27 minute read
Palestinian church leaders call for justice
Manitoba town welcomes refugees
Palestinian family finds a new home in Altona
WINNIPEG, Man.—Safe resettlement could not come quickly enough for a Palestinian family that fled violence in Baghdad, Iraq, about four years ago and is now living in rural Manitoba.
“My dream is for a good future for my children,” said Amal Abueraiban when she and her husband, Ziad Abukhousa and their seven children, ages two to 16 arrived at the airport in
Abukhousa.
AKRON, Pa.—In December 2009, Palestinian Christian theologians and church leaders issued a passionate plea for an end to Israeli military occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).
In Kairos Palestine, 2009, A moment of truth: A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering, church leaders state the military occupation must end to establish peace and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis built on justice and equality.
The document was co-authored by more than a dozen Christian leaders. Although MCC was not directly involved in creating it, its contents reflect what it has heard from regional partners. Winnipeg on February 24. They had been living in the Al Hol refugee camp in the Hasaka desert region of Syria near the Iraq border.
Their new home is in Altona, a community of just under 4,000 people, 115 kilometres south of Winnipeg.
The Abukhousa family is among 50 residents from the Al Hol camp to find safe resettlement in Canada through MCC Canada’s refugee assistance program—a program that matches refugees eligible for resettlement in
Ebatsam Elsheikh and her daughter Zeze El Galad of Altona welcome six-year old Wafaa Abukhousa to Canada. Also in the photo are (left) Wafaa’s mother Amal Abueraiban and two-year-old Abdulaziz, Assil Al Hassani (a friend now living in Winnipeg) and Doaa
Canada with sponsors.
The sponsoring group is Build A Village, a community group in Altona formed in 2001 to assist MCC with replacing homes destroyed by the earthquakes in El Salvador.
The organization expanded its work in 2005 to provide settlement support for newcomers to Canada. It has supported 15 families, six through MCC, said Ray Loewen, committee chair.
Eight families have moved to larger cities, but seven refugee families currently live in Altona.
Palestinian church leaders call for justice
How in God’s land can two peoples live together?
MCC
Daryl Byler, an MCC representative for Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine, said the document expresses a deep desire for peace, justice and reconciliation.
“It is God’s land and therefore it must be a land of reconciliation, peace and love—this is indeed possible,” states the document. “God has put us here as two peoples, and God gives us the capacity, if we have the will, to live together and establish in it justice and peace, making it in reality God’s land.”
The Kairos Palestine document (http://www.kairospalestine.ps.) refers to boycotts and divestments; no MCC board in Canada or the United States has called for these. MCC struggles with how to respond in ways that best serve the cause of justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis. MCC
MCC Canada launches mining justice campaign Seeks to educate Canadians about costs when mining activity is inadequately regulated
A Mennonite pastor in Honduras, working to change mining laws there, fled to the U.S. when his name appeared on a list of people that powerful voices want to silence.
“My heart is well, even though darts are thrown at me,” said Francisco Machado, a guest speaker at several MCC annual meetings in Canada in November 2009.
Since 2000 Machado has led efforts in Honduras to bring about greater accountability for foreign-owned mining companies. He said that in 1998 a mining law, later deemed unconstitutional, allowed foreign companies to mine nearly anywhere, including sensitive sites, without significant consultation with communities.
According to people living there, mining operations have displaced people, contaminated rivers, and contributed to health problems. Promised jobs have not materialized.
Despite the court ruling, nothing has changed, Machado said.
MCC Canada, and two provincial counterparts, brought Machado to help launch a Mining Justice Campaign, a response to the growing cry of MCC partners around the world.
“Canada is a world leader in mining,” says Stefan Cherry, MCC Canada policy analyst. “Unfortunately, Canadian companies don’t always behave appropriately.”
MCC’s campaign seeks to educate Canadians about the cost to people, communities, and the earth, where mining activity is inadequately regulated (http://ottawa.mcc.org/ miningjustice).
One delegate noticed that Machado, though married, wore no ring. Machado responded, “Why do we need gold rings when they cause so much suffering?” Later that evening the offering plate contained cash, cheques, and two gold rings. MCC
Francisco Machado, a Mennonite pastor from Honduras, advocates for mining reform in his country.
Planning for TRU 2010?
