Nutana Park Mennonite Church

Reflections 1

CHEP Experience 3

ChurchFamilyNews 4

From the Board 5

MDS Adventure 6

Patty’sPicks 7

Seniors’Afternoon 8

Inside

CrossWalk/February-March,2013

Reflections - Anita Retzlaff

Nutana Park Mennonite Church

cross WalK

Ioffertoyou,thereadersofthisnewsletter,astoryofalife.ItisthroughstoryandcommunitythatwelearnabouttheloveofGod.MyDadwasnotaperfectmanbutIlearnedaboutloveandaboutGodfrommyfather.FollowingisaslightlyshortenedversionofthetributegivenatDad’sfuneralonMarch14.NutanaParkMennoniteChurchwasarockandananchorforhimandsothisisatributetoacommunityaswell.

Bernhard (Bernie) RetzlaffJuly1,1932–March14,2013

TheBibleisthesweepingstoryofGod’speoplewiththeirGod.JustsoeachhumanlifeisastorywithinthatlargerstoryandDad’sstory,hisjourneyonthisearth,isatestimonytothegoodnessofGodandcreationitself.HisrelationshipwithGodwasthemotivationbehindmuchofwhatheread,studiedandexpoundedupon–andhecouldexpound!Dadwasaveryhumanguy:anintrovert,anobserver,amanwhooftenenjoyedthebackground–asyouwillhaveseeninmanyofthepictures–sometimesasstubbornasamuleandsomeonewhostruggledatvarioustimesinhislife.

DadoftenspokeaboutthefearsofajudgmentalGodfromhisearlyyearsandthatcausedhimtospendalifetimefindingfriendshipandgraceinthesightoftheDivinePresence.Hencethescriptureschosentodayreflectthe

comfortandpeaceDadfoundalongthewayashejourneyedthroughlife.Heneverhesitatedtotalkaboutthiswithanyonewhowouldlisten.Hehadfelttraumatizedandwantedtomakesurethatothersdidn’teverhavetolivewiththiskindoffearanddespair.Needlesstosaythataswegrewup,Emily,SharonandIalwayshadalisteningearwhenweweretryingtomakesenseoflife.TogetherwithMomtheymadegrowingupsomethingtoanticipatenotsomethingtofear.Thismayhavesometimesmadeusalittletoocriticalofwhatwesawaroundusbutweareverygratefulforthehomesupportwehadasourworldexpanded.

Dadwasagentleboysayshisoldestsister,someonewhohelpedhismotherinthekitchenbecausetheolderboyswereworkingoutsideandtheyoungersiblingstooyoungtodosomeofthejobsthatfelltoDad.Hewasnotalwaysdelightedwiththesebutitseemsthathewasquiteclosetohismotherasaresult.Hewasalwaysgoodwithwomen–thatisallthatheeverhadinhishousehold–untilwe,hisdaughters,starteddatingandmarrying.ThenDadtriedhisbesttogettoknowallthementhatcameintoourlives.

So,Berniewasastudentoflife,ofpeople,offaith.Heearnedacademicdegreesinliberalarts,educationand

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Nutana Park Mennonite Church

Cross Walk Committee

LoriWeiler-Thiessen-editor933.0285 or loriwt60@gmail.comDennisBreen-layout

Photographs, articles, funeral tributes, and recipes are welcome for submission to Cross Walk.

Please give Lori suggestions of other items to be included in Cross Walk.

Articles for the nextCross Walk are due onJuly 3rd.

Cross WalkNutana Park Mennonite Church

1701RuthStreetSaskatoonSK S7J0L7306.374.2144www.npmc.net

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Reflections - continued from page 1

theology.Hewasalsoschooledintheartofcleaningsinks,vacuumingCheeriosandfindingtinylittleshoebucklesinthedustofthevacuumcanisterforadistraughtlittle4yearold.Dadhadmanyaconversationwithdustraginhand,hereatthechurchinhislateryearsandalsoatRosthernJuniorCollegeintheearly70safterhequitteachingthere.

