A Menno Minute

“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

Oct 14th, 2020

“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.”

- Matthew 12: 48-50 CEB

Introducing Our Stories

Sep 30th, 2020

Introducing Our Stories

What are our stories as congregations and as individuals within congregations?

Who tells our stories? How are they told? How do our stories inspire and shape us? What is the purpose of stories? How can we learn from each other’s stories?

God's License

Sep 23rd, 2020

God's License

The story of Bavak, his driver's license and "just a bit more freedom in this new country which he claims is a wonderful place, given the troubled South Sudan where he has come from."

Camp Valaqua: A Place to Belong

Sep 16th, 2020

Camp Valaqua: A Place to Belong

The jubilant return of children and youth to Valaqua is something worth celebrating and, when that time comes again, we will!

An October 31st Invitation to Dialogue with Muslims

Sep 9th, 2020

An October 31st Invitation to Dialogue with Muslims

Commonalities and connections are often experienced at informal and formal Interfaith Dialogues.

The Leatherman Church

Sep 2nd, 2020

The Leatherman Church

We are a “multi” church that, like a Leatherman, has more individual facets and creative uses than you might ever discover.

Aug 12th, 2020

If there is one thing I love about summer vacation it is the way it opens up space.

Reflections from our Canadian Mennonite Rep

Aug 5th, 2020

Reflections from our Canadian Mennonite Rep

Words, stories, and ideas.

The Practice of Writing

Jul 29th, 2020

The Practice of Writing

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to write—certainly long before I would have considered it anything like a “spiritual discipline.”

Seeing God at Work in MCA, in our Congregations, in Ourselves

Jul 22nd, 2020

Seeing God at Work in MCA, in our Congregations, in Ourselves

A reflection -- albeit within a conversation.

Holy Ground

Jul 15th, 2020

Holy Ground

Take, take off your shoes. You’re standing on my holy ground.

This is Me

Jul 8th, 2020

This is Me

By Ruth Bergen Braun

A new MCA Communications Coordinator!

It's "Dasvidaniya", not "Paka"

Jun 24th, 2020

It's "Dasvidaniya", not "Paka"

A Menno Minute

by June Miller

It was about this time of year, the summer of 1996, when I had to say goodbye to friends in Russia. After three years, that day at the train station was a tearful goodbye.

Is God Calling You?

Jun 10th, 2020

Is God Calling You?

A Menno Minute

by Marguerite Jack

If you wish to meet people, learn about their lives and the many skills they have to offer, . . .

Building bridges in Burkina Faso

Jun 3rd, 2020

Building bridges in Burkina Faso

A Menno Minute

by Donna Entz

God brought Siaka Traore of Burkina Faso into our lives in 1979. In spite of opposition from every direction possible, he has always been consistent in responding as Jesus would.

Art of Steel

May 27th, 2020

Art of Steel

A Menno Minute

by Kate Janzen

John Wiebe, a long-time member of Foothills Mennonite Church, has been creating works of art from steel since 1973.

Let's get JAZZED!

May 20th, 2020

Let's get JAZZED!

A Menno Minute

by Brenda Tiessen-Wiens

Giving to “where needed,” on the other hand, is not as exciting. So to give it a boost, let’s jazz it up!

Help yourself to the bag of chips

May 13th, 2020

Help yourself to the bag of chips

A Menno Minute

By Danika Warkentin

I am a witness to the power of summer camp. We have all had experiences that have molded and formed us, but working at Camp Valaqua was one of my most transformative experiences. It was what transitioned me from an uncertain girl of sixteen to a more self-assured leader.

One year in

May 6th, 2020

One year in

A Menno Minute

by Craig Neufeld

One of the biggest changes for a Pastor in moving to a new congregation, and a new province, is re-establishing a support network.

This winter has felt long

Apr 29th, 2020

This winter has felt long

A Menno Minute

by Jeff Schellenburg

This winter felt long. I suppose by March or so they all tend to start feeling long. But this year that late winter bleakness was only reinforced by the sadness of Covid-19.

You're more interesting than you think

Apr 21st, 2020

You're more interesting than you think

A Menno Minute

by Joanne DeJong

Last week I interviewed an ex-offender who had successfully gone through the Mennonite Central Committee-Alberta Bridges program. He mentioned that when you are locked up in prison you have no internet and no fresh air.

Easter Hope in a Good Friday Time

Apr 15th, 2020

Easter Hope in a Good Friday Time

A Menno Minute

by Tim Wiebe-Neufeld

Easter just wasn’t the same this year. Instead of hymns sung by the joyful voices of the full congregation, there was music played through laptop speakers. The online worship services were a far cry from the annual in-person celebrations I so much enjoy.

Why do we do what we do?

Apr 8th, 2020

Why do we do what we do?

A Menno Minute

by Joani Neufeldt

What was the average age of people at the last church event you went to? When my husband and I attend church events we have sometimes been the only people in our age demographic.

