Sacred and unsacred stories

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April 20  Happy Easter !!! Christ is Risen !!

Good morning.

We have just completed leading an Anabaptist tour, from the Netherlands through Germany and France,  finishing in Switzerland. We arrived here in Amman Jordan early this morning,  just in time for Easter . Our daughter Hannah and her husband Alaa live here.

Don’t Worry by Mary Oliver

Things take the time they take. Don’t

   worry.

How many roads did St. Augustine follow

     before he became St. Augustine ?

The Anabaptist tradition was a small part of the Reformation in the 1500s,  but it is important for our history and faith. We visited the site of the famous Dirk Willems story. We stood in the churches of Pingum and Witmarsum where Menno preached . Menno took 12 years to become Anabaptist.

The Swiss Reformed church persecuted the early adult baptizers. We heard stories about the cities of Bern and Zurich putting to death people who believed in adult baptism and non-violence. It was dangerous to be Anabaptist for hundreds of years in Switzerland.

In 2004, the Reformed Church offered repentance for the violence done to the Anabaptists. ” We acknowledge this historic sin and, from today’s point of view, consider it a betrayal of the Gospel …” Many of our guides on the tour were Reformed persons who told the stories with sadness and humility.

We all walk our roads of life, and maybe we will all become saints in the eyes of God. Keep the faith.

Shalon for all our journeys of life and faith. Remember our ancestors.

20250412_203206.jpg

(The flag of the city of Bern)

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?

 MPL 2025

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Author: Fred Redekop

I was a pastor for almost 30 years. I am beginning a new journey of work, calling and life.

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