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 are praying for The Meeting Place. Sue Carr provides pastoral leadership for this community, supported by Randell Neudorf. This community gathers together in downtown Hamilton as a church where everyone has a seat at the table.

  2. Yonatan Assefa Kebede will be installed at Christ Kingdom Reformed Church on June 15, 2025. Pray for Yonatan and the congregation as they begin their ministry together. To share your encouragement and support with Yonatan, you can reach him at yonifur52@gmail.com.

  3. God of peace, bring calm to the chaos and healing to the hurting places in our world. Strengthen those working for justice and protect the vulnerable caught in conflict. May your hope shine where darkness seems strongest.

Mennonite Church Canada

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International Witness

IW Global Companion of the Month

Learn more and pray for Myanmar, the Global Companion for June: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/article/45470  

 

AIMM Literacy Project

Thank God for the literacy project and for new financing. In the D. R. Congo, the women are learning to teach and read which allows them to participate more fully in their churches. Pray that the women leaders will continue to improve their reading and ministry skills through the project. Learn more here. 

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Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:

Indigenous Relations

Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion

On Saturday, June 14, many MCEC congregations located in the Haldimand Tract along the Grand River, will be gathering with Ecumenical friends and Indigenous Neighbours for thanksgiving with strawberries (a sacred gift in Haudenosaunee culture) and communion followed by a delicious lunch. Pray for the Spirit's presence to be felt and reconciliation nurtured.

Climate Action

Wildfires

In this season of extreme heat, dry conditions and the threat and reality of wildfire, let’s pray together to the God of Creation for relief, rain, and protection (wildfire prayer). May our faithfulness move us to action in supporting evacuees and firefighters, and to work imaginatively for the preservation of creation wherever we are. God grant us courage to do this work with LOVE!

Sustainability at Gathering 2025

We’re not just celebrating the gifts of community, worship, and creativity—we’re also honouring our shared responsibility to care for creation. From energy to food, sustainability is woven into the fabric of this year’s event. Read more

 

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CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre

Share these resources in your newsletters, bulletins and social media posts!

 

2025 Summer Reading List. Our 17th annual summer reading list of titles for the lawn chair, hammock, and beach blanket – https://www.commonword.ca/go/summer.

Writers’ Conference at CMU. Mennonite/s Writing Ten will feature presentations that engage with “words at work and play” across a variety of academic disciplines and creative genres. For more information, and to register - https://www.cmu.ca/programs/english/mennonites-writing 

Save shipping costs. We’re on the road and glad to save you the shipping costs. Let us know what retail books to bring to the Mennonite Church Canada Gathering in Kitchener, ON. Payment required upon pick up at the CommonWord display at the Gathering. Email your request to info@commonword.ca. Deadline: June 20. Limited to in-stock items only.

Church Year Resources 
Materials to buy, borrow or access online. Includes Together in Worship resources.  

June is Pride Month. A month-long celebration of the presence, history, contributions, injustices, and advocacy for LGTBQ+ people and their communities around the world. See here. 

June is also Indigenous History Month. A month for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Learn more.

Prone to Wander. The 2025 Lenten devotional from MennoMedia. Includes a worship guide, small group/study guide, and retreat guide. Borrow or buy.    

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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 are praying for The Meeting Place. Sue Carr provides pastoral leadership for this community, supported by Randell Neudorf. This community gathers together in downtown Hamilton as a church where everyone has a seat at the table.

    2. Yonatan Assefa Kebede will be installed at Christ Kingdom Reformed Church on June 15, 2025. Pray for Yonatan and the congregation as they begin their ministry together. To share your encouragement and support with Yonatan, you can reach him at yonifur52@gmail.com.

    3. God of peace, bring calm to the chaos and healing to the hurting places in our world. Strengthen those working for justice and protect the vulnerable caught in conflict. May your hope shine where darkness seems strongest.

 
Announcements:

  1. MC Canada Gathering 2025 July 2 - 5, 2025, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. Our Nationwide Family of Faith Comes to MCEC this Summer! Check out this welcome video from the MCEC staff, inviting you to join us for MC Canada Gathering 2025 in MCEC. It's going to be a joyful celebration of our nationwide community of faith as we come together to worship, grow, engage in meaningful business, and connect—together. Register today.

  2. Lunch Hour with the MCEC Executive Minister, June 20, noon to 1 p.m. Online. Join us on Zoom for a midday conversation with Anthony Siegrist! Take a pause in your day to connect, reflect, and be encouraged. This is a space to bring your questions, share your voice, and energize one another for the work of God’s reconciling ministry. This session, we’ll be joined by Lori Guenther Reesor to talk about churches and money, generosity and discipleship. More information and to register.

  3. Save the date! MC Canada International Witness Sunday October 26, 2025. A day set aside for congregations to learn and connect with MC Canada International Witness. Learn about your global companions! Resources available September 1.

  4. MCEC Weekly Devotional: Receive weekly encouragement from MCEC pastors! Sign up for MCEC Connect to get a new devotional in your inbox each week.

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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