ALBERTA WOMEN'S RETREAT 2019

CONTACT PERSON:  KATE JANZEN

kajanzen13@gmail.com

www.mcawomen.ca

Women Walking Together in Faith - July 2017 - "Letting all our gifts bloom"

The latest of our bi-monthly articles in the Canadian Mennonite was written by Ev Buhr. Ev has been the Alberta Rep on our executive for many years and is the office administrator at First Mennonite Church in Edmonton. She enjoys letting her gifts bloom through music and children's stories during worship.  

In her article she asks:  "How often do we hold back for fear of other people's inadequacies being heightened? How often do we minimize our efforts so the person praising us still feels worthy? How do we deal with an expression that seems to stem from jealousy or seems to be fishing for a compliment in return? How do we let our gifts bloom so others can bloom as well?"

You can read her article HERE.

UPCOMING AREA EVENT - ALBERTA - June 9 - 11, 2017

Alberta Mennonite Women are inviting all women to their 

Annual Women's Retreat on July 9 - 11 

Sunnyside Retreat Centre: 202 Birchcliff Road, Birchcliff AB T4S 1R6 

Guest Speaker is Sara Wenger Shenk 

For more information about the speaker, the schedule and registration please check out their website at www.mcawomen.com

AWM Retreat May 22-24, 2015

Alberta Mennonite Women THRIVE!

Mennonite Church Alberta Women gathered for another exciting annual women’s retreat at Sunnyside Christian Retreat Centre, Sylvan Lake, Alberta on May 22-24, 2015. The theme, THRIVE, was both inspiring and reflective as women from across Alberta, between the ages of 20 - 80, explored what it means to thrive in Christ. Approximately 60 women joined together to worship, pray, learn, share in meals and most importantly to laugh together at the Saturday Night Variety Show.

The speaker, Faye Reynolds of Lethbridge, Director of Women’s Ministries for Canadian Baptist Ministries, led women through the book of Colossians as well as a number of complimentary biblical passages. Reynolds incorporated her interactive nature, musical abilities, personal stories and humour into her sessions. She emphasized that in order for women to thrive it must not be at the expense of others: men, other women, other cultures or impoverished nations. We must work together to thrive by abiding in God’s amazing love for us that flows through us from the Vine. We are the branches and it is God, the gardener, who should be concerned with the fruit we bear, but our focus must be to remain connected to Christ, the Vine.

In considering others around the world, organizers arranged to partner with a mission project to support a Vietnamese Mennonite Church Calgary Project entitled, Cosmetics for Cows, which collects unused makeup that is resold in Vietnam to buy cows for people in Vietnam. Tea towel sets were also available for sale to contribute money for the same project. The support for this project was a huge success!

The summer-like weather was simply remarkable encouraging women to walk by the lake, read a book by the small chapel or enjoy the fruit we bear, but our focus must be to remain connected to Christ, the Vine. the lake-view and visit in the shade. Aside from the gifted speaker and meaningful worship, the excellent accommodations, delicious food and beautiful setting made for a fantastic atmosphere. The response was resoundingly positive and many participants and organizers are looking forward to the next Mennonite Church Alberta Women Retreat in May 2016.     

Submitted by Darlene Schmidt

THRIVE Organizing Committee

SPRING INTO SPRING!

You are invited to participate in the SPRING EVENT sponsored by your provincial women's organization. 
April 18 - Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Enrichment Day 
April 18 - Saskatchewan Women in Mission 
May 2 - BC Women's Ministry Inspirational Day
May 22,23,24 - Alberta Mennonite Women's Retreat

You can find the poster for each event with details and contact information below. Please make plans to attend, bring along a friend or two and prepare to be inspired, enriched and blessed. 

WOMEN OF MENNONITE CHURCH EASTERN CANADA

SASKATCHEWAN WOMEN IN MISSION

BC WOMEN'S MINISTRY

ALBERTA MENNONITE WOMEN

ALBERTA WOMEN IN MISSION SPRING RETREAT

Here is the report from Alberta Women in Mission's (AWM) Spring Retreat that was held on May 23-25.
Pause 2014. It is difficult to put into words our experience from the weekend at Pause 2014. We have spiritually rich and vibrant women here in Alberta who have so much to offer each other.  God is among us. He is moving. And He is alive.

We were privileged to have April Yamasaki, pastor at Emmanuel Mennonite in Abbotsford, BC, share about her journey to find “Scared Pauses” in her walk with Jesus.  As we shared in small groups, we confessed our hindrances that keep us from finding and seeing those moments, those pauses.  Jesus, who could have been overwhelmed with all he “had” to do, found time to pause, to get away, to be with God.

One of the key things about this retreat is the level of honesty and vulnerability each woman brings to the table. We openly share in small groups and we do crazy things on Saturday night. The walls come down and we experience the Holy Spirit in a deeper way.  

Thank you to all who participated, to those who prayed, to those who donated. We are blessed. We had 70 women this year. Let’s aim for 90 in 2015.  Our intention is not to see numbers grow, but to see lives affected. 

 June Miller, co-conspirator with Kate Janzen and Joanne DeJong

Group photo

April Yamasaki, guest speaker

Renewing friendships!