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Harvesting Manoomin at 'Shooniversity'

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Harvesting Manoomin at 'Shooniversity' May 13, 2019 Volume 23 Number 10 Harvesting manoomin at ‘Shooniversity’ Reflection at the close of the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Team, pg. 12 INSIDE When it’s hard to go to church 4 The gift of ecumenism 11 Breaking through the screen 18 PM40063104 R09613 2 Canadian Mennonite May 13, 2019 editorial fear. / I will hold my hand out to you, / Holding out the Christ-light speak the peace you long to hear.” Virginia A. Hostetler In the today’s feature “When it’s hard Executive Editor to go to church” (page 4), former pastor Donita Wiebe-Neufeld considers how a congregation might walk alongside e can all tough times. In Sunday sharing times, a people dealing with mental illness and have good woman spoke openly about her ongoing other hard life issues. In “Breaking “Wmental struggle with an eating disorder. A through the screen” (page 18), parents health. It is about hav- couple talked about their family and educators are reminded that ing a sense of purpose, member’s schizophrenia and the students’ time with technology can have strong relationships, feeling connected challenges it had for them. A recovering negative effects on their mental and to our communities, knowing who we alcoholic told of how he was using his social health. A sponsored content story are, coping with stress and enjoying past addiction experiences to minister (not available online) tells the story of life,” says a statement by the Canadian to others. As congregants listened and someone who experiences a strong Mental Health Association. learned about each other’s vulnerabil- connection between meaningful Statistics indicate that each year 6.7 ities, we were able to offer prayers, employment and mental well-being. million Canadians—one in five people— understanding and practical support. On our journey toward healing, let’s experience some form of mental illness. keep figuring out ways to hold the By age 40, that number increases to one ‘Things will get better.’ Christ-light out to each other in our in two people. Sadly, about 1.6 million There was a time when life looked families, churches and communities. citizens report they don’t have adequate hopeless to me. Struggling with deep care for mental-health needs. depression, I could not imagine how Same columnist / new name Here are some messages we can offer things could ever change for the better. You will notice a new byline on page 21. to each other as we deal with mental A doctor friend helped me get access to On April 20, B.C. correspondent Amy illness: medication, encouraged me to pursue Dueckman celebrated her marriage to counselling and reassured me, “Things Marc Waddell. She now writes under ‘You deserve to be well.’ will get better.” In my lowest times, I her new byline, Amy Rinner Waddell. In a recent conversation I had with held on to that reassurance. Thanks be We wish the newlyweds much happi- someone struggling with anxiety and to God, with time and the proper ness! depression, the question of worthiness support, my depression lifted. came up. Growing up in a household People struggling with long-term Corrections where affirmation rarely happened, anxiety, addictions, depression, schizo- Two corrections are needed to the “MC feeling broken and inadequate, this phrenia and other ailments know that Canada primer” story, which ran in the person did not feel worthy of a better there is no magic cure. But, with God’s April 29 issue. Concerning the new life. help, the right treatments and support, Witness funding model, support teams Sometimes we need to remind each with self-care and with the care of a are asked to raise at least half of the other: Each person is God’s beloved loving community, things can get better. funding needed to support International child, made in God’s image, and is The song “Will You let Me be your Witness workers. Also, Nhien Pham is deserving of a fulfilling life. The Cre- Servant,” No. 307 in Hymnal: A Worship not a Witness worker; he currently ator’s wish is for all to experience Book, captures some of the opportu- works with North American Vietnam- healing and wellness. nities before us. As companions on the ese Evangelical Fellowship, which is an journey toward wellness, we can “help MC Canada partner. Canadian Men- ‘You can talk about it. I will listen. I will help.’ each other walk the mile and bear the nonite regrets the errors. I once participated in a congregation load.” that demonstrated an unusual ability to Verse 3 says: “I will hold the Christ- support congregants going through light for you / in the night-time of your Printed in Canada Award-winning member of the Canadian Church Press ISSN 1480-042X contents May 13, 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 10 ABOUT THE COVER: When it’s hard to go Kathy Moorhead Thiessen, a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams’ to church 4 Indigenous Peoples Solidarity (IPS) team, harvested manoomin (wild ‘Thinking of the church as a rice) at Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario last year. CPT people instead of a place discontinued the IPS program at the end of March due to a lack of helps those who are struggling funding. See story on page 12. with issues to feel connected PHOTO: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SOLIDARITY TEAM even when they cannot bring themselves to attend large Two centuries of worship, a century of service 13 public services,’ writes Donita Rainham Mennonite Church in southwestern Ontario continues to Wiebe-Neufeld in our Focus meet in God’s name despite dwindling numbers, according to Maria on Mental Health feature. H. Klassen. ‘It’s all worship’ 14 Janet Bauman reports that MC Eastern Canada delegates recently celebrated God at work amidst new structures and sobering financial Regular features: realities that will involve cuts to external partners. For discussion 6 Readers write 7 Milestones 8 A moment from yesterday 9 Online NOW! 25 Join the (fashion) revolution 20 ServiceLinks 26 Calendar 30 Classifieds 31 The organizers of last month’s Fashion Revolution Week in Winnipeg want people to ask, ‘Who made my clothes?’ the next time they put Walking together 9 on an outfit or choose what clothing to buy, Rachel Bergen writes. Andrea Enns-Gooding Sourdough spirituality 22 In court with ‘Clifford’ 10 Donna Schulz uses words and photographs to profile Saskatoon baker Ed Olfert Joel Kroeker, who uses bread as a vehicle for change. Canadian Mennonite Staff: Publisher, Tobi Thiessen, [email protected] Executive Editor, Virginia A. Hostetler, [email protected] Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 Managing Editor, Ross W. Muir, [email protected] Website: canadianmennonite.org Online Media Manager, Aaron Epp, [email protected] Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno Contributing Editor, Rachel Bergen, [email protected] Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Editorial Assistant, Barb Draper, [email protected] General submission address: [email protected] Graphic Designer, Betty Avery, [email protected] Readers Write: [email protected] Circulation/Finance, Lisa Jacky, [email protected] Milestones announcements: [email protected] Advertising Manager, D. Michael Hostetler, [email protected], Calendar announcements: [email protected] toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 publications mail agreement no. 40063104 registration no. 09613 Senior Writer, Will Braun, [email protected] B.C. Correspondent, Amy Rinner Waddell, [email protected] return undeliverable items to: Canadian Mennonite, Alberta Correspondent, vacant 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON, N2L 6H7 Saskatchewan Correspondent, Donna Schulz, [email protected] Manitoba Correspondent, Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe, [email protected] Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues Eastern Canada Correspondent, Janet Bauman, [email protected] facing Mennonites in Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Anabaptist perspective. We do this through an independent publication and One-Year Subscription Rates other media, working with our church partners. Canada: $46 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) U.S.: $68 International (outside U.S.): $91.10 Published by Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service. Regional churches and MC Canada appoint directors to the board and support 38 percent of Canadian Subscriptions/address changes: Mennonite’s budget. (e-mail) [email protected] Board Chair, Henry Krause, [email protected], 604-888-3192 (phone) 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 4 Canadian Mennonite May 13, 2019 feature When it’s hard to go to church By Donita Wiebe-Neufeld Special to Canadian Mennonite PHOTO LEFT: © ISTOCK.COM/BERNARDBODO / PHOTO RIGHT: © ISTOCK.COM/SEVENTYFOUR The late Rachel Held Evans suggested that the church needs to feel less like a country club, where everyone is well put together, and more like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, where brokenness is acknowledged, truth is told and questions are welcome as an important part of being a Christian community. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 23 No. 10 5 love my church. It is very community at exactly the time it was community. “[N]o decent AA meeting important to me, but you the hardest to face those broken ever began with, ‘Hi, my name is Rachel, “I won’t be seeing me on Sunday expectations. She found it was easiest to and I totally have my act together,’” she morning as often,” Cara Baergen told arrive late and leave early to avoid wrote. her congregation in a sermon preached questions. “If I couldn’t handle going to Evans advocated for a church without at Edmonton’s First Mennonite Church my own church, I went to another one “masks,” that welcomes doubt, struggle this spring. where not too many people knew me,” and questioning. “We come in search of Consciously choosing to speak from she said.
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