Editorial:

Careful readers might note that the wording of the motto has been changed from previous newsletters from ‘heard and seen’ to ‘heard and known’, the formal motto of the Society.  ‘A small matter,’ Ed Hildebrandt said, pointing out our previous error.  But indeed, an important one.  Here is the complete text (NRSV)  “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark saying from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”  Psalm 78: 2-4.

There is much to celebrate in our history.  For many of us, the work of the Mennonite Central Committee is core to what we stand for and believe in as Mennonites—to profess our obedience in action, not words.  Each week, women in many communities gather to sew quilts for those in need.  At our February event, we will have a display to celebrate quilts, both practical and artistic, along with our evening lecture on the beginnings of MCC and its continuing work.  Let’s tell our children of the good that has been done to us, and encourage them to continue in this work.   LBP

Coming events

February 17: Passing on the Comfort

• Quilt show, story telling, silent auction  1-5 pm
• Lecture, “The MCC story: Engaging the world amid suffering and hope.”   7 pm

It has been said that MCC was born and is reborn in valleys of tragedy.  We are living in a time of widespread injustice, poverty, natural disaster, war and despair.  Through description, analysis and pictures, Mathies will reflect on some of the highlights and hard issues faced by MCC in the past decade, will look at some of the current major global issues to which MCC is responding, and discuss some of the critical issues of MCC's ongoing mission.  Illustrations of MCC work  he has visited most recently will be provided from the tsunami
response in Indonesia and the war rehabilitation in Sudan.

Ron Mathies recently completed almost four decades of service within North American and international church contexts, as Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, MCC administration and education in southern Africa, and governance leadership of MCC at the provincial, national and international levels.
 
Last academic year he was the Sawatsky visiting professor at Conrad Grebel.  He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) as well as doing international development consulting.  He has lived in five countries and traveled in almost ninety.  He received his doctorate from the University of Toronto, with earlier degrees from the Universities of Waterloo and Guelph.  He and his wife Gudrun, an educator and pastoral care giver, have three adult children and one grandchild.