New Hamburg Relief Sale turns 45
The 45th anniversary New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale will take place on May 27 and 28 in the historic arena, grandstand and fairgrounds. Join the more than 15,000 people of all ages who attend annually; there is so much to do, buy and eat! New this year will be a furniture auction on May 27…
Connecting through God
Marty and Chelsea Misener run church youth groups at either end of the Niagara Peninsula, and have seen the impact of youths on the elderly, and vice versa. As Bethany Mennonite Church’s associate pastor since March 2009, Marty oversees the church’s young people’s group in Virgil, where they annually go carolling at Heritage Place, the…
2010 peace bus campaign successful on many counts
During the Mennonite Church Canada assembly in Saskatoon in 2009, the discussion about taking a public stand for peace received a sound workout and the challenge to live out a thousand acts of peace was put to the delegates to consider. As is the case with some Mennonite churches, it takes times to work new…
‘The signs are clear’
Mennonite Church Canada leaders spent much of their spring leadership assembly last month preparing for a smaller national church structure in the near future. “We have done all the tweaking we can do to provide sustainable programming within our current income level,” says general secretary Willard Metzger. “The signs are clear.” He was referring to…
‘The end belongs to God’
Willard Metzger, Mennonite Church Canada general secretary, inspired MC Alberta delegates with the reminder that no matter how difficult things are for the church, “this is not the end; the end belongs to God.” Basing his keynote presentations to the 82nd annual assembly of MC Alberta, held last month at Holyrood Mennonite Church, Edmonton, on…
On the road to Emmaus
In Luke 24, the disciples on the road to Emmaus were confused and discouraged. They had trouble recognizing Jesus. In March of last year, I was a disciple on the road to Emmaus as part of a learning tour in the Holy Land. I was also confused and discouraged by the complexities of the deep…
What could he mean?
“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). Fleeing death Forty years ago this June, I fled from death. The day before the annual Sunday school picnic, my grandfather died of a heart attack. I was almost 10 years old.…
Joyful generosity
In his book Will Our Children Have Faith?, John Westerhoff argues that for future generations of young people and adults to develop Christian faith they will need more than Sunday school. They’ll need a host of opportunities where faith is not only taught but experienced. In the same way, the making of a joyful giver…
Keeping vigil
Our recent journey began in darkness, continued through a day and into more darkness—a winter drive of 28 hours on roads that were at first snowy, then drenched with rain. We had received the call the day before: “Fluid on her lungs . . . palliative care . . . keep her comfortable . .…
