resident radicals

Here are some links to some reflections by a number of young adults in our congregation. Allan has had a subversive, underground blog going on for some time now (it took me a while to find it)... and today he has posted a radical Christmas idea.

And Rebecca, intrepid long-time co-moderator of this very blog, has posted some of her recent radicality as well...

As have Paul and David and John, who have been hard at work (and criss-crossing the country) preparing a documentary on love...

There's an advent conspiracy going on...

an invitation to "make room"

What a joyful celebration last night, as the children and youth of our congregation helped us to re-enter the story of Jesus' birth, with the challenge and invitation to "make room"...

give a day

Today is World AIDS Day, and various members of our congregation have been very active in raising awareness and raising funds for the worldwide struggle against HIV/AIDS. Jane Philpott is the founder and instigator of the "Give A Day" movement, which has raised about 2 million dollars (so far!) to help those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

This past Thursday there was a concert (actually, a "Harambee")at 19-On-The-Park here in Stouffville, featuring the Rouge River Connection and Allan Reesor-McDowell as well as the Albert Street Four. It was a well attended and inspirational evening, with words from Jane and from Robina Ssentongo, Director of the Kitovu Mobile AIDS Organization working with orphans and grandmothers in Uganda.

As Jane said last Thursday night, much has been accomplished, but much remains to be done. Consider giving a day's pay and join this movement of "global solidarity, local solutions."

We're Going to the Zoo!

Do you remember when you went somewhere new for the first time and didn’t know anyone? You didn’t know where anything was or how things were done. Well that’s what the two Palestinian families CMC is helping to sponsor are experiencing this year, with the added challenge of having to learn a new language and writing system at the same time.

Each family benefits from 12 months of financial support from the 4 sponsoring churches [CMC, Rouge Valley, TUMC & Don Heights Unitarian] after which time they will have to take the first steps making their own way in their newly adopted home country. Of course, they won’t be left to their own devices by the churches, but the financial safety net currently provided by the churches will be replaced by either welfare or, hopefully, income from a job.

In the midst of the challenge of both sets of parents having to learn English and the children starting school, they have gradually started to get used to life in Canada’s largest city, which as you can appreciate, is a far cry from spending roughly four years in a refugee camp on the Iraqi-Syrian border. If you add in to the mix the fact that both fathers have suffered significant health issues in recent months [although both are thankfully doing better now] you can understand what a year of upheaval and change it has been.

That both families are getting used to life in Canada is due in no small part to the selfless efforts of members of the various sponsoring churches, who have devoted many hours in helping to get the adults to appointments with social agencies and Government Departments, and the children to dental and eye appointments, and so on. They have also taught them how to use the TTC and to travel by bus to visit relatives in the K-W area or in Whitby.

I think you get the picture that 2010 has been a year of massive change living far away from everything that is familiar to these two families, and the learning curve for everyone has been very steep. That’s why I can honestly say that it was my very great pleasure to invite both families, on behalf of CMC, to visit the Toronto Zoo on Saturday, September 25^th for an afternoon of simple fun and fellowship. Between the two families there are nine children, ranging in age from two to sixteen, and most of them said that they wanted to see the lions first! Of course, with the lions being pretty much at the far end of the zoo from the entrance, we saw plenty of other animals on the way and it was such a delight to see the children’s faces light up when they saw the various creatures. God has created many varied and wonderful animals, and no matter what your own feeling about zoos, it was so heart-warming seeing these children smiling, hearing them laughing, teaching them the animals’ names in English, having them teach us their Arabic names, enjoying them holding our hands and spending time with their parents. Although the weather was overcast, these children truly bathed us in their sunshine!

These families have been so gracious in accepting our hospitality and have welcomed us into their homes with open arms. They are truly a blessing to us and I am thankful for this small opportunity to get to know them better and look forward to further occasions to welcome them in to our community.

-Tim

This is an article by Pastor Cameron that was published recently in the Stouffville Free Press:

Here's my advice: don't buy a toaster as a memento.

At my grandmother's moving sale, I was too young to think about lasting value. My parents urged me to buy something, so I bought a cheap toaster that I don't think my grandma ever used. When I got married we used it, but we threw it out when it stopped working. While I have great memories of my grandma, I regret not having something of hers that I can see and touch.

