Picnic (inside due to weather). 3) St. Jacobs churches
ministerial exchange - St. James Lutheran Church visit with Rev. Martin Giebel
(and puppet friend), and the church’s Bell Choir. (5-8) Church Camping weekend
in June at Riverstone Retreat Centre (Durham, ON): 5. A time to get in touch with
your ‘inner’-tube (ha :-), 6. It doesn’t get any better than to play with friends with
water on a pile of rocks, 7. or over a card game, 8. or just wade in the shallow
river and reflect on your own. (Thanks to Cal Cressman for camping photos.)
Children’s Challenge: Who Are We Now?
We were once children like you! Can you guess who we are?
Can you guess what these four ‘children’ have in common? (continued on page 11)
Rambling Riddle: “I was born on King Street in St. Jacobs, but a ‘large regular
and a dutchie’ was not served that day! - and - “A little, a little, a lee, lee lat, how
many l’s are there in that?” (Don’t be fooled! - LT.)
Thinking Thoughts: 1) Why do we do what we know we should not, and
not do what we should? 2) How do bees know how to fly right straight to the
beehive in an emergency when they are miles away? 3) I don’t suppose the next
world has anything similar to this world because everything we use is made of
materials from here.
‘Foul’ Frowns: Cleaning out chicken coops. Seagulls. Pasta. Rhubarb.
Telling Tales: Rafts at the tile yard. Pump, pump, pull-away. Two room schoolhouse. Baden. Conestoga
College teacher. Potatoes. O.J. Smith Shoe Factory (St. Jacobs). Married 68 years. Five children.
Conscientious objector.
God’s Gospel Guidance: (Proverbs 3:6) “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct they paths.”
Rambling Riddle: “I was a tiny, premature baby. My bed was a shoe box and
I was kept alive and warmed on the oven door of an old fashioned cook stove.
I was born into an Old Order Mennonite family and went to church by horse
and buggy until I was eight years of age. My parents then joined this church so
I could attend Sunday School.”
Thinking Thoughts: 1) The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you. 2) Do not worry, it doesn’t help anyway. 3) Be happy and
content with what you have.
‘Foul’ Frowns: Strong winds. Snakes. Complaining. Having my homestead
torn down for the sake of coffee.
Telling Tales: Enjoy reading. Doing crossword puzzles. Visiting shut-ins. Babysitting. Enjoyed a
summer in Quebec doing VS at a church camp.
God’s Gospel Guidance: I still enjoy reading the scriptures in the King James version, especially the
Psalms, and (Proverbs 3:6) “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
Aug/Sep 2010 Answers: Three busy SJMC moms! Marilyn Buehler, Gina Ens, Stephanie Kramer.
SJMC - 10
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
Children’s Challenge: Who Are We Now?
We were once children like you! Can you guess who we are?
Can you guess what these four ‘children’ have in common? (continued from page 10)
Rambling Riddle: “I was born number eight in a family of ten, and we were/
are a very musical family.”
Thinking Thoughts: 1) It is better to prevent than to lament. 2) Teach me to
look at what I have left – not what I have lost. 3) Peace is much more than the
absence of conflict. I enjoy my large family.
‘Foul’ Frowns: Thunderstorms. Snakes. Hot peppers. Tardiness.
Telling Tales: Sponsored Laotian family. My husband and I owned and operated
a potato business. Queen. Chesley Lake. Dressmaker. O.J. Smith Shoe Factory
(St. Jacobs). Market gardener. Worked at Self Help Crafts.
God’s Gospel Guidance: (Isaiah 26:3,4) “Those of a steadfast mind you keep in peace – in peace because they
trust in you. Trust the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
Rambling Riddles: “I delivered horses to Poland and coal to Denmark. I
delivered milk and ice cream for Silverwoods. I raised goats, bantams, fancy
chickens and pigeons. I threw snowballs at friends in the Swiss Alps and
boomerangs in Australia.”
Thinking Thoughts: 1) It is better to try and fail then not to try at all. 2) It does
not take long to wait ½ an hour. 3) Take good care of your body; we are only
allowed one in this world.
‘Foul’ Frowns: Polluting water. Driving through a yellow light. Shrimp. Smooth
peanut butter. Un-tuned musical instruments. Fighting in hockey.
