Part III: Who owns your church building?
This six-part series draws on Kara Carter’s PhD studies, for which she conducted five focus groups with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada pastors. For periods of time during the pandemic, sanctuaries sat empty and congregations scattered, worshipping from home. As in-person gatherings and programming adapted, social media and technology became a vital tool to remain…
Part II: Aging
“My children decided it’s time for me to move out of my house and join a retirement community. I don’t agree. I feel like I have no say anymore. I can still think, but they are not interested in hearing me out.” Sound familiar? This scenario is not uncommon. Aging can put strain on families.…
Turning church inside-out
During her community outreach work, Judith McCartney will typically ask people: “Did you know Christ walked 22,000 miles in his lifetime of ministry?” McCartney believes in venturing outside the church doors and putting on some miles. She’s spent nearly 40 years in ministry and non-profit work, and she worries that churches do not focus enough…
Attending to war
First-hand from Gaza The following is a string of messages received by a reader of Canadian Mennonite who worked in Israel-Palestine. She received the messages on October 30 from a friend in Gaza who lost 19 family members in the bombing two days before. The person has two pre-school sons and is now sheltering in…
A Christian nation?
“We, nosotros, we saved Colombia from being handed over to communists!” Those were the words of a celebrity pastor from a Colombian mega-church, spoken to a cheering crowd in California. That pastor referred to the recent success of a “No” campaign in the popular referendum that voted against implementing a peace agreement in my country.…
Holy optimism
At the time of assuming his new role as executive minister of Mennonite Church B.C. in August, Shel Boese recalls being asked about his vision for MC B.C. “It doesn’t matter what my vision is,” he replied, “we need to determine that together. It needs to be a shared vision.” That philosophy sums up Boese’s…
Charting a path to old age
Getting old was not something I looked forward to. The shift from being someone who gives to someone who receives requires adjustment, but with God’s help we can prepare for getting old gracefully. I kept this in mind when I built my house. It sits on the west slope of Burnaby Mountain, with a beautiful…
Theologian empowers lay leaders at workshop in Saskatoon
Leading worship was the focus of a two-day workshop organized by Mennonite Church Saskatchewan last month. More than 30 pastors and lay leaders attended “Called to Be a Worship Leader” at Nutana Park Mennonite Church in Saskatoon October 19–20. Led by professor and former pastor Carol Penner, the workshop focused on what it means to…
Two ministers ordained in Mennonite Church Saskatchewan
October was a big month for pastoral leadership in Mennonite Church Saskatchewan as two young pastors, Rodney Hennessey and Curtis Wiens, were ordained by their congregations. “It was a great month,” said Gary Peters, the regional church’s interim executive minister. “We’ve certainly had a handful of ordinations in the past few years, but this is…
Altona church connects community members with free monthly meal
Members of a southern Manitoba church are offering the residents of their town a free monthly meal, served with a side of fellowship and fun. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church launched the initiative in September 2022. Anyone who wants a hot meal and time to visit with their neighbours is invited to attend. The hope with…
