Troubled by feeling of impending danger, despair, panic and doom, Ingrid Friesen Moser uses controlled breath to help her worship. Ingrid Friesen Moser, MA, RDN, has worked in wellness for over 25 years. In addition to her role as wellness coordinator with Mennonite Church USA’s (MC USA) Corinthian Plan, the health plan for MC USA pastors and church workers, she works with children and adults at Maple City Health Care Center in Goshen, Indiana. Her degrees in nutrition (Goshen College) and Christian formation (AMBS) reflect her passion for the intersection of health and wellness wit ..read more

On Saturday, April 13, Shenandoah Valley Taxes for Peace held its third annual war tax redirection event. Members of 18 households, many of whom are members at Community Mennonite Church and Shalom Mennonite Congregation, both of Harrisonburg, Virginia, donated $5,888 to six nonprofit relief and peace organizations, including the MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund.  Of these donations, $1,766 came from federal taxes withheld out of conscience against paying taxes for war. According to the War Resisters League, a secular pacifist organization, 45% of the 2025 U.S. Federal Funds Budget will ..read more

Using concepts from the Supernatural television series, Sarah Augustine considers how we can imagine systems for ecological and racial justice that will create a better future for our world, even if we don’t see the return on investment in our lifetimes. This blog was first published Feb. 1 on Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler’s joint Substack account, and later shared on the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery’s website. Reposted with permission. This blog is part of the ongoing Learn, Pray, Join: Climate Justice: Seeking Shalom series. Sarah Augustine, who is a Pueblo (Tewa) d ..read more

Janet Elaine Guthrie shares about the influences that lead her to engage in the reparative action of donating her portion of the family farm, with the intent toward education and supporting Indigenous peoples. This blog is part of the ongoing Learn, Pray, Join: Climate Justice: Seeking Shalom series. Janet Elaine Guthrie is a spiritual director and member of First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where she served as lead pastor from 2008-2016.  She holds an Master of Divinity from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.  ________________________________________________ ..read more

Spiritual director Jenny Gehman reflects on her own journey to spiritual direction and the holy hospitality she experienced. Jenny Gehman, east coast representative for Mennonite Women USA, is a spiritual director, freelance writer and retreat facilitator. She and her husband, Dan, attend James Street Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. To learn more about Jenny or engage her as a spiritual director, visit JennyGehman.com. ________________________________________ About nine years ago, I sought out my first spiritual director. I was just stepping into what I’ve since come to call my we ..read more

Pastors Suzette Shreffler and Sandy Drescher-Lehman share a prayer and a blessing, respectively, crying out for better stewardship of God’s creation and beginning the Learn, Pray, Join: Climate Justice: Seeking Shalom series,  ___________________________________________________________________________________ Lord,   You created all things, and they are good.  I pray that you use me to be a good steward of your creation: the land, animals and water. I cry out to you to heal our lands and our hearts.  You are the Living Water that flows through me, and I want you to receive ..read more

In this Easter poem, Eric Massanari uses biblical allusions to greet the risen one. This poem was originally published in the April 17, 2023 Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference bulletin. Reposted with permission. Read it in Spanish here.  Eric Massanari serves as the executive conference minister for the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. He is also a trained spiritual director and is currently serving on the board for Spiritual Directors International (SDI). Eric lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife, Yolanda Kauffman, and he actively participates ..read more

Dr. Lesley F. McClendon presented this devotional at the MC USA Executive Board meeting last weekend. She reflects on what reimagining the church means and how we can stay true to the gospel message, while also accommodating our rapidly changing needs as a culture. Dr. Lesley F. McClendon is the senior pastor of C3 Hampton (Virginia) and a member of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board. Dr. Lesley holds three earned degrees in the field of practical theology from three schools, which aid her in seeing things from a variety of perspectives. She is the founder of Herstoric, Inc., a netw ..read more

Earlier this year, James Rissler and Glen Guyton embarked on a pilgrimage through civil rights sites. James reflects on how this Sankofa Journey affected his view of race relations in the U.S. and in the Mennonite church. James Rissler is a Mennonite pastor, living in Macon, Georgia, who most recently served as the interim pastor of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Gainesville, Florida. He is working on his Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership through Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, while seeking a transitional ministry position to which he can commute.  _______________________________ ..read more

Spiritual director Lester Lind reflects back on the beginning of his calling and career, as he prepares to retire. Lester Lind lives with his wife, Mary Beth, on two acres in West Virginia. He attends Philippi (West Virginia) Mennonite Church and is bringing his career as spiritual director to a close. A paraphrase of Hosea 2:14 informs his spiritual practices: “The wilderness will lead you to your heart, where I will speak.” ________________________________________ As I slowly say goodbye to my spiritual directees and move into retirement, I have much to reflect upon. During my working year ..read more