A Menno Minute

An Aspiration for All of Us!

MCA’s vision statement ends with the line, “Together we seek to embody Jesus Christ in the world.” What an aspiration! And also what a daunting task! Such a lofty goal suggests nothing short of the transformation of all of life. It echoes the words of Menno Simons, who wrote that true faith must become “all things to all creatures”.

Epiphany, Gifts and Waiting

Epiphany - The waiting of Advent is over; Jesus has come among us. In His presence, let us embrace our journeys, trusting that the Babe of Bethlehem walks with us still.

A Biblical Path to Managing Anger and Preventing Conflict

Peace is one of the greatest gifts God desires for humanity. The Bible repeatedly calls people to live in peace with God and with one another, yet history and daily life show how easily anger robs us of peace and leads to conflict, division, and even war. Scripture teaches that unmanaged anger begins in the human heart, but through God’s wisdom, it can be transformed into forgiveness, reconciliation, and lasting peace.

Hearing the Story Anew

This week as we hear these words once again, may we hear them anew as glad tidings, tidings of great joy for all the people. And with the angels may we give glory to God as we live into God’s promise of peace.

Gifts from these 7.5 years

It’s hard to believe that my time as pastor of Calgary First Mennonite Church is coming to an end in only a matter of days.  These last months and weeks have felt like a blur.  And while these last seven and a half years have also gone by in a flash, it’s also hard to remember what life was like before ministry.  Add in the usual—and in some ways unfortunate—busy-ness of this season and it certainly makes for an emotionally complicated time.  

How Will We Respond

A small group in my church created our Advent series called “From Fear to Peace: The Christmas Journey”. In the series outline, they state that things in our world are difficult: “Financial instability. Food insecurity. Polarization. Disconnection. Strikes. Aging. Health concerns. Grief. Pressure. Uncertainty. Anxiousness.”

How Will We Respond?

Do You Watch Good Cinema?

Can I ask you this; Do you watch good cinema? 

Who is Linda?

My name is Linda Dickinson, and I’m the new Communications Coordinator for Mennonite Church Alberta. In other words, I’m the new Ruth Bergen Braun - very large shoes to fill!

A Retirement Reflection

Some months ago, I was given a suggestion for this final-Menno-Minute-as-staff. "Write out a list of your innovations." My first thought was “What?? What innovations?”  I just did “stuff” as “stuff’ was needed. But, I guess there were a few “innovations" with the qualifier that I did have a foundation to start with.

 

A Gift of Time and Noticing

We watch as the fading sun bathes the hills of painted forest leaves in a moving evening display. My companions and I have spent the day immersed in spiritual reflection and prayer. Individually and collectively we have shared faith callings, personal struggles, and inner stirrings of the Spirit. It is a Holy Moment, this last light of the fading day, proclaiming the movement to night, heralding a shift to the gift of rest and providing a moment of connection with God, with others, and with all of God’s creation.

Defenseless Identity

Not too long ago, I cracked open the Martyr’s Mirror for the first time in a while. I flipped through the first sixty pages of the prefaces and introductions (as well as the page of original language poems) and took a look at the first page of the actual narrative. If you’ve ever seen that opening page, you might remember the editing nightmare of titles, subtitles, headings and subheadings that is staring you down. 

Duty in its Place

Jesus did not come to pile burdens on already burdened people. He came to lift them. He came to give rest to the weary, mercy to those who keep on doing what they don’t want to do, liberation to the captives, and welcome to the prodigals. He came to proclaim and embody news that was genuinely good—that God’s love for sinners is the strongest, deepest, and truest given in the universe. God help us if we reduce this to some version of “do better.” Duty has its place. But its place is and must only be the response of love to Love.