The Shepherd
 

Issue May/June, 2001   BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF SHALOM COMMUNITY CHURCH

CONFERENCE:  THE OLD ORDERS AND THE MEDIA

Don and Sherry T

    On June 14-16, we attended a conference held at The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietism
Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.  Considerably over a hundred people attended
from various states in the United States or provinces in Canada and from abroad.  Most of the
presenters or panelists were scholars, some were journalists, some were writers of fiction about
the Old Orders, and others were attorneys and physicians who had been centrally involved in
widely publicized recent court cases involving the Amish.

    A few conference participants, extraordinary as it may seem, were actually members of the
Old Orders.  Such members usually avoid worldly meetings like the plague.  One panel on "How the
Media Affects Plain Groups," was moderated by a Beachy Amishman from Ohio and included members of
 the following Old Order groups: Amish (including an Amish woman), Wenger Mennonites (a horse and
buggy group), German Baptist Brethren, River Brethren, and Hutterites.
    The Old Orders are the traditionalist groups among the Anabaptists. They dress distinctly,
live in separate theocratic communities, and take seriously the Scriptural injunction to stay
apart from the world.  Some, most notably the Amish and Old Order Mennonites, travel by horse and
buggy, use horses for farming, and speak Pennsylvania German in their homes.  Some of the groups
permit their members to own cars and some electric appliances, but not television or radio or
computers connected to the internet.  The Old Orders have a complex relationship with the media,
as explored by this conference.  With their reluctance for publicity and interaction with the
world, they try to avoid the worldly media, but their difference from the world makes them
frequent targets.
    The persons presenting papers were a Who's Who of Anabaptist scholars plus a number of
well-regarded journalists.  The keynote speakers were Gus Niebuhr, an award-winning religion
writer for the New York Times, and Donald Kraybill, an author of numerous excellent books about
the plain people.  Most time periods during the three days offered two or three sessions
concurrently.  These included presentations by members of the Anabaptist Sociology and
Anthropology Association (ASAA), which met in conjunction with the conference and which opened
all its sessions to the conference attendees.
    In addition to trying to absorb as much information as possible, we had a pleasant time
socializing throughout the three days.  We made new friends and were able to talk with several
old friends.  Among people at the conference well known to the Shalom community were the Redekop
scholars, Calvin and Ben, whose new book (Power, Authority, and the Anabaptist Tradition) has
just been published.  Calvin Redekop gave a presentation on the subject of this book. We also
talked with Ruth S's father, the scholar J. Howard Kauffman From Goshen , IN.
    In the "small world" department, we met a nurse from Maryland who recently has been working
with Don's Amish cousin John Keim at Ashland, OH, a man widely known as an "Amish doctor."  We
also met ex-Amishman Maynard Knepp from the Haven, KS, area.  He left the Amish in that area
twenty years ago and has since written many novels with Amish themes, most notably Runaway Buggy.  He was a close neighbor to Don's cousin in that area, Kenneth Keim.
    At the banquet, we sat at a round table with a friend of the Shantz's, C. Norman Hostetter,
a scholar from PA; with Christine Kuepfer, a new friend of Sherry's, a conservative Mennonite in
plain dress from the Toronto area; with the amicable and knowledgeable Wenger Mennonite Allen
Hoover; and with another new friend, Robert B. Allen from the University of Pittsburgh, a member
of the Apostolic Christian Church of America (an Anabaptist group with historic interconnections
with the Amish and Mennonites).  We had such an animated conversation about Calvinism and
Scriptural interpretation we almost forgot to eat.
    One other connection between the conference and Shalom folks: Galen and Anita T recently
returned from the Ukraine, where they participated in the dedication of a memorial to Mennonites
 (including their relatives) who were slaughtered or displaced during the revolutionary
unpleasantness there.  Gertrude W family also came to Canada from the Ukraine.
  One of the sessions by scholars in the professional ASAA group, entitled "Many Voices, One
Story," presented by a couple of Canadians, considered the various immigrations of the Kanadier
and Russlaender Mennonites from the Ukraine to Canada and the complex interrelationships among
them.  How we wished Galen, Anita, and Gert could have heard this presentation and then explained
 it to us.
    We are out of space and haven't got to the conference yet!  We will try to come to the point
next time.
 


BEAUTY

Eli W 

I see the beauty

slowly walking down the street.

Her hair, in a bun,tight,

shimmers in the afternoon sun.

Her back, slightly hunched reveals a life.

A life of laughter and weeping.

Excitement and boredom.

Her gnarled hands grip the cane

as she continues on her way.

Her face is spider webbed with weinkles

readiating from the sormers of her eyes.

Laughter is there in those eyes.

Half hidden behind the thick glasses,

they twinkle with life.

A spark that is gong out.

Slowly but surely going out.

