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Photo by Marianne Siemens, MC Sask Communications
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A Menno Minute
with June Miller, Communications
 Technically it is fall, but after a foot of snow in Calgary (and LOTS more down south) you would think we are in the trenches of winter. However, no matter the weather, how hot or how cold, it feels like "spring." It is a time of new beginnings.
Since MC Canada changes in 2017, the regional communicators have been meeting bi-weekly, functioning as the new nationwide team. It's been a process figuring out our new roles, but it is taking shape. I'm very thankful for Doug Klassen's leadership and visioning. One of our big projects has been the nationwide communication hub (website). Site maps have been planned and we have prepped for migration. The plan is for the regional sites to launch this fall, followed by pilot congregation in the new year. The amalgomation of websites into one unified online presence is symbolic of the interweaving that has occured in our regional relationships, creating a new nationwide identity.
Regionally in MCA, we have been going through a year-long visioning process, Vision 20/20. Through prayer and with leadership from Betty Pries, we've gained understanding about who we are and what is important to us, as a community of churches. On November 1-2 at Calgary First Mennonite, a new three-year vision will be finalized. The journey we've traveled is evidence of our MCA churches functioning as community. Thank you to all who have participated!
The launching of new beginnings is both exciting and scary. The novelty of new and fear of the unknown co-mingle until the flowers bloom. So get your buckets of water and you mounds of fertilizer. Let's dig in!
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Prayer for Vision 20/20
 In preparation for the Vision 2020 weekend November 1 - 2 at Calgary First Mennonite, we are asking each MCA congregation to spend some time in prayer. Our hope is each church will highlight these prayer areas on a Sunday morning in some way during the four remaining weeks before Vision 2020 begins:
For October 6: Pray for Our relationship with God. What are the ways we experience and nurture our sense of encounter with God? Where do we see God’s presence in our life and in the lives of those around us? In a busy world, how do we intentionally create space for God’s voice to be heard? “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’” (Acts 17:27-28a).
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Fall Work Day
Come and help us get camp ready for winter! Split wood, take down tipis, pull out docks, and many other small tasks. We'll feed you lunch and snacks! Due to a nasty weather forecast (snow, rain, and cold!) we are pushing work day back to the following Saturday! We hope you can join us on October 5 from 9am- 4pm.
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Enduring Art, Active Faith – 3 Generations Create!
 Robert Proudfoot, an Edmonton author and member of First Mennonite Church, Edmonton, will be selling his recently published book “Enduring Art, Active Faith – 3 Generations Create!” at Capital City Press Festival – Celebrate Alberta Writers, on October 5, 2019. This festival runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Clareview Recreation Centre, located at 3804 – 139 Avenue NW, Edmonton.
The book studies mental health, human relationships, social justice, immigration, changing agriculture, reconciliation, and enjoyment of nature and sports though short stories, essays, poems and photographic depictions of artwork created by Robert’s family. For further information, please contact Robert by telephone (780-465-6083) or email (georann@telus.net). Please come by, to chat and buy a book for your reading pleasure!
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Prayer for our Nationwide Family
Pray for Joint Council & Executive Staff Group who are meeting this weekend, October 5 & 6, in Winnipeg. Representing Alberta is Brenda Tiessen-Wiens, MCA Moderator; Margaret Kruger-Harder, member-at-large; Allan Hiebert, Secretary / Treasurer; and Tim Wiebe-Neufeld, MCA Executive Minister.
Joint Council is the board for Mennonite Church Canada and includes two representatives from each of the five regions plus MC Canada's Moderator, Vice Moderator, Secretary / Treasurer, and Executive Minister.
Executive Staff Group or ESG includes regional Executive Ministers and MC Canada Executive Minister, Doug Klassen.
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International Witness
Did you know International Witness has programs in countries where we have no workers?
These programs are part of Mennonite Church Canada’s budget and are important to our international ministry. We are working together with local churches in Benin, Congo, Colombia, Cuba and others to offer programs of leadership development and training. Undesignated gifts to Mennonite Church Canada International Witness help to support these ministries.
Prayer: Pray for these churches across the globe that want to work with Mennonite Church Canada to bring God’s message of healing and hope to their communities. Pray that as we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, our gratefulness will overflow in generosity to others.
Witness workers create partnership with renewable energy corporation
 On September 19, Dann and Joji Pantoja, with their organizations Peacebuilders Community Incorporated (PCBI) and Coffee For Peace, established an inclusive-development partnership with a renewable energy corporation in the Philippines. The partnership, based on PCBI’s peace and reconciliation principles, will offer sustainable development training to coffee farmers in Indigenous communities. For more about this exciting initiative, click here.
Prayer: Pray that as Dann and Joji work with a renewable-energy corporation and Indigenous leaders the principles of peace and reconciliation that they embody will bring healing and hope to these communities. Thank God for this opportunity to care for God's creation in this way.
