Canadian Mennonite
Volume 10, No. 19
October 2, 2006
Letters
This section is a forum for discussion and discernment. Letters express the opinion of the writer only, not necessarily the position of Canadian Mennonite, the five area churches or Mennonite Church Canada. Letters should address issues rather than criticizing individuals and include contact information. We will send copies of letters referring to other parties to them to provide an opportunity to respond in a future issue if their views have not already been printed in an earlier letter.
Please send letters to be considered for publication to letters@canadianmennonite.org or to Canadian Mennonite, 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON, N2L 6H7, “Attn: Letter to the Editor.” Letters may be edited for length, style and adherence to editorial guidelines.
Mennonites should be present at Caledonia
I write to once again question the presence or voice of the Mennonite community in response to the continued violence escalating at the Caledonia, Ont., Reclamation Site. After returning from being at the site and doing work in Six Nations during my three weeks of holidays, I am amazed the Mennonites still have not shown themselves or made a visible presence known in this situation.
Here on Canadian soil we have one of the greatest travesties of justice being played out before the world and Mennonites, who are good at discussing how their peace position is supposed to change the world, are nowhere to be seen.
At this point I have to congratulate the Iroquois people and some of the residents of Caledonia, who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to try to get the truth out about what is really occurring at Caledonia. Maybe the lack of a Mennonite presence also has to do with guilt over Mennonite ownership of some of the land in question that is associated with the Haldimand Tract.
In early Mennonite history in their relations with the Iroquois, even though you don’t have it written down in your history books (believe me, I know, I took Mennonite history at Canadian Mennonite Bible College and there was only one small paragraph that addressed Mennonite relations with Indian people), Mennonites and Iroquois pledged to help and support each other. As such, lands in Pennsylvania were opened to the Mennonites, with the guarantee that if anyone tried to harass them or injure the peace, the Iroquois would dispense justice.
Now it’s time for turn about and fair play. But where are the Mennonites? Apparently, they are sitting back, reading the paper or maybe writing a letter or two. Whatever the case, my disappointment at the lack of Mennonite involvement leaves me with the same bad taste in my mouth that Judge Marshall’s illegal proclamations do. So much for justice in this our home and native land.
Creative ways to reduce military tax contributions
Canadian Mennonite recently reported a call for new efforts to ask our government to allow us to divert the portions of our income taxes used for the war effort to foreign aid (“Protesting military taxes,” July 31, page 7).
This has been tried with limited success in times past, and I don’t hold out for greater things to come any time soon.
I believe that if we truly want to avoid war, we need to be guided by our conference leaders before an election by an announcement describing the party that might be more in tune with our peace stance. A lot of my acquaintances voted Conservative in the last election, based on quasi-religious grounds, and the result is manifest in increased military spending. The religious talk is long forgotten and military thinking reigns anew—witness the number of bumper stickers with yellow ribbons or the number of veterans’ licence plates.
However, there may still be ways to channel more of our financial resources directly to the needy. One way is to increase our charitable donations to 20 percent of our income. We are fortunate to have responsible leaders in our Mennonite organizations who ensure that the funds reach their intended destination.
Another way to reduce our Mennonite contributions to the military is to reduce our family income. This could be done by hiring a brother in the church who is in need of financial support to work a few hours a month for us, and pay him more than the going rate! Our family income may also be reduced by just one spouse working and the other spending more time with the children—or perhaps doing voluntary work.
Youths thankful for MC Saskatchewan VBS experience
This summer, along with five other students—Carissa Feick, Michael Bueckert, Joel Bueckert, Wendy Luitjens and Ashley Wiebe—I had the wonderful opportunity of working with Mennonite Church Saskatchewan’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) troupe. The experience was something irreplaceable and almost indescribable. The children were well behaved, the food was good and the billets were great.
Many times, although we were there to teach, the children would be the ones to teach us valuable lessons. One child stands out particularly in my mind. He had a very positive attitude and loved to say “easy shmeezy.” On the surface it was just a cute saying from a little four-year-old boy, but when I thought about it more, I realized that, although God does not promise us that life will be easy, he does tell us that he will go with us in all circumstances and help us through all trials. This thought alone helped make my summer a whole lot easier; I always knew that there was someone to turn to in all my times of need.
It was also interesting to note the ways God always proved faithful and gave us exactly what we needed. Often times I would find myself praying for a good, refreshing sleep; however, sleep did not always come quickly since I shared a room almost every week (and you know what happens when girls share a room). Lots of times, late night talks were the most meaningful, the most uplifting talks we had, something I wouldn’t trade for the world. But God still came through and provided me with the energy I needed, even if only for those two-and-a-half hours that we were with the children. What an awesome God we serve!
In closing, on behalf of the VBS troupe, I extend a big thank you to the MC Saskatchewan conference for providing us, as youths, with this opportunity to extend the kingdom of God to the children of our province and beyond. Also, thanks so much to the many people who prayed for us during the summer months; your prayers were greatly appreciated and the support could be felt as we travelled from one church to another. May God bless those who had a part, and those who will have a part, in this ministry.
Church should provide comfort and challenge
In response to Jack Suderman’s editorial, “What about the young adults?” Sept. 4, page 2, I would like to say, “Amen, hallelujah!”
At the age of 28, I have just spent the last 10 years of my life in the age group he describes. I happen to know that Suderman did not have a chance to visit my church, but I think he would have found the same things he describes from his experiences elsewhere.
