Three chairs: In, out and up
When I was taking part in the Ontario Jubilee program in soul care and spiritual direction, one of the principles that guided our time together was that everything we did as a whole group happened in a circle. While some of the focal elements at the centre of our circle changed with the themes of…
Moving toward normal
The COVID-19 coronavirus will be with us for a while; that’s what the health experts are saying. What does this mean for our churches and communities? A picture is starting to emerge of what life will look like in the coming months—what some have called the “next normal.” More of us are receiving vaccinations, public…
Readers write: August 16, 2021 issue
‘Big’ farmers can be ‘Christians with a conscience’ too Re: “Germinating conversations,” June 7, page 16. It seems to me that this article has been written with a negative outlook. Will Braun is right when he says that this is more a “rant” than an attempt to consider any other point than his own. It…
Why don’t we talk about evangelism?
He discretely looked to the left, then to the right and said quietly, “Why don’t we talk about evangelism in this denomination?” I grinned and replied, “Ever seen the movie A Thief in the Night?” “No”, he said. I briefly described the 1970s era Christian film depicting a rapture, tribulation and the second coming of…
Der Bote 1924
The German-language periodical Der Bote was begun in Rosthern, Sask., in 1924, to connect Mennonites in Russia, Canada, the United States and Latin America. It had generations of faithful readers, like Mrs. Lepp, pictured. Der Bote recorded the pain and loss of home and loved ones. It provided advice on how to improve farming practices…
What will church look like?
Church is not the building. We’ve heard that often over the last 18 months. But now that some congregations are back in their building, with the rest trying to figure it out, I wonder who will come back? And what will we come back to? I have heard a variety of opinions around me, which…
It’s about to get weird
I was about to take a shower, and for some reason, I looked at myself in the mirror. Rookie mistake. You see, I’ve gained 5.5 kilograms in the last year and, without access to my local gym and trainer for the past 13 months, I’ve lost some muscle mass. As I gazed upon my reflection,…
Fires, COVID-19 affect Kelowna residents
Between fires and a COVID-19 outbreak, residents of Kelowna, B.C., including members of First Mennonite Church, have been doubly hit this summer. Rising cases of COVID-19 in the Central Okanagan region of B.C. have forced the provincial government to declare mandatory masking in indoor public spaces and recommended in crowded outdoor spaces, especially for the…
Gutter cleaning fundraiser for Wi-Fi boosters
Two Mennonite high school students from African countries were interviewed and accepted into the Civic Engagement by Newcomer Youth program last fall through the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. One of the requirements for the participants is to identify a problem or issue in the community they care about and come up with a plan…
