The Shepherd  
Issue Nov / Dec. 2002   BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF SHALOM COMMUNITY CHURCH

“Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer, editor, and crusader for issues as disparate as childhood education, the moral superiority of women, housekeeping as a ‘domestic science’, the construction of monuments to commemorate Bunker Hill, Mt. Vernon, and thanksgiving, Day.  On the matters of Bunker Hill, Mt. Vernon, and thanksgiving, she prevailed.  On October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed thanksgiving a national American holiday.  From:  On Writers and Writing.

I am wishing every year  that an early or mid Oct. date had been set for thanksgiving.  Growing up in Canada and on the farm, Thanksgiving (second Monday of Oct.)  was, in fact a harvest festival.  The finest produce was brought to the church on Sunday for blessing and thanksgiving.  And when the crops were poor, there were still things to be thankful for.  So let us be thankful, in November and in the city!   gw
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

What we have come to call Our Christmas Pagent will be on Dec. 22 each year we re-experince, re-think, the Christmas story, the Christmas reality, the Christmas message, and invite  individuals, families, groups, classes to  share with all a bit of where the story is taking you this year.  It may be of a part of the familiar story told or portrayed.  It may be a story that grows out of the original story.  I may be a musical rendition or an invitation for all to join in a song.  It may be some thoughts that have come to you, or a poem or ????Let the spirit take you where it wishes!

Participation is not mandatory,  but all sharing is welcome and valued.
It is a Sunday when we do not have Sunday School since we allow for more than one hour.  See bulletin for starting time. I am co-ordianting the offereings this year and ask that you let me know  by Dec. 16 what you plan to do.  Gertrude Wn.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Report from the Nurture Commission 

I.  Summer Sunday School
This spring when we unexpectedly found that no one had been assigned to plan summer intergenerational Sunday School, the Nurture Commission was asked to hastily make plans for the Sunday School hour during July and August.   We proposed having an informal fellowship time to give Shalom members more time for informal conversation.  We viewed this as an experiment and we solicited  feedback from the congregation.

One of the concerns expressed ahead of time was for the children.  We met outdoors near the playground equipment so that elementary age children could play under our watchful eyes, though in reality very few families with elementary age children attended.   We don't know if this was due to family summer travel or because they opted not to come since there weren't activities specifically organized for the children.  Parents took responsibility for watching small children.   If we had needed to go inside due to inclement weather, the plan was for everyone to stay in the large room and bring games for intergenerational mingling.  People were invited to bring drinks and finger foods to share if they wished.
 
Here are excerpts from the responses we received from the congregation:
"The time was good for those who came.  My own preference would be to have time after the service rather than before, as more people are present. Service during the summer could begin earlier."
"I favor our previous approach, where there is
something specific planned.  I find this way too easy to just not come. and from the times I was there, it appeared to be pretty light attendance, so I'm guessing other people were deciding to not come also."
"We have not participated due to being out of town."
"I usually didn't get there until 10:30 a.m.  I didn't eat food or drink beverages supplied because I had eaten breakfast at home. I’d probably attend in the same manner next having it outside, especially when inside is so hot that summer if that's what is planned, i.e. I wouldn't get there until 10:30 a.m."
"I really enjoyed the summer Sunday school.  I like the flexibility in starting time - you don't have to come until 10:30 if you want.  It's nice it is difficult to concentrate.
I would do it again.  Food is a plus too."
children..I would be happy to defer to what works for families.
"We have not participated in the summer Sunday
School. The reason we haven't been coming is mainly  that we are usually too slow in the morning on weekends, but I like the idea of a chance to visit informally, although I prefer cafes etc. rather than a school gym."

At the November congregational meeting, the Nurture Commission will ask the congregation to make a decision about whether they wish to have and would participate in a structured intergenerational summer Sunday school program in the future.  If so, Nurture will request that a person be discerned to plan it. 

II.  Small Groups
Nurture Commission also has the responsibility of
helping  all Shalom members who wish to find a small group.  Some groups are closed to new members; a few groups are open to new members.  Over the last few years three new groups have been started.  If you are not in a small group and would like to be, please contact one of the committee members:  Sonja Kn, Betsy Hy, Steven Sz, or Janet Ry.

