WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
June 22, 2021
A weekly communication for WDC Churches and Pastors
WDC Executive Board, Commission, Committee and Task Force members
Any content may be used in bulletins and newsletters and
forwarded to congregational leaders and members.
WDC Sprouts is also available at: www.mennowdc.org (Publications)
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IN THIS ISSUE:
*Entretejidos en la historia con Dios / Intertwined in God’s Story
*Announcements
*WDC Ministerial and Credential Announcements
Entretejidos en la historia con Dios
Por Sandra Montes-Martinez, WDC Associate Conference Minister (Texas-Based)
Este pasado junio 12 las congregaciones Menonitas de WDC celebramos un culto unido virtual, donde participaron con diferentes dones muchas de las congregaciones y pudimos compartir como nuestras congregaciones se entretejen en la historia de Dios. aunque el tiempo fue limitado podemos conocer de lo que Dios está haciendo desde Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Pasadena, Waco y Austin en Texas.
Seguramente todos podríamos compartir como en nuestra propia historia estamos Entrelazados en la Historia de Dios, como preámbulo del tema de la asamblea anual de WDC 2021.
Esta misma practica la encontramos en el relato Bíblico, pues en la Biblia encontramos precisamente esto, la historia de un pueblo e individuos en su caminar con Dios.
Durante este tiempo tan fuera de lo común que vivimos, seguramente hemos puesto mas atención a nuestro común modo de vivir y como Dios ha actuado es las diversas situaciones que hemos vivido, donde muchos hemos tenido que replantear prioridades, adaptarnos y sobrevivir a los retos de las tareas más ordinarias hasta las mas complejas.
Probablemente su historia y la mía no se parecen mucho, pero estoy segura de que podríamos encontrar un común denominador, esa hebra que nos enlaza y nos une en nuestras historias familiares y en la historia como pueblo de Dios.
Como lo enseña el apóstol en Efesios 4:15-16 y lo nombra como “el vínculo perfecto” Col 3:14.
Este vinculo perfecto es quien nos inspira a mantener la unidad, a buscar la paz con todos, pedir y otorgar el perdón, dispuestos a la reconciliación.
Pero este amor que nace de Dios y que tanto se nos habla no puede existir sin la plenitud de Cristo en nuestras vidas, tenemos que invitar a Jesucristo a la vida nuestra y de la iglesia. No vasta con hablar de Jesús sino ser realmente seguidores y entrelazar nuestro diario vivir a las enseñanzas de Jesús y no conformarnos meramente con conocer de El sino vivir en El cómo fue el ejemplo entre Jesús y el Padre.
Entonces podremos ver como su historia y la mía se enlazan por el vínculo perfecto del amor.
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Intertwined in God’s story
This past June 12, WDC congregations of Texas celebrated virtual joint worship, where many of the congregations participated with different gifts and we were able to share how our congregations are entwined in God’s story. Although time was limited, we learned about what God is doing in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Pasadena, Waco, and Austin in Texas.
Surely, we could all share how in our own stories we are Woven into God’s Story, as a prelude to the theme of the WDC annual assembly 2021.
We find this same practice in the Biblical narratives of a people and individuals in their walk with God.
During this unusual time in which we are living, surely we have paid more attention to our common way of living and how God has acted in the various situations we have experienced. Many of us have had to rethink priorities, adapt, and survive the challenges of the most ordinary tasks to the most complex.
Your story and mine are probably not much alike, but I am sure we could find a common denominator, that thread that binds us together and unites us in our family histories and in history as God’s people – as the apostle teaches in Ephesians 4: 15-16, and names it as “the perfect bond” Col 3:14.
This perfect bond is what inspires us to maintain unity, to seek peace with everyone, ask and grant forgiveness, ready for reconciliation.
But this love that is born of God and that is spoken to us so much cannot exist without the fullness of Christ in our lives. We must invite Jesus Christ into our lives and that of the church. It is not enough to talk about Jesus; we must be real followers and intertwine our daily lives to the teachings of Jesus, and settle for not merely knowing him but living in him as the example between Jesus and the Father was.
Then we can see how your story and mine are linked by the perfect bond of love.
WDC announcements
- Have you noticed WDC’s website has a new look? Check it out at https://mennowdc.org. While it is still a work in progress, the refreshed website is now THE place to go for all things WDC! Beginning in July, the WDC Sprouts weekly newsletter email will be discontinued. WDC articles, announcements, and other information will be posted exclusively on the website. Email alerts will be sent to let you know when new content has been posted.
- The WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 30-Aug 1, both virtually and at Faith Mennonite Church, 2100 North Anderson in Newton KS. Saturday, July 31 food options for persons attending onsite: Lunch: pre-order a box lunch (by July 20, please) when you fill out your Assembly registration form, or you are welcome to bring your own lunch. Supper: food trucks will offer a variety of options to purchase, or you are welcome to bring your own supper. For more Assembly info and to register, go to: https://mennowdc.org/2021-wdc-annual-assembly/
- The WDC Annual Assembly Delegate Session on July 31 at 8:30-10:30 will be virtual only. To participate in discussions and decision-making, each delegate must have their own device – computer, smartphone or tablet. If you don’t have one, call your church, there’s probably someone who’d be willing to share theirs for two hours. For more Assembly info and to register, go to: https://mennowdc.org/2021-wdc-annual-assembly/.
