‘It’s all worship’

Representatives of 107 congregations from Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick gathered at Steinmann Mennonite Church for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada’s annual church gathering on April 26 and 27, framed around the theme of “Deepening our relationship with God.” 

There were opportunities to sing and pray, eat and socialize, listen and share, reflect, discern and make decisions. According to David Martin, the regional church’s executive minister, “It’s all worship,” as delegates look for and name God’s mission and vision in all the church does. 

April Yamasaki, writer and pastor from British Columbia, used Psalm 27 to explore what a deeper relationship with God might look like. Noting the direct language in the psalm, she encouraged people to come to God just as they are in days of trouble as well as when things are going well. It is not enough to talk about God, like in the first six verses of the psalm, but it is also important to dialogue with God, like in the remaining verses. The psalm leaves room for lamenting and waiting for God’s timing, but in the end it moves to a place of trust in God. 

Worship leaders Mike Erb and Anneli Loepp Thiessen, part of the team developing Voices Together, a new collection of songs and worship resources for Mennonite churches, led singing from this collection, with support from an ensemble of musicians.

MC Eastern Canada staff and volunteers celebrated being in church together and the many ways God is at work among and through them. 

Two congregations were welcomed into full membership in MC Eastern Canada:

- Refuge de Paix, Sherbrooke, Que., a Spanish-speaking congregation ministering to Hispanic refugees.

- Markham Christian Worship Centre, Markham, Ont., a Tamil-speaking congregation with roots in Sri Lanka, that shares space with two other Mennonite churches. 

Gratitude and prayers of blessing were offered to Brian Bauman, MC Eastern Canada’s mission minister for 16 years, who plans to retire in December. Bauman helped to sharpen mission priorities of making disciples, planting churches, welcoming new Canadian churches and working alongside marginalized communities. He encouraged calling leaders out of these communities and shifting toward a perspective of “mission with” instead of “mission to.”

Norm Dyck was introduced and blessed as the new mission minister. His passion and experience in disciple-making and cross-cultural relationships were highlighted. Currently serving as mission engagement minister with the regional church, Dyck called for “truly reciprocal relationships,” recognizing that “God is already present and active in communities, neighbourhoods and street corners.” 

Church business and reports

This is the first full year of the restructured relationship between the five regional church bodies and MC Canada, with emphasis on the local congregation as the foundational body for worship, nurture and mission. Living into the new structure is still a work-in-progress, but Henry Paetkau, interim executive minister of MC Canada, cited improved communications and stronger regional churches as early benefits. 

Jason Martin, director of International Witness for MC Canada, reassured delegates that International Witness work continues despite funding changes. He clarified that at least half comes through “relational funding” generated by Witness Support Teams that form relationships with workers, generate financial support from local churches, and offer advocacy and communication links. The remainder comes from MC Canada. He also showed a video introducing several workers and what they do. 

Sean East, MC Eastern Canada’s financial manager, noted that balancing the books for last year meant drawing on revenues from special funds, something that won’t be possible in the future, as those funds will be depleted. He presented a $2.3 million budget for the coming year, explaining that due to a $100,000 decline in undesignated contributions from churches to the operations of the regional church last year—part of a half-million-dollar decline in the past decade—some cuts will be made this year to external partners, like camps and schools, and some administrative staff time. Delegates approved the proposed budget.

Arli Klassen, MC Eastern Canada’s moderator, led delegates through the process of approving an updated set of bylaws to reflect new legal requirements and clarity around membership. 

MC Eastern Canada leaders share their passions for peace, justice, youth ministry 

By Janet Bauman
Eastern Canada Correspondent
Baden, Ont.

At Mennonite Church Eastern Canada’s church gathering on April 26 and 27, delegates heard reports from staff and volunteers passionate about recent initiatives:

• Attendees heard a report from representatives of the newly formed Truth and Reconciliation Coordinating Group. At last year’s gathering, attendance at an exploratory meeting demonstrated that many people in MC Eastern Canada want to respond to the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As a result, four regional TRC working groups were formed to connect with their Indigenous neighbours in a variety of ways. Inspired by Jesus, coordinating group representatives called people to “offer our loaves and fishes” to counteract denial, shame and powerlessness in the face of a huge challenge.
• Representatives from the Palestine/Israel Working Group reported on how it has worked at education and advocacy by hosting lectures and training in a land exercise similar to the Kairos blanket exercise used in education about Indigenous history in Canada. The group sees the church as an heir to the original mission of God, through the Israelites, to be a blessing to all the people of the Earth, including the Palestinians.
• Marilyn Rudy-Froese, church leadership minister, and Jean Lehn Epp shared an update on the discernment process begun around youth ministry after calls for support in this area. Lehn Epp, hired a year ago as interim coordinator of youth ministry resources, hosted a one-day consultation on April 6, to address the challenges of inviting youth into active church participation. They concluded that “programs are not enough,” and developed a “provocative proposition” for this important work going forward: “Investing in intentional, unconditional relationships with youth, walking with them towards a fearless faith in Christ Jesus.” 

Lehn Epp’s contract was extended for another year, in part to lead a youth ministry “dream team” in a year of discernment and living into what this proposition means. Lehn Epp said, “We lit a fire, and we won’t let it go out.” 

Further reading:
MC Alberta embraces new life, hope and possibilities
Considering bylaws and budgets
MC Manitoba works through change at annual delegate gathering
B.C. delegates engage together in 'God's mission'