Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Annual Delegate Sessions

Transcription

1 Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Annual Delegate Sessions March 9 & 10, 2018 at Zion Mennonite Church, Swift Current Co-hosted by Emmaus Mennonite and Zion Mennonite

2 Table of Contents Delegate Information 3 Agenda 4 MC Sask Council Actions & Major Decisions 6 Slate of Nominations 7 Nominations Bios 8 Moderator s Report 9 Executive Minister Report 10 Finance Report 12 Unaudited Revenue & Disbursement Area Church Minister, Youth Programming & Admin Report 14 Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization 15 Pastoral Leadership Commission 16 Hospital Chaplaincy 17 Listening & Discernment Committee 18 Women s Ministry 19 Ministries Commission 20 Refresh, Refocus, Renew Report 21 CoSA Southern Saskatchewan 24 Micah Mission 26 Parkland Restorative Justice (P2P) 27 Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home and Farm Complex 28 Camp Elim 29 Shekinah Retreat Centre 32 Youth Farm Bible Camp 33 Rosthern Junior College 34 Canadian Mennonite University 38 Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary 40 Mennonite Church Canada 41 Canadian Mennonite Publication 44 MCC Saskatchewan 45 Mennonite Trust Ltd. 47 Abundance Canada 48 Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan 49 Mennonite Men 50 Minutes from 2017 Annual Delegate Sessions 52 Index 56 2

3 Online registration or printable registration forms available at Printed registrations forms available from your church office Hosted by Emmaus Mennonite Zion Mennonite All sessions will be held at Zion Mennonite Church 78 6 th Avenue N.E Swift Current, SK For billeting information contact: Grace Funk mcsaskbillets@gmail.com Phone: Each congregation may send one delegate for every 25 members or portion thereof. Each congregation is invited to appoint a youth delegate in addition to their regular delegates. Youth delegates have all the responsibilities, rights and privileges of regular delegates, except holding office in elected positions. They are expected to prepare themselves in the same manner as other congregational delegates by attending any congregational delegates meeting and reading the report packages. Youth delegates must register! Contact youthminister@mcsask.ca for further information. 3

4 Agenda Friday, March 9 12:00pm 1:15pm 1:30pm 2:15pm 3:15pm 3:30pm 4:45pm 5:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm Registration Opens Gathering & Singing Business Sessions Open Welcome by hosts: Zion Mennonite Church & Emmaus Mennonite Church Official Opening of Business Sessions Adoption of Minutes and Agenda Moderator Report Report of Actions & Decisions by MC Sask Council Presentation of Resolutions Reports from Regional & National Ministers Workshop 1: Walking the Path Camping Ministries Restorative Justice Ministries MC Sask Council Coffee Break Workshop 2: Indigenous-Settler Relations Pastoral Leadership Commission Congregational Partnerships Mennonite Partners in China Business Session Report from Nominating Committee First Call for Nominations Presentation of Financial Report and Proposed Budget Supper Welcome to Evening Sessions Introduction of Guests Worship 4

5 Saturday, March 10 8:30 am Coffee and Refreshments 8:45 am Gathering & Singing 9:00 am Worship/Refresh, Refocus, Renew 10:30 am Coffee Break 10:50 am Business Session Second Call for Nominations Update from our Schools Presentation about Horse Barn Proposal Listening and Discernment Committee 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Workshop 3 Walking the Path Camping Ministries Restorative Justice Ministries MC Sask Council 2:00 pm Coffee Break 2:15 pm Workshop 4 Indigenous-Settler Relations Pastoral Leadership Commission Congregational Partnerships Mennonite Partners in China 3:30 pm Business Session Third Call for Nominations Nominations Report & Elections (If required) Financial Report: Discussion & Approval Discussion & Approval of Budget for 2018 Appointment of Auditors Resolutions (If required) Commissioning, Communion, & Closing of Business Sessions A light meal to follow Opportunities to contribute to the work of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan will be given, during both Friday and Saturday Worship Services. Donations can be made by cheque payable to MC Sask, cash or credit card (please see Marianne at the registration table to donate in this way) Thank you for your gifts. 5

6 Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Council Actions and Major Decisions To be presented to the 2018 delegates for ratification -Moved MC Sask. offices to MCC building location. Redecorated. -Changed name of Area Church Minister to Executive Minister -Accepted Congregational donations for both MC Sask. and MC Canada and forwarded MC Canada funds. -Kirsten time was increased to.8 FTE to help with communications. -Kirsten was given a 6 month leave to become interim director at Shekinah. She returns April 1. -Katie Wiebe was hired for part time (.25 FTE) youth coordinator. -At the MC Canada Special Assembly, MC Sask. signed a covenant along with the other Reginal Churches to make up the members of MC Canada. Individual Congregations will no longer make up the membership of MC Canada. -As of April 1, 2018 Marianne will be moved to 1.0 FTE. This is necessary with all the new responsibilities MC Sask. assumes with changes to MC Canada operations. -MC Sask. approved in principal the building of a riding arena at the Youth Farm in Rosthern. -MC Sask. approved the addition to senior housing at the Rosthern Youth Farm. -Appointed Matt Wiens to Shekinah Board. -Appointed Graham MacDonald to Nominations Committee -Appointed Jacquelyn Janzen to represent MC Sask on MC Canada Joint Council 6

7 Nominations Position presently Eligible for Will accept Nomination Length of filled by Re-election Nomination Accepted by Term Executive: Ken Warkentin Moderator (Term 1, 2018) Yes No Terry Stefaniuk Term 1, 2020 Terry Stefaniuk Moved to Completing Deputy Moderator (Term 1, 2019) Moderator No Sharon Schultz Term 1, 2019 Gordon Peters Finance Chair (Term 1, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 2, 2020 Council Member Pauline Steinmann Member (Completing Term 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 1, 2020 Craig Neufeld Member (Term 1, 2018) Yes No Rod Suderman Term 1, 2020 Berny Wiens Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 3, 2020 Member Sharon Schultz Completing (Moved to Vice Moderator) No No Term 1, 2019 Pastoral Leadership Commission Gary Peters Member (Term 3, 2018) No Curtis Wiens Term 1, 2021 Lisa Martens Bartel Member Completing Term 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 1, 2021 Ministries Commission Jeanette Hanson Member (Completing Term 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 1, 2021 Camp Elim Board Doug Dueck Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 3, 2021 Shekinah Retreat Centre Board Cheryl Funk Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes No Mike Neufeld Term 1, 2021 Ben Martens Bartel Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes No Term 1, 2021 RaeLynn Hildebrandt Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes No Audrey Kampen Term 2, 2021 Appointed by Council Member (Vacant) Matt Wiens Term 1, 2020 Kara Wolfe Completing Member (Term 2, 2020) Resigned No Term 2, 2020 Ryan Epp Completing Member (Term 1, 2020) Resigned No Term 1, 2020 Youth Farm Bible Camp Board Mel Siemens Member (Term 1, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 2, 2021 Youth Farm Complex Board Diane Hooge Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 3, 2021 Armin Krahn Member (Term 2, 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 3, 2021 Member Ted Janzen (Completing Term 2018) Yes Yes Incumbent Term 1,2021 7

8 Joint Council MC Sask Rep Representative Appointed by Council Yes Nominations Committee Member Position presently Eligible for Will accept Nomination Length of filled by Re-election Nomination Accepted by Term Appointed by Council Nominations Bios Jacquelyn Janzen Term 1, 2021 Graham MacDonald Term 1, 2020 Jacquelyn Janzen currently lives on an acreage outside of Prince Albert. I grew up here with my family attending Grace Mennonite Church. I began to take an active role in our congregation at the age of 12 when I started fundraising to attend Mennonite World Conference in Zimbabwe. That trip sparked my passion for the global church. I continued to participate in the church locally and beyond by joining the SMYO Committee, travelling to the youth Assembly in Charlotte, volunteering at Shekinah Retreat Centre in various roles, and helping to teach Sunday School. In 2013 I began as a member at large on the Board of Directors for Parkland Restorative Justice here in Prince Albert. I currently hold the position of Board Chair for Parkland Restorative Justice. I currently work as an Automotive Parts Manager at Rally Mazda. In my spare time I enjoy traveling, hiking, canoeing, camping, reading, and spending time with my pets, friends, and family. Terry Stefaniuk is a member of Osler Mennonite Church where he is serving on the Education Committee. He is currently the Saskatchewan representative to AMBS in Elkhart, Indiana on behalf of MC Canada and is currently the Deputy Moderator for MC Sask. He is currently a substitute teacher at RJC. He is the widower (Barb Funk) father to Matthew, Zachary and Vanessa and lives in Hague. Rod Suderman I have been the pastor at First Mennonite Church in Saskatoon since November Prior to this term of ministry, my family and I lived in Beijing, China for 16 years. My spouse, Kathi, spent a portion of those 16 years as the Program Coordinators for Mennonite Partners in China, a joint ministry of several Mennonite mission organizations, including MCC and MC Canada Witness. Most of those 16 years in Asia, however, were spent with MCC as MCC s NE Asia Representative. Kathi and I oversaw MCC s work in China, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea), and Republic of Korea (South Korea). In the 1990s, I was the pastor at Aberdeen Mennonite Church. I love travel, food, and good conversation. Curtis Wiens grew up in Herschel and now lives in Rosthern with his wife Jill. He enjoys exploring the outdoors and playing banjo. He currently attend Eigenheim Mennonite Church and is just wrapping up a stint on the Listening and Discernment committee. Matt Wiens grew up on a farm near Herschel and attended Herschel Ebenfeld Mennonite Church. He graduated from RJC in 2009, and is currently working as an associate lawyer at McKercher LLP in Saskatoon. He has been involved with Shekinah Retreat Centre for a long time, attending for many years as a camper, being a CiT and a Camp Counsellor. Recently, Matt has volunteered with the Shekinah Summer Camp program as a "Camp Connection" and Bible Leader. He is excited to continue his involvement with Shekinah as a member of the Board. Matthew is currently a member of Wildwood Mennonite Church and he lives in the Riversdale area with his spouse and two cats. 8

