Fall 2010 Listing of Books&Resources

Theology, Spirituality

Ecclesiastes. Douglas B. Miller. Herald Press, 2010, 300 pages.

This is the 23rd volume of the “Believers Church Bible Commentary” series. Miller is professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan.

Engaging Pastors: Papers and Reflections from the Summative Conference. Jewel Gingerich Longenecker. Institute of Mennonite Studies, 2010.

This collection summarizes what was learned about pastoral ministry through the five-year “Engaging Pastors” program of the Church Leadership Center at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind.

A Mennonite Woman: Exploring Spiritual Life and Identity. Dawn Ruth Nelson. Cascadia Publishing House, 2010, 184 pages.

Nelson explores the spirituality of Mennonite women of the 20th century. She reflects on the life of her grandmother and looks at the influence of contemplative spirituality.

Mission From the Margins: Selected Writings From the Life and Ministry of David A. Shank. James R. Krabill, ed. Institute of Mennonite Studies and Herald Press, 2010, 357 pages.

Shank had wide experience in mission work in Europe and Africa. This collection puts together more than a half-century of Shank’s reflections on what the mission of the church is all about.

Peace Be With You: Christ’s Benediction Amid Violent Empires. Sharon L. Baker and Michael Hardin, eds. Cascadia Publishing House and Herald Press, 2010, 300 pages.

This collection of 14 essays explores the church’s role in peacemaking, especially as the church relates to the modern state. Many of the contributors are Mennonite; two are from Canada.

Prophetic and Renewal Movements: The Prague Consultations. Walter W. Sawatsky, ed. World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 2010.

Ecumenical consultations reflecting on minority Reformation traditions have been held. This volume includes the proceedings of the sixth and seventh consultations, which met in Strasbourg, France, in 2000, and Prague, Hungary, in 2003.

Prophetic Peacemaking: Selected Writings of J.R. Burkholder. Keith Graber Miller, ed. Institute of Mennonite Studies and Herald Press, 2010.

This is a collection of Burkholder’s essays on pacifism, patriotism, public witness, Mennonite ethics, stewardship, vocation, service and other issues of authentic discipleship.

Sexuality: God’s Gift. Anne Krabill Hershberger, ed. Herald Press, 2010, 317 pages.

First printed in 1999, this is the second edition. It has been updated with some new chapters and provides a tool for engaging and discussing sexuality issues of our time. The 16 chapters include questions for discussion.

Take Our Moments and Our Days, Vol. 2: An Anabaptist Prayer Book, Advent through Pentecost. Arthur Paul Boers, Eleanor Kreider, John Rempel, Mary H. Schertz, Barbara Nelson Gingerich, eds. Institute of Mennonite Studies and Herald Press, 2010, 912 pages.

This collection of prayers is designed for daily use by individuals, families or small groups between Advent and Pentecost. A new printing for Vol. 1 (Ordinary Time) has also been released in 2010.

History

About Those Reimers: A Memoir. Elizabeth Reimer Bartel. Rosetta Projects, 2010, 223 pages.

Elizabeth Reimer describes growing up in southern Manitoba in the years before World War II. She also reflects on her extended Reimer family, proprietors of H.W. Reimer’s store in Steinbach.

Jörg Maler’s Kunstbuch: Writings of the Pilgram Marpeck Circle. John Rempel, ed. Pandora Press, 2010.

An English translation of letters and other documents written in the 1500s by members of the Swiss and South German Anabaptist communities. The book contains meditations, theological treatises and pastoral letters by Pilgram Marpeck, personal confessions of faith and poems.

Leaders Who Shaped Us. Harold Jantz, ed. Kindred Productions, 2010, 324 pages.

The year 2010 is not only the 150th anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren, but also marks 100 years since the creation of the Conference of Mennonite Brethren in Canada. This is a collection of biographical stories about 25 leaders who were influential in Canada.

The Mennonite Brethren Church Around the World: Celebrating 150 Years. Abe J. Dueck, ed. Pandora Press and Kindred Productions, 2010, 391 pages.

Beginning with its origins in Ukraine in 1860, this book outlines the history of the Mennonite Brethren and how they have spread around the world. Various writers describe the church in 18 different countries.

Mennonite German Soldiers: Nation, Religion and Family in the Prussian East, 1772-1880. Mark Jantzen. University of Notre Dame Press, 2010, 384 pages.

This is the story of how Mennonites of eastern Prussia responded to strong pressure to accept conscription into the army during these years of rising German nationalism. Some finally emigrated, others became acculturated.

The Mennonites of St. Jacobs and Elmira: Understanding the Variety. Barb Draper. Pandora Press, 2010, 378 pages.

After describing Mennonite culture in Waterloo Region, Ont., in the 19th century, Draper explains how theological and cultural shifts brought schisms to the Mennonites of the St. Jacobs/Elmira area. The book describes the origins and characteristics of six different Mennonite groups.

Mission and Migration: Global Mennonite History Series, Latin America. Jaime Prieto Valladares, translated by C. Arnold Snyder. Good Books and Pandora Press, 2010, 362 pages.

