pom june 2013 col

9
Place of Meeting A hairy moment Toronto United Mennonite Church June 2013 Quintin Fast has a moment of doubt as Ginny Lepp does the razoring honours at the annual Youth Coffeehouse on May 11. The audience had to come up with a minimum amount of cash before three brave young TUMC guys agreed to have their lovely locks shorn. All for a good cause: sending four TUMC youth to the Mennonite Church Canada Youth Assembly in Winnipeg this summer. More photos inside.

Upload: doreen-martens

Post on 12-Mar-2016

222 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

DESCRIPTION

Monthly newsletter of Toronto United Mennonite Church

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting

A hairy moment

Toronto United Mennonite Church June 2013

Quintin Fast has a moment of doubt as Ginny Lepp does the razoring honours at the annual Youth

Coffeehouse on May 11. The audience had to come up with a minimum amount of cash before three

brave young TUMC guys agreed to have their lovely locks shorn. All for a good cause: sending four

TUMC youth to the Mennonite Church Canada Youth Assembly in Winnipeg this summer.

More photos inside.

Page 2: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meetingis the meaning of the Huron word

“toronton,” from which our city

gets its name. Fittingly, it can also

mean “plenty” or

“abundance.”

Place of Meeting is also the

monthly newsletter of Toronto

United Mennonite Church. May

you find plenty here to enjoy and

ponder. Opinions expressed are

those of the writers and not

necessarily of the congregation

as a whole.

Contributions of all kinds are enthusiastically received, throughthe mail folder in the lobby or at

[email protected]

Next month’s deadline:July 2, 2013

Have you discovered the all-colour online version of Place of

Meeting, complete with liveweblinks? Check this month’s

issue out here: issuu.com/pomeditor/docs/

pom_june_2013l

You can also request an emailsubscription to the colour versionin PDF form or a monthly link tothe current online issue. Please

send a request [email protected]

Editor: Doreen Martens

Remembering Dad

Place of Meeting page 2

Recently, Ginny Lepp and her brothers had a profound time of

reflecting together on their memories of their Dad in healthier

times, remembering “the walking years” before dementia

robbed him of his ability to get around without a wheelchair. As

brother Randy recalled: “My mighty and powerful father. My men-

tor –– my Dad. The unbeatable strong guy that little Randy looked up

to. Yep –– you get it ... my view is of me at 5 or 7 years old and

well –– now you see it. Tears dropping into my beard hairs are quite a

reasonable response. Very human response. You see –– my image of

me is a little boy standing right there beside my father's legs.”

As we anticipate Father’s Day, Ginny shares these two poems she

wrote about her father.

I

Dad’s long hairy legs

Crossed at broad knees gently sway

Relaxed comforting

II

The lean muscles that walked beside me can no longer support his

frame

The strong jaw that enjoyed thousands of meals no longer chews for

pleasure

The voice that responded sagely no longer recalls the words

The soft eyes that knew our faces no longer recognize

Yet his generous, gentle heart cannot forget the love it has known

A recent picture of Ginny’s Dad with two of his youngest grandchildren.

Page 3: Pom june 2013 col

Peace Advocacy Team Meets

Senior Government Officials

Malacanang Palace, Manila. 02 April 2013

Our team of peace advocates had a very productive

meeting with Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad

(Department of Budget and Management) and a

brief exchange of notes with Secretary Corazon

“Dinky” Soliman (Department of Social Welfare and

Development) about their respective roles in achiev-

ing just-peace in our beautiful land.

We were led by Bishop Efraim Tendero (Philippine

Council of Evangelical Churches) and Gus Miclat

(Initiatives for International Dialogue-Mindanao

PeaceWeavers). The other team members were

Karen Tanada (GZO Peace Institute), Regina Lyn

Getuiza Mondez (Sulong CARHRIHL-Generation

Peace), Jun Aparece (Mindanao Peoples Caucus),

and Malou Tabios Nuera (IID-MPW). The next day,

I had a one-on-one meeting with a key official at the

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace

Process.