She knows that the spark will burn bright

a little longer

then she will be allowed to rest.

But not yet.

She has living to do

and by God, sh'e going to do it.

The sudden burst of vitaltiy

strartles passers by.

She fires off a parting smile,

a toothless smile.

A smile I wouldn't trade for the

world.

Hers is the Beauty.

Sexuality has wilted,

but beauty is bursting forth.

The Beauty of a life.

The beauty of a story.

A story not quite finished.

Hers is the beauty that is pure

that needs no makeup of hair dye.

Hers is the true beauty.

Theme for Mennonite Conference

 

"Therefor, as god's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility gentelness. "Collossions 3:11

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

was held on Friday May 18, 2001.  It was a very informative meeting.  As the minutes indicate,
we heard reports from the Service Outreach Committee, the Congregational Life Committee, and the
Pastoral Search Committee.  (Their reports have been disseminated.)  We also called Kathy B, T,
and Lori S to be members of this year's Discernment Committee.  They all have graciously
accepted. Thank you to all who participated.  The next regularly scheduled congregational
meeting will be on Friday, November 9, 2001.  We invite everyone who attends Shalom to
participate.

Shelly W, Moderator

LEADERSHIP:

    We welcome Chris Grapentine who will be leading us in worship in July and August.  He
is a graduate from a Baptist seminary. His musical skills promise to be a blessing to us this
summer.  He shared with us that he is 6 ft. 7, is not a basket ball player and the weather up
there is just fine, if a bit muggy at times.

    As most of you know by now, the pastoral search committee has done its job well. One
Paul V, our pastoral candidate, will meet with various committees July 21 and will lead our
worship and meet with the congregation on July 22. We will use the Sunday School hour to also
share information with Paul and Joy, to give them a picture of who we are and how we have evolved.
  The following is a biosketch from him.
    Originally a Michigander, Paul was raised in the Dutch culture of Grand Rapids near a
family farm still operated by the extended family. His Baptist missionary parents were sent to
Assam, India after pastoring churches in lower Michigan and Alaska. Paul attended Woodstock School
 for high school and Greenville College (Illinois) for his undergraduate studies. He and Joy
married in 1970 when she completed college.
    Paul pursued an M.Div. degree from TrinityEvangelical Divinity School while Joy taught
school. While in seminary, they participated with the movement that evolved into Sojourners
Magazine. For nine years, Paul and Joy lived in the Upper Peninsula as charter members of the
Menominee River Fellowship, an intentional Christian community. During that time, they had
contact with various Christian communities including Reba Place Fellowship near Chicago.
    After leaving the community, Paul accepted a call to a small Mennonite congregation in
rural Western Pennsylvania. Paul and Joy embraced the Anabaptist heritage of the Mennonite Church
 which seemed to match their own journey and commitment to discipleship, community, simplicity,
peace and service. Paul combined his part-time pastoring with the trades of carpentry, painting
and plumbing. These skills proved to be valuable as they rebuilt a 150 year old house nestled
amongst Amish and English farms. Paul also completed a D. Min. degree with an emphasis in
Spiritual Direction and Family Systems from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
    After nine years at the Maple Grove Church, Paul pastored a church planting congregation
 in Erie, PA for three years. In August 1995, the seven member Versluis family moved to Corvallis,
 OR. At present, Anna (25) is a grad student in geo-science at OSU, Bethany (22) graduated from
Eastern Mennonite University this spring and currently works in VA, Sara (18) will attend Eastern
 Mennonite University after combining on a grass seed farm for her summer job, Rachel (nearly 15)
 anticipates high school, and Paul IV (12), a better person for all those sisters, will handle 7th
 grade just fine. For the past four years, Joy taught high school English part-time at a nearby
Christian school. She likes reading, writing, walking, gardening, music, and having everyone pick
 up their rooms. Paul and Joy will celebrate 31 years of marriage in August.

LECTIONARY READINGS : July 1: 2 Kgs. 2:1-2, 6-14; Psa. 77:1-2, 11-20; Gal. 5:1. 13-25;
Luke 9:51-62.  July 8: 2 Kgs, 5:1-14; Psa. 30; Gal. 6: 1-16; Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20; July 15:
Amos 7:7-17; Psa. 82; C0L 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37. July 22: Amos 8:1-12; Psa. 52; Col. 1:15-28;
July 29: Hos. 1:2-10; Psa. 85; Col. 2:6-19; Aug. 5: Hos. 11:1-11; Psa. 107:1-9, 43; Col. 3: 1-11;
Luke 12:13-21; Aug. 12: Isa.1:1,10-20; Psa. 50:1-8, 22-23; Heb. 11:1-3,8-16; Luke 12:32-40.
Aug. 19: Isa. 5:1-7; Psa. 80:1-2,8-19; Heb. 11:29-56; Luke 12: 49-56. Aug. 26: Jer. 1:4-10;
Psa. 71:1-6; Heb. 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17.

