Spiritual Growth Assistance Fund

Did you know that MW Canada has a scholarship program?  Our Spiritual Growth Assistance Fund (SGAF) assists women with the costs of academic and/or applied study at the Master's level in church related ministries such as seminary, theology, peace and conflict resolution.  All members of a congregation belonging to Mennonite Church Canada are eligible to apply.  Funding may be granted for part of the tuition costs (payable to the institution) at the discretion of the executive of MW Canada. First time applicants are giving priority and applications for continuing support are also considered.  The deadline for applications is June 30.  So if you are interested, or know someone who is, please contact MW Canada by email at presmwcanada@mennonitechurch.ca for an application form or go to our web page at SGAF and download it from there.

Happy Father's Day

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain, 

The majesty of a tree, 

The warmth of a summer sun, 

The calm of a quiet sea, 

The generous soul of nature, 

The comforting arm of night, 

The wisdom of the ages, 

The power of the eagle's flight, 

The joy of a morning in spring, 

The faith of a mustard seed, 

The patience of eternity, 

The depth of a family need, 

Then God combined these qualities, 

When there was nothing more to add, 

He knew His masterpiece was complete, 

And so, He called it ... Dad

Author Unknown

Request for Prayer for the Barkman's

Mennonite Church Canada worker Christina Bartel Barkman has just posted a blog entry about the explosion that rocked the apartment where she lives with her husband Darnell Barkman and their sons Cody and Makai. Thankfully, the Barkmans are unhurt and staying in a hotel, but news reports say that others were injured and falling debris crashed into a passing delivery van, killing the three men inside. Please pray for shalom to settle over the Barkmans and their community.   
(From an MC Canada news release by Deborah Froese)

WMCEC Spring Enrichment Day - April 20, 2013

Surprise!  It’s a snow day!  Even that didn’t daunt 300+ women from attending their Spring Enrichment Day.  This year it was held on Saturday, April 20^th at Tavistock Mennonite Church.  Yes, it was cold outside, but so very warm and welcoming inside.  We began our morning with coffee and muffins, and a lot of socializing.  During the get acquainted and registration time, guests also previewed the display from Mennonite Women Canada, while enjoying a chance to speak with Liz Koop, the president of that group.  Meanwhile at the Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada table, I too had a chance to meet some people while I handed out the Church Rep’s information packet.  These contained WMCEC’s Annual Report Book 2012, the 61^st Annual Report Book 2012 for MW Canada and a copy of Connections Vol. 3, Issue 1 – April 2013.  Any that weren’t picked up that day were taken to MCEC’s event the following Saturday.  Failing to connect there, they would have been mailed.  By now, all should have been received.

Terri J. Plank Brenneman was the featured guest speaker.  She is the author of the Bible Study Guide entitled Wonderfully Made; Women, Faith, and Self-Care.  Terri broke her topic into two sessions 1) Remembering God’s Story, 2) Remembering Our Story.  The following recap cannot do justice to this spiritually uplifting day, but I will try my best.  I truly wish you could have been there.

Terri’s message began with a reminder that we are the resource for the world.  Each of us is uniquely qualified to touch specific lives.  She challenged us to list the Lord’s attributes as seen in various parts of the Bible:  Genesis 1 as the Creator, Genesis 2 as the Parent, as the Promise Keeper to Abraham & Sarah, as the patient Teacher, as the Deliverer, as the Law Giver, etc.  Of the adjectives/descriptors generated record 6 words that best describe God to you.  Record them on a bookmark for later reflection.   “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  Love your God with heart, soul and strength!” was the mantra for the morning.

The afternoon session’s mantra changed to “Hear, O Women of Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your strength.  Learn to love your neighbours and yourself.  Trust in God’s plan for you and your uniqueness!”  With these powerful words, Terri encouraged us to write down 6 attributes, talents, or abilities that we possess on the reverse side of the bookmark begun in the morning.  Those are gifts that come from God.  She reminded us to embrace our own legacy and tell others of our faith stories. Not only will you fed and inspire yourself, but you will transform others, even as they transform you with their stories. We are “nourished and flourished by life.”  Hear, O Women of Faith!         

