A teachable moment
Have we learned anything about resolving church conflict in the past 50 years? After reading the painful account of the German/English language dissension resulting in several congregational splits (“Changing the language of worship is a test of love,” page 4), our faith community should take a contemplative look at how to redeem this blot on…
Connecting through God
Marty and Chelsea Misener run church youth groups at either end of the Niagara Peninsula, and have seen the impact of youths on the elderly, and vice versa. As Bethany Mennonite Church’s associate pastor since March 2009, Marty oversees the church’s young people’s group in Virgil, where they annually go carolling at Heritage Place, the…
The Long Fall Back to Earth
In my last post, entitled “In Defense of Christian Contemporary Music” I gave my opinion and perspective on Christian pop, rock and worship music. I also promised to review several albums that have been formative for me. Near the end of my last post I wrote, “(t)he artists that most speak to me are gifted…
Learning why
When campers first roll down our narrow road into the tall, tall trees, they are usually thinking about themselves: Will I have fun? Will I be scared? When they return, they often begin to think about the people that surround them: Who will be my counsellor? Will the kids in my cabin be nice? When…
Growing a business during the pandemic
It was at the end of February 2020 that Lydia Rekrut shook hands with the owner of a floral shop in Thorold, Ont., and bought the business, which included the stock and equipment. March was spent relocating to another building and doing renovations. The official opening was to be April 1, 2020. And then the…
Toews adaptation a poignant, honest look at grief
Toward the end of All My Puny Sorrows, Lottie (Mare Winningham) sits in her Toronto apartment comforting her sobbing daughter, Yoli (Alison Pill), noting, “The pain of letting go of grief is just as painful—even more painful—than the grief itself.” This sentiment colours the film’s entirety. At its core, the movie, based on Miriam Toews’s…
Readers write: April 28, 2014 issue
NHL players miss a ‘coachable’ moment Re: “It’s all part of the game,” Feb. 17, page 33. I attended the event held at Peace Mennonite Church, Richmond, B.C., at which Mike Fisher and Nick Spaling from the Nashville Predators were interviewed by Willard Metzger of Mennonite Church Canada, and I even stood in line to…
The unend of this story
How many sermons do you remember from 25 years ago? Likely not many. Even the most meaningful and formative sermons from long ago tend to fade and become less a specific memory and more an unrecallable influential moment; a ripple whose impact remains but becomes indistinguishable the further life goes beyond that moment. I’m sure…
The mission-shaped home
During a worship gathering my four-year-old daughter was smitten by the arrival of snacks. The samples of juice and bread coming our way grabbed her attention and probably reminded her of that lady who passes out similar bite-sized temptations at the grocery store. Enviously watching as I took a small cup and a less than…