This is the third in the Global Mennonite History Series, following histories of Mennonites in Africa (2003) and Europe (2006). From the first mission in Argentina in 1911 to the present, this is a comprehensive history of all types of Mennonites in Latin America.

Roots & Branches: A Narrative History of the Amish and Mennonites in Southeast United States, 1892-1992. Martin W. Lehman. Cascadia Publishing House and Herald Press, 2010, 308 pages.

Lehman tells the story of how Mennonite and Amish communities were begun in Florida and other southeastern states. This is the first of two volumes explaining how enthusiasm for evangelism led to growing churches up to the end of the 1960s.

Storied Landscapes: Ethno-Religious Identity and the Canadian Prairies. Frances Swyripa. U. of Manitoba Press, 2010, 296 pages.

Mennonites are among the ethno-religious groups examined in this book. It compares the settlement experiences of various immigrant groups on the Prairies.

Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History. Steven M. Nolt and Harry Loewen. Herald Press, 2010, 336 pages.

Steven Nolt has revised this introduction to Anabaptist-Mennonite history, first published in 1996. The Mennonite story is told within the context of the Christian church and includes stories from Mennonites in all parts of the world today.

The Voice of a Writer: Honoring the Life of Katie Funk Wiebe. Doug Heidebrecht and Valerie G. Rempel, eds. Kindred Productions, 2010, 355 pages.

This collection of articles about Katie Funk Wiebe is interspersed with some of her writings over the past 50 years. It is intended to reflect on her life and her contribution to the Mennonite community.

Other Books

An American in Persia: A Pilgrimage to Iran. Richard A. Kauffman. Cascadia Publishing House, 2010, 128 pages.

Richard Kauffman travelled to Iran in 2008 as part of a Mennonite Central Committee delegation to help develop relationships between North Americans and Iranians. This little book describes the trip and what he learned.

At Powerline & Diamond Hill: Unexpected Intersections of Life and Work. Lee Snyder. Cascadia Publishing House, 2010, 204 pages.

Snyder, who grew up in a conservative church with Amish roots in Oregon, became vice-president and academic dean at Eastern Mennonite University and president of Bluffton University. In this book she reflects on her life and her experiences on this journey.

Living With Rain Girl. Angela Loeppky. Word Alive Press, 2010, 138 pages.

Although Hannah appeared healthy when she was born in 1997, she soon suffered medical difficulties and was eventually diagnosed with autism. Loeppky, her mother, describes her personal journey as she learned to cope with these challenges.

Saving the Seasons: How to Can, Freeze or Dry Almost Anything. Mary Clemens Meyer and Susanna Meyer. Herald Press, 2010, 208 pages.

With many glossy photographs, this collection includes a variety of recipes for canning as well as simple, clear instructions for preserving food in a variety of ways. It is designed for those without experience.

This Hidden Thing. Dora Dueck. Canadian Mennonite University Press, 2010, 330 pages.

This novel gives a good picture of what Mennonite families faced when they immigrated to Canada in the 1920s. Maria, the main character, was one of the young women who worked in Winnipeg as a domestic in order to help support her family.

Children’s Books

The Food Bank Mystery. Leuba Franko. Privately published, 2010, 115 pages.

Intended for ages nine to 13, this book explores themes of poverty, job loss and food banks. The book and teacher/student activity sheets are available online at winnipegharvest.org.

Sensing Peace. Suzana E. Yoder, illustrated by Rachel Hoffman-Bayles. Herald Press, 2010, 32 pages.

This book, for children ages four to seven, encourages them to discover peace in their everyday lives, using their five senses.

Resources

PeaceParts Toolkit. MCC. 2010.

This six-session curriculum and resource pack introduces MCC’s work in justice and peacebuilding around the world. This is for primary grades to adult, with one curriculum for children and one for youths and adults.

Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology. Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2010: Unity and Diversity. Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2010: Teaching the Bible in the Congregation.

This semi-annual journal is published by Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Canadian Mennonite University. For information, visit MennoVision.org.

Wee Wonder: Sharing God’s Love with Twos. Chrissie Walls and Lori Steiner Jans. Faith and Life Press, 2010, 52 sessions.

With 12 modules and 52 sessions, this curriculum is designed for two- and three-year-olds in Sunday school or other settings with young children. As well as Bible stories, it has songs, action rhymes and creative ideas for responsive play.

DVDs

Gifts to Share. MCC. 2009, 52 minutes.

With information on how to help others, this DVD includes school kits, relief kits, health kits, newborn kits, AIDS care kits and comforters. It is suitable for Grade 1 to adult.

Peter J. Dyck Memorial Service. MCC. 2010, 112 minutes.

This DVD gives an overview of Peter and Elfrieda Dyck’s work with Mennonite refugees after World War II, as well as clips from the January memorial service for Peter Dyck.

Stories of Service. Mennonite World Conference. 2010, 45 minutes.

Mennonite World Conference has put together seven stories of member churches from around the world reaching out to serve their local communities. The accompanying guide offers discussion questions and re-sources for further study. Funded by MCC, it is available in English, French and Spanish.

—Compiled by Barb Draper, Books & Resources editor.