Mennonite Church British Columbia

Finding Pastors in Your Backyard

2011-05-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

Finding a good fit in a pastor is not an easy thing. Meeting a congregation’s present reality and the hopes for the future is a daunting task for a search committee – given that we task ordinary people, doing ordinary jobs with the job. Granted, they love the church and are deeply committed to the life and health of the future church, plus they have the ever present young person on the search committee who represents the future (but doesn’t have a clue as to why he or she said yes when asked.)

Thankfully there are lots of places to advertise, and each Area Church Minister has access to a list of people who have said they would like to pastor somewhere within half an hour of Winnipeg. Okay, lots of these potential candidates are more open than that. But have we looked in our backyard lately?

It was only a couple of generations ago when we expected that our pastors would be raised up from within the fellowship of our congregation. And, back then, the bonus was that we would just call them, they would keep their day job, and we would find ways to say thank you throughout the year.

In the last few years in Mennonite Church BC we have found ways to call people from our backyard and pay them too! Some are fulltime, while others are in varying measures of part-time. In each case, full effort was given to looking in all the available places, but in the process, God began to reveal a candidate right near at hand, who ultimately became the one to fulfill the calling.

If February of this year, First Mennonite Church in Kelowna called Kevin Barkowsky to be their lead pastor. I introduced him to the chair of the congregation more than a year ago as a friend in Kelowna who had previously pastored, gone back to his former employment, but was open to re-engaging pastoral ministry. They courted each other for that year. It was one of the most serious discernment processes I have seen – ending with a joyous commitment to the marriage.

The road to Granisle - May 1st, 2011

On May 1st, Rob Wiebe was installed as pastor of Church of the Way in Granisle. Rob attempted pastoral ministry just out of Bible School, years ago, and it did not go well. He has had many years of volunteering and developing his ministry gifts in his home church, First Mennonite Church Burns Lake (which is an hour down the road from Granisle). The Church of the Way people love him and he loves them, so after an eight month courtship, they too made the marriage official. They went the full route of a proper search, but soon it became clear that this was Rob’s time to re-enter the pastoral ministry. It was time for Church of the Way to extend the call.

Look hard – far and wide – but keep your eyes open to your backyard.
(Look for this article in an upcoming Canadian Mennonite under "From our Leaders")

Rhythm/Balance in a Smartphone Age

2011-04-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

I made a note to myself to blog about rhythm/balance in a Smartphone age. When I sat down to do it, it occured to me that I thought I had already written about rhythm. I checked back, and sure enough, a year ago, almost to the day, this was my topic. Check it out in the sidebar. I won't re-write it, but I will expand on it.

You can get an App for almost anything on a Smartphone. This includes: a fitness counter, diet monitor, time and travel tracker, and of course, keeping your finger on all of your favourite sports teams instantaneously. There are so many more Apps in which I have not taken any interest, but may be just for you! Many of them are free, too. Surely our lives should be fully under control by now.

Yet, how easy it is for the rhythm and balance in our lives to be totally out of control. Do we admit it? Of course not, because there must be just one more App to finally fix it all! I must admit that it is kind of handy to have almost my whole world saved into my phone, safely tucked away in the pouch on my belt or in my pocket.

The trick is to turn parts of it off in certain settings. If I am engaged in a meaningful conversation with someone and the smartphone rings, there is a wonderful button to hit called "Ignore." It sounds rude, but I think it is more rude to answer it. How can that person in the phone be more important than the person I am with? After all, they can leave a message.

Another button that is well worth it, and is never more than two clicks away, is the "All Alerts Off" button. It is so simple. When I am in a meeting, the people in the meeting have my full attention. When I am in church, I can still check my Bible on the phone, but never interrupt my worship experience (or that of my neighbour's) with a vibration, buzz, or - heaven forbid - a full-on ring! Sorry if I have ignored your call, email or text for more that a 1/2 day - it's because the "All Alerts Off" feature has been directing you to leave me messages.

Then there is the option of turning it completely off - what a concept. It sure makes for a good night's rest. And, you know what, the smartphone actually likes a rest too. Seriously, it works better after it has been given a rest!

Blessings in finding the rhythm and balance in your multi-sensory life.

Water Under the Bridge

2011-03-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of water that has passed under the bridge since I last contributed a blog entry! The river of life keeps moving on, even if we don't pause to talk about it every once-in-awhile.

While the water keeps flowing, we need to make sure we give attention to most important things. I think we often have distractions that allow us to avoid the important things. For some it may be Facebook. For me, it is just simply email. I think there are many of us who would say that if we gave a careful response to every email that comes our way, we could actually spend our whole day - every day - on email. Given that Facebook and email are both communciation tools that help us keep in touch with people, as well as accomplish things, we have to figure out how to manage them as tools to use rather than the master that rules us.

This season of Spring is a time, for many places in Canada, where the rivers that have stopped flowing for the winter because of the ice on them begin to melt and break up. It is amazing to see (and hear) the power of the spring break up of river ice. But, for today's thoughts, I am led to the possibility of the river stopping its flow and taking a rest.

It may look like I took a winter break from blogging because I let the constant flow of water under the bridge freeze up and stop. But reality, as you might well imagine, is that the real water of work, life, and technical support has been flowing so hard and fast that I have not found the time to stop and write.

While I haven't yet figured out the function, value and usefulness of Facebook, I've been thinking about Twitter. It seems like saying things is smaller soundbites, and saying things more often might be the ticket. But then, maybe just figuring out Facebook makes more sense. What do you think?

By-the-way, what are you doing for Lent? I have taken a cue from one of my colleagues to write every day about "Where have I seen God's hand today?" It's great to just pause to think about big and little things that appear to have been touched by the guiding hand of God. Yesterday I wrote, "I see God's hand in the beauty of another rainless day to allow me riding pleasure. In the sacrifice of a certain individual (name removed) in rearranging her schedule to make the Sunday meeting work - it is the amazing nature of God's people to be unselfish."

Dutch Blitz - Family Style

2011-01-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

It would have been great to get a photo of our family's - after Christmas dinner - Dutch Blitz game. Picture this - eight adults around the dining room table playing with eight decks of cards. That's right, 8 decks of Dutch Blitz cards at once. Fortunately there was a new deck and an well-worn deck of rags. We still marked the rags to make it easier to sort after each round.

Yes, Christmas dinner was settled. We had taken time to sing carols, read the Christmas Story, open gifts, go for a walk around town to look at Christmas lights, and clear the table.

With that many decks and people it made for a whole lot of piles out there at once. Those with faster hands and minds prevailed. A lot of blitzes happened with the winner having only 11 or 12 cards out there. Those of us who aren't known to be super fast never got the experience of a positive score. I'll just say that my son-in-law and I ended up tied at minus 45.

If you don't know how this game works, google it at www.dutchblitz.com and learn all about it. I'll include a picture of it below.

This was on Boxing Day, and we did it all again 3 days later upon returning home from Diane's birthday dinner at a favourite local restaurant. Actually this time we only went with four decks, dividing the responsibilities for each deck between two people. It was still a riot!

Oh, by-the-way, did I tell you about this year's new Christmas Tradition. It is our married kids dividing up the leftovers to take home. Actually it started as a Thanksgiving Tradition, and will carry on as an Easter Tradition as well!

St. Pete's Beach 2010 Toy Run

2010-12-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

We do Toy Runs in Vancouver and Abbotsford, but it has never worked out for me to go on one. I have no idea how big they are. For those who may not know what a Toy Run is, it is an excuse for motorcycle riders to go on a ride and also contribue a toy to charity.

