MCUSA News

On Feb. 1, 2012, our denomination turns 10 years old. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and giving thanks for the countless amazing ways that God’s Spirit has been at work among us in this last decade—in our lives and relationships, in our congregations and communities, in our agencies and organizations. May God bless each of our congregations and strengthen us all in our efforts to live out our denominational vision: 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.—Mennonite Church USA national staff

“Growing up in a missionary home and being a PK (preacher’s kid) have made me more sensitive to building relationships,” explains Carol Roth, Choctaw, of Clinton, Miss. Her infectious smile and bright brown eyes invite me into the conversation.

HARRISONBURG, Va.,and WATERLOO, Ont.—For years, Gerald Mast, a professor at Bluffton (Ohio) University, has been teaching that a Christian’s life decisions should be made in consultation with other members in the church.

HARRISONBURG, Va.—Shaping Families, the 15-minute weekly radio program of MennoMedia,will tackle the effects of alcohol and drugs on the adolescent brain in February.

HARRISONBURG, Va.,and WATERLOO, Ont.—Stuart Murray, British author of the popular book The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith, will speak in Canada and the U.S. this spring.

“Crecer en un hogar misionero y ser hija de pastor me permitieron ser más sensible para desarrollar relaciones”, explica Carol Roth, una choctaw de Clinton, Miss. Su sonrisa contagiosa y ojos cafés claros invitan a la conversación.

Elkhart, Ind.—Hannah Heinzekehr de Claremont, Calif., ha aceptado el cargo de coordinadora de Planeamiento de Convenciones como parte del personal nacional de la Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU. Ella iniciará su trabajo a tiempo parcial el primero de febrero y pasará a tiempo completo luego de graduarse en mayo.

I recently spent three days alone in a cabin next to Capon’s Run at Highland Retreat near Bergton, Virginia. This is my third annual Prayer and Planning retreat in this lovely setting. I have come to love and value this time and place away from my regular duties. It allows me to concentrate on my relationship with God and to consider God’s call for my life and work with Mennonite Church USA in the coming year. I enjoy taking a couple of hikes in the woods each day. In spite of the cold weather in January, I find it invigorating for both body and soul.

Hannah Heinzekehr will serve in new position; Glen Guyton has assumed the responsibilities of Convention Planning director. ELKHART, Ind.—Hannah Heinzekehr of Claremont, Calif., has accepted the position of Convention Planning coordinator with Mennonite Church USA’s national staff. She will begin working part time Feb. 1 and will transition to full time after completing graduate school in May.

Since 1999, the service component of Mennonite Men—JoinHands—has offered an annual tithe grant to Mennonite denominational mission boards in the U.S. and Canada. In November 2011, a JoinHands grant of $5,000 was given to Mennonite Mission Network to assist with the building project of Comunidades Anabautistas Unidas (United Anabaptist Communities), a Mennonite church in Burgos in northern Spain.

HARRISONBURG, Va., and WATERLOO, Ont.—Melissa Miller, pastor of Springstein Mennonite Church southwest of Winnipeg, Man., will chair the eight-member binational board of MennoMedia, starting in January.

HARRISONBURG, Va.—Shaping Families, the 15-minute weekly radio program of MennoMedia,begins its third year of broadcasting in January with the following programs:

The new Mennonite Church USA office building at 3145 Benham Avenue in Elkhart, Ind., is nearing completion. The new facility, located just south of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, will provide workspace and meeting rooms for multiple Mennonite Church USA organizations, including Executive Board staff, Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Education Agency, MennoMedia and The Mennonite. Staff members are planning to move into the building Dec. 19–21.

Elkhart, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA)—In December 2009, after years of prayer, struggle and anguish, Palestinian Christian leaders spoke with one voice to the global body of Christ in an 11-page appeal, titled “Kairos Palestine: A moment of truth.”

Durante los primeros meses de este año, dos pequeñas iglesias de los Estados Unidos y Canadá pusieron en escena el musical Godspell por separado. Cada iglesia tomó la decisión de hacerlo independientemente de la otra. La Iglesia Menonita Superb de Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, realizó tres presentaciones en febrero y marzo, y la Iglesia Menonita Faith de Goshen, Indiana, puso la misma obra en escena dos veces en junio.

Earlier this year two small churches in the U.S. and Canada separately staged the musical Godspell. The decisions to do so were unrelated. Superb Mennonite Church of Kerrobert, Sask., had three performances in February and March, and Faith Mennonite Church of Goshen, Ind., had two in early June.

ELKHART, Indiana (Iglesia Menonita de EE.UU.)—En diciembre del 2009, luego de años de oración, lucha y angustia, los líderes cristianos palestinos se unieron para dirigirse en una sola voz al cuerpo mundial de Cristo en una petición de 11 páginas titulada “El kairós de Palestina: el momento de la verdad”.

SOUDERTON, Pa.—Luke and Dot Beidler were named recipients of the national Journey Award from Everence. This award recognizes that Beidlers, from Norristown, Pa., have lived a life of intentional and holistic stewardship.

HARRISONBURG, Va.—As disturbing as sexual misconduct headlines are in newspapers, on radio and television, and online, the tragic scandals provide a good opportunity to address this critical issue in Christian homes and churches. Mennonite churches have several resources to help in that regard.

HARRISONBURG, Va., and WATERLOO, Ont.—Herald Press, the book imprint of MennoMedia, has re-issued three popular books, adding some updates and designing new covers. “We constantly evaluate our books with readers’ preferences in mind,” said Amy Gingerich, director of print media at MennoMedia. “It just so happened that all three of these important Herald Press titles received new covers and some new content at about the same time.”