On the other hand, it was awesome to be part of the annual Commemorative Service at the Altona Mennonite Meetinghouse, where Stouffville's founder is buried. Standing in a building built in 1852, I couldn't help noticing that it was so plain. Compared to Old Order Mennonite meetinghouses built more recently, it was austere. I thought about how difficult life was for our ancestors and yet what wonderful gifts they passed on to us. Because of their industrious and simple lifestyle, they were able to build a strong community. That community now provides us a comfortable and enjoyable life. Taking time to appreciate our heritage filled me with gratitude for those who came before me to this area.

As I was preparing to speak at that Commemorative Service, I learned of the loss of a different heritage site. Few in Stouffville know that developers discovered the remains of Ontario's largest Huron-Wendat village, on Stouffville Creek, between Byers Pond Way and James Ratcliff Avenue. A 2007 Town Council resolution promised to recognise this site but there is no sign that this has been done. Now the site is a large pond built for storm drainage.

Will we dispose of this village and lose out on the chance to see and touch our history? Are we so ungrateful for what we have that we turn our backs on those who came before us?

- Cameron Kaufman-Frey

Re-awakening of the Spirit

Greg writes:

Ahniin, Hello, I am called Greg, I am a husband to Rachel, a father to Nathan, Hannah and Miriam. I am a ‘Oshkabaywis’, or helper to the children of Waabgon Gamig First Nation School on Georgina Island. I follow the path of Gizhemandio, Great Spirit, Creator, God. Welcome to the beginning of Community Mennonite’s experience of ‘Re-awakening of the Spirit’ a journey of healing from trauma suffered from Residential Schools

A national United Church conference entitled ‘Living into Right Relations’ was held in Pinawa, Manitoba in May 2008. This gathering was the beginning of a five-year journey during which Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people will engage with each other to model and facilitate just and right relations.

From this conference there was a ‘Reawakening the Spirit Gathering’ at Salvation Army Conference Centre in Jackson Point. The gathering went to small circles and decisions were made to bring and share in our local communities the mandate “To foster right relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.“

What will this idea look like? There are a number of educational workshops available to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to better understand the enduring impact of European worldviews and culture on the First Peoples of Canada. We also wanted to know our neighbours so a “Social Potluck” was planned between Chippewas of Georgina Islands United Church, Trinity United of Newmarket and Community Mennonite of Stouffville.

On Saturday September 4, 2010 some 30 brave members of Community Mennonite met at The Aazhaawe (Going Across) Ferry. It was a blustery day. The only weather we did not experience was snow! Upon disembarking the ferry most members walked to the United Church and enjoyed a 3km trip or should I say they were blown to the church!

We participated in meet and greet games and broke bread together! This was an important step in the start of peoples journey for understanding, reconciliation and healing! These relationships must be fostered for long term just as our Creator had intended from the beginning!

On a note of interest for Community Mennonite Church. There was a baseball tournament happening on Georgina Island at the same time as our social! I was in conversation with a community member and an idea that was put forth “Would your people put a baseball team together and sign up for next year?” Opportunity knocking?

My hope is that we continue this process of friendship and we keep the dialogue ongoing and open for sharing and support. That we are able to share with the understanding and respect that people’s experiences not to be confused with stories! An old saying ”We must look back in order to move forward”, seven generations back seven generations forward!

At the end of the evening after disembarking the Ferry Aazaahawe Creator gave us a full rainbow as a “gift” a “promise of never again!” Chi-Miigwetch to All!

- Greg

Allan on IVEP

Allan from our community has written a great description of his work with the International Visitor Exchange Program - read the article here, and follow the links for more information.

thoughts as municipal elections approach...

Here's an article Arnold has written, which we expect will be published in the next issue of the Stouffville Free Press:

Municipal elections are coming soon. Does the church have anything to contribute?

