| Home | Welcome | Happenings | Info Sheet | Who to Contact |
| Our History | Our Covenant | Reflections | Map | Links |
| How we work together | Send us email | |||
| Fall 1998 | Winter 1999 | Spring 1999 | Summer 1999 |
| Fall 1999 | Winter 2000 | Spring 2000 | Summer 2000 |
| Fall 2000 | Winter 2001 | Spring 2001 | Fall 2001 |
| Winter 2002 |
| Waterloo North Reflections
Editorial Committee: Erica J., Sam S., The purpose of Waterloo North Reflections is to build community by featuring the people and programs of Waterloo North Mennonite Church, by encouraging dialogue on issues, and by highlighting news and other reports. Material is to be published at the discretion of the editorial committee. All material is subject to editing. Waterloo North Reflections will be published in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer |
Table of Contents
Fifty Plus or Minus....Ralph Lebold
Editorial: Auf Wiedersehen....Arnold Neufeldt-Fast
Connecting abroad: Adventures in Brunei....
Julia, Phil, Ben, Carly Sauder
Young Adults at WN .... Sarah Hostetler
2nd Annual Ministry Team Retreat .... Sue
Steiner
Who Ministry Team is Called to Be at this Time ...
Len Friesen
MEDA: Addressing Faith and Economics ... Ed Epp
Youth Corner: Playing War .... Andrea Paetkau
Sunday School humour
Poetry: From My Window ... Helen Reusser
From your church library ...
Children's Page
It is a sign of a growing maturity in a young congregation when an identifiable older group emerges – Fifty Plus or Minus. When Waterloo North began fourteen years ago the majority of attendees were less than fifty years of age. Even today we have a preponderance of younger persons, and the nursery is crowded with many babies and their parents.
This new older group, which meets the second and fourth Wednesday morning of each month, represents a significant ministry to those of us who are older. Most of us are not lacking things to do. It seems that many of us lead very busy lives even though we have terminated regular employment. However, our regular meetings do help bind us together. Laughter is a key ingredient of our sharing times. The two Martin boys can get the group wound up with their string of one-liners or the latest stories making the rounds. Food is an important part of our gatherings as well.
A significant outing last fall was the bus trip to Cullen Gardens to see the Christmas lights and to enjoy a delicious turkey dinner. The three "angels" pictured above may not exactly parallel the appearance of the "heavenly host" as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, but on this rainy night they provided a note of reality and fun. The Cullen Gardens’ staff provided an impressive panorama of lights for us.
Our activities include a combination of group sharing with service projects. At a recent meeting Anna Harms shared her life story, showing us pictures of her Korean family. We became more aware of the differences between Korean and Canadian culture, foods, weddings, etc.
On a Sunday evening part of the group went to Fairview Mennonite Home to provide the evening service. Our group, under Abner Martin’s able leadership, provided some special music. We decided that we weren’t quite ready to make a tape or CD although there were some comparisons to the university choir from Eastern Mennonite that was touring the area at the time.
Our most ambitious project to date was the recent chili lunch where chef, Henry Martin, prepared his "mean pot of chili." The group was happy for the opportunity to contribute to the "chair fund."
The Fifty Plus or Minus group has made a good beginning. The approximately two dozen persons who attend with some regularity find these meetings an important point of contact. Summer and fall plans include a visit to Harvey Snyder’s home to see his model train display. We hope to see an automated "cherry picking" demonstration. We also plan to visit the Toyota plant in Cambridge. Some of us are learning to quilt. Then there are flower shows and who knows what.
We appreciate the efforts of Helen Isaac and Mary Stewart in getting the group started. Recently the leadership mantle was passed to Harvey Snyder and Ralph Lebold. You are invited to join us if you have a bit of free time two mornings a month.
