‘Under the tall, tall trees of Camp Valaqua’
From July 31 to Aug 4, 132 youth, sponsors, volunteers, parents and planning committee members from across Canada gathered under the tall, tall trees of Camp Valaqua to learn, worship and fellowship, at the Mennonite Church Canada youth gathering Amplify! Joined by Christy Anderson, our guest speaker, we were challenged to “amplify” the voices of…
Three youths reflect on their experience at Amplify!
Ethan Willms Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend Amplify! at Camp Valaqua. This was an amazing experience for me, and it left me wanting more. The first thing that made this week so enjoyable was the participants. Meeting all different kinds of people from different provinces was…
The power of language
How have you experienced gendered language? Has certain language hurt you or made you feel welcome and safe? These are some of the questions that students reflected on in a recent peer-led survey about Canadian Mennonite University (CMU). Last semester, Jubilee Dueck Thiessen surveyed the CMU student body about experiences of gendered, binary and heteronormative…
Will Braun appointed as CM’s new executive editor
Will Braun will be Canadian Mennonite’s next executive editor. Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service Inc. hired Braun, who has spent the last decade as CM’s senior writer, to lead its magazine and digital news services, beginning on Nov. 1. Braun succeeds Virginia A. Hostetler, who is retiring after five-and-a-half years in the role. Since joining CM…
‘There are no throwaway human beings’
Constance Woloschuk “In some book I read, in the beginning of the book, it said, ‘There are no throwaway human beings.’ That really stood out for me. To me, that meant that all human beings are keepers,” says Constance Woloschuk. It was that spark of insight that led her to volunteering with The Micah Mission…
‘Finding God in uncertain times’
Edmonton First Mennonite Church has a long-standing tradition of holding its fall retreat every Labour Day long weekend at Camp Valaqua. For the first time in two years, members were once again able to come together and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and spend time in each other’s company. While the church had held alternative activities…
Vineland church goes ‘cruising on Menno Street’
“Cruising on Menno Street” was the theme of an outdoor event staged by Vineland United Mennonite Church on Aug. 12. Many restored and polished vintage cars were on display in the church parking lot. Cars were labelled with the name, year, special features and owner’s name. Automobile owners answered visitors’ questions and even gave a…
It’s a ‘God thing’
It is amazing what can happen when a few friends get together. Roger and Laura Tiessen, members of Faith Mennonite Church in Leamington, were touched by events in Ukraine that were unfolding in February and March of this year. They voiced their concerns with friends Brad and Charlotte Lane. Before long, Brad and Roger, their…
Growing old with grace and gratitude
Ingrid Schultz, who recently retired as one of three chaplains at Menno Place in Abbotsford, will never forget the succinct advice one of her instructors told her during chaplaincy training: “Shut your mouth and open your heart.” As she begins her own retirement, Schultz is reflecting on her time opening her heart in ministry to the…
