Volume 16, Number 1
New book recalls English school controversy
One of more than 200 photographs from the new book, The Pembroke Years: 1919-1968, shows Pembroke School ball players Frank Janzen, Peter Neudorf, Jacob Janzen, George Sawatzky, George Ens and Jacob Sawatzky piling onto Abe J. Friesen’s truck.
On Oct. 1, 50 people gathered in the fellowship centre at Saskatoon’s Bethany Manor to launch the new book, The Pembroke Years: 1919-1968.
A journey of peace
While reflecting on the MCC peace button message, students at Menno Simons Christian School, Calgary, work in groups to create artistic trees that represent the individual and collective work of creating peace at the school.
On Nov. 10, 2011, the community of Menno Simons Christian School participated in our annual peace festival, focusing on the meaning of the MCC button, “To remember is to work for peace.” We reflected on those who have been—and continue to be—affected by war, and how we, as a Christian peace community, can make our school and our world a more peaceful place.
Imaginations at work
Rosthern Junior College students put their imaginations to work on an international service learning trip in support of a community in Guatemala.
Every year, Rosthern Junior College staff and students from Saskatchewan partner with Habitat for Humanity to assist in the construction of homes for needy families.
Every September for the last 106 years, students have arrived at the Rosthern (Sask.) Junior College
People of faith must call for climate justice
Mennonite Church Canada executive director Willard Metzger, right, marches through the streets of Durban, South Africa, in support of climate justice with other people of faith at the UN climate change conference last month.
Especially in the colder areas of Canada, people will sometimes facetiously say they are thankful for climate change when they experience unseasonably warm temperatures.
Spaghetti-sauce churches
“Why plant a new church?” It’s a legitimate question and, as a church planter, one I have heard often. With most churches in decline, and more than a few closing altogether, does it really make sense to start a new one? As one friend put it, “Why don’t you start a new typewriter company while you’re at it?”
Christmas is over, what now?
While driving to work the other morning I was listening to the radio, as I usually do. The program host had a guest on the show and they were discussing seasonal tipping etiquette.
Collaborative conflict resolution
In the last few columns, I’ve written about different ways to manage conflict, including avoidance, competition, accommodation and compromise. Each of these responses can be quite useful, and each one also has limitations. It’s good to develop a repertoire of responses, and to sense when to use which one.
The raising of Ebenezer
The Ebenezer stone represented a fresh beginning, a reversal of course for God’s people. It also said something important about God: his mercies were everlasting; his covenant was forever.
The Advent season was a time of preparation and anticipation. The Christmas season was a time for celebration and repletion. What follows, for me, is a season of contemplation.
Readers write
Learn from the Bible, not cults or other religions
Re: “Learning from diverse faiths,” Nov. 14, page 4.
I was surprised and disappointed with the article about learning from Mormons and Muslims how to live Christian lives.
For discussion
1. According to Larry Miller, the last two decades have been a time of fundamental change for Anabaptists around the world. What changes have you seen in Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and in how Mennonites interact globally? Do you agree that the centre of gravity of the global church has shifted to the Global South?
Miller was a ‘migrant missionary’
Ecumenical dialogue was a passion of Larry Miller’s. Monsignor John A. Radano of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity leads a meeting of the Mennonite-Catholic Dialogue (1998-2003), of which he was co-chair. To his left are Bishop Joseph Martino and Miller.
“You were a new kind of ‘migrant missionary’ described in John Howard Yoder’s As You Go,” said Bert Lobe, in an evening of memories of Larry Miller at Rockway Mennonite Church, Kitchener, on Oct. 23, 2011.
‘A place that gives life’
Larry Miller’s tenure as MWC general secretary was marked by his gift of encouragement among other global leaders. In this 1991 photo, he stands behind his ‘big brothers’: Mesach Krisetya, left, of Indonesia, who was to become MWC president in 1997, and Reg Toews of Canada, then serving as treasurer.
The Millers and their children (now married) in Kolkata, India, in 1997, with the parents-in-law of Indian church leader Menno Joel, right. Pictured from left to right: Anne-Marie Miller Blaise; Elisabeth Miller Sommers, Menno’s parents-in-law, Larry Miller, Alexandre Miller, Eleanor Miller and Menno Joel.
At the 2011 Executive Committee meetings in Taiwan, Cisca Mawangu Ibanda of Congo, centre, presents carved animals to Larry Miller, left, now former MWC general secretary, and César García, who assumed the general secretary’s role on Jan. 1. More than curios, said Ibanda, the animals represent qualities important for their service to MWC: Miller ho
Larry Miller remembers one moment clearly when, as a 38-year-old, he was weighing whether or not to accept the nomination to lead Mennonite World Conference (MWC). The year was 1988 and he was sitting in a university library in Strasbourg, France, where he lived.
Bergen, Braun re-assigned
Rachel Bergen, national correspondent, has been re-assigned as co-editor of Young Voices, and New Order Voice columnist Will Braun has been hired as senior writer. Both will work out of their locations in Winnipeg. The new positions were effective Jan. 1.
A matter of the heart
As we enter the year 2012, one of my goals for Canadian Mennonite and for its primary readership—members of the faith community of Mennonite Church Canada—is to maintain a high level of conversation that fills the pages of this publication.
