🕊️ “Delivering 300-year-old Mail

Swiss-German Mennonites did not pull themselves up by their bootstraps when they came to North America. Many 18th-century families had help from the Dutch Mennonites, who financed early immigration to Pennsylvania. Mennonites in Amsterdam also sent aid to poor and persecuted Anabaptist families in Switzerland and the Palatine region of Germany. Their descendants — especially those in Plain Anabaptist communities — don’t want this legacy of mutual aid to be forgotten.

🕊️ I have this weird and super-dorky idea that someday a Baptist is going to ask if I’m Baptist and I’m gonna be like:

nah, I’m OG Baptist, anabaptist

…and we’ll have a big laugh together.

(Not gonna happen.)

Look, I’m a Mennonite and had to ask what this is.

(Apparently it’s some vinegar-and-cabbage preparation that sounds like cheater-sauerkraut. I suspect this is yet another appropriation of “Amish” and not at all authentic?)

🕊️🏴🃏 TIL: some Mennonites didn’t play with regular playing cards¹ because of the Kings, Queens, and Jacks.

(I had always heard it was because of gambling.)

Trying a new thing (thanks tinylytics!).

Recent top pages:

• Plastic Reduction/Alpine Provisions
• First Law/Last Argument of Kings
• Response to odd on anarchism
• My reading page
• ✝️🕊🏴🌹, in that order

🕊️ Ever since Everence lost their focus I occasionally dream about restarting Mennonite (or Anabaptist) Mutual Aid, but I don’t want to deal with all the legal stuff. #MennoCon23

(Admittedly, compliance was likely one of the factors driving Everence’s retreat, as well.)

🕊️ Goshen College winning the shirt giveaway contest at #MennoCon23

🕊️ who knew Mennonites could jam this hard?

Loud Environment Sound levels hit 90 decibels. Around 30 minutes at this level can cause temporary hearing loss. This measurement takes into account the sound reduction from wearing your AirPods.

And yes, I was wearing earbuds in noise-cancelling mode. (Insert old man yelling at clouds gif here 😆)

This week is Mennonite (Church USA) national convention. Along with the normal stuff, I again have delegate duties.

For a short but inadequate description of modern Mennonites, read this.

As usual, I’ll use 🕊️ (category page and feed) for church & faith matters.

🕊️♻️ cool story from local Mennos:

317 Project: Herron-Morton couple has created a ‘carbon sink’ brimming with trees, flowers

🕊️

“The original “Iron Man” script was decidedly pacifist, with protagonist Tony Stark attempting to use his enormous manufacturing empire to battle against war profiteers and the military industrial complex. However, after the Pentagon got involved…the tone of the movie was radically altered. Much of the fighting in the movie takes place in modern-day Afghanistan, with the U.S. military serving the role of the good guys. In this sense, the film’s stance on war was reversed.”

How the Pentagon Leaned on Hollywood to Sell the War in Afghanistan

🕊️ I’m sleepy and almost nodding off during our Tenebrae service. Just call me “Simon”?

🌰🍎 Indiana Nut and Fruit Growers Association meeting and scion swap, today.

We are walking there after church.