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 pray for Mennonite Disciple Church (MDM) Joliette. Sylvestre Ban Goun, Victor Sadi Mubikalo and Sifa (Steven) Muruho provide pastoral leadership to this congregation. Pray for them as they minister in Joliette, QC.

  2. Pray for Laurel Rounds Fretz, pastor at Community Mennonite Fellowship in Drayton, as she and her family grieve the loss of her father, Tim Rounds, who died on October 6, 2024. Laurel's mother, Joan Rounds, predeceased her husband two months ago. A celebration of life for both Tim and Joan will be held November 2, 2024 in Kingsville. Read Tim's obituary.

  3. We give thanks for the opportunity for representatives from MCEC’s Truth and Reconciliation Working Group and Creation Care Working Group to meet together with counterparts from the other area churches of Mennonite Church Canada last weekend in Pinawa Manitoba. Pray for the ongoing work of our three working groups (Palestine-Israel Network Working Group being the third) as they help us to live out our mission for peace and justice in the world.

  4. Pray for Werner and Joanne De Jong, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers in Ethiopia, as they conclude their assignment at Meserete Kristos Seminary.

  5. Pray for Tany Warkentin, Mennonite Church Canada Liaison worker for ministry in Africa, who will meet with global companions in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Togo from October 15 - November 3, 2024.

  6. Continue to pray for areas in the world who cry out for peace. We grieve for all who have experienced the horrors of war and violence. May God bring comfort, healing, and justice to those suffering. Lord, have mercy on us and hear our prayers for peace and reconciliation in these troubled regions.
     

Upcoming Events

Pastors Fall Retreat 2024

Pastors Fall Retreat 2024

Oct 17th, 2024

Meeting God in the Old Testament - Hearing the Advent Voices
Join Zac Klassen and Tanya Dyck Steinmann for a transformative pastor retreat as we delve into the prophetic voices of the Old Testament, exploring their significance during Advent. Together, we will renew our faith, nourish our souls, enjoy fellowship and equip ourselves for the sacred season of Advent, embodying the power of the prophetic voice in our own lives and ministries.

Date: Thursday October 17, 2024
Time: 9 am – 4:00pm
Location: St. John's Anglican Church, 220 Dundas St W, Thamesford, ON N0M 2M0
Cost $95

More Information
Junior Youth Healthy Friendships Fall 2024

Junior Youth Healthy Friendships Fall 2024

Oct 20th, 2024

What does it mean to be a good friend? What did Jesus teach us about how to have healthy friendships? Get ready for a fantastic time filled with fun, friends, faith, and spiritual growth at our upcoming Junior Youth Event for Grades 5 - 8 in Leamington, ON!

Healthy Friendships
Sunday, October 20, 2024
1 - 5 p.m.
REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 16, 2024

UMEI Christian High School
614 Mersea Rd. 6
Leamington, ON

More Information
Intercultural Worship Gathering and Potluck 2024

Intercultural Worship Gathering and Potluck 2024

Oct 26th, 2024

October 26, 2024, 4 - 6 p.m.
First Hmong Mennonite Church
93 Doon Rd., Kitchener, ON.

We warmly invite everyone to join us for the MCEC Intercultural Fellowship Worship. This will be a special time of worship, unity, and celebration, as various congregations come together to honour our diversity in Christ. This year's speaker: Hruai Tu, Chair of Young Adult Ministry at Chin Christian Church (Kitchener). Potluck follows - bring food to share!

More Information

MCEC Latest News

Introducing Executive Council Assistant Moderator: Steph Chandler Burns
Oct 9th, 2024

Introducing Executive Council Assistant Moderator: Steph Chandler Burns

“I have a deep love for the church and believe in what we can do when we bring many different voices to the table,” says Steph Chandler Burns, MCEC Assistant Moderator. 

Steph has been on the Executive Council since 2019, joining in their 20s with the goal of broadening their experience. They believed that by learning about this aspect of church leadership, it would be beneficial for their personal and professional growth. “I didn’t see a lot of people like me serving on church boards or committees and I was hoping to bring a unique perspective,” they said. 