Telling Tales: I love music. I love making music. I love good food. I snared groundhogs and sold them
for 10 cents to a ferret farmer. Playing crokinole. Riding horses. Biking. Driving people who have no
car.
God’s Gospel Guidance: Galatians 2:20 (please look it up) and (Matthew 5:13): “If we are to be the salt, we
should spread out more to needy areas. When we make soup we do not wrap the salt in one spot in the kettle.”
A favourite quote: “We should live more simply so that others may simply live.” (-Archbishop Nichols,
referenced from an internet source.)
Did You Know?... VBS Health Kit Offerings: 279 items total!
30 Towels, 71 Soap Bars, 22 Toothpaste Tubes, 14 Shampoo Bottles, ... continued on page 13 & 15.
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 11
Expressions
... inspired creativity.
Grandmother Willow
Written By: Nicole Neufeld
I run to you.
Wrapping my arms around your strong
torso,
Breathing in the earthy brown scent
Innocent eyes look up
SeeingSecrets untold, stories of the past,
Tales of wisdom
My soul is at peace here,
Falling back I lay down to take in,
Your majesty
Whispered softly,
Only to those whose hearts wait and
listen,
I watch.
Your arms bowing gracefully,
Feeling your sister’s cool breath,
Finger tips softly kiss the sweet soil.
Lovers sit beneath your watchful gaze,
Yearning for wisdom,
Dreamers as I,
Rest against your breast,
Centuries rooted beneath you,
There growing,
Old magic infused with time,
Intertwines with your rough skin
Wishing and wondering,
Ponder thoughts of your mysteries
Filled with ancient wonder –
All beings here,
Stay to gaze in awe,
Your kind wrinkled face,
Hoping to remain in the loving embrace,
Of our grandmother forever.
Peacemaking Ponderings
... in our daily lives,
near and far.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
(from “Curious The Tourist Guide”)
(Printed with permission from Mennonite Central Committee.)
SJMC - 12
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
Thankfulness
... a four-seasons perspective
on being thankful.
A Very Memorable First Thanksgiving!
Written By: Abby Horst
It was a few weeks into my internship when I was chatting with
a staff member about the tenants first real holiday in their new
home: Thanksgiving. No organization or volunteers had seemed to
pick up leadership for this special day, so I said I’d ‘put the feelers’
out to my home congregation, quietly thinking that at least a few
people would be able to help us out. I was unable to be at church
to announce it, but my mom (Andrea Horst) offered to help get
the ball rolling. I was in Detroit when I got a text message from
her after church that read: “God is good!!! Sign-up sheets full, plus
volunteers, plus donations towards food!!” For a split second,
I was shocked at just how quickly SJMC members came aboard
this idea…but then I remembered that this has happened time and
time again in our church. I was so thankful for the large hearts
and caring souls that immediately took interest in helping with this
event. God is indeed good!
I
have always known that the good folks at SJMC are able to pull
together to create great things – and while I was overjoyed by
one particular act of generosity this past month, I was not at all
surprised by the outpouring of kindness from this church.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
background.
Let’s start with some
I am currently in my last year of my Masters of Social Work
degree, and completing my final internship. With this placement,
part of my time is spent at the Supportive Housing of Waterloo
(SHOW) apartment building. This brand new building is a result of
a dream the 13 churches involved with the Out of the Cold program
came up with a few years back. They envisioned an affordable and
supportive home for homeless individuals in Waterloo Region –
and that’s just what they got! The building, opened in June 2010,
has 30 one-bedroom units, and currently is home to 28 individuals
(mostly men) who have been homeless anywhere from 1 to 15
years.
I started at SHOW in September and will complete my term there
around Christmas. My role there is mostly supportive, offering
crisis intervention when needed as well as supporting many of
the tenants who are struggling with addictions. Often, tenants will
simply pop into the office to say hello, or some of them have also
started gathering with me and the staff for pancake breakfasts each
Saturday. While this transition from homelessness to housing can
be a very tricky one, the tenants are settling in nicely. From my
first day, I felt extremely welcomed by the staff and tenants. Not a
shift goes by that I don’t have a meaningful conversation or just a
simple chat with one of the men or women.
