Saturday, July 31, 2021
11:00 am – God Rocks, Carol Duerksen, Doris Unruh, Allison Weaver
How does God rock your congregation? Our interactive seminar will explore what our multi-age faith curriculum can provide for your children, youth and adults at home or in a congregational setting. Bring a device (phone, kindle, or computer to participate (not required to attend).
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Sanctuary OR on YouTube Live
11:00 am – Reimagine, Revitalize, and be Relevant, Sandra Montes-Martinez
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Fig Hall
11:00 am – One Small Step: Conversation in Christ’s Presence, Heidi Regier Kreider
WDC Conference Minister Heidi Regier Kreider will tell about her experience as a participant in One Small Step, a nationwide project created by the non-profit organization StoryCorps, designed to match persons from different points of view for online conversations together. (See https://storycorps.org/discover/onesmallstep/). The seminar will explore how listening to the “other” and sharing our own faith stories with others are important steps toward practicing an Anabaptist theology of incarnation and reconciliation. Seminar attenders will also learn about the opportunity to participate in WDC’s dedicated recording days with One Small Step, October 7-9, 2021.
Location – Zoom link
11:00 am – A Mental Health Pandemic: Learning About and Responding to Depression and Anxiety, Marcy Johnson, Dr. Elizabeth Guhman
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of mental health challenges among pastors and people of faith, including depression and anxiety. Learn how to identify these mental health issues and how to respond from Dr. Elizabeth Guhman, LP, Vice President of Clinical Services at Prairie View, and Marcy Johnson, LCPC, President and CEO at Prairie View.
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Room 125
1:30 pm – Experts or Companions? Partnering with Families on Faith Formation, Talashia Keim Yoder
Parents are often afraid of engaging faith at home, because they aren’t experts. What if they get something wrong??? Churches have a huge role to play in equipping parents to be companions with their children on a mutual journey of discovery. Talashia Keim Yoder, one of the creators of God’s Story, God’s Song, will lead a conversation about faith formation in the church and at home.
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Sanctuary OR on YouTube Live
1:30 pm – Grappling with Land Acknowledgement: the Southern Hills Experience, Raylene Hinz Penner
Southern Hills Mennonite Church intended to acknowledge in a statement the land where our church stands as Kansa people’s homeland. Our studies took us into issues of creation care and an exploration of the impact of a settler mentality on our lives and the lives of our neighbors today. “It is not your fault. It is definitely your response-ability.” (Nikki Sanchez)
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Fig Hall
1:30 pm – Spirituality and Creation Care, Janeen Bertsche Johnson, Dr. Ncube
How might we ground our care of God’s creation more deeply in our worship and life of faith? Two “sisters” from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary will explore themes of wonder, gratitude, humility, lament, longing and hope, care-taking, and commitment as foundations for our work against climate change and for the restoration of the earth. We will look at scripture passages, hymns, and prayers that can help us deepen and express these themes. Presenters: Janeen Bertsche Johnson is Director of Campus Ministries, Development and Admissions Associate, and Alumni Director at AMBS. From 1989-1995 she was on the pastoral team at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita. She is a member of the Board of Reference of the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (an EMU/Goshen/MCC collaboration) and coordinator of AMBS’ Rooted and Grounded Conferences on Land and Christian Faith. Dr. Sibonokuhle Ncube is a third-year MDiv student at AMBS and has been a Global Voices Climate speaker and pastoral intern with the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions. Before beginning seminary studies, she was executive director of the relief and development agency of the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe, a partner of Mennonite Central Committee. Janeen and her husband Barry and Sibonokuhle and her three daughters live in the same household in Goshen, Indiana.
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Room 125
1:30 pm – Gaza Twinning Initiatives, Bob Atchison
Related to the recent violence between Israeli’s and Palestinians, Bob Atchison and Esther Koontz, of the WDC Task Force on Israel Palestine, will provide an update on the current situation, a review of the Gaza Twinning Initiative at Manhattan Mennonite Church and actions that can be taken to help bring peace and justice to the region.
Location: Zoom link
3:30 pm – 7 Noteworthy Features of Voices Together, Cynthia Neufeld Smith
Explore our new worship and music resource with Cynthia Neufeld Smith, one of the project members, and friends. Sing new songs, hear stories, ask questions.
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Sanctuary OR on YouTube Live
3:30 pm – A Mental Health Pandemic: Learning About and Responding to Depression and Anxiety, Marcy Johnson, Dr. Elizabeth Guhman
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of mental health challenges among pastors and people of faith, including depression and anxiety. Learn how to identify these mental health issues and how to respond from Dr. Elizabeth Guhman, LP, Vice President of Clinical Services at Prairie View, and Marcy Johnson, LCPC, President and CEO at Prairie View.
Location: Faith Mennonite Church Fig Hall
3:30 pm – Welcoming Immigrants through Advocacy, Tammy Alexander (Director, MCC US National Advocacy and Program)
Hear what actions the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress are taking related to immigration, where advocacy is needed, and how you can be part of the movement for more fair and just immigration policies.
Location: Zoom link