Berniewasagoodhusbandandfather.He and Mom moved around a lot in theearlyyearsoftheirmarriage–morethan20timesin4years.TheymetandmarriedinRosemary,AlbertaandoneofMom’sfirstmemoriesofDadasakidwasthathepunchedherinthestomach–doesn’tsoundlikeDad!ThoughDadworkedonhisfather’sfarmforsometimehesoondecidedtogotoschool.Thisisthereasonfortheirmanymoves.TheywenttoCMBCinWinnipeg,BethelCollegeinNewton,KansasandAssociatedMennoniteBiblicalSeminaryinElkhart,Indiana.Whenthatwasallsaidanddone,internshipscompletedinNebraskaandOhio,MomhavinghelpedDadthroughschoolandtending3littlegirlstheybegantheirtrekthroughSaskatchewan.BernietaughtatSwiftCurrentBibleSchool,wasapastoratthe North Star Mennonite Church in Drake,taughtatRJCinRosthernandthentookonjanitorialworkthere.In1975theymovedtoSaskatoonandDadwasAssociatePastorhereatNutanaParkforashorttime,workedatLoewenWindowsandthentookonjanitorialdutiesagainhereatthechurchfromwhichheresignedwhenhewasdiagnosedwithcancerinAprilof2008.

WehavememoriesofDadwatchingBugsBunnywithusonSaturdaynights,thesmelloffreshbunsstillintheair:atestimonytoMom’sweeklyofferingofbaking.

MomandDadwereateam.Momwasthesocialconvener,averynecessarycontributiontotherelationship.IntheyearsthatDadstruggledwithdepressionandhisfeelingsofself-worthwereatalowebb,hewouldhavebecomeahermitifMomwouldn’thavebeensuchagregarioushostess,encouragingactivitiesoutofthehouse,goingonpicnics,tripstoFortCarltonandsummer

vacationsinthetenttrailerthatwerentedfromIrvinandDonnaDriedgerbackinthelate60sandearly70s.ThebiggestlossthatweallfeeluponDad’sdeathisthatMomisnowaloneandwillhavetofashionalifewithouthim.Wehavenodoubtthatshewilldothatanddoitwell.

Afterthediagnosisofstage4metastaticprostatecancerfiveyearsagoDad’slifechangedcourseyetagain.Nowhehadtore-inventhimselfassomeonewhowouldbefacingdeathshortly.HewasveryclearaboutthefactthathedidnotwanttoleaveusandleavethisearthbutnowGodwasacompanioninhislife,acomfortandarefugenottobefearedbuttobecherished.Andasthequalityoflifediminishedthequalityofrelationshipswereenhanced.DadandMomgrewevencloserandtheyoftenendedeachdaysittingtogetherenumeratingthegoodthingsinlife.Itwasapowerfulthingforuschildrenandgrandchildrentosee,atestimonytoalovethathadweatheredallthings.AndsoweallgrewclosertoDadashegrewweakerandinhislastdayswebecamethemostintimateyetaswetendedtohisphysicalneedsinhisdyingdays.IndeedBernie’swasalifewelllived.LifeisagiftandsowereyouDad!Wewillmissyousoverymuch.MaytheLordblessyouandkeepyou.AMEN

Nutana Park Mennonite ChurchCHEPExperience–TerriLynnePaulson

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CHEP Experience- Terri Lynn Paulson

- Photos by Kirsten Hamm

OnaratherfrigidJan30th,ahandfulofNPMCersdescendedonStation20WestwitheagerhandstohelpwiththepackingofGoodFoodBoxes.TheGoodFoodBoxprogrammeisoneofthemanygreatthingsthatCHEPGoodFoodInc.doesinitseffortstobuild“acommunitywheregoodnutritioussafefoodisalwaysavailableforeveryonenomatterwhattheircircumstances,wherethereiscarefortheenvironment,accesstolocalfoodproduction,andknowledgeaboutmakinghealthyfoodchoices”.

TherearevarietiesCHEPGoodFoodboxes,tosuitdifferentneedsandpreferences,fromtheSunshineboxfeaturingmainlySaskatchewanproduce,tothesnackbox,withpre-portionedveggies,afewfruit,andahealthyseedmix.

GoodFoodboxescanbeorderedbyanyone,andanyonecansignuptohelppackthem!Aftermeasuringmushrooms,liftinglettuce,movingmelonsandcartingcarrots,thosethatcouldstayenjoyedadeliciouslunchpreparedbyotherCHEPvolunteers.

