VOX SIMONIS “The Voice of Menno Simons”

Volume 60, Issue 2

FIRST MENNONITE CHURCH OF REEDLEY

CHURCH NEWS

April / May 2016

The Vox Simonis is published bi-monthly. The Vox Simonis is designed to inform the FMC Congregation and friends of the congregation of “God’s work” through the individuals, families, church groups, and the greater community.

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with

all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your

strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other

commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31

Individual submissions are welcome. Please bring contributions to the church office. You may also email submissions to fmcreedley@juno.com You may now read this newsletter on our website at: www.fmcreedley.org/Worship/Newsletters

WEB SITE INFORMATION

First Mennonite Church now has a website on the internet. This publication may be viewed on our website at:

www.fmcreedley.org

You may email the church office at: fmcreedley@juno.com

FMC STAFF

Stephen Penner, Pastor ……………………….………E-mail: stephenjamespenner@gmail.com

Juan Montes, Pastor ………………………..………….………….. E-mail: jmontesimh@juno.com Barbara Ewy, Director of Children’s Ministries …………………………..E-mail: abewy@cvip.net Dee Patrick, Office Coordinator ……………………………….……E-mail: fmcreedley@juno.com Leonard Mireles, Custodian …………………………...………...E-mail: iiunderoathii@gmail.com

Contact us... 1208 ‘L’ Street (P.O. Box 111), Reedley, California, 93654

(559) 638-2917 (559) 637-8826 Fax

Submissions are accepted and are used by discretion of the editor.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REFLECTIONS by Steve Penner 1

THOUGHTS by Barbara Ewy 2

THE LIVES AND TIMES OF FMC PEOPLE AND BEYOND 3

BULLETIN BOARD 6

Immigration Updates 6

PEACE CENTER CALENDAR 7

DIARIES OF A CUSTODIAN by Leonard Mireles 7

PEACE PIECES 8

Camp Keola 9

APRIL CALENDAR 10

MAY CALENDAR 11

REFLECTIONSREFLECTIONS

from Steve Penner

1

Lent Reflections

In the early service at our church during the just completed Lenten season we tried to integrate active ways of responding to each worship service. This has involved writing on paper, getting up out of our seats, speaking and listening to each other in small circles, taking communion, and more. The stereotype we live with is that folks whose ancestry can be traced back to the Southern hemisphere are just more physically active during worship. People with more European ancestry are often typed as staid and reserved. Some people need an “altar call,” a time to physically, emotionally, and spiritually engage what has gone on during worship. Others prefer to just sit quietly and absorb into their spirits all that has happened in worship. During our Lenten season early services, we were a bit of a mix. On the first Sunday of Lent opportunity was given to respond to the prompt “I acknowledge God as the author of my story….when…. Some of the responses were these:

I see the beauty of His creation—blossoms—a bird in my back yard---big puffy clouds… …the events of my life renew a sense I me that I have gifts to share with others, or when I suddenly feel a sense

of purpose for being at a certain place at a specific time… praying about it at night in my bed… I am connected to and supported by my church community… God is the author of my story. I want to follow Jesus’ way of peace, justice, praying for courage to stand up to

forces that do not respect human rights and justice for all people… I read, ponder, pray, sing, listen and think twice before I act… Reflecting on my earliest memories of being told I am/was loved of God. This continues to be evident in memories of loving parents, spouse and family in the “now.”

On the fourth Sunday of Lent we were asked to write a six word story about Jesus. Some of the short six-word stories were these:

Jesus modeled God’s love and way. God on the cross, saves all. Jesus is here always, fully, delightfully. Christ died, Christ arose, Christ reigns. Coins scattered, tables overturned, fate sealed. Jesus source of comfort and direction. He teaches us how to live. Shining light bringing peace and hope. Jesus loves all the world’s children.

