Support #GREATCOMMUNITYGIVE!

          Here's the link. www.greatcommunitygive.org

I'm involved with several causes that are inviting people to give generously to their favorite non-profit through the Great Community Give campaign. They are the Family Life Resource Center, Faith in Action and Gemeinschaft Home.

Agencies that receive the most contributions on Wednesday 4/17 earn extra award money for their program.

A great way to help make a positive difference!

Lancaster Author Tells An Amazing Story At EMU This Friday

Allan Shirk, as a history major at Eastern Mennonite College (now EMU) back in 1964,  needed a topic for his required senior research paper.

A native of New Holland, Pennsylvania, Allan (who later became my brother-in-law) decided to write a history of the New Holland Machine Company located in his home town. This widely known farm implement manufacturer became known internationally for having produced and marketed the first successful self-tying hay baler.

From the first, Allan knew he would need to speak to its inventor, Ed Nolt, a  modest Old Order Mennonite farmer with only an eighth grade education. Nolt agreed to an interview with the understanding that Allan would not draw undue attention to him, a man who had achieved a level of fame he never sought and would have never dreamed of.

Growing up on a farm myself, I have fond memories of the model 900 baler pictured on the cover of the book Allan published in 2015.

You can hear more from the author, who will speak at EMU's Suter Science Center in Room 104 this Friday, April 12.

Top Ten Reasons To Support Our Fall Virginia Relief Sale’s "SOS Project"

The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale’s Sharing Our Surplus (SOS) Campaign was launched two years ago to solicit cash donations for Mennonite Central Committee in addition to money raised through auction, food and other sales.

So far that effort has raised over $75,000, and has been designated specifically to meet the growing needs of refugees around the world.

SOS is not intended in any way to compete with any of the many other fund raising efforts at the Sale, but to provide an additional opportunity for contributing, especially for the majority of attendees who do not take part in the annual auction.

So here are top ten reasons (in descending order, with 10 being the least weighty and 1 the most important), for matching (or exceeding) liberal spending at the October 4-5 Relief Sale this year with generous financial contributions:

10. All gifts, large or small, are fully tax deductible.

9. Giving can be by cash, credit card or by check (made out to Virginia Relief Sale, with SOS on the memo line).

8. Every penny contributed goes for refugee relief. Everence Financial provides volunteers to staff the giving table and any minor costs are absorbed by members of the SOS committee.

7. This giving adds no extra calories to our diets or creates any extra things to find room for at home (though we do encourage purchasing plenty of food and other items at this annual event!).

6. SOS has helped the Virginia Relief Sale exceed record totals for MCC relief efforts.

5. SOS contributions can be made at any time (and for any amount) on the Virginia Mennonite Relief Relief Sale website, allowing people to participate even if they can’t attend.

4. SOS funds will be forwarded to Mennonite Central Committee right after the sale, since there are no expenses to first be accounted for.

3. Generous giving to people in need results in their being helped as well as generous givers being blessed by having invested in truly lasting “treasure in heaven.” 

2. Never has the need for helping displaced people been so urgent, with one in nearly 100 people worldwide having been forced to leave their homes because of war, drought, persecution or other forms of violence, and with the average length of time being displaced and/or homeless being ten years.

1. By being willing to sacrifice to help meet the urgent needs of men, women and children around the world we are truly following in the footsteps of Jesus, who “became poor for our sakes” and whose entire life was lived in the service of the God who “so loved the world” --with a gift of unimaginable generosity. 

Here's how you can donate now at 
https://vareliefsale.com/donate/ or check out :
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-urgent-case-for-some-hilarious-giving.html

Alma Jean's Renowned Carrot Cake Recipe

This photo is on Mary Ann's "Delaware Grammy" blog.

Mary Ann Yutzy of Milford, Delaware, a niece of Alma Jean's, recently posted a piece on her blog about my wife's special recipe for carrot cake.

For our health's sake, Alma Jean has cut back on baking these kinds of calorie laden delicacies, but this is undeniably delicious, a testimony to her skills in the kitchen and to her years of teaching Home Economics at Eastern Mennonite High School:

Aunt Alma Jean's Best Ever Carrot Cake

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups salad oil

4 eggs well beaten

2 tsp soda

2 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp  ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped pecans

3 cups grated carrots

(1 tsp. vanilla, if you are so inclined.  I understand that it's really good without, too!)

Mix sugar and salad oil together

Add well beaten eggs and mix well

Combine rest of ingredients and stir in.

Add pecans and grated carrots and mix well.

Bake in 3 / 9” cake pans at 325 degrees or 350 degrees for 30 -40 mins.

Icing:

1 box 10x sugar

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 stick oleo or butter

1 tsp. of either lemon or vanilla (I used vanilla, at Aunt A.J.'s advisement)
(For a 3-layer cake, I made a double batch, but I had a bit left over)

How Members Of A Small Citizens Group Have Impacted Our Local Criminal Justice System

(update) VJC has an open meeting on the first Monday noon
of each month, and a working group meeting on the third Monday noon.