Assembly 2020 Reflection

Apr 1st, 2020

Assembly 2020 Reflection

A Menno Minute

by Brenda Tiessen-Wiens

I clicked on the Zoom “join with video” button and was met by the familiar faces of Executive and staff members. Within seconds the doorbell was dinging and new faces were popping up on everyone’s computer screens.

My Time on Human Resources at MCA

Mar 25th, 2020

My Time on Human Resources at MCA

A Menno Minute

by Michael Ediger

I have just completed two terms on the Personnel Committee at Mennonite Church Alberta, and Goodness, how quickly the time has gone by!

What a difference a week makes!

Mar 18th, 2020

What a difference a week makes!

A Menno Minute

by Tim Wiebe-Neufeld

It was barely a week ago that I received news of my first cancelled event: a Mennonite World Conference gathering scheduled to take place in Abbotsford at the end of the month. By Friday MCA had cancelled its Annual Assembly, First Mennonite Edmonton had cancelled Sunday worship services, and a long-planned family gathering was shelved.

When to speak, what to say: a Lenten reflection

Mar 5th, 2020

When to speak, what to say: a Lenten reflection

A Menno Minute

by Doug Klassen, Executive Minister Mennonite Church Canada

Last weekend’s news regarding L'Arche founder Jean Vanier’s sexual abuse of at least six women had me feeling deeply grieved and angry.

A Popeye church?

Feb 26th, 2020

A Popeye church?

A Menno Minute

by Tim Wiebe-Neufeld

A “Popeye church”? Doug Klassen worries we may focus on overdeveloping the arms of our church and ignoring the strength of our core.

I'm just so tired

Feb 19th, 2020

I'm just so tired

A Menno Minute

by Laura Wiebe

Ever commit to an event or a responsibility and slowly as the time draws closer, you just feel more tired and less interested in attending?

What do you want?

Feb 5th, 2020

What do you want?

A Menno Minute

by Donna Dinsmore, Intentional Transitional Pastor at Foothills MC

“What do you want?” The tone says it all.

Human Vulnerability

Jan 29th, 2020

Human Vulnerability

A Menno Minute

by Caleb Kowalko, Pastor Calgary First Mennonite Church

I was just about to collect my things from my office after church when I overheard the very sad news.

If you're not cheating, you're not trying

Jan 22nd, 2020

If you're not cheating, you're not trying

A Menno Minute

by Will Loewen, Pastor Trinity Mennonite Church

In 1919, eight baseball players were banned from the major leagues for life because they took bribe money to lose a baseball game on purpose.

Snow Camp 2020 in Review

Jan 12th, 2020

Snow Camp 2020 in Review

A Menno 1.0712 Minute

A video reflection of Snow Camp 2020.

Small community, large world

Dec 19th, 2019

Small community, large world

A Menno Minute

by Ryan Dueck, Pastor Lethbridge Mennonite Church

A few months ago, I followed a rabbit trail from a blog that I occasionally read to the website of the church where the blogger was a pastor.

What is the difference between CommonWord & MennoMedia?

Dec 4th, 2019

What is the difference between CommonWord & MennoMedia?

A Menno Minute

with Arlyn Frisen Epp
intro by June Miller

"Put simply:
(1) MennoMedia is Mennonite Church Canada’s publisher and CommonWord is our retailer and resource centre.

Technology and Discipleship

Nov 27th, 2019

Technology and Discipleship

A Menno Minute

by Werner DeJong, Pastor Holyrood Mennonite Church

After preaching a sermon on technology and discipleship in early September,I invited the young adult and adult members of the congregation to attend a new Sunday School class on the same theme.

Christ’s Body, Living Stones:

Nov 19th, 2019

Christ’s Body, Living Stones:

A Menno Minute

by Tim Wiebe-Neufeld

“Where did you get the neat stones?” I hadn’t expected this question at this past weekend’s Vision 2020 event. In my search for a symbol of our coming together as MCA, I settled on 1 Peter 2’s image of “living stones” to represent the body of Christ. I visited a local landscaper and scrounged up a bucket of small, smooth stones, each unique in shape and colour...

People LIke You

Nov 7th, 2019

People LIke You

A Menno Minute

by Brenda Tiessen-Wiens, Moderator for MCA

One of the common phrases I read in thank-you cards and letters is “people like you.”

Safety and Challenge

Oct 23rd, 2019

Safety and Challenge

A Menno Minute

by Jon Olfert, Director, Camp Valaqua

The clanging sound of a bell being struck and the echo of voices cheering in support drift to me through the forest. Someone has just mastered a face of the climbing wall and I smile to myself, music to my ears.

Christian-Muslim Dialogue

Oct 16th, 2019

Christian-Muslim Dialogue

A Menno Minute

by Donna Entz, Director of North Edmonton Ministry

It is so easy to make assumptions about others. The Muslim-Christian Dialogue forces each of us to realize that we are constantly making assumptions about those not quite like us.

Treasurer	Executive Minister
Box 1839 Pincher Creek, Alberta T0K 1W0	4249 97 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5Y7
mca@mcab.ca