- Ralph Lebold
The Newsletter Committee is perhaps WNMC’s only "cyber" committee. We collect and share items via e-mail and publish on the internet. We meet so rarely that it really is a "virtual" committee! None of us were elected to this committee and we have no chairperson. When Sam Steiner suggested I add the words "Volume I, Issue 1" to our first collection in Fall 1998, it hit me: I must really be on another committee!
Admittedly, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading and re-reading every sentence of every article published in Waterloo North Reflections. Filling our newsletter with a wide variety of interesting, quality pieces has not been difficult (O.K., our "humour" pieces are an exception). The faithful lives, creative ideas and service activ-ities of people in this congregation are reflected in every issue, and they have inspired me more than I can say.
If my start to this committee was somewhat virtual, I my departure also feels somewhat unreal. Recently I accepted an invitation to return to Europe and teach theology at "the Bienenberg," a Mennonite Bible College and Seminary near the city of Basel and the German Black Forest. I’m still poking myself to make sure this isn’t all just a dream!
 |
| The Bienenberg, near Basel, Switzerland |
Sheri and I are leaving with great expectation, but there is also anxiety and sadness about leaving a community that has unexpectedly become home. Initially we thought we’d leave as soon as Sheri completed her B.A. degree. But as my doctoral studies dragged on, so did we. And gradually Waterloo North became our church home. Yet the scarcity of jobs in theology through the 1990s was a reality that would not sink in. For all of the last six years I continued to think, "Maybe another 6 months, max! So why paint the living room? Why transfer our church member-ship?" Meanwhile, part-time teaching at Rockway developed into a rewarding and enjoyable vocation. Sheri’s list of piano students grew as well. Slowly K-W became home. And now we have to say our good-byes wonderful friends, jobs and a congregation that has been our home for 7 years.
While I am very excited about becoming part of a small Mennonite Bible college and seminary, many have been asking, What will Sheri be doing? That plan has also come together in the last 2½ months: first, language training, and then two weeks before Christ-mas Sheri will give birth to a little "Swiss baby" who, God willing, will keep her (us!) rather occupied for the foreseeable future. The gift of a child is a dream that we have hoped and prayed for for many years. We are in awe with the way our reality and dreams are held together in God’s trustworthy hands.
As Sheri and I begin to put our hands to the task of packing-up our lives and preparing for 3 to 5 years in Europe, we leave with great expectation. Yet we will miss so much, especially the friends in this congregation. And we have always been impressed by the concern here to experiment with issues and ways of being God’s people that are consciously rooted in our historic peace church tradition. Again, we have been inspired in this venture more than we can say, and have received so much more than we have given. Thank you.
-Arnold (and Sheri) Neufeldt-Fast
P.S.: A special thanks to Sam, Esther, and Erica for a very rich "virtual" experience on this, my first "cyber-church committee".
A very warm (hot!) HELLO to all our friends at Waterloo North. We sure do miss you, but we are keeping in touch with the aid of our new computer and have even read all the online information sheets! Now we would like to share some bits and pieces with you about our lives in Brunei.
One tends to think in terms of school time-lines here. We have finished term one, have had a two-week break and are beginning term two. Ben and Carly attend the International School of Brunei and really love it. It has 800 students, a wonderful multicultural flavour and a nice community spirit. The school grounds reflect the unique flora of Brunei: luscious flowering plants, arbours, hanging vines, etc. Happily, there is also a soccer pitch and basketball court for Ben and a jungle gym for Carly.
 |
| Carly in Brunei |
It is rather hard to describe the teaching end of our Bruneian adventure. Like other expatriates here, we seem to have developed a potpourri of survival strategies by the beginning of the second term. Julia teaches English at a primary school in the "water village" section of Brunei’s capital. The area is called Kampong Ayer and often referred to as "Venice of the East". It is a city of 30,000 people living in wooden homes built on stilts in the swirling brown river and all connected with a maze of rickety boardwalks and bridges. The Centre for British Teachers (the organization we work for) always holds its breath when assigning expats to one of these schools. However, Julia enjoys the unique journey to work – a five-minute early morning boat ride – and has become adept at walking down the decrepit cement stairs of the "jetty" in her slingbacks and long flowing skirt. Some of her friends have almost fallen in at low tide, but she figures their heels were too high! Over the years, a few students who stepped on rotten boards, have disappeared through the floor of the classroom into the river below! Such are the hazards of teaching in a unique setting.
