Tuning out of Advent
Sometimes I wish the perennial efforts to wring some fresh meaning from amidst the hecticness of Advent would abate. It feels like open season for religious cliches and uninteresting comments about busyness, when all I want is silence. But I’m not here to complain. I have found a simple approach to make Advent a…
Actively watching
“I spy with my little eye, something . . . .” Most of you probably know the game. It’s one that has become a fun and important little ritual for me and my three-year-old daughter while I drive her and her sister to daycare in the mornings before work. Although it is only an eight-minute…
What is Mennonite identity and why does it matter?
“Why are you a Mennonite?” That’s the question panellists were asked at the third instalment of Canadian Mennonite’s online discussion series. People on 47 different screens tuned into the Nov. 16 conversation, engaging in a lively back-and-forth with the speakers. Hosted by CM’s Aaron Epp, the event featured three pastors—Justin Sun, Kim Penner and Moses…
Ontario MB leader ousted, two churches suspended
Ed Willms had high hopes when he organized a Sept. 13 event for about 45 pastors and other leaders from the Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (ONMB) to talk about LGBTQ+ welcome and inclusion. Willms, then ONMB’s executive director, wanted to provide a “safe place to listen, learn and hear from each other on…
Youth converge in Essex County
Like many of their peers in Mennonite Church Canada congregations, the youth pastors in Leamington were wondering how to react to declining Sunday school participation and overall shrinking numbers of youth in their churches. Last summer, the youth workers from North Leamington United Mennonite Church, Leamington United Mennonite Church and Faith Mennonite Church, all in…
MC Canada churches receive grants from MDS fund
A Mennonite Church Eastern Canada congregation is among five Canadian churches that received grants this fall from the 2022-23 Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada Spirit of MDS Fund. The purpose of the fund is to assist churches in Canada as they serve and support people in their communities. The Centre Bethesda Mennonite de Quebec congregation…
A welcoming space for U of M students
After two years of online learning during the pandemic, Andrew Enns is finally experiencing in-person learning on the University of Manitoba campus. Enns, a third-year student in the agriculture program, is now making new friends and reconnecting with former friends and acquaintances at the Menno Office. The Menno Office, a U of M campus ministry…
Joy and love: Christmas Eve vigil in Kenya
One of the most outstanding Christmas traditions among communities in Kenya is having vigils popularly know as “Kesha” on Christmas Eve. Most worshippers come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by singing hymns and carols, and even at times recreate the holy event by nativity plays. At midnight, churches ring bells to mark…
Canadian religion by the numbers
Every 10 years Stats Canada collects religious data. Recently, World Vision and WayBase—another Christian organization—partnered to distill the numbers related to changes in religion from 2011 to 2021. Here is a distillation of their distillation. 53 — Percentage of Canadians who identify as Christian (down 14% from 2011) 37 — Percentage of Canadians aged 25 to…
