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Part of a bigger family
Youth program encourages trust-filled interactionsBy Laura Kraybill “But The Lord said to me, ‘Don’t say “I am too young,”’ proclaimed a chorus of young voices 24 July 2015 at the youth program for MWC’s PA 2015. Sprawled across the concrete floor of the youth hall, several hundred teenagers began their morning with this affirmation from
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At MWC assembly, MCC cans vegetables for first time
International participants can beans in Pennsylvania heat PA 2015 By Tim Huber Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – Mennonite Central Committee’s mobile meat canner went vegan for Mennonite World Conference PA 2015, switching for one week from pork, beef and turkey to green beans. Slipping out a back door into a parking lot, attendees donned hairnets, a
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Music brings unity at world conference
International songs draw participants into worship despite unfamiliarity By Laura Kraybill Worship rises to the rafters as Mennonites and Brethren and Christ join their voices in music from around the world at PA 2015 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Differences exist in theology and culture, yet music is a unifier at world conference, even when it stretches
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An interdependent and communal nature
Almost 50 North American women theologians met for the first time 22 July 2015 at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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“A holy moment”
Ordination blessing conferred at European women theologians meeting By Harriet Sider Bicksler What was intended as a forum for European women theologians to discuss how they can network with each other and others in the MWC family ended as a time of special blessing for one woman. The group was small. Only five women attended in
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Creating a place to fellowship
Behind the scenes at the Global Church Village By Harriet Sider Bicksler A rooster on Skype. A grass hut and miles of Velcro. Baskets and the big five. How did all these seemingly unrelated things come together as part of the Global Church Village? First, the rooster. Vikal Rao from India has served as the
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Calling the church to repentance and renewal
Anabaptist Renewal Circles holds annual meeting By Jewel Showalter Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – More than 100 Anabaptist leaders from around the world gathered at Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Camp Hill, Pa., for the second annual meeting of the Anabaptist Renewal Circles (ARC) 21 July 2015, the day before the evening kick-off of Assembly 16. The
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Stitching for global connections
Quilting and comforter activities link participants to MCC’s work By Byron Rempel-Burkholder Sushant Nand looks up from one of the Bernini sewing machines at the section of the hall devoted to quilt and comforter-making. A passerby is asking him if he is a tailor by trade. He smiles. “No, I just wanted to learn about
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Shuttles bring people together
Transportation network makes friends from strangers By Karla Braun Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – “All I see is smiles,” says Brenda Burkholder, volunteer at the homestay shuttle information table. Many of the more than 7,200 guests from 56 countries registered for Pennsylvania 2015 travel between their overnight lodging and the Farm Show Complex each day via
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“The Holy Spirit is wooing the whole church to witness and service…”
Mission Commission coordinates joint meeting for Global Mission Fellowship and Global Anabaptist Service Network By Jewel Showalter Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – “The Holy Spirit is wooing the whole church to witness and service,” said Richard Showalter, chair of the MWC Mission Commission (MC). He welcomed delegates and observers to the joint assembly of the Global
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Praising in painful times
With mercy, the Holy Spirit irons our hearts, says Japanese pastor By Anna Groff Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – Yukari Kaga, a pastor from Japan, admitted Peter’s praise in his letter to the early church seems “a little strange to me.” “How can we praise the Lord in such a painful situation? (1 Peter 3–9),” she
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Speakers share doubts from their settings, journeys
Walking in doubt and conviction in second Assembly plenary Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – Three speakers, one each from Kenya, Canada and Ethiopia, shared stories of doubt in their local contexts at Assembly 16’s morning worship 22 July 2015. “We are learning, in this wonderful global family, that this is the best way to deepen our