EMC Youth Leaders’ Retreat October 15-17, 2010 Wilderness Edge, Pinawa, Man. Registration deadline: Sept. 24, 2010
Our 61 churches have about 250 to 300 adults in youth ministry, and only 20 per cent receive a salary
We hope every church will plan to send its junior and senior youth leaders for:
Training related to youth ministry,
Refreshment for body, mind and soul,
Unity as a team and with other church leaders.
Contact Gerald Reimer at 204-326-6401 or greimer@emconf.ca.
Subscribe to The Messenger on-line
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MCC urges governments to end Gaza blockade
Blockade has devastating effect on Palestinians
WINNIPEG, Man.—MCC is urging the governments of the U.S. and Canada to work constructively within the international community to restore the normal flow of goods and people through Gaza-Israel border crossings.
In letters to the U.S. president and Canada’s foreign affairs minister, MCC urges them to support an impartial and independent investigation into Israel’s deadly response to the Free Gaza flotilla on May 31.
Daryl Byler, MCC’s regional representative, said hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza live in dire conditions without employment and basic supplies because of the Israeli blockade.
Before Hamas came to power in June 2007 about 850 truckloads of food, fuel, and other essential supplies were transported daily into Gaza. That number has now been reduced to 128 loads.
Before Hamas came to power about 850 truckloads of essential supplies were transported daily into Gaza. That number has now been reduced to 128 loads.
and assisted suicide
OTTAWA, Ont.—The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has launched a new booklet to equip Canada’s youth and young adults. How Merciful: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, the second booklet in its ACTIVATE series, examines the title issues, while providing statistics and an analysis of existing laws and policies. Several testimonies and expert opinion have been included along with practical suggestions for how readers can take action.
These EFC resources are intended to help youth and young adults to understand and address today’s public policy issues that have both a now and future impact.
Created in collaboration between staff from the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life and a student from an EFC affiliate college, the booklet is in full-colour, glossy format with high-quality images and pictures.
Although it is designed to assist youth and young adults in their understanding of the realities of euthanasia and assisted
Gaza’s agriculture and fishing industries have been decimated by restrictions on imports of livestock, seeds and seedlings, plastic piping, iron bars for animal shelters, water pumps, filters and irrigation pipes, fishing nets, engine spare parts, veterinary drugs, and cement.
“Palestinian aid agencies are not calling for revenge,” said Byler. “They want a good life for Israelis but they also want a good life for the people of Gaza.” Gladys Terichow, MCC
Restrictions on building materials entering the Gaza Strip make it impossible
EFC equips youth to tackle euthanasia
to reconstruct buildings and infrastructure damaged by war.
suicide, the content will be of value to all generations.
“Canadian Christian youth are our best hope for the protection of Canada’s most vulnerable, be they the elderly, the desperate or the ill,” says Faye Sonier, the EFC’s legal counsel. “We have seen time and again that when we give youth the chance to be equipped and empowered, they seize the opportunity and make their own voices heard.”
The ACTIVATE series is a resource for youth and young adults seeking to live out their faith in a challenging and impacting way. The booklets will include current statistical and factual information, case studies, testimonies, scriptural foundation for the principles discussed as well as action items that can be undertaken by young people alone or in conjunction with their churches, families and youth groups.