I want a congregation that is engaged in the community while also thinking globally. I want a congregation that is seeking to promote justice in every way possible. I want to worship with people who are engaged in the life of the church and maintain accountability to each other. I want to worship and be church in a context of creative innovation, trying new things, and encouraging those who often sit on the sidelines to participate in ways they are comfortable with. I want to be part of a community that supports each other through the highs and lows of life in this crazy world. I also want to be part of a church that believes in having fun, fellowshipping and connecting in many ways—regardless of age, gender, family status or whatever our hang-ups may be.
Church is a community based on similar foundational beliefs. It is a place where all can be made comfortable while also being challenged to think in new ways. It is a place where we share our gifts and resources with each other. It is a place of accountability and support. If we return to the foundations of what it means to be church together, I believe that many people, young and old, will join us. This type of community is what our secular society cannot offer and exactly what we all need.
Family Ties
Cross-cultural stretching
Each time I visit my in-laws, I hear new colourful expressions I hadn’t heard before: “Holy buckets!” “Raw pickle.” “A nickel’s worth of $10 bills.” They remind me of the cross-cultural experience present in family relations.
Another example comes from Charleswood, the church where I worship. An English-speaking Mennonite congregation with strong German influences, it includes a substantial number of Koreans. Over time, the language of Korea has been included in the service. Currently, on most Sundays the Bible is read in Korean. Pastor John Braun has taken it upon himself to learn some Korean and can now lead communion using both English and Korean.
While I understand not a word of Korean, the experience of hearing a language that I cannot understand in worship expands my perspective on the church of Jesus Christ. As scripture is read, I ponder the church in Korea and other places in Asia. I consider the way Korean Christianity was shaped by American soldiers during and after the Korean War. I marvel at the spread of Anabaptism in Korea, and think of my Korean friends who claim their Anabaptist heritage joyfully, with the passion of the early Anabaptists.
Church musician John Bell says that the Christian church of the 21st century is predominantly composed of people who speak languages other than English, are poor, and live in countries outside of Europe and North America. Therefore, he counselled, the least we can do to stand in solidarity with these sisters and brothers is to sing one song each Sunday in their languages. To do so enriches our faith as well.
Such an attitude stands in contrast to the T-shirt slogan I once saw at a Pennsylvania flea market that proclaimed stridently, “You’re in America now. Speak English!” Cross-cultural encounters can bring out the best and worst in people. In our families and close relationships, we often prefer to be with people who are similar to us, who share our customs and preferences, who “speak our language.” It is hard work to stretch across differences.
On the other hand, there are many rewards. For starters, think of marriage, which requires some kind of difference, some degree of letting go of one’s first family, to join with another person. New blood is necessary for lots of reasons. The capacity to stretch beyond one’s familiar culture enables new life to be created. Similarly, parents or other adults in the family may find themselves at places they hadn’t imagined they would go, as they respond to the interests or cultures of their children and children’s spouses. Recently, my husband and I dutifully—if somewhat reluctantly—ate the sushi our 20-year-old son requested for his birthday.
“Holy buckets!” is one of my mother-in-law’s favourite oaths when she is dealt an exceptional hand in Rook. “Raw pickle” is her term for cucumbers. And “a nickel’s worth of $10 bills” was what she asked me to pick up for her at the flea market. With a smile, I’m learning to translate.
God, money and me
Lost and alone
Have you ever been lost and alone in the dark? I have. Years ago I had to drive home from a meeting in a small town in southern Ontario. A few left and right turns later, I was lost in the night, unable to retrace my steps, and with no cell phone or a map of the area. The road names were unfamiliar and there were no directional signs for other towns or settlements. It was after midnight and all the farms on the gravel road were dark.
Deciding that further driving was pointless, I stopped at the crest of a hill, turned off the car and stepped out. Surveying the surrounding area I could see the glow of lights in the distance. If I headed towards the city I would be back in recognizable territory. Once back on familiar roads, it was simple to navigate my way safely home. That night, the glow of lights in the distance was a beacon calling me safely home.
We are surrounded by people who are lost, and often alone, in the dark. Some may never have heard the good news of Christ, some may have made poor life decisions and some may have intentionally turned away and are unable to find their way back. We may encounter these people in our homes, schools, churches and businesses.
When we look around our communities, we will find agencies and organizations, many of them Christian-based, that seek to improve the lives of those who are lost and in need of help. Some of us may have the gifts, abilities and calling to work or volunteer at these agencies, but some of us don’t.
What can we do? We can provide support for those who do the work. It could be donating funds, offering prayer, providing supplies or a friendly ear. I Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) has adopted this scripture, and we use it as our guide while serving the Christian community.
Money is a great tool and we can easily find ways to spend all we have. Jesus reminded the rich young man that in order to have eternal life he needed to do two things: keep the commandments and give his wealth to the poor, so that he may have treasure in heaven. We also are to fight the temptation to keep what God has given us, to open our hands and give back to God, and to provide help to those who are in need.
By sharing our stories, questions and struggles around the use of money, and by pooling our funds, donations and tithes, we are able to make our Christian light shine a little brighter.
You may have some questions surrounding the relationship between faith and money, or you may be ready to help shine the light of Christian love by donating funds during your lifetime or through your estate. At MFC, we are ready to work with you and assist you in shining the light as brightly as possible to reach out to those who are lost and alone.