MCEC PRAYERS
Anthony Siegrist begins as MCEC Executive Minister on Feb. 1, 2025. Please pray for Anthony as he prepares to step into this important leadership role, and for all of MCEC as we navigate this transition together. May God grant wisdom, vision, and strength to Anthony and to our community in the days ahead.
Lord, we lift up all who are suffering, especially those who are impacted by war around the world. May the light of Christ truly shine in the darkest corners, and may we all be instruments of God’s peace. Surround the displaced with safety, provide strength to caregivers, and inspire leaders to pursue justice and peace. Let your peace take root in every nation, renewing hearts and guiding us toward reconciliation and an end to all violence.
MCEC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Urgent Financial Need – MCEC
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to support the ongoing ministry and mission of MCEC. We face a financial challenge to meet the approved budget. Despite strong reduction in expenses, revenue has greatly declined. Our MCEC Finance Update for December (https://mcec.ca/res/pub/Documents/Financial-Statements/MCEC-Finance-Update-December-2024.pdf) outlines the details. Your donation fuels MCEC’s transformational work. Visit mcec.ca/annual-appeal to give today. Thank you. Your generosity ensures that we can continue to serve and grow as a church community, working together to embody God’s love in the world.
MCEC Online Conversation: Multivocational Leaders: how might we have the right conversations? January 15, 2025, 7 p.m. For church leaders and pastors, a conversation on what the questions could, or should be as churches and leaders consider Multivocational Ministry. Led by James Watson. Register for the zoom link here.
MCEC Office Christmas Hours – The MCEC office will close at noon on December 24, 2024. We will be open on Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31, from 10 a.m. to noon each day to receive cheques. The office will be closed on January 1, 2025, and will fully reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Growing into the Future: Navigating Change in MCEC Structure
Save the Date! MCEC is hosting online information sessions for congregational leaders this January. These sessions will focus on the evolving roles and key responsibilities of the Congregational Ministries Team in the new MCEC structure. To ensure flexibility, three session options are available:
– Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
– Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.
– Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
We kindly request that each congregation attend one of these sessions. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
ANABAPTIST MENNONITE BIBLICAL SEMINARY News – December 12, 2024
CANADIAN MENNONITE MAGAZINE December 13, 2024 update
CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY through this place – December 2024 edition
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE Church Connections Newsletter
MENNONITE CHURCH OF EASTERN CANADA Year End Update
MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE On the Level – December 2024 issue
WOOLWICH COUNSELLING CENTRE Year end update
NEW HAMBURG MENNONITE RELIEF SALE
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is looking for a volunteer administrator for their Microsoft 365 site. More more information contact John Reimer at johnreimer@nhmrs.com.
FITNESS FOR YOUR AGING BRAIN
Space is at WNMC for additional participants and drop-ins. See: Better With Fitness – Exercise Programs for Your Body and Brain Email: fitnessforyouragingbrain@gmail.com
ADVENT JAZZ VESPER SERVICE
Advent 2024 Jazz Vespers, a moment of musical calm for a time that needs it – familiar carols in jazz settings with readings for the season. We’re looking forward to providing this service again with the usual batch of musicians: Allison, Brad, Paul, Linden, Tom and Greg. Our service will be Friday, December 20, 7pm, generously hosted by Rockway Mennonite Church, 47 Onward Avenue, Kitchener. All are welcome. Come for a rest. Grace and peace. Questions? Contact Ed Janzen: ejjanzen@uwaterloo.ca.
THEATRE OF THE BEAT
Do you remember your first experience going to – or participating in – theatre?
We sure do. From nativity scenes to community musicals to the special magic of drama classrooms, our first experiences with theatre were formative in so many ways.
As you’ll hear in this new video from TOTB staff, board, and artists, theatre teaches young people empathy, collaboration, courage, and critical thinking. Theatre also demonstrates that when folks assemble under a common goal, sharing their time, energy, and resources, beautiful and transformative things can happen.
In 2025, TOTB is offering free drama–based workshops to under-resourced youth across our province, not only to educate them about important topics like mental health and consent but also to share the magic of theatre and help them feel more creative, connected, and confident in facing the everyday challenges of being a young person.
Please help us give the gift of theatre by making a tax deductible donation to our Amplifying Social Change fundraiser! Gifts made before Dec 31 will be matched by a group of dedicated anonymous supporters. Your support, whether one-time or monthly, will be automatically doubled up to our first $10,000 raised, for a total goal of $20,000 toward theatre for social change. Please consider visiting www.theatreofthebeat.ca/donate for options on how to give.
