Connections CONESTOGA. India The Land of Contrasts. March 2017 Vol. XXVIII No. 3

Transcription

1 Connections CONESTOGA s March 2017 Vol. XXVIII No. 3 India The Land of Contrasts From intense colors, smells, sounds, foods, and everything in between, my trip to India had it all. Following a 16-hour non-stop flight, I found myself transported into a new world. People everywhere with cars and rickshaws clogging the roads seeming like each had two or more horns. My two weeks experience was delightful learning to admire a new culture and making friends along the way. Our goal for the trip was to connect with the orphanages for which Home International supports (I have been a board member for many years). We had many internal flights in India as we saw the homes and girls involved in the ministry. The Indian people were gracious and intrigued with these Foreigners. The orphans especially wanted to touch my hair, as they usually only see people with black long hair. When I showed them a picture of my husband, they all would ask, You married an Indian? Another funny moment was when they made us a traditional Indian supper and served it to us on a banana leaf to be eaten with our right hand only. Oh how they laughed at how clumsy we were. My takeaway from the trip was exhilaration that through these orphanages not only are the girls living, but they are being educated, finding the way of faith, and transforming into wonderful Christian women poised to make a difference in Indian society. I became known as Aunty Cindy and I will long treasure that name and the lives it represents! I am deeply grateful to Conestoga for the prayer support for health and safety during my trip. It felt good to have a family praying back home. Thank you! ~ Cindy Petersheim

2 From Conflict to Reconciliation At different times and situations in our life, we all can find ourselves in the middle of conflict with family, neighbors, fellow workers, and even friends. And then there are other times when we hurt for our family, neighbors, fellow workers, and friends as we watch them encounter challenging conflicts. And we want to help them, but how do we do that? For four Sundays in May, Conestoga is offering a new Sunday School elective titled Restorative Justice taught by J. Richard Thomas, retired Lancaster Mennonite School superintendent, married with three children, and member at Ridgeview Mennonite Church. We all know that shalom and reconciliation are the heart of the Gospel, and God wants us to blend these two in our own lives when conflict enters, and also assist others in their life s journey. Broken relationships really can be repaired resulting in stronger faith stories as we learn to use restorative practices. Plan to attend this four-week class to learn what these restorative practices are so that when the time arrives, we will have the valuable tools to resolve the issues with a peaceful outcome. We will learn about restorative justice circle processes and how to conduct such a circle, as well as ways to use restorative language. Stories will also be shared that illustrate how a restorative justice circle process were used to bring healing and to restore community. As of January 2017, New Person Ministries has transitioned 456 residents back into the community, the majority of whom continue to reside in the Reading/Berks County area. Join New Person Ministries for Conestoga Mennonite Church 2779 Main Street, Morgantown, PA Monthly newsletter for Conestoga Mennonite Church, published since Deadline for articles and photos is the 20 th of the preceding month of publication. Editor: Lois Ann Mast Assistant Editor: Elizabeth Petersheim Contributing Editors: Anna Martin and Jill Waters their annual banquet on March 10 here at Conestoga. Come and see how the Lord is working in the lives of men returning to society from prison. These are men who have chosen to follow God and with the help of New Person Ministries, have a very low recidivism rate. (Recidivism is the act of a person returning to prison again.) Cindy Sanford, author of Letters to a Lifer, will be the keynote speaker on March 10. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers, and the meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance and a freewill offering will be taken. Register by calling , or by ing newperson ministries@ gmail.com or spring-banquet-tickets New Person Ministries is committed to providing Biblicallybased programming to support the residents giving them the best opportunity for success. Required church attendance and daily Bible study continue to be core components of the program. Conestoga member, Roger Mast, is a longtime board member and will be happy to answer any questions. Sign up for this informative evening! 2 Conestoga Connections