My general perspective about the peace process in

Mindanao can be summarized in two words: Critical

optimism! In Shaa Allah, a comprehensive agree-

ment may be completed within the mutually agreed

time-frame. –– Dann Pantoja

Place of Meeting May 2013 page 3

News from the Pantojas

PBCI Intensifies 

Arabica Coffee 

Training

Philippines is one of the 70 countries that can grow

the four varieties of coffee, but we are not on the cof-

fee map. We have a largely volcanic soil that is best

for theArabic coffee, but the small supply of coffee

that we have is largely Robusta.

In the context of peace theology, specifically in the

economic-ecological transformation, Peacebuilders

Community (PBCI) is intensifying its Arabica cofee

training through fair trade principles. This month,

three trainings and one orientation were held with 290

farmer participants.

In the interior of the mountains of Bukidnon, where

banditry is supposed to be rampant, around 180 farm-

ers

gathered for coffee training on 10 April 2013. A

Higaonon tribal member went to the PBCI office in

Davao City, six hours away, to invite us to their place.

When we went there, we proved once again that be-

hind the stereotypes are people who are dreaming of a

life of dignity for themselves and their families. This

photo shows one of the possible sites for the planta-

tion. The mountain in the background is a sacred

place for them that cannot be touched. Dominorog is

1050 meters above sea level.

Here are some tidbits from the latest prayer letter

from Daniel and Joji Pantoja, who work with

Peacebuilders in the Philippines and are sup-

ported in part by TUMC through Mennonite

Church Canada Witness.

������������ ����

��������������������������� ����� ������������� ������� ����������������������������� �� �����

�������������� ����

�������������������������������������� ���!���������������������"�#��$%�&����"���'�������'�&�����������������(�!��������)����������������������"�#�()�%����*������+!����(� ���,��-������������������� ���������"��������."�������*��'������*��*���*/����������� ��+"�!����"��0����������$���*��()��&��������!�"��������������'�����'���!���������"�����������.�# �%�&������"�*������������!��������!�����������'��������"/�$�&� �������"� ��*�*�����&��.��+�/�������������$���*������()������0��!��'��������������������1"�-!��*2�"�����������./����&��������$��"����*��'����"+�������"�&����������"��.����*��"�������&�*��"+���"�*�-����'�����������+��������&����������"�&�����"��."�����**��""�1�������"�0�������������������0�����*��������'��+�*���"�������-��!��'�������!!+�����"�!�"���������*�0-��������������2��"��3���""�*����!���"����!����������������������������"�*��������* �"�����������������""/������()���"���������� ���������"�!� ����*���"���!�*�&��'����!�"�*�!���������"� �"����������+���-"�*�/�

����"��4����+"�������-��'��������� ����!����,���"������+����+���-/��

��������������� ������� ������������������ ��������������(���������5��

�6��������'���������6�����/��7�������7�8��9��+�����!����������

�* �����"���*��� ��-����*+��� ��!�����'�&���� �������-�)���������

1�+���2��0�*�#(�����!��������+*'�����*�6���'�!���%���*���0�����

�3����'���������"�&���� �������-�,���:���1(��.-2� ���!���

#(�����!������� ����������������*�(� ����!���%��0�+��������

��"����� ������"��������� ��'�4+"�;����������+��0��+���+�����*/�

���&������*�0-���"��������!����*����#�����������,�+��������

��'�������,�+����"%���*��+"�6������#�������� �"�������������������

(����'+�;6��*������������� ��"%/��������������!�!�!0��"�&����

����������*��#�<����������"���+��%��=�'����-�����+�:��6��*�:�

# +���'�,�=$=�$;����������������%��5+����������#6��*�����

������"�,�+�+"%����*�6���+���0��"��+����#��(;6��%/�

������3��*�-������*������;��;����!�����'�&������.�-����������������������������������"�*��������* �"���������������������""/�

6-�'����������"����� ���0�+�����������������""����6��*���������0��"+!!���:�*�����&��&��*">�,������������!�"!?�

��� ���������������!������"� ���'���!����!�-�0����!�����*�&����������!+�+���-��'���*���!�;���!�/��

������������������������ ������������������

-���/�

��+�����"/������

������������������������

�����������������

��'��������'��"��

78������������"��*��������

E��������,��-���+.�*���/�

0��.���������*�����0��."�

%��������/�����*�

��0+��*��'/��� ��"����&�;

