Weekly News
Welcome! Here you will find all the news and events that your congregation will need for the week - MCEC in Prayer, Event Highlights, Mennonite Church Canada Updates, Announcements. Check out the hot buttons to ministry opportunities and pastoral transitions. Administrative Assistants: make sure to see the Bulletin Cut and Paste below. Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates. New items will begin to appear on Monday and the newsletter will come to your inbox on Wednesday.
MCEC in Prayer
- Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we are praying for St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. Mark Diller Harder, Janet Bauman and Kandace Boos provides pastoral leadership for community. Pray for this multi-generational anabaptist congregations that meets in the village of St. Jacobs.
- Pray for Laura Rodriguez-Reyes as she prepares to represent MCEC at the MWC Global Youth Summit in Germany and Anabaptist 500 celebrations in Switzerland. Pray for eyes to see with peace and justice, good health and clarity of purpose as she steps into these gatherings. Pray that she might carry with her the voices of many and return with new wisdom, friendships and renewed strength.
- God, you call us into partnership with the Earth, entrusting us with your intricate and precious creation. Grant us wisdom to care without harm, and eyes to see the gifts in wild berries, in soil, and in the smallest of creatures. Teach us gratitude for the ways the Earth sustains us, and fill us with hope. Taken from a longer prayer by Sara DeWeerd.
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God of peace and compassion, we give thanks for the life and witness of Pope Francis—a shepherd who walked humbly with the poor and modeled the way of Jesus. Comfort those who grieve and inspire us to live with the same courage, mercy and hope. May we, like him, trust in your ever-present love and live as instruments of your peace.
Mennonite Church Canada
Registrations are officially open.
Register now for MC Canada Gathering 2025. Three tracks to choose from: Gathering 2025 (the main Gathering), U30 Gathering 2025 (part of the main Gathering with unique elements for young adults), and Youth Gathering 2025 (a unique event designed specifically for youth - Grades 6-12). There is also a separate registration for those who are only participating in one of the Pre-Gathering events.
Check out this short, thought-provoking video invitation from Gathering 2025 speaker, César García (General Secretary, MWC). He gives us a glimpse into what he’s preparing to share with the Nationwide Church at this year’s Gathering.
International Witness
In Memory of Susan Martens Kehler
Faithful saint and dear sister in Christ, Susan Martens Kehler (Emmanuel Mennonite Church, MCBC), has passed into the presence of our Lord and Saviour April 9, 2025, at the age of 97. Read more: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/article/45408
Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:
Indigenous Relations
Every Day is Earth Day for Indigenous Peoples!
Lift up in prayer the Indigenous movements and communities protecting and healing God's creation. Hold in the Light the grandmothers and knowledge keepers who are helping their communities reconnect with the Land, renewing identity and hope.
Climate Action
ERG Celebration and Opening of 2025 Applications.
$3000 towards a project that saves your congregation money and reduces emissions? Of course! Join us on April 23 7pm (CDT) to hear from congregations that received the 2024 Emissions Reduction Grant and to learn how you can get in on the action in 2025! Email Sandy Plett (splett@mennonitechurch.ca) to get a zoom link!
CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre
Share these resources in your newsletters, bulletins and social media posts!
Register for Online Book Launch.
We’re thrilled to have both Natalie Frisk (author of A Light to Share) and Aimee Reid (author of Stitched Together) for a Zoom book launch. The authors were commissioned for this Anabaptism at 500 commemoration year. Register to receive the Zoom link - https://forms.gle/HAH3mgP1iLVkb4bLA
Earth Month 2025
Statement on Lectionary Readings for Holy Week and Easter
The Consultation on Common Texts - the ecumenical body responsible for the Revised Common Lectionary - now proposes alternate readings for the season of Easter and the time after Pentecost to address anti-Judaism. Read the full report: https://www.commonword.ca/go/4228.
A short guide to help you celebrate Earth Month 2025 (April), including worship themes, stewardship questions, and other prompts – https://www.commonword.ca/go/4212
New Series from CMU Press. The Lyrik Poetry Series offers a generous and very affordable selection of the best work, past and present, by Canada’s foremost Mennonite poets. The Lyrik volumes present a range of poems from across each poet’s career, the selections determined in conversation with the poets themselves.