The St. Pete's Beach Toy Run is done with a Christmas theme. There were 2000 motorcycles participating. The run took 45 minutes. Just standing in one place and seeing a steady flow of every kind of motorcycle going by was quite a treat (actually about 90% of them were Harleys.) The run went right by the inn where we are staying, so we just went down to the street and took it in. I guess it's kind of obvious from the photos that helmets are optional in Florida.

Bonfire of the Beach - Florida Style!

2010-12-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

Wow, that was quite a fire!
They dig a big hole in the sand on the beach and then throw pallets in. These are great because they allow for a lot of air flow. We did get worried when they started throwing on pallets with K3 board on them - not too sure how much glue was going up in smoke. Oh well, it didn't seem to affect us. People were having a great time. It was an event with a good mix of locals and visitors - 20th Anniversary. Santa Claus was a big hit for the kids! Enjoy.

How much Christmas can there be - in Florida?

2010-12-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Diane and I are in Florida this week. This year's North American Mennonite Conference Ministers meetings were scheduled for St. Petersburg, and I immediately considered it a no-brainer that Diane would come along and we would extend our time here with a week of vacation. I mean, in December 2009 when the decision was made, we started making plans! Funny - of the approximately 40 people at these meetings, and all of them north from here (except the hosting conference minister) - only 2 other couples sensed a Florida vacation as a no-brainer opportunity to connect to these meetings. None of the other Canadian conference ministers (5 of them) saw it this way.

Also funny - this week has set record low temperatures for Florida! We have been sitting inside and reading a lot of the time - but hey, the view we have from our room is a beautiful ocean view of the Gulf of Mexico, framed by palm trees. If it is not too windy, we sit on the lounge chairs on our deck. For exercise we walk as far as we want on the white sand beach.

We are in Florida from November 30th to December 12th. Oh, by-the-way, since we were given an upgrade on the car rental, we chose to rent a Chrysler Sebring convertible. It was 80 F. when we arrived; actually, I'll translate all the temperatures in celcius. Our first day was 26 C. The second day peaked at 22, but we drove the whole afternoon with the top down - granted we put the heat on. Then the chill set in with daily highs of around 14. Besides the first 2 days, we have only put the top down a couple of times. But, we are in a warming trend. We drove with the top down this afternoon. It was really nice. Diane's dream is to actually have a convertible! Tomorrow and Saturday, our last 2 days here, the forecast is for the temperatures to be in the range of 20 - 23; absolutely top-down weather. 5 out of 12 days being convertible friendly, that's not bad for being in a record setting cold spell - but hey, we are Canadian. AND, THE FLORIDA SUN HAS BEEN BRIGHTLY SHINING EVERY DAY!

Our Beach

The View from which we read books on our bed

So, on to the promised topic - How much Christimas can there be in Florida or, how many things can be said about Christmas anyway? Diane loves endless Christmas, and I can appreciate that, but I need a break now and then - like from January to November. But even during December, no-stop is a bit much for me. While I am pretty good with it all, Diane is loving it. I mean, first of all, endless songs. In Vancouver there is a radio station that has committed all of its music, from at least the beginning of December, to be Christmas. Well here too - in St. Petersburg it is a Christian station that is solid Christmas music, and this is the only station available in our car - I mean, I dare not try another! Then the movies; how many Christmas movies are there? The Hallmark channel has Christmas movies all day long - although it sounds like there are many repeats. There's another channel that is doing the same. Since switching from meeting to vacation mode, we have watched a Christmas movie every night, usually 2 and I think even 3 one night. How many men are out there who really think they are Santa Claus - and actually turn out to be him? We have 3 nights left.

One of the largest Christmas light displays in America is right in St. Petersburg. This one takes a distinctly Christian angle on Christmas. In fact, it is a very evangelical emphasis, including a strong denouncement of other religions; for someone who believes relational evangelism is most effective, it would seem that this judgemental message isn’t helpful. But there we a lot of lights. See below.

I just found out the real meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas at our Sherbrooke Christmas banquet, then I heard a “Christianised” version on the radio here in Florida which included “5 shopping malls” and many other references to our commercialised North American Christmas - what a second rate version compared to the original! Take a look at what's behind this song...

From 1558 until 1829 CE, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Ghost: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

So there is your history lesson for today. I found this interesting and now I know how this “very strange” song became a Christmas carol.

To conclude my wondering about how much Christmas there can be in Florida - tonight, in 1/2 an hour, Diane and I are going to a Christmas bonfire on the beach put on by the local community; tomorrow after breakfast we are going to a Christmas parade; yesterday was the Jingle Bell Run in St. Petersburg (all the runners have bells around their ankles) and last Sunday was the Christmas Toy Run (This is a motorcycle ride that came right past our place, with many bikes and riders dressed up in Christmas decoration. There were 2000 - 45 minutes of watching. See my next blog with some pictures of the Toy Run.)

Fun in the Snow

2010-11-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Apparently by tonight and tomorrow, we are supposed to be back to normal - rain and plus 8 degrees. My window in the MCBC office in Abbotsford looks across a nice litte grassy area and then right into the Columbia Bible College dining room. Well, this grassy area is now blanketed in at least 8 inches of snow, but also covered with partially filled-in foot prints and snow angels.

Yes a whole wack of CBC students had a friendly snow ball fight, and when tired, collapsed on their backs to make snow angels. It looked like a lot of fun, but I left my snow boots at home today. Of course, these young men and women (or old boys and girls) were building relationships.

Do we take enough time to get out and have fun in the snow? Probably not - at least not me. While there won't be any more snow by Sunday, Diane and I plan to play. After church we plan to just hang out in Vancouver. We were planning to walk around the Vancouver Christmas Market, and then eventually end up at some place to watch our beloved Roughriders play in the Grey Cup game with Mark and Lisa. But, since the Christmas Market had a fire on opening day (yesterday), it has been closed until Monday. Boo! Anyway, we'll have a fun afternoon - and may the right/best team win.

Of course, going to Florida next week will be fun too!

First Nations Ministry for MCBC?

2010-11-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

Together with Mennonite Church Canada Native Ministries and in partnership with MCC BC, we have hired Steve Heinrichs for a three month contract to research the possibilities where Mennonite Church BC might engage in the story of First Nations people in the Lower Mainland.

Steve was pastor at Church of the Way in Granisle, BC for three years. While pastoring the congregation, he was also partially funded by MC Canada Native Ministries to work with First Nations people up there. So, when Steve became available, he was clearly the right person for this research project. Steve, and his wife Ann, have a strong interest in multicultural ministry, especially with First Nations people.

So, we don't know what the results will be, but Steve has already shared his initial learnings with me. There are at least two things that have been interesting for me. First, we as Mennonites have been neighbours with First Nations people ever since the first Mennonites came to BC. This has been both knowingly and unknowingly. Secondly, there is basically one First Nations people group throughout the Lower Mainland with different branches - the Sto:lo. This fact helps to see the larger picture more easily as well as the connectedness across the region.

Steve has prepared a sermon that he would like to preach in our congregations. It would be good for each of our congregations to make the effort to welcome Steve on a Sunday sometime between now and March 2011.

Installing Pastors

2010-11-15T20:22:00.000-08:00

Almost every time we are getting ready to install a new pastor, somebody comes up with a wise crack about installing a light bulb, a dryer or kitchen cabinets.

I agree that it is a word with multiple meanings. I also agree that it seems like a bit of a strange word to use. But, it is also the best word. Some may suggest words like: commissioning or blessing. These words have good meaning, but they don't say it right and they don't say it all. What we are recognising is a new start for a new pastor in a particular congregation in a particular place. Similarily, when light bulbs, dryers, and kitchen cupboards are installed, they represent a new start in a particular place.

