(Mennonite Central Committee Central States/Mennonite Church USA) – Lawrence and Betty Hart will be honored at a celebration dinner on Oct. 8, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. CDT for their faithfulness in their work with Mennonite Indian Leaders Council (GC), Native Mennonite Ministries of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee.
Those who know Lawrence and Betty Hart are invited to join the celebration at the Frisco Center (101 S. 4th St.) in Clinton, Oklahoma. Cheryl Bear from the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation Community in northern British Columbia will perform. Howard Zehr will also be attending and will speak on the work Lawrence and he did together in the repatriation of Cheyenne remains that were brought back to Clinton, Oklahoma, to be buried. This was part of MCC’s work with the Return to the Earth project. There will be many others sharing their stories about Lawrence and Betty.
Erica Littlewolf, Northern Cheyenne and coordinator with MCC Central States’ Indigenous Visioning Circle, shares: “I remember meeting Lawrence and hearing my dad and him speak Cheyenne together. I was then asked to be a part of the Return to the Earth work. It was great to be taught by a Cheyenne elder within a Mennonite context. I felt at home whenever Lawrence was in the room, and valued everything he shared. I learned a lot about myself and my history through his words.”
Do you have stories like this to share, but are unable to attend the event in Clinton? Please send well wishes to Lawrence and Betty by email to irisdh@mennoniteusa.org or by mail to MCC Central States, PO Box 235, North Newton, KS 67117, attention to Erica Littlewolf.
To register and find hotel information for this celebration event please go to: www.mennoniteusa.org/hartbanquet.
Registration deadline is Oct. 1, 2016.
Before the event, at the same location, Native Mennonite Ministries will hold their meeting from 9 a.m. to noon.
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