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Windows Into Zion is the monthly newsletter of Zion Mennonite Church. The publishers are Dorothy Hartman and Myrna Piper. Return to the Newsletter Archives. Please note that calendar information and the Worship Schedule are located on the Calendar page.
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Volume 12 |
Number 1
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November/December 2006
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A Hymn On The Nativity Of My Savior I sing the birth was born tonight, The Author both of life and light, The angels so did sound it; And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light and were afraid, Yet searched and true they found it. The Son of God, the eternal King, That did us all salvation bring, And freed the soul from danger; He whom the whole world could not take, The Word which heaven and earth did make, Was now laid in a manger. The Father's wisdom willed it so, The Son's obedience knew no "no," Both wills were in one stature; And as that wisdom had decreed, The Word was now made flesh indeed, And took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win, Who made Himself the price of sin, To make us heirs of glory; To see this Babe, all innocence, A Martyr born in our defense, Can man forget this story? BEN JONSON (1572-1637) |
Greetings from Alaska -Bob & Betty Lou Buckwalter Thanks to historian, Jim Rush, for updating us on the happenings at Zion. I think most of you know we are settled in Wasilla, Alaska. A job found us while we were volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages in Pa. The invitation came to Bob for a pesticide regulatory job with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Betty Lou is in the process of applying for a part-time job in the local school system, either as a bilingual tutor or teacher's aid. In the meantime, her occupation has veen varied: babysitting grandsons, volunteering at the local food bank, and having a great time gardening. This climate is excellent for more veggies and flowers than what you'd think, growing things in a large way: cabbages, turnips, red beets, potatoes, peas, broccoli, spinach, kale, zucchini, lettuces, still producing abundantly--all without the hassle of bugs--gardening at its best. With a little coaxing, we're even getting some vine-ripened tomatoes. So far, we haven't been able to tear ourselves away from the good fellowship and friends at Prince of Peace Mennonite church in Anchorage, an hour's drive from where we live. Joe and Sera's second son, Luke, was born five weeks early on June 19. Sera and the boys moved in with us the month of August while Joe was out in the hinterlands of northwest Alaska doing fish habitat research. Jesse gets into town once every six weeks for a few days visit with us. He still enjoys his job of flying air taxi to remote villages. He is content where he is for the time being, but has in mind to one day fly with a mission oriented air service. Because we've lived one year in Alaska and are now legal residents, we were eligible to go dip net fishing for salmon this summer. A day's netting got Bob and Joe 35 large, red Sockeye, between six and ten pounds each. At home that evening, we filleted, vacuum packed and froze fish, plus canned 20 pints the next day. Fall is definitely here with the birch trees turning gold; the tundra on the high sides of the mountains has turned from green to a rich shade of maroon from the changing colors of the blueberry bushes. We were sorry it didn't work out to link up with Ben and Barb Risser, also Lois and Wilmer Hertzler, when they came through Alaska this summer. We hope more of you can make the trip here and catch a glimpse of the grandeur of this part of God's hardly-messed-with creation. And, be sure to put us on your itinerary. We recently added ourselves to the new Mennonite Your Way directory in anticipation of visits from folks from the "outside". Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 874276 Wasilla, AK 99687. Phone #907-376-2628. God will restore -Barbara Risser They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated, they will renew the ruined cities...Isaiah 61:4 I like to see an old building restored and made more useful. After checking for a solid foundation on the 120-year-old brick farmhouse my husband's grandfather built, we chose to remodel the inside. Paint, paper, kitchen cupboards and a furnace in the basement were added. We opened and faced a fireplace in the living room and added two bathrooms for the growing family. Soon the ten rooms were transformed. Outside the 12-inch thick brick walls stood as before, but a change had taken place inside. The house was restored for another generation, healed from the inside out. It had a solid foundation. Not so for the following: "Look at this foundation!" The Mennonite Disaster Service leader exclaimed. "Everywhere I plunge my screwdriver in the base, it goes in like it is sawdust. We need to rebuild completely." For four days a team of 11 volunteers worked at getting a house under roof for a South Carolina man after a hurricane blew away part of his home. Isaiah also saw the need for rebuilding and completely renewing the ruins of cities. In the same way we pray for revival among us. We ask that God will do a new work in our hearts. We ask that lives will be rebuilt when lacking foundation. We pray for renewal in lives ruined by doubt, despair, and fears. Like the transformation of buildings, God is working on the spiritual needs of those who put their trust in Him. Old ruins in our lives will be rebuilt at our invitation for God to do so. Neglected areas will be restored. One generation cannot finish the task of rebuilding persons and the next generation takes up the task. Restoration is sure! ...The Lord will perfect that which concerns us, Psalms 138:8 whether it is in my life or in the life of another for whom I am concerned. God continues to bring fruit as praise to Him from most unexpected places. That truth brings me courage and helps me to believe for more of his grace and restoration in my own life. Let's give the Master Builder freedom to continue the building process. Revive us again! Oh Lord, renew your deeds in our day, in our time make them known...Hab 3:2b Build our houses strong Lord, so that our walls will bless the weary hearts who seek after you, for your glory. Amen. |
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Thank you...