So, we installed Aaron Roorda as associate/youth pastor at Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack. We installed Jonathan Deng as fulltime (previously half time) pastor at White Rock Mennonite Christian Fellowship. We installed Gordon Carter as pastor at United Mennonite Church in Black Creek (on Vancovuer Island). And, we installed Tim Froese as associate pastor at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver. So there you have it.

Heading Back to Saskatoon

2010-11-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

The Mennonite Church Canada Fall Leadership Assembly was in Saskatoon this year (November 10-12, 2010). I go there because as Executive Minister in MCBC, that makes me an Area Church Minister in one of the five regions of Mennonite Church Canada.

Of course, this also gives opportunity to see the parents. I took an extra day and drove to Rosthern to spend a day ahead of the business meetings with my parents. I was able to help Dad get his minivan ready for selling - cleaning it out and doing a few other things. You see, Dad is almost 93, and he decided to let the insurance expire on his vehicle in October. He did take it for one last drive the day before expiration. Mom and Dad are doing fine - both at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home, with Mom in nursing care, and Dad in assisted living.

I stayed with Diane's parents for the days of the assembly in Saskatoon. It was really good catching up.

It is always good to be about the business of the church - both the challenging and frustrating stuff, as well as the inspiring stuff. This assembly is the body that discerns what the most important conversations on theology and church life are these days, and then figures out the time and place for the larger church to engage these. The theme that has caught our attention is, "Delighting in the Word of God" (both the Written Word and the Living Word). As we delight, we then also discern - what the Word is saying to us in our day. We were deciding what topics would be good to spend some time on in discernment at our annual MC Canada Assemblies. Last year the topic of discernment was "peace". We are still figuring out what we will do in 2011 and 2012, but it will probably be in the area of human sexuality. It's because there are so many sexual distractions right at our fingertips, that they are destroying our society.

These meetings have the strange rhythm of always being over Remembrance Day. So, on Wednesday I was caught in a nasty traffic jam on my way to the meetings, then on Thursday there was nothing. I commented to my passenger, and he said, "It's a holiday." Oh yeah, we have our meetings on a holiday. Anyway, we made the most of it. The local churches have a "Remembering for Peace" service at the Rotary Peace Park along the South Saskatchewan River. We surround the Peace Plaza Monument, which had a flame burning at the top, and had a beautiful service of prayer, remembering and committing ourselves to work for peace.

Since I had a block of extra time after my last session and before the flight home, I headed down the the Rider Store in the Centre at Circle and 8th. It's a new store for this year. I stood in the middle and wanted to phone somebody (but everyone was at work). It was like being a kid in the mall at Christmas.

IMPaCT

2010-11-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together happened between September 23rd and October 7th, 2010. Four pastors from the Fraser Valley were paired with four pastors from Asia for two weeks. While IMPaCT seriously took two whole weeks out of my life, they were two great weeks! The impact was primarily intended for the participating pastors, but many others of us were seriously impacted for life. The four local churches were also deeply touched by the presence of these celebrities in their midst. It was a lot of work for me (also Janette at the office and a number of others), but the rewards were all worth it.

If you want to see all the pictures, copy this link and paste it into your browser:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/117168908545129289254/IMPaCT2010#

Building a Core Group to Revitalise a Church

2010-09-07T16:57:00.001-07:00

Here's an idea that came up at our most recent MCBC Evangelism and Church Development Committee meeting. When there is a congregation that has lost its growth edge or is aging, and is in need of revitalisation, build a core group that is energised to both belong to the existing congregation and to take that congregation into a revitalised future.

Is this a new concept? We thought that it might be. There are a few existing concepts of revitalisation. (1) A congregation could bring in a younger pastor to bring the new growth. (2) The denomination can shut down the plateaued or aging congregation and then after a brief period of time, start a new congregation at the same location; the former members would be invited to come, but clearly this will be different. (3) A church planter could be brought in to start a completely new congregation, using the existing congregation's building as their location.

So, starting a new core group to revitalise an existing congregation involves a few serious commitments. A key understanding is that the congregation wants to be revitalised and that renewing a congregation to be a multi-generational church once again is worth it. Here are some considerations. People would have to relocate into the neighbourhood - buying or renting homes, moving from elsewhere in the city, or from an entirely different city. There would be a commitment to walk with people who have gotten tired (leaning heavy on their love and prayer support) while also walking into the neighbourhood and loving a whole new group of people. The commitment is radical...but so is the Good News!

I would love your engagement in this discussion. Throw out some more radical thoughts. Wet blankets are welcome too. If the idea is a God-thing, there is no wet blanket that can smother it!

What's Up This Fall?

2010-09-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

What is happening this fall in the world of Mennonite Church BC?

A big project happening from September 23rd to October 7th is IMPaCT (International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together). IMPaCT is an initiative of Mennonite Church Canada that is co-sponsored by one of its area churches (by Mennonite Church BC in 2010). We are planning to bring together 10 pastors from several countries in Asia in order that they might grapple with issues of being the church in the world today. Guest pastors will be paired with MCBC pastors from the Fraser Valley. By being hosted in the host pastor’s home, friendships will be forged, support and encouragement will be offered, challenges will be shared and extended, bread will be broken, and all will come to see Jesus more clearly through the eyes of the other.

The core group of pastors will spend two weekends involved in a local congregation, a week studying and reflecting together on the theme of "the church as a prophetic voice in our world today", and several days interacting with the broader constituency and a variety of leadership persons.

Please pray for IMPaCT 2010. We are planning a public event at the Level Ground Mennonite Church in Abbotsford on the evening of October 3rd. Come and be energised by this experience.

Dovetailing with IMPaCT will be our annual Pastor/Spouse Retreat at Camp Squeah. The last 3 days of the IMPaCT event will be at the retreat. This will give a broader opportunity for building relationships and learning about God's activity in the world, extending to all our MCBC pastors and their spouses.

OTHERWISE, at MCBC we are just doing what we do. We only exist for the congregations and their leadership. If we are able to help our congregations and our pastors to be stronger and healthier, then we have a reason to exist. That's what it's all about. So this summer, MCBC has been helping congregations find new pastors. This fall we will celebrate 70 years of ministry with Cedar Valley Mennonite Church in Mission. We will also get the monthly pastors gatherings going again. In the 3rd week of each month, don't try to book a lunch meeting with me, because I'll be hanging out with pastors - Tuesday in Vancouver, Wednesday in the Fraser Valley, and Thursday with the Youth Pastors. It's all about building a community experience where we can belong and be open with each other.

This fall the MCBC Leadership Board is taking a good look at our priorities and deciding to what we should be giving our greatest attention. This will carry into a Leadership Board Retreat in January and to our annual meeting in February. This also gives opportunity for Janette and me (the 2 MCBC staff) to sharpen our focus as to what are the things that should receive our highest priority.

We have our fingers in a lot more stuff, but I'll encourage you read the greater story in our September edition of the News 'n Notes.

Mennos Ride Again

2010-08-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Third Annual Mennonite Church BC Motorcycle Ride took place last weekend. It was a long time putting it together. Commitments came early, but then lots of coming and going took place in the last week, even the last day. We planned it as a 2 day ride, in the end we had 12 bikes with 3 going double, so 15 riders (12 men and 3 women). Then, we had a group of 5 bikes from South Abbotsford MB Church decide to start at 6 am on Sunday and make it all the way around in one day. They met us in Lytton, and from there we were 17 bikes and 20 riders. Hence the impressive photo at the viewpoint on the Summit of Jackass Mountain in the middle of the Fraser Canyon. Our route was the Duffey Lake Road (heading up through Squamish to Whistler, Pemberton and staying the night in Lillooet; then to Cache Creek and down through the Fraser Canyon, back to the Lower Mainland and home).

