Equipping No. 98 July/August 2009
a resource packet for equipping Mennonite Church Canada pastors and leaders

Dear Equipping Users:

With this issue, we’re trying something new to give you, the user, another option in how you use the downloadable version of Equipping. We’ve bundled together all the electronic files into one document, as well as continuing to provide most items in separate file form below. If your traditional distribution method is via hard copy, you can now print the entire file in one step, rather than printing a bunch of files individually. If your distribution method is electronic, you can still download and send the individual files to different people as before. Some items, such as brochures, booklets, or other materials not conducive to regular printing or with restricted copyright will continue to be available via hard copy only via our four-times-per-year hard copy editions of Equipping.

We hope you find this added feature helpful. Please do send us your comments and suggestions (office@mennonitechurch.ca) about this or any other item with regards to Equipping. Thank you for your partnership in the ministry of equipping the church.

Download the Large Print Document [1,730 KB PDF file - Help with PDF files] - Large file, best with High Speed Internet

- the Equipping Team

	Miriam Tshimanga is responsible for this issue of Equipping.

In summer many of us will go on a journey. It expands our everyday view and hopefully we feel more relaxed after a holiday. Bethel Mennonite Church (Ont.) embarked on a global journey through the pages of MC Canada’s World of Witness Prayer Directory. This is also a way to get acquainted with our extended church family, to go on an imaginary journey and meet Witness workers in their contexts. You can read about this global journey in one of the Celebration Stories. Dave Bergen also writes in his letter about Vacation and its meaning. Many more resources are available via this edition of Equipping in hard copy or e-file.

If you have questions or comments, please call 1-866-888-6785 (or locally, 888-6781) or email me at . Enjoy!
- Miriam Tshimanga, Equipping Coordinator

PS: Please help ensure that these resources reach the right people. Thank you!

Mennonite Church Canada

• Assembly 2009 in review… – Robert J. Suderman (pastors, leaders, bulletin boards, newsletters)
• Prayer, Notes & News – July/August 2009 (for bulletin announcements, newsletters, worship planners)
  • Download the July/August PDF [PDF]
  • View the Webpages
    • July
    • August
• Philippines 2010 Learning Tour Poster (missions committees, pastors, travelers)

Christian Witness

• Celebration Story July 09: Saskatoon 2009 - New churches blossoming across Canada (bulletin boards, leaders, worship planners, and church newsletters)
• Celebration Story August 09: It’s a small world after all… (bulletin boards, leaders, worship planners, and church newsletters)

Support Services

• Pastors’ Salary Guidelines for 2010 Introduction
• 2010 Pastors’ Salary Guidelines
• Pastors’ Salary Scale Worksheet
• Pastors’ Memo of Understanding

Christian Formation

• Dave Bergen: On vacation and new resources (worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarians etc.)
• Resource Update: July/August (worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarian, etc.)
• On-line only: Children’s Stories (based on lectionary readings): www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/126 (worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarians etc.)
• Special Sunday Worship Resources View and download the entire grouping at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/482 (worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarian, etc.)
  • Sunday School Promotion Sunday, Sept. 13: Passing on the Faith - hard copy enclosed, download at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1089
  • Publishing Sunday, Sept. 13 – see the link at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/339
  • Peace Sunday, Sept. 20 – coming soon, see the link at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1061
  • World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4 – hard copy enclosed, download at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1084
  • Mennonite Heritage Sunday, Oct. 25 – coming soon, see the link at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1060
  • Mission Sunday, Nov. 8 – hard copy enclosed, download at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1075
• What Makes a Mennonite brochure; Order quantities for your congregation or download via the Resource Centre at www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/832 (for worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarian, etc.)
• Many Gifts: Calling and Growing Congregational Leaders, and cover letter [PDF file] - Karen Martens Zimmerly and Elsie Hannah Ruth Rempel; Request more copies or download via www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1085 (for worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarian, etc.)
• The Parish Paper (for worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, librarian, etc.)
  • July 2009 [PDF file]: “Lay Testimonials Strengthen Financial Giving!”
  • August 2009 [PDF file]: “Shepherding Congregations Through Grief Storms”

Extending our faith...

• Faith and Life Resources (for worship planners, teachers, pastors, education committees, etc.) – Hard Copy Only
  • Fall 2009 Order Form
  • Transforming Lives
  • New from Mennonite Publishing Network

Note about Resources

All new resources are being added to the Resource Centre Catalogue, where you can use keyword searches to find the resource you need.

Note about PDF documents:

Trouble cutting & pasting from Acrobat PDF files? The newest version of Adobe Reader lets you select the exact amount of text you want, even from documents that contain columns (older versions of Reader selected text line by line across all columns – a process that would jumble text and challenge even the most patient user). Download the latest FREE version of Adobe Reader with this link.

• To select text from a PDF document, choose the “I” beam Select Text tool from the Adobe Reader tool bar at the top of the screen, and highlight the text you want to copy from the document. Copy it. Then paste it into your bulletin or other document.
• To select images from a PDF document, choose the "Select Image" tool from the Adobe Reader tool bar at the top of the screen, and highlight the image you want to copy from the document. Copy it. Then paste it into your bulletin or other document.