9 Moderator s Report MC Sask Annual Delegate Sessions The past few years have seen and are seeing major changes in how MC Canada functions, which also means much change in MC Sask. This has been both scary and exciting. Diana Butler Bass writes: Exponential change creates exponential fear along with exponential hope. Massive transformation creates the double-edged cultural sword of decline and renewal. Exponential change ends those things that people once assumed and trusted to be true. At the same time, upheaval opens new pathways to the future. Change is about endings and beginnings and the necessary interrelationship between the two. We have the opportunity of going to the basics of what we believe. Richard Rohr said: If we are going to rebuild Christianity-from the bottom up-what is the foundation upon which we re building? Love is our foundation and our destiny. It is where we come from and where we re headed. As St. Paul famously says So faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love. (Corinthians 13:13) St. Augustine said, The church consists in the state of communion of the whole world. Wherever we are connected, in right relationship-you might say in love - there is the Christ, there is the authentic Body of God revealed. This body is more a living organism than any formal organization. With this foundation of LOVE, I am excited about the future of working together as a team. We will be more closely connected with each other and with all of us working at the local, reginal, national and international levels. Throughout our time of working together in planning and implementing change, the cooperation and attitude has been great. We can look forward with anticipation as we work together at all levels living the Love of God in our world. Change has affected us at MC Sask. I want to give a big thanks to Ryan, Marianne and Kirsten for the work they have done, the extra time they have spent, and the dedication to the cause that they have shown. Kirsten has also helped out for 6 months in a very difficult situation at Shekinah. This left even more extra work for MC Sask. staff. Also a big thanks to Katie Wiebe for filling in as Interim Youth Minister. The past many years on MC Sask. council and the past 3 years as moderator have been busy but good. It has been a pleasure working with so many helpful and dedicated individuals. MC Sask will continue to flourish and be a great presence in our local communities and in the world. Ken Warkentin 9

10 Executive Minister s Report January 2018 Over the last year, I have had the privilege of visiting most of our congregations either on a Sunday morning for worship or during one of our many regional meetings and I am continually grateful to your ongoing commitment to be church together. This is not always easy. We are spread out from Wymark in the southwest to Carrot River in the northeast. We are a mix of urban, rural, and somewhere in between. Politically, we vote Green, NDP, Sask Party, Conservative, and Liberal. We are Builders, Boomers, X ers, and Millennials with different experiences of God s grace and call in our lives, and yet together we are a community of 28 Mennonite Congregations who have covenanted to be Christ Centered and Sent as we seek to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace. In a world that is deeply polarized, being as diverse as we are yet centered on Christ is gift to each other and a witness to Jesus in the world. Thank you for being that gift! If I only had one word to describe 2017, it would be dynamic. Much is changing in society and across the Canadian expression of the Church. In late October, I had the opportunity to attend the Church Planting Canada Congress in Montreal and there too, many confirmed what we already know. Life in Canadian society and in our congregations is changing and while these changes bring loss and lament, they also provide opportunities to re-examine who we are and to try new ways of being. In response to these dynamic times, both Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan have made changes to adjust for the future. In October, MC Canada Delegates passed new bylaws that created a new Mennonite Church Canada where our Nationwide Community of Faith is an integration of our Regional Churches. MC Sask, together with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, Mennonite Church Manitoba, Mennonite Church Alberta, and Mennonite Church British Columbia, will work together on our nationwide priorities, such as Leadership Development, Indigenous-Settler Relations, International Witness, and CommonWord Resource Centre and Bookstore. This past year, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan invited Betty Pries to guide us through Refresh, Refocus, Renew; an intentional year long process to re-examine who we are as MC Sask and to prayerfully open ourselves to God s call in this time and place. Over 60 folks from across the province attended the first retreat with Betty in April and over 70 attended the second retreat in September. The visioning reference group that worked with Betty has provided a report for the ADS and we look forward to further engaging this report during the weekend. This, of course, is only a small portion of what we do together. Most of our work happens away from the MC Sask office and throughout the province. Here is only a small snapshot of 2017: 10

11 - In January & May, SMYO held its Senior High and Junior High Retreats. - In February, 10 pastors traveled to Canadian Mennonite University for ReNew: Resourcing Pastors for Ministry. This annual pastors event is co-sponsored by MC Sask. - In June, many of our folks planned and provided booths for the annual MCC Relief Sale. - Also in June, the Mennonite Nursing Home in Rosthern broke ground for twenty new rooms and a chapel. - Throughout the summer, our three camps (Camp Elim, Youth Farm Bible Camp, Shekinah Retreat Centre) all saw an increase in campership and programming. - In the summer, we were invited to Muskeg Lake Cree Nation twice; first for their annual Canada Day Powwow and in August for the joint Muskeg Lake/MC Sask Event, Shared Land/Shared Song, Music under the Arbor. - In August, MC Sask moved from Pawka Place to the MCC Building (which felt like moving home) - In August, MC Sask Sponsored the 8 th Annual Spruce River Folk Festival north of PA - In September, Kirsten left us to become the Interim Executive Director at Shekinah for six months and Katie Wiebe stepped in to lead our Youth Programing. - In October, just under 60 people attended workshops at Equipping Day at Zoar Mennonite Church, Waldheim, including a very powerful workshop by Steve & Abby Heinrichs and their journey together as a Settler Father and Indigenous Daughter. (Steve is Director of Indigenous/Settler Relations with MC Canada) - In November, roughly 60 people gathered for the MC Sask Fall Leadership Assembly to hear about changes to MC Canada & MC Sask as well as reports from all our programs. This was the first Fall Leadership with Congregational Representation, which was well received look to send representatives in November of On December 9, at the A Buncha Guys & Sonrisa Christmas Concert in Saskatoon, Russ and Val Regier were presented with a Lifetime Community Service Award on behalf of MCC Saskatchewan, Shekinah Retreat Centre and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan. Again, this is just a sampling of what we do as Mennonite Church Saskatchewan. As we move into 2018, may we do so together; looking to deepen our walk with God, with each other, and the world. In Christ, Ryan Siemens, Executive Minister Mennonite Church Saskatchewan 11

12 2017 Financial Overview 2017 turned into a very interesting year, nothing like what we thought it might. Thanks to all of you for your continued support, we have ended the year in a good financial position. As the area churches begin planning for the future, we are thinking about the programming that might take place here that will have a positive impact on your local congregation, and also the national church. What we do in our churches is what will make the national church relevant going forward. I want to repeat our request from last year, that every church send their entire donation for MC Canada and MC Sask in one cheque to MC Sask. We will forward that portion that will cover our commitment to MC Canada to run their programs. If a church has any kind of designated donation for MC Canada, please advise us of that request, and we will carry out your wishes. Please be sure to ask anyone on council about any financial questions you may have. We are always there to engage in dialogue about our regional church. On behalf of MC Sask, I want to thank all of you for your personal and congregational donations for We are careful to spend the money you have entrusted to us and the final reports included are there to tell that story. The 2017 budget presented in your booklets is only a small portion of the total operating budget for MC Sask. Our three youth camps (Camp Elim, Camp Shekinah, Youth Farm Bible Camp), Restorative Justice Ministries, and the Youth Farm Complex are also part of MC Sask. Rosthern Junior College and the Youth Farm Complex, including the Mennonite Nursing Home are their own corporations, but are part of MC Sask. We all trust in a God that has said he will provide for all of our needs, and we hope that includes the needs for your church. We pray that he will direct all our ways and if you feel his leading with some of your finances, let him do his work, so we can do ours. Yours in Christ, Gordon Peters Chair, Finance 12

13 Area Church Minister, Youth Programming and Admin. - Report on

14 The SMYO Committee continues to be a source of joy and energy for me. The year started with the Sr. High Retreat, which was held at Camp Kadesh January Our theme was The Road Less Travelled, and speaker Amy Peters was more than qualified with all her backpacking and travelling experiences. The Ice Climbing Wall offered something new, and was a really fun experience! The Jr. High Retreat took place at Shekinah May 26-28, and speakers Hamilton Fast, Stephanie Siemens, Mat Rouleau, and Ron Schellenberg each shared their perspectives on the theme of Life s an Adventure. As we switched school years, we graduated Marcus Kruger, Hailey Funk, and Robyn Martens, and welcomed new members Kate Hanson, Nathan Bartel, Teah Lennea, and Katherine Penner. The committee chose the theme of Answering Your Call for , and that theme will shape both the worship services and retreats for this year. Mega Menno events continue to take place almost every month, with Nutana Park, Mount Royal, Osler, and RJC all hosting events throughout the year. These events are coordinated by the Youth Ministry Team, who meets monthly to plan events, and for times of sharing and support. The Level Ground Coffee Fundraiser continues to receive regular support from individuals, churches, RJC, and Shekinah thank you! In 2017 we raised approx. $2,500, which was used to sponsor youth attending retreats, and for 2017 scholarship recipients (see PLC Report for full list). My administrative work continued to focus on the MC Sask website, as well as representing MC Sask on the nationwide MC Canada communications team. The Refresh, Refocus, Renew year was also a big highlight for me. Working with Betty Pries and the Reference Group was extremely life-giving, and I see this process leading MC Sask forward in some new and exciting ways! Running the Kid s Corner at the MCC Relief Sale was new for 2017 and was a really good fit; this is something we will continue to do moving forward. A personal highlight for me was having the button-maker as part of our booth! Summer saw lots of time and effort going into the office move to the MCC Centre, selling furniture, mudding and taping walls, and just about everything in between! Thanks so much to Marianne and Gord, and everyone who volunteered their time to help. Finally, things changed quite drastically in September, as I was asked to take a six-month position at Shekinah as Interim Executive Director until April of Ryan and Marianne both took on additional responsibilities, and I am incredibly grateful to Katie Wiebe for stepping in as Interim Youth Programmer! The SMYO Committee and Youth Ministry programs have been in wonderful hands. Thanks to Ryan, Marianne, and Katie for all their hard work during this time! On a personal note, Ian and I moved to the farm at the end of the summer and are enjoying our new house and all the joys that come with it! All the best in 2018! - Kirsten Hamm-Epp Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization, Committee Report on

