Engaging in Politics

This is the first election that I have been involved with in any real capacity other than voting.


Among other things, I spent a whole lot of time helping to organize an all candidates meeting  on behalf of the 21 Stouffville churches.  Our aim for the All-Candidates Meeting was to provide an information forum to hear where candidates stand on issues of concern to the churches and the local community. This event was an opportunity for the churches and parishes of our community to positively engage the political process.


I would be curious to know what others think: As Christians, is it worthwhile to put a whole bunch of energy into politics?  Or should we use our energy/gifts elsewhere?

Strangers

I judged you for watching sweaty men in tights play fight.  Forgetting that plank-eyes often assume much too much, I placed you in a box.  Forgive me.

*****************

We sat on the tarmac waiting.  And restlessness grew for the weary 136 who had to wait.  Waiting is something we hate.  Oft we forget that it is in the waiting times of life (when we are forced to wander from our scheduled existence) that G-d enters in.

[Small talk with Stanger #1.]

“Is this your final destination?”

“Ya, just have to make my way up to Stouffville.”

“North of here, right?”

“Ya, north-east.  The other side of Markham.  You?”

“I live in Mississauga.”

[Enter Stranger #2]

“Sorry to interrupt.  You said you live in Stouffville... about how long does it take to get there from here?”

“About 40 minutes, this time of night.  You heading that way?”

“Maybe.  My sister lives up there and I was thinking of staying the night with her instead of driving all the way home.”

“Well, let me know what you decide.  I’ll chip in for gas or whatever if you will give me a lift.  Otherwise I am paying $80 for a taxi.”

He called his sister and arranged to stay at her place for the night.  I grabbed my bags and heavy winter coat (it was minus 30 in Winnipeg), exited the plane, and walked into the terminal.  Stranger #2 came out a few minutes later carrying his bags and a guitar.  He introduced himself as David.

We waited for his checked bag.  And we waited for the shuttle to the parking lot.  While we waited we talked.

David just moved home a few months ago after a dozen years out west.  His mom died last year so he moved home in December to spend time with his dad.  His dad picked up an infection and died in January.  Now he is early 30-something dealing with death, wills, a house full of stuff to sort through...

We sat in his ‘95 Ford Taurus for the 40 minute ride to Stouffville.  All in all we spent about an hour and a half together.

Isn’t it amazing that we are alive - that there is life?  It’s too bad they don’t teach you about life in school.

We spoke of listening.  Learning to wait.  Meditation.  Living in the present.  Hospitality.  Slowing things down.  Taking life in.

I interrupted a story.  “Can you pull into the gas station so I can fill up the car? I don’t have any cash.”  He drove on past the gas station and continued on about being welcomed once by strangers in a strange land.

A handful of minutes later I was home.  He beat me out the car to hand me my bag from the trunk.  He wouldn’t accept anything.

We are strangers no more.

"The last 100 years of nonviolence"

http://ontario.mcc.org/peace

MCC, Advocacy, and Beaver Tails

Want to learn about MCC?  Want to learn more about MCC's work in advocating for changes to our government policy?

Want to skate on the canal in Ottawa and eat beaver tails in minus 20 degree weather with students from across Canada?

Then sign up today for the MCC Ottawa office student seminar "Advocacy and MCC: Loving our neighbour through witness to government."

For more info, visit the Ottawa office website.

I plan to go along.  If you want to carpool from KW or Toronto, please email me after you register.

Compassion :: This Generation Video

Here is a video of Compassion :: This Generation, a "Meeting MCC" youth event hosted by the Sommerfeld, EMC, and EMMC churches in Aylmer on November 12th.  If you missed this event but want to learn more about MCC and ways to get involved please be in touch.

produced by Simon Martin and Ken Ogasawara 

"My Life is my Message"

Camp Micah (http://www.campmicah.ca/), an inter-denominational peace and justice leadership camp run the last week of August for high school students, was a new experience for us.