Pray for Wendell Martens. He was committed to come, but 2 days before the ride he had a motorcycle accident and is pretty banged up.

To see more photos, go to picasaweb.google.com/117168908545129289254, click on the first photo, then all the rest of the photos will appear. Double click on any photo and you can scroll through them manually, clicking on the arrow buttons above the photos, OR, click on the first photo, then click on Slideshow, and watch. The album is growing as more riders add their photos.

Kids Getting Married

2010-08-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

What, we have had 2 days of rain this summer, yeah, that's right - last weekend ... the weekend of our son Mark's wedding. Look at the weather today and the forecast for this weekend - clear, sunny and hot.

You know what, since we prayed long and hard for a beautiful weekend for the wedding, we have to look at where the real beauty was. It was a marvellous wedding, beautiful in absolutely every way (except for the weather)! Even the gift opening on Sunday afternoon was a wonderful time (except for the weather) of at least 35 people over at our townhouse. Actually, the weather dried up Sunday afternoon, winding down the only 2 days of rain all summer.

Yes, Mark and Lisa's wedding was a wonderful time. A lot of work went into preparing for it, and the preparations were all worth it. I had the special privilege of actually marrying them. Their pastor, Adam Wiggins (from Pacific Church in Yaletown), did the message. He had some great words for Mark and Lisa - and for all of us in attendance.

I'll put up a few photos, but we left most of the picture taking to the professsionals - to be seen later. You'll see that we hosted the guys as they got ready.

Mark's on the right.

Jonathan is on the left.

I love the 1967 Camaro SS - owned by a friend of the bestman.

The head table

Mark & Lisa with Grandpa & Grandma Falk. The cake topper was from their wedding, 57 years ago.

Thinking about our Young Adults

2010-08-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

What is it that today's young adults are needing in a church experience? My biggest concern is that while young adults are looking for the right fit, they may lose connection. I'm thinking about early 20's people who have grown up in our churches - churches that have tried to be the church for all generations. I would like to start a conversation. This conversation is not to be about reaching unchurched and unbelieving young adults, but about being a church that feels like home for the adult children of those who are often giving leadership in these churches. Even new church plants that are filled with young couples in their late 20's and early 30's are not the community that the early 20's are finding to be the right fit.

One of the things I am learning is the importance of quality - especially in the music, but also in the whole experience of the worship event. Secondly ... authenticity. I would say that there is an interesting line between these two. Authenticity can be understood by some as going with the people that we have, and if they try to do their best, then everyone will appreciate the experience. Well, for many of these people, this is just not going to cut it. I would say that "trying to do our best" and "striving for excellence" are not the same. I think authenticity has to do with being yourself and not being pretentious, but also not being lame - in other words, striving for excellence. I invite responses to this definition.

Trying to do our best may end up very much short of our best, because not enough time has been put into planning, preparation and practice. When it comes time to lead, the response may be, "Oh well, it's good enough." As soon as someone begins to call for excellence, there may well be a push back of resistance. I remember a person in a worship team a number of years ago saying that our calling is to give our absolute best for God, and to prepare ourselves so as to be able to do that. This mindset did receive some resistance and criticism for trying to be too professional.

Striving for excellence includes a commitment to work well in advance so as to give ample time to plan well, and to practice long and hard. After leading, the group meets to discuss what could be done better next time. In striving for excellence, I am not suggesting hiring professional musicians; I still see this as working with the people you have. Although, having an associate pastor with a good portion of time given to working with worship, has its merit. Looking for and drawing people in with the right gifts is a constant commitment.

I invite any responses to my thoughts. It might be a good idea to set up a Facebook group discussion of things that are working; what do you think? I have just touched on this conversation. There are many angles to it. I invite them all.

My concern is that we be authentic, and that we know our people so that everyone feels they belong. But, my concern is also that once our young adults leave the home church in pursuit of a better fit, they may drift into an individualised "me and God" situation. Once you slip out of regular involvement in a particular church, the drive to be in Christian community every week can weaken pretty quickly.

Many, many years ago, Bono wrote the song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This song was a response to a challenge for one of U2's producers, Daniel Lanois. Lanois told Bono that he had not written a Gospel song. He reminded Bono that he had written many songs that spoke about God in various ways, but not one that expressed the Good News of the Gospel. This song was Bono's response to that invitation. When I first heard what was behind this song, I was cut to the heart. Bono was saying that, while he loves Jesus and is seeking to follow him, this world doesn't show enough evidence of God's people living out the Good News. There is way too much hatred, greed and injustice, and so he was saying that he is not satisfied with these conditions, and that he will long for and strive towards the inbreaking of the Good News into these situations.

Making Every Opportunity to Connect with Parents

2010-07-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Saskatchewan was built around the church anniversary celebration, but with the opportunity to spend some time with our parents, me made the most of our days. We got there a couple of days early and stay an extra day afterward.

We had intentions of taking my parents up the Anglin Lake - the place where we had a cabin for 18 years and a place of many summer memories on the lake. Dad had a bad cold and decided not to come, but Diane and I took my Mom for a whole day of going to familiar places.

This is the place where we always docked our boat. Also, just out a little ways, where the point is jutting into the picture on the left, was a great spot where we sometimes stop the boat to jig for pickerel (walleye); or, we might cast off the dock for jack (northern pike).

We bought Subway sandwiches in Prince Albert, brought them up to the lake and had a picnic at a table just in front of the Anglin Lake store, and over looking the water. These experiences brought back great memories - too bad the soft ice cream machine was not working.

The next day we took my Mom and Dad out for lunch to a lovely spot in Rosthern called the Station Arts Centre (build around the old train station). Dad didn't see anything on the menu he liked, so he ordered two different pieces of pie. At 92 years of age, we're not going to make a big deal about his sweet tooth!

Diane's Mom celebrated her 78th birthday while we were there - the 8 on the cake is made from her favourite licorice candy.

My Dad is feeling much better now, so we expect all of them come to Vancouver for Mark and Lisa's wedding on August 7th. Please pray for God's grace so that all of them may be able to come.

100 Years of Church

2010-07-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

On July 17th and 18th the Zoar Mennonite Church in Langham, Saskatchewan celebrated their 100th Anniversary. I pastored there from 1989 to 1998. There were lots of festivities all day Saturday, starting with a pancake breakfast and ending with a coffeehouse in the evening. We really didn't bring our camera out much until Sunday, but we spent the whole day hanging out with old friends and eating! The one thing that Diane did take a picture of was the horse-drawn wagon on which she took ride around town. It was probably as much fun being with friends on the wagon as seeing the town from this perspective.

On Sunday we packed the church. Having a choir made for a wonderful opportunity to fill every seat in the building. The choir and the worship was very good. I shared some stories from our years at the church for about 5 minutes, and others did the same.

Now, you need to understand that while I was pastor at Zoar, I challenged the congregation that if we ever reached 200 people on a regular Sunday morning worship service, I would eat my lunch on the roof of the church! Well, there was one time, back in the day, when we had a special celebration and filled the place with over 200 people, but I reminded them that the challenge was for a regular worship service. 12 years later there were some who still remembered this story, and they were not letting me get away with it this time. I don't know where Menno Zacharias got the ladder so quickly, but in no time he and a few others had rallied the support of the crowd, and I was up to the roof (I had finished my burger, but still had my desert in hand). Diane was not really paying attention, but when she heard the people laughing, she turned around and saw me on the roof of the church entrance, siting and eating my desert. How does the saying go, "With friends like these you don't need any enemies!"

