Canadian Mennonite
Volume 11, No. 08
April 16, 2007
Mount Royal seeks to answer identity question
Saskatoon
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With a growing number of Colombian families over the past few years, Mount Royal Mennonite Church in Saskatoon has been grappling with the question, “Who are we now?”
In an attempt to answer this question, the church held a winter retreat last month on the topic, “Growing together in community: A study of the book of Ruth,” led by Eigenheim (Sask.) Mennonite Church pastor Allan Friesen and his wife Maryvel (formerly from Colombia), who proved to be valuable resources as they have first-hand experience of both cultures.
Over the course of three sessions, the 80 or so participants talked about the story of Ruth and her journey into a different culture. We learned about the value of a name; were inspired by Ruth’s devotion to her new family and people, even though they were typically at war with her own people; and discovered again that God has been mixing cultures from the beginning to create wonderful things.
Participants were also able to share in love what we first noticed about each other’s cultural habits, which led to a better understanding of each other. Some of us greet with hugs and kisses, while others shake hands; some of us organize our days from the moment we wake up, while others live in the moment; and some of us have fun dancing, while others have fun discussing. But we all had fun dancing on Saturday night!
On Sunday morning, we were joined by some more church members for worship and communion, where we were reminded of social injustice and hunger in Colombia and Canada. We remembered that Christ—our light who shines through the darkness in our church, who breaks down barriers—is calling us into one body of believers with many gifts who will work to change war into peace, so that we will truly be strangers no more.
Alberta churches look at ‘what’s right’
Lethbridge, Alta.
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Camp Valaqua director Jon Olfert’s words describing the camp’s future provide a good summation of the general atmosphere at the Mennonite Church Alberta 2007 annual delegate sessions last month: “I get excited when I think about the future. I see lots of possibilities. I see lots of dreams and things we can work towards….”
Conrad Grebel University College president Henry Paetkau used Psalm 127 and passages from Ephesians to remind delegates that the foundation of the church is Christ and the building project is God’s. As such, God provides the necessary energy and spirit.
“We shifted in our thinking from a focus on what should be to a focus on what already is, that is, what God is already doing,” explained conference minister Jim Shantz. “You might call this approach an ‘appreciative inquiry.’ Rather than looking at what is wrong with us, an approach that leads to self-recrimination, let’s look at what is right, and what and where we already perceive God to be at work.”
For the second year in a row, delegates attended workshops to interact with the various committee arms of the conference. Following these, general session roundtable discussions focused on questions that came from last November’s pastors council meeting, at which the missional vision for MC Alberta was considered.
Delegates called on the area church to:
• Explore creative ideas for a communal worship and fellowship event to replace the cancelled Songfest;
• Pay attention to needed youth and young adult ministries; and
• Consider a celebration of life-giving diversity in the Mennonite Church.
Although no motion was brought forward, the former Songfest Committee’s suggestion that a two-year hiatus be used to consider future possibilities was met with a wealth of ideas, such as a folk-fest style event, a province-wide church picnic, and a combination of music and sports.
On the youth question, the executive informed delegates that it is currently in discussions with a candidate to fill the empty quarter-time youth coordinator position for the province.
In speaking about diversity, pastor Werner DeJong said, “At our little table…we have two churches. Holyrood Mennonite is a growing, used-to-be-traditionally Anglo-Saxon community with a growing African refugee population. We also have the Calgary Vietnamese Church, which is attracting Anglo-Saxons! We celebrate that and we see that God’s Spirit is certainly leading us in diversity.”
Highlights from workshop sessions included hearing about mission involvement with Low German Mennonites in southern Alberta, dreams of a young adult church plant in Calgary, and learning about the church in Vietnam.
The Finance Committee announced that the mortgage for the Edmonton worship centre, where the Chinese and Vietnamese churches meet, is paid off.
The former Congregational Life Committee, now known as Community Building, drew attention to the MC Alberta website calendar and chat rooms.