WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
May 4, 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)
We invite your continuing support for WDC! Contributions may be made HERE.
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Perennial or Annual Ministries?
*Announcements
*WDC Ministerial and Credential Announcements
Perennial or Annual Ministries?
by Kathy Neufeld Dunn, WDC Associate Conference Minister (Kansas-Based)
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up…” (Ecclesiastes 3.1-3).
Many of you enjoy planting flowers. Likewise, every spring Heidi faithfully plants flowers like pansies or begonias in the flower boxes in front of the Western District Conference Office in North Newton. She replants these annuals every year to bring joy and beauty for a season to all the people who visit our office and the other businesses in the building.
I admit I do not have the patience to plant annuals. Why put in all that work for one season? I love perennials like irises and daffodils that bloom again and again, year after year. I’m happy to plant them. They seem worth the effort.
I was recently challenged to imagine perennial and annual flowers as metaphors for congregational ministries. Would we be willing to put in the effort to launch a new ministry that we knew would be short-lived? Our communities are in such a state of flux right now. Will we lean into sharing the good news of Jesus in short-term, impactful ways or will we focus on returning to and maintaining the ministries we’ve been doing for years?
In my home town of McPherson, KS, once every five years our oil refinery does a deep clean, maintenance, and testing cycle called “turn around.” This process brings in hundreds of contractors for about six months or so. What if followers of Jesus in this community would offer fellowship meals and a video-based men’s bible study for these lonely guys? It would be a short-lived ministry. Would it be worth it?
The pandemic may have given your congregation new awareness about needs in your community. Some of them may be crisis-driven or seasonal. How do we discern if such a ministry would be worth it or not? One of the tests of spiritual discernment is has God given someone in your congregation the gift to respond well to these needs? Is that person sensing the Spirit’s call to reach out?
There’s nothing wrong with perennial ministries like volunteering with Mennonite Disaster Service or feeding people through your local food bank or soup kitchen. In fact, some ministries like these might need more volunteers right now.
Other ministries that you’ve been doing for years might need to be pruned or even “plucked up,” as the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us. As we return to our church buildings, we are carefully discerning next steps. Add your perennial ministries to the discernment conversation. Is God still calling us to offer the same community prayer breakfast or supper fundraiser that we do every year? What did we learn as this ministry lay dormant or was revised last year?
Will you be planting the seeds of a new annual ministry that might last for a season or not? Will you be enjoying your faithful perennial ministries again or laying some of them to rest? Or perhaps both? Listen for what the Holy Spirit might be saying and learn from the flowers.
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¿Ministerios Perennes o Anuales?
“Todo tiene su momento oportuno; hay un tiempo para todo lo que se hace bajo el cielo:
un tiempo para nacer, y un tiempo para morir;
un tiempo para plantar, y un tiempo para cosechar;
un tiempo para matar, y un tiempo para sanar;
un tiempo para destruir, y un tiempo para construir;” (Eclesiastés 3:1-3)
Como muchos de ustedes, cada primavera, Heidi planta fielmente pensamientos o begonias en las jardineras frente a la Oficina de la Conferencia del Western District (WDC) en North Newton. (No sé si Sandra hace lo mismo o no en la soleada Dallas). Ella vuelve a plantar estas plantas anuales todos los años para brindar alegría y belleza durante una temporada a todas las personas que visitan nuestra oficina y los demás negocios del edificio.
Admito que no tengo paciencia para plantar plantas anuales. ¿Por qué poner todo ese trabajo durante una temporada? Me encantan las plantas perennes como los lirios y los narcisos que florecen una y otra vez, año tras año. Estoy feliz de plantarlos. Parece que valen la pena el esfuerzo.
Recientemente tuve el desafío de imaginar las flores perennes y anuales como metáforas de los ministerios congregacionales. ¿Estaríamos dispuestos a esforzarnos por lanzar un nuevo ministerio que sabíamos que sería de corta duración? Nuestras comunidades están en un estado de cambio en este momento. ¿Nos inclinaremos a compartir las buenas nuevas de Jesús de manera impactante a corto plazo o nos centraremos en regresar y mantener los ministerios que hemos estado haciendo durante años?
En la ciudad donde vivo, McPherson, KS, una vez cada cinco años, nuestra refinería de petróleo realiza un ciclo de prueba, mantenimiento y limpieza profunda. Este proceso atrae a cientos de contratistas durante unos seis meses más o menos. ¿Qué pasaría si los seguidores de Jesús en esta comunidad ofrecieran una comida de compañerismo y un estudio bíblico en video para estos hombres solitarios? Sería un ministerio de corta duración. ¿Valdría la pena?
Es posible que la pandemia haya dado a su congregación una nueva conciencia sobre las necesidades de su comunidad. Algunos de ellos pueden ser impulsados por crisis o estacionales. ¿Cómo discernimos si tal ministerio valiera la pena o no? Una de las pruebas del discernimiento espiritual es, ¿le ha dado Dios a alguien de su congregación el don de responder bien a estas necesidades? ¿Está esa persona sintiendo el llamado del Espíritu para alcanzar a otros?
No hay nada de malo en los ministerios perennes como ser voluntario del Servicio Menonita para Desastres o alimentar a la gente a través de su banco de alimentos local o comedor de beneficencia. De hecho, algunos ministerios como estos podrían necesitar más voluntarios en este momento.
