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July 16
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A first step toward healing
As prayers began, a hush fell over the crowd and numerous people
pointed to the sky. The eagle, the traditional aboriginal symbol
for the Great spirit, hovered overhead. Surely it was a clear sign
of God’s presence and blessing as the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) launch in Winnipeg drew to a close on Sat., June
19.
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Sharing the pain of the IRS legacy
Delegates to Mennonite Church Canada Assembly 2010 have expressed their support of Indian Residential School (IRS) survivors. On July 2, 2010, they unanimously passed a resolution confessing the complicity of Mennonites “in the failing of the Christian Church” and its role in the residential school, and acknowledging “that destructive individual attitudes, such as paternalism, racism, and superiority are still present among us.”
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Announcing an Engagement
“Now that you’re engaged, when is the wedding?” That was the comment received by incoming Executive Secretary of Church Engagement, Norm Dyck, after by-law changes were approved on Wednesday to make way for the new council.
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Relationships at the heart of mission
For Mennonite Church Canada, the old days of “doing mission” are over. Relationships form communities of faith and are at the heart of building a global church, one of Mennonite Church Canada’s core priorities. But building the global church by developing relationships also touches on the remaining two priorities; forming a people of God and growing leaders for the church.
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Assembly theme music
When the Worship Committee for Assembly 2010 couldn’t find a song that captured the essence of the theme, Reclaiming Jesus™ -Gladly Wear the Name, Chad Miller and Doug Klassen teamed up to write one aptly named Reclaim the Name.
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Quilting for art and prayer
For Bev Patkau, quilting is a labour of love, fabric and thread a form of expression. Patkau has several quilts on display at the Mennonite Church Canada art exhibit – this year entitled Art for Peace.
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Bible Q&A
After leading three study sessions on the Assembly Bible theme text, Colossians 3:15-17, General Secretary Robert J. Suderman found himself on the “hot seat.” He faced questions from three eager Assembly “students” in a session facilitated by David Beltzer, Instructor of Communications and Media at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU).
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Emotional Intelligence
Success of pastoral ministry grows through healthy relationships and according to Marianne Mellinger, healthy relationships depend upon keen emotional intelligence.
Mellinger, who is the Supervisor of Graduate Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, shared her insights with pastors who gathered at First Mennonite Church in Calgary for the annual Mennonite Church Canada Ministers Conference on June 29.
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Multicultural Mennonites
Once upon a time, Mennonite congregations in Canada could largely define themselves by German or Swiss Mennonite heritage, but no more. Our congregations represent an increasing variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and currently, 49 of them worship in 19 languages other than English or German including; Amharic (Ethiopian & Eritrean), Cantonese, Chin, Hmong, Japanese, Karan, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Spanish, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese.
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Frustrated in doing good?
Canada’s tax rules and even a congregation’s own bylaws and constitution can create obstacles for charitable organizations who want to do good but experience frustration in trying to follow all the rules. The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) states that, a Canadian registered charity, regardless of the source of the income, must use these funds for charitable purposes only.
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Mennonite Women Canada luncheon
“For me, this one sentence says what I value in my women’s group. It’s a value that goes beyond generations.” Erna Neufeldt, out-going chair for Mennonite Women Canada, welcomed women to the luncheon with Nouwen’s words and her own obvious deep connection to Mennonite Women Canada.
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Is Sunday School dying?
That’s a question being asked by a growing number of Mennonite churches today as they deal with declining enrolment, sporadic attendance and the challenge of finding teachers. It’s a question facing other churches, too, as Debra Bendis discovered.
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Herald Press e-books now available
There’s a naked Anabaptist on Kindle! Not only that, so are other Herald Press books such as Emma, Isaiah and Ruth, Jonah and Esther. Altogether, 33 top-selling books from Herald Press are available on Amazon's electronic book reader, including The Naked Anabaptist. Twenty-three other titles are in the process of being converted.
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General Secretary’s farewell dinner
A retirement dinner for Mennonite Church Canada General Secretary Robert J. Suderman (Jack) was held at Ambrose University College in Calgary on Monday, June 28, 2010 prior to the opening of Assembly 2010. With reflections and humour, friends, family and co-workers honoured the Sudermans for their deep commitment to the church.