Visit www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/activate for more information. EFC
Conference explores the Mennonite story in Siberia
A conference focused on the Mennonite Gorbatov spoke about how experience in Siberia took place in Mennonites took on leadership roles in Omsk, Russia, from June 2-4. interconfessional organizations, which In the past several years, there brought them to the attention of Soviet has been a renewed interest in the authorities and repression followed. Mennonite Siberian story, a neglected Scholars from former Soviet territohistory of those who settled the vast ries have advanced our knowledge of arregion both voluntarily and chival sources, in some cases involuntarily. the only remaining record of
Participants from Russia, events and people targeted Canada, the United States, by the Soviet regime. Germany, and Kazakhstan Unfortunately, because presented papers which ilof changes in the political lustrated various aspects of climate in Russia, some arMennonite religious, familial, chival files previously availsocial, and political experiable are now no longer accesences in Imperial Russia, the sible to scholars. Publication Soviet Union, and current-day in recent years ensures that Russia. The conference was cosome documents are part of sponsored by universities in Rev H. M. Dikman the public record. Russia, Canada, and the U.S. preached and Walter The atmosphere of
Presentations on MenSawatsky (formerly repression and uncertainty nonite settlement in Siberia of Prairie Rose EMC) influenced the relationduring the late 19th and early translated in the village of Miroliubovka, Omsk. ship between Mennonites, 20th centuries challenged Baptists, and Evangelicals in the dominant image of Siberia as a place Siberia. of exile and suffering. These papers Rev. N. M Dikman gave an emodemonstrated that the first Mennonite tional account of the persecution he settlers, such as Peter J. Wiens, arrived experienced. Leaders such as Dikman there with great hopes for themselves, confirmed that the persecution of their families and their communities. religious communities continued into
Most conference presentations ad1980, with many leaders being arrested dressed the experiences of Mennonites numerous times. during the Soviet period. The conference confirmed the his
A number of Russian scholars, such torical significance of this story to a as Andrei Savin and Alexei Gorbatov, wider audience and the need to build utilized archival sources from the bridges between scholars from differSoviet secret police, the NKVD, to unent countries and to the communities cover the treatment and the responses these scholars try to understand and of Mennonites to the state’s repressive describe. policies. Aileen Friesen
British Columbia
no events currently
Alberta
no events currently
Saskatchewan
no events currently
Manitoba
June 24: Eden Foundation IronMan Golf Tournament at Winkler Centennial Golf Course, Winkler
June 28–July 2: Thriving in a Firestorm: Congregational Peacebuilding at Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg; instructor: Dr. Lois Edmund www.cmu.ca/csop
July 15: MCC Manitoba golf tournament to support literacy and education in Afghanistan, Quarry Oaks Golf Course manitoba.mcc.org/golf
Sept. 16–18: 20th Annual Winnipeg Prophecy Conference, Portage Avenue Church, Winnipeg, 204-888-7270 or www.wpgpc.org
Ontario
July 2: EMC Ministerial Meeting, Leamington EMC, Leamington; 204-326-6401 or www.emconf.ca
July 2–4: The Triumph of the Lamb, EMC Annual Convention at United Mennonite Educational Institute, Leamington; 204-326- 6401 or www.emconf.ca
July 3: EMC Conference Council Meeting, Leamington EMC, Leamington; 204-326-6401 or www.emconf.ca
Aug. 3–6: MCC Ontario, From Shore to Shore: Connecting Community, Mattagami First Nation; 705-264-2494 or lyndsaymk@mennonitecc.ca
Pastoral positions
Fort Garry Evangelical Mennonite Church (fortgarryemc.ca) is searching for a university/ young adult pastor whom God has chosen to help us reach University of Manitoba students and young adults with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a congregation of 250 located a block from the U. of M. Fort Garry campus.
Supported by a committed discernment group, this person will get to know the Fort Garry campus and establish relationships with present campus ministries. By creating relationships with individuals, the pastor will support the development of their faith by connecting them to people at FGEMC. A second phase may include program development.
Applicants must be able to embrace and sign the FGEMC Statement of Faith. Qualifications include a love for people, enthusiasm and determination, creativity and an ability to work independently. A graduate degree and ministry experience on campus are assets. Anticipated start date is August 1, 2010. Inquiries and resumes may be sent to Mark Plett, Search Committee chair, Fort Garry EMC, 602 Pasadena Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2S9 or e-mailed msplett5@shaw.ca.
Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, Man., is looking for an associate pastor. Responsibilities will include youth ministry as well as worship ministry (including worship technology). Ideally this position would be filled by one person, but we are open to other arrangements. Please send resumes to: braeside@ braesidechurch.ca, Attention: Search Committee, www.braesidechurch.ca.
Have you seen our lead pastor? He’s too busy to read this ad, so we need your help in locating him.
He may be wearing jeans and a casual shirt, loves Jesus and all people. He relates well to young and old, traditional and contemporary, educated and not so much. He recognizes the shifts in society and adjusts his approach to demonstrate Jesus’ relevance.
He loves our diverse church of 500+ regular attendees (half aren’t even age 30 yet) and his team of four full-time staff. He gets excited at the prospect of planting creative new congregations to reach the needs in our community. He is an Anabaptist at heart, and we love him.
If you’ve seen him, connect him with us, Aylmer EMMC, in southern Ontario through serve@aemmc.ca.
Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg, Man., seeks a full-time associate pastor to work with the senior pastor as a pastoral team. MGC is a multigenerational EMMC congregation with an average Sunday morning attendance of about 150.
