MMA, a national faith-based financial services organization, recently awarded Arlin D. Lapp its President’s Award at its national conference in South Bend, Ind. Lapp earned MMA’s highest honor in his role as Mennonite Foundation Eastern Regional Representative.
Based in Telford, Pa., Lapp has served MMA for 20 years, the majority of it with Mennonite Foundation.
The President’s Award was given by MMA President Larry Miller to recognize an individual who provides excellent and responsive service and gives members a unique and valuable experience with MMA. The award honors someone who represents “the face” of MMA and advances the vision of helping people integrate their finances with their faith.
“This was not something I was expecting and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way,” Lapp said.
“Arlin has shown an outstanding ability to be the face of MMA,” Miller said. “His professional work and his everyday practice of using his talents to serve others is an inspiration to his colleagues, his community, and MMA as a whole.”
A graduate of Ursinus College, Lapp is married to Janet, a retired middle school guidance counselor. The couple has 4 children and 9 grandchildren.
MMA helps people integrate faith and finances through its expertise in insurance and financial services. Rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition, MMA offers practical stewardship education and tools to individuals, congregations, and organizations. To learn more, visit www.MMA-online.org or call (800) 348-7468.
The multicultural and bilingual congregation is beginning a number of new ministries and outreach initiatives in the community and beyond. Under its “Acts 2 Ministry,” the congregation is developing a discipleship and housing ministry for single women; is a site for the Benefit Bank; serves as a host of ASSETS Montco, a small business training program; is strengthening its global mission connections; and developing “Kingdom entrepreneurship” to support future ministries. Plans for “Enlarging Our Place in God’s World” also include renovations of five properties owned by the congregation. The three-year capital campaign is earmarked for $670,000, with a long-term goal of $2 million.
Services will be held Sunday, May 18 at 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the Acts 2 Ministry and the recently acquired New Life Plaza will be dedicated during the second service. Both services will be held outdoors, at 25 East Marshall Street in Norristown.
The church, which will celebrate its 18th anniversary in July, began when three Norristown congregations, First Mennonite, Bethel Mennonite and Fuente de Salvación, decided to merge. It is pastored by Marta Castillo, Angel Tamayo and Ertell Whigham, Jr.
All are invited to worship; for more information call 610-279-5433
Esta congregación intercultural y bilingüe esta entrando en una nueva temporada de ministerio y evangelización en la comunidad de Norristown y mas allá. Bajo su Ministerio de Hechos 2, la congregación esta desarrollando discipulado/ministerio de vivienda para mujeres solteras, convirtiéndose en un sitio para el Banco de Beneficios, siendo anfitriones de ASSETS Montco (un programa de entrenamiento para pequeños empresarios) fortaleciendo su misión global de conexiones y desarrollando “Empresas de Reino” para apoyar ministerios futuros. Planes para “Agrandando Nuestro Lugar en el Mundo de Dios” también incluyen renovaciones para 5 propiedades de la congregación. La campaña de recaudación inicial de tres años esta destinada para alcanzar $670,000 con una capitalización eventual de $2 millones.
Servicio de Dedicación se efectuara el domingo, 18 de mayo, 10:45 a.m. y 2 p.m. Ambos servicios serán efectuados al aire libre en el 25 East Marshall Street. El segundo servicio incluye la dedicación del Ministerio de HECHOS 2 y la mas reciente adquisición de New Life Plaza Nueva Vida at 25 East Marshall Street.
Nueva Vida Norristown New Life también estará celebrando su 18vo aniversario en julio. La congregación empezó una unificación intencional de 3 congregaciones anteriormente de Norristown —First Mennonite, Bethel Mennonite y Fuente de Salvación. Es miembro de la Conferencia Menonita de Franconia e Iglesia Menonita USA. El equipo Pastoral esta formado por Marta Castillo, Angel Tamayo y Ertell Whigham, Jr.
¡Todos están bienvenidos a alabar el Señor con nosotros! Para información llame al 610-279-5433 ; www.norristownnewlife.com
Woods Tea Company is a frequent performer on PBS and performs fiery Celtic tunes, bluegrass, sea shanties and folk songs with equal skill. The Vermont-based group tours the country offering a mixture of lively and dry New England humor. The band consists of Howard Wooden, Mike Lussen, and Tom MacKenzie, who play instruments ranging from banjos, bouzoukis and bodhrans to guitars, ukuleles and the hammer dulcimer. They’ve been labeled as “America’s hardest working folk group” by National Public Radio. Click here for a sample of their music.