3 Sewing Circle Neighbors meets on Tuesday mornings during the academic school year in our church fellowship hall from 9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this time of fellowship! Jonathan Hertzler assisting Fern Kraybill at the last Sewing Circle. Stop in on the first Wednesday of the month to see all the comforters and quilts set up with ladies (and children) busy at work! Sewing Circle met on February 1, There were 16 ladies present plus six-year-old Jonathan Hertzler who helped knot comforters. Donated items included 1 comforter for Christian Aid, and 1 comforter for MCC. Completed items included 3 comforters and 22 hygiene kits. For devotions, we sang Oh, How I Love Jesus followed by the reading of several scriptures about love including John 3:16; I Corinthians 13:4-8, and I John 4:19. The theme of the devotional was God s Love. The special offering amounted to $51.00 intended for a relief kit and hygiene kits. We sang The Love of God before adjourning. ~ Betty Cannell, Secretary Think, Read, Meditate John 6-7 during March! March 7 Eating to Thrive Making the Right Choices and Recipes bu Sylvia Gearhart March 14 Mission Trip to Haiti Highlights presented by Donna Weaver March 21 Isolation versus Intimacy (in Marriage) with Sharon Charles March 28 Education Under the Nazis shared by Eleanor Isaacson DID YOU REGISTER? & refresh Renew WOMEN S RETREAT 1 DAY 3 SPEAKERS BONNI GREINER, DENISE GROVE, SYLVIA GEARHART PRE-REGISTER, $10 DONATION CHILDCARE PROVIDED APRIL 8, am-1pm Saturday Contact Conestoga Mennonite Church for details and to register: Conestoga Connections 3

4 Food Pantry Fundraiser was a huge success with over $4,000 raised to benefit the Food Pantry. Lots of volunteers were involved! Lent Trivia How much do you know? 1. How many days are there in Lent? What was the original meaning of the word Lent? Spring 3. What is the first day of Lent called? Ash Wednesday 4. What do we call the day before Lent begins? Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras 5. What word is never usually said or sung during Lent? Alleluia 6. What snack originated during Lent because it contains only flour, water and salt? pretzels 7. What food was traditionally eaten the day before Lent begins? Hot Cross Buns 8. When does Lent officially end? At sundown on Holy Thursday ~ Thank You, Lisa Miller, for suggesting this Lent Trivia. 4 Conestoga Connections

5 Left: Gary working on the Africa House at the World Hunger Relief Farm. Right: One of Sharon s jobs with another SOOP volunteer was to organize the World Hunger Relief Inc. Library. Gary and Sharon Stoltzfus recently completed a SOOP (Service Opportunities for Older People) mission trip to Texas working with World Hunger Relief, Inc. under Mennonite Mission Network. Interns learning butchering at World Hunger Relief. Enjoying a meal with Audrey and Nevin Mast. Big JFK in Houston. Birding in Texas. Conestoga Connections 5

6 Conestoga Happenings Correction to the new 2017 Conestoga Directory: Jonathan Ebert is a Junior majoring in Nuclear Engineering at Penn State, University Park, Pa. His address is: 433 Swamp Road, Morgantown, PA Mother and Daughters... plan now to attend the Ladies Renew and Refresh April 8 seminar at Conestoga. This would be a perfect gift for your mother or daughter. Look for a mother/daughter garden tea coming up in September as a combined mother/daughter dust bunny activity. Congratulations to Liana Stoltzfus (front right) playing the flute at her school concert! Great job, Liana!! Beautiful decorations on the Neighbors Valentine Banquet tables you did it again Tina Essick and your helpers! Lovely evening! During a recent Sunday School hour when we had our annual meeting, the Jr. Youth participated by listening and choosing phrases and words that jumped out at them. Here is what they shared on these fish! We have some creative thinking Jr. Youth! 6 Conestoga Connections

7 The February Senior Connections featured a Valentine theme with Dr. Leo McCormick speaking on his personal experience of Living By Faith after learning that he had cancer. This was an inspiring and thought-provoking session. Every first and third Sunday of each month, Children s Church takes place during our morning sermon time. Thanks, Marcia Parsons! Conestoga Connections 7

8 Audrey Mast (third from the left) sitting around the supper table with the other Mennonite Disaster Service workers in Texas! When Pastor Bob and Cindy were speaking at the Neighbors Valentine Banquet on February 14, these nine children and Lemar and Lois Ann Mast were creating this HEART TREE telling Pastor Bob and Cindy that we love them! Yes, it did surprise them when they discovered it! The children also enjoyed a fun Valentine dinner with heart-shaped pizzas that had smiley faces, listened to a PEACE book read to them as we learned how to say PEACE in eight diferent languages, played Valentine games, listened to a music video, and, of course, played two requested threeminute tag games that wore them out! The 2.5 hours went fast because these are really GOOD children! 8 Conestoga Connections