Weekly News

Welcome! Here you will find all the news and events that your congregation will need for the week - MCEC in Prayer, Event Highlights, Mennonite Church Canada Updates, Announcements. Check out the hot buttons to ministry opportunities and pastoral transitions. Administrative Assistants: make sure to see the Bulletin Cut and Paste below.  Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates. New items will begin to appear on Monday and the newsletter will come to your inbox on Wednesday.

Previous Editions of Weekly Bulletin              Bulletin Cut & Paste

MCEC in Prayer 

  1. Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Hamilton Mennonite Church. Myrna Miller Dyck provides pastoral care for this congregation. Please pray for this congregation as they share God's grace and live God's peace.

  2. Laurel Rounds Fretz will be Licensed Toward Ordination at Community Mennonite Fellowship on April 21, 2024. Pray for Laurel and the congregation as they celebrate her calling to ministerial leadership. To share your words of encouragement and support with Laurel, you can reach her at pastorlaurel@cmfdrayton.ca.

  3. Pray for the MCEC Annual Church Gathering taking place next weekend in Leamington, ON. Pray for those preparing, those who are travelling. May we be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus as we worship and work together.

  4. Continue to pray for Myanmar, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and throughout a world that cries for peace. Pray for those who are displaced, those who search for family members, those who make decisions and those who attempt to provide aid. Lord, hear our prayers.

MCEC Latest News

Lisa Williams Marks 25 Years at MCEC
Apr 17th, 2024

Lisa Williams Marks 25 Years at MCEC

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Lisa Williams, Director of Communications, at MCEC.  The staff at MCEC surprised Lisa with a celebration party, including flowers, a gift, a toast, tributes and treats. During the sharing time, MCEC staff noted Lisa’s dedication and alignment to MCEC’s mission, vision and values, her willingness to help and support, her strong gift of language, her vast institutional knowledge, and her pastoral presence in the office.


Read more

Message from our Eco-Minister
Apr 10th, 2024

Message from our Eco-Minister

April is Earth Month! How is your congregation exploring its relationship with God’s good earth? Are you deepening your awareness of how environmental concerns are discipleship issues? I’m happy to highlight some resources and ideas for your ministry and congregational life for this month and beyond:

Worship Resources & Sunday School Resources
Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle
Consider the Birds

Read more

Consider the Birds: Point Pelee Pre-ACG Contemplative Nature Walk April 26
Mar 27th, 2024

Consider the Birds: Point Pelee Pre-ACG Contemplative Nature Walk April 26

Join MCEC Eco-Minister Wendy Janzen for an afternoon excursion to Point Pelee National Park. The park is just 16 km south of UMEI, and is famous for the spring bird migration. Come and enjoy the unique Carolinian forest, the Lake Erie shoreline, spring wildflowers, and whatever birds and wildlife we find.

Friday, April 26
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Read more

Upcoming Events

MCEC Financial Zoom Call

MCEC Financial Zoom Call

Apr 17th, 2024

April 17, 2024, 7-8 p.m., online.

Meet Laurie Castello, our new Operations and Finance Director! Richard Steinmann, Audit & Finance Committee chair, Laurie Castello and John Head, interim operations and finance director, will present the internal financial statements. This online Zoom conversation provides an early opportunity to ask questions ahead of the Annual Church Gathering.

More Information
Annual Church Gathering 2024

Annual Church Gathering 2024

Apr 26th, 2024

Inspired by Hope

Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus, hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God when we meet together as a family of congregations.

We anticipate and celebrate full participation from congregations as delegate discussion and decision will be on both Friday evening and Saturday. Join us on Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and again on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

April 26 & 27, 2024
UMEI Christian Highschool, Leamington, ON

More Information
Special Delegate Voting Meeting 2024

Special Delegate Voting Meeting 2024

Jun 13th, 2024

This special delegate meeting is a VOTING meeting to vote on acceptance of MCEC's audited financial statements for year end January 31, 2024 and to vote on approval of a financial auditor for the fiscal year ending January 2025.

Laurie Castello, MCEC’s new operations and finance director, and Rich Steinmann, chair of MCEC’s Audit and Finance Committee, will present the audited financial statements. Ed Simon, MCEC’s auditor, will also be present. We anticipate this will be a short delegate meeting. Please be assured that this delayed vote is still in full compliance with the legal requirements of the annual meeting.

More Information
  • Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
    - Practical Leadership Training modules
  • Anabaptist Worship Network
    - Reimagining Communion - May 7
  • Canadian Mennonite University
    - Spring at CMU
    - The MHC Gallery
    - Join the CMU team
  • COMPASS Refugee Centre
    - Board Recruitment
    - Good Neighbour Teams
    - Virtual Boarder Rights Clinic
    - Open Door
  • Conrad Grebel University College
    - Nurturing Spirituality and Creativity in Those Living with Dementia
    - Ontario Mennonite Music Camp
  • MCEC Community of Faith
    -     Waterloo North Mennonite Church - Mennonite Action sessions in April
    - Mennonite Young Adults - Worship Night / Bible Study / Bob Ross Paint Night
    -     Breslau Mennonite Church presents Godspell
    - The Church at Nairn - Renewing Rural Worship Series
    -     Woolwich Grey Mennonite Cluster Area Seniors Fellowship
  • Rockway Mennonite Collegiate
    - Grade 7-12 Information Night
  • Willowgrove and Fraser Lake
    - Willowgrove Work Bee and Pizza Party

More Information

Mennonite Church Canada

young adults surrounding big initials GYSGlobal Youth Summit
May 30 - June 1, 2025
Germany

Mennonite Church Canada is looking for 5 young adults (one per regional church) interested in representing us at the Mennonite World Conference Global Youth Summit in Germany from May 30 – June 1, 2025. Application deadline is April 15!

