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(785) 233-1698
Service
The purpose of the Topeka MVS unit
is to be an extension of Southern Hills Mennonite
Church and to aid the congregation in its outreach
to the community. Topeka agencies with positions available
include the Kansas Rural Center, a sustainable agriculture
organization that promotes long-term health of land
and people; Toddler Town, a daycare serving children
with emotional and behavioral disorders; Cornerstone,
a nonprofit housing development and service organization;
I-Care, Inc., a food pantry and emergency assistance
provider; Doorstep, Inc., an interfaith crisis resource
center; Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, which
promotes justice and peace through education and action
for social change; Marion Clinic, a health care provider
for people with limited finances; Topeka Victim/Offender
Reconciliation Program (VORP). The Southern Hills
MVS committee is eager to find new positions to match
an individual's work desires.
Location
Topeka, the
capital of Kansas, has a population of 120,000. It
is surprisingly hilly, with wide, tree-lined streets,
acres of parks and diverse, historic neighborhoods.
Downtown is home to the state capitol building, the
Topeka
Performing Arts Center and the ExpoCenter (where
the new pro hockey team, the ScareCrows,
play). The unit house is located in an ethnically
and economically mixed neighborhood, just a short
bike ride away from the public library, grocery store,
food co-op and farmers' market, as well as the the
homes of many church families.
Unit
Current MVSers see
the unit's character flexibility as one of its greatest
assets. The unit was founded in 1997, so it is still
developing a distinctive style and tradition of its
own. As a small unit, members value times of honest
group dialogue on what community and simplicity mean.
Southern Hills Mennonite Church supports the unit
formally with an eight-member MVS committee who meet
as needed to help MVSers make decisions concerning
the unit. Informally, families and singles from the
congregation actively involve MVSers in their activities
and freely share their homes, computers, cars, tools
and hospitality with the unit. Members are welcome
to participate in Bible studies, small groups, young
adult potlucks, sports teams and gardening evenings
with church members.
Church
Southern
Hills Mennonite Church is a congregation of about
110 members--a mix of parents, children, single adults
and senior citizens. Currently, a husband-wife co-pastoral
team serves the congregation. The church was founded
by alternative service workers who came to Topeka
during World War II. From these roots, the current
MVS unit was a natural for this service-oriented congregation.
Southern Hills has an informal, open style of worship,
including vocal and instrumental music and drama,
with people of all ages sharing their gifts. MVSers
are always welcome to participate in all aspects of
worship.
Good times
Topeka MVSers
offer this list of "good times with the unit":
- canning 50 quarts of applesauce
- dancing contra and swing in Lawrence (home of
the University of Kansas)
- climbing Burnett's Mound, Topeka's highest point,
to see the night lights
- jamming with church musicians
- hitting the 21st St. roller-coaster hill at 60
mph in Matilda, the zippy unit car
- dipping fondue with the MVS committee
- chatting on the porch with the neighbors
- playing volleyball, softball and basketball with
church and community teams
- visiting the MVS units in Kansas City, Hutchinson,
Wichita and St. Louis
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