Eugene writes:
Last weekend we cheered, we cried, we celebrated with a friend who has been a model of sportsmanship at the highest level of professional competition. The Toronto Rock lacrosse game on April 27 celebrated the retirement of Community participant Jim Veltman. The tributes were moving, the game was exciting and our church celebrated in a new way!
And ... of note ... our church attendance that morning (when we adjusted the worship time a little bit to enable more people to attend the game and support Jim) was amongst our largest ever. Hmm ... maybe we are on to something...
Here's an article from the local paper, and a YouTube clip of the tribute at the ACC...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
look out, world!
The young people from Community Mennonite Church are going places... literally.
You can read here about Rebecca's upcoming trip to Bangladesh in June (she has been helping to organize a service-and-learning experience called Shikka, which is a Bengla word meaning "to learn").
Sarah and Christine will be going to Guatemala later in this summer with ENLACE, another serving-and-learning program run by MCC Ontario (and one of the leaders will be Denise - also of our congregation).
And then there's ANOTHER overseas learning experience - this one called YELLA (I know... MCC's department of "program-name-thinker-uppers" has been working overtime), involving Justin, Ben, Kayla, David, Mike, Derek, and Kevin, with Allan as one of the leaders as well.
Here's what Justin had to say about the trip in a recent message to the congregation:
"This May I will be participating in a young adult learning trip to Israel/Palestine with a group of 20 plus people. This 3 week trip, jointly sponsored by Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, is designed to provide young adults, like myself, with faith-shaping and faith-stretching experiences that will help us develop as Christian disciples and leaders. I feel like being in the “holy land” will go a long way in solidifying my own faith by experiencing contexts of the bible and the Christian faith visually and first hand.
The tour is named Yella, which means “Let’s go!” in both Arabic and Hebrew. This Middle East experience will provide us with the opportunity to wrestle with multi-faith realities, delve into issues that divide people, explore biblical stories within their context, and encounter a Jesus we have not met . . . yet! Linford Stutzman, professor of culture and mission at Eastern Mennonite University will be leading the tour. He has led several groups of EMU students on semesters in the Middle East. There is also a service component where we will work at Nazareth Village, a Mennonite mission organization that helps hundreds of tourists each month understand the teachings of Jesus within 1st century Palestine."
... and here are some words from Mike - an invitation to a special event TOMORROW evening (Friday, April 25):
"This Friday at Rouge Valley Mennonite Church we are hosting a
Coffeehouse Fundraiser to help us be able to afford this trip. The
show, which features acoustic sets by local musical talents, will
begin at 7:30. The bill includes the Markham MYF Praise Band, Marcus Adrian & Co., Allan Reesor-McDowell, Mike Turman, and Antigonie.
Desserts and refreshments will be provided as well. Please come
prepared to support our trip to the holy land."
You can read here about Rebecca's upcoming trip to Bangladesh in June (she has been helping to organize a service-and-learning experience called Shikka, which is a Bengla word meaning "to learn").
Sarah and Christine will be going to Guatemala later in this summer with ENLACE, another serving-and-learning program run by MCC Ontario (and one of the leaders will be Denise - also of our congregation).
And then there's ANOTHER overseas learning experience - this one called YELLA (I know... MCC's department of "program-name-thinker-uppers" has been working overtime), involving Justin, Ben, Kayla, David, Mike, Derek, and Kevin, with Allan as one of the leaders as well.
Here's what Justin had to say about the trip in a recent message to the congregation:
"This May I will be participating in a young adult learning trip to Israel/Palestine with a group of 20 plus people. This 3 week trip, jointly sponsored by Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, is designed to provide young adults, like myself, with faith-shaping and faith-stretching experiences that will help us develop as Christian disciples and leaders. I feel like being in the “holy land” will go a long way in solidifying my own faith by experiencing contexts of the bible and the Christian faith visually and first hand.
The tour is named Yella, which means “Let’s go!” in both Arabic and Hebrew. This Middle East experience will provide us with the opportunity to wrestle with multi-faith realities, delve into issues that divide people, explore biblical stories within their context, and encounter a Jesus we have not met . . . yet! Linford Stutzman, professor of culture and mission at Eastern Mennonite University will be leading the tour. He has led several groups of EMU students on semesters in the Middle East. There is also a service component where we will work at Nazareth Village, a Mennonite mission organization that helps hundreds of tourists each month understand the teachings of Jesus within 1st century Palestine."
