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.

Previous Editions of MCEC Connect              Bulletin Cut & Paste

MCEC in Prayer 

  1. Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we are praying for Victory Christ's Ambassadors Church. Bereket Mekonnen, Esayas Desta and Samuel Lemma provide pastoral leadership for this community. Pray for this community in Scarborough, ON who are committed to discipleship, renewal and following Jesus Christ is all aspects of life. They are one of the newest MCEC congregations, welcomed this spring.

  2. Pray for families throughout Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel who have lost loved ones, homes, health, and hope in the devastating war, and for the churches in these regions, that their witness to the peace and justice of God's kingdom remain strong. Pray that the regional and international political leaders would turn toward compassion and equality for all. 

  3. God of all nations, in a world torn by conflict and division, we ask that you bring peace where there is war, understanding where there is hatred and healing where there is deep and ancient pain. Stir the hearts of your people to be makers of peace, listen more deeply, act more justly and love more boldly.

Mennonite Church Canada

MC Canada Announcements

  • MC Canada seeks an Executive Coordinator to join the national office in Winnipeg. More Information

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International Witness

In March, the government of Israel imposed a blockade of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, leading to widespread malnutrition and starvation. Let us continue to pray for families throughout Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel who have lost loved ones, homes, health, and hope in the devastating war, and for the churches in these regions, that their witness to the peace and justice of God's kingdom remain strong. Pray that the regional and international political leaders would turn toward compassion and equality for all. 

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Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:

Indigenous Relations

MC Canada Reads – IR edition! recommends 'Valley of the Birdtail'. It is a profound reflection on systemic realities in Canada. View the authors remark on the book. Meet with the authors in Waterloo, Oct. 24.

Climate Action

You are invited to “Practicing Peace with Creation” - an online session led by For the Love of Creation with Wendy Janzen and others. Explore practices for the work and ministry of creation care. Wednesday, September 10, 6:00-7:30 pm (EDT). Email splett@mennonitechurch.ca to register and for Zoom link.  

 

 

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CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre

Fall Planning. CommonWord.ca has over 15,000 resources – available to you for your fall planning at home and in your congregation. Here are a few basic tips to help you navigate this collection to match your needs.  

  1. Use keywords (author, title, topic, etc.) or specific scripture texts to shape your initial search list.   
  2. Select a “Matching Subject” from the search drop-down menu. These are specially designed bibliographies on a Topic, Genre, Season, etc. [Note: text continues next page] 
  3. Filter the list (on the left sidebar) by Availability, Type, Genre, etc. to further customize your results.  
  4. Sort your list by date, alphabetically, etc.    

An online tutorial is also available to watch. And, of course, you may always contact us with any query.  

Worship and Study Resources for the Fall. Over 3,400 worship resources to choose from (including 2,000 digital materials from Together in Worship). From this long list, narrow your selection by using the filters on the left sidebar, or search by scripture reference. Use our worship calendars for resources based on the lectionary texts or special seasons of the year.  

Teaching Resources. Search for 4,500 teaching resources (including 2,000 introductory references, 1,200 group studies, and nearly 1,000 items with chapter questions).   

Summer sale still on! Save 30-40% on a large selection of titles, including many from Herald Press. Perfect for a fall small group study or individual reading. While quantities last.   

Book Launch of White Women. Get Ready, Sept. 24 7:00pm (CDT). Join author, artist, and anti-racist organizer Amanda Gross as she shows how white women have been groomed to uphold systems of oppression, and how women can use their unique white lady positioning to help upend these violent structures. Join us in person or by livestream.  

Together in Worship Resources 

CommonWord partners with Together in Worship to offer thousands of free Anabaptist worship resources collected from individuals and congregations. Contribute and share your own original materials.   

As Labour Day approaches, may we believe that the work of our hands contributes to God's broader vision of justice and peace for this world. Download a beautiful prayer by Carol Penner.  


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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

    1. Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we are praying for Victory Christ's Ambassadors Church. Bereket Mekonnen, Esayas Desta and Samuel Lemma provide pastoral leadership for this community. Pray for this community in Scarborough, ON who are committed to discipleship, renewal and following Jesus Christ is all aspects of life. They are one of the newest MCEC congregations, welcomed this spring.

    2. Pray for families throughout Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel who have lost loved ones, homes, health, and hope in the devastating war, and for the churches in these regions, that their witness to the peace and justice of God's kingdom remain strong. Pray that the regional and international political leaders would turn toward compassion and equality for all. 

    3. God of all nations, in a world torn by conflict and division, we ask that you bring peace where there is war, understanding where there is hatred and healing where there is deep and ancient pain. Stir the hearts of your people to be makers of peace, listen more deeply, act more justly and love more boldly.

 
Announcements:

  1. MCEC Workshop: An Introduction to Safe Church Policy Development, September 25 and 27. One workshop, two convenient times. This online training event is for congregational leaders committed to fostering safe, respectful and accountable church environments. Together, we’ll explore how to create or update Safe Church policies, equip congregants with awareness and understanding, and build a culture where safety is part of our shared ministry. Registration is now open at mcec.ca/events.

  2. MCEC Pastors Retreat, November 3-4, 2025 @ Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp - Mystics Among Us: Discovering the Sacred Within - Engage deeply with the spiritual and cultural dimensions of ministry in today’s complex world. Explore nurturing everyday mysticism, cultivating intercultural wisdom and grounding leadership in spiritual practices. Register now.

  3. MC Canada's Practicing Peace with Creation, Wednesday, September 10, 6:00–7:30 PM (EDT), Online via Zoom. Join For the Love of Creation for an inspiring online session led by Wendy Janzen and others as we explore and discover simple, meaningful practices for living in harmony with the Earth. To register and receive the Zoom link, email Sandy Plett: splett@mennonitechurch.ca

  4. Save the date! MC Canada International Witness Sunday October 26, 2025. A day set aside for congregations to learn and connect with MC Canada International Witness. Learn about your global companions! Resources available September 1.

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.

Hub Information

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