Ivan Stiles performs a unique blend of traditional and contemporary folk music, including intricate fiddle tunes, old-time favorites, jigs and reels of the British Isles, traditional ballads and original songs on the autoharp, mountain dulcimer, bowed psaltery and musical saw. He is also an instructor, author and the co-founder of Autoharp Quarterly magazine. He has taken first place at the International Autoharp Championship, the World Autoharp Championship and the Great Lakes Championship. In 2000, he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. Ivan has a great sense of humor; watch him perform “Cwazy”click here
The Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse is located in the Perkasie Mennonite Church hall at 4th and Chestnut Street in Perkasie, Pa. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance will begin at 7:30. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for ages 65 and older, $4 for students ages 13 and older, and children under 12 will be admitted for free. Refreshments will be sold. For directions or more information, go to www.perkmenno.org or call 215-723-2010.
Only a few more days until Penn View Christian School’s 47th Annual Country Fair and Auction with Chicken Barbecue! The event will be held on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17. Please plan on attending and enjoying all the good food, family fun, and community fellowship. Delicious chicken barbecue and strawberry pies will be served both days. The All-You-Can-Eat Country Breakfast is served from 7 -11 a.m. on Saturday morning and features an appearance by “Screwball”, the Reading Phillies mascot. There is free shuttle bus parking from Franconia Mennonite Church. Visit www.pennview.org for more details and to preview all the beautiful quilts!
All are invited to the Mennonite College Fair at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School on Monday, May 12. At 7 p.m. Dr. James Brenneman, President of Goshen College, will speak on the topic of “Quality with Soul: On Choosing a Mennonite College or University.” At 8 p.m. Michele Hensley, Director of Financial Assistance at Eastern Mennonite University, will lead a seminar on college financial aid. Admissions counselors and professors from Bethel College, Bluffton University, Eastern Mennonite University, and Goshen College will be available to address questions related to the admissions process. Kim Dryer, representing Mennonite Central Committee, will also be on hand to answer questions about mission opportunities with MCC. Visit www.dockhs.org for more information or call 215-362-2675.
Looking for an inexpensive, fun activity for the family? Methacton Mennonite Church is hosting a FREE movie night on Friday, May 16. They will be showing “The Adventures of Milo and Otis.” The show begins at 6:30 p.m. with free popcorn and beverages. For more information, visit www.methactonmennonite.org.
Nueva Vida Norristown New Life is “Enlarging Our Place in God’s World!” All are invited to Dedication Sunday, May 18, 10:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to celebrate what God is doing for, with, and through us. Both services will be held outdoors on East Marshall Street with a fellowship meal, children’s activities, and vision tours between the services. The second service includes the dedication of the ACTS 2 Ministry and New Life Plaza Nueva Vida. For more information, call 610-279-5433.
Zion Mennonite Church will be hosting the annual Couch Derby on Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. This is a fun-filled event where students decorate and modify couches and race them against other youth groups. This year’s contestants will include youth from 12 different congregations. All are welcome to come and cheer on the youth!
Vincent Mennonite Church in Spring City will be hosting a “Young Adult Conglomerate” Softball/Homerun Derby to be held in the church pavilion on Saturday, May 24 at 5 p.m. The Derby will begin at 5 p.m. followed by hotdogs and burgers at 6 p.m. There will be a worship service with music and a message at 7 p.m. The purpose of this event is to create a space where young people in our area can worship the Lord and fellowship as one. Bring your gloves and invite your friends. If you plan to attend, please bring a snack to share. Come for some of the time, or all the time! All are welcome! Call Rich Lindberg at 484-941-4923 for directions or for more information.
The Joyful Hearts chorus from Myerstown, PA will present a program at Providence Mennonite Church on Sunday, May 25 at 7 p.m. For more information or directions, call the church office at 610-489-8179. Everyone is welcome.
Volunteer and Job Opportunities
Mennonite Disaster Service has several urgent volunteer needs for the summer. A project director is needed for a youth project in July. The summer youth projects (June 8 – August 16) also urgently needs construction managers, cooks, office managers, and experienced crew leaders. Use your leadership and construction skills to encourage our youth to serve others. For more information, call 800-241-8111 or visit www.mds.mennonite.net.
Grace Mennonite Church in Lansdale, PA is looking to fill two paid staff positions. The first is a part-time maintenance position with hours Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The second position is Coordinator of Congregational Services. This is a part-time position (approximately 20 hours/week). If you are interested in learning more about either of these positions, contact Al Richter at 215-723-3900, ext. 108 or call the church office at 215-855-7718.
