MCEC PRAYERS for Sunday August 27, 2023
Please pray for the family and friends of Helga Dueck who died on August 19th at Leamington Mennonite Home. Helga was married to the late Henry Dueck who was pastor at Leamington United Mennonite Church from 1974-1981. Helga ministered alongside Henry. They also served as interim pastors at Faith Mennonite Church. You can read Helga’s memorial tribute here. Visitation will take place at the Leamington United Mennonite Church (LUMC), on Thursday, August 24 from 3-6 p.m. The burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery on Friday, August 25 at 9:30 a.m. The Funeral Service to celebrate Helga’s life will be at LUMC at 11 a.m. followed by a Fellowship Meal in the Auditorium.
Urgent prayer request from our sister church in Burkina Faso: With the recent coup in Niger, there is threat of war in the Sahel region of Africa. Please join us in praying that this escalation will stop, that peaceful forms of resolution will be found to the crisis in Niger and the other Sahel countries, and that peace will return to this region.
Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia celebrated its 75th anniversary in March 2023. Pray that God will continue to lead them into pathways of peace and service for their communities and their country.
Pray for Community Peacemaker Team’s Turtle Island Solidarity Network arrived in Winnipeg, August 15, in anticipation of a 10-member delegation visit to to the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation). CPT continues to support Grassy Narrows as the community resists mining and logging proposals and campaigns for reparations for mercury poisoning. The delegation will be in Grassy Narrows until August 25th and is comprised of members from BC, Ontario, NY, and Arizona! Pray for important connections and community to be built through this delegation.
MCEC ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday August 27, 2023
MCEC Seeks an Operations and Finance Director. Are you a strategic and collaborative leader with experience leading Finance and at least one of the other key Operations functions of general Operations, Human Resources, Risk Management, Information Technology and/or Communications? Join the MCEC staff team in Kitchener, ON. This person will be a strategic thinker, experience serving on an executive team, is able to think long-term while also able to shape the appropriate execution through the Operations team. The Operations & Finance Director plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of MCEC, ensuring that MCEC’s practices demonstrate good stewardship, meet industry best standards and adhere to charitable law requirements. This is a full-time, permanent position. More information at mcec.ca.
Did you know that MCEC has a Guest Speaker List? Is your congregation looking for a guest speaker? MCEC has a guest speaker list of individuals and groups who are available to come to your congregation for a Sunday morning, special event or a workshop. Perhaps you would like to be added to that list. Please contact Lisa Williams, Director of Communications, for that conversation. Bookmark the Guest Speaker List for quick access for your worship planners at mcec.ca.
MCEC Sprout: Stories of Transformation. Have you seen the most recent edition of Sprout? Hard copies have been distributed to congregations. Available now online as a pdf download or read the individual stories. Discover how God has transformed lives of those in MCEC and around the world. Read about Rachel Demosthene, one of MCEC’s newest pastors/church planters. Follow the unexpected paths on which God has led Bock Ki Kim and Sook Kyoung Park, MC Canada Witness workers. Take a glimpse into MCEC Annual Church Gathering this past spring. Download your copy today at mcec.ca.
Join the MCEC Video Challenge! Join the congregations who have already responded! How are you or your congregation being transformed? Where is your inspiration coming from? What do you feel called into? Make your own short video sharing what you and your congregation are excited about. Videos will be premiered at Annual Church Gathering in Leamington, ON next April. What an amazing story it will be of how God is transforming, inspiring and calling people and congregations across MCEC. More information at mcec.ca.
MCEC Pastor’s Retreat, September 28, 2023, 9 a.m to 3:30 p.m., Ingersoll, ON. A day for pastors and chaplains to set aside for retreat, encouragement and rejuvenation. Consider gifting this day to your pastor or chaplain. Registration is open at mcec.ca.
MCEC Urban Anabaptist Church Planters Workshop, September 30, 2023, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ottawa, ON. Tentmaking: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Congregations with James Watson. A day of worship and prayer for church planters and pastors focused on tentmaking or multi-vocational ministry. Registration is open at mcec.ca.
Mennonite Church Canada announces an Emissions Reduction Grant available to all MC Canada congregations. MC Canada will provide grants to congregations wishing to upgrade their facilities with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Applications for up to 50% (to a max. of $6000) of the cost of reducing their church building’s carbon footprint are now being accepted. More info and application available at https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/mc-canada-emissions-reduction-grant. Application Deadline: September 30.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS for Sunday August 27, 2023
MCEC Sprout Stories: Stories of Transformation Summer 2023
MDS [Mennonite Disaster Service] Behind the Hammer Summer 2023
MWC [Mennonite World Conference] MWC Info for August 23, 2023
Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region Climate Emergency Vigils [Waterloo Region] ;
ONTARIO MENNONITE MUSIC CAMP
Dear Ontario Mennonite Music Camp Friends: It’s been an amazing two weeks of music making at Ontario Mennonite Music camp. Grebel staff have enjoyed the energy in the building! You can catch a glimpse of this in these highlight photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/8129NThVZxvMQsCy5 As you may know the Music Camp final concert is coming up on Friday, August 25 at 7:00 pm here at Grebel. If you can’t attend you can still support the camp with a donation! Simply visit Grebel’s online donation page and choose Ontario Mennonite Music Camp from the list that appears. Or you may mail a cheque payable to “Conrad Grebel University College” with “OMMC Bursary Fund” as a memo, to our mailing address (below) and E-transfers can be made at grebeldonations@uwaterloo.ca Please send a separate email to Alison Enns to notify her of your gift with the date and amount. Thank you for your interest in supporting our young musicians. Fred W. Martin, Director of Advancement Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo 140 Westmount Road, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
INTER-MENNONITE CHILDREN’S CHOIR [IMCC]
The Inter-Mennonite Children’s choir is excited for rehearsals to start again this Fall on Tuesday September 12. We are still looking for a few more singers to join us. Our rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings at W-K United Mennonite Church for children in grades 1 and up and provide an excellent music education experience while singing with friends. Singers ages 9 and up who are new to the choir need to have a Vocal Placement Interview. Please go to our website: www.mennosingers.com/imcc under “Join us” for more information or contact: conductor@imcchoir.org and sign up before August 28.