Es posible que algunos ministerios que ha estado haciendo durante años deban ser podados o incluso “arrancados”, como nos dice el escritor de Eclesiastés. Al regresar a los edificios de nuestra iglesia, discernimos cuidadosamente los próximos pasos. Agregue sus ministerios perennes a la conversación de discernimiento. ¿Dios todavía nos llama a ofrecer el mismo desayuno de oración comunitaria o cena para recaudar fondos que hacemos todos los años? ¿Qué aprendimos cuando este ministerio permaneció inactivo o fue revisado el año pasado?
¿Plantará las semillas de un nuevo ministerio anual que podría durar una temporada o no? ¿Volverá a disfrutar de sus fieles ministerios perennes o dejará descansar algunos de ellos? ¿O quizás ambos? Escuche lo que el Espíritu Santo podría estar diciendo y aprenda de las flores.
WDC announcements
- The WDC Resource Library is now open to the public – Library capacity will be limited to one household in the library at a time. The self-checkout station & library catalog computer will remain off during this phase of reopening. Please see library staff or WDC staff for assistance in looking up items (or browse the catalog on your smartphone). Please plan to make your visit to the library quick and not linger (couches/chairs will be turned around for the time being). Please stop at the WDC front lobby to check whether there is anyone in the library. Questions? Contact the library at crlib@mennowdc.org As in the rest of the WDC offices, masks are required while you are in the library. The library continues to offer service to any individual or congregation in WDC via the United States Postal Service–check out the online catalog here.
- Youth ministry support: Pastors and youth leaders – As you offer ministry with youth in your congregation, we encourage you to contact Dwight Regier, Youth Ministry Network Team Leader for WDC and South Central Mennonite Conference. He is available for consultation with youth pastors, as well as with youth sponsors and other ministry leaders from congregations without paid youth ministry staff. Dwight is happy to have conversations about vision and resources for youth faith formation, practical ways to involve youth in ministry leadership, and ideas for doing ministry safely in the continuing pandemic. To schedule a conversation via phone, zoom or in-person with Dwight, contact him at dwightr@mennowdc.org, or 316-283-6672. God’s blessing and wisdom be with you as you nurture the faith of youth!
WDC Ministerial and Credential announcements
Julio Duenas, Retired Pastor – Probation status removed as of April 15, 2021, with the submission of his Credentialed Minister Ethics Signature form.
Camp Mennoscah announcements
- Nurses needed for summer youth camps! Camp Mennoscah needs nurses for June 17-19 (First Camp), June 20-26 (Junior I) and July 25-30 (Senior High). Nurses receive a stipend or a discount up to full camp fees for their camper (camper does not have to attend the same camp week). Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.orgfor more information.
- Help set up camp! Volunteers are needed to help set up the HUGE tents used for this summer’s youth camps at Camp Mennoscah. Setup will happen May 28 and 29. Sign up by May 15 by contacting 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org.
- Congratulations! Deborah, Camp Mennoscah’s dedicated and generous office assistant of over 7 years, is retiring! She has reduced her hours and has graciously agreed to stay on for a time while the next assistant is found. Camp Mennoscah is seeking someone to share in office/support operations and guest services in a position with potential growth. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.orgfor information.
- Camp Mennoscah is seeking to fill a part-time custodian/housekeeper position. Hours average 10 per week and are flexible, dependent upon the camp schedule. For more information, contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org
Mennonite church announcements
- From Lombard Mennonite Peace Center – Registration is now open for several events in June and beyond, take advantage of these opportunities for spiritual and professional growth:
Conflict Transformation Skills (June 3) helps church leaders deal more effectively with potentially destructive conflict. For details consult this CTS Brochure.
Leadership and Anxiety in the Church (June 9) helps church leaders examine their role as self-differentiated leaders and their ability to help calm the chronic anxiety that affects their congregations. For details consult this LAC Brochure.
Healthy Congregations (June 15) helps church leaders deal with the chronic anxiety that threatens to distract congregants from their God-given mission and purpose. For details consult this HC Brochure.
MSTI Refresher Course (June 12) is a one-day review for graduates of our Mediation Skills Training Institute.
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (June 21-25) helps participants deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For details consult this MSTI Brochure.
Groups rates are available for all of the above one-day workshops. Restrictions apply. Group organizers may wish to use this Registration Form to compile names and contact information for members of their group. For more information please visit https://lmpeacecenter.org/ or contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org).
- Glen Guyton has been reappointed for a second three-year term as executive director of Mennonite Church USA. Read about his goals and accomplishments here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/glen-second-term
- Mennonite Church USA profiled Amy Yoder McGloughlin – mom, pastor and peacemaker with Christian Peacemaking Teams – as part of its Learn, Pray, Join: Cost of War initiative. Read about Yoder McGloughlin’s journey in “From Palestine to Pennsylvania, peacemaking is not passive.” https://www.mennoniteusa.org/palestine-to-pa
- Carlos Romero shared about his experience as the first Latino executive director of Mennonite Education Agency and about his anti-racism work in the education system in a recent interview. Read more. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/table-menno-educationEn español: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/por-ampliar-la-mesa
- Voices Together was made with children in mind, too! Read Ingrid and Anneli Loepp Thiessen’s blog, “Introducing Voices Together to Children: Ten ideas,” for examples of how to integrate Voices Together into children’s programming. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/vt-children-ten-ideas
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