Thisdoesn’thavetobeaone-timeaffair!JohnandJonathan,thecoordinatorsoftheGoodFoodBox,wouldbehappytohavemoreregularvolunteers,anditisagreatwaytocontinuetoputafewfacestoourcongregationinthelargercommunity.

IfyouareinterestedinvolunteeringorhavequestionsabouttheGoodFoodBoxprogramme,youcancontactthecoordinatorsat:goodfoodbox@chep.org orcall655-4575.

Joys

Theyoungadultsinourcongregation.

Thoseamonguswhosharetheirtalentsinourworshipservicesandinotherservicesacrossthecity.

TheNationalCounciloftheCanadianCancerSocietyposthumouslyawarded Howard Willemsthe2013ImpactAwardforLeadershipinPublicPolicyforleadingthewayinasbestosawareness.

CongratulationstoDelmar Rempel on theoccasionofhis80thbirthday.

ThelovelyjewellerydisplayedbyGeraldine Balzer.

OurbestwishestoEmma & Matt LoveonthearrivalofTomShepherdLove,bornFebruary9th.

CongratulationstoRowena Kehler & Maikel Unrau,onthebirthofJonathan Ty,bornMarch22nd.

Crystal Barnes and Humberto Garcia Lacasse who were married on March29,2013inTarara,Cuba.

Olivia and Gracelyn Sawatzky, granddaughtersofPat & Kurt Sawatzky, whoplacedwellintheProvincial5-pinbowlingtournamentinRegina.

Jac Nickelhadtripleby-passsurgeryandhasmadearemarkablerecovery.

Church Family News

Nutana Park Mennonite Church ChurchFamilyNews

Crystal and Humberto Michael, Humberto, Crystal, Janet and Norm

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Photo by Janet Barnes Photo by Garth Farough

Nutana Park Mennonite ChurchChurchFamilyNews

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Church Family News

Sorrows

ThefamilyofBernie Ratzlaff astheymournhisdeath.

Inez Kinzel asshegrievesthedeathofherbrother,Bryant Brooks.

Judy, Bill and Josh SalloumastheymournthedeathofBill’sfather.

Ag Peters, Marlene & Dave Froese andfamiliesonthedeathofbrother-in-law Wayne Crossley.

ThefamilyofHilda KlassenfromSaskatoonwhowasanauntofHelen & John Siemens.

Prayer

Helen Unraufellandsufferedacompressedvertebrae,sherecoveredwellandwillbemovingtoBethanyManorsoon.

Eric and Lois Wiens welcome prayer astheyhavealongroadtogo.

WeholdFrieda & Paul EnnscloselyinprayerastheydealwithFrieda’sdiagnosisofstage4pancreaticandlivercancer.

Erica UnRuh wasinhospitalandisnowinalongtermcarefacility.

From the Boardby Tammy Forrester

InkeepingwiththepastthemeofStrategicPlanningandhowtheBoardofDeaconshasfounditvaluableto take our church down the path ofplanning,IwantedtotakeafewmomentstoexpressmyinterestanddesireinbeingapartofthefutureenvisioningforandwiththeChurch.Asamother,awifeandacareerwoman,Ispendmanyhoursinmyweeklookingtothecalendartoensurewehave“theplan”readyforourhousehold.What’stheplanfordinnertonight,forourweeklymeals?What’stheplanforourworkdaysandourafterschooltime?Dowehavetherightequipmentforvolleyballgames,balltryoutsandmusicperformances?Istheremoneyinthebanktopayforouractivities,forfood,formortgage?Anyextra?Ifwemakethisdecisiontoday,howwillitaffectourfamilyinthefuture?Iswhatwearedoing,dayinanddayoutrelevantandconsistenttoourfamilyvaluesandcorebeliefs?Somewhatsimpleactivitiesandquestions–oneswemostlikelyplanandponderwithoutevenrealizingwearethinkingstrategically.Isupposeonecouldcallthisstrategicplanningforourfamily’sfuture…soundfamiliar?

Well,aswedevelopourplansforthecontinuinghealthofourChurchandthefuturehealthofourcongregation,welooktounderstandhowitiswebelong,whatitiswearedoingasaDeaconontheBoard,andhowwhatwediscerncontributestothebroaderhealthoftheChurchandourprograms.Arewerelevantandconsistenttothevaluesandbeliefsweholddear?DoourcommitteemandatesfitwithavisionthatistrueandmeaningfultoourChurchmembership?Doweneedtorevisitsothatwetrulyarecreatingafutureplanfordecisionmakingthatisalignedtothatwhichwebelieveandsayweare?