Christian faith has given thoughtful, intelligent, meditative people food for thought for entire lifetimes. Archeologists have spent years on their knees searching to uncover truths. Scholars have mined the depths of a particular verb. Theologians have tried to parse meaning. Writers have tried to connect the dots between the world of biblical times and modern life. It’s all important, it takes a lifetime, and one never reaches the finish line. At the same time Christian faith is simple. Yes, Jesus loves all the world’s children. Yes, Jesus teaches us how to live. These are basics. It is enough just to try to live into the truth of these words. God bless us all as we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus this Easter season, and beyond.

THOUGHTS... by Barbara Ewy

…."Aha!!! Moments"

Sometimes life surpr ises with "Aha" moments when God catches us with a new insight or

sense of presence. One such moment occurred for me a few months ago in a conversation

with my daughter Suzi. W e were talking about God as a living being that we can have a

personal relationship with. I found myself saying to Suzi, "I know God is a real being…He

saved me!" And in that statement I felt again that sense of celebrat ion and awe that t ime had

muted and long years had made a distant memory.

I've pondered over that moment. In saying "God saved me" I meant far more than God sav-

ing me from my sins, though cer tainly there are things for which I crave God's forgiveness. In

that simple statement to my daughter I meant all the abundance and purpose that God has

given in my life. I find my identity in being one of God's many children. I would be lost without

God. I certainly don't have all the answers to life's dilemmas, but I know where my trust is

placed.

Another such "aha" moment came dur ing our Lenten worship services. W e were asked in

small groups to share where we find hope. The words of a favor ite hymn came to my mind.

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul praise him, for he is thy

health and salvation!" I love that hymn. It reminds me that my every breath comes from God

and is held by God. It ’s a joyful song of praise. In a wor ld divided by class and race and even

religion, a wor ld where fear so often seems to fuel the polit ical climate, this hymn reminds me

that it is God who reigns over all and shelters us and loves us.

Teaching children br ings its own "aha" moments if only I have eyes to see them! Easter is

approaching as I wr ite. W e were doing a Bible pop up quiz with questions related to

characters who met Jesus, including Lazarus. One of the children asked, "W hy were people

raised back to life in Bible t imes and not today?" W hat a question to ponder ! W hy indeed,

even today, are some people "saved" and others not? W hy do bad things happen to good

people, sometimes, and other times not? Sometimes we don't know the answer . W e do

hear stor ies today of people who have "died" and come back, and we also know that not

everyone in Bible times was brought back to life. Trust ing even in the midst of imponderables

and doubt seem to me to be part of the resurrect ion story that we celebrate at Easter .

One last "aha" moment, this one also coming from our Lenten worship services. In our

shar ing t ime we were invited to share our vulnerabilit ies. At the t ime I had no words to

express what I was feeling. It was the shar ing of another in the group that allowed me to find

voice later as I thought about that exper ience. The voice I found said "I'm not good enough."

Four simple words to sum up the feeling that is sometimes present…that I can't do enough,

well enough, often enough, good enough. Although I don't know exactly where that voice

comes from, I do know it connects to some deep past hur ts from many years ago.

But there is also another voice. I believe it is God's voice, reminding me that Jesus fed a

large crowd of people with five loaves and two fish. It is God's voice reminding me that Jesus

healed the child of the man who proclaimed, "I believe. Help my unbelief!" It is God's voice

reminding me that Jesus honored Thomas, who expressed his doubts for all of us. It is God's

voice, reminding me of Moses, David, Peter , Deborah, Mary, Martha, Ruth…none were "good

enough" and yet God loved them and did amazing things through all of them. May it be so for

us.

2

The Lives and Times of FMC People and Beyond--- Sophia Milton doesn’t mind doing her homework while reposing on a blanket on the lawn

underneath a beautiful Spring sky.

Josh Montano is known for his great ability to find humor and reason to smile in most any

situation life presents.

Katherine Martinez does not mind in the least chewing on chocolate covered insects.

Caught in the act of reading: Joleen Siebert is reading Between the World and Me by

Ta-Nehisi Coates.

