MCEC PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY, April 7, 2024
KyongJung Kim will be Ordained at Preston Mennonite Church on April 7, 2024. Pray for KyongJung and the congregations (Preston and Wanner) as they celebrate his calling to ministerial leadership. To share your words of encouragement and support with KyongJung, you can reach him at kyongjung.pwchurches@gmail.com.
Pray for Mennonite Church Canada Witness worker, Tom Poovong, together with Thai colleagues, Pastor Khamphan and Pastor Thipphawan as they travel in Canada during the month of April. They will be in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Pray for the relationships being built and connections made in this travel. During their time in Ontario (April 4-9) Norm Dyck and Yoel Masyawong from the MCEC team who will be hosting them as they meet with congregations, Conrad Grebel and the Lao Mennonite Fellowship of Canada.
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, hear our prayers.
MCEC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUNDAY, April 7, 2024
MCEC Financial Zoom Call, April 17, 2024, 7-8 p.m. online.
The internal financial statements will be presented in advance of the Annual Church Gathering. This conversation provides an early opportunity for conversation and to ask questions. This event is open to pastors, delegates, treasurers, councils and congregational leaders. Register through your Annual Church Gathering registration or at mcec.ca. If you have registered through the ACG registration, you do not need to re-register.
Annual Church Gathering, April 26 & 27, 2024, Leamington, ON. Inspired by Hope. Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus. “We need you this weekend,” says Ben Cassels, MCEC moderator. “We need you voice, engagement, wisdom and prayers as we gather to be the Church.” Hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God. Doug Klassen, celebration of ten years of ministry impact with Legacy Initiatives Fund; welcome new congregations and more! Registration is open in both English and French.
Consider the Birds: Point Pelee Pre- MCEC Annual Church Gathering Contemplative Nature Walk, Friday, April 26, 2024, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Point Pelee National Park – Join MCEC Eco-Minister Wendy Janzen for an afternoon excursion to Point Pelee National Park. The park is just 16 km south of UMEI, and is famous for the spring bird migration. Come and enjoy the unique Carolinian forest, the Lake Erie shoreline, spring wildflowers, and whatever birds and wildlife we find. More information at mcec.ca.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS FOR SUNDAY, April 7, 2024
AMBS News and April 2024 bulletin announcements
MEDA MarketPlace March/April issue
Mennonite Central Committee [MCC] MCC Impact Report and Ontario General Program – 2024 and In Touch video
Mennonite World Conference [MWC] message from César García, MWC General Secretary and MWC Info — March 2024
COMPASS REFUGEE CENTRE — Open House Thursday April 4, 2024
NEW HAMBURG RELIEF SALE PROMOTION DINNER
April 29, 2024, 6:00pm. @ Calvary United Church St. Jacobs. Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and the sweet sounds of Surrendered. Click here for details and tickets.
HIDDEN ACRES
Spring Seniors Retreat at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp — On Monday, April 29th join us for a day of fellowship, community and conversations. Dr. Martha Taylor will share with us in the morning and Jane Kuepfer will host a panel discussion in the afternoon as we intentionally explore end-of-life conversations. Click here for brochure and registration form.
SILVER LAKE MENNONITE CAMP
Remembering Henry Pauls – A CILT Cabin Dedication Service will be held on April 28 at 10am at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp to honour Henry Pauls’ legacy with the camp.
SLMC Summer Camp – Registration is open! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to view all programs available at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp this summer.
Spring Work Weekend – Enjoy a family-friendly, free weekend at Silver Lake to help open the camp for the summer. All meals provided. Register at slmc.ca/retreats.
CONSCIENCE CANADA — Spring 2024 Newsletter and Peace Tax Return
Dear Conscience Canada supporters: It’s tax time: time to reflect on the doors that are opened when we close the door on war, to invite others, including our government, to imagine what we could do with the resources our societies invest in militarism and war. Conscience Canada hopes you’ll find our Peace Tax Return and Spring 2024 newsletter useful for this time. And we hope you’ll be able to join us for our April 20 AGM (announced in the newsletter). As I write, it’s Valentine’s Day, so here’s some peace related history former board member Anna shared https://www.consciencecanada.ca/?p=1747. May we all know and learn to use the power of nonviolence that enables us to protect what we love. love & best wishes, Jan Slakov, on behalf of the board of Conscience Canada
April 7 Info Session: If you object to your taxes being used for war and militarism you may be interested to learn more. Doug Hewitt-White is a conscientious objector to military taxation and former president of Conscience Canada. Doug will give an overview of how people can act on their conscientious objection and what role the federal government plays currently and how it could change to fully respect our right to freedom of conscience.
Topic: Conscience Canada war tax resistance Zoom meeting
Time: Apr 7, 2024, 15:30 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85675787245?pwd=BaEeqUzzxgkI72N0cPzkOLnK4RSrss.1
Meeting ID: 856 7578 7245
Passcode: 967822
April 20: Conscience Canada AGM: We’d love to have you join us for the Conscience Canada AGM on April 20. If you would like to join the board or if you would like to suggest someone else for the board, please get in touch with our president: janslakov@proton.me. To get a link for the meeting (April 20, 3:30 pm Eastern) please contact info@consciencecanada.ca.
MEDA
Join the Waterloo Network Hub their Annual Spring Banquet on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, at Shantz Mennonite Church located at 2473 Erbs Rd, Baden, ON, N3A 3M3. Hosted by Gary & Brenda Leis, this event will feature live music, dinner by Grace Frey Catering, welcoming remarks by Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA, presentation by Katelynn Folkerts with MEDA on Cassava Seed Systems. Doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm. Cost: $55.00 per person. Register online by April 12th at: https://www.meda.org/events/. You won’t want to miss this!