TRANSITIONS:  Lots of them:

Membership  In June we welcomed Mike and Sonja K into formal membership.

Condolences  to Marti S on the death of her mother, and Stan R, on the death of his father. 
We bid farewell to Cindy & Winston S and Jory who are moving to Columbus, Ohio in August. We
will miss all three. Heidi Wiebe has completed her internship in dietetics and is looking for
work in her field.

And, we welcome Beckie and Patrick, and Clara and Aden W and Jon and Kris S.

COLLEGE : Andy S, Rebecca M, Hollins S, and Rachael S are returning to their respective colleges.
Andy and Rebecca are both working in Ann arbor this summer. Rachael has been studying at the
Philanthropy Institute at the University of Indiana. Dustin B does not have to go back since he
graduated from Goshen and is working at Mennonite Mutual Aid and will be taking a few classes. 
Sarah M will be leaving Aug. 18 for a one year assignment in Zambia with a Mennonite central
Committee sponsored program, Serving and Living To-gether (SALT).  She will be teaching in an
orphanage.

College Freshpeople are:  Anna W, heading to Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Daron S will
be at Goshen College, and Michael S at Central Michigan.

Medical School : Carl F is off to Cincinnati the end of July, and Susie off to Wayne State.
According to her parents, Susie is having a fine summer guiding folks through the boundary
waters.

Summer: Jenna B will be at Interlochen until Aug. 13.  Her Mom is thinking she would appreciate
some mail

Jon H came home with a scholarship for next ears band camp for more tuba..

People who have or will have, trip stories to tell: Daron and Leland , South America.  Anita and
Galen, Ukraine. Eli and Anna, Italy.  And many and much more.  Maybe the next issue?

SERVICE:

    A friendly reminder to be thinking ahead about volunteer plans at Parable House any
Thursday evening or Saturday from now till completed. (SCC is one of a group of 5 local churches
to help build a house--Parable House--under the umbrella of the Huron Valley chapter of the
Habitat for Humanity organization.) Each church is asked to submit an expected volunteer count
prior to each Saturday. Please let Tom B know by 6:00 pm of the Monday prior to the Saturday you
can work. Or, look ahead at your summer calendar, peg some dates, and let Tom know anytime.
[668-7344, orbruta@usa.net]  (For Thursdays, just show up; generally during hours 6:30 pm 'til
dark.) (See Tom's e-mail dated 5/23, subject: "SCC: Habitat for Humanity Parable House Project"
for location and other details. Or let him know if you need another copy.) b. July 14-22nd –
    Adopt A Highway. We clean up along I-94 from Zeeb Rd. to Baker Rd. Contact Leland R.
    IHN: We will be providing meals and volunteer time the week of July 8-15.  response
has been good and most fo the slots are filled. MMA will assist us with the cost of supplies and
donation to IHN with matching funds up to $500. IHN is in need of many things.  We have $100 to
date.  If anyone else would like to make a specific donation to IHN, write the check to the
church with a notation that it is for IHN. d.July 14-22n 
      
Sept -- Participation in Abbot School cleanup. (Tentative.)f. Oct 7th –
    CROP Walk. Annual interfaith walk to raise money for disaster relief. Shalom
coordinator needed.
    Oct -- Au Sable Retreat. Retreat that explores our relationship with our environment.
Contact: Derek Y.
    Dec 2nd -- Ten Thousand Villages Sale. Sale of craft items from artisans around the 
world.
   ALSO: Service/Outreach is helping to raise money for Sarah M year with MCC teaching English
in Zambia. Checks should be made out to MCC (NOT to Shalom Community Church) , but they can then
be placed in the offering and we will see that they get credited to Sarah's support.

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL.

    Starting on Sunday, 15 July, during the Sunday School hour we'll gather in the auditorium
for a joint event with adults and kids. Come participate during this time as follows:

    July 15:  Tracing Roots in the Ukraine -- Stories from Galen and Anita's recent trip
    July 22:  Sing a Glad Song -- Kindermusik with Evie
    July 29:  Howzzat? -- Bible Quiz with Jon and friends.
    Aug  5: Pictures Tell a Story -- Bring a picture that has special meaning, and tell the
story that goes with it. (See Galen if questions.)
    Aug. 12: ***SUNDAY IN THE PARK***
    Aug.19:Pensive Poetry or Prose -- Bring and read favorite musings (your own, or those of
others). All are welcome to participate with short pieces they find meaningful and would like to
 share with the rest of us. Let Gertrude know in advance, so she can coordinate.
    Aug. 26:  The Father of English Hymnody -- Highlighting Isaac Watts.