WISK at FOOTHILLS MENNONITE CHURCH

On Sunday April 2, the WISK group in Foothills Mennonite Church (Calgary, AB) hosted a Spring Luncheon for all the ladies of the church.  WISK stands for Women Intergenerational Seniors to Kids.  The special feature was Ukrainian egg decorating led by Bev Wiens and there was free food, fun and fellowship with friends!

LENT AT HOME DEVOTIONAL

We invite you to enter into a Lenten journey of new life as a family. Reflect on stories of conversion and new life --- stories of Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the man born blind and Lazarus.  This is not a journey of perfection, but one where we face both the limits of our humanity and our need for divine transformation. 

Restore us, O God!  

Suitable for adults, children and youth. 

Written by Elsie Rempel ~ Illustrated by Megan Kamei

Download available at CommonWord (CLICK HERE)

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Lenten Resource

(A little late, but still worth looking into!)

During the 40 day season of Lent, Christians are invited to make room for reflection upon on the life and death of Christ in preparation for Easter. Each year, Mennonite Church Canada produces Lent at Home, a family-friendly, free downloadable booklet available from CommonWord (formerly Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre) to help guide that process. This year’s edition, available at www.commonword.ca/go/66 explores what occurs when we offer ourselves to God. “When we do,” writes author Elsie Rempel, “interesting things happen. These can include having our expectations and understandings turned upside down and inside out.” That may not be an easy feeling and it may be especially disconcerting in this time and place as we consider the deep challenges facing the world around us, but it’s one that will draw us nearer to God, and to the people God desires us to be. May you grow and deepen your faith and commitment to God during this Lenten season. Taken from February 2015  MC Canada Prayer Net by Deb Froese

Easter Metamorphosis

Having had a very busy Easter weekend I didn't find time to post this so am doing it now.  It is an excerpt from Saturday's St. Catharines Standard 

written by regular Religion page columnist Bob Ripley.

Easter, like New Year's Day, can be a time for renewal, 

a time to start over again...

We think it's impossible to start fresh, 

just like we look at a crawling caterpillar and can hardly imagine 

that it is destined to fly; that it will burst its cocoon, 

and its wings, wet with rebirth, will slowly open.  

Then this creature of fragile loveliness 

will hoist delicate sails into the fragrant air 

and fly into the blue vault of the sky.

The first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, 

the Christian festival of Easter, 

might be a morning for our metamorphosis; 

a land of beginning again

where we leave our cocoon and take wing above the mud and milkweed, 

with new eyes and wings we never knew we had.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us....

At the Good Friday Communion Service this morning our congregation sang the song "How Deep the Father's Love for Us".  As you read the words below my prayer is that you will feel the love of the Father and recognize the great sacrifice He made for each one of us!  May you have a Blessed Easter!

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure,

That he should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulder;

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life—I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer,

But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.

Music and Lyrics by Stuart Townend. Copyright 1995, Kingsway's Thankyou Music (PRS). Admin. EMI Christian Music Publishing. CCLI License #923708

Gift Ideas from MennoMedia

I just received an email from MennoMedia with a lot of good suggestions for gifts and resources for Easter and Mother's' Day.  Some of the items featured include an Easter Hallelujah! CD, Mennonite Girls Can Cook Celebrations, Sacred Pauses by April Yamasaki and Ordinary Miracles by Rachel S Berger. Clicking here will take you to MennoMedia's website where you can make a purchase or just browse their wonderful selections of books and resources. 

Women walking together in faith - March 2014 - "Cleaning house and Lenten resolutions"

Women Walking Together in Faith 
is the name of Mennonite Women Canada's page in the Canadian Mennonite magazine.  In the March 17, 2014 issue, Ev Buhr, President of Alberta Women in Mission, writes about "Cleaning house and Lenten resolutions".  Click here to read the article.

During Lent, Ev is committing herself to spending 30 minutes each day cleaning up her spiritual house and 30 minutes cleaning up her actual house. Will you join her?

Easter Congregational Prayer

God of the bright and morning star,

God of the rising sun,

God of the darkness banished,

we praise and worship you!

For empty tombs:  thank you!

For disciples running with good news:  thank you!

For your presence, alive, powerful, resurrected:  thank you!

We celebrate your victory over death,

over all the powers that would defeat us.

Help us to grasp resurrection;

to understand its power,

to see its force at work in our world,

overturning evil empires,

changing the hatred within us,

moving the world slowly, forcefully,

bending us towards love and truth.

On this day of great gladness

Empower us to be your ambassadors,

proclaiming good news.

Good news in our kitchens and living rooms,

good news in the offices and workshops

good news in the fields and factories.

Help us to be that good news,

walking softly on this good earth

caring gently for all people,

living hopefully into your kingdom.

Today we think of all who are grieving,

and for the sick and dying,

for places in the world that are torn by war and bloodshed.

In this world of broken hopes and dreams

We catch sight of your kingdom come,

in the person of Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns in us forever.  Amen.

Copyright Carol Penner

www.leadinginworship.com

PrayerNet - Resource for Lent

PrayerNet is a new Mennonite Church Canada communication sent out monthly by email.  

Deborah Froese, PrayerNet Coordinator, writes the following:  "By the time you receive this issue of PrayerNet, we’ll be approaching the second week of Lent. This forty day season of introspection and lament invites us to examine our own lives through the life and death of Christ. During Lent, many of our brothers and sisters practice withdrawal from the more worldly things of life to identify with Jesus and renew themselves for the life God calls them to.   “It’s a time to enter the wilderness,” says Elsie Rempel, Mennonite Church Canada Formation Consultant. “And just what wilderness means will vary from person to person.”  

In a Feb. 13 post on Elsie Spins a Blog, Elsie Rempel explores what wilderness means to her this year. For a resource designed to help families of all ages journey through Lent together, check out her resource Lent at Home, Ashamed no More (illustrated by Megan Kamei) by clicking on the title.    

May you experience God’s grace during this season of Lent, and every hope that comes with our risen Lord on Easter.  Deborah Froese 

2013 Lenten Guided Prayer from Mennonite Spiritual Directors of Eastern Canada.  Sign up to receive an individual and group prayer guide, based on the lectionary, for Lent.  A great potential women's group resource!  More information here.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

This morning I attended our church's Good Friday Communion Service. It was a very moving service and one of the songs we sang was particularly poignant for me. I have sung it before but today it seemed to be the perfect song to sing. I have copied the words below and pray that by sharing it with you, you will receive a blessing this Easter weekend.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure,

That he should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulder;

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life—I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer,

But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.

Music and Lyrics by Stuart Townend. Copyright 1995, Kingsway's Thankyou Music (PRS). Admin. EMI Christian Music Publishing. CCLI License #923708

Called and Shaped by Jesus: 2011 At-Home Lent Devotional booklet and children's colouring pages by Elsie Rempel, Mennonite Church Canada, 2011.

Even though Lent has started, it's not too late to introduce Chris and Selah to your family. Join these two friends as they embark on the adventure of responding to God's call. Adapting and simplifying prayers and themes from Winter 2010/11 Leader magazine, this booklet offers family activities that take you right through Holy Week.

New this year: colouring pages suitable for younger children.

Download this title free

from Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre here.

Questions or suggestions?

Please contact the Resource Centre
or check our loan policy.

Loaned books are sent anywhere in Canada - free of charge - both ways!

We'll profile a new title at this blog every month