Ministries Commission’s mandate is to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ, to the world and people around us. The attitudes and activities taking shape through the efforts of Walking the Path are a prime example. Relationship building with our Indigenous neighbours sometimes leads to joint activities, most recently partnering with RJC in education and sports. Church Planting initiatives through Josh and Cindy Wallace will create new energies for persons on the edges of a faith community. International Witness practices reconciliation through varieties of partnerships between international and local personnel. Please pray for greater clarity in our responses to the human and natural invitations around us.
Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the novel coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency, Mennonite World Conference - MWC is calling on Anabaptist and Mennonite congregations around the world to unite in prayer and to exercise precautionary measures in the church.
“Pray for people who are isolated, afraid or ill, especially in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and mainland China,” says César García, MWC general secretary. “Pray for wisdom for Chinese government and health authorities working to contain the outbreak, and for courage, compassion and safety for healthcare workers who work tirelessly to save lives.”
MWC also calls for prayer for wisdom for all governments and health authorities working to prevent the spread of the virus, that they act with compassion and caution.
Participating in this six-week experience will take you on a journey of discovery and challenge.
As you pray with the scripture texts for Lent, you will be invited to consider how God
is present in the gritty or difficult places in life in order to find grace and hope.
Visit www.commonword.ca/go/1436 to participate.
It's finally here! The new MC Sask Website is up and running! Go to www.mcsask.ca and check it out! More features still to come....keep watching
Feb 31 Silent Retreat For some, home is a place of refuge, a warm comforting stay marked by memories of safety, security and love. For others, home may be a more difficult journey: a place of loneliness, denial and pain. We invite you to explore with us the peace that rests patiently within... Come join us! For details go to https://mcsask.ca/event/8596-2020-02-29-silent-retreat
RJC Choirs & Cakes - March 15 @ 7:00pm, RJC Auditorium. Come for an evening of desserts and choral music as we auction off cakes in support of Rosthern Junior College. Featuring performances by Coro Nova, RJC ManChoir, & RJC Singers. Tickets not required. Rush seating. Call (306) 232-4222 if you have any questions.
Coro Nova Spring Concert - March 28th - 7:00pm at Knox United Church. Growing from choral experiences in RJC, Sonrisa, and A Buncha Guys this new choir continues to sing in community. Please join us for an evening of song!
Tuesday, March 31st - 5:00-7:00 - 28th Annual Youth Farm Bible Camp Vereniki Supper. Location is Rosthern Mennonite Church. Come out and have some delicious vereniki and sausage. Admission by donation. Posters and more information is at www.yfbc.com/VerenikiandSausageFundRaiser
Ministries Commission’s mandate is to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ, to the world and people around us. The attitudes and activities taking shape through the efforts of Walking the Path are a prime example. Relationship building with our Indigenous neighbours sometimes leads to joint activities, most recently partnering with RJC in education and sports. Church Planting initiatives through Josh and Cindy Wallace will create new energies for persons on the edges of a faith community. International Witness practices reconciliation through varieties of partnerships between international and local personnel. Please pray for greater clarity in our responses to the human and natural invitations around us.
Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the novel coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency, Mennonite World Conference - MWC is calling on Anabaptist and Mennonite congregations around the world to unite in prayer and to exercise precautionary measures in the church.
“Pray for people who are isolated, afraid or ill, especially in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and mainland China,” says César García, MWC general secretary. “Pray for wisdom for Chinese government and health authorities working to contain the outbreak, and for courage, compassion and safety for healthcare workers who work tirelessly to save lives.”
MWC also calls for prayer for wisdom for all governments and health authorities working to prevent the spread of the virus, that they act with compassion and caution.
MC Canada updates
Mennonite Church Canada selects young adult reps for GYS 2021
Five young adults will represent Mennonite Church Canada’s regional churches at Global Youth Summit in Salatiga, Indonesia, from July 2-5, 2021. The successful applicants are:
Andrew Klassen Brown (Mennonite Church Manitoba)
Madison Harms (Mennonite Church Saskatchewan)
Rebecca Janzen (Mennonite Church Alberta)
Christen Kong (Mennonite Church Eastern Canada)
Ashley Rempel (Mennonite Church British Columbia).
These representatives will attend the summit, which takes place four days before the 18th Mennonite World Conference Assembly. Read the full release.
Witness worker starting peace journal in South Korea Bock Ki Kim engages in peace work in different ways and different places in his community. This year, starting the Peace Journal, a quarterly national-level magazine, is one of his important projects. Pray for the editorial committee to sense the needs of the Korean peninsula.
