Jul 2nd, 2024
MC Canada 2025 Gathering announced for Kitchener, ON
Mennonite Church Canada’s 2025 Gathering will meet at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener, Ont. from July 2-5, 2025.
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 Lao Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Church. Pastors Chinda Kommala and Ongath Phounsavath provide leadership for this congregation. Pray for them as they serve Lao Christians and reaching out to the community in Toronto and in Laos.
- Pray for Agape Fellowship in London as they gather this weekend for their final church service on July 14, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Valleyview Mennonite Church. We thank God for almost 50 years of ministry in the London area. Begun as a weekly Bible study in 1976, they developed into a house church model of weekly fellowship and worship with outreach in London's inner city. Since 2005, Agape Fellowship has met at Valleyview Mennonite Church in London. Pray for those who call Agape Fellowship their home as the close their congregation. Thanks be to God.
- Continue to pray for Myanmar, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and throughout a world that cries for peace. Pray for those who are displaced, those who search for family members, those who make decisions and those who attempt to provide aid. Lord, make us channels of your peace!
Join Our E-Newsletter Naming Contest!
Are you creative? Do you have a talent for creating catchy phrases? We need your help! We are refreshing our e-newsletter and we want YOU to name it!
How to Enter:
- Think of a Name: Get creative! The name should reflect the essence of our newsletter – informative, engaging, and relevant to our community of faith.
- Submit Your Entry: Send your entry below by clicking on the submit button. Be sure to include your name and contact information.
- Deadline: All entries must be submitted by July 31, 2024.
What’s in it for You?
- Spotlight & Acknowledgement: The winning name will be featured on our newsletter, and you’ll receive a shout-out in the first issue.
- Prize: The winner will receive 2 boxes of egg rolls from Grace Lao Mennonite Church’s next fundraiser (spring 2025)!
MCEC Latest News
Events & Notices from Congregations and Partners
- Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
- Practical Leadership Training modules
- Take a seminary course this fall - Canadian Mennonite University
- CMU Employment Opportunities - COMPASS Refugee Centre
- Spring Appeal Launched
- Board Recruitment
- Good Neighbour Teams - Conrad Grebel University College
- Sign of Peace - July 2 - October 31
- Saengerfest - August 25
- Ontario Mennonite Music Camp
- Term-End concerts (UofW)
- Unveiling of commemorative plaque - MCEC Community of Faith
- Mennonite Young Adults - Bible Study every Sunday - Mennonite Disaster Service
- Family project at Fraser Lake Camp beginning July 21 or 28
- Spirit of MDS Fund - Rockway Mennonite Collegiate
- Rockway Reflections now available
Mennonite Church Canada
- Mennonite Church Canada’s 2025 Gathering will meet at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener, Ont. from July 2-5, 2025. Gathering 2025 will enact some recent decisions by Joint Council to adjust how regional churches and the nationwide church conduct business together. Read more.
- The Canadian Interfaith Conversation issued a statement on behalf of over 60 signatory faith traditions and institutions (including Mennonite Church Canada), to present a common public position adopted by Canada’s faith communities, on combating hate against and between our country’s religious communities. Read statement.
- The report booklet for Mennonite Church Canada’s Annual General Meeting (June 22) is now available at CommonWord.
- Mennonite Church Canada is inviting reviews of its draft Guiding Ministerial Leadership in Mennonite Church Canada Policy (GMLC). This external review process is meant to further improve this important policy. View policy and provide feedback.
International Witness
Pray for the children of Mennonite Church Canada International Witness and Mennonite Mission Network as they gather, along with their parents and others, for a retreat in Thailand, July 8-12. This is an important time as they meet with other children who live as third culture kids. Pray for the resource workers who are guiding their time together.
As Israel’s war on Gaza enters its ninth month, Mennonite Church Canada Palestine-Israel Network urges our continued prayer and solidarity. The PIN has updated its statement on Gaza, reflecting the strong messaging from Christian partners in the region and from the International Court of Justice that the war is genocidal in nature. As we hold our grief, perplexity, and anger before God, let us pray that we can also protest and act in ways consistent with God’s vision for a just peace for all in this “holy” land. The PIN statement, along with resources for awareness, prayer, and action are available at https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/pin
Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:
Climate Action:
Mennonite Church Canada’s Climate Action has resources and learning opportunities for our church ministry leaders relating to creation care/climate action. We hope these initiatives will encourage and strengthen ministerial leadership to guide individual and collective use of our gifts – land, wealth, resources, and human abilities. Discover resources.
Indigenous Relations:
Mennonite Church Canada partner Community Peacemaker Team’s Turtle Island Solidarity Network is offering a Summer 2024 delegation to Grassy Narrows, ON. Through this delegation we will explore themes such as environmental racism, class oppression, police and prison abolition movements, Indigenous solidarity, and allyship. More information.
CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre
The Secret Treaty. Dave Scott, an historian and ambassador from the Swan Lake First Nation in southern Manitoba shares the story of a secret treaty between early Mennonite settlers in Manitoba and the original inhabitants. Jonathan Dyck, artist, features the story in comic book form. Buy or borrow.
Webinar recording. The making of the Anabaptist Community Bible and what it all contains.
[image 10] Summer sale. 50% off two recent titles from CMU Press.
Celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism with the Anabaptist Community Bible, featuring commentary from 60 Anabaptist scholars, biblical insights from 16th century Anabaptists, and extensive marginal notes from nearly 600 study groups from Anabaptists around the globe. Three editions to choose from. Receive significant savings when you pre-order now.
CommonWord’s 16th annual Summer Reading List. Suggested titles for the lawn chair, hammock, or beach blanket.
A new worship resource from MC Canada and MC USA for the Season of Creation (6 weeks from Sept 1 – Oct 4)
Church Year Resources
Materials to buy, borrow or access online:
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Ordinary Time resources to buy, borrow or access online
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 Lao Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Church. Pastors Chinda Kommala and Ongath Phounsavath provide leadership for this congregation. Pray for them as they serve Lao Christians and reaching out to the community in Toronto and in Laos.
- Pray for Agape Fellowship in London as they gather this weekend for their final church service on July 14, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Valleyview Mennonite Church. We thank God for almost 50 years of ministry in the London area. Begun as a weekly Bible study in 1976, they developed into a house church model of weekly fellowship and worship with outreach in London's inner city. Since 2005, Agape Fellowship has met at Valleyview Mennonite Church in London. Pray for those who call Agape Fellowship their home as the close their congregation. Thanks be to God.
- Continue to pray for Myanmar, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and throughout a world that cries for peace. Pray for those who are displaced, those who search for family members, those who make decisions and those who attempt to provide aid. Lord, make us channels of your peace!
Bulletin Announcements:
- MCEC E-Newsletter Naming Contest - Are you creative? Do you have a talent for creating catchy phrases? We need your help! We are refreshing our e-newsletter and we want YOU to name it! Contest is open until July 31, 2024. The winner will receive 2 boxes of egg rolls from Grace Lao Mennonite Church's next fundraiser! For more details and to submit a name visit mcec.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.
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