The meal itself was a wonderful success! Several of us gathered
at the church the night before to prepare some of the food, and the
day of the meal went on without a hitch. We had lots of volunteers
(including a slew of helpful youth!) and almost all of the tenants
were able to join us of the meal. I looked out at one point during
the lunch and saw many smiling faces, lots of conversations, and
plates piled high with food. We fed everyone until they were ready
to burst, and then still had enough food to prepare about a dozen
meals to be handed out as needed during the upcoming week.
It was an absolutely wonderful event for those of us able to help
out by offering our time, money or food, but more importantly
though, it was most definitely a very memorable first Thanksgiving
for the tenants in their new home.
Did You Know?... VBS Health Kit Offerings (See story on page 5)
... 16 Laundry Soap Bars, 8 Bandaid Packages, 54 Combs, and ... continued on page 15
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 13
Life and Times
Janet (Martin) Bauman (43) – April 20, 1967. 1st Childhood Home: RR #1 Waterloo. Now: Elmira, ON.
Laverne Roy Brubacher (66) – May 3, 1944. 1st Childhood Home: RR #1 Waterloo (by present Piller’s Meats). Now: St. Jacobs, ON.
Leah Bauman (11) – April 4, 1999. 1st Childhood Home: Elmira, ON. Now: Elmira, ON.
Margaret (Good) Metzger (73) – January 5, 1937. 1st Childhood Home: St. Jacobs, ON. Now: St. Jacobs, ON.
What are some of your favourite smells, sounds, tastes?
Janet: Choc.chip cookies. Hay drying. String quartet music. Bird songs. Waves lapping (shore). Crackling campfire. Earth after a rain.
Laverne: Sweet clover. Maple syrup. Burning leaves. Elderberry pie. Citron jam. Autumn air. Music:Violin, Barbershop, Russian men’s choir.
Leah: Mom’s cookies. Hot dogs roasting. Bon Echo Prov.Park. Ice&leaves crunching. Campfires. Chocolate. Dad’s honey baked chicken.
Margaret: Beef & onions cooking. Fresh popped popcorn. Fresh mowed grass. Outside after rain. BBQ’d food. Sausage baking in church
ovens. The ‘putt-putt’ of the old John Deere tractor.
Things you might not know about me!
Janet: Play women’s soccer since’87/hockey (recent).Design/plant perennial gardens. Dairyfarm child/I can milk cows! Violin (Gr. 5-10).
Laverne: Hand-picked wild mustard for half a cent each. I have some claustrophobia. Played an E-flat alto-sax – way back! Punny.
Leah: On Students’ Council. I like to cook bacon/egg sandwiches. Born Easter Sunday Morning. Named after 2 great-grandmothers.
Margaret: Learned to drive a Buick McLaughlin car (age 9). Married in this church 50 years ago. I don’t like to watch TV.
What are some notable personality traits that others would say you have?
Janet: Calm. Serious. Discerning. Easy going. Sensitive. Perceptive.
Laverne: Friendly. Musical. Stubborn. Generous. Practical. Grounded. Value-oriented. Risk taker.
Leah: Funny. Speak clearly (good diction). Athletic. Easy going.
Margaret: Friendly. Good cook.
What are some of your interests?
Janet: Hockey, soccer, cross country skiing. Camping, hiking, canoeing. Coaching girls’ sports. Reading, writing. Gardening. Cooking
with fresh ingredients. Spending time with family and friends.
Laverne: Golf. Volunteer Board work. Walking. Skiing. Travelling.
Leah: Hockey. Soccer. Hanging out with friends. Writing. ‘Arena’ football. Drawing.
Margaret: Read cookbooks. Read Christian fiction. Go to coffee shop with friends. Shopping in the U.S. Working in the church kitchen.
What are some of your favourite lifetime memories?
Janet: Childhood trips/now with my kids in Canada. 4-H dairy calf club. Farm (as child): open spaces, animals, games with siblings.
Laverne: Eating a hard boiled egg boiled in maple sap evaporation. Bringing in cows with my stick on a wheel and finding a fourleafed clover. Milk and cookies after walking home from school (1 mile) in winter.
Leah: Trips to Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Alberta and Florida. Going to provincial hockey finals in Mississauga.
Margaret: Homemade ice-cream /w cousins. Baby kittens with eyes open. Mom’s Sunday dinners. Camping. Four people in our bed.
What are you presently doing? / And what other vocation(s) might you have chosen (or still would choose)?
Janet: Teacher, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate (17th year!) This year Gr. 9 & 10 Religious Studies and Gr. 8 PE. / Writer, pastor, farmer.