News from our Partners
Mennonite Partners in China (MPC) will host a learning tour from October 3 to 26, for 27 participants from Canada and the United States. The purpose of the tour is to see China beyond the headlines. It will include several of the universities where MPC teachers and student interns teach and participants will meet several Chinese church leaders, subsistence farmers, business people and counsellors. Eight of the participants are from Rosthern Mennonite Church.
Prayer: Pray that participants see God at work in China. Pray that the people they meet will be encouraged and strengthened to know that people in Canada support their work.
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Support International Witness: sponsor a rider
Ride for Refuge still needs to meet its fundraising goal before October 5, 2019!
There's only four days left before our eight Ride for Refuge teams cycle and walk to raise funds for International Witness. We've reached two thirds of our fundraising goal - help us get to 100%! Please consider supporting one of our teams by donating at https://rideforrefuge.org/charity/mennonitechurchca. Donations will be accepted until October 31, 2019.
Donate to Team Poovong. Once again Ryan Andres formed a team at First Mennonite in Edmonton has formed a team. This year funds are designated to Tom and Christine Poovong.
Pictured above is the 2018 Edmonton FMC Team who raised just over $2000 for the Nimz'. (from left to right): Jacob Wiebe-Neufeld, Tim Wiebe-Neufeld, Karl Blank and team captain Ryan Andres, all of Edmonton First Mennonite Church. (Photo courtesy of Karl Blank)
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Indigenous-Settler Relations
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A new mini-documentary, co-produced by Mennonite Church Canada's Indigenous-Settler Relations, shares the ongoing story. The Fight Continues 262 and the Declaration
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This Fight Continues! 262 and the Declaration
Though some Canadian politicians refuse to honour the minimum rights standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—afraid of the potential impact they might have on the resource-extraction economy—Indigenous nations and allies continue to mobilize to have the Declaration respected and implemented in federal law. A new mini-documentary, co-produced by Mennonite Church Canada’s Indigenous-Settler Relations, shares the ongoing story. Check it out here: This Fight Continues.
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Indigenous rights essential to climate justice
An estimated 1 million people took to the streets in Canada this past Friday (September 27) to declare their love for the Earth and to issue a bold call for climate action. Central to this call is the “full adoption and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” Mennonite Church Canada’s Indigenous-Settler Relations helped the Manitoba Youth for Climate Action create a short three-minute video explaining why Indigenous rights are integral to ecological justice. Check it out here: Centring Indigenous Rights.
Prayers for Christian Peacemaker Team Lesvos
On the Greek island of Lesvos, a fire broke out in the Moria migrant camp, killing one person and injuring 18 others. Designed for a maximum capacity of 3,000 people, the Moria camp now contains 13,000 people in desperate conditions, most of whom have fled from Syria. Please pray for our partner, Christian Peacemaker Teams Lesvos, as they courageously raise awareness of ongoing human rights violations and offer a ministry of solidarity to vulnerable peoples. For more info, you can follow their work on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CPTLesvos.
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2019-20 MCA Calendar
Oct 5 Ride for Refuge
Fall Work Day @ Valaqua
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
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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: Ibrahim J Long & Scott Sharman Register for your $10 tickets at :
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Click here to view a trailer.
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Register Now!
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
 Saturday, October 19, 2019
Trinity Mennonite Church
9am-4pm
with Marilyn Rudy-Froese
Suggested $40 price, includes lunch.
Rudy-Froese is currently the Church Leadership Minister for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and holds an MDiv from AMBS. Her course work has included transitional ministry traning and teaching healthy boundaries.
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.
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Friday 7 pm - 9 pm
Saturday 9am- 4 pm
Pastors and Church leaders gathering: Friday 1 pm - 4 pm
Lunch is provided on Saturday
mennonitechurch.ab.ca
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www.commonword.ca
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Worship Calendar:
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
As fall begins, we move towards the season of giving thanks. If you’re searching for resources or inspiration for the season, visit www.commonword.ca/go/1567. You’ll find  worship resources that you can use to inspire your thankfulness this fall.
Share Your Works:
 Are you writing an original thanksgiving resource? CommonWord would love to share it further by posting it on our site. Please see www.commonword.ca/go/1666 for more information about our community-developed materials.
 Why would anyone aspire to pastoral ministry when, for instance, a garage-door installer makes twice as much money and has weekends off? In George G. Epp’s book, city-kid Ike Janssen moves directly from student at a denominational seminary to pastor in a rural Saskatchewan town. Each of the 30 chapters in Isaac Janssen, MDiv focusses on a discrete episode in the lives of Ike and Sarah, while other key characters' lives thread their ways in and out of the whole. Order here.
 CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre invites you to join us on October 10 at 7 p.m. in Candian Mennonite University’s Marpeck Commons as Karla Dueck Thiessen and her students launch Dueck Thiessen’s new book It Starts With A Breath. The book demonstrates the benefits of mindful breathing for all ages. Find out more here.
Buy, Borrow, Download from CommonWord
Free Shipping on borrowed items.
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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
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