As Mennonites we kind of thought we had the market cornered on peace and justice work, and it was exciting and refreshing to work alongside Catholics and United Church friends to instill alternative leadership skills in youth with a focus on peace and justice. Camp Micah uses all the normal camp activities (canoeing, low-ropes, games, and campfires) to create awareness about the importance of peace and justice in our everyday lives, and to challenge us to think about how we live our lives and, ultimately, what type of message we share with others by how we live.

My life is my message...  It was a catchy phrase to put on the t-shirts for Camp Micah.

A Peace Sunday Sermon: Part 4 of 4. Conclusion

Some final things to remember

Peace happens in relationship

Jesus, sometimes called Truth said:

Folks are lucky, blessed, fortunate, on the right track

by living out compassion

“dethrone [yourselves] from the centre of our world and put another there”[1]

This is the kindom of God

A Peace Sunday Sermon: Part 3 of 4. Remembering we live by a different story

We’re not alone, you know

Everyone wishes for Peace

Even beauty queens, with their tiara’s and sparkling dresses wish for …

[sigh] world peace

– someday

Everyone wishes for Peace

Even the Lennon’s who imagine no countries

[sung] and no religions too (Oh, oh – o-o-oh)

Everyone wishes for Peace

Even the folks who earnestly engage in war,

They believe that their show of mighty force will bring conflict to a speedy end:

“We’ll just go in,

strike with precision

and then we’re out.

Balance will be restored.

We’re helping people — oh, and democracy.”

But, as the general said on the radio: conflict is never that predictable

A Peace Sunday Sermon: Part 2 of 4. Remembering who we are

Sisters, brothers, friends, we’ve called this Peace Sunday

It’s the proverbial string we tie around our finger every year so we won’t forget

On Peace Sunday we remember who we are,

who we propose to be

We are children of God’s Peace

"We who were formerly no people at all, and who knew of no peace, are now called to be...a church...of peace.  True Christians do not know vengeance.  They are the children of peace.  Their hearts overflow with peace.  Their mouths speak peace, and they walk in the way of peace.” (to quote Menno Simons)

A Peace Sunday Sermon: Part 1 of 4. Remembering the victims of violence

Scripture: Matthew 5, Micah 6: 8

I remember, Je me souviens

I remember,

but mostly I’d rather forget

Mostly

I’d rather sit in my corner and cry, wail, lament

I remember the things we do and don’t do to each other:

war, injustice,

poverty, torture,

broken relationships, bullying, meanness, gossip, betrayal, …

I remember,

but sometimes I’d rather forget

Internship in Ottawa

A month ago I included some info about MCCs advocacy work in a post called Loving our Neighbour through Witness to Government.

Since I know this type of work interests many of you, I wanted to let you know of an opportunity to get involved...(see the info about internship possibilities below, copied from the MCC Ottawa office website)

*****************************

Mennonite Central Committee's Ottawa Office offers three unpaid internship terms each year. The dates for each are flexible and depend on the selected intern’s availability. Both full-time and half-time internships are available.

• Winter/Spring Term (January-April): applications will be reviewed starting November 15
• Summer Term (May-August): applications will be reviewed starting March 1
• Fall Term (September-December): applications will be reviewed starting July 1

The Advocacy Intern is part of a team that provides expertise and assistance for MCC Canada’s advocacy efforts.  For further information and to apply for this position, please contact Marsha Jones with a cover letter and resume.

Compassion :: This Generation

Attention youth and youth leaders...

For those of you in Kitchener-Waterloo...

What are you doing this Thursday?  And the next?  If you have some flexibility with your schedule I would encourage you to read on.  Below are two interesting events that you should to check out:

The first is an invitation from my friend Steve who works with Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support to a Rally for Refugees on Nov. 4th.  The second, an invitation from my colleague Matthew to an Interfaith Peace Vigil on Nov. 11th.

Myth Perceptions

http://www.mythperceptions.ca/english_home.html

Check out this interesting resource....

"Myth Perceptions is an initiative of the Indigenous Work Program of Mennonite Central Committee Canada.

