San Antonio Mennonite Church newsletter, Sept. 2000

To the church in Galatia Paul wrote, "All of you who were baptized are clothed in Christ. Therefore, [since you are all wearing the same clothes,] you no longer need to concern yourselves with distinctions between men and women; Anglo, Hispanic and African American; professionals, blue collar, and unemployed; disabled and abled; liturgical, evangelical and charismatic. Because if we all belong to Christ then we’re all family and all heirs to God’s promises." Galations 3:27-29 DBV

In the church Paul describes, each person is a part of something far greater. The whole is much more than the sum of its parts. Together, we are a sign of what God’s kingdom is like. And that is my dream for us, to be a more diverse church where all those differences are swallowed up in the larger reality of the Jesus we follow. I don’t think we can make that happen, but I see signs of God at work to bring about that kind of church if we’ll partner with God.

I’ve been praying for that kind of church, praying that God would send us the people and resources to become the kind of church Paul describes. And here they come. In June Conrado Hinojosa and Lupe Aguilar visited with several of us to begin exploring starting a Spanish-speaking church. They and Marco Gueta, the new Mid-Texas District Minister, offered to be resources for us. What an opportunity! The Damascus Road workshop on September 30 promises to be another avenue for God to open our eyes to distinctions we may not even be aware we make.

I’m also encouraged by the new persons attending and those who will be attending our church. You come with some real gifts for ministry and a vision for sharing Jesus, and are helping us become more diverse in the process. I’m excited about what God is doing in us and among us! —Duane Beachey

As I reflect on the happenings surrounding or within our church I see again that familiar faces have moved on and new faces have joined our group.

Welcome to new persons and we trust that you will feel free to become a part of the decision-making process of our group. You will find that some decisions are made in committees or teams and others at congregational meetings. Normally discussions on issues lead to a consensus. This is not always an efficient process but we believe it to the best way of doing church business.

The Worship Team is an important part of our congregation and they are always ready to receive new ideas that make our gathered times more meaningful. What happens to you throughout the week is important to us and I think you will find that our group is always glad to hear from you during "sharing time" which is always a part of our Sunday morning worship.

Pastor Duane is giving us three-fifths time and will be moving to four-fifths according to our plans. We applaud his leadership in working towards making our group more inclusive and welcoming. Our prayer is that each member and participant’s gifts be utilized and confirmed in the San Antonio Mennonite Church. —Dan Miller

We are very excited to share about the visioning day we experienced on Saturday, August 19. Those of us on the committee and two of the worship leaders met all day to begin a tradition of reflecting on our hopes for our spiritual life this coming year.

Remembering that the church year is a circle, a cycle—remembering that the rhythm of our life is "doing" and "being", "external ministry" and "internal Sabbath", we began by asking the question, "What draws us individually nearer to God? What draws us corporately nearer to God?" From this center, we began.

Our work consisted of planning the themes for the year. (Perhaps you’ve seen this work posted in the church foyer.) We brainstormed ideas, remembering to keep in mind our current encouraging areas of growth and our current areas needing to be challenged. We can adapt our ideas as the year moves forward, but it feels freeing to have a basic beginning structure. As I look at our outline, I continue to think of a word that struck me that day—transformation. We continually head towards transformation. As we looked at transforming within the larger Mennonite church we named some of the issues we face. And as we look at our local church community we are aware of being called to transform as a body, and to live that out. And, of course, the beginning level of transformation is our own personal transformation.

We decided to begin looking at some of the issues that came out our brainstorming by looking at what the Mennonite Church Confession of Faith says on that particular issue. So throughout the year, we will intersperse services focusing on certain articles from it. We have incorporated input from "outside folks" such as people from the Damascus Road (exploring racism) and from the Peace Evangelists. We’ve also chosen to continue our tradition of using the lectionary and resources from Faith and Life Press for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

Using transformation as our backdrop, we will begin our year’s rhythm by spending the first weeks inviting thought, reflection, prayer, input on the barriers that separate us from each other and from God. We list some of those barriers as class, wealth, race, age, and sex. Our hope is for honest learning and growth, for healing, and for turning more toward transformation. We will then spend some time looking at some of the signs of hope surrounding us—signs from Columbia, from the Rio Grande Valley, from our very midst.

That brings us up to Advent! Rather than write more about the rest of our year’s cycle now, I invite you to ask someone from the committee about it or to check out the information in our church foyer. It is most important to know that we are excited and looking forward to this year. It is most important to know that we want you to be excited, affirmed, singing, praying, growing and challenged by our worship times. May God be woven more intricately into our lives, not just on Sundays, but day by day. —Stacey Merkt

It’s Sunday School time! Classes commenced September 3^rd. We are in the fall session of the Jubilee series though it may not feel like fall in the classroom. Fortunately, each classroom has a fan to use. I want to thank all the teachers and students who are participating in this year’s classes.

