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MCA Weekly Update
August 21, 2019

Headlines

Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Correction! Healthy Ministry Boundaries
Global Youth Summit
Poetry, Art, Prophetic Visions


 
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Spruce River Folk Fest 














The Tenth Annual Spruce River Folk Festival was a sound success in so many ways. The day and the country venue were beautiful; the musical entertainment was varied, high quality, and engaging featuring Jeffery Straker, Val Wiebe, BJ and Friends and a new partnership with Prince Albert’s Voices of the North.

While overall attendance was down slightly, there was a noticeable number of first-timers, and both the silent auction proceeds and overall donations towards MCC Saskatchewan’s Stoney Knoll Fund were strong. Thanks to all who came and contributed! 

 

Global Youth Summit

MCA representative needed



MC Canada's Joint Council is excited to invite your applications for young adult representatives to the Global Youth Summit (GYS) July 2-5, 2021, in Salatiga, Indonesia. The theme of GYS 2021 is Life in the Spirit: Learn, Serve, Worship.

MC Canada is looking for one young adult from each of the five Regional Churches (one of whom will be the official delegate) to represent the Nationwide Church at GYS, and also to attend the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assembly a few days later. The five representatives will all work together on the GYS project that will be assigned to the delegate prior to GYS. They will also travel and attend the MWC Assembly together. They will write a report to MC Canada and their Regional Churches after their travels. MC Canada asks that the person chosen as delegate commit to a three-year term as representative to the network of Young Anabaptists (YABs) after GYS.

As the representative of your Regional Church, Mennonite Church Alberta, the costs of the application to the GYS, MWC, and vaccination and travel costs will be covered through MC Canada, up to $5,000 per person. The age requirement is 18-30 as of July 2, 2021. Applicants must have a valid passport at the time of travel and be members of an affiliated congregation of MC Canada.

For more information and to apply to go http://home.mennonitechurch.ca/GYS2021.
This is your invitation from our North American Young Anabaptist (YABs) representative Larissa Schwartz to attend GYS 2021 in Indonesia as a delegate or participant! Start planning and saving! July 2-5, 2021, Salatiga, Indonesia.
To speak with someone about this opportunity, please contact Joint Council member Andrea de Avila (andreadeavila@mymts.net) or your Regional communicator, June Miller (jmiller@mennonitechurch.ab.ca).

We look forward to your application. Thank you for considering this opportunity to represent MC Canada in our global Anabaptist family.

Submit your poetry, art and prophetic visions for Anabaptist journal 

Anabaptist Witness is a global journal, co-published by MC Canada, that explores key issues facing the church in mission. The next “Omnibus” issue is a chance for folks to share their hopes and dreams for mission, and their struggles and questions, too. Poetry, sermons, art, and academic reflections, even songs and prophetic visions are welcome! Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2019. Check out the call for submissions here. (Anabaptist Witness is a publication of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Mission Network.) 


Stories, Events, Announcements?
communications@mennonitechurch.ab.ca



Prayer request from MC Canada partner Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT): prayers for Lesvos 

Due to war, poverty, and the impacts of climate change, thousands of migrants have fled in these last years to Lesvos—a Greek island located near Turkey. Some described the Lesvos refugee camps “as the worst on earth.” Migrants face not only overcrowded, unsanitary, and impoverished living conditions, but many are also charged by the Greek government with hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. Since 2014, CPT’s Lesvos Team has advocated for those suffering and built partnerships to transform violence on Europe’s external borders. Please pray for strength and resilience for the Lesvos Team. You can follow their work on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CPTLesvos


International Witness

 

Veiths connecting in Winnipeg area: George and Tobia Veith, Witness workers in China, have been spending several weeks in the Winnipeg area connecting with friends, family, and supporting congregations. They will return to China on August 25 where Tobia will begin her fall teaching semester and George will be involved with various resource-development projects.


Walking with Indigenous Peoples in Mindinao: “Our teams at PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee For Peace (CFP) are being led, spiritually, to work with the leaders of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) who seek The Creator’s heart and who walk with what we mutually understand as The Creator’s just and peaceful statutes as they serve as stewards of their ancestral domains and as they struggle to realize their right to self-determination. This spiritual perspective of partnership governs the inclusive development strategies we practice in the field.” - Dann Pantoja, Witness worker in the Philippines (read more from his blog post here). 