III.  Greeters
At a joint meeting with Service Outreach, the Nurture Committee decided to solicit volunteers to be greeters.  The goal of the greeter program is to welcome visitors and help them find their way into the auditorium for worship.  The greeters stand inside the front entrance of the building from 10 minutes before  worship starts until 5 minutes after.  They will give the "I wish" card to obtain information about visitors who are comfortable giving that information.  Depending on the situation, the greeter may follow up with the visitor during the following week, and if  they want additional contact, that information will be passed on to Paul or to the Nurture Committee.  So far, the system seems to be working well.  Betsy Hy is soliciting volunteers.  The schedule is filled through October and she is looking for volunteers for November and December.     Janet

Ed. Note: Since the Newsletter is a week late in coming out, I will add that the decisions at the Nov. 8 congregational meeting with a 9-7 vote was to not have Sunday school or a social hour next summer during July and Aug,
______________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTIONS

Chris and Emily Br Br
    Chris grew up in Kansas, though he took a circuitous route to get there.  He was born in Macha, Zambia, while his parents were in MCC.  After moving to Manitoba, where he lived with his parents and two newly adopted siblings, Kirsten and Matt, they moved to Hesston when he was 4 years old.  After high school, Chris attended Bethel College (the one in North Newton, KS), where he took advantage of the many opportunities in academics, the arts and athletics and thoroughly enjoyed his college years.  After graduating, he spent a year in Seattle as a MVS volunteer, then a year as a mental health worker at Prairie View in Newton, Kansas.  Emily grew up in Pennsylvania, Iowa and Indiana.  She studied Religion, English and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Goshen College and graduated 1997.  Shortly after that, Emily moved to Kansas City, Kansas for a Mennonite Voluntary Service term.  During Emily’s two-year MVS term, she taught English to immigrants and refugees and worked with an agency that provided social services to migrant farmworkers.
  
Chris and Emily met in Kansas City when Chris started medical school in August 1998.  We got married in August 2000, and Emily began graduate school in Social Work at the University of Kansas.  We both graduated from our respective graduate programs in May 2002.  Chris is now in his first year of Internal Medicine residency at U of M with a mix of interests for the future, including academic medicine and medical education, nephrology (Kidney specialty), public health and infectious diseases. Emily teaches English to international students at the Michigan Language Center.  We enjoy spending time together socializing with friends and family, running, reading, cooking, and traveling.
 
We are enjoying the opportunities we’ve had so far to get to know everyone from Shalom and thank you for your friendship and welcome to the congregation.

Rebecca We and Mark Sr:

We, along with our four year old son Emmett, moved to Ann Arbor six weeks ago.   Mark teaches middle school students about computers in Ypsilanti Public Schools.  Previously he taught in the Boston Public Schools (science and social  studies) for eight years, and in East Cleveland, Ohio for one year.  Rebecca is a Registered Nurse, has worked many different jobs, and also earned a Master's in Theology at Episcopal Divinty School in Cambridge, MA..
 
We spent just under a year in East Timor, and returned the summer of 2001.  Mark has been interested in political activist work for many years, and in particular in the East Timor cause. While there, he worked with a local non-governmental organization researching, writing, translating and publishing information regarding the transitional government and the development/aid industry. Rebecca volunteered at a local clinic where some Timorese midwives became dear friends and saw firsthand the strength and resiliency of strong women in a poor, male-dominated country. Emmett enjoyed East Timor and picked up the local language, Tetum, easily.  He loved to run and play in the village with the Timorese boys.  Rebecca would often find him eating rice out of a common rice bowl with many of them in one of the village homes.
 
Our move to Ann Arbor locates us only 90 minutes from Rebecca's home town of West Unity, OH, and thus close enough to grandparents for frequent visits to the farm and to visit cousins.  Mark's parents live in St. Petersburg , FL, where he grew up.
 
