Newsletter

Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

September 5, 2010

This Week

Monday – Christian Education Commission, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Fellowship and Caring Commission, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday – JYF day away

Upcoming Worship Services

September 12:  Dan Schrock will preach on “Press On!,” using Hebrews 5:11-6:2 and Ephesians 4:11-16.

September 19:  Dan will preach on “Spiritual Senses,” using Luke 2:25-32.

September 26:  David Heusinkveld preaches.

From the Christian Education Commission

             Today we begin new Sunday school classes.             We are once again blessed with a wonderful group of people to lead our congregation in Christian education this fall. A big thanks to the following teachers and sponsors:

Infants and Toddlers: Ruth Hathaway, Lorraine

      Pflederer, Susan Garboden

Preschool: Lydia Martin, Laverne Nafziger, Rita

      Gingrich

Primary: Roxanna Sommers, Beth Berry, Renae

      Yoder

Middler: Priscillah Metekai, Nancy Yoder,

      Merrill Krabill

Music: Trish Shenk, Brenda Grimes, Patsy Sherer

Peace Club: Beth Berry

JYF: Cindy and Doug Baker (teachers)

Terri and Jonathan Neufeld, Darin and Lisa Short, Lindsay Rheinheimer (Sponsors)   

 MYF: Lois and John Mast (teachers)

Kirk and Susan Stiffney, Lane Miller, Denise Risser (sponsors)

College/Young Adults: John Roth, Jan and Peter

      Shetler, Joe Liechty

Adult: Dan Schrock - Contemplative Gazing

Clare Krabill and Kirk Stiffney - Sermon Response

Jonathan Neufeld, Dan Nafziger - Long-term discussion group

Shawna Born - Women's Group Book Study

From the Mission commission

      Mission Commission invites you to join Liz Nafziger’s Mission Support Team, as she begins her one-year Voluntary Service assignment with Bread for the City, Washington D.C. Letters were distributed in mail boxes. Copies are also available on top of the literature rack. Contact Richard Miller for additional copies or additional information.

Our World (courtesy of Ron Good)

This week’s question:

            I am an island country and a city-state. I am the fourth leading financial centre. My population is nearly five million who are mostly Asians of various descents. I am the second most densely populated country. Of my population over 40 percent are foreigners. I received my independence in 1965. I have one of the five busiest seaports in the world. I have the fastest growing economy in the world. My name means “Lion City”. My currency is the dollar (not US). I am now a parliamentary republic and my first prime minister was Lee Kuan Yew. Punishment in the form of caning is used for such offenses as rape, rioting, drug use, and vandalism of property. I impose a mandatory death penalty for first degree murder and drug-trafficking. I consist of 63 islands. I have two man-made connections (bridges/roads) to my nearest neighbor. Using land reclamation projects my land area has grown from 225 square miles in 1960 to 272 square miles today. I have a tropical rainforest climate. On average, the relative humidity is around 90 percent in the morning and 60 percent in the afternoon. Urbanization has eliminated much of my rainforest. The only remaining area of primary rainforest is Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Tourism is big business. I have legalized gambling to attract tourists. I am promoting myself as a medical tourist hub, where about 200,000 foreigners seek medical care and my goal is to increase services to serve one million foreign patients by 2012. I have an advanced military force. I require every able-bodied male citizen and permanent resident to undertake National Service for a minimum of two years upon reaching 18 years of age or completing his studies (whichever occurs first), with several exemptions.  My military has aided in international humanitarian aid missions, including sending three Chinook helicopters to Louisiana to assist in relief operations after Hurricane Katrina. The fertility rate is 1.28 children per women and is the third lowest in the world. Buddhism is the most common religion (43 percent), followed by Islam (15 percent), no religion (15percent), and Christianity (15 percent).  English is the medium of instruction in all of my schools. I recognize four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil.  Some of my foods include satay, nasi lemak, fish and chips, and Hainanese chicken rice. Various sports are popular such as soccer, basketball, swimming, table tennis, and badminton. Who am I?  

      (The answer is hidden somewhere in this week’s newsletter.)

From Berkey Avenue Announcements

             Bryan and Anita’s new address is 2615 Goldrenrod Court, N. Newton, KS 67117. 