 |
| Ben on adventure |
Phil teaches forms one and two (roughly grades seven and eight) in a water village "resettlement" high school. (Fires are a big problem at Kampong Ayer and families are relocated onto land when necessary.) Brunei has chosen a rather unrealistic British education model and compounded the difficulties by making the system officially bilingual. From grade three on, students study most subjects in English, even though many Malay teachers don’t speak English well themselves. As is the case with many Ontario students in French immersion, the non-school environment does not reinforce second-language skills. The end result is a high student failure rate – a bit of a downer for Phil! On the bright side, however, the teaching schedule allows for some exciting afternoon family activities!
One interesting outing here consists of a water taxi ride around the water village. You zoom under bridges, past schools, homes, mosques and shops, all built on stilts. You can jump off at a jetty and do a walkabout through the labyrinth of plankways, many of which take you right past the open windows of homes, permitting a good glimpse of life in Kampong Ayer. A little further upriver you can see the Sultan’s Istana, the largest residential palace in the world (with about 1500 rooms!). The two largest mosques in the capital are gorgeous, with glistening golden domes and spiralling architecture. More some other time about additional Borneo adventures!
We miss much about our Waterloo County home. Mostly, of course, we miss family, friends and all the important "communities" in our lives. We enjoyed sharing Easter with the Anglican congregation here. The visible Christian presence in this Islamic nation is small, but it seemed that even the Sultan’s huge portrait at the back of the rented hall was smiling approvingly on this multi-ethnic service. The joy of Easter’s message was evident in the Iban, Chinese, Sri Lankan and English songs, dramas and prayers.
Our love to all,
Julia, Phil, Ben, Carly Sauder
Our Mennonite conference defines "young adults" as persons between the ages of 18 and 30. When Waterloo North first began to develop a program that would cater to this age group, we used this definition loosely. It became apparent after several large group discussions that we should focus on the needs rather than the ages of the group to define our parameters.
We pondered having a separate YA Sunday School class but realized that people were generally satisfied by the adult Sunday School options and were comfortable being included in those offerings. The Nurture Committee occasionally tried to incorporate an option that would specifically cater to issues facing young adults. The willingness of the larger church structure to ensure our needs were being addressed was and continues to be appreciated.
As young adults we are happy to be part of a church family that includes us as such in the life of the congregation, yet we also recognize that each life stage has its own unique issues and struggles. This is where the young adult events come in. Social events seem to meet a need in addition to what church can provide – a forum to hear each other’s stories and to find common ground.
As Young Adult Co-ordinators this year, Tanya Sawatsky and I have attempted to plan an event every month to provide a framework or a touchstone for all who feel comfortable participating. Thanks to Lynn Bergsma Friesen, we began the tradition of alternating the monthly events with a soup and bun supper, where everyone brings $2 or a culinary contribution in lieu of the fee. Other events over the last two years have included a construction/work day and a clean-up day at Generations, cookie-baking for Christmas hampers at the House of Friendship, a fund-raising coffeehouse for Generations involving other area Mennonite churches and young adults, a progressive supper, fall parties at Peggy & Clark’s, as well as BBQs at Duane & Gloria Eby’s farm and at Henry & Nancy Pauls’s home.
As I look to finish my term as Young Adult Co-ordinator, I can say that my perception of a "successful" event has changed dramatically. I no longer define it in terms of attendance or the amount of food consumed. I feel good about an event when the ritual of fellowship becomes second-nature and when we leave one another happy to have spent time together.
