A Window Into...First Mennonite Church Edmonton

First Mennonite Church, Edmonton asks us to pray

We give God thanks for the work of our search committee and the bringing together of a pastoral team for our congregation. We look forward to a candidating weekend this May and pray for God’s wisdom and guidance during this process.

We ask for God’s grace as we step forward with the easing of COVID protocols in worship and at church events. How do we rebuild old and foster new connections in the congregation as we emerge from this season of physical separation?

We joyfully gather for worship as one body in many places, we also recognize that different parts of the body have differing needs. We ask for God’s direction as we seek to faithfully tend to the specific demographic needs of the congregation while also building up the whole.

First Mennonite Church Edmonton, Interviews

Irene Baergen

Originally moving to Edmonton from Tofield, Irene Baergen and her late husband Jake were charter members of First Mennonite Church Edmonton when the church was formed. They raised their family in the church. Irene recalled those years, saying that FMC Edmonton was a good place to raise kids She noted that there was always an active Sunday school program, for a time there was a children’s choir and there was always good youth support. For her own spiritual growth, she particularly appreciated the adult Sunday school classes. Usually there were two options – one Bible-based, the other topical. Irene has served FMC Edmonton in many capacities. She and her husband were deacons for many years, were involved with refugee sponsorship, and on other committees.

She is grateful that they have always had strong leadership which helped them stay connected to the wider church:  Mennonite Church Alberta, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Central Committee. She commented that FMC Edmonton supporting the vision of Mennonite Centre for Newcomers was particularly important to both her and her husband.

She recalled that the process to becoming a supportive and inclusive congregation for LGBTQ people was particularly meaningful to her. Although it seemed long at the time, she now sees the time spent as necessary. Today Irene is pleased that all can be comfortable at First Mennonite Church Edmonton.

Since the death of her husband Jake in November 2020, she continues to find love and support in her church. She enjoys her quilting group, has many friends and is grateful that they are back to meeting in person but also appreciates having the zoom option for those Sundays when attending is difficult.

A story from First Mennonite Church, Edmonton

First Mennonite Church, Edmonton, began in 1949 as a ministry with and for young people who had gravitated to Edmonton for work and university studies.  Formally established in 1959, FMC formed an active and engaged community that actively helped in the creation of Camp Valaqua, supported SongFest, sent curlers to Didsbury, led Women in Mission and served on provincial committees and executive. From having the first seminary-trained pastor in the province to providing the first lay-person as conference chair and the first woman as chair of MCC Alberta, FMC has striven to be attentive to the Spirit's whispers that we "go where I send you."  The Welcoming Statement we adopted in 2016 was another example of this and continues to be a commitment that we attempt to live into.  Most recently, conversations about climate change and our responsibility as stewards of God's good Creation have led us to commit to installation of solar panels, scheduled for this summer.
 

The First Mennonite Edmonton Video

(or click the photo)

Get to know them by visiting their website, reading (or re-reading) their history and their story in Our Stories. 

 A few photos from First Mennonite Edmonton

 Pastor Rachel's installation

Coffee Time after a 90th birthday!

A summer coffee -and-conversation

A Covid-time outdoor service