Church communities find solace amid tragic deaths
After our January 28 Sunday morning worship service at Aberdeen Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, our congregation, together with St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Indigenous Church, from whom we rent worship space, held a joint vigil for two young men who died tragic deaths in the area. On December 30, 2023, the body of Brooklyn Elijah Hiebert…
Million-dollar fraud hits Winnipeg church
Members of a Winnipeg church are feeling shocked and bewildered after the revelation that multiple households in the congregation were defrauded of a total of more than $1 million. Leaders at Bethel Mennonite Church informed the congregation last month of the case of affinity fraud—an investment scam based on assumed trust that targets members of…
A safe-ish consumption site
This spring it dawned on me that our front yard occasionally functions as a safe-ish consumption site. Almost 10 years ago we bought a small church in Winnipeg’s West End and renovated it to be our home. The exterior looks basically the same, so from the beginning a trickle of people have assumed it is…
Mennonites join pride parade
Five Mennonite Church Manitoba congregations—more than ever before—officially marched in the Winnipeg pride parade on June 4. Bethel Mennonite Church, First Mennonite Church, Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship, Hope Mennonite Church and Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church all had banners with their names on them in the parade. River East Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation, also took…
Remembering the 1990 MWC assembly in Winnipeg
On this day 30 years ago, Manitoba Mennonites were playing host to a global assembly of Anabaptists. The 12th Mennonite World Conference Assembly took place in Winnipeg, Man. from July 24-29, 1990. The once-every-six-years event drew more than 12,000 registrants, including 1,600 from nearly 70 countries outside of North America. The theme was, “Witnessing to…
A life dedicated to helping others
Nour Ali’s name is known in households across Manitoba because of his passion for helping people and for making the world a better place. On June 13, Ali died in a boating accident on Lake Winnipeg. He was 42. Ali and four others were in a boat on the lake when it took on water…
Rethinking police and policing
The Winnipeg Police Service shot and killed three people in less than two weeks earlier this year. More than ever we need to take care about when we as citizens call the police. More than ever we need to think about the relationship between peace and policing. I have performed many of the ‘criminal’ acts associated with…
Chaplain-turned-pianist brightens personal-care home
WINNIPEG—According to Dr. Bill Thomas, an expert in aging, the three greatest “plagues” facing residents of nursing homes are loneliness, boredom and helplessness—all things unfortunately exacerbated by the current plague of COVID-19. At Donwood Manor, a personal-care home in Winnipeg, that’s where chaplain Lisa Enns, a member of Charleswood Mennonite Church, comes in. Lisa Enns…
Pastor calls for governmental change amid COVID-19
While people and governments alike are sprinting to mitigate the current crisis of COVID-19, David Driedger is starting to run the marathon of addressing its long-term implications. Driedger, associate minister at First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, wrote an open letter calling on all levels of Canadian government to create significant systemic changes now and in…
Winnipeg church welcomes its neighbours
Every Sunday morning at Home Street Mennonite Church, two ushers hand out bulletins and seat guests for the worship service. But an hour earlier, a group of “Third Ushers” is already busy, welcoming in the church’s inner-city neighbours. Third Usher, now called Coffee & Conversation (C&C), has been running for 15 years, providing hospitality through…