More information and to apply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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International Witness

Watch for opportunities to meet Mennonite Church Canada Witness worker, Tom Poovong, together with Thai colleagues, Pastor Khamphan and Pastor Thipphawan in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta during the month of April.  Pray for the relationships being built and connections made in this travel.  During their time in Ontario, April 4-9, Norm Dyck and Yoel Masyawong from the MCEC team will be hosting them as they meet with congregations, Conrad Grebel and the Lao Mennonite Fellowship of Canada. View greetings from Pastor Khamphan.


Discover More

Climate Action &
Indigenous Relations:

April 21-28 is Earth Week 2024 – Let's get on the map! MC Canada partner in climate action – For the Love of Creation – has invited us to join a nation-wide movement through local actions across the country to pray, learn, and act! Learn more.    

MCC Climate Action For Peace also invites us to a whole month of Daily Climate Action!  

Indigenous Relations:

In September 2023, the regional church leaders within Mennonite Church Canada, joined the voices of our siblings in Christ calling for justice for Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran and for an end to the violence against Indigenous women, children, and Two-Spirit people. The Harris and Myran families continue to call all levels of government to search the landfill. On March 29th (1pm PST), a virtual 'prayer as action' hour will be held with updates on how to support Camp Morgan and hold MMIWG families in the Light. Register to attend. 

Discover More

CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre

We celebrate! 2024 marks a significant milestone in CommonWord’s history – it was 50 years ago, in 1974, that the Conference of Mennonites in Canada hired its first Resource Centre staff person. Dan Dyck has written a short historical paper to recognize 50+ years of service.  Read the paper.  

Buy any title from your bookstore. Contact us for your next book purchase – info@commonword.ca or 1-877-846-1593.

Church Year Resources 

Materials to buy, borrow or access online:

Discover More

Quick Links               Ministry Opportunities     Pastoral Transitions     Guest Speakers

 

Bulletin Cut and Paste

Administrators: Thank you for sharing the MCEC story with your congregations. Please continue offering valuable feedback on how we can tailor announcements to empower you in your ministry.

Prayers:

  1. Please pray for the MCEC community of congregations. This week we pray for Hamilton Mennonite Church. Myrna Miller Dyck provides pastoral care for this congregation. Please pray for this congregation as they share God's grace and live God's peace.

  2. Laurel Rounds Fretz will be Licensed Toward Ordination at Community Mennonite Fellowship on April 21, 2024. Pray for Laurel and the congregation as they celebrate her calling to ministerial leadership. To share your words of encouragement and support with Laurel, you can reach her at pastorlaurel@cmfdrayton.ca.

  3. Pray for the MCEC Annual Church Gathering taking place next weekend in Leamington, ON. Pray for those preparing, those who are travelling. May we be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus as we worship and work together.

  4. Continue to pray for Myanmar, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and throughout a world that cries for peace. Pray for those who are displaced, those who search for family members, those who make decisions and those who attempt to provide aid. Lord, hear our prayers.

Bulletin Announcements:

  1. Solar Eclipse Glasses Collection - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Bring your solar eclipse glasses to the MCEC Annual Church Gathering for collection. They will be distributed to school children in developing countries in preparation for upcoming eclipses. Collect them in your congregation and send them with your delegates to the MCEC Annual Church Gathering in Leamington, ON at the end of April. A collection bin will be at the Creation Care Resource Group display table.

  2. Annual Church Gathering, April 26 & 27, 2024, Leamington, ON. Inspired by Hope. Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus. What is your wild and inspired hope for MCEC? Hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God. Doug Klassen, celebration of ten years of ministry impact with Legacy Initiatives Fund; welcome new congregations and more! Registration is open in both English and French.

  3. Worship Sessions at Annual Church Gathering, April 26 & 27, 2024 - Are you local to Leamington? Come to MCEC's Annual Church Gathering worship sessions and worship with the MCEC community of faith. Inspiring worship begins at 6:30 on Friday evening and will include a sermon by Doug Klassen, congregational and pastoral milestones, Legacy Initiatives Fund ministry impact and more. Join us Saturday afternoon at 2:15 for our concluding worship which will include communion and reflection on what our wild and inspired hope is for MCEC. All are welcome. Upon arrival, please check in at the registration table. No payment required.

  4. Consider the Birds: Point Pelee Pre- MCEC Annual Church Gathering Contemplative Nature Walk, Friday, April 26, 2024, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Point Pelee National Park - Join MCEC Eco-Minister Wendy Janzen for an afternoon excursion to Point Pelee National Park. The park is just 16 km south of UMEI, and is famous for the spring bird migration. Come and enjoy the unique Carolinian forest, the Lake Erie shoreline, spring wildflowers, and whatever birds and wildlife we find. More information at mcec.ca.

Nationwide Web-Hub - All MCEC congregations are welcome to join

If you are considering a change to your website, definitely consider the new nationwide web hub. It is much more than a web building tool. Contact Lisa Williams , Director of Communications, for more info.

Click below for information about the features, pricing, testimonials and links to launched websites.

Hub Information

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