MC Alberta calls congregants to prayer with Zoom

July 29, 2020 | News | Volume 24 Issue 16D
Joanne De Jong | Alberta Correspondent
Pastor Caleb Kowalko of Calgary First Mennonite Church is one of the organizers of the MC Alberta Zoom prayer meetings. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Kowalko)

At 7:30 on Monday mornings, members of Mennonite Church Alberta wake up to pray together on Zoom.

Each participant is invited to light a candle, open a print copy of the Anabaptist prayer book, Take our Moments and our Days, or the accompanying digital app, and pull out their Mennonite hymnal for a time of singing. Take our Moments and our Days is designed to be used by individuals or groups for prayer, singing and reflection on scripture.

The prayer-meeting organizers and leaders are Pastor Caleb Kowalko of Calgary First Mennonite Church and Pastor Werner De Jong of Holyrood Mennonite Church in Edmonton, who were surprised to discover they both had the same idea to pray together as a provincial community.

Prayer times are Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. MDT, as well as on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 9 p.m. MDT for 20 minutes. Since June 1, 25 people from MC Alberta churches have signed up to participate. On average, eight to 10 people join each prayer time.

According to regular attender Jake Froese of Trinity Mennonite Church in De Winton, “I am grateful for a new opportunity to gather for prayer with the larger church of Jesus Christ. This is especially meaningful, unifying and peaceful in these days of social distancing and worldwide anxiety.”  

To register for the Zoom prayer times, visit mcab.ca/events. To download the digital Take our Moments and our Days app, visit ambs.edu/publishing/anabaptist-prayer-book and follow the “free download” link.

Do you have a story idea about Mennonites in Alberta? Send it to Joanne De Jong at ab@canadianmennonite.org.

Pastor Caleb Kowalko of Calgary First Mennonite Church is one of the organizers of the MC Alberta Zoom prayer meetings. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Kowalko)

Share this page: Twitter Instagram

Add new comment

Canadian Mennonite invites comments and encourages constructive discussion about our content. Actual full names (first and last) are required. Comments are moderated and may be edited. They will not appear online until approved and will be posted during business hours. Some comments may be reproduced in print.