Well, it didn't take long and the people wanted all the pastors up there who had served since my time. Abe Buhler bounded up like nobody's business - with his plate in hand. Soon to follow was Herman Wiebe. It was a great time. There was some talk among the people that an ambulance should be called to be on standby!

Since I have this feeling that one of these pictures will end up in the Canadian Mennonite, I thought I would give you the first viewing, and the true story.

There is so much to see

2010-07-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I rode my motorcycle to Calgary for the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly. My brother, Howard, came from Saskatchewan on his motorcycle and joined our closing session of the conference. He also joined me at my billet on Friday night. Then, right after breakfast on Saturday we hit the road to the mountains to ride for 3 days. Just past Banff, we turned off the Trans-Canada Highway and headed south to Radium Hot Springs. The weather was actually a little wanting - with cold and rain - causing us to fill up with a bowl of hot soup and a good cup of coffee at Radium. Everything started to improve after that.

We ended up in Creston the first night. After taking in a local Baptist worship service, and having lunch, we embarked on the most popular motorcycle-riders stretch of road in all of BC. In the Destination Highways book, it is No. 1. This is the road from Creston to the ferry crossing Kootenay Lake. It is #1 for the twistiness of the road and the beauty of the surroundings. It was great, although there are a number of other great roads that rival it. In fact, I would probably say that both the Sunshine Coast Highway, the Sea to Sky Highway, and the Duffey Lake Road all are contenders for #1. Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky both have the ocean views which just add a little more majesty than any of the inland waterways.

We stayed the night at a bed and breakfast called "On the Cliff". The name gives away the beauty of this location. Just a side note - if you're ever in this area, take in Ainsworth Hot Springs ... or make it your actual vacation destination. It is unique like no other hot spring in that you go right into the caves in the mountain to enjoy the water.

On our last day we headed west from Kaslo, and immediately were on another amazing road (okay Destination Highways does rate it a #5 - out of 85 roads rated in BC). To make a great story short, Howard and I wound our way to Revelstoke and parted ways there, each taking two days to head home - one to Saskatchewan and the other to Vancouver.

Back to work. But there is more to come. Two friends and I had prepared to do a two day ride through northern Washington State on July 23 & 24. Erich Krause knew the way, a friend of ours, Howard Obrand joined, then Erich added a third friend, Ted Neufeld to make a great foursome. They weather also was great. We went down the west coast to where state highway #20 heads east through the mountains. Some amazing beauty that I was seeing for the first time. The only problem was that I had to deal with these 3 Harley riders the whole way - they speak their own language! Once the heat started rising and the terrain turn to desert, we turned north and made our way to the Krause cabin at Oroville, WA. Erich had promised 2 things - a dip in the lake to cool down and a steak barbecue. He came through on both. It doesn't get much better than this.

Erich, Howard and Garry at the Janzen house at the outset of the ride (Ted joined us in South Surrey).

On Saturday we took the Canadian route back, through Princeton and Hope. But, we were not to end our time in the US without one more beautiful ride. The short run from Oroville to the Nighthawk border crossing is a desert road, but it winds alongside a river straddled by greenery, ending up at this quaint, one horse border crossing in the outback. It was great. Well, I'll leave it at that.

Calgary 2010 - Mennonite Church Canada Assembly

2010-07-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly was a great event. The Ambrose University College was a great facility, accommodating all of our needs well, from: the large group gatherings, to break out sessions, to workshops, to eating. Great food as well.

Thanks to Gerald Dyck Photography, I am going to post a few photos of MCBC people at the Assembly, and I will throw a brief caption under each one so that you may connect better.

The man behind the dark glasses is our fearless moderator, Dan Rempel. Yes, he was there - but in disguise.

It looks like Kristina Toews and Lee Dyck are recruiting an unsuspecting young delegate to be either an MCBC youth pastor or church planter, or on the other hand, the next youth leader for Mennonite World Conference. He looks interested.

Calm, cool and collected Lee Dyck has me all worked up about something.

Waltrude Gortzen is a very serious person, or maybe it's just that she really means business! Gotta love these action photos.

Gerald Neufeld studying the art and quilt display.

As we already noted at our MCBC Annual Meeting in April, this is a time of passing the baton for MC Canada. In April we knew that Jack Suderman was retiring; now we know that Willard Metzger will be taking the baton to the next leg of the race - as MC Canada General Secretary. As I mentioned in the most recent News 'n Notes edition, I am very convinced that Willard is the right person for the job. If you haven't read this edition, check it out at www.mcbc.ca. We are in good hands for the future.

Willard has a number of good reasons as to why it doesn't make sense for him to move to Winnipeg, so he will stay in Ontario and traverse the country from that base (being sure to stop in Winnipeg whenever he is going that direction). It's not different that our arrangements in MCBC with me being able to keep my home in Ladner, yet be fully available wherever I may be.

MC Canada has restructured as of this assembly, with Vic Thiessen becoming the new Chief Operations Officer, and Norm Dyck becoming the Executive Secretary of a new ministry called the Church Engagement Council. Vic will be the office manager, giving Willard a lot more freedom to be out in the constituency. The Church Engagement Council is just as the name suggests, therefore, we should anticipate more connection coming from MC Canada to our congregations. For more information on this year's assembly, and lots of photos, go to www.mennonitechurch.ca.

Leaders Village

2010-07-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

I have the privilege of meeting with church leaders in similar work to mine from across BC 3 times a year. Brian Derksen (not the song writer) from Willow Creek Canada pulls us together, and he is planning on doing a similar thing in locations across Canada. It has been a great experience of discovering what we have in common - in our responsibilities and in our struggles. The group includes Conference/Executive Ministers from: the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a number of Baptist groups, the Pentecostals, Christian Reformed, the Evangelical Free Church, my counterpart from the Mennonite Brethren, and me. We are calling it the District Leaders Village. Pretty much all we do is share what's happening in each of our worlds, pray for each other and eat.

Back before the Winter Olympics, I met with a similar group, but with many different people than this one. This gathering had the More Than Gold response to the Olympics as its focus. It also had a strong concern for what lay ahead in the Truth and Reconciliation process of dealing with the residential schools issues. This group included: a number of the same as above, the Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Salvation Army, and others. It would be good to pull all of these together in ways that make sense, and in due time.

It is a good start at being the church together.

There is Great Hope for the Church

2010-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, eh, there is so much going on, it's hard to find the time to sit down and write about it. On the weekend of May 28-30, Diane and I went to Vancouver Island and spent a couple of nights in Victoria. It all started with Diane finding out that Steve Bell was doing a concert in Victoria at Christ Church Cathedral. Well, when I went to Steve's website, I discovered that he was also providing music for a Brian McLaren seminar entitled "Evangelism and Transformation in a Secular Society." I have enjoyed some of McLaren's writings, especially The Secret Message of Jesus. So, I said to Diane, "Let's not just go for the concert, but for the weekend. You can relax at the hotel and enjoy downtown Victoria Friday evening and Saturday; I will take in the seminar during that time, and we'll both enjoy the concert Saturday evening." She liked the idea.

The concert was terrific - especially in that cavernous cathedral. I couldn't help but wonder how much it would cost to heat that place; I mean, to keep the people warm in the winter down at floor level when the heat would be rising to a ceiling that seemed half way to the sky.