15 2017 was a great year for the SMYO! Numbers at events can sometimes seem small, the program is strong and we re excited to share and learn with each other and other youth. This year was a bit different as we had a switch in our leadership in fall. As Kirsten stepped out for a time to help elsewhere in MCSask, we were happy to welcome Katie Wiebe and guide her as she quickly learned about our committee. It was helpful that some of us had worked with her in the past at Shekinah Retreat Centre. We re happy to have had her step in for this interim position and are equally excited to welcome back Kirsten in the spring of Sr High Retreat, January 27-29, 2017 at Camp Kadesh. Our speaker was Amy Peters, and she shared stories from her travels on the theme of Life is an Adventure. We loved having her lead us on a reflective walk across the frozen lake. Since it was our first retreat away from Shekinah, we got to try a lot of new things, and we spiced up our regular coffee house with a bit of competition. Jr High Retreat, May 26-28, 2017 at Shekinah Retreat Centre. We had four different local speakers took on the theme of Life s an Adventure : Stephanie Siemens, Mat Rouleau, Hamilton Fast, and Ron Schellenberg. Our speakers got us to talk about our faith taking us to surprising places and saying yes to where that may be. In the past, we ve had YFBC host our Jr High Retreat in fall, and their corn maze was definitely missed. However, being at Shekinah in spring, meant that we could take advantage of saying yes to their zipline and climbing wall. As a committee, we planned 3 worship services over the 2017 year, two with the theme of Life s an Adventure, and one about Answering you Call. At Rosthern Mennonite and Grace Mennonite we shared about exploring our faith and having God along-side us on the journey. Amy Wiens, Hailey Funk, and Marcus Kruger spoke about being lead in their faith journeys. The committee also performed skits about bungee jumping and trust, and finding alternative routes when following a map. When we were at Grace Mennonite, we stayed the night prior in Prince Albert with Claire Ewert-Fisher. In November, we lead a worship service at Osler Mennonite on the theme of Answering you Call. Katherine Penner had the opportunity to share with her home congregation on the theme. A highlight for us was being given the chance to lead music with many different instruments. The worship service was paired with a Mega Mena event the evening before. Mega Menno events have continued to bring together different congregations. We ve been really happy with the people who have been planning them and we want to thank everyone who s been a part of planning. RJC has hosted a Mega Menno event in the form of their Friday Night Live, Nutana hosted a Valentines Day event and a September Movie night in 2017, Mount Royal hosted a Halloween themed game and pumpkin carving night, and Osler hosted a Menno- Run evening in November. In addition to these events, we had our annual Honour the Earth day in April with the help of MCC and RJC. Thank you for taking the time to read our report, and for helping keep the youth ministry program in Saskatchewan going strong! Submitted by, SMYO Co-Chairs: Ada Krahn, Amy Wiens; and Committee: Katherine Penner, Maddy Harms, Rachel Neufeld, Reed Fitzgerald, Sydney Martens, Teah Lennea, Kate Hanson, and Nathan Bartel. Pastoral Leadership Commission

16 The Pastoral Leadership Commission (PLC) provides guidance and support to Mennonite Church Saskatchewan congregations and their pastors in matters of pastoral leadership and relationships. PLC does this through planning support and educational workshops for pastors and leaders. Betty Pries was invited to lead us in two weekend sessions. The title was Refresh, Refocus, Renew. Not only pastors but many others from MC Sask congregations participated in the workshops April and September Because of these workshops no other courses or retreats were offered this year. On October 27 Pastors were invited to the new MC Sask office location at the MCC Centre for supper and an opportunity to discuss the Special Delegate Sessions of MC Canada at Winnipeg. Present were guests Arlyn Friesen Epp, Steve Heinrichs and Steve s daughter Abby. PLC also supports pastors by providing financial support through the Pastoral Development and Counseling Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide assistance for counseling and educational or pastoral development opportunities. Congregations and/or pastors can make applications for support from this fund to PLC. The support also includes assistance for travel costs. PLC is responsible for the distribution of the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Student Education Fund. This year Morgan Hildebrandt, Jadyn Lennea, Jesse Neufeld, Katherine Penner and Morgan Speiser received scholarships. Due to a shrinking source of funding, a few individuals were asked for donations to the Education Fund, as well as utilizing the SMYO Reserve Fund. We would be interested in knowing of anyone willing to support the Education Fund through on-going support or one-time donations. PLC is also responsible for credentialing pastors. Entrance and credentialing interviews were conducted with Zachary Dueck, Licensing Towards Specific Ministry at Mount Royal Mennonite Church; Josh Wallace, Ordination at Warman Mennonite; Terri Lynn Friesen, Licensing Towards Specific Ministry at Osler Mennonite; and Ric Driediger, Licensing Towards Specific Ministry at Zoar Mennonite, Langham. The credentials of Allan Friesen, who was serving at Eigenheim Mennonite, were withdrawn. Since the provincial government has withdrawn funding for hospital chaplaincy a group of interested pastors have made themselves available for hospital visitation in Saskatoon. Audrey Mierau Bechtel met with PLC to ask for our endorsement and to ask for assistance in communicating to the churches this ministry. Available in Saskatoon are Audrey Mierau Bechtel, Patty Friesen, Patrick Preheim, Rod Suderman, and Terri Lynn Friesen. The Listening and Discernment committee which was appointed in 2015 has been working hard. The committee has interpreted its mandate as: listening to the different perspectives within MC Sask regarding same-sex marriage, listening to one another (opportunity to learn to listen for further understanding), and assisting in a response to what congregations are saying. Part of the broad mandate of the committee is to learn to communicate well. The committee was not meant to be a long-term committee. The committee has tentatively concluded that it has done as much as possible at this time and will be disbanding effectively at the time of our ADS. We thank them for their dedication and service. There have been personnel changes in the office. Kirsten has been given a temporary leave to fill the vacancy of the position of Executive Director at Shekinah Retreat Centre. Katie Wiebe has been hired to maintain SMYO activities. Some of Kirsten s other jobs have been redistributed to 16

17 Marianne and Ryan. In the midst of the re-organization of MC Canada and MC Sask. we are also continuing to work with Ryan so that our new opportunities and ministries will be addressed. PLC thanks Ryan, Kirsten, Katie, and Marianne for the service and ministry they have so freely given to MC Sask. My term with PLC will be concluding at the ADS. I thank all the people who have served with me on the commission. It has been a privilege to serve the church in this way. We ask for your continued prayers as we continue to do our tasks of calling, equipping and growing leaders for the ministry of Jesus Christ. Respectfully submitted, Gary Peters (chair), Carrol Epp, Ric Driediger, Florence Driedger, Garth Ewert Fisher, Lisa Martens Bartel, Kirsten Hamm-Epp, and Ryan Siemens. Hospital Chaplaincy In September of 2017 Hospital Chaplaincy positions were cut from the Health Region budgets. In Saskatoon, denominational hospital chaplains invited faith communities to a meeting to organize spiritual support for patients from our various denominations when they are hospitalized. If you are hospitalized in the Saskatoon hospitals and would like to have someone from spiritual care visit you, please ask nursing staff to contact a Mennonite Spiritual Care Provider. Audrey Mierau Bechtel, Patty Friesen, Patrick Preheim and Rod Suderman are the persons listed to be called. The switchboard in each hospital has these contact names, as do many of the units in the hospital. Please let us know when you have congregants in a Saskatoon hospital and please pray for us in this time of transition in spiritual care which we believe is an essential part of medical care. Beginning January 21, 2018, Saskatoon City Hospital patients will once again have the opportunity to attend Sunday morning worship services in the Chapel if they wish. Volunteers are available to help patients get to the services. For many years Esther Patkau was our representative in the rotation of offering services. Several MC Sask. pastors will be sharing this responsibility in the future. Listening & Discernment Committee Final Report 17

18 The 2015 MC Sask Annual Delegate Sessions called for a committee to be established to guide a listening and discernment process around the question of congregations within MC Sask performing same-sex marriages and to design and facilitate a process which will guide MC Sask in listening to one another regarding same-sex marriages. In fall 2015, a Listening & Discernment committee of nine members gathered for the first time. Much of the L+D committee s work in those first months was listening. We received s and handwritten letters; we were pulled aside for a chat after worship or at area church gatherings. Much of what we heard was people feeling unheard. Notes and comments gave voice to strong emotions and opinions that otherwise couldn t find space to speak. At the 2016 MC Sask ADS, the L+D committee led a session on deep and empathic listening. How do we listen to one another so that we really understand what the other person is saying? Where they are coming from? How do we help each other be heard? Next, in dialogue with congregations, the L+D committee developed a workshop to invite congregations into empathic listening to one another, "Listening, Living Together, & Loving One Another Even When We Disagree. We previewed this workshop at Equipping Day We ve facilitated the workshop in four congregations (with two more scheduled to take place between this writing and ADS). As the work of the L+D committee draws to a close, we put forward three recommendations to MC Sask: 1) MC Sask should create an ongoing organizational body that has as its purpose listening to how MC Sask s programs, policies, and decisions are received by congregations. This body would be a listening ear for MC Sask s members. What it hears would feed back into MC Sask s work of discernment. By offering a place for MC Sask members to be heard, MC Sask would become more attuned to the seeds of conflict and the whispers of God s Spirit. 2) MC Sask should develop, or publicize existing, resources on how to process church conflict. The L+D committee repeatedly received requests for a version of its workshop not specifically focused on same-gender marriage. While this sort of workshop lies outside our mandate, we affirm this request for more training and resourcing for church conflict. 3) MC Sask should house the L+D committee s workshop as a ongoing resource available to congregations. The workshop is constructed in such a way that it doesn t require the committee to conduct it. It can be held by any study group, Adult Sunday School class, youth group, or other gathering. It can also be modified by these groups to facilitate listening and fostering empathic understanding around topics other than samegender marriage. With the close of ADS 2018, the work of the L+D committee comes to a close. I d like to thank L+D committee members, who have gone above and beyond any time and emotional commitments I could reasonably expect from them. My deep gratefulness goes to Craig Friesen, Bruce Jantzen, Armin Krahn, Frieda Rempel, Terry Stefaniuk, Andrew Waithe, Curtis Wiens, and Cheryl Woelk. Submitted by Josh Wallace Facilitator, Listening & Discernment Committee Women s Ministry Report

