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 Weekly Bulletin              Bulletin Cut & Paste

MCEC in Prayer 

  1. Each week we pray for a faith community within the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Bethany Mennonite Church. Herb Sawatzky provides pastoral care for this congregation. Pray for this intergenerational congregation as they seek to be a place to belong and grow in faith.

MCEC Latest News

Upcoming Events

Being a Restorative Church - Creating Brave and Accessible Space

Jun 3rd, 2023

Pastors, Chaplains, Congregational Leaders Event - Part 4 of 4

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO LOW REGISTRATION

MCEC Pastors, Chaplains and Congregational Leaders Events (PCCL) have a long standing history for resourcing and encouraging pastors and leaders. This year the PCCL event has been reimagined into four separate events: January 21, 2023; February 28, 2003; May 11, 2023 and June 3, 2023. Join together to discuss, discover and share what it means to become a restorative church.

God’s solidarity to all who are vulnerable call us into actions to create spaces which are inviting, safe and brave. Our presenters will challenge us on how to be a loving and embracing community in midst of the challenges which might be presented to us.

Join pastors, chaplains and congregational leaders for this time of learning and discussion with Betty Pries, Rielly McLaren and Mike Williamson. There will be translation provided for this event. 

June 3, 2023
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Cost $45


MCEC Administrators Day

Jun 14th, 2023

The Hybrid and the Holy: Navigating the Church's Digital Reformation
with Ryan Panzer

A day set aside for administrative assistants across MCEC. This year’s event will help us explore the digital age and discover communications tools to create content and curation techniques to support hybrid ministry.

The event will be hybrid, with a registration cap of 35 people at in-person - register early!! A light lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for those who can attend in-person.

June 14, 2023
12:00 noon to 3:30 p.m. ET
Hybrid - 50 Kent, Kitchener, ON and online


  • Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
    - Visit AMBS
    - Explore a call to ministry
    - Spiritual Direction: Foundations
  • Anabaptist Worship Network
    - Save the Date! Voices Together Resource Day - October 28, 2023
  • Canadian Mennonite University
    -
    Join the CommonWord staff
    - CommonWord Book launch
  • Conrad Grebel University College
    - 10th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality
    - "To Antione": Conversation with Author E.J. Wiens
    - The Place of Memory: Reflections on the Russlaender Centerary
  • Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp & Retreat Centre
    - Family Camping Weekend - June 30 - July 2
  • MCEC Community of Faith
    - Grace Mennonite Church - War in Ukraine
    - Connect City - Job Opportunities for Camp Unity
    - Elmira Mennonite Church Hymn Sing
  • Mennonite Disaster Service
    - Volunteers neweded for Cape Breton
  • Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario
    - Annual Meeting featuring Len Friesen
    History of Mennonites in Imperial Russian and the Soviet Union
  • Pastors in Exile
    - Beyond Binaries Conference - June 17, 2023
  • Rockway Mennonite Collegiate
    - Frozen, Jr. tickets

More Information

Mennonite Church Canada

MC Canada announces an Emissions Reduction Grant available to all MC Canada congregations. Applications for up to 50% (to a max. of $6000) of the cost of reducing their church building’s carbon footprint are now being accepted. More info and application available here: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/mc-canada-emissions-reduction-grant  

To learn more about how you can make your church building more energy efficient, participate in the free Energy Efficient Faith Buildings Webinar on June 14 @ 7:00pm CDT. The webinar will be led by Stephen Collette, Building Audit Manager, Faith & the Common Good. To register, email Sandy Plett, MC Canada Climate Action Coordinator (splett@mennonitechurch.ca).

 

 

International Witness

Mennonite Church Canada’s International Witness ministry is launching a fundraising campaign to complete the construction of the Malipayon Peace Hub in Mindanao, Philippines. The project includes a new peace and reconciliation training centre for Peacebuilders Community Inc (PBCI), an upgraded processing and farmer training centre for Coffee for Peace (CFP), a new staff house and guest house, and a delivery vehicle. The aim is to raise CDN$235,000 by March 2024. More details coming soon.

Indigenous Relations 

Jonathan Neufeld, Indigenous Relations Coordinator, will be in BC this weekend to participate in the 8th annual Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation. Participants walk on the beautiful land between Fort Langley and Mission, on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō nation, specifically the Katzie, Kwantlen, Leq'a:mel, Matsqui, Semiahmoo, and Whonnock First Nations. Pray that the walk will honour the people, land, ancestors, and children of the Stó:lō nation. More info: https://www.reconciliationwalk.com/.

Climate Action

Pray together for comfort and help for those displaced by wildfires and those who are returning home to face damaged and destroyed homes and properties because of those fires. And pray that the church will continue to find her voice in speaking against harmful practices and policies that have led to the increase of this type of weather-related disaster in our country and around the world.   

Check out Mennonite Central Committee's response to Climate Change: Climate Action for Peace 

CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre

Author Reading and Signing with Arthur Boers 

May 31, 7:00 PM (CDT), in-person and live streamed

Spring CommonRead 

Bulk order savings until June 30. To watch our recent author conversation, download the free study guide, buy or borrow the book

May is Mental Health month 

We have resources!   

MennoMedia Children's Bible

The new MennoMedia children’s Bible you won’t want to miss! Perfect for home and Sunday school and a great gift. Only available in Canada from CommonWord.  

Church Seasonal Resources 

Buy, borrow, or access online (including Together in Worship resources)

 

Quick Links               Ministry Opportunities     Pastoral Transitions     Guest Speakers


 

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. Each week we pray for a faith community within the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Bethany Mennonite Church. Herb Sawatzky provides pastoral care for this congregation. Pray for this intergenerational congregation as they seek to be a place to belong and grow in faith.

Announcements:

  1. MCEC Administrator's Day - The Hybrid and the Holy: Navigating the Church’s Digital Reformation, June 14, 2023, 12:00 - 3:30 p.m.  A day set aside for administrative assistants across MCEC and MC Canada. We will explore the digital age and look at hybrid ministry in a post-pandemic church. We will talk about what communications tools create pathways to discipleship and ministry involvement and look at common content creation and curation techniques to support hybrid ministry. Registration is open.

  2. Mennonite Church Canada announces an Emissions Reduction Grant available to all MC Canada congregations. MC Canada will provide grants to congregations wishing to upgrade their facilities with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Applications for up to 50% (to a max. of $6000) of the cost of reducing their church building’s carbon footprint are now being accepted. More info and application available at https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/mc-canada-emissions-reduction-grant.

  3. To learn more about how you can make your church building more energy efficient, participate in MC Canada's free Energy Efficient Faith Buildings Webinar on June 14 @ 7:00pm CDT. The webinar will be led by Stephen Collette, Building Audit Manager, Faith & the Common Good. To register, email Sandy Plett, MC Canada Climate Action Coordinator (splett@mennonitechurch.ca).

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

Weekly Bulletin Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly bulletin and keep informed of important news, announcements and celebrations!