Even though ­the calendar year begins in January, I associate new beginnings with the fall. New academic years have begun, and big transitions are happening.

This year, my family is having big transitions of our own. Our oldest son started kindergarten, and we welcomed our second son into our lives this past summer.

It’s been full and good — and challenging at times. As in any transition time, we have been stretched. We are learning as we go to take care of one another in our new circumstances.

Another new beginning: In this issue you will find an article by editor Paul Schrag about the Anabaptist Bible conference in Chicago. ­It launched an initiative by MennoMedia to create an Anabaptist Bible, with commentary from 500 study groups in Anabaptist faith communities.

Five hundred years of history and 500 study groups — talk about changing times and varied contexts!

The Bible project coincides with plans to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025. Much could be said about all the stretching and changing we have done in five centuries — and also about the streams of Anabaptism, such as Amish and Hutterites, that haven’t changed as much.

Just as individual families grow and change, so does our family of faith. I hope you’ll read the sidebar on page 12, where Hyejung Yum talks about how important it is for the Anabaptist Bible to include the voices of diverse ethnic groups.

I am eager to see this project come to fruition and bring together the many voices of Anabaptism today. Varied as we are, our commitments to peace, justice and reconciliation equip us to remain prophetic and relevant.

I hope this project reminds all of us of our collective calling and leads us to explore Scripture and discern its meaning in community.