Editorial

In the season of “Peace on Earth, goodwill to all” we pause to remember times and places where people live in fear, and peace is an abstract idea.  From the Machno terror and the Siberian Gulag to civil war in Afghanistan and Sudan, the words “Peace on Earth” ring hollow.  How do we work for peace and justice?  Forty years ago, a group of young Mennonites in the United States believed that just being conscientious objectors wasn’t enough, and challenged the Mennonite Church conference in Turner, Oregon.  How do we respond to increasing militarization in Canada today?

 “Peace work” must also happen in our everyday lives: Dave Hubert describes ways we can be involved in various Mennonite peace institutions.
 For many of us, coming to Canada in the years following WWII brought an end to years of refugee life and fears of being “repatriated” to the Soviet Union.  In October 2008 we will be celebrating 60 years of freedom.  If you have stories, poems or songs that you would like to contribute, either to the event or to the newsletter that will commemorate this time, please contact us.

 Wishing all of you peace and a good and wonder full year!   LBP
 

Coming events

February 23.  Remember Us as We Remember You: Letters from Stalin’s Gulag.  Documentary film “Through the Red Gate” and book launch by Ruth Derksen Siemens.  Venue: Bakerview MB,  2285 Clearbrook Road.  Doors open at 6pm  for art exhibit by Edith Krause, Shireen Cotterall and Hilda Goertzen; film and lecture at 7pm.  See page 3 for more details.

May 20.  Celebrating the Contributions of Der Bote and Die Mennonitische Rundschau.  These periodicals served their constituencies faithfully for many years.  Die Rundschau has already ceased publication; Der Bote will cease as of June 2008.   Further details will follow.

October 18-19.   Sixty Years of Peace and Plenty: Mennonite Refugees Remember.  Tentative schedule:
 Saturday afternoon:  Registration, visiting, displays,  slide show, book table.
 Saturday evening:  Annual fundraising banquet with Dr. Harry Loewen.
 Sunday afternoon:  Festival of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in story and song.

The S.S. Volendam which brought hundreds of Mennonite refugees to Canada.  On  back of the postcard : “On June 10, 1948, you and 278 other brothers and sisters from the Diepholz camp in the British zone of Germany came by train to Rotterdam, Holland where the good ship S.S. Volendam was waiting to take you to your new home in Canada.  MCC rejoices with you and wishes you a good trip, a beautiful homeland and God’s leading; and hopes that this brings to an end your life as a refugee.”