June 28 - July 2
June 25
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Relationships aid relief
Although Mennonite Church Canada does not operate as a relief organization,
its priority of forming a global church has nurtured relationships
that played a vital role in bringing aid to Chile following a devastating
series of earthquakes that began on February 27, 2010.
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An ARC for Mennonite Church
Canada
Mennonite
Church Canada has an ARC to call their own – the Anabaptist
Resource Consortium (ARC) that is! Officially launched on June
10, 2010 as part of Mennonite Church Canada’s
Resource Center, the Consortium combines access to collections from Columbia
Bible College, Mennonite & Brethren in Christ, Mennonite Church Eastern
Canada as well as Mennonite Church Canada
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Bulletins enhance worship
For many people, the church bulletin is more than just a place to
find the service order and community news - it’s a way
to enhance worship.
June 18
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Mennonite Disaster Service
Response to the Oil Spill
As oil continues to gush into the Gulf waters, MDS friends, partners, and clients
in the Gulf are asking for our prayers and support. Residents are grieving, saying, "This
is our life and our culture—it is also the only way of life we know; what
will we do if it is lost?"
June 11
June 7
May 28
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Remembering God’s
Future: Youth Assembly 2011
As delegates begin to register for Mennonite Church Canada Assembly 2010, planners
for Youth Assembly 2011 are remembering the future – a reference to the
Assembly’s theme text which calls on Christians to envision God’s
future of a city where all people will live in harmony.
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New Managing Curriculum
Editor appointed
Mary Ann Weber of Goshen, Indiana has been appointed Managing Curriculum Editor
for Mennonite Publishing Network.
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Staff changes at Mennonite
Publishing Network
The retirement this summer of Eleanor Snyder, Editorial Director for Faith & Life
Resources, has prompted some changes at Mennonite Publishing Network.
May 20
May 1 - 14
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The Golden Rule: World religions
united by common goal
The “Golden Rule” is familiar to the sacred teachings of all of the
world’s major religious faiths, and that idea will draw together Interfaith
Leaders in the G8 Nations for World Religions Summit 2010 in Winnipeg, Man. from
June 21-23. Over 50 leaders of the world’s major religious faiths, including
Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Baha’i, Hindu, Sikh and Christian are expected
to attend.
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Scripture text to live
by
For Doug Klassen, Colossians 3:12-17 describes in a nutshell
what it means to be a Christian. It is a passage of personal
significance to him. “You want to know how to live as a
Christian? Here it is. For a grasp on the Christian ethic, this
is it,” says Klassen,
Senior Pastor of Foothills Mennonite Church in Calgary. “This
text is deeply 'rooted' in me. It is how I choose to live everyday.
When I get off track, it resets/recalibrates me to what I what I
am looking to do in life.”
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UK’s Anabaptist influenced
Arts Festival coming to North America
U2, Bruce Cockburn, the Emerging Church Movement and Mennonites
share one thing in common: each has been present, active and influential
at the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival. Established in 1974,
it presently draws over 20,000 people each year to the Cheltenham
Racecourse in Western England.
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On reading Martha and Doris
On a recent vacation I browsed through several copies of Martha Stewart’s “Living” magazine
from the library. Each issue was a feast of gorgeous photographs
and spectacular ideas. Martha’s magazines are seductive. As I
flipped through them, I dreamt of my friends’ accolades as I
placed perfectly plated and garnished meals before them, the reputation
I would earn for being “the hostess with the mostest”.
April 17 - 30
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“Good fortune” in
Macau
The Masters Hotel in Macau has a sign shaped like a cross, but
the hotel is known to charge service fees for “escorts” and
the text, translated from Chinese, reads “good fortune.” The
irony of that sign embodies the contrasts of Macau, a small city
state whose lavishly displayed wealth is dependant upon games
of chance and the bad luck of others.
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A theology for life
Gareth Brandt, the Professor of Practical Theology at Columbia Bible College
says that the courses he teaches, from Faith Formation and Spirituality to
Psalms, are all about the human relationship with God. He also says that he
is troubled by his participation in a selfish consumer-based system in which
it is difficult to integrate the theology he teaches into all aspects of his
own life.
