March Gathering Round-Up

Friday Highlights

Clockwise from top left: Alberta pastors met Friday afternoon; Tim opened up the evening session; rob peters shared poetry from his book, "breadcrumbs through cancer" and moderator Keith Retzlaff brought his own cheering section. (all photo credits Linda Dickinson)

More Photos from the Pastor's Council Meeting Friday afternoon: 

Saturday Highlights

 Sunday Morning Worship

Once again, we are so grateful to Lethbridge Mennonite Church for hosting so well. If you were a billet family, a volunteer, a cook, a musician, or helped it in another way, please know your work was seen and appreciated. 

March Gathering Sequel

Rachel Hunsberger, a member of the planning committee, offers this reflection on the weekend.        

March 13 to 15 was the annual March gathering, this year hosted by Lethbridge Mennonite Church. As I entered the sanctuary for the first time on Friday night, one of the things about the space that struck me almost immediately was the many quilts hung over the railing of the choir loft. Throughout the worship, singing, fellowship, and even meetings that took place over the weekend, I was brought back to the image of the quilts. As participants in the weekend told their stories through fellowship, and we heard stories from our guest speakers, I felt our community being brought together like those squares of a quilt, with each story, joke, or song as a stitch in the fabric. 

 The theme of the weekend, “Storytelling: A Bridge to Healing and Hope,” led the focus of our worship to centre on the ways that God has been working in our lives, and use those stories as a way to share His hope with others. We were privileged to hear how God has worked in the lives of our guest speakers through illness, Camp Valaqua, and the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. Arlen Friesen Epp’s Spirit Acts monologue, accompanied beautifully by the Lethbridge Mennonite Church’s tone chimes, was a great way to end our Saturday together. The monologue, which premiered at the Mennonite Church Canada Gathering last summer, followed the apostle Peter’s spiritual journey through the first half of the book of Acts in an engaging and thought-provoking way, and the tone chimes provided an opportunity to reflect between scenes.

Throughout the weekend and into Sunday morning’s service, it was wonderful to worship together with people from across Alberta. Having the opportunity to visit together during meals, coffee breaks, and singing together in worship was incredibly valuable. This time of fellowship, learning, and storytelling was one to remember, and I look forward to gathering together again next year; maybe we’ll see you there too!