- Join in this special Annual Assembly storytelling opportunity! WDC’s Assembly theme July 30-August 1 is “Woven into God’s Story.” StoryCorps has invited WDC to partner with their storytelling project, One Small Step, to share and record our own stories within WDC. One Small Step is an initiative to facilitate conversations across differences. (Facilitators are bilingual in Spanish and English.) It’s a chance to spend time virtually with someone different than you and discover the stories behind each other’s beliefs. To join another WDC member for an online conversation, sign up at https://onesmallstep.storycorps.org/wdc/. The registration deadline is June 25 and virtual recordings will be scheduled July 28-30. For more information about One Small Step see attached flyer.
¡Oportunidad especial de contar historias en la Asamblea Anual! El tema de la Asamblea de WDC del 30 de julio al 1 de agosto es “Entrelazados en la historia de Dios”. StoryCorps ha invitado a WDC a asociarse con su proyecto de narración, One Small Step, para compartir y grabar nuestras propias historias dentro de WDC. One Small Step es una iniciativa para facilitar las conversaciones a través de las diferencias. (Los facilitadores son bilingües en español e inglés). Es una oportunidad de pasar tiempo virtualmente con alguien diferente a usted y descubrir las historias detrás de las creencias de cada uno. Para unirse a otro miembro de WDC para una conversación en línea, regístrese en https://onesmallstep.storycorps.org/wdc/. La fecha límite de inscripción es el 25 de junio y las grabaciones virtuales se programarán del 28 al 30 de julio. Para obtener más información sobre One Small Step, consulte el folleto adjunto.
- A/V Volunteers Needed: A hybrid Annual Assembly has lots of opportunity for you to operate sound and video equipment for an hour or more, as your schedule allows. The onsite coordinator will support your efforts. If you are interested in volunteering, please email our Assembly Coordinator, Kathy Neufeld Dunn, at kathynd@mennowdc.orgwith your interest? Thanks! Our Technology Coordinator will contact you with details.
- Join others from across WDC to discuss “Why Do We Suffer and Where is God When We Do?” by Valerie G. Rempelon Thursday, June 24 at 7:00pm via Zoom. Register for the online discussion or to borrow a copy at crlib@mennowdc.org
- The WDC Immigration Task Force invites you to join a Virtual Borderlands Learning Tour, June 28 – July 2 from 2-5 p.m. CDT each day via Zoom. Engage with the reality of immigration from a different perspective. Through virtual conversations, participants will hear first-hand from folks on the ground about the complexities of the U.S. immigration system, U.S. immigration policies that have worked to dismantle the asylum-seeking process, and the human factor on various sides of the spectrum. For more information and to register: mcc.org/gl-virtual-borderlands.
Camp Mennoscah announcements
- Family Weekend at Camp Mennoscah on July 17-18! If you’re looking for a weekend to escape, this retreat offers a smorgasbord of camp activities for you to choose from and plenty of time to be with your family and friends. Register at campmennoscah.organd contact 620-297-3290 with questions!
- Extra help needed for summer youth camps! Camp Mennoscah has paid and volunteer positions for grounds, maintenance and custodial positions. For college age folks, there is a weekly stipend position for a lifeguard, grounds, or custodial position. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.orgfor details. You will make camp an amazing experience for everyone!
- August 28 is the next Work Day at Camp Mennoscah! We’ll remind you again, but save the date. You make camp great!
Mennonite church announcements
- Want to be an integral part of a young adult’s life? Become a unit leader for Service Adventure, a gap-year program for ages 17-20 from Mennonite Mission Network. Unit leaders, who are at least 24 years of age, serve as mentors to the young adults in the Service Adventure household. Leaders are needed in Johnstown, PA. Learn more by contacting SusanN@MennoniteMission.net.
- Iglesia Buenas Nuevas, a Mennonite Church USA congregation in San Juan, Texas, has a long-standing history of being a welcoming, multicultural community, with Black, Latino and white congregants. Learn more about this dynamic church here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/profile-iglesia-buenas-nuevas En español: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menoticias/iglesia-buenas-nuevas3. Sarah Augustine, author of “The Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery,” discussed her new book in a webinar presented by Mennonite Church USA and MennoMedia. Watch the webinar recording here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/webinars/4. What does peace have to do with Jesus? Or, maybe, what does Jesus have to do with peace? Dr. Meghan Larissa Good explores these questions in her blog, “Jesus and the Work of Peace,” and will speak on this during the July 7 worship service at MennoCon21. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/jesus-work-of-peace
- When Maribel Ramírez Hinojosa’s parents took her, as an infant, to be baptized, they found out that the priest would not baptize Maribel unless her parents changed her name to María. Read the story of how she and her family have dealt with the repercussions of this priest’s abuse of power here:https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/the-story-behind-my-name/
- Spiritual Director Jane Roeschley began this year by starting a journey with a spiritual practice called “word of the year.” In her blog, “Give Me a Word,” Roeschley opens up about this journey and how she moved from being skeptical to embracing and recommending the practice. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/give-me-a-word/
WDC Sprouts announcement guidelines: Announcements pertain to Western District Conference (WDC) ministries and churches, institutions with which WDC has formal relationships, and Mennonite Church USA agencies and ministries.
Western District Conference
2517 North Main, PO Box 306
North Newton KS 67117
316-283-6300; FAX: 316-283-0620
Email: wdc@mennowdc.org
Website: www.mennowdc.org