Library staff hosted an afternoon celebration with ice cream and a display of photos, floor plans, and blue prints. Surplus books, library t-shirts and some of the original library chairs.

June 30, 1971 鈥� the day that the new library opened 鈥� was an historic day on the Eastern Mennonite College campus. The building was completed only with the help of a last-minute during which students raised the final $111,000 needed to secure a matching grant. Construction began through the 1970-71 school year. Faculty, staff, students, and community members helped to move each book from the Administration Building.

Enjoy a few photos from the EMU Archives capturing the campus’s second librarian Margaret Shenk, President Myron Augsburger, the big book move, and historical records. For more detail, check out a library timeline we published during our Centennial celebration in 2017.

Doug Graber Neufeld, professor of biology at 草莓社区 and director of the , has been appointed the chair of the Mennonite World Conference鈥檚 new Creation Care Task Force.

The task force was convened with the goal of helping 鈥渢he global Anabaptist communion understand our responsibility and take action in the global climate crisis.鈥� A core question is: 鈥淲hat does it mean to follow Jesus into this crisis?鈥�

The will explore the diverse ways in which members are affected by the climate crisis, assess practical ways to encourage ecologically faithful living, encourage the development of biblical and theological capacity relevant to the climate crisis, and formulate both short-term practical responses and a comprehensive plan for MWC ecological commitment.

“I am honored to work with sisters and brothers from around the planet on this task force, and to provide a connection between Mennonite World Conference and institutions here in North America that have been working with creation care,鈥� Graber Neufeld said. “We hope that this task force can give voice and leadership for the many people in churches around the world who passionately believe that being a disciple of Christ means we should care about all of creation.  

鈥淚t has become clear that taking care of our planet is one of the major challenges of our time, and that Anabaptists around the world have something important to contribute,鈥� he added. 鈥淭his is a global challenge, and the solutions are also global. As faithful followers of Christ, we are called to work together to care for creation, and Mennonite World Conference is positioned to bring together Mennonite voices from around the world on this issue.”  

The volunteer task force includes representation from MWC鈥檚 five regions, Mennonite Creation Care Network and Mennonite Central Committee, according to a . The group was organized by the Faith and Life Commission and will report to the MWC Executive Committee. Funding will come in part from MWC鈥檚 carbon offset account,, an initiative started in 2010 that sets aside $50 for every 1,000 kilograms of carbon burned as a result of official MWC travel. 

鈥淲e celebrate the emergence of this task force. Central to our mission is to respond faithfully to God鈥檚 renewal of his creation 鈥� which is one of the works of the Holy Spirit,鈥� says MWC general secretary C茅sar Garc铆a. 鈥淭his contrasts with the world鈥檚 practices of domination, exploitation and accumulation.鈥�

Although the global pandemic seems like the priority for this time, the drop in air pollution and the emergence of wildlife in regions under lockdown has demonstrated the interconnectedness of humans and their environment. 鈥淐OVID-19 shines a spotlight on the way that our well-being depends on a healthy relationship with God鈥檚 creation,鈥� said Graber Neufeld.

鈥淭he impacts we are feeling from the pandemic show more clearly similar challenges that will occur if climate change continues unmitigated,鈥� he says. 鈥淗owever, we also see more clearly how we can change to live in better relationship with creation.鈥�

In addition to Graber Neufeld, other members of the task force include:

Europe: Rebecca Froese, PhD candidate in Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany; associate fellow, Research Group Climate Change and Security, University of Hamburg, Germany. Home church: Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona, Germany.

Africa: Sibonokuhle Ncube, national coordinator of compassionate development service, Brethren in Christ Church, Zimbabwe; MDiv (candidate), Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana

Latin America: Juliana Morillo, missionary in Peru and now in Colombia, with the Mennonite Teusaquillo Church in Bogot谩. MSc development and environmental management; Latin America Facilitator for the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network.

Asia: Nindyo Sasongko, PhD (candidate), systematic theology, Fordham University, minister, GKMI Mennonite church, Indonesia.

North America: Jennifer Schrock, MDiv, Chicago Theological Seminary; director, Mennonite Creation Care Network, Goshen, Indiana. 

MCC: Anna Vogt, director of MCC Ottawa, formerly of MCC SEED and Justapaz in Colombia.

More reading

Readers may also be interested in Professor Graber Neufeld’s work on sand dams in Kenya. Read more and visit an

 April 8, 2020 is the fourth annual 鈥� 24 hours in which alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and friends come together to support and celebrate the university we all love. 

草莓社区 alumni often say they “loved their EMU experience!” Maybe it was a professor, a journey of self discovery, making friends for life, cross-cultural study or athletic team experience that they reflect on to this day. LovEMU Giving Day is a way to show that love, and helps the next generation of students have their very own EMU experience.

