Affirmation and Accountability
If you were at the congregational meeting in November (or if you read the minutes, which I’m sure everyone does), you will remember hearing that I have decided to move forward with pursuing ordination. Many within the congregation either assume that I am already ordained, or they don’t have a…
Hidden churches
First, a couple updates: 1) As of yesterday, the 24/7 vigil at the Bethel church in The Hague is no longer necessary. The Dutch ruling coalition has agreed to review hundreds of children’s asylum applications, including those of the Tamrazyan family who had been sheltered in the church. This is a powerful…
MLK Day 2019: Keeping vigil in The Haag
Austin McCabe Juhnke and I arrived in the Netherlands yesterday. We ended up leaving Columbus a day early to avoid airport weather delays. We are being hosted by a couple who attends the Mennonite church in The Haag. They live near the Bethel church which is hosting the round the clock…
Kerkasiel
Kerkasiel: a customary law in the Netherlands giving a congregation the right to receive refugees during a religious service within their building. A month ago a CMC member emailed me a story about a congregation in The Haag, Netherlands. Like us, they are hosting a person – or in…
The Gauntlet of Blessings
The new year is in full swing, which means all those things that have been holding off until “after the holidays” are also beginning to gain momentum. January is an especially full time in the life of our congregation, and if you are here for the next few Sundays, you…