When Daisy Becerra plays softball, she sports the classic black smudges underneath her eyes

to ward off the rays of the sun. Daisy is a shortstop.

Mary Baba, Bruce Auernheimer, Jim and RuthAnne Krause recently heard Richard Rodriguez

speak at Reedley College.

Jayla Sandoval plays the piano, plays soccer, and gets good grades besides.

Marvin Ambriz has been accepted into medical school at UCLA.

Caught in the act of reading: Steve Penner is reading Dark Money: the Hidden History of the

Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer.

Don and Ele Friesen, along with other family members, plan to see their San Francisco Giants on

opening day.

Aidan Zimmerman is playing basketball in the city league at the Reedley Community Center.

Jim Compton-Schmidt is part of a Sunday small group at our church that is developing a

welcoming statement for those interested in speaking our welcome out loud, a welcome that

would put us on a par with many other congregations in the Mennonite world.

Andy Ewy is a student teacher at Newton High School in Newton, Kansas. He’s teaching history.

Caught in the act of reading: Barbara Ewy is reading Trouble I’ve Seen by Drew Hart and

Ordinary Miracles by Rachel S. Gerber.

You can notice them bicycling: Sergio Franco and Angelica Valdovinos Franco.

Master Gardener Karen Peterson recently gave a lecture to Reedley community members on the

wise use of water around our homes and gardens.

Alfred and Peggy Unruh are big fans of Camp Keola.

Ethan Milton does not mind in the least chewing on chocolate covered insects.

Jordan Penner, together with MCC colleague Patrocinio Garvizu, wrote an article called “Low

German Mennonites, natural resource management and the Bolivian state.” It appears in the

Spring edition of MCC’s publication Intersections.

He sings in the choir and rides his bicycle to church: Roger Zimmerman.

Carolina Valdovinos is a classroom assistant to Reedley High School history teacher, Mr. Pizano.

Francisco Guerrero and Juan Gomez are hoping to get tickets for some Copa America soccer

games this summer in Pasadena.

Angelica Valdovinos does not mind in the least chewing on chocolate covered insects.

Sharon Reimer likes to listen attentively and then respond from the heart with poetry.

Dietrich Reimer is in Colombia right now, but soon enough he’ll be back in San Francisco.

At a recent softball tournament in Bullhead City, Larry Harder collected lots of base hits. It is

not known whether or not Larry puts black smudges under his eyes when he plays softball, but

he did get on base a remarkable 19 out of 20 trips to the plate.

Continued on next page 3

Christine and Rusty Moyer recently drove to Portland to visit dear friends and take in an art

exhibit. On the way home they stopped in Salem for a cup of coffee with Joseph Penner.

Lost and confused as to how this could happen: Ele Friesen lost her church key in mid March.

The key is always in a very secure position. How this could happen boggles the imagination.

Caught in the act of reading: Mary Baba is reading ­Darling by Richard Rodriguez.

At the recent MYF lock-in, Katherine Martinez managed to stay awake the entire night.

Emily Milton is getting close to the Reedley High School school record in the 200 meter free.

Yazmin Ambriz has a well-deserved reputation for being quiet and serene. But close friends

sometimes tell a different story!

Caught in the act of reading: Sharon Reimer is reading The Cloud of Unknowing by an

anonymous English monk from the 14th century.

Jose Mireles gives leadership to a weekly Bible study in Dinuba.

Kyle Kresge is now living in Spain. Things are tough and he asks for our prayers.

In his one lifetime so far, Noe Hernandez has worked at Big 5, studied engineering at Fresno

State, played the drums in church, and served as a reliable uncle. And that’s just the start.

Sebastian Garcia can wail on the saxophone.

Caught in the act of reading: Ele Friesen is reading The Ravens by Vidar Sundstol. This is the

third book in the “Minnesota Trilogy.”

