In February of 2020 the headline in my county’s newspaper reported that a group named The Second Amendment (2A) had submitted a resolution to the County Commissioners to turn my county into a second amendment sanctuary.  Basically these 2A groups are making a preemptive effort to circumvent national and state laws about limitations to the use of firearms.  Specifically, the resolutions (there are different wordings) state that the county will agree not to enforce laws that the group believes violate the US Second Amendment.  Almost immediately I submitted a letter of opposition and requested a copy of the resolution.  After reading the resolution, I submitted a second letter.  Barb Gant, who also lives in the same county, submitted letters of opposition.  Through friends, she learned of others in opposition to the resolution.  Originally about 10 of us were going to meet with the commissioners as a group, then the pandemic

The CMC Survey gathered results that 80+ people would like to gather in small social groups. Mim Halterman and Ruth Massey will be facilitating opportunities for folks to socialize safely in person during this time of the pandemic. The idea is similar to the Winter Dinner Groups but in this case, it will be Summer Social Groups. This is a chance to visit with someone you haven’t seen in person recently. For this first meeting we recommend gathering without a meal/food to see how it feels and works. To start the process, we would like to gather a list of households who are interested in hosting a small outdoor social gathering of 10 or less people and a list of people who are interested in attending. We will assign the guests and the hosting household will contact the guests and decide on a date within the next month. HOSTS: Please

Last evening Ila had a softball game at Whetstone.  Not long into the game the sky darkened, the wind picked up, and it looked like it might pour.  Instead there was some distant thunder, a light rain, and a brilliant rainbow appearing across the eastern sky.  And the game went on.  The picture below was taken by Tom Blosser at his home, a few miles up the road. A parable: The kingdom of God is like this: Children gathered to play a game in the park, surrounded by their parents.  During the game, a great storm began to brew.  But it soon transformed into a beautiful rainbow, spanning the sky over the field.  The children pointed with delight at the rainbow, announcing its presence to their friends and parents.  Some of the parents welcomed the diversion from the slow moving game and shifted their attention to the rainbow.  Other parents

As I was reading the latest edition of The Mennonite which describes the selection process for our new hymnal Voices Together as well as the part music has played in the lives and congregations of various contributors, I thought back to some of the hymns that have been so significant in my life.  Grandpa Soldner always wanted the family to sing “To God Be the Glory” when we were together.  At Hartzler gatherings Grandpa asked that we join hands and sing “Bless Be the Tie That Binds” before we departed on the long journey home.  “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” was sung at all my sibling’s weddings and at my parents’ memorial services.  And we always raised our voices in joyful, four-part harmony to sing “Great God the Giver of All Good” before family holiday meals.  As the family grew with in-laws and then the next generation, they too learned