... and here are some words from Mike - an invitation to a special event TOMORROW evening (Friday, April 25):
"This Friday at Rouge Valley Mennonite Church we are hosting a
Coffeehouse Fundraiser to help us be able to afford this trip. The
show, which features acoustic sets by local musical talents, will
begin at 7:30. The bill includes the Markham MYF Praise Band, Marcus Adrian & Co., Allan Reesor-McDowell, Mike Turman, and Antigonie.
Desserts and refreshments will be provided as well. Please come
prepared to support our trip to the holy land."
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
What If?
Here's an article by Paul that appeared in last week's Stouffville Free Press:
As a member of Community Mennonite Church of Stouffville, a peace church that promotes non-violent, constructive and transforming approaches to conflict, I became quite concerned after hearing that the Canadian military is recruiting in high schools across Canada (including Stouffville). The military is presented as a career option and targets teenagers through offering to pay for higher education if they enlist and recruiters present a career in the military as one of promoting peace-keeping throughout the world. My concern was heightened in hearing that the goal for recruitment is the “Number of recruiters being increased from 300 currently to 30,000 in the short-term to 80,000 in the long term.” (General Rick Hillier, February, 2006). "We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people" -- General Rick Hillier, July 13, 2005. Is learning to kill people being presented as just another exciting career option?
In high school in the late 60's in Markham, I was taught that Canada was an international leader in finding peaceful means to resolve conflicts and was a leader in contributing to a world UN police force. In this new century, Canada has been steadily giving up its special leadership in international peace-keeping. Instead, the militarization (violence) of Canada’s response to international relations has increased and we have become a lower-grade partner with other countries in using military force to try to establish peace (Afganistan). This approach is internationally recognized as ineffective, and in fact increases the cycle of violence.
This change has made me quite sad at what has been lost to my children and to our country. What if Canada was truly in the business of saving lives and reducing conflict rather than having the job of being “able to kill people?” What if, instead of a doubling of the Canadian military budget over the past 10 years to 17 billion dollars, half of that had gone to using peaceful means that actually work in reducing and transforming international conflict? What if only the 2007 military overspending of one billion dollars was put into courses in high school and colleges that teach conflict resolution and transformation and how lives can be saved? What if our teenagers were offered free university education to become international peacekeepers? I expect that many young persons would jump at the chance and take great pride in being international peacekeepers. We all know that we define ourselves as a country by the resources we put into education. Are we putting our resources into teaching war? Or can we put our resources into teaching peace and once again become world leaders in transforming conflicted societies?
- Paul McDowell
As a member of Community Mennonite Church of Stouffville, a peace church that promotes non-violent, constructive and transforming approaches to conflict, I became quite concerned after hearing that the Canadian military is recruiting in high schools across Canada (including Stouffville). The military is presented as a career option and targets teenagers through offering to pay for higher education if they enlist and recruiters present a career in the military as one of promoting peace-keeping throughout the world. My concern was heightened in hearing that the goal for recruitment is the “Number of recruiters being increased from 300 currently to 30,000 in the short-term to 80,000 in the long term.” (General Rick Hillier, February, 2006). "We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people" -- General Rick Hillier, July 13, 2005. Is learning to kill people being presented as just another exciting career option?
In high school in the late 60's in Markham, I was taught that Canada was an international leader in finding peaceful means to resolve conflicts and was a leader in contributing to a world UN police force. In this new century, Canada has been steadily giving up its special leadership in international peace-keeping. Instead, the militarization (violence) of Canada’s response to international relations has increased and we have become a lower-grade partner with other countries in using military force to try to establish peace (Afganistan). This approach is internationally recognized as ineffective, and in fact increases the cycle of violence.
This change has made me quite sad at what has been lost to my children and to our country. What if Canada was truly in the business of saving lives and reducing conflict rather than having the job of being “able to kill people?” What if, instead of a doubling of the Canadian military budget over the past 10 years to 17 billion dollars, half of that had gone to using peaceful means that actually work in reducing and transforming international conflict? What if only the 2007 military overspending of one billion dollars was put into courses in high school and colleges that teach conflict resolution and transformation and how lives can be saved? What if our teenagers were offered free university education to become international peacekeepers? I expect that many young persons would jump at the chance and take great pride in being international peacekeepers. We all know that we define ourselves as a country by the resources we put into education. Are we putting our resources into teaching war? Or can we put our resources into teaching peace and once again become world leaders in transforming conflicted societies?
- Paul McDowell
Friday, March 28, 2008
new life
What a delight, on Easter Sunday, to celebrate Christine's baptism and Nick and Christine's public confession of faith and decision to formally "cast their lot" with us as members of this joyfully ragged band of disciples seeking to follow Jesus wherever he may lead us.
