Vol. 11 No. 1
Spring 2005
Roots and branches

Editorial

A synonym for harmony is agreement. Yet in our churches, our choice in music is more often a cause of disagreement. A few years ago, I chuckled at a joke circulating via email about the difference between hymns and choruses. Thinking it might add another perspective to this newsletter’s music emphasis, I ‘googled’ the words ‘hymns, choruses, cows’ and found 280 sites, including Catholic, Baptist among many others. Obviously, this is not just a Mennonite issue! There will be harmony of the best kind at our May events. Get your tickets early to avoid disapointent!

Memorial Cemetery Tour

“Don’t forget about your leaders who taught you God’s message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.” Hebrews 13:7 This Scripture verse was always taken seriously in the Russian Mennonite tradition. Annually, whether at conferences or in individual churches, people paused to remember those who had passed on during the past year. There were readings from Scripture and prayers. People spoke of a Gedenkfeier (Remembrance celebration), Totentag (Day of the Dead) or Gedenktag (Remembrance day).

As a prelude to the presentation of the Mennonite Concerto on May 15th the Mennonite Historical Society of BC will sponsor a Memorial Cemetery Tour on Saturday, May 14th, to commemorate those who fought the good fight of faith. We have selected the oldest Mennonite cemeteries: South Poplar (S. Abbotsford), Greendale and Yarrow. We hope to make this an annual event and next year we may visit McClure Cemetery.

The Tour begins at the South Poplar (S. Abbotsford MB) Cemetery, Huntingdon and Gladwin (beyond the old white church) at 1:00 pm, then off to Greendale Cemetery west on Watson Road off Vedder Road at 2:30 pm, and then Yarrow Cemetery off No. 3 Road on Hare Avenue at 4:00 pm. The tour then moves on to the Yarrow MB Church for a brief commemorative service with Dr. John B. Toews followed by a fellowship Faspa. Pick up your complimentary Faspa tickets at the MHSBC office (ph. 853-6177) along with maps to the various cemeteries.

Kernlieder Choir,

assembled by Rudy Baerg and Holda Fast Redecopp,

led by Bill Baerg

followed by Victor Davies “Mennonite Piano Concerto”

featuring Irmgard Baerg and Betty Suderman

May 15, Central Heights MB 3:00 pm

tickets $10 available at MHSBC office, or at the door