     The elders have approved Anita and Bryan Kehr’s transfer of membership to First Mennonite Church, Newton.  If you want to comment on this, please contact Dan Schrock today.

     If you are interested in contributing to pay for Bryan and Maya Kehr's flight for Anita's Farewell, please do so today. All money collected will be given to Hesston College.

             WANTED/WANTED/WANTED for Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale, September 24 and 25:

1.   Your Spare Change for Penney Power Jug 2.   Gently used or new children’s toys for the Children’s Auction 3.   Baked Goods: these sell out rapidly and therefore need more (see Deb Williams for information and containers) 4.   Quilts for the auction 5.   Antiques for the Antique Auction 6.   Garage Sale items 7.   New and Used items: Furniture, gift certificates etc. 8    Hungry Stomachs to buy lots of food, especially CHEESE! For more information, see mennonitesale.org or a cheese booth committee member (Joan Troyer, Phil Bauman, Dan and Deb Williams). Kathy Stiffney and Joan Troyer are students in the Spiritual Guidance Seminar at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Their instructors are Marlene Kropf, associate professor in spiritual formation and worship at AMBS, and Dan Schrock (guest presentations only). The seminar prepares people to begin the ministry of spiritual direction.

      As spiritual directors in training, Kathy and Joan will work with directees who would like to deepen their own walk with God, and feel drawn to spend time with another person reflecting, noticing, and responding to what God is showing them. The goal of spiritual direction is the integration of the person’s spiritual development in all aspects of life.

      If you’d like to inquire about the possibility of receiving spiritual direction from either Joan or Kathy, you may contact one of them directly for more information. You can also talk to me if you prefer. Meeting with Kathy or Joan would continue through this coming May.

      I invite you to pray for Joan and Kathy as they learn spiritual direction.           

—Dan Schrock, for Kathy and Joan

The church office has a HP Laserjet 1012 printer available for a small donation. It’s in excellent condition and is tailored for Windows computers (32-bit). Comes with toner and cables. See Dan Schrock if you’re interested.

I am joining other bicycle riders in MCC Bike Michiana. All proceeds support the mission and service of Mennonite Central Committee. I plan to ride 100 miles September 17-19 from and around Amigo Centre. “Coming Home: Sudan” is a current project of MCC, focused on education, assisting farmers and supporting grassroots peace initiatives.  MCC aims to raise $2 million per year for 10 years to support the Sudan project. If you will sponsor me, let me know of your pledge and/or give me your checks payable to MCC Bike Michiana. My 1^st goal is to complete the 100 mile ride. My MCC fundraising goal is $500 or $5 per mile.

                                                    – Roy Bergey 

      The following books are being added to the library: 

*    Jesus and Nonviolence:  A Third Way by

      Walter Wink - this summary of Wink's whole

            thinking about the issue was recommended by

      pastor Steve Thomas during nurture hour a few

      weeks ago.

*    God's Week Has 7 Days by Wally Kroeker –

      Monday musings for Marketplace Christians

      asking whether Christian faith kicks into gear

      only on Sunday morning or does it run full

      steam all week long?

*                      My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald

      Chambers - well known devotional classic with

      selections for the year.

*          Dominion by Randy Alcorn - shaken by a

      senseless killing and watched by unseen eyes,

      journalist Clarence Abernathy seeks answers

      and revenge.

Our Schools

      Join the first Goshen College Afternoon Sabbatical for 2010-11 on Tuesday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m. in the Music Center's Sauder Concert Hall. Dr. Kathryn Aschliman, professor emerita of education, will speak on "A Cloud of Witnesses -- I Am a Part of All I Have Met." People and experiences influenced the 34 years of Kathryn's tenure in the Goshen College Laboratory Kindergarten.  Kathryn will delightfully highlight Robert Fulghum’s conclusion that “No matter how old you are—when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.”

      AMBS presentation by Dr. Wilbert Shenk on September 7. The public is invited to hear Dr. Wilbert Shenk present on the question: “What can Mennonite Church USA learn from the experiences of other denominational mission programs about effective mission structures across the street and around the world?” on Tuesday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the AMBS dining hall. Open mic discussion will follow.