We seek a self-motivated pastor gifted with good communication and motivational skills, a passion for outreach and evangelism, for building practical and meaningful relationships, and for investing time and energy training and mentoring young people and young families to grow in their faith and spiritual lives.
The pastor should have preaching and teaching skills and be willing to work as a member of a team and with a board of elders. The pastor must be a born-again Christian and agree with the MGC statement of faith.
Experience working in outreach/evangelism and experience as a pastor to young people and young families is desired. Relevant post-secondary education is required (a Bible college degree is preferred).
For information or to submit a resume and cover letter, please contact Morrow Gospel Church, Pastoral Search Committee, 755 St. Anne’s Road, Winnipeg, MB R2N 4G6; e-mail: mgcemm@mts.net with subject: pastoral search committee.
Graysville Mennonite Church, “a community striving to learn and live the teachings of Jesus Christ,” is a country church located 10 miles west of Carman, Man. We seek a lead pastor. Time commitment is negotiable between .5 and .75 FTE.
We seek a pastor committed to the Christian faith as exemplified in Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective.
We are a mature church of nearly 50 members emerging into a congregation of all ages. We seek a pastor able to serve all ages, willing to tackle the challenges of a truly rural church and recognition of the value of cooperation with other Christian churches of all faiths.
Inquiries and resumes may be sent to: Cam Stockford, council chair, Graysville Mennonite Church, Box 31, Graysville, MB R0G 0T0. E-mail stockfor@cici.mb.ca or visit our website at www.graysvillemc.org.
Youth work
Pelly Fellowship Chapel (EMC) seeks a youth worker or couple to develop a program for youth and junior youth. PFC is a small church in the village of Pelly, located in central Sask., close to the Manitoba border. Submit resume to Pastor John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306-595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com.
Other opportunities
Interested in serving long-term among the unreached? Join the new EMC team on the silk road! The team is led by an experienced EMC couple. We desire to bring God’s peace to a people group that has no thriving church and little hope for the future. Contact Tim Dyck at 204-326-6401 or tdyck@emconf.ca.
MFC seeks a full-time consultant to work in its St. Catharines, Ont., office. The successful candidate will be responsible to promote biblical stewardship of financial resources and to provide charitable gift and estate planning services.
The successful candidate will support and incorporate MFC’s core values of stewardship in personal life; communicate effectively with individuals and in public presentations; have knowledge of, or ability to learn, charitable gift and estate planning; be creative, organized, and self-motivated in balancing multiple projects; be willing and able to contribute as part of an interdependent staff team.
A start date for the position is negotiable. Processing of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Submit resumes to: Darren Pries-Klassen, executive director, 22-595 Carlton Street, St. Catharines, ON L2M 4Y2; fax: 204-488-1986; dpklassen@mennofoundation. ca; Mennofoundation.ca.
Vision Valley School in Antananarivo, Madagascar, needs qualified Christian teachers for 2010/2011 academic year. It especially seeks for native English speakers for primary grades 3, 4, 5, 6; within grades 7-12, teachers are needed in art, music, and two in English (with native speakers a high priority). See blog: xanga.com/jocsh; 21 February.
Faith Christian School, grades K-12, in beautiful northeast Texas is seeking teachers dedicated to Christian education in a German Mennonite setting. For more info contact: Neal Thiessen (w) 903-783-9814, (h) 903-737-9663, (cell) 432-528- 4361, pastormec@sbcglobal.net; or Ted Friesen 903-739-8607, tfriesen@wb4me.com.
Experience life on The Great Silk Road with EMC families. The EMC team there needs a short-term teacher or educational assistant for their nine children. Starting January 2011 or September 2011. Interested person does not need a formal degree, but must be able to connect well with children. Some support would need to be raised. If interested contact Tim Dyck at 204-326- 6401 or tdyck@emconf.ca.
Eden Mental Health Centre in Winkler, Man., seeks an administrator and program director. Eden provides acute in-patient psychiatric treatment, out-patient psychiatry services, as well as community mental health services to the RHA-Central Manitoba in conjunction with other Eden Health Care Services programs. For a full description of qualifications, duties, and contact information, go to www.edenhealth.mb.ca. Closing date: June 30, 2010, or until position filled.
