As we went down to the river to pray....and play...

Morning has broken like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

Today was a beauty. We met at 10 am at the Hoshel Canoe Park by the river, about five miles from church. This is oru traditional baptism site.

Today Judy Broadworth, Brenda Nieto and Ben Nofsinger make their public statement of intent to follow Jesus. We sang, shared the news of our lives, and shared the Good News of Jesus who began a Way of Life that was worth persecuting in its earliest days and which shapes our lives centuries later.

As we remember the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in following Jesus, we are both humbled and encouraged. Judy, Brenda and Ben and those gathered promised once more to keep these promises central to our life together.

BAPTISMAL VOWS

Will you make Jesus the center of your faith – loving God, as seen in Christ, and alive in the Spirit?

Will you make community the center of your life – loving your neighbor and your self in the church and in the world?

Will you make reconciliation the center of your work– loving both friends and enemies with grace, and seeking shalom for all people, living creatures, and for the planet?

Will you turn away from sin, temptation, violence and evil -- all that prevents you from living in love –and follow The Way of Jesus with us?

Will you turn toward giving and receiving time, talent and treasures, counsel and forgiveness -- through worship, learning, fellowship and service -- as we continue our journey in Jesus together?

I baptize you in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
One God who Mothers us all.
Arise to new life in Christ!

VIBRANT RURAL WORLD CUP PARTY!
Following the baptism we share communion from the hands of Judy, Brenda and Ben. Then we headed for Bair Lane in Marcellus for one more of our Vibrant Rural Celebrations – funded by the Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant. After tacos, fruit and decadent brownies, the final World Cup Match on the big screen was our entertainment.









CANOEING THE FAWN RIVER

The day before, on Saturday, July 10, Charlie and Jane Bowers had organized a Vibrant Canoe Trip on the Fawn River. Twenty seven of us enjoyed the silent and stunning beauty of this wetland and marsh river ride.







Floating, Faith, Food, Fellowship, Fun, Futbol!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Florence Amigos

About a quarter of Florence Church is living, at least part time, at Amigo Centre (Mennonite camp) this summer. Rose Lind, Emily and Margaret Wenger have been on staff. Jason Lichti is the program director. And Jason and Lori, Joshua, Jesse and John Lichti live in their house on camp grounds. John Mark Wenger and Riana Beachy Hasenick have been campers.

I made a "pastoral call" to camp last Wednesday, including eating "pirate" lunch with Rose, Emily and Jesse and a short visit with Margaret. You can read more at vibrantruralrr.blogspot.com

I have been asked to speak at KNOW JESUS, a junior high event that culminates the summer for Amigo Centre and Camp Friedenswald. Their staff members work together to provide worship and activity leadershp for that event. It takes place the weekend of August 7-9 at Goshen College.

Willard Fenton-Miller was appointed to the Camp Friedenswald board at Central District Conference in June.

And our VIBRANT RURAL CAMP-IN RETREAT will take place at Amigo Centre on Labor Day weekend. Florence has a long history of camping out at Amigo Park in early September, but this year, with the financing of the Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant, we are taking a different kind of retreat, expenses paid, and food provided.

Hmmmm....what do we make of these camp connections?