Read more

MCEC Announces Sharon Schwartzentruber as Accountant
Sep 18th, 2024

MCEC Announces Sharon Schwartzentruber as Accountant

MCEC is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Schwartzentruber to the position of Accountant.

“I feel strongly that this is a God-driven moment in my life,” says Sharon. “I was ready for a change. This opportunity came, and everything started falling into place. I’m excited to see it unfold.” 

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Introducing Executive Council Moderator: Ben Cassels
Sep 10th, 2024

Introducing Executive Council Moderator: Ben Cassels

“I love the Church and who God is calling us to be as a community of congregations together,” says Ben Cassels. MCEC Moderator. For the past 13 years, MCEC has become "home" for Ben, following a period of uncertainty when he wasn't sure where his "church home" was or if it even existed. Reflecting on his journey, Ben shares, “MCEC welcomed me, invested in me, and has nurtured my faith and call to ministry.”

Meet Ben Cassels who serves as the MCEC Moderator for the Executive Council.

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Mennonite Church Canada

Mennonite Church Canada issued a statement on October 7 lamenting a year of the current Israeli-Gazan conflict.

Read statement of lament. 

 

 

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International Witness

As Werner and Joanne De Jong, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers in Ethiopia, finish the last month of their assignment at the Meserete Kristos Seminary, pray that the deep relationships that they have cultivated with students will continue to have impact on their lives. Pray for peace, joy, and energy to finish the semester classes and work on transition. Watch announcements in Mennonite Church Alberta for a chance to see them in person in late November.  

Tany Warkentin, Mennonite Church Canada Liaison worker for ministry in Africa, will be meeting with global companions in South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Togo from Oct. 15 - Nov. 3. This will include the annual meetings for Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission. Pray for the church leaders of D.R. Congo, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Angola as they gather to share, pray and plan together. Some will travel to this gathering through areas that risk violence, so pray for safety in travel, wisdom in discernment and joy as they come together as siblings in faith.

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Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:

Give thanks for an incredible weekend of story sharing and vision building, Oct 4-6. Leaders of both Indigenous Relations and Climate Action/Creation Care working groups from all 5 regions of our nationwide family of faith gathered to deepen connections across the regions, look for collaborative possibilities and to listen to the Spirit of Life together.

Climate Action

This fall, Mennonite World Conference shared a word of encouragement from the MWC Faith & Life Commission and the Creation Care Task Force. Check out these two articles that “remind us that we already share a basis for us to respond as a family of faith to the environmental crisis.” 

Indigenous Relations

Pray for the gathering of Native Mennonite Ministries in Billings, Montana from Oct. 8-11. Pray for renewed connections and relationships between Indigenous Anabaptists from the MC USA and MC Canada, and for Norman Meade and Neill and Edith Von Gunten's sharing as part of the assembly sessions. 

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CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre

Don’t miss the Anabaptist Community Bible sale deadline! Save up to 28% by ordering your copy(ies) before October 15.

A Tool Kit of free resources to help you plan your 500th anniversary celebration, including an event planning guide, worship materials, historical insights, and intergenerational ideas.  Available to buy, borrow or access online.  

 

Book Launch– Oct. 17. What is changing or needs to change about the ways we practice leadership in churches and beyond?  What are essential leadership qualities for this time and to move into a different kind of future?  Join author Leah Reesor-Keller and panelists Sandy Plett and Moses Falco.  Buy or borrow the book (and access livestream link).   

October is Pastor Appreciation Month! Consider gifting your pastor(s) with a CommonWord gift card! Applicable anywhere in Canada. 

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.   

Peace Sunday, November 10

Remembrance Day, November 11

Discover More

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. Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Mennonite Disciple Church (MDM) Joliette. Sylvestre Ban Goun, Victor Sadi Mubikalo and Sifa (Steven) Muruho provide pastoral leadership to this congregation. Pray for them as they minister in Joliette, QC.

  2. Pray for Laurel Rounds Fretz, pastor at Community Mennonite Fellowship in Drayton, as she and her family grieve the loss of her father, Tim Rounds, who died on October 6, 2024. Laurel's mother, Joan Rounds, predeceased her husband two months ago. A celebration of life for both Tim and Joan will be held November 2, 2024 in Kingsville. Read Tim's obituary.