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Time for a tune-up -Elwood Yoder On my desk lies an advertisment from a local car dealer inviting me to come in for a twenty-three point vehicle checkup. I took our 1989 Jeep into this dealer about a year ago for a much-needed and thorough engine review. Like the regular maintenance that is needed to keep a car running efficiently, our church needs occasional seasons of review and assessment. The Congregational Leadership Team plans on leading a time of internal conversation about who we want to "be" as the body of Christ, what we want to achieve in the next five years, and how these goals shape our vision. Two adult Sunday school classes are reading a book about the church in a time of cultural change. Two more Sunday school classes will likely study a book this winter about the eight characteristics of the missional church. This congregational "tune-up" will continue with the November CLT retreat and a gathering of commission members, CLT, and pastoral staff in December. Our goal is to review congregational life, our mission, and our vision for the present and the future. In October Clyde Kratz and I attended a two day missional church conference in Kansas City, Missouri. We listened to perspectives from a team of church growth presenters who are helping pastors and church leaders in several denominations explore patterns of faithfulness in congregational life. Clyde and I came home energized with ideas of what it could mean to implement missional strategies at Zion. So when you are invited to a conversation about Zion's mission, when you hear missional language in Clyde's sermons or in Sunday school, you can understand that we're doing a "tune-up." Though the mission engine at Zion has been running strong for many years, we're due for a time of assessment, checkup and clarification. In a time of rapid cultural change and new religious perspectives, I believe that taking the time to tune-up our congregational engine will be worth the time, effort and resources spent. "I'm believing God" -Kathy Alderfer Along with 18 other women, I am participating in the women's Bible study that meets every Monday night at Zion. We are studying from a Beth Moore DVD series entitled Believing God. I want to express my gratitude to several women who attended the previous Bible study groups for encouraging me to join them in this current study. I was always hesitant to commit to the previous Bible study groups for various reasons. Now that I am there every Monday night, I realize that I am exactly where I need to be. If you've never before heard the Word of God presented by Beth Moore, I must admit it takes some getting accustomed to. My initial reaction of being uncomfortable with her openness and charisma gave way to an understanding that she simply has an intense relationship with God and wants others to have that as well. She punctuates her lessons with many shouts of "Glory to God" and "Hallelujah!" The Bible has become alive and active within me because of the way it is presented and explored through viewing the lessons on DVD, working on the homework exercises throughout the week, and the valuable discussion and prayer times at the end of each Monday night. Beth Moore is a visual instructor and has suggested relevant biblical images to use in our spiritual journey. You might think I'd feel weighted down by all of my battle gear that she has suggested: I've got "the sword of the spirit," "the shield of truth," and yes, even the tools to move mountains! On the contrary, the tools with which I have collected while studying about God's promises have freed me. This group of women that gets together every Monday night has been an invaluable support to me. We share, we laugh, and sometimes we cry. It has been an uplifting and awe-inspiring experience to see the ways in which God is at work in our lives. And I'm believing God! Dear Zion Friends, -Steve Dintaman It is Fall Break now at LCC, and we are using the time to catch up on some work around the house and to prepare for the rest of the semester. I have been stacking and splitting a load of firewood we got in preparation for the winter, which we hope will be milder than the last. One of my tasks this week is to write a paper that I will present at a conference in Washington, C.C. in a couple of weeks. I will be attending the huge annual meeting of Religion and Bible scholars (AAR/SBL) from all over the world. It is an opportunity to see colleagues and old friends, and above all, a place to recruit new faculty for LCC. An added treat is that I will be staying with Daryl and Cindy Byler, and look forward to getting reconnected with them. The paper I am working on will be presented to a group with special interest in eastern Europe. I am co-writing the paper with Maija Kozlova, a 2006 LCC Theology grad who has interviewed leaders of the 'Word of Faith' churches in Lithuania. In the mid 1980's and on into the 90's this was the fastest growing church in Lithuania. In its beginnings it was strongly influenced by the "prosperity" gospel brought in by western teachers. What is remarkable about this group is that over the years they became increasingly uneasy with this theology and have moved away from it and toward what might be called more mainstream evangelical theory. I tend to take a pretty critical view of the prosperity gospel, but I have become more understanding as to why this message is so appealing to people. So many Lithuanians had lived so long with no sense of hope or joy or spiritual life. This new message seemed so hopeful that it profoundly evergized many people. But what I really find exciting in this group is how they outgrew their initial starting point and moved toward a more biblically based and balanced view of the Holy Spirit, and moved toward fellowship with other churches. We are planning to be in the U.S. over Christmas break. It will be an intense two weeks, starting off in Indiana, then coming to Virginia in time to be at Zion on New Year's Eve, and then on to Pa. We look forward to seeing you all then! |
