The
women of Women of Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada gathered together for
their Spring Enrichment Day at the St. Catharines United Mennonite Church on
Saturday, April 12. For the more than
225 registered ladies the day offered something for everyone, from the
practical to the spiritual. The theme of
the day was FAITH, FOOD, AND FRIENDSHIP with the featured guest being Bev
Klassen from British Columbia, one of the 10 authors of “Mennonite Girls Can
Cook” and “Celebrations” their second cookbook.
The
church was decorated with over 100 aprons and 5 quilts. In the welcoming
words by Dorothy Hamm, we were encouraged that it was our responsibility to teach and to live
hospitality. Dorothy, chair of the Program Committee and Linda Wiens, Communicator, led us at various times during the program of the day.
Bev Klassen stepped up to her table and had
her audience sitting forward in rapt attention as she demonstrated how you can
use a simple biscuit recipe to make a variety of delicious things to eat. Two separate pans of different biscuits were
sent off to the kitchen to bake and these were given out later in single
packages to ladies whose names were drawn from a box and to their delight.
Kathryn
Good, one of our outgoing Co-Coordinators chaired the beginning of the business
session. Our Mennonite Women Canada president, Liz Koop, brought greetings and
updated us on projects of MWC. Our WMCEC
treasurer, Lisa Blackburn presented the financial statements and the ladies
approved a 2014 budget of $32,000. Our
other outgoing Co-Coordinator, Florence Jantzi shared a few comments on her
time of service with WMCEC. Both Kathryn and Florence were
presented with a piece of pottery and a rose - symbolizing how pottery as well as
our lives are shaped; the rose reminds us of the love we have for each other
and of the fragrance of Christ. We were also told of the passing of Rita
Bauman who was one of the founding group of WMCEC.
Lunch
was a “typical Mennonite meal” of borscht and bread with baking for dessert
prepared by the ladies of the host church and enjoyed by all along with the
fellowship at the tables.
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Members of the outgoing and incoming Executive and committees.
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Our
afternoon session was opened by Phyllis Ramer, the incoming Coordinator of
WMCEC. Marie Assad of the Personnel
Committee introduced the ladies of the outgoing and incoming Executive and
committees. Phyllis Ramer shared some of
her thoughts about taking on her position and left us with a challenge. We are to ask God to place one woman into our
heart: someone that we could pray for,
or be a mentor to, or just to be there and listen to. She further encouraged
us to pray using the paraphrase of the parable of the Loaves and Fishes – look
what Jesus had in His hand and what do
we hold in our hand that we should use for Him.
Bev
Klassen then shared some of her life story and also told of the beginnings of
the cookbook journey for the 10 authors of these books. She further told that the royalties of the
sales of the books go to two projects her fellow authors have chosen: a greenhouse at the Good Shepherd Shelter in
the Ukraine and for clean drinking water for school children in the WASH
Program in Kenya. The cookbook ladies
also have classes where the proceeds go to Matthew’s House in Abbotsford, where
handicapped children can come for respite care. (CLICK HERE to go to their website)
A
story by Helen Funk, Vineland, told of her mother’s laundry day in the 1930’s
in Manitoba in the winter time.
Making
the day extra special were our two musical guests: Diana Lantin and Shelley Magnus. Their music was a blessing to us all and gave
a sermon of its own.
We
were invited to next year’s Enrichment Day on April 18, 2015 at Listowel Mennonite Church.
Also coming up will be a retreat
to introduce women to a new program called “Sister Care” which Mennonite Women USA has developed and presented across the US and overseas.
After
a prayer and benediction, the ladies left with chatter and fond farewells – a
day that we felt blessed in so many ways.
--submitted by Anne Hubert, St. Catharines United Mennonite Church
Nathan and Taryn are Mennonite Church Canada workers in Gabarone, Botswana. One aspect of their ministry focuses on the local church youth and their involvement in a prison visitation ministry. Earlier this spring Nathan shared a story called Captive Free. It is a creative non-fiction perspective of an encounter with one inmate. 