Several changes have occurred this year: Alexis Lightbourn has entered the Early Childhood class and Celina Peterson and Jonathan Williams have moved up one level to the Middler class and Junior Youth Class respectively; missing faces are Anna Bare and the students from the Abundant Life Church; new faces are Rubiel and Irvin Rodriguez.

There will be a time of group singing from 9:30 to 9:45 each Sunday after which the children will disperse to their individual classes. A big thank you to Diane Castañon, Holly Herr, and Marilyn Torres, who have consented to help in leading this music group.

Last year the Sunday School classes contributed $60.16 plus a big basketful of miscellaneous supplies to the Catholic Worker House. Kudos to all who participated in this project.

The teachers and I met for breakfast September 3^rd at Taco Haven. We discussed the new singing time, attendance, and possibilities for this year’s mission project. We agreed we would do a local project but want to explore options and invite your ideas and suggestions. —Julie Miller

La Casa is in the midst of a lot of changes as we move into the fall season. We were sorry to see Karen leave for Oregon so quickly but hope the move will be good for her and Gabino. We are very grateful for Karen's leadership over the past three years and will miss her wisdom and insight.

At the same time, we are happy to have Ann Helmke take over as the new Director. I first met Ann over six years ago in correlation with the Gang Peace Summit. La Casa hosted many of the mediators who traveled to San Antonio for the conference which Ann co-directed. I was very impressed with her leadership abilities in bringing together this massive effort, particularly since she trusted so many people with the various parts which made it go so well. I also remember vividly the fondness for Mennonites which she shared with Bill Lytle and me. At the time, Ann was Associate Pastor at the downtown Grace Lutheran Church. Since then she has pursued graduate studies at Incarnate Word, directed several other large peace events in SA, and most recently initiated the PeaceCenter. She will continue working with the PeaceCenter and envisions the work there intertwining well with La Casa as they coordinate various peace and justice conferences and retreats. Ann has already moved into the house at 603 Cedar Street with her daughters Rachel and Kara. We hope you will get to know her as she visits us here at SAMC and through the ongoing work at La Casa. For sure you will be impressed with her energy and excitement for the work which she does.

We also have a couple new board members. Laura Holck is a Lutheran pastor who has worked with the PeaceCenter. Dennis Archiga is the newest priest at San Fernando Cathedral and lives just a block away from La Casa. We are glad to have these two persons share in the ministry of La Casa. —John Lichty

La Casa had a busy summer with SALSA groups here from May 28 to August 4. Hugo Saucedo graciously acted as the SALSA summer coordinator and Maricela Alarcon and Cris Torres both came back for another year as summer staff. As for me, I kept the place running as Assistant Director.

SALSA groups helped out at a day care center, spent time with youth at day camps around the city, built ramps with the Repair And Modification Program, worked in soup kitchens and did crafts and played games with senior citizens in a senior housing complex. We heard many positive comments about people’s SALSA experiences. Over all it was a good summer.

Two nursing students from the Mennonite College of Nursing came for two weeks for a cross cultural experience. They spent their time doing everything from working in a soup kitchen to learning about herbal medicines and common home remedies of the area. They even went on a tour of a Mexican hospital.

A film crew, under a grant from PBS, was here for about three weeks to shoot a movie in San Antonio. They even used one of the bedrooms to film a scene! They will inform La Casa when it will be airing so we can be on the lookout for it. If you want any more details feel free to find me and ask. —Abigail Smith

The Voluntary Service committee would like to thank Emily Herriott, Dan Williams, Ruth Polston and Wanda Reinford for their time and decisions made during this past year. The unit has said goodbye to Alison Schmidt who moved back to Kansas this summer. Danielle Miller ended her service term in June and after a summer visit with her family and friends in Indiana is back in San Antonio. Holly Herr finished her term in early September and will be working at the JOVEN program on the south side where Monica has been working.

With all of these good-byes, thankfully come hellos. New committee members are Diane Castañon, Deb Williams, Monica Handrich, Mary Banspach and Dorothy Williams. Dorothy has agreed to be our community representative. She was formerly the director at House of Neighborly Service. The committee is looking forward to a good new term with the experience each member brings.

A new volunteer has also begun her service time. Margaret Braun is teaching ESL at House of Neighborly Service on the West Side. Abigail is still working with La Casa de Maria y Marta through December. She has also been the unit rep for the committee.