�-/�

;�

�� � � � � � � � � � �

�������*���"��7F;7G�

�"���

��"�����!����

��"�0��.��

���������*�

������������ ����

��������������������������� ����� ������������� ������� ����������������������������� �� �����

�������������� ����

�������������������������������������� ���!���������������������"�#��$%�&����"���'�������'�&�����������������(�!��������)����������������������"�#�()�%����*������+!����(� ���,��-������������������� ���������"��������."�������*��'������*��*���*/����������� ��+"�!����"��0����������$���*��()��&��������!�"��������������'�����'���!���������"�����������.�# �%�&������"�*������������!��������!�����������'��������"/�$�&� �������"� ��*�*�����&��.��+�/�������������$���*������()������0��!��'��������������������1"�-!��*2�"�����������./����&��������$��"����*��'����"+�������"�&����������"��.����*��"�������&�*��"+���"�*�-����'�����������+��������&����������"�&�����"��."�����**��""�1�������"�0�������������������0�����*��������'��+�*���"�������-��!��'�������!!+�����"�!�"���������*�0-��������������2��"��3���""�*����!���"����!����������������������������"�*��������* �"�����������������""/������()���"���������� ���������"�!� ����*���"���!�*�&��'����!�"�*�!���������"� �"����������+���-"�*�/�

����"��4����+"�������-��'��������� ����!����,���"������+����+���-/��

��������������� ������� ������������������ ��������������(���������5��

�6��������'���������6�����/��7�������7�8��9��+�����!����������

�* �����"���*��� ��-����*+��� ��!�����'�&���� �������-�)���������

1�+���2��0�*�#(�����!��������+*'�����*�6���'�!���%���*���0�����

�3����'���������"�&���� �������-�,���:���1(��.-2� ���!���

#(�����!������� ����������������*�(� ����!���%��0�+��������

��"����� ������"��������� ��'�4+"�;����������+��0��+���+�����*/�

���&������*�0-���"��������!����*����#�����������,�+��������

��'�������,�+����"%���*��+"�6������#�������� �"�������������������

(����'+�;6��*������������� ��"%/��������������!�!�!0��"�&����

����������*��#�<����������"���+��%��=�'����-�����+�:��6��*�:�

# +���'�,�=$=�$;����������������%��5+����������#6��*�����

������"�,�+�+"%����*�6���+���0��"��+����#��(;6��%/�

������3��*�-������*������;��;����!�����'�&������.�-����������������������������������"�*��������* �"���������������������""/�

6-�'����������"����� ���0�+�����������������""����6��*���������0��"+!!���:�*�����&��&��*">�,������������!�"!?�

��� ���������������!������"� ���'���!����!�-�0����!�����*�&����������!+�+���-��'���*���!�;���!�/��

Page 4: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting page 4

News from the Pantojas

������������������������ ������������������

��� �"�3���45

����.�������������

&���2������������� "

3���75

6 ��������'������������'���������� ��

����� ������� �����,�����"�

������ �����������

������������������������������������*�������������� ������������5

;���������������������������'������"��

��

���������������������������������������������

������� !"��

�� � � � � � � � � � �

��������"�

����

���������

5

#�

Upon the invitation of an evangelical pastor who graduated

from the Peace and Reconciliation training, the team held a

coffee training for 60 Higaonon farmers in Manalog, Bukid-

non on 11 April 2013. The team crossed twelve creeks to

reach the place, which is also the last village that is reachable

by road. Manalog has vast mountains full of natural re-

sources waiting to be tapped. May the Higaonon people con-

tinue in strengthening their being so that the resources given

them by the Creator will be used with stewardship. The

mountains in the background of this photo are part of Mana-

log.

If we crossed a dozen rivers in our last coffee training, in this

trip, we passed through a road that seems to be once was a

river! Despite that, it was a trip that's worth all the bumps.

