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 Wanner Mennonite Church. Wanner is currently searching for a transformational interim pastor. Pray for this community in Cambridge as they find their next pastoral leader and continue their mission of sharing Jesus' love with each other and the world.

  2. Pray for Willi Hugo Pérez, CEO/Rector of SEMILLA, and Karla Vásquez, Ambassador, as they prepare for their visit to Canada, September 12–22. Give thanks for SEMILLA’s faithful witness as an Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City and its deep ties with MC Canada. May this visit strengthen relationships, inspire mutual learning and nurture the shared ministry of God’s people across cultures.

  3. Pray for Micah Peters Unrau as he begins his new role with MCEC as Church Engagement Associate. Pray that as he listens and shares stories with congregations, the many ways God is at work across MCEC will be celebrated and strengthened.

  4. Pray for God’s healing in our world: for peace where there is violence and war, for renewal in creation where it groans under climate crisis, for justice in places of oppression and for comfort among the sick, lonely, and grieving.

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

Ethiopia is the International Witness Global Companion for September. Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) is the fastest growing and largest Anabaptist/Mennonite denomination in Mennonite World Conference. Discover more

SEMILLA reps visiting Canada. Pray for Willi Hugo Perez, CEO/Rector of SEMILLA Latin America Anabaptist Seminary, and Karla Vasquez, Ambassador, as they prepare for a visit to Canada, September 12-22. Invite/attend to hear about this exciting ministry. Read more. Contact jhanson@mennonitechurch.ca. 

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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

Get up to $3000 from Mennonite Church Canada’s Emissions Reduction Grant to improve your church building’s efficiency, reduce energy usage and environmental impact. Get ideas for projects and learn how to apply: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/climate-action/ERG Applications are due Sept 30, 2025 – APPLY now! 

 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.   

The beginning of the academic year marks the return of regular opportunities to grow together, in schools and elsewhere. This prayer is especially suitable for the teachers and learners among us - https://togetherinworship.net/ResourceView/82/21215


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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 Wanner Mennonite Church. Wanner is currently searching for a transformational interim pastor. Pray for this community in Cambridge as they find their next pastoral leader and continue their mission of sharing Jesus' love with each other and the world.

    2. Pray for Willi Hugo Pérez, CEO/Rector of SEMILLA, and Karla Vásquez, Ambassador, as they prepare for their visit to Canada, September 12–22. Give thanks for SEMILLA’s faithful witness as an Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City and its deep ties with MC Canada. May this visit strengthen relationships, inspire mutual learning and nurture the shared ministry of God’s people across cultures.

    3. Pray for Micah Peters Unrau as he begins his new role with MCEC as Church Engagement Associate. Pray that as he listens and shares stories with congregations, the many ways God is at work across MCEC will be celebrated and strengthened.

    4. Pray for God’s healing in our world: for peace where there is violence and war, for renewal in creation where it groans under climate crisis, for justice in places of oppression and for comfort among the sick, lonely, and grieving.

 
Announcements:

  1. Micah Peters Unrau, MCEC Church Engagement Associate, is available to visit your congregation. He gathers and shares stories of creative ministry, highlighting how God is at work across MCEC. Micah is currently focusing on themes such as youth and young adult presence in the church, pursuing right relationship with Indigenous communities and caring for God's creation. If your congregation is interested in engaging these conversations and learning from the experiences of others, contact Micah at mpetersunrau@mcec.ca.

  2. 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.

  3. MC Canada International Witness Sunday October 26, 2025.  This year's theme, Walking With Global Companions - Seeing Jesus on the Road, is supported by a sermon from Janet Planert entitled, "Expect the Unexpected." Celebrate relationship we have and gifts we share with our global family of faith on this day set aside for congregations to learn and connect with MC Canada International Witness. Download Janet's sermon and other resources.

  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 soon.

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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