New members in the Local Program Coordinators’ family are Diego and Mariana. They are making life full for Cris and Marilyn Torres and sister Isabela. We are thankful for the participation of the church family and friends for all of the help given with the arrival of the twins.

One area of consideration and concern right now is that Margaret will be the lone volunteer when Abigail leaves. We would appreciate your prayers and voice to spread the word about the great service experience that San Antonio VS offers.

For all of these changes and new possibilities, we thank God and trust in God’s working for the future of Mennonite Voluntary Service. —Monica Handrich

Six years ago I found myself sitting on a dirt floor listening to the Nicaraguan pastor preaching. He said one thing that I remember vividly: we are all called to be the children of God and nothing more. At the time I was trying to figure out college and career and this thought was wonderfully helpful. So now I find myself in San Antonio with that same thought in my mind. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up or much of anything else relating to the future, but now I have the assurance that this is okay, and that I will end up where I’m supposed to be.

I was born in Oregon, moved with my parents to Kentucky at age 7 to serve a three-year term with Mennonite Central Committee, and then moved to Fresno, California at age 10 where my dad went to the Mennonite Brethren Seminary. I went to a performance arts high school and then on to Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. I graduated this last May with a double major in English and Spanish. Now I'm here for two years to teach adult ESL at the House of Neighborly Service. I'm looking forward to this experience with more excitement than apprehension. I appreciate this church’s support of voluntary service. I feel very welcomed already. —Margaret Braun

Hard to believe, but the next Relief Sale is now only two months away. If you haven’t already done so, MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 11. It’s easy to remember—the 11^th annual sale will be on 11/11. It will be held at the Houston Mennonite Church, 1231 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055. Below you will find a few items of information about the coming sale:

I would like to start off this short excerpt of my time this summer in Columbia by saying a very warm "Hello" and "Saludos" from the Mennonite Church in Columbia.

My trip was primarily for relaxation. I spent most of my time with a "special friend" named Alfredo Angel, whom I hope you will all be able to meet in the coming months. Aimee Leisey and I stayed in the heart of the Mennonite community in Bogotá, a neighborhood adjacent to the National University. Everyday we met people on the street from the church, or someone would stop by the house. I found myself envious of the strong community bond I was experiencing.

Columbia, a country overflowing with natural resources, is currently in a state of undeclared civil war. Every night in the news, another victim of kidnapping by the "guerrillas", or worse, would appear on the screen. Some of them were children. I was horrified. Billboards, bumper stickers, TV commercials ... all crying out for a solution. But the struggle has been ongoing for almost five decades and in the past year has escalated. Bogota, Columbia’s capitol, has grown from a city of one million to almost eight million in the last five years due to the displaced people. You can just imagine the living conditions for that kind of mass migration.

Where in all this is the Mennonite Church? In the middle! A dominating force of hired gunmen known as the "para mutitany" have recently asked the church for medical relief support. The group also revealed to the church that Peter Stuckey (a prominent member and pastor) was one of 40 pastors on some type of black "hit" list.

In my short month in Columbia, I found myself having more and more questions and no answers. A letter to the church in North America is currently being distributed in response to the situation. I would ask all of you to take the time to read it. A request many people asked me to relay to my church here is, "Remember us!"

When I was asked to write about my trip to Columbia, I first thought of writing about the beautiful Andes Mountains and the lively soccer games...all of the things that sustain our need for joy in life. But I realized quickly that I had unknowingly become a messenger from one community of faith to another. So I will simply ask for us to remember our brothers and sisters there who live day to day knowing violence first hand, but having another lonely road. And, I ask that we understand our impact on their lives. —Gwen Snavely

An Urgent Call from Colombia to the Churches in the North for Reflection and Action for Life

"If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance...will arise from another place. And who knows but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

My dear Brothers and Sisters, the gospel invites us to know how to "interpret the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3). For this reason, "with fear and trembling", I dare to write to you in this moment of confusion and pain that the Colombian people are suffering, in search of solidarity and fraternal discernment.

The government of the United States of America, the most powerful hegemonic force in the world at the moment, has turned its eyes upon our small country of Colombia. The US Congress recently approved an "aid" package to the Colombian government for $1, 300, 000, 000, of which almost 90% goes towards military support for the army, in other words, to escalate the war.

In the same manner, the Colombian government is soliciting a similar amount of money from the European governments within the same vision found in the so-called "Plan Colombia", which seeks to gain military advantages over the guerrillas in order to supposedly reach peace in this country. It is probable that the European governments will follow in the footsteps of the USA.

