Writer engages themes of faith and death
“Faith and death: An evening with Rudy Wiebe” drew an interested crowd to hear the noted Canadian Mennonite author speak at Trinity Western University (TWU) on March 3. Wiebe read from his latest novel, Come Back, a story in which protagonist Hal Wiens processes the death of his son, who committed suicide decades earlier. That…
‘A window into our shared local history’
According to Paul Heidebrecht, director of Conrad Grebel University College’s MSCU Centre for Peace Advancement, “Advancing peace requires many hands. It requires shoulders to lean on, and to stand on. It is sustained by the mundane tasks that make daily life possible. Peace becomes possible when we experience genuine community.” Glimpses of peaceful community experiences…
‘Promoting the telling of stories’
A buzz of conversation filled the Bethany Manor fellowship hall as about 150 people gathered to celebrate the launch of three new books by Saskatchewan authors. Jake Buhler, president of the Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan, which hosted the Feb. 22 event, said that “promoting the telling of stories” is something his organization needs to…
A father’s struggle with his gay son
“It’s a good thing you in the church are discussing homosexuality, because otherwise I don’t think you would be discussing sex at all,” was one of many funny lines Ted Swartz threw to an overflow crowd, acting as a widowed father in his 50s named Daryl in dealing with his son, Jared, “coming out” as…
‘A place in the kingdom’
With brilliant and detailed clarity, Manitoba artist Lynda Toews has painted a series of farm animal portraits that will be on display at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in Winnipeg from March 13 to June 20. “I want to inspire the feeling of holiness in nature because the lack of that feeling can account for…
The winter’s most dangerous film
Film review: American Sniper Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by Jason Hall and Chris Kyle. Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. A Warner Bros. Pictures release, 2014. Rated 14A. Set to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time, American Sniper is this winter’s surprise blockbuster. It is also one of the most dangerous…
‘Bring the wall down’
“Walls became an obsession when I went to Berlin in 2010,” artist Rhonda Harder Epp told the crowd at the opening of her Walls: Arbitrary Impediments art exhibition at King’s University College, Edmonton, last month. In a series of more than 30 oil paintings and paper sculptures, Harder Epp explored ideas of how the barriers…
Normal people doing normal things
When filmmakers get around to showing their work to their family and community, it is usually a past project for them. Such was the case for Rosco Films, whose principals—Jon Steckley, Ken Ogasawara and Trevor Hunsburger—grew up at Shantz Mennonite Church, Baden, Ont. They showed The Volunteer at the Princess Twin Cinema in Waterloo last…
‘What kind of fanatics worship such a God?’
Nine months after Darren Aronofsky’s biblical spectacle, Noah, we get Ridley Scott’s biblical spectacle, Exodus: Gods and Kings. I wasn’t a big fan of Noah, but at least it was original and made some effort to bring a 21st-century perspective to the familiar Sunday school story. No such luck with the disappointing Exodus. Despite the…
Join the fight
Directed by Francis Lawrence. Screenwriters: Peter Craig and Danny Strong. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. A Color Force/Lionsgate release, 2014. Rated PG-13. “Stop the senseless violence. This isn’t the path to change or justice.” According to the rebels in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Pt. 1), the third and weakest film in the Hunger Games…