- Sarah Hostetler
On May 13, Ministry Team journeyed to the peaceful setting of the Blenheim Retreat Centre near New Dundee for a day-long retreat. Our original hope had been to meet at Jim and Helen Reusser’s cottage at Red Bay, but given the pouring rain and cool temperatures of the day, we’re just as glad we stayed closer to home. Instead of an exotic drive to Red Bay, we detoured to the Urban Kitchen in Waterloo for breakfast on our way to Blenheim!
The purpose of our retreat was to leave our usual "pressing" agenda behind for a day so that we might: 1) worship together, 2) enjoy each other’s company, 3) share out of our own spiritual journeys and our ministry experiences more deeply than usual and thus 4) reflect on "who Ministry Team is called to be in light of the spiritual issues and challenges that our congregation is facing at this time."
As we ended our retreat and prepared to re-enter Waterloo North, this was our prayer (from Ambrose of Milan in Hymnal: A Worship Book, #646):
"Be hallowed this and every day;
let meekness be our morning ray,
and faithful love our noonday light,
and hope our sunset calm and bright." Amen.
- Sue Steiner for Len Friesen, Angie Koch and Jim Reusser
What follows is a slightly edited version of the summation of our final session of the afternoon, prepared for us by Len Friesen:
Ministry Team has a sense that this is an important era in the history of Waterloo North. The arrival of the chairs (the final part of the original building plan), the final report of the Growth Task Force, and the move towards incorporation all suggest that new visions are being called for, even as previous ones have been seen to fruition. It is not surprising the some at WN see this as a watershed point.
MT concluded its day-long retreat with a number of central convictions:
First and above all, we (MT members) commit ourselves to being present to the God who raised Jesus from the dead. We feel a need to draw deeply from the well-springs of God’s grace both in our individual spiritual journeys, and our corporate journey as a MT.
At the same time, we want to be mentors, and a spiritual presence for Waterloo North as a whole. By God’s grace, some of this might happen in our worship services; some during individual pastoral connections; and still other opportunities through our presence in the various structures of WN. We want to encourage those in our midst to delve deeply into the well-springs of God’s grace, even as we open our own hearts and minds to Christ.
We feel a need to proclaim in word and deed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that those words, if accepted, are of life-changing significance for every believer, even as they are for the church and the world as a whole. We believe that true proclamation requires prayerful discernment, especially as we try to grasp what the Good News might require of us in our own setting. What might it mean for us to open our lives to Christ, both individually and corporately? Even to raise this question will require a certain boldness on our part, yet we are convinced that our ministry requires no less at this time.
We believe that "Being" and "Proclamation" bear fruit when they result in changed lives, even as our actions will continually prompt us back to prayer and reflection. We want to encourage those voices in our congregation who are asking what it might mean for WN to be "salt" and "light" in this community, and in our world. What, for example, might it mean for us to live out the words we regularly declare to be true in our own Congregational Covenant? Though MT does not at all have an answer to this question, we think it important to ask it with no less vigor than it has been asked in the past.
In the end, as in the beginning, MT continues to thank God for its calling, and for this congregation. We confidently reside in the assurance that Jesus holds Waterloo North in the palm of his hand. Finally, we believe that communities of faith and hope, like Waterloo North, will continue to result in restored and renewed lives. Thanks be to God!
"I want to be a contributing member of my community," stated Jonas, a Tanzanian. "To do that I need to give to my church, become involved in community affairs, be a good citizen, speak to world issues that affect me, and send my children to school". For Jonas to fulfill this dream he needs an income.
The mission of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is to enable people in low-income countries to have similar choices to those we have in North America. Providing the opportunity for people to start their own micro-businesses, or sell their produce at a fair price, creates the foundation for choices. MEDA has attempted to capture this mission with the slogan "MEDA Works".