Brian McLaren's seminar was also terrific. Some Christians feel that McLaren is going the wrong way. I like what David Csinos said in a recent edition of the Canadian Mennonite in an article called What to do with Postmodernism? - a response to McLaren's recent book A New Kind of Christianity. He says, "However, I think McLaren is on to something important. He realizes that the church must engage the cultures in which it finds itself." He also says, "This Christianity is not a new Christianity, but a revised version of Christianity we inherited and are refashioning in order to be faithful to the gospel and to Christ in the 21st century."

Here are a couple highlights from McLaren's seminar. He said that people are validated when they come into church to find out that our life out there has meaning. A central passage for the seminar was 1 Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." His emphasis from this verse is two-fold, that we should always be ready to talk about the hope that we have, and that we should always do it with gentleness and respect. This is our witness. He said to be honest, unedited, to stop the religious stuff and just be Christ-followers - that's what will convince people today of the Jesus way.

The last thing I'll say about the seminar is that McLaren encouraged us to look for the Third Track. This affirms that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world, preparing people long before we Christians show up. Then when we do show up and start to build friendships with people, they will speak into our lives and we will speak into theirs. Jesus is the Way, and his way will include all the work that God is doing - in the trained Christian and in the person we encounter out there. Both stories will inform the understandings of what God is doing, and as we align with this, a third way will form that is the Jesus way.

Much of what McLaren says has an Anabaptist ring to it. He also is quite free to recognize a strong appreciation for and influence from Anabaptist principles. Like I've been know to say, it's not that the Mennonite Church is going the emergent way, but that a lot of these postmodern theologians have become quite Anabaptist.

I have just finished reading Greg Boyd's book The Myth of the Christian Nation. Thanks to George Ediger from Kelowna First Mennonite Church for introducing me to this book. Boyd is thoroughly Anabaptist. His main point of reference is the state of the church in the United States. But, if we can see this as merely an illustration of a church that has succumbed to the temptation to embrace the powers of the kingdom of the world in order to hold power over others, we can easily apply the understandings in the book to the Canadian scene. The central theme of the book is that the Jesus way is to rather hold power under people, or to empower people, setting our needs aside for the sake of others.

Greg Boyd also does the Forward in the latest Stuart Murray book The Naked Anabaptist: the bare essentials of a radical faith. While the title is provocative, the essence of the book is powerful - that is, to strip away all the baggage that has often accompanied Mennonites, and rediscover the basic understandings of the Anabaptist way. This is my next book to read. Currently I am in the midst of Kingdom Culture: Growing the Missional Church, by Phil Wagler - a regular contributor in the Canadian Mennonite. I highly recommend Wagler's book as a tool for practical application of missional church principles.

I really see all these resources that I have recently encountered as signs of great hope for the church today.

Let's Ride Again

2010-05-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

Riding the Duffey Lake Road was the popular consensus of the folks on the 2009 ride on the Island. Just in case you forgot what we did or what you missed, there were 6 of us who rode to Gold River one day and then up Mount Washington the next. Our home base was the United Mennonite Church in Black Creek. Check it out on my last year's blog entries.

Last summer, on a ride back from up north, I scouted out the Duffey Lake route. I had two concerns. One was that there was major bridge construction between Lillooet and Pemberton. Two was that to do the circle route back to the Lower Mainland would be a very long day.

Here are some of my thoughts from last summer. Title: MCBC Motorcycle Ride 2010 notes taken during and after scouting out the Duffey Lake Road.
1. The ride from the junction of highways 97 & 99 to Whistler took me 3:15. This included 2 stops, one to take off my chaps & kidney belt because it was too hot, the other for gas.
2. There were some amazing stretches of perfect road with nice twisties - most of the way from highway 97 to Lillooet and then again, starting about 1/2 way between Lillooet and Pemberton, most of the way to Pemberton. There were some pretty bad stretches of road, including some big construction projects - this was on the first ½ of the way from Lillooet to Pemberton, and the last stretch before Pemberton. There were a number of single lane bridges, and in many places the speed limit was down to 60. The possibility of getting behind a slow-moving vehicle for a period of time is real, and there were no places where a group could pass. I think it would be a lot of fun, it sure was for me by myself. I don't know what the cut off between Lillooet and Lytton is like, although someone told me it is a very nice stretch of road. The road from Pemberton to Whistler was a nice highway, although the maximum speed limit was 80.
3. The ride from Whistler to Vancouver (I checked time at Taylor Way and Marine Dr. in West Vancouver) took 1 1/2 hours. The new Sea to Sky Highway is amazing - you just pray for the guys on the crotch rockets riding on the edge of their lives at three times the speed limit. The breath-taking views go unseen for these guys.
4. The ride from this spot in West Vancouver, home to Ladner took 3/4 hour.

So I tried to figure out in what condition all the construction is at this time. I ended up emailing the Pemberton Chamber of Commerce to ask. Here is the response on April 4th, 2010, "Hello Garry. Last year saw the completion of two bridges on the Duffey Lake Road, - the large one at the slide area before entering the canyon before Lillooet and another smaller one just prior to the large bridge. There also was about 20 kms of the road re-paved from Pemberton to the Lake ( Duffey Lake). This year there are plans to do some more paving as well. The road is in the best condition it has ever been and of course is a very popular motorcycle route. Hope this bit of info helps you. Regards, Shirley Henry, Pemberton Chamber of Commerce.
I think I have concern number one resolved.

The number two concern is still unresolved. I checked a blog on this ride, and here is a comment on the time of the whole route, "He started The Duffey Loop at 11:00am in Langley, riding up the Fraser Canyon to Cache Creek, then into the Marble Canyon, to Lillooet, Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish and Vancouver, returning to Langley at 10:15pm for a total of 703 kilometres."

I don't know if this guy was on a cruiser or a rocket, but it took him 11 hours and 15 minutes. That's a long day. I'm sure there must be a place to stay in Lillooet for night. I guess if we gave options, some could make it a one day trip and others a two day. If some of you may be coming from Black Creek, it would possibly be a two night event.

If anybody new is reading this who is not on my MCBC Motorcycle Riders email list, and would like to do the ride, leave a comment.

I am thinking we would go the weekend of August 14-15. Give me your thoughts.

If you are interested in more photos of my ride, go to http://www.jonjanzen.com/2010/05/pops-and-his-ride.html. If you are interest in the photographer (free ad for my son), go to the same address and leave a comment that you would like him to take photos of your ride, with your contact information.

SAVED BY AN ANGEL

2010-05-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I took in a moving talk by LEON LEYSON,the youngest survivor on “Schindler's List” entitled SAVED BY AN ANGEL. He shared his heart-wrenching story of life in the factory of Oscar Schindler. He was 13 at the time that he was taken into Schinldler's factory as his ticket of freedom from the death camp; he is now 80 years old.

At the centre of his talk was his continual reference to the "humanity" of Oscar Schindler. He spoke of the step-by-step dehumanisation of the Jewish people in his city of Krakow, Poland - from relegation to the back of public buses to Jewish ghettos in their own city, to concentration camps and death camps. Of all the German people (mostly Nazi soldiers) he met after the war began, Schindler was the only one who had life in his eyes - as opposed to the hollow emptiness he saw in all the others.

He spoke of his life's journey to freedom as being a series of fortunate events. In the question period, a woman of faith asked him if all this good luck that he spoke about was not the hand of God. He said that with all the pain and death around him and his family, and for all the other six million Jews that were exterminated, it was too presumptuous to suggest that God had this much favour on him over all these others. I too find it hard to presume that the series of fortunate events that has allowed us to live here in Canada is evidence of God's favour on us, while many believers around the world live in such tragic situations. Diane and I talked about this last night when I returned home, and we agreed that this is something we would like to ask God about in heaven.