SILVER LAKE MENNONITE CAMP
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp Winter and Spring Retreats registration now open. Go to slmc.ca/retreats for more info. Coming up soon are:
Fathers & Kids Retreat (Jan 17-19) – A weekend of snow fort building, snowshoeing through the woods, roasting smores over the campfire, and playing games in the dining hall! Dads enjoy free-time Saturday morning while staff provide programming with kids.
Women’s Retreat (Jan 31-Feb 2) – Come, experience the beauty of camp in winter. Be nourished by the relaxed pace, good food and meaningful conversation. Play in the snow, breathe deeply in yoga, cross country ski, go on a snowshoe hike through the woods. Reflection time led by Wendy Janzen.
Summer Camp: Registration for overnight camp and day camp opens February 1 at 8am. Outtrip registration opens Jan 7 – sign up before Jan 30 to get $100 off! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to have a look at the 2025 schedule.
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp is seeking a Fundraising & Communications Manager. This is a permanent, half-time, hybrid position in Kitchener. If you would like to inspire and engage SLMC’s generous community, read more at slmc.ca/about/board-of-directors and apply soon!
GREAT WINTER WARM-UP WITH MCC
Dear Friends: It’s that cozy time of year again – time for the Great Winter Warm-Up (GWW) with MCC! We’re so excited to invite you back to this special event, where together we make comforters to share warmth and love with people around the world. Each comforter knotted during GWW becomes a lifeline for someone facing the hardships of disaster or conflict. Last year alone, thanks to kind and dedicated people like you, MCC sent over 53,000 comforters to places like Ukraine, Malawi, and Zambia. Each one offered not only warmth but a heartfelt reminder that they are not forgotten. This year, we’d love to see churches and comforter-knotting groups join in by holding or attending comforter-knotting blitzes in January and February. Whether you’re a comforter-knotting pro or new to it, there’s a place for you to join in! There are two wonderful ways to participate this year:
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- Host your own comforter-knotting blitz: If your church or group is planning an event, we’d love to know! We’d be thrilled to send someone to visit and support you. You can email me to share your plans. And please do snap some photos or videos of your gathering! We’d love to feature them on our social media to inspire others.
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- Join us at the Material Resource (MR) Centre in New Hamburg: On January 25, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, come by for a day of comforter-knotting, laughter, and warm drinks! Knotters of all levels are welcome. You’ll also get a chance to tour the material resources warehouse, and if you’re traveling from out of town, consider making a day of it by checking out the local quilt shops or grabbing lunch at a nearby café. We’d love to give you some recommendations!
Every comforter you help create is more than just fabric and thread – it’s a gift of God’s love to someone in need. Our goal is to make as many comforters as possible during this year’s Great Winter Warm-Up, so let’s come together and spread the warmth! More information at https://mcc.org/events/great-winter-warm-comforter-knotting-blitz With joy and gratitude, Stephen
Stephen Roy, Church and Community Relations Associate. (519) 745-8458 ext 236 / (226) 978-6124 https://mcc.org/resources/churches
CONRAD GREBEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Bonhoeffer: Cell 92 – January 10 and 11, 7:00 pm | A cinematic theatre production created by Jerry Holsopple and Justin Poole. This thought-provoking single actor play focuses on the final period of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, a German pastor and theologian involved in the Protestant resistance to Hitler and National Socialism. Two nights only, at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo. Tickets: uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/bonhoeffer-cell-92
Anabaptism at 500: A service of Commemoration and Celebration – Thursday, January 16, 7:30 pm, W-K United Mennonite Church, Waterloo. | A service of music, reading, and reflection on the 500th anniversary of the first adult baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland. uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/anabaptism-500-service
Bechtel Lecture | Commemorating Anabaptism’s 500 Years: Anabaptist beginnings and the stories we tell, Friday January 17, 7:30 pm, at Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo. Dr. Karl Koop considers our dominant communal memories and the stories we tell, suggesting that in avoiding stories from the margins and stories we have marginalized, we will be left with a situation intellectually unsatisfying, and significantly limiting in our understanding of the past. uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/anabaptist-beginnings
Looking for more purpose in your life? Whether you are interested in exploring vocations of ministry and service, deepening your understanding of Christianity and the church, or seeking personal enrichment, the Master of Theological Studies program at Conrad Grebel University College could be a great fit for you. Apply by February 1. Full tuition scholarships available for full-time Canadian students. uwaterloo.ca/theological-studies
Create meaningful impact with the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. Combine interdisciplinary scholarship and experiential learning with a focus on nonviolent peacebuilding and community-led change. Apply by February 1. Discover more at uwaterloo.ca/mpacs or register for an upcoming information session.
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
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