First Mennonite Church, where we had supper and the opening worship,
Downtown Mountain Lake
Bethel Mennonite Church, where child care was offered and Sunday morning worship.
Jay Miiller, new at-large member of Conference Council.
Curtis Elk Shoulder
The youth of First and Bethel provided supper on Thursday as a fundraiser. Haystacks, yum!
Keshia and Curtis burn off energy after a loooonng van ride.
Our symbols
Doran Stucky and Sarah Harder relax on the lawn at FMC.
Galen Kauffman, pastor at Bethel, credits Amy Nissley (also a pastor at Bethel) and Elaine Kauffman (pastor at First) for all the work they put into planning Annual Meeting.
Andrea Wall and Kay Schroeder reconnect during worship Thursday.
from the balcony at First
We like to sing when we get together.
Galen leading singing. He likes to lead singing and we like it when he leads!
Our moderator, Diane Zaerr Brenneman, welcomes everyone with a reminder of all who are praying for our meetings this weekend. We appreciate your prayers!
Nyle and Lauralee Kauffman explain the history and meaning of the basin and towel.
Elva and Larry Evers explain the history and meaning of the pitcher.
Lawrence and Keshia Littlebear invite Grandpa Willis Busenitz to tell the story of the peace pipe.
Elaine Kauffman
Charles Harder
Amanda Beachy read the scripture for Dwelling in the Word.
Sharon Kennel remembers when we decided, "let's work the whole thing out!"
Shana Peachey Boshart tells stories of God calling young people to church leadership.
Tim Detweiler encourages us to keep our focus on the vision of God's reconciling work in the world.
Austin Oswald and Jose Gamboa of Shickley, Nebraska, moved a lot of tables and chairs.
Kathryn Ney, Helen Lindstrom and David Boshart
Dan Haggerty and Jeff Swartzendruber compare notes (center). They both work for MMA/Everence in different locations of Central Plains.
Anticipating a weekend of fun times with other kids.
Youth get acquainted. Sixteen college students and 11 high school students participated in Annual Meeting.
Shana and Keshia
Marcus, Doran, Lawrence, Aaron, Curtis
Scott Adrian & Renee Yoder
Alicia, Lawrence & Keshia find the answers.
Monica Clem keeps it all running smoothly!
Dave Boshart spoke on the theme, "Mission at the Center of Our Story, Going Where Jesus intends to Go"
Ramiro Hernandez, Hispanic Ministries Coordinator
Prayers of blessing for Ed Kauffman and Sharon Kennel. Ed concludes his work with Central Plains July 31; Sharon, August 31.
Dave presents the table group responses to the case study.
We had stormy weather.
Uh oh! Tornado warning. Everyone stay calm and file out the exit please.
Cec marvels that George can relax anywhere. Peg and Renee keep visiting in spite of the storm. In the background, Scott and Corben discuss the World Cup.
The visiting goes on without a break, tornado or no tornado!
Kathryn, Nadya, Libby and Aprille will have stories to tell when they get home!
Andre shows David how it's done.
More visiting and waiting in another part of the school.
And again. Thank goodness there were lots of storm shelters! Think this could be the boy's locker room? Looks like not many ladies ventured in.
No tornado struck! Later, a reception was held for Ed Kauffman and Sharon Kennel. Here, Cecil and Sharon Kennel receive greetings and blessings from Roy and Loretta Kaufman.
Gaye and Ed Kauffman share a lively moment with Joetta Schlabach.
James Poplett and Richard Swartzendruber await their turn at the mike with comments or questions about the Unity Recommendation.
Alicia shares her opinion. That's an interesting talking piece for that table group.
Don listens as Amanda speaks. In the Circle Process, the group passes a talking piece. The Bible makes an appropriate talking piece for this table group.
Blaine Friesen shares about the visit he made to Third Way Church as he recommends the church for membership in Central Plains. To Blaine's left is Danny Churchill of Third Way.
Dan Winings, pastor of Shalom, looks on while Jim Poplett tells the story of how Shalom Mennonite was planted. Tim Detweiler waits to give his recommendation to receive Shalom as a member of Central Plains.
Susan Janzen, Don Patterson and Tim Detweiler collected feedback regarding the proposed structure changes. Here they confer on how to report the feedback to the delegates.
Rosie Epp, chair of Central Plains Outreach & Service Commitee, and Elizabeth Troyer-Miller, a member of the Mennonite Church USA Peace & Justice Support Network board, present Loretta and Roy Kaufman with the Peace Mug in recognition of many years of advocating and working for peace and justice.
Dave Boshart was installed as executive conference minister. Here, Marty Lehman, executive staff for Mennonite Church USA, leads a prayer of blessing. Members of the Central Plains staff and executive committee lay hands on Dave. Dave begins in the role September 1.
The quilt made of Ecuadorian wool and quilted by Central Plains hands. Over $3000 was raised for the Ecuador Partnership in a silent auction.
Sherilyn Ortman, member-at-large of conference council.
Saturday night found the youth playing a lawn game in the basement of the Bethel church because it was storming outside. Scott Adrian tosses the balls for ladder golf.
It looks easier than it is!
Keshia and Lawrence get into it!
Outside, there was thunder, lightening, rain and flash flooding.
Inside, the power went off, so we moved to table games by candlelight. The weather did not dampen the fun!
Dutch Blitz, anyone?
How about banana splits?
Okay, we are no longer in chronological order, but that's okay. What follows are pictures of people in the various meetings.
Worship. Don Kempf talks about the Ecuador Partnership.
We sat at table groups for worship and delegate business.
...in the Mountain Lake High School gym.
Cec, Kia and Amy in the foreground. John and Laurel in the background.
Noi Harder
Janelle Ortman and Ellen Kempf share with Suzanne Nolt about Shalom Readers Club.
"Am I in here somewhere?"
Lunch time!
Anita and Dave enjoy the fresh outdoor air.
Each member of the Unity Task Group shared about their experience on the task group.
Delegates of all ages...
...from different places...
...and various backgrounds...
...gather to talk...
...and listen to each other. It's a great experience of fellowship and learning.
Susan Janzen, chair of the Pastoral Leadership Committee, presents Ed Kauffman with a parting gift. It's a map weaving by artist and pastor Martha Yoder representing the letter to Smyrna in Revelation 2.
Another version of the same text was given to Sharon Kennel.
Michelle Hofer gave a workshop on iconography.
Dave Boshart's workshop on church planting.
The cross that decorated the worship and meeting space.
Another summary of table group feedback from a case study discussion.
Holly ponders the message.
We had cake to celebrate Ed and Sharon's years of service to our conference.
A close up of one of the map weavings. The red text reads, "be faithful and I will give you the crown of life." The black text reads, "the words of the one who is the first and the last."
Renee and Hannah
The youth usually ate together.
chillin'
Phil Friesen gave a workshop on The Old Testament Roots of Non-Violence. Look for his book by the same title.
All the way from Busby, Montana! See you next year!
