Mennonites in angst over Ukraine invasion
It’s 10:30 a.m. in Winnipeg, but for Valerie Alipova, it might as well be after supper. Alipova, associate pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, has been living eight hours out of sync with the rest of Manitoba ever since Russia invaded Ukraine towards the end of February. Alipova was born and raised…
Watch: MCC partner in Ukraine asks for prayer
A Mennonite Central Committee partner in Ukraine requests prayer in a video clip the relief organization posted on YouTube earlier today. In the video, which was filmed on Monday, Feb. 28, Maxym Oliferovski describes what life was like for him in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, a few days after Russian military forces began invading the country by…
Winter lectures address global social concerns
Coming in March, Conrad Grebel University College is hosting two distinct winter lectures, offered by Sofia Samatar and Regina Shands-Stoltzfus. The presentations are focused on addressing global social concerns and raising awareness about oppression. “We are eagerly anticipating the 2022 Bechtel and Sawatsky lectures,” said Troy Osborne, dean at Conrad Grebel. “They will be excellent…
MCC pulls staff from Ukraine
Russia has begun military operations against Ukraine, but North American Mennonite Central Committee staff who were working in the latter country are safe. That includes Winnipegger Andrea Shalay, the charity’s peace engagement co-ordinator for Europe. Shalay and three other staff, all Americans, were evacuated from Ukraine more than a week ago. “I had just 36…
Mennonites, Catholics reunite Ontario family
A family separated by illness is being reunited through the joint efforts of the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Ontario Unit and the Roman Catholic Knights of Columbus. Through the project, Marc and Carole Jobin and their nine children will be able to live together in the same house after the family was separated three years…
How do churches practise creation care?
A global survey conducted by Mennonite World Conference (MWC) shows that Mennonite-Anabaptist congregations around the world are being impacted by environmental issues such as climate change in diverse ways, are feeling anxious and sad due to those impacts, and are talking about creation care in their churches. To find out how churches are responding, the…
Watch: MWC looks back on 2021
If you’re curious about what Mennonites around the world were up to in 2021, look no further than Mennonite World Conference’s (MWC) year-in-review video. Released at the end of December, the five-minute video explores the ways the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family strengthened relationships through local gatherings and international webinars. Significant attention is paid to ongoing preparations…
MC Canada invites submissions for virtual choir
Mennonite Church Canada is putting together a virtual choir for Gathering 2022, and you are invited to join. The choir will record “Greater Things Than These,” a song that Winnipeg pastor and songwriter Phil Campbell-Enns composed for the event. The song starts with a reflection on Jesus’ birth before meditating on the notion that Canadian…
Watch: How to read church financial statements
Regional churches are preparing to hold their annual gatherings in the coming weeks, and Mennonite Church Manitoba is offering a resource for delegates who are feeling anxious about discussing financial matters. In a video posted on the regional church’s YouTube channel last week, MC Manitoba executive minister Michael Pahl offers a brief introduction to reading…
MC Canada leaders denounce white nationalism
The day after thousands of truckers and other protesters converged on Parliament Hill to call for an end to COVID-19 mandates and other public health restrictions, Mennonite Church Canada’s executive ministers released a statement decrying the white nationalism being expressed at related protests that are springing up across the country. Released Sunday, Jan. 30, the…