On 16-18 April, the team visited a possible coffee plantation

in Upi, Maguindanao through the invitation of Bai Jehan

Baraguir, owner of Datu's Brew in Cotabato City. The farm-

ers were family of one of the baristas in the coffee shop. The

site had a lot of money lying on the ground. Coffee seedlings

were robustly growing. The hills had gentle slopes. Truly,

Mindanao is blessed! After the field visit, an orientation was

given to the farmers at the Datu's Brew coffee shop.

It is not the season for coffee but the farmers of Mt. Apo have

lots of berries waiting to be picked. On 19-20 April, the team

went to Purok Pluto, Sitio Balutakay, Barangay Managa in

Bansalan Davao del Sur, to train 50 coffee farmers. It is in

the Mt. Apo range, a “potentially active” volcano and the

Philippines’ highest peak. At noontime, the place is shrouded

in fog. The soil is very rich with vegetables and flowers and

coffee growing in profusion. The sad thing is that the moun-

tain is laid bare, with the forest cover gone. The farmers are

practicing non-organic farming. Because they have existing

coffee trees, the team emphasized proper plantation manage-

ment, improvement in quality and increase in biodiversity.

Peace and Reconciliation and financial management trainings

will be held in the next months. All the trainings are in part-

nership with CatholicRelief Services and Kapwa Upliftment.

The farmers are a mixture of migrants and the Bagobo-

Tagabawa tribe.

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it

the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it

on the sea and established it on the waters

Psalm 24:1-2

������������������������ ������������������

��� �"�3���45

����.�������������

&���2������������� "

3���75

6 ��������'������������'���������� ��

����� ������� �����,�����"�

������ �����������

������������������������������������*�������������� ������������5

;���������������������������'������"��

��

���������������������������������������������

������� !"��

�� � � � � � � � � � �

��������"�

����

���������

5

#�

������������������������ ������������������

��� �"�3���45

����.�������������

&���2������������� "

3���75

6 ��������'������������'���������� ��

����� ������� �����,�����"�

������ �����������

������������������������������������*�������������� ������������5

;���������������������������'������"��

��

���������������������������������������������

������� !"��

�� � � � � � � � � � �

��������"�

����

���������

5

#�

������������������������ ������������������

��� �"�3���45

����.�������������

&���2������������� "

3���75

6 ��������'������������'���������� ��

����� ������� �����,�����"�

������ �����������

������������������������������������*�������������� ������������5

;���������������������������'������"��

��

���������������������������������������������

������� !"��

�� � � � � � � � � � �

��������"�

����

���������

5

#�

Page 5: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting May 2013 page 5

An evening of song and shearing

The annual youth coffeehouse, held

May 11, offered lots of hilarity, plenty of

musical talent –– for example singing

“Amazing Grace” in various genres

(left) and performing as a classical bal-

loon orchestra (below left) –– and a few

gasps as three young men sacrificed

their locks. All for a good cause: raising

money to attend the Mennonite Church

Canada Youth Assembly in Winnipeg

this summer.

Photos by T im Schmucker

Page 6: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting page 6

An evening of song and shearing

Buh-bye hair! Quintin, Derek and Isaac

show off their flowing locks before sub-

mitting to the clippers in the ultimate

“Fun-Razor”.

Page 7: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting May 2013 page 7

An evening of song and shearing

At a youth coffeehouse, you can always

expect lots of visual gags –– imaginary

benches, forehead-to-mouth Oreo con-

tests and the like. ...

Page 8: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting page 8

An evening of song and shearing

Diem LaFortune and Alan Armstrong jam to-

gether; Michele Rizoli, Carmen Wiebe and Sarita

Lepp sing; behind the curtain, puppeteers in the

pit; John Teshima and friends perform (thanks!).

Page 9: Pom june 2013 col

Place of Meeting May 2013 page 9

An invitation to musical artists

The TUMC Worship Committee invites you

to consider creating an original composition

or arrangement for worship

We invite you to create music for Sunday July 21st linked to our summer theme:

"When in your experience has the church been Salt and Light?"

or more generally to the theme of salt and light found in Matthew 5:13-16

You may also want to consider how it may fit into a worship service:

Gathering or Call to Worship

Praising God

Call to Confession

Meditation and Prayer

Affirmation and Faith

Benediction

Please let Marie Penner know by May 31 if you wish to participate.

We look forward to hearing from you.