May
2009 a
monthly e-news publication
PARTNER
WITH US Even
though we continue to minimize all unnecessary spending, we must sell
in products or raise in donations $100,000 by June 30. We ask that, if
you are able, please partner with us. In partnership, the goal is
reachable.
Thank
you for your generosity!  Or make a one-time donation:
 Donate
securely Online, but if you prefer, you may call us to make a donation
by phone at 877-738-1741 or by mail at Koinonia Farm, 1324 GA Hwy 49 S,
Americus, GA 31719.
|
Did You Know? Many
of you know Koinonia steward Jo Knox, or at least you’ve seen
her beautiful artwork all over the farm and in Americus. Jo is always
so energetic even at the age of 72, and constantly hosting events for
us. And ever since the love bug bit her last year, her enthusiasm and
joy has heightened. That’s right, Jo has fallen in love with Bill
Behrend, or “Thursday Bill,” as some
know him. Bill has been involved with Koinonia for years, coming up
every Thursday to spend time with us. He and Jo will marry on July 4
here at Koinonia, and would love to have friends and neighbors attend.
And if you’re coming to Koinonia anytime soon, watch out, the
love bug seems to be spreading as easily as a common cold around here;
you could be next. And if you’ve already been bitten, show
your spouse you care for them by giving them our Dark Chocolate Pecan
Bark or Peanut Crunch.
Since
March, we’ve been hosting and managing the Fuller Center
Online store. Now you can buy items from the Fuller Center and Koinonia
will fill the order and ship them to the customers. It’s a
great way to strengthen the partnership we have with our friends at the
Fuller Center. If you missed the Atlanta celebration service for
Millard, be sure to get your free DVD copy from their store. Also
available is a CD of Millard’s more memorable speeches and a
collection of his books. Click
here to visit the Fuller Center Online Store.
Reaching Out
Christ
is risen. Alleluia! We
celebrate our risen Lord as we do each Easter morning,
gathering for prayer and scripture reading as we watch the sun rise
through the pecan trees. Here is how co-founder Clarence Jordan
describes the resurrection, “God raised Jesus, not as an
invitation to us to come to heaven when we die, but as a declaration
that God has now established permanent, eternal residence on earth. The
resurrection places Jesus on this side of the grave – here
and now – in the midst of this life. He is not standing on
the shore of eternity beckoning us to join him there. He is standing
beside us, strengthening us in this life. … On the morning
of the resurrection, God put life in the present tense, not in the
future. God gave us not a promise but a presence. Not a hope for the
future but power for the present. Not so much the assurance that we
shall live someday but that he is risen today.” Pictured is
the Easter sunrise through our budding pecan trees.
Starting
at 6 a.m. on April 25, friends and neighbors gathered on our
lawn for the second
annual Free Yard Sale. Koinonian Jake Warren headed
up this effort again, in partnership with the Sumter Area Ministerial
Association to practice principles of community and radical sharing.
The sale raised several hundred dollars in donations to support
Community Service Ministry and this summer’s Fuller Center
Bike
Adventure. CSM is a SAMA ministry that helps local families with
utility bills and other financial needs. The Fuller Center for Housing
is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to
eliminating poverty housing worldwide, currently working on 6 projects
in Americus. Thanks to all who came out and participated in this great
event!
|
At the Farm  This
month we celebrated our second
Covenant Worship Ceremony, where new pursuing members are
formally welcomed to the community and our Stewards renew their
commitment to each other and to this way of life. At one point in the
ceremony, those leaving the community to pursue other interests are
recognized and prayed over. During this time, we presented Ellie with a
gift from the community, a photo collage of special moments for her and
David at Koinonia. We pray that this gift will remind Ellie how special
she is to this community and will serve to sustain her with our love.
Pictured, stewards Kathleen Monts and Bren Dubay light a candle,
representing their stewardship.
Our friends from
sister community Church
of the Servant King in Eugene, Oregon, came for a week of fellowship
and study and to get a head start on their summer tan
while helping us in the garden. During that week, Dave Cheuvront led a
study session, focusing on the story of God’s people and what
kind of lifestyle we are called to as people living in the Kingdom of
God, or the God Movement as Clarence called it. Thanks to all of our
Oregon friends for this exchange of friendship you offer us and the
inspiration and encouragement we receive from your congregation.
 Koinonia
steward Brendan Prendergast has been keeping busy with all our animals.
This month we added two
bull calves, baby chicks and ducks to the animal count.
One of our bee hives split recently and we were able to catch the new
swarm, so we now have three hives. After losing a few chickens to a
pack of wild dogs, Brendan decided to keep the Eggmobile closer to
campus. So we’ve been waking up to the beautiful crowing of
our roosters. How thoughtful of them to wake us up in time for morning
chapel. Now if they could just realize that it doesn’t start
at 5:30, we’d all be a bit happier. It truly is a joy to have
our two- and four-legged friends around the farm. Pictured, a bull calf
relaxes in his new home.
The
garden is in full bloom,
and we’re enjoying tasty salads, strawberries, herbs, and
vegetables of all kinds. During our meetings, we keep our hands busy
shelling peas for the kitchen. What a joy living on a farm can be! Coming Soon  We’ll
host a Wild Edibles seminar at the farm May 8-9. Sanders Thornburgh and
former Koinonian Bob Burns will lead this seminar, which will include a
fresh meal of wild edibles. Bob maintained the organic garden years ago
and has been very helpful as we launch new agricultural efforts
regrowing the garden, revitalizing the pecan trees and renewing the
soil. Thanks, Bob, for your continuing friendship! If you’re
interested in the seminar, contact Sarah at hospitality@koinoniapartners.org.
Koinonia
will make its way to the Ekklesia
Gathering
again this Summer. Join us in Chicago July 9-11 as we explore
communities and as we lead a workshop on business within communities.
For more information, visit the Ekklesia Web site, www.ekklesiaproject.org.
|
