Advent 2021 a time of sharing in MC B.C.

Congregations in Mennonite Church B.C. have been observing Advent in various ways through December.

Yarrow United Mennonite celebrated First Advent, the Sunday of joy, with a bulletin display set up in the church foyer. Church members could write what brings them joy on the display to share with others.

At Cedar Valley Church in Mission, members have been taking part in a Reverse Advent Calendar, partnering with St. Joseph’s Food Bank to help people struggling with food scarcity. A calendar distributed to members suggested food items such as canned fruit and vegetables, pancake mix, peanut butter and cereal, to be added one a day up to Dec. 24 and then dropped off at St. Joseph’s.

Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack has been a hub for distributing food hampers to seniors in the area, with some Eden members supplying eggs for the hampers and acting as delivery drivers. Eden members also supplied chocolates and cookies for the hampers the week of Christmas.

At Level Ground Mennonite Church in Abbotsford, parishioners contributed Tim Hortons gift cards and chocolate bars for gift bags given to residents of Kinghaven treatment centre, an annual tradition. Members of the Coffee Connections group assembled the bags.

Concluding Advent, Level Ground is planning an interactive worship experience on Christmas Eve afternoon, with stations to visit in the church foyer, sanctuary, and prayer room in lieu of a traditional worship service.

Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford also collected snacks, mittens and toques during Advent for children who participate in the breakfast program at Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle School.

With no 2021 church Christmas banquet, members were invited to take the money they would have spent on a banquet ticket and donate to the Cyrus Centre for at-risk youths.

Do you have a story idea about Mennonites in B.C.? Send it to Amy Rinner Waddell at bc@canadianmennonite.org.