The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads are not to be for monetary benefit. To place an ad, e-mail messenger@emconf.ca or call 204-326-6401 and ask for Rebecca Roman.
by Ward Parkinson, Canadian Church Planting Coordinator wparkinson@emconf.ca
Third places
What constitutes sacred ground? Where does Christian ministry take place? There is lively conversation in church planting circles these days about buildings.
Construction of a church building was once considered a logical stage of church planting. Indeed, this is often still seen as the benchmark of a congregation’s “arrival.” But the blueprints are changing.
Questions are shifting from When do we build our own building? to Should we build our own building? Is it better to own a building or to rent? Is it better to meet in homes? Should we have a traditional church building design or a more neutral, multi-use facility?
These questions have led to the consideration of third places. At a societal level, if first place is the home and second place is the workplace, third places are locales where life happens, where people gather for community.
In church planting it refers to locations that are neither homes nor church buildings, yet are dedicated to ministry and outreach purposes. It could be a book shop, a café, a drop-in centre, a gym, or a music studio. It could be place to gather for free or for a for-profit business.
The common denominator: the place exists for the mission of the Good News. It is a place where people can connect with God through connecting with his people (God’s temple).
Many will ask, “Why not just build a church building? Doesn’t that amount to the same thing?” Well, yes and no. It is true that more of our church buildings are designed with many uses in mind.
It is also true that many churches use their facilities in creative ways to connect with people in the wider community. We ought to encourage this more.
But it is also true that a good portion of our Canadian population is not interested in coming to a church building. The name out front presents a barrier, no matter how wonderful the people and programs are inside. Thus, the idea of third places.
Stuart Murray, Anabaptist writer and U.K. church planter, uses the term shared social space. He comments, “Churches using social
A good portion of our Canadian population is not interested in coming to a church building. The name out front presents a barrier. Thus, the idea of third places.
spaces of this kind have much lower barriers between themselves and other members of the community and many opportunities to develop friendships and cooperate in ventures that enhance the well-being of the community” (Planting Churches in the 21 st Century, 2010).
Every new opportunity will come with both green and amber lights. The green light with third places is that believers are connecting with others in a sustained, relational manner.
Whether it is a drop-in volunteer shooting pool with a teen, or a book shop clerk sharing written insights, or a friendly visit over Pepsi at a new café, Christians can cultivate relationships that build the kingdom, and third places can play a role.
The amber light comes on when barriers between believers and unbelievers become so low as to be non-existent. At some point, we must always be calling people to belief. The missional purpose of third places must always form their core identity.
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Paving my own road to grace
Iam a perfectionist. On the upside of this, I tend to do good and thorough work. On the downside, the levels of stress I put myself under can make life miserable for me and the people around me when I’m in the middle of a major assignment or project.
In my spiritual life, this perfectionism comes out through legalism. I thrive in academic and work environments where I have a clearly defined goal or assignment, because I know that usually just by covering the basics I can guarantee a passing grade. Then I can put the rest of my effort into achieving excellence.
Spiritual life, then, can be frustrating. As much as I know intellectually that my salvation is based on grace, I still desperately want the list—the syllabus—of faith.
A few years ago, this legalism played out in religious perfectionism and unrealistic standards for myself. Although my “passing grade” was guaranteed by Jesus’ sacrifice, I preferred to secure it by keeping a certain standard of behaviour that I could control.
I went to as many church-related events as possible, took spiritual disciplines like steroids, and generally tried to leave as little as possible of my salvation to grace.
Over the years, God has gently drawn me out of this obsession into his father arms. More recently, though, he has been showing me another back door I have been using on my search for the syllabus of salvation.
Emerging finally with my bachelor’s degree a few weeks ago, the world stretches before me with great opportunity and much uncertainty. As I try to make decisions about the future, I have been asking God to show me his will, but for some reason, he has been strangely silent.
Frustrated and disappointed at his lack of response, I asked him why he wouldn’t tell me his will when I was so willing to do it. He showed me that my request was not so much a desire to be part of his work, but a shortcut to his favour.
I didn’t request direction because I trusted his purposes, but because I was insecure in his love. If only he would give me the syllabus, I would do it all as well as I could. Then he couldn’t reject me or condemn me if things went wrong.
What he showed me, though, is that his will, his plans, and his righteousness are not the prerequisites to relationship. They are rather born out of relationship. When I asked him if there was a place for me in his world, he turned the question around and asked me, “Is there a place for me in your world?”
