Author Archives: Ruth Harder

Our new worship series, which we will begin January 15, will focus on what it might mean to be Mennonite/Anabaptist. I get monthly calls/emails from people asking me this very question, so I figured it was time to explore this … Continue reading →

Epiphany sermon preached at Rainbow on January 8, 2017 Note: Mr. Rogers (aka Mike Peters) made an Epiphany appearance earlier in the service singing the theme song to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” Happy Epiphany … Continue reading →

This post is modified from a sermon preached at Rainbow on January 1, 2017 called “A handy blessing.” I am not entirely certain what constitutes a blessing. Is it any more than just a nice-sounding, empty platitude?  Just the word … Continue reading →

Twas a week before Christmas, when all through Rainbow The place is still buzzing, we go, go, go; The bulletins are printed, services planned with care, All in hopes that Christ would be found here; So come one and all, … Continue reading →

For the six years I served as a youth pastor, I would often end our Wednesday night youth group sessions by asking the group to form a circle in order to recite some variation of this blessing: Go with the strength … Continue reading →

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. -Philippians 4:4   I would like to invite Rainbow Mennonite Church congregants and perhaps the wider Mennonite Church body to become a sea of pink as we begin the third … Continue reading →

To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings. -Wendell Berry In college I spent a lot of time in Bethel’s photography dark room. During a particularly hard stretch of time, … Continue reading →

A poet by the name of Annette Hope Billings will be at Rainbow on Sunday to help us mark the beginning of Advent. Her hope-full poetry, which she will share during the Education hour, fits nicely with the advent candle … Continue reading →

Many people are surprised to learn that Rainbow Boulevard, a main roadway running north-south in Rosedale of southeastern Wyandotte County, was named after the 42nd Infantry Division of the United States Army National Guard, also known as the Rainbow Division. … Continue reading →