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Mother-daughter
team helps recover lost art of food preservation
Not that long ago, many people knew how to preserve food. Information
about canning, freezing and drying was passed down from generation
to generation. But that’s not the case today say Susanna
Meyer and Mary Clemens Meyer, co-authors of the new Herald Press
book Saving The Seasons:
How To Can, Freeze, or Dry Almost Anything.
April 2 - 16
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Treaties: Covenants under
God
Adrian Jacobs agrees with the sentiment displayed on billboards and advertisements
across Canada. “We are all Treaty people,” he says. “When the
Treaties were negotiated, they bestowed rights and responsibilities on both First
Nations and Euro-Canadian settlers.”
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“Call to Me and I
will answer you”
Leaving home to attend university exposed Frew Zinna to new attitudes
and lifestyles that pulled him away from his family’s legacy
of faith, but the words of Jeremiah 33:3 called him back to Christ
and into ministry. Most Ethiopians are Orthodox Christians or
Muslims, but Frew grew up in a family that had been rooted in
Evangelical Christian faith for three generations. His father
taught in a Mennonite school started by the missionaries.
April 7
March 20 - April 1:
-
Chances are
Billboards. Radio and television. The kiosk in your local grocery store or shopping
mall. Want to help your local hospital raise money? Buy a lottery ticket. Your
daughter’s basketball team needs money for new jerseys? Join the game
pool. Bored? Check out live entertainment at the casino – and while you’re
there drop some money into a video lottery terminal (VLT) or try your hand
at Blackjack. If you want to be discreet, check out poker.com.
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On the road to Emmaus
In Luke 24, the disciples on the road to Emmaus were confused and
discouraged. They had trouble recognizing Jesus. On March 4th, 2010,
this disciple was on the road to Emmaus as part of a learning tour
in the Holy Land. I was also confused and discouraged by the complexities
of the deep fear, pain and suffering that is the story of this land
and its peoples.
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Homecoming of faith
Pastor Jonathan Yin, recently ordained for ministry, called his encounter
with Anabaptist theology more than a decade ago a “homecoming
of faith.” While pastoring in Beijing, a fellow Chinese pastor
in Sichuan told Yin to “check out these Mennonites, I think you
could get excited about what they are teaching.”
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Gather ‘Round starts
second four-year cycle
It’s back to the beginning for Gather ‘Round,
the Bible-based curriculum for children and youth produced by
Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN). The curriculum, which is
co-published with Brethren Press, will return to the book of
Genesis this fall after completing its first four-year cycle
through the Bible.
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What does a naked Anabaptist
look like?
What does a naked Anabaptist look like? That’s what Stuart
Murray wanted to know. “Anabaptism has been around for
almost 500 years, and for much of that time it has been clothed
in Mennonite, Hutterite and
Amish traditions and culture,” says Murray, who helps direct
the Anabaptist Network in Great Britain and Ireland.
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New MPN Study Shelf helps
Sunday School classes, small groups
When authors James Krabill and David W. Shenk wrote Jesus
Matters: Good News for the 21st Century, they were hoping it
might spark intergenerational discussions about the role and
place of Jesus in people’s lives today. And what better
place to do that than in church? That’s what happened at
Mountville, Pa. Mennonite Church. The church, located about 15
minutes west of Lancaster, used the Herald Press book in an adult
education class.
Breaking News: March 18
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Gene Stoltzfus: Celebrating
a life, 1940-2010
Mourners celebrated the life of Gene Stoltzfus, founding director
of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), at a funeral service on
Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Knox United Church in Emo, Ontario.
Stoltzfus died on March 10, 2010 while riding his motor-assisted
bicycle.
March 6 - 19:
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Publishing in a digital
age
For Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN), the ministry of publishing
is growing ever more complex. The mission for the publisher of
Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA remains the
same – providing materials to equip
the church to experience and share the gospel of Jesus Christ from
an Anabaptist perspective. But coping with the impact of the internet
and readily available free digital media is changing the face of
business. The economic downturn of 2009 has compounded that challenge.
-
Calgary Mennonite Inter-ministerial
Association calls for peaceful response to local white supremacist
activity
In the wake of violent demonstrations in previous years on March
21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, Calgary
church leaders are calling for peaceful responses to the rise
in white supremacist activity in the city. The Joint Statement
of the Calgary Mennonite Churches Concerning White Supremacist
Activity in Calgary issued today calls on Calgarians to “reject
publicly and completely the doctrine of racial supremacy and
hate” while affirming a belief in non-violence on both
the part of white supremacists and anti-racist protestors.