MEDA works by establishing institutions in low-income countries which provide opportunities for the poor to create or sustain their own businesses. Last year alone, MEDA’s micro-credit facilities in these counties provided $2.1 million in credit to 4,600 families. (In 65% of the businesses women controlled the income.) Marketing companies begun by MEDA, and sustainable within the global economy, marketed $2.2 million worth of beans for 3,900 families. MEDA works for these 8,500 families by providing them with the ability to earn an income. These institutions will continue offering the same services long after MEDA has moved on to new projects.
Once they secure a financial foundation, these 8,500 families have similar choices to ours. By tithing they can support their church and bring their vision to its witness. By paying taxes they can speak with integrity to community and national priorities. With the means to pay tuition they can send their children to school, hold the school system accountable, and provide more opportunities for the next generation. From a secure base of production and marketing they can speak confidently to the issues of global trade and economics. Allowing women to control their own income means they can address issues of gender and justice within their context. MEDA does not make the choices for them, but provides the foundation so that they can make these choices for themselves.
Providing ways to generate income is a long-term solution, not a quick fix. It creates an environment in which the local community can cope with its own emergencies, rather than depend on donors. In Nicaragua, following Hurricane Mitch, people who began their businesses with loans from MEDA provided assistance to other Nicaraguans in need. Churches with tithing members can give assistance in times of crisis, thus enhancing their witness in the extended community. Local income and business creation can build the foundation to deal with emergencies.
MEDA works by creating employment opportunities. People with jobs and income are able to support their families, contribute to their community, provide leadership in their churches, and work at justice issues from within. They have the freedom to seek partnerships and relationships with those whom they choose, instead of simply depending on donors.
- Ed Epp
(Ed Epp, of our congregation, assumed the position of Director of Director of International Development for MEDA after working 15 years in various capacities with MCC. In this role with MEDA , he supervises the work of the Country Offices for MEDA, which are in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Haiti, Romania, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. His work also means frequent travels to visit the programs and to explore new roles for MEDA globally).
It started off as only a game. We were young and knew not of the harmful effects of guns. We entered the small dark forest carrying smooth sticks. They were our weapons, our guns. The snow fell peacefully around us as thoughts of violence and anger filled our heads. The snow was deep , but somehow we managed to reach the hollow pit that would be our shield, our shelter from the enemy. We lay in the trench surveying the battlefield enclosing us. The base was still. Then we saw them. They moved in, and we were surrounded. Our immediate reaction was to shoot. We began firing our guns, shooting anything that moved. The war had begun.
The screen flashed with images of violence and destruction. Decaying bodies lay in pools of red blood. Bombs were dropped and guns were fired. Once again, the world had gone to war. Disturbing portraits were being aired on every channel. I turned away, as I couldn’t bear to watch. It was then that I remembered that dark evening, the night that I, too, had gone to war. Only our war was with sticks, not real weapons. Our enemies were trees and rocks, and our battlefield was an old farm. This was real blood, this pain was real. The enemies are people and lives are in their hands. Our war was for entertainment, but this was not a game – it was reality.
- Andrea Paetkau, Gr. 10 Creative Writing Assignment (Rockway) Teacher: Kay Weber
In her Grade 4 Sunday School class, Ms. Schmitt, the new teacher, finished telling the morning’s Bible lesson on the Children of Israel. It was now time for the questions. "Ms. Schmitt," announced Tim, "there’s something I don’t understand." "What’s that Tim?" asked Ms. Schmitt.
"Well the Bible says the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea and got lost in the desert, right?"
"Right." "And the Children of Israel beat up the Philistines and pushed them off the land, right?"
"Ah – yes, that’s right." "And the Children of Israel built alters and were always doing something important, right?" "All that is right, too," agreed Ms. Schmitt. "So what’s your question, Tim?"
"What I want to know is this," demanded Tim. "What were all the grown-ups doing?"
Little squirrel sits in the crotch of a tree,
Sheltered from rain just as snug as can be.