Sarah Clemmer and Sophia Milton will both be on stage in the Reedley High School

performance of Beauty and the Beast. Opening night is April 15.

Juan and Carmen Montes are looking forward to some good Colombian cuisine when they go to

their homeland during their upcoming sabbatical.

During the recent MYF retreat at Pismo Beach, the theme “Following Jesus Inside and

Outside” was explored.

They are regulars at the early morning Sierra View Homes coffee club: Bruce Auernheimer

and Frank Rogalsky.

Jerry and Ro Linscheid, and the board of Mennonite Insurance, recently took in the musical

production of The Little Mermaid at Roger Rocka’s dinner theatre.

Bob Mason likes his morning countryside walks down Frankwood Avenue.

Leonard Mireles, Rusty Moyer, Roger Zimmerman, Karen Peterson, Gail Harder, Larry Harder,

Christine Moyer, Dick Peterson, and Steve Penner all took part in the massive church basement

clean-up day on Saturday, March 26.

He sings in the choir and rides his bicycle to church: Ed Boldt.

Caught in the act of reading: Rusty Moyer is reading How Jesus Became God by Bart Ehrman.

A few of the descendants of Paul Ruth are experts at throwing the shot put and heaving the

discus.

Rudy Valdovinos is a strong supporter of Reedley College athletics. He has friends on several

of the teams.

He sings in the choir and rides his bicycle to church: Jerry Linscheid.

Juan Montes and Steve Penner contributed a chapter to the book Fully Engaged. Their article

is called “First Mennonite Church of Reedley: Our Particular Missional Story.”

Continued from previous page

4 Continued on next page

Paul and Ruth Buxman’s family were fully engaged, their lives full of celebration and joy, during

this Easter season.

Lost and confused as to how this could happen: Steve Penner lost his camera. Months later

Glena found the camera in the bag he carries with him just about every day.

Sergio Franco does not mind in the least chewing on chocolate covered insects.

Baldemar Ambriz and Manuel Ambriz have been driving all around Florida.

Nick Boldt is back on his boat in the Caribbean.

Carolina Valdovinos does not mind in the least chewing on chocolate covered insects.

Nayeli Becerra will be playing soccer for Reedley High School next season. Currently she plays

for the Revolution club soccer team where she is a forward.

Christy Zimmerman is working at the Orange Cove public library.

They have taken long bicycle excursions: Rusty Moyer, Ed Boldt, Jerry Linscheid.

Freda Neufeld Prnjak’s grandson Ryan Mason is a senior and a front-line pitcher for the Cal

Bears baseball team.

At Bethel College, Suzi Ewy is taking piano lessons.

Once upon a time, Erasmo Quintanilla was a star soccer player at Fresno Pacific University.

Now he teaches Spanish at Orange Cove High School and coaches soccer as well.

The crash William Ewy suffered on his bike is now in the distant past. He’s back riding with

his friends, taking long adventuresome rides.

Guess who used to stay just a few paces behind the great Pete Romero while taking long runs in

the countryside around Reedley?

He's a regular at the Donuts-to-Go coffee club: John Krahn.

Anyone with the last name Zimmerman in our church is surely a big fan of Camp Keola.

Maritsa Ambriz can give the inside scoop on all things McDonalds.

Early every Sunday morning, Vernon Flaming picks up his church bulletin.

Juanita Zarco is making sure that the church pantry is kept in good condition.

The craftsmanship involved in the new windows in the “cry room” at the back of our sanctuary

is quite extraordinary. Give thanks to Rusty Moyer.

Besides his professorial roles at Fresno State and the University of Hawaii, Brent

Auernheimer has served on the board of Bethel College and been very active with Camp Keola.

At the recent MYF lock-in, Ethan Milton managed to stay awake the entire night.

Peter Boldt has one quarter to go at UCLA. He is polishing off his BA in History at this

esteemed institution of higher learning.

Katrina Mireles wrote a skit based on the Easter account from Luke 24 for the Easter Day

celebration at Burris Park.

