The basic premise for the existence of Open Circle is that
prisoners are being visited and being supported
in their return to our communities.

Promoting Friendships and Restorative Justice

In Touch

Autumn 2007
In this issue:
Picnic in review
Obituary of Addison Klassen
Visitation program update /Friendship, Pass it on
Announcements:

Autumn 2007 Picnic in Review

Hats off to Murray and Don for pulling together another excellent “Picnic in the Park!” It was wonderful to catch up with old Open Circle friends, and to meet some new ones, even a few furry four-footed ones! With a cheery sun looking on (and a persistent breeze blowing through!), we enjoyed chatting, playing and, of course, eating!

Volunteers provided a delicious array of salads, casseroles, and desserts, and even some chicken heated on the camp fire! The trademark “chewable” campers’ coffee also made a come-back!

It was a great afternoon to toss a football, play some tennis, or dig in the sand. A highlight for the kids was the two “huge sandboxes” (sometimes mistaken for horseshoe pits by grown-ups). The fun continued at home as we emptied pockets and washed sand out of ears, hair, etc. The kids very much enjoyed chatting and playing with all the “uncles”. Thanks to all of you for taking time with them!

Already we are looking forward to next year’s picnic! In the meantime, there are many other great Open Circle events to take part in!

Submitted by Agatha Lepp, Open Circle volunteer. Agatha attended the picnic with her two young children.

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OBITUARY OF ADDISON KLASSEN

Addison Klassen, a long-time volunteer with Open Circle and many other MCC-related organizations, passed away on Saturday, September 1. At a memorial service held on Thursday, September 6 many of the qualities that made Addison so special were highlighted by family and friends.

Among some of the traits that were alluded to were his humility, his love of children and the forgotten of society, his encouragement of others, his genuineness, his sense of humour, and his dogged pursuit of justice for the marginalized.

Examples referred to were the founding of El Dad Ranch for the rehabilitation for young men in trouble with the law, and spending a year in the Justice Van travelling coast to coast preaching Restorative Justice. Shortly after that Addison and Gerda spent three years in St John’s Newfoundland giving leadership to the development of a local prison visitation program and helping the local community understand and make restorative justice practical. Most recently they provided leadership in establishing the FASD program.

Addison was a man who will long be remembered for the genuine nature of his faith and his commitment to following Jesus in very practical ways. His life was well lived and is an example of a favourite text found in Micah 6:8. “He has told you, o mortal what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”

WE ARE MOVING…
Sometime during the month of November 2007 the Open Circle office will be relocating to the 3rd floor of 1200 Portage Ave. We will provide you with a complete address and a new phone # before the move is completed.

ALL TOGETHER NOW…
We wish to take this opportunity to express our thanks to the many of you who have taken the opportunity to participate with us in the adventure of “Open Circle”. In our partnership we are participating in something that Jesus anticipated we would be doing. It is a privilege to be involved in Open Circle together with all of you.

YOU NEED TO KNOW…
Don is currently on vacation and will be back on October 9, 2007

A note from Reagan's diary after his near-assassination in March 1981:
But I realized I could not ask for God's help while at the same time I had felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn't that the meaning of the lost sheep?  We are all God's children and therefore equally loved by him.

Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, was buried in a casket made by Richard Ligett, a convicted murderer in the Louisiana State Penitentiary.  Made of birch plywood with a cross on the top and brass handles on the sides, and lined with a fabric-covered foam mattress, the casket cost a mere $215.  Ligett was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and found God while in prison.  He often made caskets for other prisoners.  He died of cancer in March and was buried in one of the caskets he made.

Living the Truth

Murray Barkman, Director of Open Circle

My two-and-a-half year old granddaughter recently said to her grandmother, “I’m right and you’re wrong.” A typical remark for someone her age. Sad to say it’s also typical of how we so often live our lives - we just don’t feel quite as free to express it in those words. But in her case, the amazing thing is that her grandma is able to reason with her, to engage her in a dialogue about what she is so sure of. Grandma may agree that she is right, however she may show that she is wrong. And by entering into honest dialogue, Grandma is taking the risk that in fact she is the one that is wrong. Scripture itself declares that there are times when “a little child may lead them.”

We may think the other’s views are childish, but does that make them wrong? Perhaps our perception that something is wrong or right is based on our experience. Our arguments may be opinions accumulated in our life’s experiences. We ought not to argue or disagree based on our experiences. When I was in my teens, a cousin of mine, who later became a lawyer, commented that opinions could not be subjected to argument. They were not true or false.

This is likely nowhere more true then when we are discussing things spiritual. Many of course would contend that scripture is not an opinion but is in fact truth or that “we are right and you are wrong”. It is important for us to believe what we believe firmly. If we are sure about our beliefs then we will be secure enough to engage in honest dialogue with those who have another opinion. It is good to discuss our differences, but it is however unlikely that anyone will ever win an argument over whose faith is right and whose is wrong. It is my contention (read “opinion”) that the truth of our claim is determined by how we and others experience it. For most of us, God looks like how he has been modeled for us by significant people in our lives. That’s when I think of Addison Klassen, an Open Circle volunteer visitor who passed away on September 1, 2007. Addison didn’t need to argue about the rightness or wrongness of his faith. He lived it. Through Addison, many people came to see God as a God of love and justice.

I have learned much from him. In my opinion Addison had it right.

Responses to the In Touch are always welcomed!


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OUTSIDE: Coffee House

October 21
November 18
2:00 – 5:00 pm
418 Aberdeen Ave

Remember Our Coffee Houses are routinely held on the 3rd Sunday of every month unless of course we let you know of changes at least one month in advance. We usually meet at 418 Aberdeen Ave. between 2 and 5 pm.

We encourage Open Circle participants to note these dates on your calendar and remember your presence is always appreciated. (We were pleased to welcome four men to our most recent Coffee House on ETA’s from Rockwood.)

A number of Open Circle volunteers have banded together and planned some special events in addition to our regular Sunday afternoon Coffee Houses. In November, December, January and February we will be adding a number of special events creating an opportunity for our participants to gather, to interact in the context of some planned social activities.
This type of activity has been requested for some time and we believe will meet a need. We will keep you posted as to dates and activities

INSIDE:

October 25, 2007

Stony Mountain
6:30 – 9:00 pm
NOTE: Date to be confirmed.

October 18, 2007

Rockwood
6:45 – 9:00 pm
The night of our regular group visit.
Remember, if possible, to make the third Thursday of
every month one of your regular visits.

In Touch is published monthly by Open Circle
Director: Murray Barkman
In Touch Editor: Agatha Lepp
583 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 1Z7
Phone: (204) 772-5317 Fax: (204) 774-2345
e-mail: opencircle at mts.net

A program of