19 Another year has flown by and looking back I realize I have a lot to be thankful for was such a great year for building relationships, exploring our faith a little deeper and finding hope in new things to come. In October I attended the Special Delegates assembly in Winnipeg and witnessed God at work there through worship, conversation and by the love shown to everyone in attendance. It was a full weekend of business and decisions but that wasn t what I took away from the weekend. The best part was watching everyone come together throughout the weekend and connect with friends both new and old in every idle moment. It shows you that no matter where you re from or what your point of view is, we re in our walks together. Following the assembly the Mennonite Women Canada board as well as a few guests met to go over the results of the weekend. It was a time of sadness as we said farewell to a few of our contacts in MC Canada, but it was also a day of renewal. We met with our new SGAF recipient, Hyun Hee Kim, and heard her amazing story of how she came to Canada and why she wanted to study peace here. (You can find her original story on the MC Canada website or her updated story on the Mennonite Women Canada blog) Hearing her story was so inspiring and made me thankful that we are able to help her along her journey. It s reasons like this that makes the things we do worthwhile. Our title for this past Connections newsletter was Leaping Ahead from Shaky Ground. We felt this was important because with all of the uncertainties going forward we know that we re willing and excited to see where God takes us next. This newsletter gives a good update on things that are going on in Mennonite Women Canada and I encourage you to check it out. Our retreat was held on Nov 3 & 4 this year. It was a little later due to scheduling conflicts, which resulted in smaller numbers, but those numbers didn t take away from the retreat. Our theme was called Embrace Your Calling and Claire Ewert Fisher lead us through some wonderful talks together and challenged us in new ways. It was a time for reflecting, relaxing and bonding. There is no better place to get away from it all than at Shekinah. We have been blessed to be able to host our retreats there and thankfully will be back there again for our next retreat, which will be held Oct 26-27, I have a great group of volunteers eager to help plan the retreat but will always welcome more! As we move into the New Year may we embrace what God has in mind for us. May we be open to new adventures and may we continue to be grateful for all of the moments in between. Mel Harms Ministries Commission 19

20 Report to Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Annual Delegate Sessions March 9, 10, 2018 VISION AND PURPOSE STATEMENT: God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace so that healing and hope flow through us to the world. So where have you seen God s healing and hope flow through us to the world? I suspect in various times and places, and hopefully in the work that is guided by the holy imaginations and intentionality of Ministries Commission members. Let s take a look and see. Walking the Path is a group of Indigenous and non-indigenous MC Sask members who meet regularly to dream the way forward through reconciliation. According to Harry Lafonde, former chief of Muskeg Lake Band and now an employee at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, the way to work at Reconciliation is to get to know each other by sharing food, music and dance. And that is precisely what happened in August as Indigenous peoples, Metis people, offspring of Mennonite settlers, and newcomers mostly from Syria, met together under the Arbour at Muskeg Lake. Ben Pauls, pastor at Zoar Waldheim, was instrumental in calling together and leading a Mennonite choir as Eric Olfert shared some of the Mennonite stories. Traditional First Nations and Metis dancers shared their cultural practices. All this combined with potluck food welcomed those who attended to share reconciliation and friendship. Walking the Path committee member, Valerie Wiebe is working together with Carol Lafonde as they envision another cultural exchange. This time it will be an Arts Event with co-displays of artifacts that are descriptive of who we are and how we have been sustained through the use of material goods. Wait to hear more details in the coming months. Spirituality Resourcing Team members, Pauline Steinman, Eileen Klaassen, Alan Reese and Claire Ewert Fisher are preparing themselves to lead Contemplative Spirituality retreats in local churches. Inspired by Betty Pries s (Refresh, Renew, Refocus retreat at MRMC, April 2017) presentation, churches were encouraged to practice listening prayer as a way to understand more clearly God s purpose for us individually and corporately. Now local friends, trained and practicing Contemplative Spirituality are offering to lead local retreats. International Witness (IW) is in a time of flux. But this has not deterred workers like George and Tobia Veith from continuing to serve God by serving others. At the end of January 2018, the Veiths itinerated in the province from north to south. Jeanette Hanson is planning this itineration schedule which included a Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization retreat at Shekinah and a Visit to China event at MRMC. Report made possible by the folks whose names appear in italics in the report, plus Elmer Regier. Our prayer is that God s healing and hope flow through us to the world. MC Saskatchewan Report 20

21 ReFresh ReFocus ReNew Prepared by the MC Sask Reference Group January 28, 2018 Background The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. (Frederick Buechner) What is MC Saskatchewan s deep gladness? What is the world s deep hunger? As seasons change and one generation makes space for another, the deep hunger of the world also changes. What is the world s deep hunger today? What we know is this: We are living in what is believed to be the loneliest time in history; mental health issues are on the rise, and the yearning for inner rest is profound. The world s deep hunger can be summarized as a longing for meaning, purpose and belonging. This longing is not just in the world out there, it is also a longing in our pews! Alongside the world s deep longing, we are observing a fresh openness to wonder and mystery. The world s longing is a profound and even urgent missional moment for the church: Meaning, purpose and belonging have been at the center of the church s deep gladness. We believe in a God to whom we belong and in whom we also belong to one another! This gives meaning and purpose to our lives. What would it look like for Mennonite Church Saskatchewan to claim (or re-claim) its sense of meaning, purpose and belonging? What would it look like for each congregation in MC Sask to do so? How would this reclaiming define our congregations and drive our relationships with our neighbours near and far? What would happen when our deep gladness and the world s deep hunger would meet? As MC Sask we have been on a renewal journey entitled ReFresh, ReFocus and ReNew for one year now. All renewal journeys are first and foremost spiritual journeys; they are a time of deepening and coming close to God. This has also been true for us: Over this year we have listened for the place to which God is calling us. We have sought to understand both the world s longing and our deep gladness. The following report shares where we have been and where the journey may take us in the years to come. Where we have been The MC Sask ReFresh, ReFocus and ReNew journey began in early 2017 with a survey The closing summary of the survey results stated the following: In summary, MC Sask is more about community, relationships and belonging than about structure. As congregations, we very much want to follow Jesus command to love each other and our neighbours. We are clear that this requires interaction, communication, worshiping together, Bible study, spiritual growth, and being present to God and each other. We want to be disciples of Jesus in a post-christendom context, living out the messages and examples of Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit. It is important to us to share and practice Anabaptist faith traditions and to be part of a bigger, wider Anabaptist movement. As congregations, we want to do what Jesus called us to do: Feed the hungry, visit the sick, welcome the stranger, practice peace and justice all of this, jointly with other Mennonites. We want to spread the love of God, to be a blessing and a reminder of God s love for the local communities and the whole world. One person put it this way: we want to form communities where people live according to these core values: Jesus is centre of our faith, community is centre of our lives, and reconciliation is centre of our work. 21

22 We followed the survey with a gathering in April During that event we considered the role of the church in the context of the world s deep longing in the midst of the 21 st Century dynamics. We explored the discipline of prayer, the rhythms of renewal and ten indicators of thriving congregations for the time we are living in. Many found this event worshipful and inspiring. Each person was sent away with an invitation to pray and to listen for how God was calling MC Sask. When we gathered again in September 2018, we wrestled and discerned together. We concluded that MC Sask and its people are being called to pursue three essential themes: Deepening our walk with Christ, with each other and with our neighbours... Our walk with Christ: We are being called to increase our openness to encounters with God s presence in our lives, both individually and collectively. o This focus reflects our deep gladness as a church; it also speaks directly into the world s deep longing the desire for meaning, purpose and belonging is often expressed as a longing for a center, for inner quiet, for living in a world with meaning, where we are not alone and where there is something out there that is bigger than us. Our walk with each other: We are being called to reground ourselves in our core Anabaptist commitments of faith. o In the Bible, identity and calling always go hand in hand. At the burning bush, Moses learns who is called to be and what he is called to do. The same is true for Jesus in the desert. We, too, want to open ourselves to burning bush moments, to being (re)awakened to who we are called to be and what we are called to do as an Anabaptist-Mennonite people of faith. Our walk with our neighbours: We are being called to turn our faces toward the world, working for wholeness (shalom), joy and reconciliation. o While our whole journey is missional in nature, we want to take time to focus our energies on how we are being called to love our neighbours as ourselves. What does this look like practically? To what new (or old) thing is God calling us? Where we are going The Reference Group took the outcomes of the collective discernment in September and wrestled further, asking, What does it mean to live into the three themes we have discerned? In response to this question, we are proposing the following: Collectively, we will engage with one theme per year, in the order identified above. A task group will be selected to help guide each year s focus. We will extend an invitation to each person, leader, pastor, congregation, church committee, denominational committee and MC Sask, inviting all to participate in this next phase of the renewal journey. We will commit ourselves to practices that reflect each year s focus. MC Sask will provide a package with ideas, information, reminders and resources to support these practices. With the help of the task group, we will share our experiences with one another, encouraging each other on our journeys. 22

23 What we will do (Year One) Each person, committee and congregation is invited to choose from the ideas in the two buckets below. The left bucket/column are ideas that require less energy, therefore one can do more of these. Feel free to choose up to two items from this list. The right bucket/column are ideas that have impact but require greater energy, therefore one can do fewer of these. Choose only one item from this list. After six months, you can evaluate the ideas you pursued, as so led by the Spirit. You may choose to continue an idea, add a new idea or exchange an idea you have tried with another one. When choosing from among the items in these buckets, consider the question: If we want to profoundly lean into the intersection between our deep gladness in God and the world s deep longing for meaning, purpose and belonging, what would we do? Bucket 1: Limited energy Congregation: Allow for silence and/or contemplative prayer as part of the worship service. Committees: Begin each meeting with several minutes of silence and/or contemplative prayer. Committees: Begin each meeting by inviting each person to share for a minute about how they are doing; follow each person s sharing by praying for that person. Committees: Commit 5 minutes of every meeting (midway or toward the end) to listening for how God is calling your committee at this time. Church Councils: Devote one meeting / year focused on deepening faith / reading Scripture with new eyes. Personal: Commit 5 20 minutes per day to prayer (spoken prayer or contemplative prayer). Personal: Commit 5 20 minutes per day to walking in a spirit of prayer. Personal: Ask a person to be your spiritual friend, inviting them to ask you about your faith journey. Personal: Read one or more book on the theology and practices of prayer. Bucket 2: Greater energy Region: Engage in a regional event for worship and prayer. Congregation: Plan a congregational retreat to learn about spiritual disciplines. Congregation: On the fourth or fifth Sunday of the month, plan a differently-styled worship service that help your congregation to meet God in a new way. Congregation: Invite one person per Sunday to share in worship about their encounter with the mystery of God. Committees: Fast from one activity, replacing the energy you would normally devote to this activity with prayer and/or spiritual reading. Congregation: Teach practices of prayer via a book study. MC Sask: Collect and develop prayer and worship resources that allow people to hear the Scriptures in new ways. MC Sask: Send out prayer requests for each congregation (once or twice / month) so we can pray for each other. Committees: Review your existing work. Ask how it is deepening people s belonging to God and how it is addressing the world s deep longing for meaning, purpose and belonging. Let us talk, dream, discern, listen and pray together! We look forward to taking this journey with you! 23