The current issue of The Mennonite is chalked full of Franconia Conference writers on the theme of evangelism. It’s unusual that a single issue of the Mennonite Church USA’s official magazine would feature this many writers from within a single constituency. According to Gordon Houser, associate editor for The Mennonite, the articles were submitted at different times and collected toward the issue’s theme.
The issue includes “Can we embrace evangelism and peace?” which was previously published as a Franconia Conference staff blog by Gay Brunt Miller, Director of Collaborative Ministries. Greg Albright from Whitehall (Pa.) Mennonite Church, who is a student at Swarthmore College in Philadelphia’s Main Line suburbs, tells of his experiment with “Confessional Evangelism” on campus. The third article is from Vic Sensenig, who is currently serving with Mennonite Central Committee in Indonesia and is a member of Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church. Sensenig explores the perspectives of new atheism and possible Christian response.
Conference Executive Minister Noel Santiago suggests, “Perhaps the Holy Spirit is re-enlivening part of our historic practice of discipleship with the same radical evangelistic witness that had significant impact in the world of the 16th century Anabaptists.” Santiago also highlights that these three articles come from persons in congregations with active initiatives to cultivate relationships with neighbors, friends and persons not currently professing Christian faith or involved in the life of the church. He asks, “What might this suggest about our missional future?”
Miriam F. Book and James M. Lapp were installed as pastors at Salford Mennonite Church on March 30. Mim will serve as lead pastor and James as preaching pastor.
Miriam, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., came to Salford in 2000 as an associate pastor. Mim was ordained in 1992 at Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Ind., and serves on the boards for Goshen (Ind.) College and Dock Woods Community in Lansdale, Pa. She is a graduate of Eastern University and received her pastoral training at London Bible College and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. She worked overseas for eleven years with Eastern Mennonite Missions.
Jim is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Va., and AMBS. He received his D.Min from Drew University in Madison, N.J. He was ordained in 1963 and served most recently for eleven years as conference pastor for Franconia Mennonite Conference. He will serve part-time, focusing primarily on preaching.
This will not be the first time Mim and Jim have worked together; both served many years as executive staff for the Mennonite Church General Board. They married in 2000.
Regular attendees and guests filled the sanctuary for the special installation service. Family of Mim and Jim provided the offertory music; Donella Clemens, Franconia Conference Minister, led the pastoral commitments; and Salford members as well as visiting friends of Mim and Jim offered words of blessing. Richard and Ruth Weaver, spiritual directors from Ephrata, Pa., administered the anointing of oil; and Salford’s adult and children’s choirs provided additional music.
Guest preachers for the service were Bob and Enid Schloneger, a retired husband-and-wife pastoral team who served at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church from 1999 to 2007. They now reside in Smithville, Ohio.
During the service, Mim voiced her desire to lead the congregation in fulfilling the purposes of God for the church; and following the example of Jesus, to be a person of love. Jim expressed his wish to help the congregation exemplify the purpose, presence and power of God in its mission in the world. Both are committed to lead the Salford congregation to live out Salford’s vision to be “a joyful, learning community eager to live and share the peaceable way of Jesus.”
Salford Mennonite Church, established in 1728, has approximately 400 current members and is located in Harleysville, Pa.
The hikers, Maoz Inon, 32, and David Landis, 25, have just taken a short hike down from the Mount of Beatitudes to the shore of the Sea of Galilee on part of the new Jesus Trail hiking route they have mapped out over the past five months.
“Can you imagine what it would be like for a hiker after walking the route for some hours and then to arrive here, or at another holy site? It is different than arriving on an air-conditioned bus,” said Inon.
The two young entrepreneurs — Inon, a Jewish Israeli, and Landis, an American Mennonite tourist who divides his time between Israel and other travel destinations — met over the Internet when Landis came across
Inon’s travel blog.
For several years Inon had toyed with the idea of mapping out a hiking trail along the route of Christian holy sites in Galilee. He found a partner in Landis, who shared his passion for hiking and world travel.
Landis mapped out the trail using Global Positioning System navigation and Google Earth, which offers searchable satellite imagery and maps. A map or GPS files of the route can be downloaded from the Web site — www.jesustrail.com — and an experienced hiker can set out on his own. The Web site also includes information about the trail,
accommodations, tour operators and other logistics.
The 40-mile trail, which follows the pre-existing Israel National Trail as much as possible, begins in Nazareth and passes through places of Jesus’ ministry: Cana, the site of the wedding feast and Jesus’ first miracle; Tabgha, where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes; and Capernaum, which served as Jesus’ home base during his ministry. The trail also includes traditional Israeli tourist sites such as Zippori, famous for its Byzantine mosaics, and the Cliffs of Arbel, with their
panoramic views.