We look forward to being part of Shalom Community Church. Our previous Church experience was with the Mennonite Congregation in Boston, where we lived for almost nine years before going to East Timor.  Thanks to many of you who have extended friendly phone calls, help with directions or advice, or shared a meal with us.  All have been appreciated.
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Amelia Ruth Chapel Ln, born to Katie and Mark on Oct. 12.  We look forward to getting to know you!
______________________________________________________________________________________________

FARE THEE WELLS:

 On November 7 we (Derek, Laurie and Mira) begin our time on Long Island, New York. Derek will be employed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST; a part of the US Department of Commerce) at Brookhaven National Lab. As an aside, NIST is the agency responsible for defining the "official" meter, kilogram, and second, among other things. Derek has a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in which he will be researching the properties of materials such as catalytic surfaces using Brookhaven's synchrotron x-ray source. For more information, including an introduction for non-scientists, visit their web site at  
http://nslsweb.nsls.bnl.gov/nsls/.
Laurie will be busy at first with unpacking and getting the house set up. She is waiting to hear whether the funding will come through for a part time research position in the Molecular Dynamics group at Brookhaven. That could start sometime in January or February, depending on when the child care center has an opening. Mira expects to be taking her first steps soon. That will enable her to more efficiently "help" Mommy take care of boxes and packing materials. Come and visit us if you are in the area!  We will let you know our phone number when it is connected, and our email addresses remain as at present.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sept. 1, 2002

To the people of  the SHALOM CHURCH,

I offer you my gratitude, respect and love for the unexpected & heartfelt benevolence that your membership bestowed upon my family during a difficult time.  You may remember me, it has been quite a while since my mother (HER NAME WAS ERNESTINE & SHE WAS TRULY A LOVELY & VERY SPIRITUAL HUMAN BEING-A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN) passed away in April.  It was and continues to be the most difficult time in my life.  Family support and involvement was unstable  if not, at times counter-productive and non-existent.  I was having an especially difficult day toward the end of May.  My mother had a few frustrating, though small bills that had become my responsibility.  I thumbed through mail and almost discarded a letter from the church in my frustration. Not only was there a wonderful monetary & needed monetary gift, there was also a HANDWRITTEN letter that expressed a sense of sincere empathy!
I was touched and humbled.  Here in Ann Arbor I have friends and family of over 20 years who couldn’t take the time that you did to just beCONSIDERATE.
I don’t care what anyone says, a gesture of grace always has a place and cannot be replaced.   THE  THOUGHT DOES COUNT.
Since the not one, but two gifts you sent, I have changed my ideas about what family and community means.  Caring actions, large or small, make the difference.  It is in my opinion, the true essence of human existence.
I look forward to coming over and visit soon.  I HAVE RELATIVES THERE! (SMILE)  The PN family is my family. 
Thank-you for giving mea new perspective  on people.  I’ve felt your prayers.

    Sincerely,   
        Erich Ml
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
             LECTIONARY

Nov. 10: Josh. 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psa. 78:1-7; 1 Th. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:1-13
Nov. 18: Judg. 4:1-7; Psa. 123; 1 Th. 5:1-11; Matt. 25: 14-30
Nov. 25: Wzek. 34: 11-16, 20-24; Psa. 100; Eph. 1:15-23; Matt. 25:31-46
Dec. 1: Isa. 64:1-9; Psa. 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Mark 13: 24-37
Dec. 8: Isa. 40:1-11; Psa. 85: 1-2, 8-13; 2 Pet. 3:8-15a; Mark1:1-8
Dec. 15: Isa. 61: 1-4, 8-11; Psa. 126; 1 Th. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Dec. 22: 2 Sam. 7: 1-11, 16; Psa. 89:1-4, 19-20; Rom. 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38
Dec. 25: Isa. 9:2-7; Psa. 96; Tit. 2:11-14;Luke 2:1-14
Dec. 29: Isa. 61:10-62:3; Psa. 148; gal. 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Fourteen souls  traveled  north to AuSable Institute for an out door retreat the second week-end in October.  The week-end this year was co-coordinated by Janis.  Following are some thoughts from some of the folks who walked about:

"Awareness, motivation, and increased knowledge for caring for God's creation is heightened again by this inspiring weekend at Amusable."    Janis Mr

Fourteen fine and friendly folk
Walked midst hemlock, pine and oak,
Wind-swept dunes by turquoise lake,
Blessed again by Maker's make.
        Joy Vs


 All dappled, shaking and shining
In late-afternoon light, the pines,
 The mosses, leaves quivering or falling
 Needles crossed in soft brown lines
 And underneath, earth, sand and sweet stones.
 