  3. We give thanks for the opportunity for representatives from MCEC’s Truth and Reconciliation Working Group and Creation Care Working Group to meet together with counterparts from the other area churches of Mennonite Church Canada last weekend in Pinawa Manitoba. Pray for the ongoing work of our three working groups (Palestine-Israel Network Working Group being the third) as they help us to live out our mission for peace and justice in the world.

  4. Pray for Werner and Joanne De Jong, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers in Ethiopia, as they conclude their assignment at Meserete Kristos Seminary.

  5. Pray for Tany Warkentin, Mennonite Church Canada Liaison worker for ministry in Africa, who will meet with global companions in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Togo from October 15 - November 3, 2024.

  6. Continue to pray for areas in the world who cry out for peace. We grieve for all who have experienced the horrors of war and violence. May God bring comfort, healing, and justice to those suffering. Lord, have mercy on us and hear our prayers for peace and reconciliation in these troubled regions.

Bulletin Announcements:

  1. Volunteer Opportunity for all ages! The MCEC Creation Care Working Group is making plans for the coming year, and we would love your help! We have set four goals for this year:
    1)     To host a book club related to creation care/environmental justice themes,
    2)     To run a social media campaign highlighting what creation care looks like,
    3)     To create Earth Day worship resource for churches for April 2025, and
    4)     To amplify ideas and initiatives happening in congregations.
    If you are passionate about 1 or all of the above, or if you would like to learn more about our working group and have ideas for how to support and engage MCEC congregations in the work of creation care, please reach out to Jay Reesor and Sara DeWeerd (co-chairs) at creationcare@mcec.ca.

  2. MCEC Pastors Fall Retreat - Meeting God in the Old Testament: Hearing the Advent Voices. Thursday, October 17, 2024, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thamesford, ON. Join Zac Klassen and Tanya Dyck Steinmann for a transformative pastor retreat as we renew our faith, nourish our souls and equip ourselves for the sacred season of Advent. We will delve into the prophetic voices of the Old Testament, exploring their significance during Advent. Register at mcec.ca/events.

  3. MCEC Junior Youth Fall Event - Healthy Friendships - October 20, 2024, 1 - 5 p.m, UMEI Christian High School, Leamington, ON. Registration Deadline Extended to October 16, 2024 - What does it mean to be a good friend? What did Jesus teach us about how to have healthy friendships? Join us at UMEI in Leamington as we dig deeper into creating meaningful friendships! Register at mcec.ca/events.

  4. MCEC Intercultural Worship Gathering and Potluck, Saturday, October 26, 2024, 4 - 6 p.m, First Hmong Mennonite Church. We warmly invite everyone to join us for a special time of worship, unity, and celebration, as various congregations come together to honour our diversity in Christ. This year's speaker: Hruai Tu, Chair of Young Adult Ministry at Chin Christian Church (Kitchener). Potluck follows - bring food to share! More information at mcec.ca/events.

  5. Mennonite Church Canada International Witness Sunday - October 27, 2024, Welcome to the Banquet Table: Sharing in God's Global Feast. Congregations across Canada are invited to celebrate the relationships and gifts we have and share with our brother and sisters around the globe. Worship resources including prayers, music suggestions and sermon starters are available at mennonitechurch.ca.

  6. MCEC Palestine Israel Networking Group presents Challenge for the Church: Antisemitism, Saturday, November 2, 2024, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Waterloo North Mennonite Church, 100 Benjamin Rd, Waterloo. How has the Church been antisemitic in the past? How can the Church resist antisemitism today? Join us for a day that calls us to a deeper examination of Mennonite thought and action. We invite churches to join us for this workshop on antisemitism, as well as a companion event March 2025 Challenge for the Church: Islamophobia. Register at mcec.ca/events.

  7. MCEC Financial Update Zoom Call, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 7-8 p.m., online. Join MCEC for an engaging mid-year financial update and conversation. This online Zoom event offers a unique chance to hear key insights and ask any questions you have about our financial progress.This is a fantastic opportunity for pastors, delegates, treasurers, councils and anyone else interested to be involved and stay informed! Make sure to register your congregational teams and delegates. More information at mcec.ca./events.

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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