(Graphic by Betty Avery)
Perfection
In response to various recent articles and letters about banning and cancel culture: Most of what I’ve seen, heard or read about cancel culture appears to define it as the denigration of those whose actions or ideas may fall short of perfection, by those who believe they have attained it.
—John Hildebrand, Mississauga, Ont.
Kirsten Hamm-Epp (right) and her mom, Marilyn Houser Hamm. (Supplied photo)
These days I’ve been thinking about youth and the church. Connecting youth to the church is a passion of mine, and I’m fortunate that the wonderful people of Saskatchewan see fit to pay me to do this work. I am also fortunate to have had a number of people invest significant time encouraging me to live into my passion and work for the church.
(Photo: The Canadian Mennonite / Mennonite Archives of Ontario)
By 1961, men’s groups in General Conference churches had proliferated to the point where a national organization, “Mennonite Men of Canada,” was formed. Here, in 1962, are executive members Henry M. Dick (Calgary), Carl Ens (Saskatoon) and Ted Friesen (Altona, Manitoba). Men’s groups met for fellowship, service projects and to run boys’ clubs.
Olfert cousins, gathered at Aunt Anne’s funeral. (Supplied Photo)
Recently, another of my old aunts died. Aunt Anne was my dad’s sister. The Olfert family was a large one, with six boys and six girls. Three sisters and a brother remain.
Aunt Anne was a grand old lady, who carried the family trait of great determination. Her life was often not easy. A long-time widow, she had also buried two of her children.
(Photo by Tumisu from Pixabay)
This column is going to attempt two tasks, because, well, everything is connected! As usual, I may be trying to do too much—let’s see!
First of all, May is mental health month. Several years ago, I wrote about my own mental health struggles. Of all the columns I have written, it was the scariest of all to send to readers, but also generated the most public and private responses.
(flickr photo by AJ)
I grew up believing that God’s will was specific. God had a plan for my life and I was either living faithfully along that path or veering from it.
(Graphic by Betty Avery)
Reader finds assurance in the Holy Spirit’s presence
Troy Watson has exposed us to the topic of the Holy Spirit among us as believers, in his April 7 column, “Many Christians do not believe in the Holy Spirit.”
(Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/campswithmeanin)
I am looking ahead to my last summer as associate program director of Mennonite Church Manitoba’s Camps with Meaning (CwM) program; my last summer spent travelling to and from Assiniboia and Koinonia; my last summer training and supporting an amazing group of young adults; and my last summer watching staff, volunteers and campers make connections and have ridiculous fun.
(Photo: Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Native Ministries Collection)
This picture is of the Pauingassi Trading Post, located 276 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg and 16 km from the Manitoba and Ontario border.
(Photo by JESHOOTS.COM/Unsplash)
It was Easter Sunday, and after the sun came up over the horizon during our congregational sunrise service, we all tramped inside to share an amazing potluck breakfast spread. My husband Keith landed at a men’s table, and I watched with interest as they became very animated in their discussion.
(Photo by Carolina Pimenta/Unsplash)
When Sarah Kathleen Johnson was an undergraduate student at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ont., she wrote a hymn text based on Psalm 139. More than a decade later, Len Enns, her former choir director at Grebel and a prominent Mennonite composer, would set the text to music, and the pairing would become Voices Together No. 200: “Darkness is not Dark to You, God.”
(Photo by Jackson David/Unsplash)
According to a recent Wall Street Journal-Norc poll, the smallest percentage of Americans (12 percent) said they were “very happy” since 1972. These “very happy” people share a number of common traits. They are more likely to value community, personal relationships and marriage, above things like careers and money.
(Photo by Brett Jordan/Unsplash)
Once upon a time, there was a belief in the Canadian Mennonite church that if it welcomed new people of colour, immigrants and refugees, these newcomers would eventually join and integrate into the church. This was an illusion.
(Graphic by Betty Avery)
The religion of peace
The week the F-35 fighter jet was on the cover (Jan. 30), I had pulled an antique book of sermons off the shelf that my wife had from her grandmother. Published in 1896, it is titled The Message of Peace by R.W. Church. It was written within memory of the U.S. Civil War but prior to the First World War.
(Photo by Tim Hüfner/Unsplash)
Have you ever heard of the 4 Cs? In education, the 4 Cs refer to 21st century learning skills including critical thinking, creative thinking, communicating and collaborating. In my role now, I have been thinking about how Jesus connects to the 4 Cs, and how they can connect to our work in the church and the world around us.
(Photo: Mennonite Heritage Archives)
In 2023, the Mennonite Heritage Archives celebrates 90 years of service to the Mennonite community. It can trace its roots to the Conference of Mennonites in Canada’s annual sessions held June 26-28, 1933, in Gnadenthal (near Plum Coulee, Man.), when Bernhard Schellenberg (1879-1966) was appointed archivist.
(Photo by Michał Parzuchowski/Unsplash)
A recent weekend was exhausting, delightful, enlightening, hilarious, touching . . . and exhausting.
The stars lined up in such a way that we kept our youngest grandchild, seven-year-old Jaxon, here for the weekend. Usually when he’s here, he is accompanied by his two older brothers, but they were busy doing other things.
(Photo by Viridi Green/Unsplash)
A dandelion tattoo festoons my left forearm, a puffball ready to launch its wispy seeds. Asked to speak at one of our congregations one Sunday, I intended to start the children’s feature by showing the tattoo.
“Can you do that?” a friend asked. “Can you show a tattoo in church?”
That exchange is object lesson No. 1, and I will let you decide what to take from it.
(Photo by Ello/Unsplash)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
Despite regular self-reminders of my abundance, I want.
Despite the ongoing conversations with my children about our relative wealth, they want.
Despite overflowing shelves of books and games, and complaining about lack of storage space, and instruments that barely see the light of day, I want.
(Graphic by Betty Avery)
Adjusting to ‘no longer being dominant’
(Photo: Vineland United Mennonite Church / Mennonite Archives of Ontario)
How much can we learn from a list? This image is from a list of Mennonite immigrants from the Soviet Union (Russlaender) living in Vineland, Ont., in 1924. We can see family groupings along with church affiliations. In these early years, Mennonite Brethren and United Mennonites worshipped together. We can also note their housing situation, with many living on the farms of their employer.
The regional churches have identified several key ministry areas which receive nationwide coordination and support from Mennonite Church Canada: International Witness, Indigenous Relations and Climate Action. Most regional churches have volunteer working groups in each of these areas.
(Photo by Daniele Colucci/Unsplash)
I am always interested in the impact of culture on faith, and vice versa. Western culture places a high value on personal agency, the ability to make individual decisions that impact one’s future. Other cultures understand that there are many forces beyond one’s control that limit autonomy, such as extended family needs or unjust political and economic contexts. Of course, both are true.
Doug and June Krehbiel sing “Creation is a Song / Ho’ė enemeohe” from Voices Together.
In Canada, conversations about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples are often at the forefront of community and public life. These discussions extend to our worship practices as we consider how our corporate expressions of praise and community can emulate Jesus by being more just.
(Photo by Joseph Barrientos/Unsplash)
In my eyes, Pauline (a pseudonym) is a more faithful and mature Christian than I am. She embodies the servant-hearted love of Christ. Her life and faith inspire me.