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2019-20 MCA Calendar

Sept 21                     All Committee Meeting
Oct 5                         Ride for Refuge
Oct 19                       Healthy Ministry Boundaries
Oct 26                       Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Nov 1-2                     Vision 20/20: Phase IV - Incarnating God's Call
Nov 16                      General Council
Feb 8, 2020              General Council (Zoom)
Mar 20-21, 2020       Annual Delegate Sessions
June 5-7, 2020          MCA Women's Retreat

Christian Muslim Dialogue


You are invited to the 7th Annual Christian Muslim Dialogue, Heart of Hospitality, to be held on October 26 at 9:30 am at ACCA  Centre, 3530, 91 St. in Mill Woods, Edmonton. This is one way to be witnesses of Jesus' love and break down the kinds of stereotypes and discrimination that Jesus refused to accept.  Hosted by: A Common Word Alberta (www.acwalberta.ca) in conjunction with MCA's North Edmonton Ministry.

Featuring: Neveen Ayad & Scott Sharman
Register for your $10 tickets at :
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-hospitality-christian-muslim-dialogue-tickets-63845345146 or visit www.acwalberta.ca

For more information or questions, please contact Donna Entz acommonwordalberta@gmail.com.
Save the Date!

 

Healthy Ministry Boundaries: Training for Pastors and Congregations

A Mennonite Church Alberta Equipping Day Event for Pastors, Congregational Leaders, and Others involved in Church Ministry Programs

Correction!
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Trinity Mennonite Church
9am-4pm

Registration Coming Soon!
When live, the link will be posted on the MCA website.

Healthy relationships are characterized by respect and trust, and nurtured when all know and agree on the parameters (boundaries) of the relationship. For pastors, chaplains, congregational leaders, and other volunteers, knowing what the appropriate boundaries are for healthy congregational, pastoral, and ministry relationships is an important part of building and maintaining trust. Boundaries are complex and fluid, and vary depending on cultural, ethnic, geographical/regional and religious realities. In this workshop, we will increase our awareness of the need for healthy and appropriate boundaries in pastoral and congregational relationships; look at guidelines and suggestions for developing appropriate boundaries and self-care strategies; talk about power and vulnerability; and learn from each other’s experiences in these areas. Sponsored by the Congregational Leadership Committee of MCA.
 



Ride for Refuge is on October 5, 2019.This is a fantastic opportunity to support our International Witness Workers and God’s amazing work throughout the world. Join friends and families across Canada to bike or walk and raise financial support for ministry around the world. Form a team today! For more information visit MC Canada’s website. 

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Need curriculum? Sunday School, VBS, Bible Study. Need Periodicals? Leader, Purpose, Rejoice? Order from Menno Media's new Canadian site. MennoMedia.ca

www.commonword.ca

Worship Calendar:

Sept 8            Christian Formation Sunday
Sept 22          International Peace Sunday
Sept 30          Orange Shirt Day
Oct 4              World Animal Day
Oct 6              World Communion Sunday
Oct 10            World Mental Health Day
Oct 13            Thanksgiving
Oct 16            World Food Day
Oct 27            Mennonite Heritage

Nov 1             All Saints Day
Nov 3             Mission Sunday
Nov 10           Peace Sunday
Nov 11           Remembrance Day
Nov 20           Universal Children’s Day
Nov 24           Memorial Sunday
Nov 25           Intern'l Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women


Join Common Read:

We are partnering with MennoMedia to encourage a nationwide reading of The Bible Unwrapped: Making Sense of Scripture Today, by Meghan Larissa Good. This nationwide book club is called CommonRead. Drawing from the best of contemporary biblical scholarship and the ancient well of Christian tradition, scholar and preacher Meghan Larissa Good helps readers consider why the Bible matters. Known for presenting complex theological ideas in accessible, engaging ways, Good delves into issues like biblical authority, literary genre, and Christ-centered hermeneutics, and calls readers beyond either knee-jerk biblicism, on the one hand, or skeptical disregard on the other. Join the CommonRead today: www.commonword.ca/go/1726

 

Adult Curriculum Guide: 

Fall also brings with it the need for new Adult Curriculum options. Whether you need something for the entire church or just your small group, CommonWord offers curriculum on a wide range of topics. Simply visit our website (http://www.commonword.ca/go/1520), choose a topic that interests you, and then choose from the wide range of study material that’s available.


Featured Resource:

In Invited, writer Leslie Verner says real hospitality is not having a Pinterest-perfect table or well-appointed living room. True hospitality is not clean, comfortable, or controlled. It is an invitation to enter a sacred space together with friends and strangers. Through vivid accounts from her life and travels in Uganda, China, and Tajikistan, and stories of visiting congregations in the United States, Verner shares stories of life around the table and how hospitality is at the heart of Christian community. Order at www.commonword.ca/go/1824.

 

Buy, Borrow, Download from CommonWord
Free Shipping on borrowed items.

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