Serving as a spiritual practice
♪“Everyone’s plate is full; some of us just have bigger plates.” This quote was given to me by a couple in our church that have demonstrated a significant capacity to serve within the context of our church community. For a time, I was a part of the group that had big plates, and I was proud of the capacity that I had for service.
You might not be going to the best church
♪I’ve visited Baptist, Alliance, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Mennonite worship services for various one-time events. I’ve then asked myself, am I at the best church?
Battling weeds of discouragement
♪My attitude can easily fixate on discouragement. Grumbling about the never-ending futility of capturing weeds and losing sight of the higher purpose. Not so with Caleb.
Book review | Desert Mailbag: Letters from South America
Walter Kruse’s early teaching career got him fascinated by the far north; now, sent by EMC to teach in Paraguay he was intrigued by the cultural landscape of Paraguay: the Indigenous people, the Paraguayans (a mix of indigenous and European), and Mennonite settlers. The observations he made were recorded in the form of letters mailed to Canada; he later edited them, took some literary liberties, and collected them in this book.
Golf tournaments tee off toward a common goal
Under a cloudless sky with not a whisper of a wind, on the morning of June 12, 2025, 132 ambitious men and women, ranging in age from teens to eighties, gathered at the Fly-in Golf Course in Steinbach, Man., to rally together and support a common goal. Nearly a month later and over 2,000 kms to the northwest, under heavily clouded skies and fierce winds, 65 different individuals gathered together at the La Crete Golf Course to support the same goal.
Blessed by arrival of interim pastoral couple
The first week of July is over and so is VBS. This is an annual event and once again we had many youngsters attending. On Friday evening we had a closing program with many parents and other family members present to listen to the wonderful message of what had been taught throughout the week.
Fun and meaning intermingles at church camp
The annual Kleefeld EMC church camp took place from May 30 to June 1, 2025, at Roseau River Bible Camp. Church families settled into camp cabins or set up their campers on the grounds in preparation for a weekend filled with fun things like zip lining, swimming, horseback riding, and more, interspersed with meaningful worship sessions, good fellowship, and delicious meals.
True North
This summer’s VBS at ACF focused on trusting Jesus, the only True North. With the help of various animal characters, relevant Bible truths were reinforced and the 67 attending children were immersed in life-changing faith formation activities.
From pulpit to paddle: Winnipeg pastor inspires faith-filled adventures
A Winnipeg pastor and adventure seeker is sharing some tips and tricks to have an ‘EPPic’ summer. As of April 1, 2025, Pastor Paul Epp stepped into his first lead pastor role at St. Vital EMC.
EMC Missions introduces four new faces!
On June 6 and 7, the Board of Missions had the privilege of hearing Jayda Brandt, Jenny Klassen and Mark and Gillian Wiewel share about their calling into missions. All four were formally accepted as EMC associate missionaries.
Is your profession needed overseas?
♪Our son wrestled with the sense that God was inviting him into full-time Christian ministry while at the same time he saw an opportunity to use his videography and editing skills in the marketplace.
Should Christians be Zionists?
♪Christians agree that God promised land to Abraham’s descendants, but did God intend for that promise to extend forever? In a time of intense disagreement over Israel’s actions in response to Hamas, it’s helpful to consider our belief regarding the biblical case for and against Zionism.
Jesus’ attitude to disability
♪In encounters with people with a disability, Jesus shows us:
1. That a person with a disability has autonomy and will—“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6).
2. That a person with a disability is not some angelic, sinless being, but like every human, is also in need of forgiveness—“Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
Autism and the church
♪Most of us know someone who is autistic, or you may be autistic yourself. Stephanie Fast, teacher and student, works to bring clarity to autism and presents ideas for making autistic people feel welcome in EMC congregations.
The storms Jesus calmed
♪The sun ebbed, reflecting off the Sea of Galilee. Water lapped against the small fishing vessel, and the familiar cry of seagulls echoed overhead. A young rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, slept as his disciples conversed in low tones.
Then, in a moment, everything changed.
Personal, hope-filled and Spirit-empowered
♪I was twelve years old when my best friend at the time shared with me that there was a place where you could go where you would feel awkward for not raising your hands in praise to the Lord while you sang. Hearing this was revolutionary for me.
Navigating tension in the art world
Aside from my Christian faith, drawing, writing, and crafting are my defining feature. However, faith and art initially seemed incompatible. Many creative Christians live in this tension.
Letter
Morgan Fehr’s article “Ancient, continuous, and meangingful” describes a faith experience formed by wrestling the angel, as in Genesis 32. We benefit from thoughtful, focused clarity in exploring the complex ways the church draws us in and pushes us away, sometimes at the same time, and this is really wonderful writing.
Neighbouring as a spiritual practice
♪Inspiring practices of faith based on the first commandment are mainstream in our discipleship process, but inspiring practices of faith that focus on the second command can be a little tricky.
God is infinitely happy: Do you mind?
♪An infinitely happy God is good news to a world in pain. God has no baggage. Nothing triggers him. He is always in the best imaginable space to hear our prayers and enter our pain.