The past as prologue
“While Anabaptists affirm the inspiration and trustworthiness of Scripture, we are not strict literalists,” writes Palmer Becker in his just-released book, Anabaptist Essentials. This Canadian pastor, educator and missionary makes his point from no less than our Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, a document being held up as something of a Mennonite creed…
Rolled away
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. I always love this joyful affirmation of life and hope on Easter morning. When it is still grey and cold outside, when the world news is so overwhelmingly negative, when many are dealing with losses and heartache, it is so amazing to be able to say: “Christ is…
Readers write: March 13, 2017 issue
A holy challenge to become living bodies of Christ Re: “A year of re-visioning” editorial, Jan. 2, page 2. Thank you for challenging Mennonite Church Canada to give priority to re-visioning over re-structuring. You may be correct in suggesting that we are in danger of perishing for lack of vision (Proverbs 29:18). On the bright…
A leadership lens on I Corinthians 13
What would the Apostle Paul say to leaders today? This was the question posed to participants at the recent Values-based Leadership Program that I attended. I offer one perspective of what Paul might be saying: 1. If I have the gift of wisdom and the ability to shape my words in eloquent sentences, but have…
What music rankles you?
Do you ever have a Sunday when the church music stinks? In your opinion, at least? Well, that’s the way it should be from time to time. Even though I love singing old hymns, there have been Sundays when I’ve prayed to God that the friend I invited will come next week instead. I’m afraid…
Sharing food with my two families
One of the privileges of living and travelling overseas is that you get to become a part of many different families. I’ve been fortunate to spend significant amounts of time with families in Australia, the Netherlands and Germany, just to name a few. But one of the most special families I have had the honour…
Upside-Down Company Platter
In her story about hospitality, “Sharing food with my two families,” Natasha Krahn describes being served a traditional Palestinian dish turned upside down on a large platter. Here is the recipe as found in the Extending the Table cookbook. In large, heavy saucepan, heat: 1-2 tablespoons / 15-30 ml oil (preferably olive) Add and fry…
Bethesda Home
Staff outside the Bethesda Home in 1965 in Campden, Ont. Bethesda, the first Mennonite mental health facility in North America, was begun in the early 1930s by Henry and Maria Wiebe to serve the Russian Mennonite immigrant community. The Wiebes had gained their experience working at Bethania in Russia, the first Mennonite mental health hospital…
A latecomer’s discovery of MW Canada
For the many years I worked as an educator in several Mennonite institutions, I did not participate in, nor identify with, organized activities of Mennonite Women Manitoba or the national MW Canada. As a young mother who needed the fellowship of other women, I found great meaning in a congregational women’s fellowship group and appreciated…
