July 22, 2019 Volume 23 Number 14 Holy Spirit fire and imagination Gathering 2019 coverage on pgs. 2, 4-6, 10, 12-18, 40 INSIDE Not because they were male 23 ‘In this together’ 27 A bouncer for Jesus 35 2 Canadian Mennonite July 22, 2019 guest editorial The Spirit is moving our body Katie Doke Sawatzky knew everything would time with children, registered people of Saskatchewan, Christina and Darnell be okay as soon as the and answered questions. I was struck Barkman of B.C., Colin McCartney of I singing started. As I sat by how not only the organizers offered Ontario, and Donna Entz of Alberta at a table positioned themselves, but so did the participants. have all been challenged to imagine behind a small tower of A moment I found particularly mean- church differently and to follow the crates half covered in cloth—a make- ingful happened during communion Spirit’s leading. At our delegate session shift platform for the room’s main in our last worship service together on and annual general meeting, people projector—I looked up from my Canada Day. Those offering the bread were asked to discuss how they imagine detailed program schedule and smiled. and cup went to the people seated at the engaging in missional work locally, Right, this is why we’re here. tables. As music played, everyone stood regionally, nationally and internation- “Gathering 2019: Igniting the imagi- and passed the bread and cup around ally, and write their responses on paper. nation of the church,” held from June the table. Because I was in charge of From my perspective near the back of 28 to July 1, was our inaugural nation- the PowerPoint for the worship songs, the room, there was much conversation wide event under our new expression of I couldn’t get up to join the circle of and sharing of experiences and listening Mennonite Church Canada. More than people at the table beside me. It only as well. I look forward to going over 300 people registered, and each day be- took a second for the person with the those responses and being witness to tween 200 and 250 people attended the bread and cup to motion to people to the vision of the people of Christ’s body. main sessions. We gathered in a hotel stand around me, so I could partake I’ll take the remaining space I have ballroom, seated around tables and and keep my eye on the next slide. left here to offer a final word of thanks facing a small stage, where the worship The purpose of Gathering 2019 for the planners, organizers and par- team led us through the weekend, and was to ask ourselves how we feel the ticipants, who all offered themselves where guest speaker Elaine Heath spoke Spirit moving in our midst, among our to make Gathering 2019 possible and to us about building missional com- congregations, our regional church- inspiring. We are many parts of one munities and the futureof the church. es and as MC Canada. This moment body. Let’s keep talking. And singing. l Over the three-and-a-half days we of communion around my little table were together, I quietly watched our was an example to me of how the Katie Doke Sawatzky is MC Canada’s nationwide family gather. Several things Spirit moves in us, urging us to move communications officer. She works from were clear. We care deeply about each in ways that are new, unexpected, Regina and can be reached at other. We listen to one another and are and perhaps even uncomfortable. [email protected]. inspired by one another’s stories. We are In the moment, I didn’t think it was a body of many parts, each of us willing important that I partake because I Digital edition and ready to help when called upon. was busy making sure everything was Our next issue—dated Aug. 5 I witnessed many people willing to running smoothly. I had a job to do. But (posted July 31)—will be digital. help at Gathering 2019. With no official what was most important for me to do To learn how you can receive photographer for the event, one of our was to break bread with Christ’s body this digital issue, visit creative worship leaders took photos and be reminded of our true purpose. canadianmennonite.org/subscribe throughout the weekend. Members Over the weekend, we heard from /digital. of the Gathering 2019 planning com- seven people who shared stories of how mittee led the crokinole tournament the Spirit is moving in their congrega- and the outdoor worship time, and tions. Lyne Renaud of Quebec, Sandy rounded up folks for excursions when Plett and Don Rempel Boschman of the buses came early. Volunteers spent Manitoba, Terri Lynn (Paulson) Friesen Award-winning Printed in Canada member of the Canadian Church Press ISSN 1480-042X 3 contents July 22, 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 14 ABOUT THE COVER: Holy Spirit fire and During a blessing ceremony at Mennonite Church Canada’s imagination 4 Gathering 2019, Doug Klassen holds a lamp symbolizing the light Executive editor Virginia A. of Christ. The lamp was given to him by the Foothills Mennonite Hostetler provides a congregation, where he served as pastor until he became the new roundup of Mennonite executive minister of the nationwide church. For more coverage of Church Canada’s Gathering the gathering, see pages 2, 4 to 6, 10, 12 to 18, and the back cover. 2019, held on the Canada PHOTO: JANE GRUNAU Day long weekend in Abbotsford, B.C. Arnaud Mennonite Church celebrates 75 years 19 Rural Manitoba congregation maintains a presence in its community, reports Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe. Cycling into the future 30 Janet Bauman profiles a Kitchener, Ont., non-profit that has a vision to expand cycling education and creation care. Regular features: Readers write 7 Milestones 9 Finding hope in the midst of the climate crisis 32 A moment from yesterday 10 Online NOW! 36 Zoe Matties is finding hope in the midst of ‘triggering environmental ServiceLinks 37 Calendar 38 Classifieds 39 disasters’ through her work with A Rocha’s Boreal Ecology Centre. Things I noticed at Gathering 2019 10 ‘The hands and feet of Jesus’ 33 Darryl Neustaedter Barg Two Canadian young women reflect on their Mennonite Volunteer Service experiences during the organization’s 75th anniversary. Millie, my lions and me 11 Ed Olfert 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, Joanne De Jong, [email protected] 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 Subscriptions/address changes: Canadian 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 July 22, 2019 feature PHOTO BY AMY RIDDELL WANNER Many hands were needed to display a 10-metre banner with the theme of Mennonite Church Canada’s Gathering 2019. Witness worker Bock Ki Kim presented it to the assembly as a gift from their Mennonite sisters and brothers in South Korea. Throughout the gathering, attendees wrote their blessings and prayers on the banner. Holy Spirit fire and imagination By Virginia A. Hostetler Executive Editor ing a new church into being,” sang the from June 28 to July 1. 300-plus people gathered for the first Representatives came from each of the five regional nationwide meeting of Mennonite churches, from as far away as Petitcodiac, N.S., to take Church Canada since its restructuring part. The event began with a day for pastors and other in 2017. Behind the blended voices leaders (see page 13), followed by two-and-a-half days “Swas the vision, “Igniting the imagination of the church,” of worship, inspirational speakers, a delegate business the theme of Gathering 2019, held in Abbotsford, B.C., meeting (see page 12), workshops, excursions and more. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 23 No. 14 5 The times of worship, led by commit- tee members of Voices Together, the new hymnal still in formation, gave partic- ipants a chance to try new songs and ways of worshipping.