Acknowledgements and gratitude go out to the Tavistock Mennonite Church for being such gracious hosts, the ladies who prepared and served all the yummy food and beverages, the participants for braving the weather to attend, the hands that typed and copied the program, the pianist – Charlene Zehr, the song leader – Ruth Steinman, the devotional leader – Patricia Wagler, the special music group – Close Connection: Linda Holst, Brenda Wagler, Shirley Yantzi;  WMCEC – Florence Jantzi for Welcome, Invocation and Scripture reading, Kathryn Good for chairing the business session, Lisa Blackburn for Annual Financial Report, Marie Assad for Personnel Committee Report and introducing Dorothy Hamm (Program) and myself, Linda Wiens (Secretary),  MCEC – Brian Bauman for greetings,  MW Canada – Liz Koop MW Canada Report,  MSCU – financial assistance and, of course, our guest speaker - Terri J. Plank Brenneman.   

WMCEC Executive from L-R: Florence Jantzi, Lisa Blackburn, 

Linda Wiens, Dorothy Hamm, Marie Assad, Kathryn Good

Submitted by Linda Wiens 

Our American Sisters

Did you know that we (Mennonite Women Canada) have a counterpart in the US called Mennonite Women USA?  For many years our organizations worked together on various projects.

Some of you might remember the Window to Mission and Timbrel magazines which we produced jointly over many years.  We still jointly publish an Annual Bible Study Guide which is distributed to women's groups and churches across Canada and the US.  The Bible Study Advisory Council, with both Canadian and American representatives, chooses an author and oversees the editing process.  Every third year the author is a Canadian woman.

The 2014 Bible Study Guide, Courageous Women of the Bible, is soon to be released.  Ordering information will be posted here.

For more information about MW USA click here.

MCBC Women's Ministry - Inspirational Day 2013

Finally!

It took some time but it's finally done! 

A full account of our BC Inspirational Day.

Lots of details and lots of pictures and 

you can see and read it all right 

HERE!

Enjoy! ! !

SWM Enrichment Day - April 27

In the following weeks I plan to post write-ups about the various provincial/area meetings that have been held across Canada this spring.  For over 70 years women's groups from each province have met once or twice a year to discuss business, listen to a guest speaker and fellowship with one another.  In the past number of years the women who attend these meetings (and the ones in our local churches) are getting older and there are fewer younger women in attendance.   This has not gone unnoticed and Mennonite Women Canada is constantly being challenged to find ways to encourage the participation of younger women.  --Liz Koop 

Saskatchewan Women in Mission (SWM) celebrated their annual Enrichment Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Eigenheim Mennonite Church with 87 women in attendance. In the foyer, bedding plants on a garden bench depicted the day’s theme – “Like a Watered Garden” – while water trickled through several garden fountains, adding an auditory element to the visual display. 

Hosted by Eigenheim Women’s Fellowship, the event began with refreshments and a time of visiting. Morning worship included hearty singing led by Gwen Ens and accompanied by Donna Schulz, and a devotional by Lois Siemens. SWM executive officers were commissioned for another year of service during the annual business meeting. They are Myrna Sawatzky, president, Marilyn Neufeld, vice-president, Ruth Quiring Heppner, treasurer, and Verna Olfert, secretary. Naomi Unger and Lois Siemens continue on the program committee; the third position on this committee is vacant. Kathy Friesen, Glennis Koop, and Denise Epp form the nominating committee.  

Following lunch in the fellowship hall, Melita Hildebrand, gave participants a mental workout with a gardening quiz, and Marian Hooge Jones offered a physical workout with a series of gardening-related stretches and exercises. The afternoon session began with a devotional by Naomi Unger and special music by the Eigenheim women. Kaytee Edwards, representing MCC Saskatchewan’s gardening project, described her work of teaching inner-city children to grow their own food. SWM designated a portion of the afternoon’s offering for this project. Featured speaker Lavonne Dyck of Glenbush eloquently shared what gardening has taught her about faith in Christ. Then four women – Verna Olfert, Kristen Fehr, Renata Klassen and Rosalind Epp – shared their “100-word stories” about meeting God in their gardens. This was followed by conversation in the pews around the question, “What have you learned about God through gardening?” A memorial service, led by the women of Zoar Mennonite Church, Langham, honoured women who passed away in 2012. Refreshments and more visiting brought the day’s activities to a close.

 - Donna Schulz