24 CoSA South Saskatchewan Report to Mennonite Church Saskatchewan for Calendar Year 2017 The calendar year 2017 was very active for CoSA SS. In late 2016 we hosted a meeting of the CoSA Canada Board in order to develop a strategy for policy and operation, and formulation of a proposal to the Government of Canada to re-instate national funding. This meeting was crucial in the final successful Canada wide funding of CoSAs. A national contract of $7,500, for five years began on April 1, For Saskatchewan, that means Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina receive funding that covers about one half of the expenditure for CoSAs. This additional funding made it possible for CoSA SS to hire one and one-half staff to operate the CoSA service and relieve Florence Driedger who had been interim Coordinator on partial salary and partial volunteer service. Much of the year was needed to orient and bring the new staff up to speed. Since we could not afford experienced staff, more time was needed for staff development which was provided by Florence. We were able to have 20 Core members in Circles. This meant about 60 Circles per month with 1,360 hours of volunteer service for the year. A person from London England contacted CoSA SS who is writing a book on what elements are conducive to change for people. He was interested in the effectiveness of CoSAs and had been referred to us. He spent 5 days in Regina area. We had extensive discussions, had him attend 8 Circles where he interviewed the core members and asked them about the essential elements of Circles. He also attended the Peace Mennonite Bible study on Tuesday night where two core members and 5 volunteers also attend. He was interested in the Anabaptist perspective, and we provided him with a copy of "The Naked Anabaptist" by Stuart Murray and informed him of the active Anabaptist movement in the U.K. CoSA SS also had the CSC contract for FCRP (Faith - Community Reintegration Project). This program is a very logical partner to CoSAs and provides approximately 1 day a week of staff time. This is very minimal funding, but is an important component of CoSA SS service. Funding contributions come from Public Safety Canada, Correctional Service of Canada (for FCRP), the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Qu'Appelle, MCC Saskatchewan, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan and from some individuals, including volunteers, a core member and an employer. We appreciate not only the financial contribution of M.C. Saskatchewan, but the moral and spiritual support. Jesus provided the powerful example of connecting with persons who were alienated and rejected in society. The Spirit of Christ is demonstrated in CoSAs and by M.C. Saskatchewan in supporting such initiatives. May this Spirit of love, peace and inclusion continue to bring joy and wellbeing to the core members and volunteers in our communities in Regina, Saskatchewan and across the country. Submitted by Otto Driedger, Board member of CoSA South Saskatchewan 24

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26 The Micah Mission (Micah) 2017 has been both a rewarding as well as a challenging year with much work to do, but with reduced staff due to budget shortfall. Saying goodbye to Peter Oliver was a difficult time. We had clients encountering crises, it has been rewarding to know that there are qualified volunteers willing to walk humbly alongside those who are seeking to make significant changes in their lives, or even just to survive in the community. As we seek to be tough on crime, one friendship at a time, we are blessed to know that we are not alone, and that our Creator walks with us as well. In this year, our volunteers have walked alongside 25 core members. Some of those have had to spend some time back inside due to breaches, three have moved on, either no longer requiring or wanting a CoSA, or having moved out of the community. One of those was a bit of an experiment, a young offender who was in the midst of a mediation process and his worker contacted us to see if we could offer some support. His circle ended up being several extended family members, who could also support one another as they supported him. He was able to move beyond his conditions and complete his mediation, without a criminal record. He even joined us on our fishing trip in July. We were privileged to be included in a Star Phoenix article which explored programs and treatments for people who have offended sexually. A question that arose from the article was whether there is a way to help people stop their actions and change their lives before they are charged with an offense. This idea is one that we continue to ponder on a regular basis, looking for answers. We are thankful for a five-year commitment for funding from the Ministry of Public Safety, through CoSA Canada, enabling us to hire Adriana Appleton to assist in the ongoing work and growth of the CoSA program in Saskatoon. Currently 15 individuals at the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) are being visited by 18 volunteers in the Person to Person (P2P) program. 7 of those volunteers are University students. P2P is different in Saskatoon than in PA in that volunteers are able to visit 2 or more times per month, but during the regular visiting hours. We no longer have our own times that are just for P2P. As a result, in order to have more group opportunities, we have a games night two or three times a year. At the RPC volunteer appreciation event, inmates expressed gratitude to those who come to visit with them. The Faith Community Reintegration Project is the current version of Community Chaplaincy, with an emphasis on connecting formerly incarcerated persons with a faith community and assisting faith communities in welcoming home a congregational member who had to do time. We are working with several faith communities in this regard. We are also grateful for the ongoing support of our congregations and volunteers within MC Sask and beyond as we seek to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. The Micah Mission Executive Director: Dave Feick CoSA Administrator: Adriana Appleton Board Members Chair: Blake Sittler (Roman Catholic) Vice Chair: Josh Wallace (Warman Mennonite) Glen Grismer (Osler Mennonite) Harry Harder (Pleasant Point Mennonite) Eric Olfert (Mount Royal Mennonite) Amanda Dodge (MCC Saskatchewan) Brian Ast (United Church) Dianne Woloschuk (Roman Catholic) 26

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28 Mennonite Nursing Home and Mennonite Youth Farm Complex (Rosthern) Serving God by Serving Others. That in synopsis form is the Mission Statement of the Mennonite Nursing Home. It goes on to include our vision and fulfillment of our mission, but that short version is the directive held up to board, management and the employees. We always strive to improve, and believe we have been true to that objective this past year! At the 2017 Annual Delegate Meeting of MC Sask, Elaine Janzen was elected to begin a three year term, also Ernie Epp and Doris Wiens were re-elected, and Ted Janzen was elected to fill a one year term due to a resignation to the board. We continue to meet 10 months of the year to carry on the business, thanks to all willing to spend time and commitment to carry on their duties! This has been a busy and eventful year, particularly for the Complex Housing Division. The Personal Care Home, which has been in the planning stage for some time is becoming reality. As I write this, the roof rafters are being installed, and the Chapel will get a beam and rafters next week! This is very exciting for the board and management. When completed, we will be able to serve another segment of our aging population! We are THANKFUL, very thankful to the many that have donated or pledged to make this building possible. Of the $1.5 million we were seeking funds for; we have received $1.375 million in donations, leaving us to date $125,000 short of our goal! We have also completed a new 6 inch water line from the Town supply. This gives us assurance of continued supply of water, as the present line was installed many years ago, and the added supply was necessary to bring us To Code with the building addition. At a Board and Management Strategic Planning session in November, (a requirement for Accreditation Canada), the board approved the name for the new building. The name of the new Personal Care Home is Sunrise Place, with the Chapel being named after a long time visionary, Henry W. Friesen Chapel. We also agreed on a new name, Heritage Village which will include the Complex Housing Division, Country Gardens and Sunrise Place. The legal work to establish Heritage Village is planned to happen next year. It has been a month since Saskatchewan established the new Saskatchewan Health Authority province wide. At this time, there have not been many changes to our directive as a Long Term Care Home. The Nursing Home continues to receive a budget of approx. $6 million to operate. The Complex budget was approx. $630,000 (2017) and The Country Gardens budget (2017) was approx. $78,000. With careful financial management we succeeded to meet and exceed with a surplus the proposed budgets. As a Board, we are thankful to Joan Lemauviel (CEO), Karen Chaskavich (DOC) and the Leadership Team and all those employed at the Mennonite Nursing Home for the commitment to make this the very best Home for our residents! Armin Krahn Board Chairperson 28

29 c/o 78-6 th Ave N.E. Swift Current, SK S9H 2L9 Ph: (306) Summer of 2017 was very successful at Camp Elim! Our camper numbers increased across all age groups (overall more than 10%), with our teen camping program seeing the greatest gains! We were also fortunate to have a full roster of staff this year to support a meaningful camping program. Our bible time theme this year was "Finding Jesus". Our camp pastors did a phenomenal job of delivering the messages in creative ways that engaged and motivated our campers. The days and nights were filled with a wide complement of varied activities, friendship, and fellowship as we drew nearer to God in the beauty of Lac Pelletier. We had several weeks of full camps this summer. Campers are finding they must register earlier in the spring in order to guarantee their spots, which is an excellent sign of Elim's growing prosperity! Again this year, our camper numbers for the summer increased! We are continuing to experience steady growth in the amount of campers who choose to come to Elim, as the demand for high-quality children's programming remains strong in the southwest SK region. Our children's camps continue to be very popular, and we saw a significant improvement in our teen camper numbers. In total, 144 campers attended Camp Elim this year! Camp Elim was fortunate to be blessed with the leadership of 3 young men who stepped up to the plate as co-directors this year. Wynn Bueckert, Zach Dueck, and Keith Johnson, all staffmembers with a great deal of previous Elim experience themselves, did an excellent job of providing strong leadership to staff and campers this summer. We were able to have an exceptional amount of well-qualified staff, cabinleaders, and CITs this summer, which made every aspect of the summer program successful! Staffing development is a strength at Elim. Within our program, we are building leaders of the future for Mennonite camps, churches, and organizations. We are seeing an upward trend in the number of dedicated staff members who are returning for 2 or more years to spend their time in service at Camp Elim! Our hope is that this trend continues in order to provide consistent leadership across all levels of staffing in the future. We continue to promote our water program as a large part of what sets Camp Elim apart from other area camps in the south-west. We offer a wide range of activities, including: bible time and worship, watersports, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, archery, nature and survival, crafts, wide games, beach volleyball, Frisbee golf and trampoline, mini zip-line, hiking, orienteering, campfires, and the always anticipated "overnighter". YFBC also shared their climbing wall and inflatables with us during Children's 1, and they generously donated their sumo suits to Camp Elim for future use. This summer, we introduced several new activities, including paddle boards, inflatable human bubble balls, and a climbing dome which were very well received by campers and staff! 29

30 Camp Elim continues to be able to provide opportunities to form positive mentoring relationships among campers and staff. These relationships provide the building blocks for youth to step out of their comfort zone, take risks and try something new, ask important questions, and gain experiences that they might not encounter anywhere else. Often, life-long friendships are created in only one week, and our repeat campers and staff look forward to coming back year after year because of the great fun and fond memories they have made at Camp Elim! We can't wait to see what 2018 has in store! Future Plans for Camp Elim As we look to the coming year, we are planning to introduce some new activity offerings to our camping program so that we will continue to stand out as an attractive camp for youth. We also plan to continue with our long-range plan of the steady renewal of aging camp equipment. We will be encouraging rentals in the off-season and promoting the use of our RV park as additional sources of revenue to support our program. We are also planning for succession at the board level. We are seeking new people to join us, in order to ensure that Elim can continue to operate with momentum going forward. If you are interested, please talk to one of the existing board members for current openings, opportunities, and ways to get involved. Summer 2017 Snapshots 30

