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 pray for Ottawa Mennonite Church. Andy Brubacher Kaethler and Carrie Lehn provide pastoral care for this congregation. Please pray for this congregation as they minister in our nation's capital. (This is a reprint from last week. We missed a full description and apologize, especially to Carrie Lehn.)
- Anthony Siegrist begins as MCEC Executive Minister on Feb. 1, 2025. Please pray for Anthony as he prepares to step into this important leadership role, and for all of MCEC as we navigate this transition together. May God grant wisdom, vision, and strength to Anthony and to our community in the days ahead.
- Lord, we lift up all who are suffering, especially those who are impacted by war around the world. May the light of Christ truly shine in the darkest corners, and may we all be instruments of God's peace. Surround the displaced with safety, provide strength to caregivers, and inspire leaders to pursue justice and peace. Let your peace take root in every nation, renewing hearts and guiding us toward reconciliation and an end to all violence.
Mennonite Church Canada
MC Canada Gathering 2025 | July 2-5 | Kitchener, ON
You’re invited to the MC Canada Gathering next summer, where our theme, “Each Gift,” celebrates the unique gifts each person brings. Rooted in 1 Peter 4:10, we’ll explore how our diverse talents and perspectives enrich the ministry of an intercultural church. As followers of Jesus Christ, we’ll come together as a nationwide community of faith to share, learn, and grow in the unique gifts God has given each of us.
Here is Doug Klassen's invitation to congregations and delegates!
International Witness
Pray for people in South Korea.
Mennonite Church Canada liaison workers, Cheryl Woelk and Scott Kim ask that you pray with them: Late in the evening on Dec. 3, the South Korean president declared martial law and then lifted it a few hours later after a strong response from people and leaders. In addition to considerable political instability while leaders decide how to respond to the president's action and what steps to take next, large crowds of people are participating in nonviolent protests to remove the president and there is uncertainty in some of South Korea's international relationships as the situation continues. People in South Korea are working through the numerous economic, social and emotional impact of this event. It especially brings to the forefront pain from the last time of martial law 44 years ago which resulted in a massacre of demonstrators in the city of Gwangju. Please pray for people in South Korea to continue to respond to this situation in ways that build peace, and for sisters and brothers in Mennonite circles here finding ways to support peacebuilding efforts.
Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:
Climate Action
Faithful Leadership in the Climate Crisis: Responding in Hope.
Mennonite Church Canada and Anabaptist Climate Collaborative are hosting a 6-month cohort for pastors and church leaders called, “Faithful Leadership in the Climate Crisis: Responding in Hope.” The first event (a 3-day retreat) happens early February 2025. Learn more
Indigenous Relations
Camp Morgan organizers say, ‘thank you!’
For 2 years Camp Morgan stood their ground outside the Brady Road Landfill outside of Winnipeg despite many obstacles. Camp Organizers recently spoke about what to do next, and decided it was time to let the sacred fire go out. With the search of the Prairie Green Landfill commenced, it’s only a matter of time now until we bring Morgan home and lay her to rest properly. Mennonite Church Canada regional churches joined the chorus of voices calling for that search and camp organizers thank everyone that has stood with them in their cries for help.
CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre
Share these resources in your newsletters, bulletins and social media posts!
Featured resource: The Word Fulfilled by Michael Pahl. What does it mean to follow Jesus in the way we read Scripture? As Christians, we want to follow Jesus in his teachings and way of life, which were significantly shaped by his reading of the Jewish Scriptures. By exploring how Jesus engaged the Scriptures, we can learn better how we should read our Bibles today – following Jesus in the way we read our foundational text. By Mennonite Church Manitoba’s Executive Minister, Michael Pahl. Buy or borrow – https://www.commonword.ca/go/3820.
Advent devotional: Comfort and Joy. Slow down and truly connect to what matters this holiday season. 2024 Herald Press Advent devotional. Buy or borrow - https://www.commonword.ca/go/4114.
Anabaptism at 500: 1525-2025. The five hundredth anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025 gives the church a unique opportunity to celebrate and dream. Includes a suite of materials from MennoMedia – https://www.commonword.ca/go/500.
Church Year Calendar. From Advent through Ordinary Time, this unique calendar positions time within the Christian year, and includes scripture, liturgical colour and splendid artwork.
Church Year Resources
Materials to buy, borrow or access online. Includes Together in Worship resources.
Advent, beginning December 1
Christmas Eve, December 24
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
- Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Ottawa Mennonite Church. Andy Brubacher Kaethler and Carrie Lehn provide pastoral care for this congregation. Please pray for this congregation as they minister in our nation's capital. (This is a reprint from last week. We missed a full description and apologize, especially to Carrie Lehn.)
- Anthony Siegrist begins as MCEC Executive Minister on Feb. 1, 2025. Please pray for Anthony as he prepares to step into this important leadership role, and for all of MCEC as we navigate this transition together. May God grant wisdom, vision, and strength to Anthony and to our community in the days ahead.
- Lord, we lift up all who are suffering, especially those who are impacted by war around the world. May the light of Christ truly shine in the darkest corners, and may we all be instruments of God's peace. Surround the displaced with safety, provide strength to caregivers, and inspire leaders to pursue justice and peace. Let your peace take root in every nation, renewing hearts and guiding us toward reconciliation and an end to all violence.
Announcements:
- Urgent Financial Need – MCEC
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to support the ongoing ministry and mission of MCEC. We face a financial challenge to meet the approved budget. Despite strong reduction in expenses, revenue has greatly declined. Our MCEC Finance Update for December outlines the details.
Your donation fuels MCEC’s transformational work. Visit mcec.ca/annual-appeal to give today. Thank you. Your generosity ensures that we can continue to serve and grow as a church community, working together to embody God’s love in the world.
- MCEC Online Conversation: Multivocational Leaders: how might we have the right conversations? January 15, 2025, 7 p.m. For church leaders and pastors, a conversation on what the questions could, or should be as churches and leaders consider Multivocational Ministry. Led by James Watson. Register for the zoom link here.
- MCEC Office Christmas Hours - The MCEC office will close at noon on December 24, 2024. We will be open on Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31, from 10 a.m. to noon each day to receive cheques. The office will be closed on January 1, 2025, and will fully reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
- Growing into the Future: Navigating Change in MCEC Structure - Save the Date! MCEC is hosting online information sessions for pastors this January. These sessions will focus on the evolving roles and key responsibilities of the Congregational Ministries Team in the new MCEC structure. To ensure flexibility, three session options are available: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.; Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.; or Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. We kindly request that each congregation attend one of these sessions. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
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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