Recently Community Mennonite Church in Stouffville took time to reflect on the needs of our town. We take seriously the Bible’s call to be stewards of the earth and to care for the welfare of our city - in particular, for the needs of the hungry, the outsider, the homeless and the imprisoned. We were very aware of the changes Stouffville has experienced since its beginnings - after all, Stouffville’s founding settlers were Mennonites! Today our town is a fast growing, multi-ethnic, multi-faith community with unique opportunities and complex challenges. Here are a few of our reflections in advance of the municipal election:

Regarding the “outsider” -- or better, the “newcomer”: In 2009, 19% of Gr.3 children in one of our newest schools were born outside of Canada, and 28% were effectively bi-lingual (the first language learned at home was other than English). This is a wonderful gift to our community and should be nurtured. While York Region District School Board will offer 81 language classes as part of its International Languages Elementary Program in 2010-11, we noted that none of these classes will be offered in Stouffville. Hopefully candidates for the school board will address this. Candidates for town council should also be asked for their most creative ideas that embrace the gifts and needs of our town’s new multi-cultural reality.

Regarding the “Poor”: The “long-form census” of 2006 indicates that the median monthly payments for rented dwellings in Whitchurch–Stouffville was 15% higher than the Ontario median, and the average value of homes was 66% higher than the provincial average. Since then soaring housing costs in the region have resulted in a 28% rise in Food Bank use between January 2008 and January 2010. For lack of lower-income housing, the poor leave our community: in 2006, only 4% of residents were in a low-income bracket, compared to the provincial average of 11%. Which candidates have a vision for the poor, e.g., plans for more social or mixed-income housing? What can regional council do better?

Regarding the “Creation”: We live on the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine, on the headwaters of the Rouge River, and on the Lake Simcoe watershed. We are to be stewards of this land--for God’s sake and for the sake of future generations. Thankfully, the next phase of our town’s growth is governed by stricter provincial environmental regulations than were in place for Phase One. Vigilance will be crucial: almost all of our neighbouring municipalities have established Environmental (or Watershed) Advisory Committees, and give them high profile on their towns’ respective websites. Whitchurch-Stouffville dismantled its advisory committee some years ago.

Environmental advisory committees can be a nuisance for a town bent on growth. However, a quick survey of our town’s history shows environmental mismanagement devastated the town’s economy once in the early 1900s (deforestation) and also its health and well-being in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when Toronto’s liquid industrial waste was dumped into an unlined pit above the Stouffville’s main aquifer (north-east of Hwy. 48 and Bloomington Rd). Which candidates for our next council have a vision of sustainable growth? Which candidates will make environmental leadership a signature feature of their campaign—and of our town?

These are a few questions for candidates that come out of the perspective of our faith community. We think that good discussion on these issues will be important for the long-term wellbeing of our town and its residents.

Some of our church members are new to Stouffville and some are descendents of the town’s original settler families. Yet we share a common faith commitment to ask and speak for the needs of the newcomer, the poor, and the creation. We hope to be a place where passion for Jesus and justice meet and take root.

If you are new to Stouffville and looking for a faith community--or simply curious--you are welcome to visit us. We have chosen not to build a structure, but we meet in rented facilities at Parkview Village Auditorium (9th Line) at 11 am. You can also visit our blog at www.communitymennovoices.blogspot.com .

-Arnold Neufeldt-Fast

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how do your gardens grow?

I brought my Mum to the garden today and together we harvested beans, peas, beets, onions, lettuce and even a few baby carrots! She was quite impressed. Isaac, Sarah and I are so pleased with what the Earth has produced already! It is SO neat to watch these wee little seeds turn into something nutritious and delicious. We definitely feel blessed to be a part of this growing process and rather resourceful as we munch on our greens.

So - in case you haven't sauntered over to the garden in a while, go today because your beans are probably ready! And if they're not, come to our place and we'll share...we've got lots. :)

God is quite the Gardener. All we have to do is plant a seed, and trust.

-Rebecca

Baby Greens

Here are some photos of our Community Garden.
I noticed that some people have already been eating spring salads! I love seeing the babylike green shoots pop out of the ground.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank Corn

Hey Church!

We have some exciting growing projects on Ninth Line right now, don't we? From our Community Garden, to acres of corn for the Canadian FoodGrains Bank, we are so blessed with resources, land and a Spirit of awareness and sharing.

Here's a snapshot of our Canadian FoodGrains Bank growing project. The corn was planted at the beginning of June. By the end of the summer, this blog will be a photojournal of the crop's growth! (And any time you are heading North on Ninth Line, keep an eye out for the sign and take a look for yourself!)

Keep growing wee corn plants!

How well do we know our town?

In preparation for this week's adult Sunday School class, Arnold sent around this message... follow the links to lots of interesting information about our town... as Arnold says, what are the implications of this information for understanding our own mission "in the context in which God has placed us"...?

