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.
Each week we pray for a faith community within the MCEC community of congregations. This week please pray for Goshen Mennonite Church, Ottawa, ON. Pastor Francis Machichi provides leadership for this congregation. Goshen Mennonite is currently a church plant in MCEC as they continue to connect with the mission office of MCEC.
Please pray for Erwin and Marian Wiens, MCEC pastors, and their family, as they grieve the unexpected death of their daughter, Lena. You can reach them at erv_marian@hotmail.com.
Discover the gifts of APEST (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher) and how it unlocks the potential of the body of Christ. 5Q is the capacity to see the APEST typology of Ephesians 4:1-16 as an interpretive key to understanding God's deeper purposes and design for disciples, leaders and the church.
The six-week online 5Q Introduction Course is for disciples, lay-leaders, pastors or anyone exploring ways to incorporate APEST.
What's Next with Marilyn Rudy-Froese
This workshop will offer an opportunity to reflect together on how we can learn to see God in new ways, and what it looks like to see God in this new place. What are congregational practices that help us live into God’s time. What are the visual reminders for us that God has been here and will lead us home?
September 21, 2-3 p.m.
Save the Date! October 24, 2010
Celebrate Mennonite Church Canada International Witness Sunday in your congregation. We invite you to celebrate ministry centred around sharing gifts and building relationships; ministry across borders, languages and cultures. We invite you to participate in intentional ways through learning, giving and connecting directly with our Witness workers and partner ministries across the world.
Gathering 2022 in Edmonton
We Declare: What We Have Seen and Heard is the theme for Gathering 2022 in Edmonton, July 29 to August 1. The webpage for the event is now live. Learn about our speakers and what you can expect for our next nationwide gathering in Treaty 6! Read our press release.
Amplify! your voice at Youth Gathering 2022
Amplify! Giving voice to what we have seen and heard - introducing our theme for the all youth (gr. 6-12) gathering, July 31- August 4, 2022, at Camp Valaqua, AB. Isaiah 40:3-5 will guide us as we spend time in the tall trees, meeting God in nature and creation: A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord”. Together, youth from across Canada will find their voices and raise them in raucous joy during worship, games and prayer. Follow us online for the latest updates and news or contact the Amplify! event planner: Joani Neufeldt youth@mennonitechurch.ca
International Witness Sunday on Oct. 24 focuses on Vision, Hope and Healing
Mennonite Church Canada invites congregations across its nationwide community of faith to celebrate International Witness Sunday on October 24, 2021. The focus of this year’s celebration is on experiencing God’s call, drawing inspiration from the Mennonite Church Canada denominational “Vision: Healing and Hope” statement. For more info, visit, mennonitechurch.ca/IW-Sunday.
Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp is hosting its annual Fall Seniors Retreat virtually on Sept. 20 to explore the topic: "Journey Toward Justice: Equal Rights for Palestinians and Israelis" with Christian Peacemaker Teams and MCEC Palestine-Israel Network. For more information visit https://hiddenacres.ca/programs/seniors-retreat or email info@hiddenacres.ca to register.
Whose Land, Whose Promise? Palestine, Justice, and the Bible
Mennonite Church Canada Palestine-Israel Network and three partner advocacy groups are hosting a two-part online series Saturday, Sept. 19 and Oct. 2, at 12 p.m. EDT /9 a.m. PST. Resource persons include Palesinian pastor-theologian Alex Awad, political science professor Ron Dart, and professor Dan Epp-Tiessen of Canadian Mennonite University. Register: https://bit.ly/3BbaFOc.
Vietnamese fellowship in Canada and abroad
Praise God for the meetings of the North American Vietnamese Evangelical Fellowship that took place at the Winnipeg Vietnamese Mennonite Church during September long weekend. Leadership from the Evangelical Mennonite Church Vietnam joined the meetings (online) on Saturday evening. Participants shared stories of God’s work in changing lives in Vietnam and in Canada.
Veiths on their way home
Thanks for your prayers for Witness workers George and Tobia Veith as they make their way from China to Canada. They will quarantine for two weeks in Winnipeg before they can be reunited with family. Please continue to pray for their transition to life in Canada.
Pray for our siblings at international schools
As classes resume this fall, please pray for the faculty, staff and students in schools that Mennonite Church Canada Witness connects with internationally: Benin Bible Institute, Meserete Kristos Seminary, Bethlehem Bible College and Seminario Biblico Menonita de Colombia.
Prayers for Unist’ot’en
Pray for Unist'ot'en Camp where Indigenous peoples are working tirelessly to exercise their jurisdiction as construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline escalates. The pipeline is being built through Wet'suwet'en territory despite the fact that all five Hereditary Chiefs have unanimously opposed its construction. Allegra Friesen Epp will be returning to Unist'ot'en from Sept. 16-Oct. 6, as part of her internship with MC Canada's Indigenous-Settler Relations Office and Christian Peacemaker Teams' Turtle Island Solidarity Network.
Read more about Unist'ot'en Camp.
September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
In response to Call to Action #80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the courageous advocacy of Indigenous survivors (Orange Shirt Day) and the recent, stark findings of unmarked graves at residential schools, September 30th is now recognized as a federal statutory holiday. This is a day to provide Canadians with an opportunity “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process” (TRC). We encourage all our churches to participate in local commemorative gatherings, to take time to reflect on the TRC reports, to consider Mennonite involvement in the Indian school system and to prayerfully commit to a step of learning and action for right relations.
September 27 – October 1: Truth and Reconciliation Week
Hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this five-day national event is geared for Grades 5-12 participants and educators, and will initiate vital conversations on Indigenous treaties, First Nation, Métis and Inuit land claims and the residential school system. This online event will provide historical workshops, exclusive video content, and activities for students — all supported by artistic and cultural performances by Indigenous artists. You can join for an hour or two, or for the full week of learning. See NCTR - Truth & Reconciliation Week for more info.
Looking for a group study? Here are a few ideas from CommonWord to buy, borrow or access online:
Orange-shirt purchases support survivor advocacy groups
Remember the victims and survivors of residential schools on the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 – www.commonword.ca/go/orangeshirt. A portion of the proceeds from orange-shirt sales will go to the Orange Shirt Society, B.C. Aboriginal Child Care Society, the Native Northwest Reconciliation Fund and the Indian Residential Schools Thrivers Group at Swan Lake First Nation urban reserve in Headingley, M.B.
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:
Each week we pray for a faith community within the MCEC community of congregations. This week please pray for Goshen Mennonite Church, Ottawa, ON. Pastor Francis Machichi provides leadership for this congregation. Goshen Mennonite is currently a church plant in MCEC as they continue to connect with the mission office of MCEC.
Please pray for Erwin and Marian Wiens, MCEC pastors, and their family, as they grieve the unexpected death of their daughter, Lena. You can reach them at erv_marian@hotmail.com.
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.
Subscribe to our weekly bulletin and keep informed of important news, announcements and celebrations!