31 Camper Statistics and Staffing for 2017: Staff Camp Pastors: Lois Bukar Zach Dueck Sharon Schultz Ryan Siemens Co-Directors: Wynn Bueckert Zach Dueck Keith Johnson Lifeguard: Cory Langelotz Cabin Leaders: Hannah Abrahamson Josée Aitken Vanessa Bueckert Hannah Gross Isaac Hintze Mackenzie Mair Hannah Stacey Emily Toews Josh Wiebe CITs: Hannah Abrahamson Ben Burgess Madeline Ellard Shane Friesen Trina Friesen Jeremy Knorr Griffin Lehnert Stephanie Saemann Cole Whiteford Camper Statistics: Children s Camp 1 44 Children s Camp 2 27 Day Camp 50 Teen Camp 23 Total 144 We are grateful to all of the people who continue to generously support Camp Elim through prayer, service, and/or finances. May God bless us all as we continue to work in His light. Camp Elim Dates for Summer 2018: Staff Orientation - July 3 rd - July 7 th Children's 1 (ages 7-12) - July 8 th - July 13 th Day Camp (ages 5-10) - July 16 th - July 20 th Teen Camp (ages 13-18) - July 22 nd - July 27 th Children's 2 (ages 6-11) - July 29 th - August 1 st Campers and staff can apply online! Visit our website at Follow us on Facebook! Or call: (306) Submitted by Gilbert Braun, Doug Dueck (Board Chair), Laura Grassing, Carla Thiessen-Phoenix, Lorna Wiens, and John Woelk. Cook: Diedra Whitell Cook s Helpers: Rachel Dueck, Janet Friesen, Jeff Gosselin, Erin Weiss, Hilda Whitell Manager/Maintenance: Ed Heinrichs (seasonal) 31

32 Shekinah Retreat Centre 2017 Report shekinah experience. Shekinah strives to be a place where all who come have the opportunity to experience the presence and glory of God (from the Shekinah mission statement). This statement is at the heart of what we do, whether it s singing with campers around the fire, leading school groups down a trail, or welcoming a group to the Timber Lodge for a weekend of rest and relaxation; our goal is for everyone who visits to have a true Both our summer camp and school group programs saw growth in 2017, which was great! There is always room to grow, however, and part of that growth in 2018 will include the building of three new Timber Frame Cabins! This plan was launched in 2017, and we are now ready to make these unique, incredible buildings a reality. The design offers a building that can handle life on a flood plain, and will provide a significant upgrade to our summer camp, school group, and rental programs. We hope to build the first cabin in spring, with a good ol fashioned timber raising on the first day. Volunteers will be needed, either just for a day, or for the week, so stay tuned! More information, and maybe a tour, will be available at the Spring Fundraising Banquet on April 7 th. The next two cabins will be built in summer, with another three to be built in Please visit the website or contact the office for more information. These cabins mark a significant step in maintaining and growing the vision for Shekinah which began back in 1979, and we would love to have you involved! From the Board: The fall of 2017 has been a season of change for Shekinah. Change can mean many things; heartache, uncertainty, excitement, hope Among countless other emotions, these have been deeply felt this year. It is with a great amount of gratitude that the Shekinah board would like to thank our constituents and community for the outpouring of support this fall. We have been met with the gifts of volunteer time, words of encouragement, prayers and generous financial donations. These contributions continue to improve the mission and vision of Shekinah and help create a space for all those who experience Shekinah to come a little close to God. Entering the new year, there is much to look forward to. We have wonderful staff, both new and old, who make the day to day workings of Shekinah possible, the cabin project continues to be an exciting venture which will greatly enhance the camp and school programs, and the board will be exploring strategies that will improve the sustainability of Shekinah. Opportunities for new staff are on the horizon and we look forward to the possibilities and fresh ideas that come with a new Executive Director. A heartfelt thank you to the community for your ongoing support of Shekinah Retreat Centre, its staff and its programs. 32

33 Youth Farm Bible Camp 2017 Report For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Over the 2017 year, the Youth Farm Bible Camp has held the theme, SO Loved, near to our hearts and at the front of our minds as we let the Spirit of the Lord teach us about His love for us and how we then love others from that understanding. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, praying for them to have the power to understand, as all God s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God s love is. Although too great to fully understand, Paul tells us that this, experiencing God s love, will make us complete with the fullness of life and power that comes from the Lord. How wide, long, high and deep is the Lord s love for us? We are SO Loved that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. This plan of redemption was in place before He created the world. The Lord was thinking of you and me before He spoke those first creating words. He knew His perfect world would be damaged by sin but chose to write this story because He SO Loved us deep at the bottom of the pits He rescues us from. God SO Loved us that He gave His One and only Son to leave the comforts and glory on the throne of heaven to dwell among people here on earth. He loved us so high that He bridged that gap and came to us from the high heavens before we could come to Him. As grace flows over His story, we are SO Loved that Christ took our place on the cross and paid the price for our sins. Jesus went to the ultimate lengths to bring us back to Him. Jesus stretched His arms out in death to show us the lengths He would go to love us. His resurrection makes a relationship with Him possible, and we sit in the love He has for us, welcomed into His family and eternal life when we believe in Him. We are SO Loved with a wide love that extends to all nations, generations, and social standings. We are called to love God and to love people. How do we live like we are loved and love others because He first loved us? This was our 2017 theme through our Mexico mission trip, camp weeks, and our corn maze. It was the foundation of our summer curriculum and the prayer of our staff as we grew in the knowledge of God s huge love for us. In 2017 we were also excited to see our staff team grow. Welcoming Cheralyne Gibson to the year-round staff team as our Horsemanship Director. She has come to us with 20 years of riding experience and is working on developing our horse program and providing riding lessons to the public. Gustavo Araújo has moved from Brazil with his family and is working year-round at YFBC. He is a gifted musician and has a passion for prayer. He works alongside our site manager, Jacob. To read our complete 2017 report book visit Youth Farm Bible Camp YFBC info@yfbc.ca 33

34 RJC Annual Report Message from the Board Chair Tammy Forrester As we continue to work towards the realization of our DO MORE BE MORE strategy we are pleased to present significant work and milestones that have been accomplished this past year as we continue to be guided by our 3 major priorities. 1. Grow Student Enrollment As a Board and supporting Recruitment Committee, we continue to work diligently and supportively with school administration, and efforts in paid off. There was growth in our student body and we met our 80+ student goal for the year. This past year we invested time and money into a database software program and the work of inputting of data into that system that fully tracks alumni and potential students. 2. Develop and Enhance the Facility to continue to meet student needs Having reached 1/3 of our goal of donations and pledged donations in our Capital Development plan of raising $1.5 million, we began and completed construction on Phase 1 of our Capital Development plan. All of the projects under the first Phase, including enhancement to the music program, equipment for the athletic program, and the Senior Science Labs, are complete and were on budget. The Board focus will be realizing the goal of the remainder of the capital funds to support Phase 2 and 3, which includes a school and dorm rejuvenation. 3. Enrich Student Programming The grade 10 IMAGINE initiative was met with success and worked well in the framework of the school and scheduling. Focus groups came together to share ideas on the development of the Grade 11 and 12 initiative that would follow in the footsteps of the IMAGINE initiative. Groundwork has been laid and the school administration is set to launch the THRIVE (grade 11), EXPLORE (grade 12) and BELONG (community based, community living) initiatives in the school year. We continue to have a presence and opportunity to share RJC at the MC Saskatchewan and MC Alberta Conferences and are encouraged with open dialogue among our supporting conferences. As we remain focused on our strategies we know that there will be bumps in the road and changes along the way that we must address, we are encouraged by the support of the constituency. We ask for your continued support and prayers throughout the coming year. Principal s Report Jim Epp The school year was a fun-filled and rewarding time of growth, challenge and learning for RJC s students. Personnel RJC continues to benefit from a committed and dedicated team of staff who together share a common calling to Christian education. Collectively, the teachers, administrative support, custodians, cooks and residence staff work hard to create a warm, supportive and safe school community in which students are challenged to learn, grow and live. The RJC community celebrated 30 years of dedicated service to the school by Lloyd Schmidt who retired in June We are grateful for the contributions of both Lloyd and his wife Cheryl as long time staff members at RJC. 34

35 The RJC staff was joined by a number of new members. Andrea Enns-Gooding, Hugo Malan and Scott Feick joined the residence staff as deans. Jill Wiens, Allison Schmidt and David Epp joined the teaching staff. All brought new ideas, passion and enthusiasm to the classroom and residence. It is worth noting that five of the six new staff members are also alumni of RJC. Academics RJC provides a strong and supportive academic program for students. Dedicated teachers, student peers and parents partner together to provide all students with an opportunity to acquire a sound education. New additions to our course offerings included Music 10 and Spanish 10/20. Our graduates demonstrate the integrity of our educational offerings and their preparedness for life after high school as they continue on and experience success in the trades, colleges, universities and in the work force. This fall marked the first year of RJC s grade 10 IMAGINE initiative. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, collaboration, and community building, grade 10s engaged with fundamental questions about IMAGINing a better world and IMAGINing what you can do. Some highlights about the IMAGINE initiative include course offerings, community educational partnerships, and out of province trips. For the first time, grade 10 students had the opportunity to study Spanish. Outside of the class experiences with community educational partnerships was also a central part of IMAGINE. In total, students learned alongside 30 different organizations or individuals with insight into class material or fundamental IMAGINE questions. Most notably, MCC Saskatchewan facilitated monthly workshops on various topics, including indigenous rights, refugee experiences, and restorative justice. The grade 10 class also travelled out of province twice. In the first semester students visited Winnipeg, where they explored the idea of inclusion and exclusion throughout the city. The National Museum for Human Rights was the central piece of this trip. During ALSO the grade 10s went to Oliver, B.C., were they partnered with the Okanagan Gleaners to respond to the issue of global hunger by packaging 921,000 servings of dehydrated soup. Dorm Life Living and learning together is a cornerstone of the RJC community. The creation of the RJC learning community is very intentional and involves both residence and day/commuter student involvement. Being accountable to each other, learning together, having fun in formal and informal activities and making life long friendships is an integral part of the RJC student experience. Chapels This year the Faith and Life committee led the student body in chapels using Deuteronomy 4:29 as a guiding passage. Speakers were invited to reflect on ways in which they have found God in new and exciting places. Many of the most meaningful chapels were delivered by grade 12 students, while other highlights included an Advent series, guest speakers from the local community, and staff contributions. 35