Church Year Resources
Materials to buy, borrow or access online. Includes Together in Worship resources.
Prone to Wander. The 2025 Lenten devotional from MennoMedia. Includes a worship guide, small group/study guide, and retreat guide. Borrow or buy.
Bulletin Cut and Paste
Administrators: Thank you for sharing the MCEC story with your congregations. Please continue offering valuable feedback on how we can tailor announcements to empower you in your ministry.
Prayers
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- Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we are praying for St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. Mark Diller Harder, Janet Bauman and Kandace Boos provides pastoral leadership for community. Pray for this multi-generational anabaptist congregations that meets in the village of St. Jacobs.
- Pray for Laura Rodriguez-Reyes as she prepares to represent MCEC at the MWC Global Youth Summit in Germany and Anabaptist 500 celebrations in Switzerland. Pray for eyes to see with peace and justice, good health and clarity of purpose as she steps into these gatherings. Pray that she might carry with her the voices of many and return with new wisdom, friendships and renewed strength.
- God, you call us into partnership with the Earth, entrusting us with your intricate and precious creation. Grant us wisdom to care without harm, and eyes to see the gifts in wild berries, in soil, and in the smallest of creatures. Teach us gratitude for the ways the Earth sustains us, and fill us with hope. Taken from a longer prayer by Sara DeWeerd.
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God of peace and compassion, we give thanks for the life and witness of Pope Francis—a shepherd who walked humbly with the poor and modeled the way of Jesus. Comfort those who grieve and inspire us to live with the same courage, mercy and hope. May we, like him, trust in your ever-present love and live as instruments of your peace.
- Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we are praying for St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. Mark Diller Harder, Janet Bauman and Kandace Boos provides pastoral leadership for community. Pray for this multi-generational anabaptist congregations that meets in the village of St. Jacobs.
- On the Journey is a space to share stories and learn from each other as we reflect on our responses to the Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action. Submit your stories or questions to MCEC Truth & Reconciliation Working Group at trwg@mcec.ca.
- Lunch Hour with the MCEC Executive Minister, May 16, noon to 1 p.m. Online. Join us on Zoom for a midday conversation with Anthony Siegrist! This is a space to bring your questions, share your voice and energize one another for the work of God's reconciling ministry. This session Professor Drew Strait from AMBS will explore the timely and challenging topic of Christian nationalism. More information and to register.
- MC Canada Gathering 2025 July 2 - 5, 2025, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. MCEC is hosting this year's MC Canada Gathering. Three exciting "tracks" for registration: Gathering 2025; U30 Gathering 2025 and Youth Gathering 2025. More information and to register for this exciting nationwide event! Don’t miss Spirit Acts by Arlyn Friesen Epp coming soon to Gathering 2025. Here is a preview: https://youtu.be/CgTuYV5CtSM
- Climate Action and Indigenous Relations Workshop - What does the Lord require of us? - July 2, 2025, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, Kitchener. How might we link arms as an intercultural church in our shared ministries of restoration? Explore the biblical and spiritual call to collectively "love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with our God." More information and to register for this MC Canada Pre-Gathering Event.
- MC Canada Gathering Leadership Day - July 2, 2025, 9am - 3:30 pm, Waterloo North Mennonite Church - Join David Boshart (president, AMBS) and Shana Peachy Boshart (Shine Everywhere Project) to explore how to navigate the evolving landscape of congregational ministry. How can we lead effectively in these fluid and chaotic times? Connect with leaders from across our nationwide community of faith. More information.
- MCEC Weekly Devotional: Receive weekly encouragement from MCEC pastors! Sign up for MCEC Connect to get a new devotional in your inbox each week.
Nationwide Web-Hub - All MCEC congregations are welcome to join
If you are considering a change to your website, definitely consider the new nationwide web hub. It is much more than a web building tool. Contact Lisa Williams , Director of Communications, for more info.
Click below for information about the features, pricing, testimonials and links to launched websites.
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