----------
Our church wants to make reaching out and engaging our community a priority. To continue to do that well, we need to understand both the changes, statistical trends and history of our town. (E.g., I'm almost a Stouffville "old-timer" -- 37% of the community arrived after we did in 2006). Where are the needs? What would be Good News to this community undergoing such a major change-over?

To this end I've made some significant additions to the Wikipedia entry for Whitchurch-Stouffville, with links to many very interesting and important sources (some sample links below). Please take the time to read this entry and come prepared next Sunday to share your experience/wisdom about the context in which God has placed us (and let me know what could/should be added, changed, etc.).

Have a good week,

Arnold
---
If you want to do more reading, here are some sources I found helpful (esp. because they are now all online!):

* Jean Barkey et al, Whitchurch Township (Erin, ON: Boston Mills, 1993).
* Jean Barkey, Stouffville, 1877-1977: A Pictorial History of a Prosperous Ontario Community (Stouffville, ON: Stouffville Historical Committee, 1977).
* Isabel Champion, ed., Markham: 1793-1900 (Markham, ON: Markham Historical Society, 1979), 289-296.
* C.P. Mulvany, et al, Stouffville, History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario (Toronto: C.B. Robinson, 1885), 202f.
* Canadian Council on Learning, Composite Learning Index 2010 Profile: Whitchurch-Stouffville, "Smart Cities," Macleans May 31, 2010.
* 2006 Stats Canada Community Highlights for Whitchurch-Stouffville (compare also 1991 and 1996 profile).
* Cf. the detailed 1878 maps, Township of Markham and Township of Whitchurch, Illustrated historical atlas of the county of York and the township of West Gwillimbury & town of Bradford in the county of Simcoe, Ont. (Toronto : Miles & Co., 1878).

Yella 2010

Allan writes from Jerusalem:

I wanted to take the time to send an update of what the Yella 2010 Learning Tour group has been up to over the first two weeks of our program, since Community Mennonite Church has been supportive of the program, and in my involvement with the program.

Week one of Yella was focused on learning about the world of Jesus. We toured the old city of Nazareth, spent an afternoon at Nazareth Village, walked the 65 km's of the Jesus Trail (lodging and eating along the way with both Jews and Arabs - check out info on the Jesus Trail here.

We visited many interesting sites like Sephoris (a Roman city of great wealth at the time of Jesus just a few miles from Nazareth). It is likely that Jesus would have spent some time here and perhaps developed some ideas around the contrasts between the empire of this world (Rome) and the empire of heaven while over looking Sephoris from the hilltop above Nazareth. We stayed a night in Cana (the sight of Jesus first miracle turning water into wine at a wedding feast). A few of us wandered into an Arabic wedding, which was fitting!. We stayed and ate the second night on a Moshav (Jewish collective or sorts). We walked over the Horns of Hittin (the sight of a great Crusader battle), and up and down Arbel Cliff (likely one of the high places that Jesus retreated to to pray and seek solitude). The last day of hiking we arrived in Capernaum (the home base of Jesus ministry in the Galilee) and stopped at some interesting sights along the way (mount of Beatitudes, the church located on the spot where tradition claims Jesus fed the 5000, and the church where tradition claims Jesus called Peter the rock on which the church would be founded), all of which provided good opportunities for reading stories about Jesus ministry. The first week provided excellent context for what Jesus would have seen, heard, experienced that gives much insight into what Jesus taught.

The second week of Yella was focused on learning about modern day Israel and Palestine. We spent 4 nights on a Kibbutz with daily activities organized by a Jewish organization that normally does "birthright" tours for Jewish YYA from abroad. We heard a Jewish Israeli perspective on the land, history, and conflict. On Thursday we moved to Bethlehem area to stay with host families and get a Palestinian perspective on the land, history, and situation through an organization that does alternative tourism for groups in the West Bank. The first week was physically challenging, the 2nd week mentally and emotionally challenging, with many stories of pain and loss intertwined with hope and the possibility of reconciliation.

Highlights for me over the past week were two meetings with people working for peace and understanding across political, cultural, and physical walls. The first was with an Israeli couple, the Shehaks, who shared about loosing their 16 year old daughter to a suicide bombing in 1996 in Tel Aviv. They journeyed through pain and anger to a place where they decided to work for peace, and have been sharing their story with Arabs, Jews, Israelis, Palestinians, and foreigners for many years now. They will be coming to Toronto in July and I am hoping to set up a speaking engagement for them.