36 Retreats All students attended spiritual class retreats in September. The grade 10s and 11s went to Camp Kadesh and Kinasao, while the grade 12s traveled to Big River Bible Camp. Each grade retreat focused on a peace-oriented theme; the grade 10s studied Peace with Self, the grade 11s Peace with Creation, and the grade 12s Peace with Others. MC Sask conference pastors served as speakers at the retreats. Deeper Life Days On April 10 and 11, 2017, students at RJC participated in Deeper Life Days. This event, planned with support from the Faith and Life committee, focused on community building, fostering relationships and recognizing the gifts in one another. A particular emphasis of Deeper Life Days was exploring these themes in the context of work and relationships with adults with disabilities. The first event of Deeper Life Days featured Wyndham Thiessen and Andrea Schmidt, both from L Arche Saskatoon. This presentation was supplemented with the musical talents of Christopher, a core member of a L Arche home in Saskatoon. During the following morning RJC students took these themes and ideas and put them into practice. Four organizations that support adults with disabilities, L Arche, Farm in the Dell, Sunshine Housing and Valley Action, were invited to bring clients and core members to enjoy a morning of activities with students. The goal was to build relationships and highlight the gifts in one another. Faith and Life Fundraiser Under the leadership of the Faith and Life committee the RJC student body embarked on an ambitious fundraising effort in Students developed an approach known as Lentopoly, in which groups of students raised money while competing on a unique, chapel-sized game board. In total, students collected approximately $8,000 which was donated to the Rosthern Food Bank and to other charitable groups that students visited on their ALSO trips. ALSO Celebrating its 20th year in 2017, Alternative Learning and Service Opportunities (ALSO) has become a cornerstone of RJC programming and instruction. In many ways, ALSO is the culmination of the learning that happens throughout the school year and exemplifies the school s mandate to foster leaders of faith, service, and peacemaking. Over the 5-12 days of intensive service learning in Saskatoon, Calgary, British Columbia, the Gulf Coast and Guatemala, students were encouraged to put faith into action and respond to issues of poverty, unemployment, racial inequality, injustice and systematic violence. All of this was done alongside committed community partners who modelled Christ-like love through their generosity, discipleship and openness to relationship building. Upon returning to RJC, students commented on how their experience of serving others was a perspective-altering trip. Some observed that the church is a vital force for good in the world, and noted a renewed appreciation for the kingdom building goals of groups like MCC and Habitat for Humanity. Others felt empowered after recognizing how small actions, like those undertaken by their group, can contribute to lasting change. Finally, many students commented on the lasting impact partners in places like the Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, the 36

37 Mustard Seed, ANADESA, the Gleaners and the Ransom Cafe had on their understanding of what it means to live a life of faith. Finally, we must give thanks for the relationships that RJC has made over the years at each of our ALSO locations. These partnerships are the foundation of our learning and provide some of the best teachers for our students. Performing Arts Performing Arts at RJC continues to be a vibrant and active program, centred on vocal arts in choir and theatre. Chorale tour in spring was highlighted by their participation in a Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools Choral Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Chorale joined choirs from Steinbach Christian High School, Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Westgate Mennonite Collegiate and Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute for a great weekend of music making. The Theatre Arts class presented the short comedy After Hours at the end of Semester One. The spring musical for was Sister Act. A large cast and crew enjoyed performing for a full house on grad weekend. The musical continues to be a year-end highlight for many. In addition to the choirs, the performing arts continue to be a popular curricular and extracurricular pursuit for students. Athletics Sport continues to be an important part of the RJC community. It generates spirit and excitement, provides a forum for personal growth and development and is a lot of fun! Through participation in both team and individual sports activities students are active and involved. Sport fosters healthy attitudes regarding teamwork, discipline and fair play. We are thankful for all the coaches who commit countless hours to our teams and dedicated parents and fans that support our students as they compete! RJC is a member of the Central Valley Athletic Conference and competed in the following SHSAA sanctioned sports: Boys and Girls Volleyball Cross Country Boys and Girls Soccer Football Boys and Girls Basketball Curling Badminton Track and Field Connecting to the Community RJC is deeply appreciative of the relationships it enjoys in the community. Administrators work together with other Mennonite schools as a part of the Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools (CAMS). RJC is also a part of the Saskatchewan Historical High Schools Association (SHHSA). RJC continues to benefit from a strong and healthy relationship with Prairie Spirit School Division. Finally, RJC is grateful for the many churches, organizations and people who take an interest in and support RJC through prayers, participation in school events and activities School Numbers (as of September 30, 2016) Total Students 85 Boys 44 Grade Day Students 26 Girls 41 Grade Residence Students 59 Grade Mennonite Affiliation 35% Students of Alumni 25% 37

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41 Mennonite Church Canada: Our Nationwide Community of Faith God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit to grow as communities of grace, joy, and peace, so that God s healing and hope flow through us to the world This has been a year of transition. Yet in the midst of significant staff reduction and restructuring, we have continued to position ourselves so that God s healing and hope can flow through us to the world. Some of the program highlights of this past year: Indigenous-Settler Relations Formal Name Change o We are excited to announce that Indigenous Relations has been formally re-named Indigenous-Settler Relations (approved by Joint Council, December 2017). The change seeks to communicate to constituency and the broader public that our nationwide work is an effort to renew and repair mutual relationships between both Indigenous and Settler peoples. UNDRIP and Bill C-262 o In June 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called all Canadian churches to engage the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) within our respective constituencies and the broader Canadian public (Call to Action #48). According to the TRC Final Report, the Declaration is so important that it should be understood as the framework for reconciliation in Canada. In response, Mennonite Church Canada s Indigenous- Settler Relations program has sought to mobilize the church in support of the Declaration through teach-ins, two book resources (Wrongs to Rights and Lifting Hearts off the Ground), the Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights, the Fast for Indigenous Rights, and a postcard campaign of over 35,000 cards. A significant part of our education and advocacy efforts have been directed towards Bill C-262 An Act to Ensure that the Laws of Canada are in Harmony with the UNDRIP. A private members bill crafted by Romeo Saganash Cree Member of Parliament (NDP) and residential school survivor Bill C-262 would affirm that the Declarations minimum standards for the survival of Indigenous peoples have legal application in Canada. 41

42 When Bill C-262 was initially introduced, many said that it would never get the support of the Government. Yet through the tireless work of grassroots advocacy including Christian Peacemaker Teams and Mennonite Church Canada the Government of Canada announced on November 20, 2017 that is it going to support the Bill. It is amazing news! We still have a ways to go before it receives royal assent and thus becomes law. Yet if passed, Bill C-262 will be a tremendous step towards the liberating justice that Jesus proclaimed for the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). International Witness Our International Witness work has continued to remain strong with 19 workers through this past year. Some highlights this year include; - Peacebuilders Community Inc, PBCI, responded to violence in Marawi City, Mindanao with 288 Peace & Reconciliation (PAR) monitors in the affected region. - The newly formed Mennonite Church South Korea, MCSK, hosted its second annual Assembly in September. - Witness worker Bock Ki Kim is leading an effort to plant a new Anabaptist/Mennonite church in Seoul. - Mike & Cheryl Nimz are helping to start a new Anabaptist group in Birmingham, England. - Nathan and Taryn Dirks (after 5 years) completed their ministry in Botswana, leaving a great impact in the whole country for having built the first Futsal/sports park in Botswana. Mushroom cultivation was taught to women of the Grace Community of Churches (GCC) in South Africa. A brick making machine has also been purchased in collaboration with AIMM, MCC and MMN to help construct church buildings. - Other workers include: Darnell & Christina Barkman (Philippines); Jeanette Hanson (Canada/China); Lillian & Norm Nicolson (Burkina Faso); Jennifer Otto & Greg Rabus (Germany); Tom & Christine Poovong (Thailand); Hippolyto & Miriam Tshimanga (South Africa); George & Tobia Veith (China). Although we are not able to include highlights from all our workers, please check out further reports in the following link: 42

43 CommonWord Report CommonWord is a unique and growing hybrid ministry embracing the resourcing needs of church, university and neighbourhood, local and national communities, Mennonite and ecumenical conversations by providing a fusion of services: curated resources to buy, borrow, or download availability of staff for resource consultation We are grateful to report strong numbers in 2017 that reflect a growing ministry: Sales revenue, for the first 10 months of our current fiscal year, is up 27.6%. Online sales revenue is up 41%, including competitively priced MennoMedia titles and Mennonite Church Canada products. In 2018, 48% of items borrowed by congregations circulated outside Manitoba, including increases in MCBC, MCA and MCEC. 17.2% of all items borrowed in 2018 circulated outside Mennonite Church Canada, the highest percentage ever. Download totals increased 18% in 2018, including Community Developed titles contributed by congregations and others. Help bring CommonWord to your congregation: Connect leaders and readers to the 12,000 items at Friend us on Facebook and sign up to receive our electronic Curator. Certainly visit us if you re ever in Winnipeg. Request a display on a particular theme to match a worship or educational event. We ll help with the selection and send up to 20 loan books for free. Submit a Cheaper by the Dozen order. We ll send you 12 different book titles on loan for an extended period again at no cost. A great way to supplement your church library, discuss a committee issue, or encourage reading! Set up a standing order and we ll do this on a regular 6-week cycle. Make your purchases through CommonWord. We special order most titles. And regularly discount most items. One congregation recently combined their families gift-giving for Christmas with a single purchase through CommonWord. One congregation supports their pastor s continuing education fund by having an account at CommonWord. One family gifted their loved one with a standing monthly order of book and coffee from CommonWord. We d be glad to talk about possibilities! Closing Thank you for continued financial support of the Regional Churches, which makes the work of the nationwide priorities possible. Willard Metzger 43

