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 Oromo Evangelical Church of Ottawa. Please pray for this congregation that meets in downtown Ottawa.
- Lord, we lift up all who are impacted by war around the world. As we enter the advent season, may the coming peace and hope of Christmas bring comfort to those who mourn, healing to those who suffer, and hope to those in despair. 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
Support Guardería (Day Care) Samuelito in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Charleswood Mennonite Church in Winnipeg invites you to join them in supporting the Iglesía Evangelica Menonita de Bolivia (IEMB), and the Guardería (Day Care) Samuelito in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The Guardería Samuelito is a church run day care that serves the lowest income people in their community. For more information and to donate click here.
You can also donate through your local or Regional Church. Mark donations: “Bolivia – IEMB – Samuelito”. Join Charleswood and IEMB as they work together to care for the most vulnerable.
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
Advent readings and reflections from the First Nations Version Bible.
You’re invited to join Mennonite Church Alberta’s Bridge Building Advent Zoom devotionals featuring a 30-minute hearing and reflection based on Luke 1 from the First Nations Version Bible. Dec. 2,9,16 at 6:30pm MST. Email bridgebuilding@mcab.ca for Zoom link.
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.
Advent resource: Journeying With Creation. A Mennonite Church Canada/USA advent resource designed to help us wait together, prayerfully, holding both hope and lament for the earth and its people in our gently cupped hands. Download – https://www.commonword.ca/go/4164.
Author Talkback Interview Listen to Jesse Nickel, author of A Revolutionary Jesus, as he discusses violence and peacemaking in the kingdom of God. Buy or borrow the book or listen to the interview.
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 Oromo Evangelical Church of Ottawa. Please pray for this congregation that meets in downtown Ottawa.
- Lord, we lift up all who are impacted by war around the world. As we enter the advent season, may the coming peace and hope of Christmas bring comfort to those who mourn, healing to those who suffer, and hope to those in despair. 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.
Bulletin Announcements:
- Introducing: Transformed. Inspired. Called. – An MCEC Devotional! This weekly online devotional brings heartfelt reflections from MCEC pastors straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your faith journey with insights rooted in our shared MCEC mission. Sign up today for MCEC Connect and be part of this transformative experience!
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MCEC Prayers for the Earth: You are invited to join in an online prayer for climate justice on the second Thursday of the month, for half an hour beginning at 11:15a.m. Our next prayer time is Thursday, December 12th. To receive a link please contact Herb Sawatzky at pastor@bethanymennonite.ca. Written prayers are also welcome.
- MCEC Intercultural Volleyball Tournament, Feb 1st, 2025, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, 110 Doon Rd., Kitchener. Come on out for a fun day of intercultural, intergenerational volleyball, fellowship and fun with MCEC congregations. This event has been growing since it started with more teams each year! More details soon.
- MCEC Annual Church Gathering ONLINE 2025, Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10 - 11:30 a.m. This year, our Annual Church Gathering will take place as an online business meeting—a chance to connect and collaborate as an online community. Together, we’ll discuss important updates, including slate positions, new structures and finances. Plus, don’t miss the opportunity to meet Anthony Siegrist, MCEC's newly appointed Executive Minister.
- MC Canada Gathering 2025, July 2-5, 2025, 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. The Gathering includes a Congregational Gathering, Youth Gathering and a U30 Gathering for young adults! Something for everyone. Save the dates!
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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