During the last 50 years, Colombians have been living through a serious social conflict that is currently degenerating into an armed conflict that: leaves a disastrous annual count of 30,000 violent deaths, close to 2 million displaced people, a destroyed economic infrastructure in the country, an illegitimate government, a fragmented and desperate civil society and millions of common people's life-dreams frustrated.

In the last 15 years, the problems of this social conflict have been augmented by the terrible drug-trafficking business, which is financed by international mafia and carried out by Colombians. It is a business that takes advantage of many people's greed, the government’s weakness, the corruption of many politicians, and the displaced and unemployed people's hunger and misery. It flourishes in this country of deep jungles, widespread mountain ranges and extensive coasts along two oceans. Now drug-trafficking has become a source of financing for the guerrilla groups, paramilitary and self-defense groups, and turns into an excuse for the USA to intervene in Colombia, disguising these actions as a war against drugs, when perhaps really they are looking for the "external enemy" that they lost at the end of the cold war.

The bias in the media's presentation of scarce news about Colombia shows the violent actions pornographically, as if they were produced by drug-trafficking, presents the Colombian conflict as a diabolical struggle between mafia cartels, and hides the real basis of social injustice that produced the drug-traffic business in the first place. This bias has robbed other nations, such as the USA, Canada and European countries, of the opportunity to feel solidarity towards the pain of the Colombian people. They are blind when their respective governments use taxpayers’ money to increase the unfortunate situation of the Colombian people by escalating the war.

Just as lighter fluid among flames produces more fire, more arms produce more war in the middle of social conflict. This military "aid" will not put an end to the war nor eradicate drug trafficking. It will only increase the number of deaths and the suffering of the Colombian people. People displaced by the war turn to coca cultivation in order to survive, such that more and more drugs reach the USA. This ominously vicious cycle increasingly involves more and more foreign powers, enriches the mafia, takes away the government’s legitimacy and gives more power and authority to the guerrilla groups.

The Colombian people are not a drug-trafficking cartel, but rather a caring people that show solidarity to others. Just like all other people, Colombians dream and seek a better future, largely guided and illuminated by simple churches that sprout up in the midst of the conflict and violence as a seed of hope that announces and lives out the "abundant life" which comes from the Prince of Peace.

What the North is sending to the Colombian people through this military "aid" is a message of death and destruction, amplified by a profound silence from many of the brothers and sisters from the North that belong to the great global faith family. For this reason we are sending out this message to the churches in the North that come from countries where their taxes paid to their governments are economically supporting, in their name, the annihilation of the Colombian nation and people.

We are asking you, just as Mordecai desperately pleaded with Esther regarding the threat of annihilation of the Jews, to not remain quiet at this time, but to unite your voices with ours in order to denounce the perverse nature of this kind of "aid" and the ever-closer danger that this war-like conflict may affect your homes and produce the death announced in the Biblical passage. We plead with you, just as Esther did, to call together all believers and to fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to change the minds of your governors, and to give strength and wisdom to the members of Colombian churches so that we might console, offer hope and continue to take a message of life and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ to this people and this suffering church. We invite churches and local congregations in the north to join Colombian churches and local congregations, strategically located throughout the country.

Through interdependent fraternal relationships, we can create "Churches as Sanctuaries for Peace". These Sanctuaries can, by holding a broad vision, incarnate the intervention of the Holy Spirit through specific actions. From these new "Churches as Sanctuaries for Peace", particularly those located in Colombia, we can bring the Colombian people a message of "abundant life" (John 10:10) and peace as promised by Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

We live out this message through training, consolation, humanitarian aid to displaced people, pastoral support, integral projects to reconstruct lives and other creative forms of relating. We ask you for support to transform this vicious cycle of death and destruction that military aid produces, into a virtuous cycle of abundant life and peace. In this way our people can receive an alternative message from the people of the north, sent by the churches there. This message would show that life, respect and solidarity can also come from the north. Perhaps, brothers and sisters, it is precisely in order to support the Colombian churches in turning the governmental message of death from the North into life that God has placed you there in the nations of the North at this time, just as God did with Esther.

Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas, Member of the Mennonite Church of Colombia, Director of Justapaz (Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Non-violent Action), Director of the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia - CEDECOL

Address: Av. Calle 32 No. 14-42, Bogotá, Colombia Tel. 285-6315, 571-0010, 570-6150

Corn fields. Home. Rural Mennonite Life. Perennial Gardens. Aging Grandparents. Twelve Hundred Miles from Breakfast Tacos. Family. Lyme’s Disease. Seventy-five Degree Summers. Community. Profuse Produce. Ear Plugs and Power Tools. Double Wedding Ring Quilting Frenzies. A Spot in Northern Indiana.