Tail flicked back o'er his body so sleek,
Quaint new umbrella, extremely unique.
Tail tucked down tight against his breast,
An elegant pose for a cosy rest.
Eyes closed now. Let it rain!
Squirrel is happy. Das ist schön.
Fat grey ball curled up so fine,
You have a simpler job than mine.
Wonder what your dreams can be,
Nestled in that big oak tree.
Suddenly he is awake.
Gives his tail a mighty shake.
Moves it to the right a bit.
Rain has stopped, hasn't it?
Time to be about his work.
Gives his tail another jerk.
Up the tree trunk to a limb,
Stretch and scratch, just look at him.
Sitting there so pert and rested
He'd been sleeping, who'd have guessed it?
Down the trunk he slowly goes,
Neatly stretching all his toes.
First the left paw, then the right.
Exercising--what a sight!
There--he's ready to descend.
Bye bye now, my little friend.
- Helen Reusser
YOU ARE INVITED
to stop in at our church library and check out our new shelves and magazine rack–and, of course, a book.Special thanks go to Laverne Martin who built the shelves and Harry Harms, Henry Flaming and Brian Irvine for finishing them. Our committee is very pleased with the results and the extra space to display the books.
Here are some book reviews to whet your appetite for good reading:
Different Dragons by Jean Little
This is a good book to read. The story is about a weekend with Ben’s aunt. Ben comes all the way from Vancouver to Guelph for a weekend and meets a dog. He thinks it’s vicious and that dogs eat people. He finds a trap door in the house and decides to go up and explore – but then can’t get down.. Hana Uchida goes up with Ben, but the shelf breaks and he can’t get down either. They yell for help and Gully the dog hears them and gets help.
You really should read the book because it’s about battling dragons. Of course, not real dragons, or I would have told you that earlier. These dragons are fears – of thunder, the attic and dogs.
- Reviewed by Jerrel Arai
Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri Nouwen
Can I, can we drink the cup that Jesus drank? This has been an especially piercing question to consider during Lent, and is the topic of Nouwen’s book..
In his reflection, the author blends images of both everyday and special situations and experiences that involve lifting a cup and drinking. He likens the cup to one’s life which must be held and lifted before the contents are taken in. He speaks of the cup of sorrow and joy, the cup of blessings and of salvation. Seldom does he speak of drinking alone, but rather stresses the gathering of others as essential to the act of lifting and drinking.
Nouwen opens the pathway for the reader to enter into the question that Jesus asked his disciples, James and John. He shows that all of us do have a cup to hold, to lift and drink as disciples of Jesus.
- Reviewed by Barb Lehto
Border Crossing by Katie Funk Wiebe
Older age is something none of us can avoid if we live long enough. In Border Crossing, Katie Funk Wiebe shares with us her personal experience of making that last important border crossing in life.
This book is not an objective analysis of the issues around aging. It is not a guide book. Border Crossing simply opens windows for the reader to see the thoughts, struggles and feelings of the author as she makes her crossing.
The subtitle, A Spiritual Journey, signals for us that Border Crossing chronicles Wiebe’s spiritual journey and particularly in this new stage of her life. A master story teller, Wiebe relates stories from all stages of her life as she searches to find the spiritual meanings and tasks of old age. As she says, "The truer statement about our faith is always our personal story... ."
Each chapter is an essay and all are a delight to read. Wiebe’s rich faith leaves its stamp on every page.
This book is filled with thought provoking and quotable one-liners. "Old age is real living"; "...we are all immigrants to the land of the aging"; "...choosing becomes the supreme vocation of old age... ."
Anyone faced with issues of aging will find direction and inspiration.
- Reviewed by Jim Reusser
Donations of Books - Unfortunately, not all books that are donated to the library can be used. Please do not leave books on the library desk. Please check with a member of the Library Committee before leaving books. Thank you.
Return to Top