-
Planting
churches not just about numbers
In 1992, churches in Great Britain launched a plan to plant 20,000
new churches by 2000. There was some success; several hundred
new churches did result. But it was not the thousands that were
hoped for.
Breaking News: March 18
-
Funeral for Gene Stoltzfus,
CPT founding director
The small town of Emo, Ont., population 1100, is expected to be flooded with
family, friends, and colleagues on March 18, 2010 as they celebrate the life
of Gene Stoltzfus, founding director of Christian Peacemaker Teams.
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Canada/Colombia Free Trade
Bill C-33
Pray for the people of Colombia and take action for them by raising your concerns
about Bill C-33 and its potential impact.
February 20 - March 5
-
News Flash: Two Mennonite
pastors report from Chile
Mennonite Church Canada today received news that Pastor Carlos Gallardo and his
wife Monica Parada survived the earthquake. The couple’s newly built home
on the coast survived with little damage.
-
Alternative Service website
inspires student
A website sharing the story of Conscientious Objectors (COs) in World
War II helped to inspired Abby Landon to re-examine her own beliefs,
and connect with her family’s Mennonite faith heritage.
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Naked Anabaptist on Facebook
There’s a Naked Anabaptist on Facebook! No, it’s not
what you might be thinking—nobody is nude. At least, not literally,
although over 100 people have joined the Naked Anabaptist group on
the social media site to metaphorically explore what it means to
strip down to the bare essentials of the Anabaptist faith.
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Special assignment in Vietnam
Nhien Pham has been appointed to a Mennonite Church Canada Witness Special Assignment
for ministry in Vietnam. Nhien and his wife, Lien, reside in Surrey,
B.C. where he continues to serve as pastor of the Vietnamese fellowships
at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver and another in Abbotsford.
Breaking News: March 2
February 4 - 19
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Assembly 2010: Reclaiming
Jesus
From June 29 to July 3, delegates from across the country will meet at Ambrose
University College in Calgary, Alta. for Mennonite Church Canada’s Assembly
2010, Reclaiming Jesus™: Gladly wear the Name.
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Assembly 2010 introduces
Youth Ambassador option
In 2010 for the first time ever, the Mennonite Church Canada
Annual Assembly will include Youth Ambassadors as participants
in delegate sessions. “Youth are an integral part of the
church,” says Anna
Rehan, Youth Ministries Facilitator for Mennonite Church Canada. “We
need to hear their voices...
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Mennonite
Church Canada going greener
The denominational offices of Mennonite Church Canada are continuing efforts
to “go green.” With the help of a grant from Manitoba Hydro,
energy efficient lighting has been installed in all offices. Volunteer electrician
Vern Janzen took preliminary readings of the new installations that suggest a
19% reduction in electricity use.
-
Resource Centre catching
on
Borrow, purchase, download, link. The mantra of Mennonite Church
Canada’s Resource Centre seems to be catching on. For the
past three years, the Resource Centre has kept track of those
using their electronic services. Since 2007, downloading
has almost quadrupled; reaching over 100,000 items downloaded this
last year. During the same time, book and DVD loan circulation
has increased by 15%.
January 23 - February 4
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Mennonite Men appoints
new coordinator
Mennonite Men is pleased to announce the appointment of Don A. Yoder, Harrisonburg,
Va., as the new coordinator of Mennonite Men. Yoder will begin June 1.
January 9 - 22
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The peace we have
There are no soldiers on the street corners, no armed guards
in front of businesses, and people are not afraid to make direct
eye contact when greeting one another. There is little fear of
theft or vandalism. This picture of peaceful living is normal
for residents of Altona, Man. – but not for Cecilia and
Genaro Gonzales of the
Monte Santo Mennonite Church in Madrid, Colombia, who visited their
sister congregation, Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, in October,
2009.
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Grafting tradition
Cecilia and Genaro Gonzales say they have discovered a treasure in
the Mennonite Church in Canada – the treasure of tradition. The
pastor couple visited Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church in October
2009 as representatives of Monte Santo Mennonite Church in Madrid,
Colombia. The congregations share a sister church relationship that
has given each a clearer sense of what it means to be part of a larger
theological family.