Atimeofdiscernmentcansometimesleadtodiscomfort,fearandanxietybutwiththefocusofthestagesoftheplanningprocessweanticipatethattheexercisesthattheBoardandtheChurchwillengageinwillleadtofurtherclarification,enlightenmentandaclearpictureforourfuture.ChallengesIamthrilledtobeapartofinthisplanningtimeforourChurch.Please…joinin!

GodBlessyouonthisjourney.

From the Board - Tammy Forrester

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Nutana Park Mennonite Church MDSAdventure–LydiaWiens

MDS Adventure -Lydia Wiens

OnMarch2,2012atornadohitWestLiberty,acityof3400nestledintheAppalachianMountainsofKentucky.Thetornadohadacontinuousgroundpathof137kmreachinganastonishingonemilewidth.Themainbusinessarealayinruins.Theroofsontheelementaryschoolandhospitalweretwistedoff.Intheravinesofthecity,hundredsoftreesweresnappedoruprootedcausingmassivedamageuponlandingaftertheirturbulentflight.Manyhomesweredestroyed.Othersneededmajorrepair.NoonewaskilledinWestLiberty,butthereweresixdeathsandseventy-fiveinjuriesintheoutlyingarea.Atpresent,MDSisworkingonbuildinganewhomeforMr.Ron,aWestLibertyresidentwhoserecentlybuilthomewasdecimatedbythetornado.Thetornadothrewhiswife,daughterandhimoutintotheiryard.Hiswifedied.Mr.Ronhadmultipleinjuries.Hehasonlyrecentlyreturnedbacktowork.

RegionIIMDSmobilizedandwasengagedintheclean-upofthe800tonsofdebristhatwasgatheredanddisposedwithinthefirstfewweeksfollowingthetornado.LocalMennoniteChurchesrosetothechallenge.ByNovember,2012alongtermbuildingsitewasestablishedwithvolunteersfromthestatesandCanada.Exceptfortwohomeswhichweresponsoredbyalocalchurch,thenewbuildsarebeingdoneinpartnershipwithHabitatforHumanity.

CarlandIwerepartofthisenergeticMDSCommunityforthemonthofFebruary.WeweredelightedwhenPeterandLydiaSchroederjoinedus

asprojectdirectorsinmid-February.TheywillbehereuntiltheendofMarchwhentheMDSProjectinWestLibertywillshutdown.ManyWestLibertyresidentsarestillwaitingforhomesandmuchworkstillneedsdoing.HabitatforHumanitywillcontinuehereandworkinpartnershipwithaBaptistGroup.Sinceourarrivalthreehomeshavebeencompleted.Eighthomesareatvariousbuildingstages.Hereasinotherunits,MDSisrebuildingforthemostvulnerableandneedy.

ThiswasmyfirstMDSexperience.Thelearningcurvehasbeensteep.Livingincommunityhaditsperks.Havingascrumptiousdinnercookedforyoueverynight,engagingininterestingconversations,hearinginspiringdevotionalseverymorning,dancingwithlocalsatabluegrassconcert,hikingintheAppalachians,watchingLydiaandPeterworkasonemanagingthesite,andworkinghardatsomethingyouknewwasneededsoonerratherthanlater,allwovetogethercreatingarichexperienceforCarlandI.Andintermingledinthisrichtapestrywerechallenges.Beingawakenedat5everymorningprovedquitetraumaticforthisnightowl.EgoneedsIthoughthadbeensatisfiedmadesurprisingvisitations.FeelingklutzyonthejobasIwatchedothersworksoproficientlywashumbling.WatchingpainandstruggleonthefacesofthepeopleinWestLibertyastheyspokeoftheirpersonalandcommunitychallengesthatareongoingwasasoberinghonour.AsIreflectonthisandmore,IknowthatitwasgoodtohavebeenpartofWestLibertyMDS.

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Nutana Park Mennonite ChurchPatty’sPicks

Losing Mum and PupbyChristopherBuckleyisagentlereflectionofthelivesanddeathsofWilliamF.andPatBuckley.Buckleyshowsushowtowalkwithagingparentsandforgivethemofpastfailings.