May we all walk in "newness of life" in this Easter season!
May we all walk in "newness of life" in this Easter season!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Lorne Grove's art
If you've visited For The Love of Jo Coffee House on Main St. in the past few days you may or may not have noticed that you are sitting - and sipping - in the presence of over 40 years of artwork by Lorne Grove, a member of our church. If you haven't had a chance yet, do stop by and have a look. Here's a small sampling, and some words from Lorne about his art.
"From the priceless treasure of a childhood on a frugal Mennonite farm near Dickson Hill; a journey on a freight ship from New York to Bombay for three years in India with Mennonite Central Committee; to senior years with our children and grandchildren, I consider every additional day as totally bonus."
- Lorne Grove
CHILDHOOD HOME
"From the priceless treasure of a childhood on a frugal Mennonite farm near Dickson Hill; a journey on a freight ship from New York to Bombay for three years in India with Mennonite Central Committee; to senior years with our children and grandchildren, I consider every additional day as totally bonus."
- Lorne Grove
CHILDHOOD HOME
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
learning from La Casa Grande - helping La Casa Grande
Here is Denise's promised follow-up from her message to us on Sunday:
At our church retreat last weekend I presented about my time spent working at an orphanage, La Casa Grande, in Benin.
I reflected on how we can learn from the Beninese and their remarkable way of placing God at the centre of every part of their lives. I suggested that their few material possessions allow them to focus on spirituality more fully than us as wealthy North Americans.
To follow up on this message I encourage Community members to find something material in their lives that has become an unnecessary habit. I then challenge you to give this particular thing up for one month. Hopefully this act will allow for time to re-evaluate what we really value. Potentially it could also engage others in conversation.
(eg: "Fred, did you see the hockey game last night? No, Stanley, I've decided to cut the cable this month and was unable to watch the game," "Really Fred, please tell me why you would ever do something like that...")
Doing this will also free up some cash that could then be sent to La Casa Grande. Currently the orphanage is expanding in order to accommodate more children. Our spare dollars would go far in aiding fundraising and demonstrating our shared interest in caring for the forgotten children of Benin.
Let's plan on starting next Monday the 9th. Take this week to discuss with your family and decide what would be appropriate for you.
Let's share with one another our ideas! It would be motivating and encouraging. I'll let you know what our family has decided upon in the next few days.
Thanks for your interest and openess. I was truly blown over on Sunday by the support I felt from this congregation!
- Denise
At our church retreat last weekend I presented about my time spent working at an orphanage, La Casa Grande, in Benin.
I reflected on how we can learn from the Beninese and their remarkable way of placing God at the centre of every part of their lives. I suggested that their few material possessions allow them to focus on spirituality more fully than us as wealthy North Americans.
To follow up on this message I encourage Community members to find something material in their lives that has become an unnecessary habit. I then challenge you to give this particular thing up for one month. Hopefully this act will allow for time to re-evaluate what we really value. Potentially it could also engage others in conversation.
(eg: "Fred, did you see the hockey game last night? No, Stanley, I've decided to cut the cable this month and was unable to watch the game," "Really Fred, please tell me why you would ever do something like that...")
Doing this will also free up some cash that could then be sent to La Casa Grande. Currently the orphanage is expanding in order to accommodate more children. Our spare dollars would go far in aiding fundraising and demonstrating our shared interest in caring for the forgotten children of Benin.
Let's plan on starting next Monday the 9th. Take this week to discuss with your family and decide what would be appropriate for you.
Let's share with one another our ideas! It would be motivating and encouraging. I'll let you know what our family has decided upon in the next few days.
Thanks for your interest and openess. I was truly blown over on Sunday by the support I felt from this congregation!
- Denise
Thursday, February 21, 2008
shikka
Hello church!
This past fall, I have been working with Mennonite Central Committee Ontario in helping to organize a service and learning trip for young adults to Bangladesh in June. The trip is for people over age 18 who want to learn more about the work of MCC and have an international learning experience. The program is called Shikka, which is the Bengla word for 'to learn.'
We will be staying with the Sisters at Global Family Catholic Mission and will be teaching children English, and playing with them through songs and games. This will be an opportunity to learn about another culture, religion and language and see where the money from MCC's Global Family Program is going.
I have learned a lot about organizing and planning this year through Shikka. It is a learning experience in itself to take on a role such as this one and receive applications, plan meetings and work on fund raising.
I have wanted to share about this in church for the past few Sundays but I always think about it after the service. So, here is the update! Stay tuned for fun fund raisers coming up and more news about this exciting experience!
Peace,
Rebecca
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