WMCEC Spring Enrichment Day ~ April 13, 2019

You can find the registration form on-line HERE

For questions contact Carmen Brubacher   

WMCEC Enrichment Day ~ April 20, 21, 2018

April Yamasaki, from Abbotsford, BC, was the speaker at 

WMCEC's Spring Enrichment Day.  

She graciously posted a blog, sharing her reflections of the weekend ~ 

"May Jesus Walk with You from One Creative Step 

to the Next"

You can access her blog here.

Women Walking Together in Faith - February 2018 - Learning to let go

Four generations of women at various stages of learning to let go. 

Pictured from left to right: Margaret Brubacher, Erma Birky, 

Sophia Heidebrecht and Carmen Brubacher. 

In the February 12, 2018 issue of the Canadian Mennonite, Carmen Brubacher writes about her struggles with 'letting go'.  She writes:  "I wonder what you are letting go of in your particular life stage. I wonder what we as churches need to let go of in order to be a part of God’s ongoing work in the world. I wonder how we root ourselves in our shared identity as God’s beloved ones."  To read the whole article follow this link.

Carmen Brubacher was licensed toward ordination as a chaplain at Forest Heights Long-term-care Home in Kitchener, Ont., last fall at Waterloo North Mennonite Church, her home congregation. She currently represents the Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada on the Mennonite Women Canada board.

WMCEC Spring Enrichment Day April 20-21, 2018

WMCEC Spring Enrichment Day with April Yamasaki is fast approaching! We are looking forward to April leading us around the theme Living Creatively. Women of all ages are welcome to gather in Leamington on April 20 - 21. Transportation and hotel accommodation are available. Find more information on the poster and registration form below. Registration needs to be in by March 9. For questions please contact Carmen Brubacher.  Information also available online here.

UPCOMING AREA EVENT - WMCEC - APRIL 22, 2017

WOMEN OF MENNONITE CHURCH EASTERN CANADA are hosting their annual Spring Enrichment Day on Saturday April 22, 2017 at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, 1333 King St. N. in St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0.  Registration forms are available from your church rep or you can register on-line at WMCEC's BLOG.

Women Walking Together in Faith - November 2016 - "Making Diamonds out of us"

Our latest contribution to the Canadian Mennonite appears in the November 7, 2016 issue. Phyllis Ramer, Coordinator of WMCEC (Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada) shares about her journey through "darkness, discouragement and hopelessness" and how "God still gives me reminders and encouragement through 'morning songs'." If you missed reading the article titled "Making diamonds out of us", you can read the article HERE. Phyllis is pictured above with her husband, Jim.

WMCEC Sister Care Retreat ~ May 10-12, 2016

WMCEC Enrichment Day April 23, 2016

Women Walking Together in Faith - November 2015 - "Sister Care comes to Canada"

Follow this link to read the "Women Walking Together in Faith" article written by Linda Wiens which appeared in the November 9 issue of the Canadian Mennonite.  Linda is the Communicator for Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and is a member of the St. Catharines United Mennonite Church.

She writes: "Wouldn't it be amazing to see this grassroots event happen in your area of Canada, so that you also could experience healing and learn to become a more effective healing presence for others, as we walk together in faith?"

WMCEC Sister Care Retreat

Women of MCEC Sister Care Retreat 

October 30, 31 and November 1, 2015

For a downloadable poster and registration form please go to OUR WEBSITE. 

Correction note:  The wrong date was printed in our latest CONNECTIONS.  The correct date is October 30, 31 and November 1, 2015.

Women of MCEC - April 18, 2015

Linda Wiens, Communicator for WMCEC, wrote the following report on the Spring Enrichment Day held on April 18, 2015.  The theme was Helping Vulnerable Women.  Note:  The names of the women 

in the photos I received were not noted.

As I sit in comfort in my modest, air conditioned home on this very hot day (28°C) in Ontario, I am reminded that I am truly blessed.  Today I’m thinking about the ladies living in Nepal (also 28°C…hmmm) that the Women of MCEC learned about at the Spring Enrichment Day in April.  They too have the same soaring temperatures and humidity that we have, with perhaps crying babies to nurse, other children to feed, possibly a husband, and yes, some of these women need to work outside the home just like us.  Here’s the difference: some work in the sex trade by choice, chance or even slavery.  It was very difficult for us (WMCEC) to hear stories of some of the more than 10,000 women and young girls who line up daily to sell their bodies.  Imagine being 13 years old, kidnapped, then forced into prostitution.  Suppose you were so poor that your own mother sold you so the rest of the family could eat.       