There is so much that I could say about the talk. I will just conclude with Mr. Leyson's unhesitating answer to a young boy's question,"What has the world learned from the holocaust?" His answer, "Nothing."

MCBC's Big Day

2010-04-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, I want to reflect on our MCBC Annual Meeting, but I have to try to draw you in with an exciting title!

It's hard to get everything done in one day - but who wants two days of meetings?! I found that I was constantly adjusting times of items on the agenda throughout the day because some of the items ended up taking more time than we had imagined or allotted. I was very blessed that at the end of the day we came out about where we had planned to - time-wise.

I found that the one item that we short-changed was the time for discussion. This was one item that could be moved around, but that it basically got moved right off the page was very disappointing for me. We are professing to be a church with a congregational approach, and then for the voices of the people to be squeezed out, suggests that we are not practicing what we preach. I just want to register that this was not our intention. It just happened due to the unexpected lengthening of the day.

I have heard many good responses, a couple of concerns, and some good ideas to consider for the future. The good responses were to the telling of the stories of the host congregations and the exciting welcome of our new congregation - the Western Hmong Mennonite Church.

One concern I recall is that the finance report should be more connected to the missional activity of MCBC. I have already mentioned this to our finance committee and they can appreciate this value, and will work towards it. A second concern is with the number of people who leave half way through the day, and then even more filter out through the afternoon. This has always been a concern, and so we ask for your ideas for a response to this matter. Thirdly, there was concern about the number of people who could not come to LEAD because it is during the day on Friday.

Here are some good ideas for the future. Some have said that my concern about lack of time for discussion was not a problem; they believed that there was not much to be discussed this year. But, they said that if there were some significant items for discussion, it doesn't make sense to have people just line up at mikes in the large assembly. We should bring well-articulated discussion items to table groups for some real interaction (as we have done in the past.) Some I spoke with felt that LEAD and the Annual Meeting could be both done on Saturday. Some said that the Annual Meeting should only focus on future vision, and not on the reports of the last year of activity (these are to be read in the report book.)

Well I hope this has given you some stimulation for your own responses. This time I SERIOUSLY WANT YOU WHO READ THIS BLOG TO RESPOND with your thought of how to best do LEAD and the Annual Meeting.

Paddling for Squeah

2010-04-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I spent two gorgeous days on the Fraser River in a canoe, paddling from Hope all the way to Fort Langley. I checked Google Maps for the distance by following the road distance on the No. 7 highway, which pretty much runs parallel to the river. It was 100 kms.

Each year the Paddle-a-Thon raises funds that are put towards the Camp Squeah Summer Staff Bursary Fund. This fund was established to help our volunteer staff who return to college or university after the summer, to still be able to spend their summers at camp and have something to put towards the ever rising costs of tuition. (This description is a quote directly from the camp website.)

I wasn't taking pictures, but there were lots of pictures taken, so hopefully I'll be about to get those for you later.

The VERY COOL thing was that in the end, we found out that a total of $51,000 was raised - with only 1/2 the paddlers of last year - 18 in all.

I was in a 2-person canoe with my friend, Gerald Dyck. The journey has us on the water Saturday morning and afternoon with a lunch break on a sand bar along the way. Then we camp for night at a spot north of Chilliwack. There is an amazing support crew that brings all our camping stuff and cooks supper for us. We just have to pitch our tents and go to bed.

Well, actually, the camp's Program Director (Tim Larson) has a friend living only 5 minutes from our camp site, and Tim invited anyone who was interested in watching the 2nd game of the Vancouver/Los Angeles Stanley Cup series, to join him. Who would turn down an invitation like that? It was a bit strange to go watch the game on a big screen in someone's nice house in the midst of our wilderness trip. Too bad the Canucks lost.

I have had some experience canoing in lakes, but river water is very different. Thankfully I got to take the front seat. Day One has the challenging water. On Day Two it's pretty wide open river - and I mean "wide". The Fraser takes up a lot of space at some places. On Day One (between Hope and Chilliwack), we had 4 or 5 narrow places with eddies and whirl pools that we had to carefully navigate, and then power through the rough waters in between. The calm before the rough water was a bit unnerving, but the calm after was rather comforting and satisfying. Gerald and I managed all the tough spots. In fact, of the one big canoe, the two 2-person canoes, and the four kayaks, only one kayak overturned once!

Day Two brought us to a lovely soup and sandwich lunch at a park just west of the Mission bridge, and then a pizza supper to close at Fort Langley.

It was amazing to take in the beautiful surroundings of nature. You see the back side of the mountains that are to the north of the No. 1 highway through the Fraser Valley. On day two we stopped for a mid-afternoon break on a beach along the way. When we got out of the canoes and looked back - at the centre of the view, framed by the mountains that rise up on either side of the river, was the beautiful snow-capped Mount Baker. It would have been to our backs all the time, but we didn't know.

Having a Shower

2010-04-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is not exactly about having a shower, but about fitness. As I have mentioned, I have the privilege of playing drop in hockey 3 mornings a week all year round (for free), playing on a team in hockey season, and roller blading when hockey doesn't work out and the streets are dry.

There are several reasons why I chose not to move to Abbotsford when I accepted the calling to be the Executive Minister for Mennonite Church BC. The most prominent one was the reality that the life of my family was in the Vancouver area. This included the fact that all three of our children were still living at home, Diane had a job within walking distance of our home, and we had no interest in changing churches.

Another reason I wanted to stay in the Vancouver area was to keep one foot in this area. The MCBC congregations are fairly evenly distributed between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. I knew I would be putting one foot firmly into Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley, but I still wanted to keep the other one where the other 1/2 of our congregations are.

Lastly, and the least known reason that I wanted to stay in Ladner, is that I had a very good fitness option here of playing drop in and team hockey. The early morning drop in hockey is my greatest place of Christian witness. There are at least 30 guys that come out regularly. They come from all walks of life. Some are Christians, but most are not. We have a bbq every summer. A bunch of us went out for sushi around Christmas.

When going to hockey doesn't work out, roller blading is a great option. Ladner is probably the flattest place in the Lower Mainland, so I have found some routes of nice smooth pavement. I don't know how it is in Abbotsford or elsewhere where you might be, but in Ladner (part of the Fraser River delta as it flows into the ocean), when the wind is blowing, it seems to blow from three different directions. When I am roller blading and it is windy (like today), I go some of the distance in all four directions. I know when the wind is at my back, but I certainly also know when it is not.

All this said, I really try to not have a shower unless I have completed one of the excersie options!

Searching for Pastors

2010-04-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

A big part of my work life is helping congregations search well when they are needing a new pastor. Right now we have five searches going on and a couple of others who are considering it. Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack is looking for a associate pastor with primary responsibility towards the youth; Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver is looking for an associate with responsibility for youth and young adults (and possibility worship if the right person is found); Chinese Grace Mennonite Church in Vancouver looking for a youth/English pastor; United Mennonite Church, Black Creek (on Vancouver Island) is looking for a lead pastor; and Kelowna First Mennonite Church is also looking for a lead pastor.

The value of getting a good fit in a pastor/congregation relationship is immense, and sets the stage for a good journey together. This is why MCBC is giving a significant effort toward helping congregations search well. I have put a lot of miles on in meeting with search committees, and I am more than willing to continue to make this a number one priority.

