We are sad to report that on March 10th, Christian Peacemaker Team co-Founder Gene Stoltzfus passed away. He was headed out on his bicycle on the first spring day of the year when less than a kilometer from home in Ft. Frances, ON, his heart stopped. Gene (left) was a friend and esteemed colleague in the work of peacemaking; learn more about his life and witness at www.cpt.org. ¡Presente!

 Also tough was news that Murphy Davis of The Open Door Community had to begin chemo again this month. Friend Joyce Hollyday, who is working with Murphy on her memoirs, wrote: “When she was facing a round of this type of chemo before, Murphy’s doctor told her that, as someone who has suffered through the strongest chemotherapy ever given to a human being, she should find this type ‘a walk in the park.’ In the middle of some particularly wretched days, she wondered exactly what park the doctor had in mind. We decided it must have been Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, with its civil rights history of snarling dogs and water hoses.” Please pray for Murphy and husband Eduard, who in the midst of this difficult news was trying to celebrate his 70th birthday. Strength to them both (pictured right at lower middle with January Institute participants)!

On a happier note, BCM board Chair Rick Kidd’s son Chris was married this month—the ceremony included several old nuptial rituals, including sawing a log (below right)! March continued the parade of guests in Oak View. They included: Bill Kellermann of Word and World and Denise Griebler, a UCC minister from Chicago; Elaine’s niece Jayne Regier; Canadian Mennonite friends Josie and Isaac Winterfeld; and Shady Hakim. The new Rose of the Desert Catholic Worker house has been opened in Tucson, AZ by friends John Heid and Leslie Klusmire. They are looking for support for their work with immigrants and disarmament witness; more information at www.roseofthedesert.org.

We continue to engage with younger “emergent church” leaders. Ched was interviewed this month on “The Iconocast”; you can hear the podcast at www.jesusmanifesto.com/2010/03/the-iconocast-episode-2/. He and Elaine traveled to San Francisco to lead a retreat for Church of the Sojourners, which also included preaching at First Baptist Church in Berkeley at the invitation of friends Laura and Norman Gottwald. We marched in the Palm Sunday Peace Parade with our Pasadena Mennonite Church friends, and enjoyed a lovely concert by cellist Eugene Friesen (who did a benefit for BCM 6 years ago).

Finally, this spring has been a riot of stunning native wildflowers in our yard. We are planting fruit trees, harvesting lettuce, onions, cilantro and peas, and are deeply grateful for life. We wish you a blessed Eastertide!