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Junior department news -Rebecca Hess Wow! Where has the first quarter of Sunday school gone!?!? Our theme for this year is Walking with Jesus and our verse is Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. - Psalm 119:105. We are encouraging scripture memorization during our opening time together. The memory verse to go along with our offering project is I will sing to the Lord, I will sing. I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel. - Judges 5:3. We have had at least half of the children recite this verse in front of the group for a chance to choose a prize from the prize basket. Children as young as three years of age are learning the verse and reciting it for the group. Our offering project for this quarter is thru Mennonite Mission Network. We are raising money for native musical instruments for Living Water Church in Borabu, Thailand. Our goal is to raise $175 to send to MMN. Our teachers have been working hard to share some challenging stories from the book of Genesis with the children. As I was working on a project in our gathering room, I overheard the teaching of the story of Hagar and Ishmael! That's a tough one to explain to young kids! The youngest class (age 2-5) is taught by Jen Showalter, Joy Yoder, Lynette Nussbaum, and Tonya Parker. The Kindergarten thu 2nd grade class is taught by Darlene Lehman and the 3rd thru 5th grade class is taught by Jeremy Beach. We have had as many as 29 children attend on a given Sunday! The teachers are doing a great job accommodating our fluctuating attendance. Please keep our teachers in your prayers as we transition to a new quarter with some new teachers and the study of the book of Luke, a study of Promise & Fulfillment. Amy, Chloe, and Abbi Shrock have bee leading us in music this quarter. We have been focusing our efforts on songs from the old red children's hymnal, Our Hymns of Praise. One of our favorites is "Praise Him, Praise Him." The youngest kids especially love holding the hymnal and pretending to sing from it! Jr. MYF Retreat Zion Jr. MYFers who attended were: Ben Emswiler, Joslyn Vaccaro, Emily Vaccaro, Matt Nafziger, Emily Myers, Carly Kraybill, Drew Shrock, Lucas Driediger, Michael Cantor, Kevin Leaman and Christopher Miller. Sponsors were Sarah Bixler, Michael Snader, and Krissy Snader
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:21 -Judy Nafziger Shingles (Zoster) Did you know that children can get shingles just like adults? Shingles (zoster) is caused by the chickenpox virus that lies dormant and then is reactivated. The disease is not caught from other people with active shingles or chickenpox. It has a linear pattern on one side of the body because it follows a nerve. Unlike the adult form, it usually doesn't burn or itch in children. Children often do not have a fever or feel sick with shingles. The rash starts with clusters of red bumps which change to water blisters and then eventually dry up in 7-10 days. The back, chest, and abdomen are the most common sites. Children with shingles can transmit chickenpox (but not zoster) to others by others touching the rash. Children or adults who have not had chickenpox should avoid visiting the child with zoster unless the rash is covered. Avoiding shingles is one more good reason to get the chickenpox vaccine though the vaccine is not 100% protective of chickenpox. |
Did you know...
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On giving... Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting. ELIZABETH BIBESCO True generosity requires more of us than kindly impulse. Above all it requires imagination - the capacity to see people in all their perplexities and needs, and to know how to expend ourselves effectively for them. I.A.R. WYLIE MAY YOU HAVE Enough happiness to keep you sweet, Enough trials to keep you strong, Enough sorrow to keep you human, Enough hope to keep you happy, Enough failure to keep you humble, Enough success to keep you eager, Enough friends to give you comfort, Enough wealth to meet your needs, Enough enthusiasm to look forward, Enough faith to banish depression, Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday. Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW GIFTS To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all men, charity. To every child, a good example. To your self, respect. PARADOX It is in loving - not in being loved, - The heart is blest; It is in giving - not in seeking gifts, - We find our quest. If thou art hungry, lacking heavenly food, - Give hope and cheer. If thou art sad and wouldst be comforted, - Stay sorrow's tear. Whatever be thy longing and they need, - That do thou give; So shall thy soul be fed, and thou indeed, Shalt truly live. |
