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 [email protected]
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:[email protected] 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!”