Some of the lucky ones have gotten out of that cycle of poverty and servitude through the efforts of a visionary couple who created a self-sustaining company called FREESET.  They started it in 2001 in the “most infamous sex district in Kolkata, India.”  The sole purpose of this company is to set women free (and their families by extension).  Initially, 20 brave women seized the opportunity to get out of the sex trade, and learned new skills: sewing, cutting, creating quality and marketable products such as handbags.  Consider their joy in finding employment that offers dignity, safety, fair wages and even a health plan!  Things that we feel entitled to and take for granted.

WMCEC members also heard about a company called, ELEGANTEES, based in New York City. According to their mission statement they exist “to provide hope to victims of sex trafficking through providing sewing work. A positive source of income that reinforces independence, a healthy self-image, and confidence restoring lives one elegant tee at a time.”  Their design centre team worked with local NYC survivors teaching sewing for 2 years, but due to unforeseen difficulties needed to be suspended.  The company hopes to open a retail store where more structure and a simpler training process can be established.  In the meantime, the company is involved with The Nepali Rescue Project that finds and returns over 20,000 victims of trafficking each year.  Elegantees employ some of these women at their Nepal sewing centre, thereby providing them with a much brighter future.

 

Spring Enrichment Day attendees enjoyed a fashion show featuring the FREESET handbags, ELEGANTEES fashions, and HOPE’S GATE JEWELRY.  Although information was provided about all 3 companies, further data is available through websites.  All proceeds from purchases went to support the vulnerable women that these companies provide assistance to. 

Sadly, Canada is not immune to marginalizing or exploiting vulnerable women.  Abuse comes in many forms.  Sometimes it’s right in our homes.  If you are looking for tools to provide personal healing, responding effectively to the needs of others, recognizing and celebrating God’s grace in your life while regaining lost confidence, then consider attending a Canadian version of Sister Care.  See MCEC’s website and link to WMCEC for details. 

    

Lastly, I was impressed once again with MCC Ontario.  Do you know about TOOLS?  I didn’t.  The acronym stands for: TORONTO ONTARIO OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING & SERVICE.  Their mission statement is to respond to poverty by walking along side marginalized people with compassion and caring.  Did I mention how proud I am to be a Mennonite?  And a Woman of MCEC.     ~ Linda Wiens

Current executive of Women of MCEC

Coordinator Phyllis Ramer introducing guest

Song leader for the day

Gathering to worship and sing praises!

Modeling T-shirt and bag (1)

Modeling T-shirt and bag (2)

Modeling T-shirt and bag (4)

Modeling T-shirt and bag (3)

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

Sister Care in Ontario

 
Sister Care Seminars provide women with tools for ongoing personal healing, recognizing and celebrating God’s grace in their lives, and responding more confidently and effectively to the needs of others in their families, congregations, and communities.

On October 3 and 4, 2014 forty-five women from across Ontario gathered in Cambridge for a Sister Care Seminar sponsored by Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (WMCEC).  

The co-presenters (also the co-writers of the resource along with Ruth Guengerich) were Carolyn Holderead Heggen (left) and Rhoda Shenk Keener (right).  They are currently working on a video to accompany the 64-page manual. The manual is available to borrow through the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre or for purchase through the Mennonite Women USA office office@mwusa.org or 316-281-4396.

See a link to Martha Smith Good's write-up on the blog post from Oct 17.

Here are some comments that the WMCEC 

executive received about the weekend!

During our time together, what was a highlight for you?
 - the calm spirit, the caring, the stories
 - the blessing at the end of meeting
 - we all have had brokenness; I am not alone.    
 - being with sisters/women and sharing with each other
 - listening to the stories and speakers;  my feelings are normal  

What did you find helpful...for your own faith journey... for walking with others?
 - understanding how physical relates to emotional/mental issues
 - hearing the transforming power of listening and caring
 - I am God’s beloved daughter and God doesn’t change
 - be available, be sensitive, be quiet and listen
 - hearing other women’s stories of grief and healing

Women walking together in faith - November 2014 - "Writing on the walls of my little room"

Women Walking Together in Faith is the name of Mennonite Women Canada's page in the Canadian Mennonite magazine. Our executive members each take a turn writing or finding someone to write.  The most recent article entitled "Writing on the walls of my little room" appeared on November 10 and was written by Phyllis Ramer, Coordinator of Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (WMCEC). 

She writes:  "My mother sternly warned me against doing such a thing.....Yet, as the years flew by, I had a growing urge to just do it: to write on the walls of the little room.....
Click here to read the article.