GODSPELL
Breslau Mennonite Church presents Godspell. Come see this familiar story in a modern setting with memorable songs performed by members from the Breslau Mennonite Church community – on stage April 25-28. For tickets and more information visit https://www.breslaumc.ca
HAWKESVILLE MENNONITE CHURCH FAREWELL
Hawkesville Mennonite Church invites you to their ‘HMC Finale’ on May 5, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. HMC is dispersing after concluding 74 years of Ministry. Come and share in memories, stories, history and the many ways that HMC has impacted your life. Click Here for Poster.
MDS PROJECTS AT FRASER LAKE CAMP
MDS volunteers will be supporting Fraser Lake Camp this summer by building cabins, program buildings and some basic furniture pieces. The Family Project is designed for families to work together. If you know of people who would like to sign up as weekly volunteers for the family project, they are welcome to contact Clara at cflores@mds.org or 204-261-1274. More information on the project can be found at mds.org/response/family-project-fraser-lake-camp-on/.
100th ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIAN MENNONITES IN ONTARIO
Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario Annual Meeting & Niagara Russlaender Centenary Tour, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Join the Society for a day tour of sites in the Niagara region to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of Russlaender Mennonite immigrants in Ontario. Fill out this form to be notified when registration opens. Details at www.mhso.org.
ROCKWAY MENNONITE COLLEGIATE
GRADE 9-12 DRAMA PRODUCTION — Are you ready for a good mystery? How about three? Students of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate invite you to enter the world of Sherlock Holmes in these three one-act plays. Each play will be performed with three different sets of Holmes and Watson which will allow the audience to see three quite different interpretations of the famous sleuth and his biographer. Performances are April 11 – 13, with four time slots to choose from. Tickets are $15 and general admission. To purchase your tickets or learn more about the show, visit: www.rockway.ca/sherlock. Tickets can also be purchased with cash at the door. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
GRADE 7-12 INFORMATION NIGHT — Is your family looking for a change in September? Rockway Mennonite Collegiate may be a good option for you! Our teachers are passionate about creating engaging lessons, challenging their students to think critically and caring for their wellbeing. We encourage students to explore their faith while developing respect and appreciation for all faith traditions. Join us on April 16 at 7 pm to discover the Rockway Experience for your child. Visit rockway.ca to RSVP today!
29th ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC — It won’t be long until the golf courses reopen and we can get together for Rockway’s 29th Annual Golf Classic! Mark your calendars for Monday, May 27 and join us at Grey Silo Golf Club in Waterloo. The Early Bird registration closes on Monday, April 15 so sign up today and save! Why not come out for a day of fun, food and friends. For more information about the day, including cost and how to register, visit www.rockway.ca/golf
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate is accepting applications for the position of Vice-Principal. This is a full-time position effective July 2024. If you, or someone you know would be a good fit for our school, please view and share the full job posting at: rockway.ca/employment
CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY [CMU]
Let’s Get Dirty: The Lowdown on Earth’s Fabric in your own Yard – a Face2Face panel discussion on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 PM at CMU and via livestream. Hear from scientists, researchers, and farmers about the untapped potential that’s in your very own yard. Visit cmu.ca/face2face.
All are invited to Spring at CMU on Friday, April 26 at 7:00 PM in the Loewen Athletic Centre. Attend in person or via livestream to hear graduating student presentations and CMU choirs. Reception to follow. Visit cmu.ca/springatcmu for more information and for the event livestream.
Join the CMU team – CMU invites inquiries and applications for a Residence Director (full-time, salaried with benefits) as well as other opportunities in Student Life, Enrolment, and Human Resources. Visit cmu.ca/employment for details on this and other employment opportunities.
CONRAD GREBEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Celebrate the launch of On Mennonite/s Writing, a collection of essays by literary scholar Dr. Hildi Froese Tiessen, edited by Rob Zacharias. This book gathers eighteen essays that reflect a half-century of critical engagement. April 4, 7:30 PM, at Conrad Grebel University College (Chapel). Reception to follow. grebel.ca/events
Tap into the expertise of Conrad Grebel University College faculty members and invite a professor to speak at your church. Through Grebel-to-Go, faculty members speak on topics related to peace, music, worship, Mennonites, religious studies, theology, and history through lectures, presentations, workshops, adult and youth education, and sermons. Visit uwaterloo.ca/grebe/to-go for a list of speakers and topics.
Conrad Grebel University College is accepting student residence applications for the 2024/25 academic year. Grebel is an enthusiastic residence community that houses University of Waterloo students on the UWaterloo campus. Students in any year of study are welcome. Learn about rooms, spaces, food, fees, and important dates at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/apply.
The Annual Spirituality and Aging Seminar will take place on Friday, June 21st in-person and virtually at Conrad Grebel University College. Rev. Dr. Mark Roberts presents “From Problems to Possibilities: Faith Communities enabling those in the third third of life to flourish.” This seminar challenges the narratives about elders in communities, churches, and society at large; exploring the role churches can play in empowering older adults. Visit grebel.ca/spirituality for registration information. Professionals, practitioners, and all interested are welcome.
YOU CAN PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF TODAY
MCC and local partners provide emergency assistance to affected families. Your donations and prayers help bring critical support to these global neighbours. To donate go to mcco.ca/volcano-relief