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Korean Anabaptist Fellowship
born in California
From the seeds of shared stories, the Korean Anabaptist Fellowship
was born. From November 19-21, 2009, Korean Anabaptist pastors
and leaders met together to share stories and ideas from their
ministry.
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Getting to know Menno
If there is one person Mennonites should know a lot about, it
should be Menno Simons – the 16th century Anabaptist leader
who gave their church its name. Myron Augsburger worries that
the opposite is true.
- “Dark Night” leads
to stronger faith
Have you ever felt abandoned by God? You pray, go to church
and read the Bible, but God seems so far away. What’s going
on? What’s happening, says Daniel Schrock, is the “dark
night.”
Breaking News, January 20, 2010
- January 20, 2010:
Relief kits, comforters, sheets needed in Haiti
In addition to donations of money, Mennonite Central Committee
(MCC) is asking the public to supply 20,000 relief kits, 10,000
heavy comforters and 10,000 sheets to be sent to Haitian earthquake
survivors. The supplies will help relieve the discomfort and
suffering of Haitians who are sleeping on streets and in open
areas because their homes are destroyed or because they don’t
trust the safety of the buildings that remain.
Breaking News, January 13, 2010
- January 13, 2010 : Support for Haiti earthquake Victims
Although
Mennonite Church Canada presently has no direct ministry involvement
in Haiti, the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake evokes much compassion
in our congregations for this already fragile country. Mennonite Church
Canada enjoys a strong partnership with its relief and development
agency, Mennonite Central Committee. Relief efforts are already being
coordinated by Mennonite Central Committee. Below is a brief update
from them, along with instructions on how readers can help.
December 19, 2009- January 8, 2010
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Live for peace billboards
capture media attention
Six Calgary Mennonite churches countered the assault of consumer-driven
ads over the 2009 holiday season with their Live for Peace campaign
offering simple messages on billboards and C-Train posters. Slogans
such as “Give your conscience a workout” and “Imagine
life without war” caught the attention of CBC , CTV and CTS – a
local Christian television outlet.
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Live for Peace Toques
Janet Plenert and Dave Bergen, Mennonite Church Canada staff, model the latest
in peaceful winter fashion. A limited quantity of the Live for Peace toques
are available to anyone planning to commit an act of peace by wearing the toque
in public. Visit www.liveforpeace.org
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Peter Dyck Gets “Home
Before Dark”
“Lord, let me get home before dark.” That was the
prayer of Peter Dyck, asking God to let him die before age robbed
him of his ability to be kind, trusting, loving and generous.
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Its gates will never be
shut
“Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will
be no night there…nothing unclean will enter it” (Rev.
21:25-7). Nanjing is a city of walls. Julie
and I visited this ancient former Chinese capital in July, before
making our recent move to Dazhou. One can still walk on
portions of the old wall that zigzags around the central city. Built
in the late 1300s, it is the longest city wall in the world.
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Community harvest
We heard the melodic balaphone from several kilometres away. The traditional
wooden xylophone led us to a worksite where a line of 15 young men flayed a huge
pile of dried grasses with long, thin sticks. They were beating fonio, a traditional
staple grain, in time to the music and in competition with each other. Straw
and fonio seeds clung to their sweat-covered skin.
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Under Construction: New
book explores male spirituality
When it comes to male spirituality, men seem to have only two
choices for models. “They are told to be strong, take-charge
and be independent, like warriors, or silent and alone, like
meditating monks,” says
Gareth Brandt, author of the new Herald Press book Under Construction:
Reframing Men’s Spirituality. “Being aggressive or passive
seems to be the only options out there.”
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Avoiding Affluenza
Last year, many North Americans worried about getting H1N1 influenza.
Fewer, however, worried about catching a different kind of virus—affluenza.
That worries Hugo and Doreen Neufeld, authors of Affluenza
Interrupted: Stories of Hope from the Suburbs (Millrise Publishing),
a new book available through Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN).
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“Timeless” message
about war and peace
John Howard Yoder is one of the best-known Mennonite thinkers on peace. But before
Yoder there was Guy F. Hershberger, whose reflections on war, peace and violence
not only helped Mennonites navigate perilous times in the early-to mid-20th century,
but also laid the foundation for Yoder's groundbreaking work.
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