I tried to think of one topic and title for this brief report on my respite at "home" and couldn’t narrow it down, so I used them all. In thinking of stories to tell you, I realized that I haven’t done a lot of processing despite the 24+ hours on the road from the land of Goshen back to San Antonio. Thanks to Mary’s prodding to write something for the newsletter, I have a tool to deliberately process and transition back into the sultry San Antonio scene.

As many of you know, one night, about a week after returning to my parent’s farm in Goshen, a minute visitor from Knobnoster State Park in central Missouri greeted me. Having felt a scab-like lump on the back of my leg, I began gnawing and scratching vigorously at the back of my leg. After several minutes of struggling to remove the lump, I discovered that my "scab" was alive. It had lots of legs and a tiny round body. We had been warned at MVS retreat to watch for deer ticks. I thought I had. In my panicked state I ran downstairs to look up Lyme’s disease in our health encyclopedias. "If you find a tick," the encyclopedia read," never gnaw or scratch at it with your bare hands, but carefully apply Vaseline to suffocate the tick and then remove it with a tweezers. Any undue trauma that you cause the tick will increase the chances that it inject you with its poison causing you to contract Lyme’s disease and consequently feel miserable for the first several months of your relaxing summer at home." Needless to say, I spent too much time battling nausea, achy joints, a rash that covered my entire right arm, and extreme fatigue. But as I am known to do, I did my best to ignore the symptoms as much as possible and continued to work for my dad and try to get some miles in. I couldn’t risk not being ready for the marathon in November, of course! It meant very early nights to bed and lots of antibiotics. Since that first night of gnawing and scratching, I have learned a lot about Lyme’s and its treatment and am prepared the next time I should find an unknown scab-like visitor on the back of my leg.

Thankfully, the summer wasn’t entirely shaped by my illness. I did have lots of cool summer days to spend in the dirt with my father’s landscaping service. From planting perennials, to pulling weeds, trimming atrocious arborvitae hedges to miniature boxwoods, lifting, hauling, pushing, pulling, I enjoyed the beauty of the lush summer days of the Midwest. I loved learning and re-learning to care for the vegetation of that part of this country, but also loved spending long hours with my dad. Over the drone of the power trimmers, blowers and weed-eaters, we discussed politics, the plight of public education, racism, NAFTA, our family, my future and much more. It is those conversations that have gotten me out of bed at 6 a.m. to put in ten hours of strenuous and dirty work for so many summers.

I filled my free time with visits with my 94 and 95 year old grandma and grandpa, long run/bike rides with my mom, making a double wedding ring quilt hanging with a friend for another friend’s wedding, scrap-booking, reading, working in the garden and orchard, eating wonderful garden and orchard produce, canning, making a quick trip to Vermont to visit my aunt and to marvel at the mountains as I climbed and ran them, catching up with old friends, writing letters to San Antonio, and trying to figure out what, where, and who home really is. I will always be at home in Northern Indiana where the leafy maples are tall, the crickets’ songs are bold, and the tomato plants produce so much fruit that children can be found using the overabundance for a summertime version of a snowball fight. But home is also this land of dried-up okra plants, fire ants and lawns unable to be tread by bare feet. Home is this church of transplants who have become family to each other and to me. Home is the sound of Tejano music booming from stereos on Saturday nights. Home is being recognized on the streets as "that (crazy) woman who runs all the time." Home is the overwhelming attack of hugs from kids as they see my car drive up to their apartment in the Alazan Apache Courts. It is good to be back. Thanks for your cards, calls, thoughts and prayers as I was gone. They brought my "homes" a bit closer together. —Danielle Miller

Our mission is to embody and proclaim the Good News of Jesus to our neighbor,
while growing in an abiding relationship with Christ and fellow believers.

Sunday School Teachers for 2000-2001:
Early Childhood (Ages 2-4)	Rita Lightbourn Diane Castañon
Primary (K-2)	Mary Miller Mary Banspach Deb Miller
Middler (Grades 3-5)	Julie Miller Monica Handrich Deb Williams
Jr. Youth (Grades 6-8)	Hugo Saucedo
Substitute Teachers:	Elizabeth Melendez Holly Herr (Early Childhood) Charlie Peterson II (Jr. Youth)

Sept. 22-23	Western District Conference
Sept. 30	Damascus Road Workshop
Oct. 13-15	SAMC Retreat at Leakey, TX
Nov. 11	Texas Mennonite Relief Sale, Houston, TX

	SAMC NEWSLETTER September 2000
San Antonio Mennonite Church 1443 S. St. Mary's San Antonio TX 78210 (210) 533-0642