Picturing her calling
What she really wanted was a party, but pandemic realities prompted Lois Siemens to find another creative way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her ordination. Superb Mennonite Church, near Kerrobert, Sask., called Siemens to ministry, and she was ordained there on Jan. 9, 2011. Today she lives in Saskatoon, where she serves as spiritual-care…
‘We had a huge spike’
When COVID-19 struck last March, farmers who sell food directly to customers saw a rush on their products. “It seemed like people were just googling farms to go right to the source,” said Sarah Martin-Mills of Growing Hope Farm in Cambridge, Ont. “We had a huge spike,” said Ben Martens Bartel of Grovenland Farm near…
Living in the moment (during COVID-19)
Even in the midst of a pandemic, six young adults from Germany and France chose to continue with their plans to serve with Mennonite Voluntary Service Adventure in Lethbridge. They arrived last fall, and one more youth was to join them at the end of January after quarantining for two weeks. Maj-Britt Becker of Karlsruhe,…
‘A marathon of uncertainty’
If you pivot enough times, it becomes dancing. And over this past year, Willowgrove found that, despite its Mennonite roots, it has taken to dancing quite naturally. Johnny Wideman, Willowgrove’s executive director, only took the helm this past February, having just three weeks in the office before the COVID-19 lockdown. “I was amazed by the…
Grief and loss
In the late hours of a wintry night, a cold wind blew hard up the valley. It howled from an unusual direction, bending tree and limb. Under the unaccustomed pressure, seemingly sturdy trees gave way to the unyielding force, grasping desperately to the earth as their mass was moved inexorably to the ground. With a…
Squeah summer camp season uncertain
After last year’s cancellation of summer camp due to the pandemic, staff at Mennonite Church B.C.’s Camp Squeah are hopeful that a regular camping season can resume in summer 2021. Gatherings such as group camps are currently prohibited in B.C. A decision on overnight camping is conditional on restrictions being lifted and operational plans approved…
Keeping the excitement of camping alive
Last year marked Camp Elim’s 75th anniversary, but it was a challenging year for us. Our plans for running camp as normal were quickly thwarted with the looming pandemic. By mid-May, it became apparent that we would not be able to operate our camper program due to government restrictions forcing the closure of overnight summer-camp…
A chance to try new ideas
As I reflect on a year of “being camp” during COVID-19, I hear Psalm 32: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” We have seen the waters of uncertainty surging. We have experienced fear, loss, disorientation and anger. At…
‘Love thy neighbour’
Innovation, creativity and pivoting were key strengths that non-profit organizations used in 2020, especially if their main revenue streams involved gathering people together in large groups. At Youth Farm Bible Camp, we quickly adapted in the middle of our fundraising season to be a safe place from which to deliver groceries and meals. We cancelled…
Two-week music camp being planned
Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC) is a two-week camp hosted at Conrad Grebel University College, offering teenagers aged 12 to 16 an opportunity to explore both music and faith. Much of a typical day at camp is spent making music together in choir, small ensembles or around evening campfires. Everyone arrives at camp playing a…