The trail culminates at the Mount of Beatitudes. An optional return route of equal distance passes through additional sites on a circuit back to Nazareth.
Most of the trails are accessible to all hikers, with varying degrees of difficulties. Public transportation is easily accessible from many parts of the trail.
The trail follows the growing trend in pilgrimage hikes such as the Way of St. James to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela and the St. Paul Trail in Turkey, said Inon. A group from Harvard University is putting together a trail following in the footsteps of Abraham — from eastern Turkey, through Syria, Jordan and ending in Hebron, West Bank — as an interfaith peace-building project, he added.
The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has been considering a similar idea for almost eight years, but the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, said Amir Moran, who is working on the planning of the Gospel Trail for the Ministry of Tourism and the Galilee Development Authority. The Ministry of Tourism path, which will in many places follow the Jesus Trail, will include marked paths, parking lots, shaded areas, rest areas and other facilities, Moran said. The project, which is expected to be completed in about two years, will cost between $2 million and $3 million, he said.
“We as a public group need to make sure the tourists have a safe path to follow. There are things we as public officials can do which Maoz can’t do. I very much support Maoz’s initiative. The idea is a very
natural one,” said Moran.
Though it may be hard for the Western mindset to comprehend, Inon said with a grin that he and Landis expect no financial compensation for the work they are doing. They hope their path will attract more tourism to the area and encourage people to spend more time in northern Israel, eating at local restaurants, buying supplies from shops along the route
and visiting the small villages and Christian monasteries in the area.
“You give and you get,” said Inon, adding that they both enjoy the work they are doing and the people they are meeting along the way.
“Hiking is a much more humble way to travel,” said Landis. “You are in contact with people that you meet, you have to work for it and appreciate it more.
“You can connect with the way Jesus walked and lived as a real person. It is something that is moving and living. It is not just something that happened a long time ago that existed in one place, but something you
can participate in in a different way.
“Jesus didn’t build churches,” he added. “Jesus met people by walking from village to village.”
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service www.CatholicNews.com Used with permission of CNS
We have just learned from CNN that since changing the scheduled air date of the GC segment from tomorrow, it is scheduled right now to air first on Tuesday, May 6 (day of Indiana primary) during the American Morning show (6-9 a.m.), and then a longer piece on Sunday, May 11 between 10 p.m. and midnight.
When Goshen College senior Sheldon Good heard he might have a chance to be on CNN, he thought it was connected to his work on the Worm Project during his internship with Franconia Conference last summer.
It wasn’t until a few days later, when the college sent out an email about the opportunity to be interviewed by a national news network for a series on young voters, that he made the connection. Good responded to the email and was one of seven students selected to be a part of the panel.
CNN wanted to speak with Mennonites who are first-time voters this year and learn their views on the presidential election. With the Indiana presidential primary happening on May 6, they decided to visit Goshen College and hear from students about what political issues are important to them, as well as how their Mennonite faith informs their politics.
On Tuesday, April 15, CNN anchor Rick Sanchez hosted a roundtable discussion with seven Goshen College students as part of a series called “League of First Time Voters.” According to The Truth newspaper, Sanchez said “We’re talking to a group of Americans a lot of people don’t know about, but will soon know a lot about,” Sanchez said, “in their own words.”
Sanchez asked the students questions about foreign policy, immigration, Iraq, race, pacifism, youth engagement in politics this year, patriotism, social issues and the presidential candidates. CNN has previously taped similar discussions at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution in Pennsylvania, and Spelman College, a historically black college in Atlanta.
The taping was held at College Mennonite Church, which also serves as Goshen’s chapel. Only students involved in the event were allowed to enter the building, and inside local media were interviewing and photographing the students.
For Good, it was a chance to talk about two things he’s passionate about: faith and politics. It was also a chance for the communications major to observe the process and see the other side of national media.
Good says that CNN staff were really surprised at how well the college students conducted themselves, which was both flattering and humbling.
“I keep saying when I talked to people, I think CNN got what they came for—and I mean that in a good way.”
The students talked about their perspective as global citizens, emphasizing not only how decisions made here affect not only the United States, but people around the world. They also talked about the role their Anabaptist faith has played in shaping that perspective.
“It felt like we were representing more than ourselves . . . It was definitely humbling.”
The CNN segment at Goshen College is scheduled to air on the “American Morning” show, which is hosted by John Roberts and Kiran Chetry (Monday-Friday, 6-9 a.m.), on April 23, but will also be available on www.cnn.com and may air during other CNN programs.