The goal of Mythperceptions is to dismantle stereotypes, myths and misconceptions that people from the dominant culture tend to believe about Indigenous peoples living within the borders of what is now North America.  Mythperceptions attempts to change views in a way that is engaging, yet gives opportunities to dig deeply into some of the issues facing Indigenous peoples."

Mutual Aid with Ben Janzen

Faith and money are very much connected, whether we like it or not. Often we try to avoid making the connections, because thinking about faith and money can lead to some pretty difficult decisions - ones that force us to think about how and how much we spend, give, and save (give and save?)...


And many of the habits that we develop (ones that you and I are developing right now) stick with us for most of our lives. Unless, of course, we are willing to consider some pretty tough questions, and also consider the possibility that we may have to change the way we spend, give, and save. And maybe even where we bank...

About 47 years ago, a group of Waterloo Mennonites got together to explore a response to what they were seeing and feeling in their churches around faith and economics. At the heart of their discussion was the concept of mutual aid, “bearing each other’s burdens”. That led to a discussion about how a faith-based credit union could be an ideal way for church members to support each other, their churches and to conduct financial business in keeping with their faith.

“Why a credit union and not a bank?” you might ask.

Here’s a video (thanks to some credit union friends in Alberta) that shows some of the reasons why:

"...democracy is not a spectator sport"

MCC's Ottawa Office tracks legislative developments in the Parliament of Canada that directly relate to our priorities, approaches, and values. It does this by documenting government or private member bills that have the potential to impact MCC's domestic or international program partners.

Follow the MCC Ottawa Office Legislation Log.

["Because democracy is not a spectator sport" ~ US presidential election slogan, Democrats (2004)]

Want to learn more about the whole federal parliamentary process?  Click here.

Thrift dance party

If you are interested in getting involved with MCC consider volunteering at a thrift store.  They have dance parties like this most of the time.  (Watch the video...it is a good way to get your Monday started off right)

Thrift raises millions of dollars for MCC work every year.  By supporting thrift you are helping your neighbour.

For a list of Ontario thrift locations check out http://ontario.mcc.org/thrift.

Listening: the best way to build peace

When dialogue is mentioned, most people associate it with talking.  Not so for the participants of The East-West Dialogue for Peacemaking, an event held this past June in Amman, Jordan.  Thirty participants from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, the United States, and Canada came away associating effective dialogue with good listening. The art of good listening, they learned, is key to effective dialogue and peacemaking.

During the 4-day conference, participants, both Muslims and Christians, spent intensive time together informally and in sessions developing relationships and learning from the rich and diverse experiences of each other. 

“When we build friendship we are one step closer to peace,” says Mouhammad Aref El Hassan, from Lebanon who was also at the conference in 2009. “…There are a lot of people out there that want to understand and to be understood.”

One of those people was Sara Anderson who attends Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church and who recently completed her first year in the Global Studies program at Wilfred Laurier University focusing on Peace and Conflict in the Middle East and Muslim Studies.  She was interested in this Dialogue as a way of putting into action some of the lessons she learned in the classroom, and as a way to learn more about what it means to be a Christian in the world.  “I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and customs in the Middle East and how I, as a Christian, am to live in a multi-faith world.”

Sara Anderson (far right) speaking with three participants from the Middle East

Loving our neighbor through witness to government

Many of you are energized by following Jesus call to love our neighbors.  There are many ways that you can do this and I would encourage you to think creatively with others about how this might look in your community.

One way to love our neighbours, both near and far, is through political advocacy.

When we claim that Jesus is Lord we are claiming that (as the early church and as many Anabaptist communities have done for 500 years) our political leaders and structures are not Lord. This doesn’t mean that we call for anarchy and disregard order.  But it means we must be willing to speak out (even to our government representatives) when our convictions as Christians come face to face with injustice.

Good thing we don’t have to go it alone…there are people that can guide us along the way.  To get you started, check out these helpful sites:

Advocating for a Poverty Free Ontario

MCC Advocacy Webpage