Prayer: for wisdom in launching the first edition, adequate funding, networking and creative ideas.
MCEC congregation builds relationships in Philippines Thank God for the amazing learning and connecting opportunities experienced in the Philippines by a group from East Zorra Mennonite Church (MCEC). Dann and Joji Pantoja, the PeaceBuilders, Inc., community and many of their Indigenous co-workers hosted this group as they grew in knowledge and relationships. Read more here.
Prayer: that God will use these partnerships to help us grow in love and understanding of each other.
Mennonite Church Canada explores relationship on West Bank Mennonite Church Canada International Witness, together with the Palestine Israel Network, is exploring ways to walk more closely with the Bethlehem Bible College.
Prayer: that this relationship will be transformative for us as a Canadian church as we journey together with West Bank Christians, especially in these days of political uncertainty in the region.
Coronavirus affecting workers in China Pray for George and Tobia Veith who remain in Malaysia after a conference because of travel restrictions and closed universities in China because of the coronavirus. Pray for the sick and all those affected by this unprecedented disruption to their lives. Read the full release.
News from our partners
Mennonite Mission Network Latin America director Linda Shelly writes: A Chilean congregation received an opportunity to build a church in a new neighborhood and in order to raise money works together every Friday night making French fries from 100 pounds of potatoes to sell on the street, and then on Saturday preparing lunches to sell at the market. Pray that congregations like this who commit to following Jesus with their whole lives will reflect God’s light and love in their communities.
ISR organizing bus journey to NAIITS 2020 Mennonite Church Canada’s Indigenous-Settler Relations (ISR) is organizing a bus journey to take 50 Indigenous and settler persons to this year’s NAIITS gathering in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—June 4-6, 2020. Would you like to join us? NAIITS is a Christian Indigenous Learning Community that hosts theological gatherings intended for pastors and activists, young and old. ISR wants to bring a diverse group of friends from across our nationwide church to attend this event that will explore “Conversations on Health and Wholeness.” The bus ride from Winnipeg is free, registration is covered, and we’re looking to crash at a local church (dorm rooms are an option, but at your own expense). If interested, please e-mail Steve Heinrichs for more details (sheinrichs@mennonitechurch.ca). It’s going to be a lot of fun!
News from our partners
CPT offers resources for solidarity action with Wet’suwet’en Christian Peacemaker Teams has been invited to accompany the land defenders in Wet'suwet'en territory and document the actions of the RCMP while supporting nonviolent resistance to the pipeline. We need you! Our presence in Wet'suwet'en is reliant on your financial support. Join us in partnership through www.cpt.org/donate OR send a cheque to Christian Peacemaker Teams, 103 Bellevue Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2N8. A
Download CPT’s Faith Action Toolkit for ideas on how to support and stand with Wet'suwet'en.
Worship Calendar:
Feb 20 World Day of Social Justice - www.commonword.ca/go/1690
Feb 23 Transfiguration Sunday – www.commonword.ca/go/1886
Feb 26 Ash Wednesday - www.commonword.ca/go/1691
Mar 8 World Women’s Day - www.commonword.ca/go/1692
Mar 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination-
- www.commonword.ca/go/1693
Mar 22 World Water Day - www.commonword.ca/go/1694
Apr 5 Palm Sunday - www.commonword.ca/go/1463
Apr 7 World Health Day - www.commonword.ca/go/1324
Apr 9 Maundy Thursday - www.commonword.ca/go/1462
Apr 10 Good Friday - www.commonword.ca/go/1461
Apr 12 Easter - www.commonword.ca/go/1460
Apr 22 Earth Day - www.commonword.ca/go/1733
Abuse response and prevention
CommonWord is proud to be partnering with Mennonite Central Committee on their new website www.abuseresponseandprevention.ca. This website provides resources so that churches can become a place of healing for those in need. This Canadian-based website addresses various types of abuse, offering definitions, guidelines and additional resources for individuals and communities of faith.
Cheaper By the Dozen:
Cheaper by the Dozen is a bulk loan option for pastors, librarians and church committees to preview new materials, host thematic displays over several weeks, or circulate items within the congregation. You’ll receive 12 different loan items to keep on hand for an extended period of six weeks. For more information on this great opportunity visit www.commonword.ca/go/1584.
2020 Lenten Guided Prayer Experience
Participating in this six-week experience will take you on a journey of discovery and challenge. As you pray with the scripture texts for Lent, you will be invited to consider how God is present in the gritty or difficult places in life in order to find grace and hope. Visit www.commonword.ca/go/1436 to participate.
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