44 2017 Annual report for Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Tobi Thiessen, Publisher Since 1953, Canadian Mennonite has been publishing the stories of our church family. We offer a broad range of articles, views and opinions by church members from across the country. We also carry the voices of our church leaders and give space to issues being discussed at the nationwide church level. We are deeply grateful for the Every Home Plan that, since 1997, has allowed anyone who attends a Mennonite Church congregation to subscribe to the magazine. These days, a subscription can be print or digital. There is also a bi-weekly update called CM Now, plus a website with web-only content. Regional correspondents, like Donna Schulz for Saskatchewan, help us get local stories. In 2017, Donna published 37 stories about Saskatchewan, such as Translating the Bible into the visual about RJC students providing art for Lenten worship services at Rosthern Mennonite Church; or Harvesting ideas for a new MC Saskatchewan about the MC Saskatchewan miniretreat. Donna occasionally posts videos that are attached to her online articles, such as the one about A Buncha Guys ( Men s choir fosters community, generosity ). Her feature article in 2017 was the Advent reflection called Which Jesus are you waiting for? Ryan Siemens and Kirsten Hamm-Epp contributed to the From Our Leaders column, and numerous individuals and churches sent in articles or photos about activities in their communities. Church journalism is never without controversy, and this fall a paid insert from Maple View Mennonite Church expressing its position on same-sex relationships provoked considerable debate, as well as regret on CM s part over the hurt the insert caused to many readers. The following table gives a quick picture of how each Regional Church was represented in Canadian Mennonite in As you can see, MC Saskatchewan comprises 9 percent of the membership across Mennonite Church Canada; 11 percent of Canadian Mennonite subscribers; and 11 percent of the articles published. % of members in MC Canada* % of CM subscribers % of articles published 44 % of letter writers % of CM website users # items published in CM** # of CM subscribers (print or digital) # of web visits BC 11% 5% 10% 11% 13% ,497 Alberta 4% 5% 8% 9% 11% ,173 Saskatchewan 9% 11% 11% 9% 7% 66 1,088 11,268 Manitoba 27% 29% 23% 23% 19% 137 3,158 29,497 Ontario & east 49% 49% 38% 49% 45% 214 5,205 69,860 * based on April 2017 MC Canada data ** includes print and online articles, viewpoints, letters, features, photos, news releases and columns Saskatchewan readers often say that Canadian Mennonite helps them feel connected to the broader church. We pray that will continue for many years. Thank you for your support!

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47 Personal. Professional. Purposeful. Annual Report to Owning Church Bodies 2017 marked 100 years since MTL was incorporated. A centennial is a milestone that many companies don t get to, and so we spent a little time celebrating. Celebrating 100 years of history causes us to pause and reflect on the wisdom, foresight and conviction of our founding board members. Wisdom to realize that three Mennonite church bodies working together could achieve things that each could not do on its own. Foresight to realize that incorporation would give the company official standing in the province as a regulated trust company and allow their efforts to continue for generations. Conviction to see that the rights of widows and orphans needed to be protected and choosing to sacrifice time and money in order to create an organization which would help with the complexities and potential inequities of dealing with estates. And, as we pause and reflect we can t help but wonder, what will history say of our wisdom, foresight and conviction? Will our decisions be viewed favourably 100 years from now? In the midst of our reflection and celebrating we have more work to do than ever. The number of estates we administer continues to rise. The amount of funds under our office s administration continues to rise. The number of tax returns we prepare continues to rise. We are inspired and encouraged by all the people who have put their trust in us to help with their estate and financial affairs. It is not a trust that we take lightly. Over 100 years of careful company stewardship has us in a strong, stable financial position, but the goal is always to try and help more people. We re exploring ways to raise additional capital, which would allow us to grow and help even more people. 47

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49 Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan (MHSS) 2017 Report Our Purpose: Our goal is to collect and archive the stories of Mennonites in Saskatchewan. To make those stories come alive, MHSS endeavors to tell those stories to a wider audience. Archived stories and records are available to the public. MHSS has a periodical, The Saskatchewan Historian, which is published three times a year. A quality website is another way to communicate with inquirers. The Mennonite peoples of Saskatchewan are a hard-todescribe mix of faith, language, and culture. From their 16 th Century non-creedal and martyrial beginnings, with little outside world contact, their liturgies and theologies have changed. MHSS board members : Our board representation comes from 2 conferences: Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan. The members are Dick Braun (chair) John Reddekopp (secretary), Elmer Regier (treasurer), Jake Buhler (vice chair), Leonard Doell, Susan Braun, Elizabeth Guenther, Vera Falk, and Kathy Boldt. The board met 9 times this year. Annual General Meeting: Old Colony Mennonite singing was the main focus of the March 3-4 AGM. Our resource speaker was Dr. Wesley Berg, a retired University of Alberta musicologist and professor. His presentations included many slides and sound tracks of Vorsaenger and others familiar with traditional singing. Dr. Berg concluded that many of the Vorsaenger are very talented people. He played recorded singing from four other ethnic traditions to show that similar styles exist alongside Old Colony singing. Archives Committee: It consists of five persons who are Vera Falk, Helen Fast, Elizabeth Guenther, Hilda Voth, and Kathy Boldt. Much communication is done by phone and but mostly by working together at the archives. MHSS acquired the entire Valley News collection. Hours of service are Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30-4:00 p.m. and on Wednesday evening from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Volunteers: Some work areas include The Historian and day to day work at the archives. Tasks include receiving and processing donated collections, clipping obituaries, checking the Grandma genealogy program at home and putting book titles online. Additionally, volunteers put Historians into envelopes, and do the mailing. They are Elizabeth Guenther, Kathy Boldt, Helen, Fast, Peter Adston, Elva and Jack Braun, Hilda Voth, Esther Patkau, Verner Friesen, Linda Unger, Erna and Elmer Neufeld, Victor Wiebe, and Rosemary Slater. The fine efforts of treasurer Elmer Regier are noted. Esther Patkau s recent death ends many decades of her valuable contributions to MHSS. Peace Storytelling Event: On November 12, a hundred people gathered to hear Dr. Walter Klaassen tell three moving stories of peace. David Neufeld told a story of his time in Vietnam. John Reddekopp showed the half hour video of Conscientious Objectors in the Second World War. Walking the Path: MHSS cooperates with MCC and Mennonite Church Sask to participate in on-going dialogue between Mennonites and First Nations. Jake Buhler is the MHSS representative to Walking the Path. 49

50 Year-end Dinner for Board and Volunteers: A fine banquet for 33 board members and volunteers, and their partners, was organized by Susan Braun. The event was held in November at Bethany Manor. Ben Pauls, pastor at Waldheim Mennonite Church, led a time of singing. Ben also played piano and guitar as he provided background to carols and Christmas songs. Book Sales: Vera Falk is responsible for selling books, both through the Historian and at book launches. She also sets up book displays at various events. An on-going project is the development of our online web site at There are more than 1,000 webpages. In the past year, there were more than 70,000 visitors from Canada, 31,000 from the USA, 9,000 from Germany, 22,000 from Russia, 6000 from France. Ruth Friesen is the webmaster for MHSS. The Historian: Ruth Friesen is the editor and has finished four years in her position. Three fine editions were published this year. Circulation is about 275. Thanks to proofreaders that include Esther Patkau, Verner Friesen, Linda Unger, and Susan Braun. Susan Braun is also responsible for distribution of the Historian. Cemeteries: Please visit the website at mhss.sk.ca/cemeteries/. The database has been successfully put up on our website. It has several indexes, one of which is alphabetical. Helen Fast is a resource person and can be contacted as well for information and assistance. Mennonite Historical Society of Canada (MHSC): In January, 2017, Jake Buhler represented MHSS at the annual MHSC sessions in Winnipeg, MB. You are invited to Bethany Manor in Saskatoon on Friday evening, March 2 to hear Dr. Gordon Jensen of Lutheran Theological Seminary deliver an address on the Reformation and its impact on the rise of Anabaptism/Mennonitism. Submitted by MHSS, December 28, Report to Mennonite Church Saskatchewan 2018 Mennonite Men, an organization of the Mennonite Church, is a jointly owned partnership of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. It is an organization that aims to provide an Anabaptist perspective on manhood that speaks to current issues. The priorities of Mennonite Men are two-fold: JoinMen: to help men from a spiritual and Anabaptist perspective, and to raise funds to help young congregations build or purchase their first meeting house through the JoinHands Church Grant Program. A board of twelve regionally chosen members meets annually to manage the work of Mennonite Men. We would like to hear about how men gather in your church, please use hansp@mennonitemen.org to report on the activities of your men s group. 50

51 JoinMen, this newly organized branch of Mennonite Men focuses on men s retreats, men s spirituality and resourcing men. An example is: A new book on men s issues coauthored by Don Neufeld and supported by Mennonite Men is almost completed. Another example is the Mennonite Men retreats, one of which happened in Ontario where twenty-five men gathered at beautiful Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp in New Hamburg, June 9-10 for an enjoyable twenty-six hours of fellowship, worship, reflection, and leisure. Friday evening and Saturday all day featured sessions led by Pastor Scott Brubaker-Zehr with music and bible story telling by Bryan Moyer-Suderman. JoinHands, the service component of Mennonite Men has given more than $1.9 million to 69 congregations since On December 17, 2017, Mennonite Men, presented the Mara Christian Church of Charlotte, North Carolina with a $40,000 JoinHands church grant. The church is a young vibrant church made up of refugees from Myanmar (Burma) who fled their country, mostly through Malaysia, to escape persecution by the Buddhist military who control that country. Many Mara (pronounced Mah-Rah, emphasis on the last syllable) Chin people have fled to the United States and Canada and have been granted asylum here. The congregation of over 100 members currently meets in a rented church on Sunday afternoons. Their services typically are about 3 hours long and involve a great deal of prayer and singing in their native dialect. Many of the congregants received no formal education in Burma and have worked hard to learn English and adapt to North American culture. There are many children at the church and they meet in three separate groups for Sunday School. They also have a women s group, a youth group, and a mission team. A tithe of all donations received by JoinHands is put aside to help congregations overseas acquire their first meeting place. Congregations receiving these grants span the globe. Mennonite Men enlists individuals and groups willing to contribute $100 or more twice a year to support JoinHands Church Grants and JoinMen programs. Grants are given to new congregations building or buying their first meeting house. Please check out for more details Your Canadian Area Church Mennonite Men coordinators are Clarence Yip in BC, Murray Logan in Saskatchewan, and Don Neufeld in Ontario. We are currently looking for coordinators for Alberta and for Manitoba. If you are interested, please contact Hans Peters (see contact info below). Check out our website for information, contact info and resources: Hans Peters, Canadian National Coordinator for Mennonite Men (519) or hansp@mennonitemen.org 51