Another highlight was a visit to The Tent of Nations. The story is too long to share here...suffice it to say that we heard a message of hope in the midst of conflict and pain, of understanding in the midst of walls that separate, of working together towards a better future in the midst of resignation and defeat.

The group has been great so far. Most of them are soaking up the experience. And all the time I have spent with the YYA has given me a good opportunity to share about Mennonite Central Committee and opportunities to get involved. I pray that the group will continue to learn and grow in new ways during our final week in Jerusalem (where we just arrived).

Sincerely,
Allan

Food Inc

What's that popping up in our community garden?

Peas! Onions! Radishes! Community, as most evenings there is somebody stopping by to do a bit of work or to check on how the plots are doing... and learning little tricks from each other (like using the green bins to transport water)...

And what's that popping up in the local paper? Another article... this one featuring the community garden, and information about the "Food Inc" discussion that will take place next Thursday, May 27, at 7:00 pm at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library.

Spread the word! See you there!

the community garden begins

solar info evening = full house

On April 22, about 70 people - including 12 vendors of solar technology - attended the "solar information evening" planned by our congregation in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee's solar initiative. Richard says "It's hard to quantify concrete results, but I suspect attendees went away with a` better understanding of the technology, the economics and the reasons why the technology is of interest to organizations like MCC and people from within the Mennonite church. I suspect also that some people were convinced to install a system. It will be interesting to see what develops."

Interesting indeed!

Here's what our local paper had to say about the event before it happened: Learn how to sell power back to Hydro One: Mennonites host Earth Day seminar in Stouffville.

And here's an article from MCC's website, including information and quotes from the event itself: Loving our neighbours with the sun of God.

Community Garden

Another initiative that has been germinating (!!) in our community is the idea of a community garden. Some generous folks are making some land available, there has been an initial meeting (with good and enthusiastic attendance and participation), and a second meeting is planned for this coming Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm at the home of Richard and Carolyn.

From small seeds...

solar information evening, April 22

A couple of years ago one of our church members got up in the sharing time on a Sunday morning and said he was interested in investigating options regarding solar energy, and if anybody else was interested, to come and talk with him after the service. Well, there was quite a gathering within a few moments of the Benediction being spoken, and it was quickly decided to get together that evening for an exploratory discussion.

That evening, at another church family's home, a group of around 15 people gathered and talked and laughed and wondered together, a few people offered to do some further research, and our congregation's solar energy initiative was born. One of the ideas at that initial gathering was for us as a community to develop more experience and expertise in this area, thinking that this experience and expertise could become something that we could then offer to our broader community, in hopes of helping to make a positive impact on the environmental awareness and carbon footprint of our community (both our church community, and our town).

Well, a lot has happened, and it seems that vision is being fulfilled. One family has installed a solar installation on the roof of their house (see this post from April 2009 for more details). Other church families who operate a family business have installed a solar installation at their business, and have now become distributers/promoters for the use of this technology especially in farm applications. They held an information event with local farmers a few weeks ago, and interest is growing.

Now there is another information event planned for Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 pm, at the Parkview Auditorium in Stouffville. Come on out, and invite your friends and neighbours!

This event is happening in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee's solar initiative, as Darren Kropf, the MCCO Creation Care Coordinator, has been keeping in touch regarding what's been going on in Stouffville, and how it connects with what MCC Ontario is doing in other communities, and Darren and MCCO are helping to facilitate this event in Stouffville.

new initiatives

The fact that there have been no new posts on this blog since December by no means indicates a lack of activity and reflection in our community! It just means... well... that the blog hasn't been updated for a while.

This will be rectified momentarily, as there is a backlog of initiatives and activities to be posted here. Reflective pieces seem to be somewhat harder to come by. Hmmm...

In any case, stay tuned for a series of posts with updates and information on various things that are happening in and among our community. We offer this information in a spirit of wanting to share some of the things that the Spirit is doing among us... and in a spirit of invitation as well, wanting to share this information in a public forum so that if something here catches your eye and interest, please feel free to make contact and follow up and participate. There are exciting things afoot!