Sharon and Paul Reimer are spending much of April with Johann, Laura and their grand-kids in

Hesston, Kansas. Paul will return home in mid-April to Reedley, but Sharon needs to travel via

Amtrak to New Orleans. The route will take her from Kansas north to Chicago, then south all

the way to New Orleans!

Continued from previous page

5

Immigration updates from the Washington Memo

Here are some updates from MCC’s publication, the Washington Memo. Executive Actions: Due to congressional inaction on immigration reform legislation, President Obama took executive action at the end of 2014 to allow some undocumented immigrants to stay temporarily in the U.S. This action would have expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and added a new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program for undocumented parents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. These programs were to go into effect in May 2015 but were blocked by a federal judge in February after Texas and 25 other states sued. The case is now headed to the Supreme Court where a ruling is likely in June. Pastor Max: On March 3, 2015 Mennonite Pastor Max Villatoro was detained by U.S. I mmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as part of a nationwide seep that picked up more than 2,000 immigrants. Villatoro came to the United States in 1995 and has a wife and four children in Iowa City. After an unprecedented campaign calling for his release, he was deported to Honduras on March 20, 2015. Though the campaign did not succeed, supporters are hopeful that the advocacy on behalf of Villatoro may have prevented similar nation-wide sweeps. MCC Washington Office staff continues to work with partners in D.C. and Iowa to bring Max home to his family and to raise awareness about how such deportations violate stated ICE policies and needlessly separate families.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

If there is something you would like to post on “The Bulletin Board,” please call Dee in the

church office, 638-2917, or send her an e-mail at fmcreedley@juno.com.

DINE OUT First Wednesday of every month

Dinner is served in the Fellowship

Hall

April 6—PIM is hosting

Menu: Soups—Vegetable, Chicken,

& Lentil serviced with rice

May 4—MYF is hosting

Menu: Hamburgers & Hot Dogs

ALL CHURCH PICNIC APRIL 24 10:30AM

RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ON LAC JACK

6

Meets at the Fellowship Hall of First Mennonite Church,

Located on L Street between 12th and 13th Streets in Reedley

Contact: (dfriesen0@gmail.com)

Come for the food, stay for the program, leave inspired!

CALENDAR

Friday, April 8, 6:45-8:45—Speaker: Stefani Booroojian, KSEE24 news anchor

Topic: Remembering the Armenian Genocide

Friday, April 15, 6:30-8:30—Speaker: Hansel Kern. Topic: The Story of Kern

Family Farm

Friday, April 22, 6:30-8:30—Speaker: Mike Rhodes. Topic: Dispatches from the

War Zone.

Friday, April 29, 6:30-8:30—Speaker: Member Hope Nisly, reads her essay

"Pondering Life's 'Shoulds' in the Land of Oz"

Friday, May 13, 6:30-8:30 - Speaker: Mark Alvis. Topic: Feeling the Pain of the

Earth

7

Diaries of a Custodian by Leonard Mireles

The two trees next to the fellowship hall parking lot were removed by the

City. Roger Zimmerman fixed the leak under the air conditioning in the north side

fellowship hall. Rust Moyer replaced the old unsafe glass in

the nursery in the back of the church. Bob Watson was

hired to remove the grass next to sidewalks and replaced

it with humus and put some pavers for walkways. March 27

we had a church work day and we primarily focused on the

basement and made a big dent in it thanks to the Rusty

and Christ Moyer, Larry and Gail Harder, Dick and Karen

Peterson, Steve Penner, and Roger Zimmerman.

That's all for now.