Other students who participated in the roundtable included Elizabeth Beachy, Kalona, Iowa; Rebecca Fast, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen; Peter Koontz, Goshen, Ind.; Adriel Santiago, Souderton, Pa.; Jennifer Speight, Cleveland, Ohio; and Kendra Joy Sprunger, Goshen, Ind.
From Goshen College Public Relations Office. Franconia Conference staff contributed to this report. Photos courtesy of Goshen College.
Tending the souls of conference ministers and tending the system of denominational ministry is the way Gilberto Flores sees his new role in Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership.
Flores is the director of Denominational Ministry and Missional Church for Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership. He was formerly a denominational minister for Congregational and Ministerial Leadership and still heads the same office, although it underwent a name change in December.
With the new name comes a new structure that includes seven denominational ministers (up from four), who oversee relationships with the 21 area conferences of Mennonite Church USA. In addition to giving overall leadership for Denominational Ministry, Flores will also minister to the needs of five area conferences and their conference ministers.
“Gilberto brings pastoral instincts and missional theology and practice to his new role. He has earned respect as a leader and as a spokesperson for new initiatives of learning and witness,” says Jim Schrag, executive director for Mennonite Church USA. “Gilberto is multi-cultural in outlook, able to relate to and guide a wide variety of people within the church.”
The transition resulted from conversations with and prompting from conference ministers in 2007.
“At the denominational level, we faced the need to recreate ourselves, including a name that suggests we are moving toward a better understanding of who we are. If we are called denominational ministers, then that is what we are,” Flores says. “Our intention is to function as the ears of the denomination, to be more care-giving in our leadership and to reflect a missional intention in our name.”
The new name offers a more biblical vocabulary as well as a relational approach. The denominational ministers will expand the work that the Congregational and Ministerial Leadership office was doing in equipping congregational leaders for ministry and supporting conference ministers in their roles.
“I work best when I am working with friends, when I’m in relationship with people I trust and who care about me,” Weaver says. “My sense is that this particular change puts denominational ministers in a position to be much more relational in our work together and in my mind that will bring the best out of all of us.”
Denominational ministers will be better able to engage with area conferences through closer, more frequent relationships and discern, for example, when conference leaders need pastoral care.
“If we do what we call ‘healthy relationship in healthy systems,’ we will have healthy congregations, healthy conferences and a healthy denomination,” Flores says. “This is the first step, and we’re working hard to facilitate ways to interact between all these levels.”
Flores sees God in control as he describes what he hopes will be an improved, two-way relationship between conference and denominational leaders.
“We gospelize in our approach, and, in the process, they gospelize us,” he says.
Three new denominational ministers have been appointed to work with Mennonite Church USA conferences: Phil Bergey will relate to North Central and Western District. Iris De León-Hartshorn will minister to Illinois and Ohio. Jorge Vallejos is the denominational minister for South Central.
Keith Harder, former director of Congregational and Ministerial Leadership, is currently a denominational minister for Central District, Indiana-Michigan and Lancaster Conference, in addition to leading denominational efforts for a healthcare plan for congregational church workers.
Other denominational ministers continuing on are Linford King, who works with Allegheny, Franklin, New York and Virginia conferences; and Lee Lever, whose area includes Atlantic Coast, Central Plains, Eastern District, and Gulf States. Flores is conference minister for the Franconia, Mountain States, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, and Southeast conferences.
“Denominational ministry that connects to conference ministry enhances congregational ministry. This is the vanguard of our churchwide missional thrust as we see God at work in hundreds of contexts across Mennonite Church USA and respond to God’s example through innovative, creative local leadership,” says Schrag.
MMA, a national faith-based financial services organization, recently awarded Arlin D. Lapp its President’s Award at its national conference in South Bend, Ind. Lapp earned MMA’s highest honor in his role as Mennonite Foundation Eastern Regional Representative.
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The multicultural and bilingual congregation is beginning a number of new ministries and outreach initiatives in the community and beyond. Under its “Acts 2 Ministry,” the congregation is developing a discipleship and housing ministry for single women; is a site for the Benefit Bank; serves as a host of 
It wasn’t until a few days later, when the college sent out an email about the opportunity to be interviewed by a national news network for a series on young voters, that he made the connection. Good responded to the email and was one of seven students selected to be a part of the panel.
Tending the souls of conference ministers and tending the system of denominational ministry is the way Gilberto Flores sees his new role in 
“At the denominational level, we faced the need to recreate ourselves, including a name that suggests we are moving toward a better understanding of who we are. If we are called denominational ministers, then that is what we are,” Flores says. “Our intention is to function as the ears of the denomination, to be more care-giving in our leadership and to reflect a missional intention in our name.”