Do you still tell stories about that one time in nursing clinicals, or writing for the Weather Vane, or competing in cross-county races? With each gift, you can vote for your favorite academic program, athletic team, or student club, and the winner in each category will receive $1,000! In addition to supporting the mission of EMU as a whole, it鈥檚 a great way to pay homage to the campus experiences that mean the most to you.

While LovEMU is a big push for the University Fund, our number one student-centric fundraising priority, you can choose to direct your tax deductible gift to anything you鈥檙e passionate about 鈥� different programs within EMU, a Royals athletics team, or an endowment named for someone you admire, to name a few examples.

Even going beyond direct support, our level of alumni and donor participation demonstrates the quality of community and relationships at EMU. It boosts our rankings in U.S. News & World Report, helps us earn grants from corporations and foundations, and attracts high quality students and faculty. We need all of our alumni and friends, young and not-so-young, to pitch in no matter the size of gift 鈥� we just need you to show up together!

This year鈥檚 challenges

Altogether, generous donors have put up over $50,000 in 鈥減rizes鈥� that we can unlock if we complete certain challenges together. Participation is the key 鈥� so be sure to pick which challenges you want to join in, and tell your friends!

• Six timed challenges will take place throughout the day, for a sum total of over $20,000 in matching gifts if we can meet the thresholds within those time periods. Check the often on April 8 to see how we鈥檙e doing, and make sure your gift goes a long way! There are other incentives besides the financial prizes, too 鈥� did somebody say 鈥淧ie a President?鈥�
• One challenge is already underway 鈥� the LovEMU Early Challenge! If we receive 40 gifts before LovEMU Giving Day, a generous alum will contribute an additional $5,000!
• For The ROYAL Challenge, $10,000 from a generous alum will be unlocked if we get 200 gifts from alumni on April 8.
• You don鈥檛 have to be an alum to join in! In the We Show Up TOGETHER Challenge, if you’re a student, parent, friend, or just a big fan, this one鈥檚 for you! If 150 non-alumni participate in LovEMU, $10,000 will be unlocked!
• To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, a generous alumni couple will match dollar-for-dollar any new gifts to CJP up to $10,000 in the Happy Birthday CJP Challenge.
• For the LEAD TOGETHER Challenge, whoever makes the largest single gift on April 8 of $1,000 or more will get to direct an extra $5,000 (from a generous board member) to the fund of their choice.
• If we receive gifts from all 50 U.S. states, we鈥檒l unlock the 50 State Challenge for another $5,000!

We鈥檒l need all hands on deck to get the word out about LovEMU. You can sign up to be a Social Media Ambassador, post about LovEMU on your social networks using #emugivingday, and tell your friends and family.Plan to show up together on April 8 by giving a gift online, phoning in a pledge at (540) 432-4200 or (800) 368-3383, or emailing us at devoffice@emu.edu.

This award, the highest honor given by the organization, was conferred because of Nafziger鈥檚 work as a conductor, educator, hymnal editor and practitioner of church music, according to a press release.

In addition to a long teaching and conducting career, Nafziger has been active animating congregational singing and song leadership through workshops, writing, and hymn editing. He was music editor of Hymnal: A Worship Book (1992), editor of its accompaniment handbook and assistant to the editor of its two supplements, Sing the Journey (2005) and Sing the Story (2007). These Mennonite collections are well-known for their accessibility and celebration of music from around the world. He co-authored Singing, a Mennonite Voice with Marlene Kropf (Herald Press, 2001).

Speaking of his friend and colleague, hymnwriter Adam Tice said that his support for recent Mennonite hymnal projects 鈥渉as meant the world to us.鈥�

鈥淜en鈥檚 contributions as an educator, editor and scholar have been wide-reaching ecumenically, as well as transformational within the Mennonite Church,” said Benjamin Bergey, music editor of the upcoming Mennonite hymnal and music professor at EMU. “More than that, Ken鈥檚 heart for congregational song has brought so many people closer to God, and he has been one of my most important and influential mentors.鈥�

At EMU, Nafziger led the Chamber Singers and taught courses in conducting, world music, worship and music, and interdisciplinary humanities studies. In 2015, he earned the Circle of Excellence in the Arts Award, 鈥渇or outstanding accomplishments and sustained contributions in the arts, improving the cultural vitality of the Shenandoah Valley.鈥� The award was given by the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Valley Arts Council, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University.

He is artistic director and conductor of Winchester Musica Viva, a chamber choir in Winchester, Virginia.

Founded in 1922, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is an ecumenical organization of people who are passionate about hymns and congregational song. We recognize the importance of the people鈥檚 song in worship and want to assure its vitality in the future.

The Hymn Society community, open to all, is made up of scholars, church musicians, poets, composers, choir directors, choir members, clergy, worship planners, song leaders, music publishers, music educators, and people who love to sing. We believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace. Our mission, therefore, is to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.