PEACE PIECES Compiled by Ethel Harder

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) human rights activist and First Lady, “When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?” Isaac Asuimov (1920-1992) American author ,“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Ban Ki-moon (b. 1944), South Korean diplomat and 8th United Nations Secretary-General, “Every dollar spent on weapons is one less spent on schools, life-saving medicine or research into life-affirming technologies.” General Omar N. Bradley (1883-1981) American military leader, “war is a wretched debasement of all the pretenses of civilization.” Ralph Bunche (1903-1971) American diplomat and 1950 Nobel Peach Laureate, “Thee ar o warlike people, just warlike leaders.” Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author, educator and activist who was blind and deaf, strike against war. For without you, no battles can be fought! Strike against manufacturing shrapnel and gas bombs and all other tools of murder! Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings! Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction! Be heroes in any army of construction!” I Corinthians 1:3 “May god our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you all of His blessings and great PEACE of heart and mind.” Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you. My promise of PEACE for you will never be broken, says the Lord who has mercy upon you.”

8

CAMP KEOLA

Memorize Some Verses to Reduce the Cost of Camp Keola

Junior (grades 3-5), Junior High (grades 6-8) and High School campers attending

Mennonite camps this summer at Camp Keola can get $50 off their camp fees by

memorizing Bible verses.

Junior and Junior High campers need to recite Philippians 2:5-11 to a member of the

Mission and Service Committee. High School campers need to recite I Corinthians

13 to a member of the Mission and Service Committee. Successfully say the verses

and the Mission and Service Committee will contributed $50 towards your camp

fees!

Also, if you are a first time camper, you can go for half price! If you invite a friend

to go with you, you can get $75 off your camp fee.

This year the junior and junior high Mennonite camps at Camp Keola are July 17-23

High School camp runs from 24-30

You can recite your verses to Juanita Zarco, Gail Harder, Graciela Sandoval, Jose

Mireles or Steve Penner.

To register for camp, go online to www.campkeola.org.

9

10

SUNDAY

5:00 a.m. Prayer Time in the Sanctuary

8:45 a.m. Prayer Time in the Infant Nursery

9:30 a.m. Worship Services in English

11:00 a.m. Christian Education

12:00 p.m. Spanish Worship Services

TUESDAY

9:30 a.m. Needles & Notions

WEDNESDAY

6:00 p.m. Los Amigos / AA Meeting in Spanish

7:00 p.m. Kids Club & MYF

7:00 p.m. Alabanza y Oración

7:00 p.m. Marriage & Family Class in Rm. 5

7:00 p.m. PIM Young Adults

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

THURSDAY

7:00 p.m. PIM Worship Team Practice

FRIDAY

6:30 p.m. Peace Center in the Fellowship Hall

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

West Coast MCC

2

Sale & Auction

3

4

7pm Trustee

Meeting

5

7pm Deacons

Meeting

6

6pm Dine Out

7 8 9

10 11

5:30pm Educ

Committee Mtg

12

7pm RELID

13 14 15

PIM “Building the

Family” Conference

16

17 18

19

7pm Council

Meeting

20 21 22 23

24

CHURCH PICNIC

25 26 27 28 29 30

April 2016

11

SUNDAY

5:00 a.m. Prayer Time in the Sanctuary

8:45 a.m. Prayer Time in the Infant Nursery

9:30 a.m. Worship Services in English

11:00 a.m. Christian Education

12:00 p.m. Worship Services in Spanish

TUESDAY

9:30 a.m. Needles & Notions

WEDNESDAY

6:00 p.m. Los Amigos / AA Meeting in Spanish

7:00 p.m. Kids Club & MYF

7:00 p.m. Alabanza y Oración

7:00 p.m. Marriage & Family Class in Rm. 5

7:00 p.m. PIM Young Adults

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

THURSDAY

5:00 p.m. PIM Worship Team Practice

FRIDAY

6:30 p.m. Peace Center in the Fellowship Hall

May 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

PIM—Day of the

Friend

2 3

7pm Deacons

Meeting

4

6pm Dine Out

5 6

7pm What’s Up

Family!

7:30pm San

Joaquin Chorale

Concert

7

8 9

7pm Worship

Committee Mtg

10

7pm RELID

11 12 13 14

15 16 17

7pm Council

Meeting

18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31