      How has the church in Latin America thrived and what are its challenges? These are questions addressed in a special fall class at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, “Transformation of Latin American Christianity,” taught by guest mission scholars César Moya and Patricia Urueña, along with Walter Sawatsky. For more information about this Friday afternoon class, see www.ambs.edu and select the link in the What’s New section.

Community Announcements

     The MDC Goldenrod Benefit Auction was a success and it is because of the generosity of many of you. The income from the auction was almost $50,000.00. That is a 10 percent increase over last year. Thank you so much for all the items that you donated and for coming and supporting the auction.  It was great to see so many of you there. So, from all of us here at MDC Goldenrod, THANK YOU. 

       Come to Menno-Hof in Shipshewana for the second annual Front Porch Singspiration at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12 for A Cappella singing with the themes of Baptism, Discipleship, and Prayer. Pre-service singing will begin at the  Menno-Hof farmhouse at 4:45. An ice-cream social, access to exhibits, and singing will follow the outside service. There will be a free will offering to support Menno-Hof’s mission.

      Michiana MEDA Kick-off Event: Church Community Services/Soup of Success, Thursday, September 16, 6:30 p.m. Join us at Church Community Services (907 Oakland Avenue, Elkhart) to hear from Executive Director Dean Preheim Baretl about how the organization supports the people in Elkhart County through emergency assistance and intensive job and life skills training." CCS will cater the meal. RSVP by Monday, September 13 by phoning 87-RSVP-MEDA, emailing , or filling out the RSVP form online. (If you don't receive a confirmation email or phone call, please let us know.) Meal and program costs are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, and $5 for students. Please note any special dietary needs with reservation. The meal is payable at the event.

      For all persons interested in following the developments of the Benin Bible Institute [ BBI ] in Cotonou, Benin: You are invited to a Potluck Lunch, at the Fellowship Hall of Waterford Mennonite Church, Sunday, September 19, beginning at 1:30 a.m., to hear reporting and sharing by Waterford family Gilberto and Denise Perez Diener. With their three children, they visited the Bible Institute this summer as part of Waterford Congregation's Partnership with BBI, as developed through cooperation with Mennonite Mission Network, including partners from Berkey Avenue and the Waterford congregation. (Singapore)

             Ladies mark your calendars for IN-MI Mennonite Women’s Retreat , Grieving Women in the Bible and God ’ s Blessing, October 8-10 at Amigo Centre. Early registration ends September 22. Brochures are available at: amigocentre.org. or contact Gwen Hernley at for more information.

     LaCasa’s dynamic Community Homeownership Center has openings for the following positions:  Homeownership Counselor with the skills to provide counseling in all aspects of the home buying process. Experience in pre purchase counseling, home buyer group training, and foreclosure mitigation counseling needed.  A Financial Education Counselor with skills in money management training, developing budgets and providing group financial education trainings. Must be bi-lingual in Spanish and English. Send resume to: HR Office, 202 N. Cottage Ave. Goshen, IN 45628 or email .

Our Church

Office Hours:     Monday

                                  8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

                             Tuesday - Friday

                                          8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

                                 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.

Statistical Report for August 29, 2010

      Attendance:  190

Today, September 5, 2010

     Greeters:  David and Gail Heusinkveld

     Bulletins:  Molly Heusinkveld

     Nursery:  Terri, Karis, and Natalie Neufeld

     Offering Counters:   Ruth Hathaway

                                      Greg Smucker

     Audio/Visual:  David Nussbaum

Next Sunday, September 12, 2010

     Greeters:  David and Gail Heusinkveld

     Bulletins:  Molly Heusinkveld

     Nursery:  Susan and Steve Garboden

     Offering Counters:   Ron Good

Rick Hostetter

     Audio/Visual:  David Nussbaum

Pastor:  Dan Schrock  

Youth Pastor:  Lois Stoltzfus Mast

Elders:  David Heusinkveld, Rick Hostetter, Dan Nafziger, Laverne Nafziger, Lisa Short, and Renae Yoder

Live Christ’s loving, caring, healing presence
in the world