MENNO YOUTH ENSEMBLE
With the support of Menno Singers family of choirs, it is our pleasure to introduce the Menno Youth Ensemble to Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas! Under the direction of Mykayla Turner and Joel Woods, this ensemble welcomes musicians between the ages of 14 and 24 to expand their musical and collaborative imaginations. Weekly rehearsals will culminate with regular performing opportunities and one major performance event per semester. The Menno Youth Ensemble is open to all voice-types and instruments, and all participants should be willing to sing.
For more information or to register for the Menno Youth Ensemble, please contact one of the co-directors: Mykayla Turner mykaylat@smu.edu and Joel Woods joel.woods@uwaterloo.ca
MENNONITE MASS CHOIR
This Fall you are invited to join as a singer in the Mennonite Mass Choir in a performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony at Centre in the Square on Sunday, December 10th (afternoon). Monday evening rehearsals begin on September 25th at First Mennonite Church (800 King St E, Kitchener) from 7:30-9:30pm. For more information and to register go to www.mennosingers.com
MEDA NETWORK
Social Impact Investing: Empowering Women in Business. Free event. September 13, 2023. Click to Register
SILVER LAKE MENNONITE CAMP
- Registration now open for a wide variety of fun retreats coming up this fall. Click here for more info about the retreats below… slmc.ca/retreats
- Labour Day Weekend Retreat (Sep 1-3) – A few rooms still available for this long weekend getaway.
- Men’s Retreat (Sep 15-17) – A relaxing weekend away to connect with others and enjoy a variety of fun camp activities. Saturday features a Russian Mennonite dinner with many favourite traditional dishes. Stories and reflections presented by host Mike Schmidt.
- Bruce Trail Hike (Sep 18-21) – Join us for a series of short-loop hikes near Owen Sound and learn about the cultural and natural history of the Niagara Escarpment. Accommodations and meals at Silver Lake.
- Fall Hike Retreat (Sep 29-Oct 1) – Stay at camp and enjoy a Bruce Trail hike on the Saturday. Everyone welcome, including families.
- Fall Work Weekend (Oct 27-29) – Help get camp ready for the winter season!
- Stay Connected – Follow SLMC on Instagram @silverlakemennonite and Facebook to stay up to date and see photos from Summer 2023!
ABNER MARTIN MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP
The Abner Martin Music Scholarship ($4,000 value last year) is awarded annually by Menno Singers to a student who: 1) will be enrolled in a full-time music major or minor program at the undergraduate or graduate level in 2023-2024); 2) is affiliated with an MCEC congregation; and 3) has demonstrated involvement and proficiency in musical activities in church and community. Application deadline is September 15, 2023. For more information and/or an application form contact Lewis Brubacher, lbrubacher@sympatico.ca.
DETWEILER MEETINGHOUSE
Detweiler Meetinghouse, 3445 Roseville Rd., Ayr, will be one of the 20 sites for Doors Open Waterloo Region, September 16, 10-4. We welcome visitors to see the restored 1855 stone meetinghouse and learn about its 1990s restoration. A self-guided tour of the adjoining Roseville Mennonite cemetery will highlight about 10 people buried there. Information is online at Doors Open Waterloo Region, detweilermeetinghouse.ca or contact mlroes@sympatico.ca.
Detweiler Meetinghouse will be on Kitchener CTV’s Amazing Architecture series during the newscasts either August 26 or 27. After that it and the other buildings featured can be found by Googling the series.
SHALOM COUNSELLING SERVICES
Shalom Counselling Services’ 10,000 Steps for Mental Health will begin at Shalom Counselling Services (9 Avondale Ave. S., Waterloo) on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Registration begins at 9 am with an official send off at 9:30 am. Participants will travel a route to the Iron Horse Trail, along the trail, and back to Shalom.
Join us and start setting your goals. It could be taking 10,000 steps or 1,000 steps, fundraising $10,000 or $100. Set a goal that is right for you and help provide more affordable, accessible counselling services in Waterloo Region. Sign up on our website at: https://shalomcounselling.org/steps
After the walk their will be a community block party celebrating Shalom Counselling Services 40th Anniversary. Please come out and support local mental health resources.
CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY [CMU]
Children’s Storybook Bible – We’re thrilled to announce The Peace Table, MennoMedia’s new storybook Bible for grades 1-5. A large team of Anabaptist authors, illustrators, and church leaders collaborated to create this rich and diverse retelling of key biblical stories that highlight the central theme of peace in the Bible. For a short video introduction, visit commonword.ca/go/3564/ or to purchase or borrow, visit commonword.ca/go/3344/.
CONRAD GREBEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
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