 My bones feel strange, roots closed
 In barky skin, if I run long I feel
 I could melt like those trees to dirt, their rose
 Leaves fluttering in air. God's song
 Trips on wind, branches clatter
 
 Deer flash their whiteness, a woodpecker stark
 Clips his bony tree as rain looms with the dark.
        Sara Rt

 PLACE"

In discussing why people are becoming increasingly unaware of their natural surroundings, I am reminded of Dave Mahon's talk (AuSable director) at SCC about the role of place.   A major contributor to our ignorance is our mobility.   It takes time to become aware of a place with all of it rhythms of flora, fauna and earth.   Many of us move so frequently, that our energies go into finding our social place, which is important, but does subtract from identifying with the natural place.   I would like to challenge each of us to occasionally share about some wonderment of observation in your natural world.   It would be a way of acknowledging the Creator and showing gratefulness.
            Dave Py
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

The heartbeat of Life

Lord of all to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
Like the bull of Poseidon
that he gave to Crete
you give us the world
but we’ll offer it back.

The water is lapping the side of canoe
the drumbeat of Gaia
the heartbeat of life.

The rustling wind in the leaves of the trees
shows us the waves of deciduous seas.
The rustling wind in the leaves of the trees
shows us the waves of deciduous seas.

Cool breath on the skin
the hair stands on end
the shiver that tells us we live.
The muscles that strain
to pull on the paddle
to answer the challenge of wind.

    Eli Wk

(The above is part of  a performance poem written and performed with assistance on Saturday night at AuSable.  gw)

weather rides the earth
from dawn to dawn

mountains crumble
butterflies take wing

the earth’s little one’s
bask or scurry for protection

a tree falls where it falls        gw

In the out doors, we confront bare life, naked life.  Also present being humbled were:  Kathie C, Keith,   Janet, Stan, Jesse, Anna,  Joy, Titus.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Email excerpts from Daron Sr in China (with light editing from his dad) 

Oct 13.  Hey, Hey, Hey!! Life here in China is great still. After getting back from Jiuzhaigou I have been doing a lot of different things with a variety of Chinese and SST friends. I have so far gone to two different dance clubs with some Chinese friends and had a few huge feasts.  One of them was with this girl named Jiang Yu Yah, who is really funny and outgoing and has  sweet English, and the other was with my host cooking family for my host brother's birthday.  His name is Peter in English or Shark. By the way, my cooking is improving or at least the recipes and how to cook different types of Sichuan foods. When I get back during winter break you guys will get to try a lot of different meals.

 Teaching English hasn't happened as much as I would like because the English department here keeps on messing up their schedules and we keep having no classes to teach. I am in China for both service and study so sometimes it is disappointing.

 By next week I should be able to get you the info about Xian and Beijing and hotels and stuff like that. Right off the top of my head though for Beijing see the Forbidden City, Mao's body, Tianamen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, this art community center (can't remember the name but it was amazing) and the Great Wall. But make sure to see it in the area that is not the main one visited BUT the older one with the wall before it was redone. I went to the more  tourist area and it was cool but not as authentic. For Xian, besides the warriors, MAKE SURE to go to the Muslim community, and do it at night. Also during the day go to the mosque at the Muslim community and walk around it for a while, hopefully during prayer time. Great time!

Oct 20.  Nice to hear from you guys again. Today half of SST is over. Kinda strange, it has gone by pretty fast!  Well, next week I will move into the students dorms here on the SNU campus. They live in dorms that have 8 students per room and are about one and a half times the size of my bedroom at home. It will be quite a interesting experience. Also there is one shower  and  toilet for like 30 people so I might smell a bit after this week. Also a basketball tournament is starting soon with the rest of the SNU campus. I am on the Goshen team with all of the other males here on SST. We actually went out and got custom designed shirts for uniforms and they only cost about $5 dollars each in equivalent US. Hopefully they will be made on time.

 This weekend I also went out to the countryside for a day. It was really interesting to see because it really helped to put China in perspective for what it is - a 2nd world nation, with a 1st world being developed and a 3rd world becoming a developing nation. For example the farm house we went to was very old (200 years) with no heat or air conditioning, and the main oven was a firewood oven to also heat the house.  BUT at the same time the house had a TV the same size of the one at home, a laundry machine, phones and I think a cell phone for the family. Pretty interesting mix of old and new.

 ( We look forward to hearing more from you when you return, Daron.  gw)