MUSINGS Doctors of divinity -Katherine Donnelly My friends are teaching me about the divine. When I run out of language they express the inexpressible for me. When I need a new image of faith they re-imagine faith for me. Lunch with Becky Brenneman gives me a glimpse into the wonderful theologian we have in our midst. Becky shares he concept of "God the Unexplainable." She believes we have God in a box, and our box is "way, way, way too small." She shares the image of God being like a sculpture. We stand in one position in viewing the sculpture, rather than moving around to see the work from as many different angles as possible. "God the Unexplainable" gives us a way to enlarge our box and circle the sculpture. "God the Unexplainable" gives us a place to locate our questions, doubts, intimations, and suspicions that there is more; much, much more to life and spirituality than we could ever imagine. Dinner with Anne Juarez gives me a chance to hear Anne offer a blessing before the meal, opening with her phrase, "Dear Mystery." I love her address to the divine. Anne's expression encompasses both transcendence and immanence. "Mystery" allows room for a being or presence that is completely beyond our understanding. "Dear" brings this mystery into the very fiber of our minds and bodies. Anne's phrase is respectful and intimate at the same time. A phone conversation with Celah Pence teaches me that I don't need to hurry in my life. Celah directs me to the passage in Isaiah 52:12 where we do not have to leave in haste because God is our vanguard and our rear guard. She exhorts me to remember that when we make mistakes, this God comes behind us to clean up the mess. When I feel rushed and unsettled in my work I remind myself, "I have a vanguard; I have a rear guard. I don't need to rush; I don't need to get everything right." "God the Unexplainable," "Dear Mystery," and images from Isaiah. I am blessed to have such magnificent teachers. Get with the program: your checklist for prayer effectiveness -Celah Pence "...be controlled and alert so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
LIBRARY -Jen Showalter Look out! They're coming soon! Check the "New Book" shelf this month. The library has many new nonfiction books that will be added to the collection over the next couple months. The first batch will soon be available for check out. These books cover a variety of topics including: marriage, family, parenting, high school, college, single life, sex, personal relationships, finances, pain and loss, living with long-term illness, aging, and many more. These books were donated by Choice Books in Harrisonburg. Thank you Choice Books for your generosity! Do you like to read? You do? Then, we have an opportunity for you! The library is in need of additional person/s to preview nonfiction books before they are added to the library's collection. If you are interested, please contact Jen Showalter at 901-9044 or email jshowalter@rockingham.k12.va.us for more information. |
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NOVEMBER Birthdays 1 - Ben Alderfer 2 - Benjamin Emswiler, Gladys Ropp 3 - Allie Sawyer, Katherin Donnelly 6 - Dorothy Hartman 9 - Daniel Nyce, Josh Reinford, Dave Yutzy 11 - Jared Mast, Amy Rush, Sarah Knupp 12 - Abigail Kauffman, Mark Brenneman 13 - Jason Lantz 14 - Matthew Stoltzfus, Emily Myers 15 - Jim Rush 17 - Donnita Williams, Myrna Piper 18 - Robin Fletcher, Edith Showalter, Bob Buckwalter 20 - Stuart Shank 22 - Allison Fletcher, Vic Alger 24 - Jill Enslen, Shirley Kuykendall 27 - Simone Warsing, Laura Esch Anniversaries 3 - Elwood & Joy Yoder (27th) 19 - Ben (Sr.) & Barbara Risser (56th) 21 - Jim & Renee Warsing (19th) DECEMBER Birthdays 3 - Phoebe Brenneman 5 - Nathaniel Yoder 8 - Mark Mast 9 - Laura Lehman 13 - Jennifer Leaman, Sara Neuenschwander 14 - Joslyn Vaccaro, Michele Baker 17 - Anna Dintaman, Wilmer Hertzler 18 - Lauren Yutzy, Dale Hess 20 - Dan Baker, Richard Juarez 21 - Lori Gant, Deward Brenneman 24 - Kristen Myers, Mary Leaman, Herman Ropp 29 - Linda Snader 30 - Joanna Myers Anniversaries 19 - Dave & Jewel Yutzy (25th) 28 - Vic & Judy Alger (32nd) 29 - Welby & Sharon Showalter (33rd) ADVENT WORSHIP December 3 - Love Lights the Darkness 10 - Love Invites Repentance 17 - Love Frees from Fear 24 - Love Promises the Kingdom 31 - Love Produces Growth (Aaron and Laura Kauffman) Please put news items for January/February in the Windows mailbox by December 31 or email: pipermr@aol.com. We appreciate all your comments, ideas, and submissions! Dorothy Hartman and Myrna Piper publish Windows Into Zion. |
Thanksgiving
The year has turned its circle, The seasons come and go. The harvest all is gathered in And chilly north winds blow. Orchards have shared their treasures, The fields, their yellow grain, So open wide the doorway - Thanksgiving comes again! OLD RHYME Thou that has given so much to me, Give one thing more - a grateful heart; Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if thy blessings had spare days; But such a heart, whose pulse may be Thy praise. GEORGE HERBERT Christmas Prayer Oh, God... help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the songs of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be your children. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON What can I give him Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give Him a lamb, If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part, - But what can I give Him, Give Him my heart. CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI |
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