Most of the following developments are the result of collaboration among many people and organizations, but the changes below are among those either initiated by and/or substantially supported by members of Valley Justice Coalition, a group of concerned citizens that has been meeting regularly since 2014:

1. Tireless (and successful) efforts to promote alternatives to building a new jail.

2. The long inactive Community Criminal Justice Board becoming a group that meets quarterly, and is now open to public input.

3. The CCJB appointing an Alternatives Committee which included members of the VJC and chaired by Judge John Paul, which has made significant proposals for reform.

4. Initiating ongoing conversation about need for better mental health services in the jail, and eventually resulting in having the Community Services Board provide funding for a half-time, then a full-time, counselor.

5. Drug Court, which according to the DNR, began as “several community leaders raised concerns about the growing inmate population…” (DNR, 12/10/18)

6. A Day Reporting program at Gemeinschaft Home.

7. Increased citizen involvement in the Reentry Council and its Action Committee and subcommittees.

8. A survey done of over 80 members of inmate families to learn more about their concerns about jail policies.

9. 'WITH' hospitality center at RISE church for visiting family members and loved ones waiting to see inmates at jail.

10. Having significant influence both in the formation of Faith in Action and in its choice of criminal justice reform as its 2018 focus. 
11. Significant collaboration with FIA in the wording and implementation of specific objectives in their campaign.

12. Sheriff becoming more aware of, and sensitive to, community concerns about jail policies, resulting in his taking initiative in improving those policies, including the remarkable step of providing educational tablets for inmates.

13. A October 15 community forum led by Board of Supervisor William Kyger and attended by some 300 people, on the issue of considering hiring a community justice planner. This meeting would not have happened without the influence of VJC and FIA.

14. Numerous op ed pieces and letters to the editor by members of VJC on local criminal justice reforms.

15. Having criminal justice reform advocate Nancy Insco and Probation and Parole head Joshua Lutz of the Reentry Council added to the membership of the CCJB.

16. Advocating for accessibility and submitting data requests for incorporation in the new data system being acquired through a cooperative effort by Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and James Madison University. 

17. Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst stating she wants to change “the warehouse mentality to a greenhouse mentality.” (in the the minutes of the meeting of the State Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee.)
18. With James Madison University's Mahatma Gandhi Center, initiating and planning a December 4 meeting of community leaders with Virginia's Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran, along with Parole Board Chair Adrianne Bennett, for the purpose of promoting parole reform, followed by a public meeting at JMU.

Addendum 12/1/24

19. Played a significant role in having Delegate Tony Wilt co-sponsor legislation to have our community finally having a state-funded Public Defender office, a dream which became a reality in January of 2025.

Addendum 1/1/25

20. Arranged for a monthly VJC Justice Matters column to be published by the Daily News-Record on the last Friday of each month.

Addendum 7/7/25

21. Launch of a court observation program in collaboration with local citizen volunteers and with students from local universities starting in September 2025.

Anyone interested in local reforms such as the above are welcome to take part in VJC's second and fourth Monday conversation and strategy sessions. https://www.vjcharrisonburg.org/

Practicing Good Soul Care/Whole Care

Graphic by Christ Community Church, Helena, Alabama

I remember years ago when then governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota, former wrestler turned politician, made the off handed comment in an interview that religion was for “weak minded people who need strength in numbers.” His remark set off a furor of negative reaction all across the nation.

In the aftermath some 68 churches in Minneapolis-Saint Paul decided to respond in a positive way. They took out a full page ad in the November 19, 1999, Star-Tribune with the headline, “Strength for the Weak-Minded,” then listed the addresses of all 68 sponsoring congregations, followed by the words “Look for a workout location near you.”

Actually, Jesse (nicknamed “The Body”) had a point. All of us human beings are more than a little weak-minded at times, and have a need to belong to a good support network. For many, this will be a family of faith who are there for us when we are experiencing losses and challenges in our lives, and who help us become healthier and less selfish people.

You may have heard the statement, "The church isn't meant to be a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners." But I rather like the metaphor of congregations being a "workout location" for those aspiring to be healthier day-to-day "saints" even better. Just as join Wellness Centers to gain better physical health, why not become a part of group of people focused on emotional, relational and spiritual wellness?

Just look for a good location near you.

Come Out To Support Gemeinschaft Home's Bold New 2020 Vision!

At the Park View Mennonite Church

Hear about how Gemeinschaft Home is about to enter a new chapter in its service to our community. Also, enjoy some great Bowl of Good food and hear original songs and real life stories from Gemeinschaft residents and alumni. There will also be a video presentation and a special tribute to the late Gerry Rush, who served as treasurer of the Home for many years and was one of its most avid supporters. 

Please sign up by phone (434-1690) or email  execdir@gemeinschafthome.org by 4/1!

P.S. Gemeinschaft has just received a grant from Merck for a third of the cost of a solar project for the Home that will save $5000-6000 a year for the next 25-30 years. You can contribute here https://www.gemeinschafthome.org or at the dinner!