Is there? That is a harder question. Am I willing to abandon the syllabus, the list, the security of exams to take and retake, pass and fail? Do I trust God’s love, grace and wisdom enough to wrap my security in relationship, in a relationship that changes my heart and passions before it changes my direction?
My friends were nearing completion of a small renovation project in the entryway of their home and wanted to replace the old light fixture. After a few fruitless trips to various lighting stores they found one they felt was perfect.
The problem was the $1,500 price tag. “We can’t afford that,” they said to the salesman. “Yes, you can,” was his response. Surprised at hearing this they restated that although the fixture was beautiful it was well beyond their price range. The salesman paused briefly, smiled, and said, “If it is a priority, you will find a way to afford it.”
Regardless of income all of us have limits when it comes to money. For some, those limitations are such that they are denied even the basic needs of human existence. For others–and probably the vast majority of us reading this–that financial limitation may feel constrictive.
But upon closer look we realize we have more choice than we care to admit. The issue is not price tags as much as priorities.
Later, my friends concluded that the salesman was right. They did have the cash to purchase the $1,500 light fixture, but it would have meant scaling back other parts of the renovation in order to stay within budget—something they were not prepared to do.
Furthermore, my friends were not comfortable with owning a $1,500 light fixture regardless of their renovation budget and income level. What at first appeared to be a case of “we can’t afford this” was actually a case of “we choose to spend money differently.”
When we say things like, “I choose to spend money this or that way” and “buying that product would violate my values,” it empowers us.
It affirms the choice we have in how we spend or whether to spend. It also recognizes the potential that money has for either the betterment or destruction of our world and the life in it.
Talking about what we can and cannot afford often makes a bigger statement about our values than the size of our wallets. Saying “I can’t afford” is good if it keeps you from foolish spending; but when the same language is used to keep us from being generous and investing in the lives of others and the work of God’s Kingdom, it is problematic.
Most of us have far more financial choice than we are willing to recognize. We may not always like the choices we have or they may feel
minimal, but having financial choice is a lot more than many people have.
If the way we use money reflects our values and choices, what are we saying each time we spend or choose not to spend money?
Darren Pries-Klassen is the new director of Mennonite Foundation of Canada. For stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.
What is sand?
What is sand?
You know the answer. Sand is the soft grainy beach at the lake. It’s in my sandbox where I scoop it and pour it, drive my toys over it and through the tunnels I dig.
Sand is warm in the summer sun and soft so my toes can wiggle into it. At the beach I make sandcastles with it.
But what is it really?
Sand is a kind of soil or dirt. Each grain is a tiny single crystal of a mineral. In among the sand crystals are bits of dust and other materials that hold nutrients, or food, to help any plant to grow in it.
The grains of sand hold moisture from rain that falls helping the plants grow. This is why you see plants or flowers growing up through sand.
Sand grains are bits of rock. Wind and rain beat down on rocks. Bits of rock are broken off and fall
into streams and rivers and the water carries them to the sea.
The tiniest bits travel the farthest. Some grains of sand are bits of sea shells and the skeleton shells of plankton, the food of whales.
A strong wind blows the tiny particles of sand around. This is how sand dunes are formed. The wind pushes the sand against a rock or a bush or a post and the grains pile up against it forming a sand hill or sand dune.
You make a beautiful sand castle at the beach. What happens when a wave rolls in and washes over it? Parts break off and wash away.
More waves come. The castle changes shape. Soon it doesn’t look like a sand castle at all. It has
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Activity: Sand paper art
Need:
• a piece ofcourse sandpaper, 15 cm by 25 cm • ordinary crayons
Do:
• Draw shapes ofanimals such as an elephant, a giraffe, a camel, a monkey, on the sandpaper. • Draw the shape ofa pyramid beside the animals. • Colour in the shapes. • Press down hard on the crayons. • Your painting will look like ancient cave paintings.
flattened. Another wave comes and washes some of the sand back into the sea.
You dig your toes into the sand. The sand feels warm on top but underneath it’s cool. Only a little sunlight warms it. When the sun goes down the top layer cools quickly too.
In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says the people who hear and do what he says are like a house built on a rock. But, if you hear but do not follow what he says, this is like a house built on sand. And sand shifts and crumbles and looses its shape. A house built on sand is not safe. It will fall down.
Read Matthew 7: 24, 25, 26, 27.
May 2010 THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 PAP Registration #9914