Laverne: In transition from out of Menno S. Martin Contractors Ltd. (St. Jacobs) and volunteering. / Farming. Landscaping.
Leah: I am in Grade six at Park Manor Public School (Elmira). / Being an author or journalist.
Margaret: Work at Stone Crock Meats & Cheese store (St. Jacobs) and clean St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. / To be a chef.
What are some places where you like to play and/or ponder?
Janet: Comfy attic chair. Kissing Bridge Trail (Elmira). Beside a lake. In backyard/gardens. Hiking woods. On my skis on a snowy trail.
Laverne: In my garden. On the ski hill. On the golf course. In my office.
Leah: In my room. On the computer. Outside.
Margaret: At my kitchen table. Church sanctuary. Front porch.
What are some items on your … “To Do In My Lifetime” list?
Janet: Write a book. Take creative writing course. Travel Europe. Go back to Newfoundland. Learn piano or cello. See Grand Canyon.
Laverne: Travel to Australia. Do a riverboat cruise. Do lots of exploring. Continue volunteering.
Leah: Go to Switzerland (chocolate) and Italy (pasta). Play on Canada’s Women’s Soccer Team and Canada’s Women’s Hockey Team.
Margaret: Go on a plane ride with Pete.
SJMC - 14
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
... O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come, ... (HWB #328)
Vision View
How will you respond to God’s call?
Written By: Sandy Shantz, Leadership Council Chairperson
“Mission is seen as being integrated into all aspects of our
congregational life. It is understood in a broad sense including:
a. Engaging in grateful service for others,
b. The promotion of peace & justice,
c. Care for all of God’s creation, our environment,
d. Reaching out and extending hospitality in our community
and beyond,
e. Nurturing our local and global partnerships.”
That sounds to me like the essence of ‘being a caring community
of faith centred in Jesus; and demonstrating God’s love in our
neighbourhood and the world.’ As a congregation we need some
structure and organization around our group activities, but what
about as individuals? Is it enough to say, “We do mission because
we have an active ministry, because there is a group of committed
people who take care of that for us?” What is our personal response
to those around us?
SJMC Logo, circa 1980’s. Art design by Marilyn Wideman Feil. Wall hanging
fabric drafting technique, piecing, quilting by Alice (Snider) Brubacher.
“We seek to celebrate and listen to the
Living God; empowered by the Holy Spirit
to be a welcoming, caring community
of faith centred in Jesus Christ; and
to demonstrate God’s love in our
neighbourhoods and the world.”
- SJMC Vision Statement
eee
W
hen I was reading the latest minutes from SJMC’s
Missions Facilitation Ministry, I was struck by the sense
of the Spirit leading in a very active way. Our vision
calls us to be a “caring community of faith centred in Jesus; and
to demonstrate God’s love in our neighbourhood and the world.”
Their minutes describe it like this:
At one of the MCEC congregational consultations, I heard a plea
for opportunities and resources to learn about the roots of our
Anabaptist and Christian beliefs. People are looking for answers
to some difficult questions like, “How do I respond to the poor,
those struggling with substance abuse, the homeless and otherwise
marginalized people?”
I believe we at SJMC are a caring community of faith, but to be
truly responsive to God’s call we need to individually internalize
those ideals that the early Christians and early Anabaptists fought
so hard to retain. I know I have a long way to go before I can truly
give of myself and reach out to the world around me as God calls
us to.
Change is in the air. In this era ‘they’ call post Christendom we
need to define who we are as Christian Anabaptists. We need to
reach to the depths of our being and rediscover the Christ who
lived and loved and worked among us and who lives and loves
and works among us now.
As Ministry leaders at SJMC we try to provide opportunities to
learn about and to actively participate in God’s mission – through
Sunday morning worship; through Sunday School; through a
wide variety of mission opportunities; through fellowship; and
through various other channels within the broader church. The
opportunities will be there – how will you respond to God’s call?
Did You Know?... VBS Health Kit Offerings: (See story on page 5)
... 54 Combs, 47 Toothbrushes, 7 Nail clippers, and 10 Sanitary Pad packages!
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
SJMC - 15
VBS 2010 SNAPS
SJMC - 16
“The Works Are Thine O Christ, Our Lord”
Life Together - Oct/Nov 2010