A Thousand Mornings byMaryOliverisanotherdelightbythispoetwhogetsbetterwithage.

The Midwife’s TalebySamThomaswasafunreadaboutmedievalEnglandandtherealpowerthatmidwiveshavealwayshad.

The 100 Year Old Man byJonasJonassonhadmelaughingoutloudattheanticsofthecentenarianwhorunsawayfromhisnursinghomeonhisbirthday.

Pope Joan isabookclubreadthatprovidedinterestingconversationin

thesedaysofthenewpopeinRome.

The Last Runaway byTracyChevalieristheengagingtaleofslaverunawaysandtheirQuakerhelpersontheUndergroundRailroad.

Wheat Belly byWilliamDavisconfirmsthatsomeofourintestinalandauto-immuneillnessescanbehelpedbyreducingoreliminatingourwheatintake.

AmourDVDistheawardwinningandheart-breakingFrenchfilmaboutacouple’sjourneywithdementia.

QuartetDVDisalsoafavouritefilmaboutaging.

The Words DVDisastorywithinastoryaboutauthorsandthecreativewritingprocess.

IamapartofaDementia/AlzheimerSupportGroupthathelpseachotherbylisteningtoourgrief,sharingbooksandlaughingourheadsoff.

The Memory ClinicbyTiffanyChowisaboutadoctorwhoseownexperiencewithhergrandmother’sdementialedhertostudythediseaseindepth.Ittracksthejourneyandhopeinthemidstofthisillness.

Relentless GoodbyebyGinnieHorstBurkholderistheintimateexperienceofawifewhosehusbandhadLewyBody’sdisease.

Dementia: Living in the Memories of GodbyJohnSwintonhelpsfamiliesandchurchcommunitiesmakesenseofthisdiseasetheologically.

Thankfully,moreresearchisbeingdoneandmorepeoplearewritingaboutdementia,aswetrytounderstandthismysteriousillnessthatisaffectingmoreofusallthetime.

Open Heart byElieWieselisthephysicalandspiritualjourneyofthegreatestJewishwriterphilosopherofourtime.WieselisamodernJobreflectingonpersonalandglobalsuffering,tryingtohelpusunderstandwhatpossiblepurposesufferingmightserve.Wiesel,writingatage82,postheartsurgery,representsthepassingWWIIgeneration,andtheelderwisdomthatoursocietystilldesperatelyneeds.

Patty’s Picks - Patty Friessen

Patty’s Ponderings - Patty Friessen

Patty’s Ponderiongs

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Nutana Park Mennonite Church Seniors’Afternoon

Seniors Experience a Delightful Afternoon -Donna Driedger

-Photos by Howard GilesOnSunday,April7/13–69SeniorsrespondedtotheInvitationfromtheNPMCCareGroupstocometothechurchforaparty!

Itwasadelighttobewelcomedatthedoor,thentoentertheEducationWingandseethetablesnicelysetinpreparationforus.Thesmellofcoffeeluredusinandwefoundourplaces.Weenjoyedaglassoffruitpunchandsettledintovisit!Weallseemtoenjoyvisitingagreatdeal.

WewereinvitedonatripdownMemoryLanebythreelovelymusicians–MarjSmith–piano,KathyPeters–recorder,andRonPeters–guitarandukulele.Theirwarmsmilesandmusicaltalentbroughtusintotheirmusicalspacesowell.

Afterenjoyingtheirsingingandplayingtous,theyinvitedustojointhemandsingalong.IttrulywasatripdownMemoryLane!WejoinedinheartilytoYOUAREMYSUNSHINE;THISLANDISYOURLAND;THEHAPPYWANDERER;DU,DULEIGSTMIRIMHERZENandmanymore“oldiegoldies.ThanksMarj,KathyandRon!

Afterourmusicalentertainmentwewereservedadelicious“Faspa”.TheFaspawasservedbyNPMCYouthandYoungAdults.Thankyouforservingussokindlyandwell.Weenjoyedmorevisitingandthendepartedforourhomes.

Ourspiritstrulywerebrightenedbythedelightfulafternoon.Thankstoallwhomadethiseventhappenandfor“MakingOurDay!”