If there is a transition happening that we don't know about, please let us know so that we can help you get at the best resources to do a good search and find a good fit.

Another part of a good journey together is having a Pastor Congregation Relations Committee. This should not be the church board or any other committee in the structures of congregational leadership. It is a neutral committee that is a liaison between the congregation and pastor. These committee members are available to hear the pastor's concerns, as well as the congregation's concerns. They are also there to make sure regular encouragement is passed on. They stand in the gap to help the relationship to be strong, open and healthy.

Please call me at any time. You can also get very helpful resources at the Mennonite Church Canada website, www.mennonitechurch.ca. Go to the Resource Centre and then type in a search for Ministry Transitions. There will be documents to download on all of these matters.

Rhythm

2010-04-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not known to have a lot of rhythm. This is why I kind of avoid dancing, and clapping for that matter. Do you know how much harder it is to clap on the off-beat than it is to clap on the beat? I can pretty much pull off clapping on the beat, and sometimes a song gets both on and off going, but when the clapping is on the off-beat, I am hopeless and I don't even start. So with dancing, I think I could put together a bit of a waltz, but being married to a woman who has good rhythm and who grew up dancing, it's a bit of a stretch to call my part in the activity dancing. With our daughter getting married one year ago (yesterday was their anniversary), I managed to avoid the dance floor. I'm not so sure if I will be so lucky with our son's wedding this August!

There's another kind of rhythm. It is the rhythm of our lives. To have a good rhythm, there are some important pieces that need their regular attention. The ones that I consider important include: prayer, listening to God, Scripture reading/study, family time, couple time, personal time, work time, rest, Sabbath rest, fitness and play. Did I miss anything? I find that when all of these receive their appropriate attention, my life has rhythm. I also find that the balance of these can easily get out of rhythm. The way I maintain peace of mind is to look at this rhythm from the perspective of the big picture. This way, when one or two of these components get out of whack, I can slowly and gently, and with God's help, ease the rhythm back to where it should be. If I would get uptight every time something went a little off, I wouldn't have much peace of mind.

Let me just give a brief example of the practical items that fit these categories. Generally Sunday noon to Monday noon is my Sabbath rest. I pick up on a couple of the important items during this time. Sunday afternoon and evening are often a combination of personal, couple or family time. Monday morning includes fitness (early morning hockey), then my devotional time (prayer, Scripture and listening to God).

I do have a rhythm of daily devotions, but sometimes these get squeezed out by other things. I consider my Sabbath on Monday mornings to be a very important time of getting the clock ticking right again.

For fitness, I have the blessing of early morning hockey 3 times a week all year round (absolutely free), plus a league team that I play on during the season. When this rhythm gets out of whack (like today), I try to fit in a good roller blade run around my town - Ladner.

Work - I probably do too much of that. But, I enjoy a flexible schedule, so my personal and work life gets a bit intertwined throughout the week, but I pay attention to finding the right balance of both in the grand rhythm of it all.

Play is playing hockey or watching it - as well as watching a host of other sports; also riding motorcycle. Diane and I still maintain a date a month which can include lots of options for things to do. Personal time includes reading and working around the house and yard, as well as trying to get away to Camp Squeah for a personal or couple retreat once a year.

I look forward to any of your thoughts.

Stories from our time in Africa

2010-02-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Recently, all the mission workers who have served in Africa with the African Independent Churches (AICs) were asked to submit stories of their experiences as contributions to a book being written on 50 years of Mennonites working with AICs. This is my contribution.

Upon arrival in Botswana in September of 1985, Diane, myself, our daughter and son (still in the womb) were whisked off to our village live-in to learn Setswana. After three months in the village of Mmadinare, we moved to the city of Francistown in order for Mark to be born. All the while, we didn't really have a job description, other than Bible Teaching with African Independent Churches. Jonathan Larson, a long-term mission worker in Botswana, invited us to consider youth ministry. A relatively new AIC movement was needing some help. This was Bopaganang Basha ba Semoya (The gathering of the youth of the Spirit). I said yes.

I was introduced to the youth leaders who were working together from a number of AIC groups. As I was in Francistown, I got to know these leaders the best, and they became my friends. I have learned that Bopaganang is still going strong and some of these leaders are still involved today. I am so encouraged that AIMM now has Melanie Quinn assigned to continue to come alongside this ministry - 25 years after we were doing it.

My closest colleague and best friend became Golwelwang Paul Mogomela of the Diphapo Christian Church with its headquarters in Letlhakane. His father was the bishop of the church, a position which Golwelwang later was granted. In fact, Golwelwang and his wife, Onkabetse, were granted the opportunity to visit us for a month in Canada some years after we had returned. On this visit, they became known as Paul and Betsy.

I could not find photos of Mogomela and myself working together in Botswana (things were probably no different back then than they are now, in that I usually think of the camera long after I have left home - just as we arrive on a scene that would make a great photo). The photo below from Botswana is of Archbishop Israel Motswaosele and his brother Joseph (the prophet) of the Spiritual Healing Church. These two were key connections in receiving the blessing to work with the youth of their congregations. The second photo is of Paul and Betsy, but it is in the Zoar Mennonite Church in Langham, SK - when they came to visit us in Canada. The two youthful Caucasian people featured in the photos are, you guessed right, Diane and me.

Paul and I travelled to many villages, generating interest among AIC youth groups to come together. We would arrive in a village and meet the church leaders, then they would take us around to other churches to meet their leaders. By the end of the day, or by the end of a couple of days, we would have a concert pulled together. As is commonly known, for AICs, the youth group is the choir. For youth to come together, they come as choirs and put together an impromptu concert as a friendly competition.

I have three particular memories of the Bopaganang ministry. I remember that we would often have Sunday afternoon meetings. We would always have a scheduled time, such as 2:00 pm. Mogomela (in case you didn't know, in Botswana we most commonly speak of people by their surname) and myself would dutifully be there at that time. After about a 1/2 hour or so, he would start to show disgust at the others not showing. Then as the afternoon progressed, he would continue to show occasional outbursts of frustration. By around 3:30 pm, the first person would arrive, then by 4:00 a few more, and by 4:30 or so, everyone was there and we had a meeting. After a few rounds of this process, I took up the courage to ask my friend why we scheduled the meeting at 2:00, yet it didn't get started until 4:30. Well, he said, the time is set for the foreigners, so it appears as though there is a prompt and early starting time. For the African brothers and sisters, they know there is a meeting that afternoon and they are committed to being there, but the starting time is irrelevant. That there will be a meeting; this is what matters. Suddenly I realised that all the disgust that my brother was showing for the tardiness of the other committee members was a show put on for me because it was thought that I was upset that nobody else was on time. Once this was established, I could also relax into the confidence that the meeting would happen, and that it didn't really matter what time it began.

My second memory is of the power of light. There was no electricity in the residential areas of the villages where the churches are. So, when we would get a concert together, it would already be after nightfall when it began. I remember coming into a church building that was a big square, basically empty, building. There would be a table and a chair at the one end (we needed this to run the concert). Then someone would light a single candle on the table, and as the light filled the room (and as my eyes adjusted), it was amazing how that one candle provided sufficient light. As the evening progressed, youth choirs would arrive from all over the village. The church would fill up with people, the leader would bring it to order, and the concert would begin. What a great time of fun and singing!!

My third memory is of a weekend where Mogomela and I went to Letlhakane (his home village). We did our routine of meeting people and pulling together a Saturday evening concert. But what I remember was the Sunday morning worship service. His home congregation was the Diphapo Church, but on Sunday we were asked to preach in the Spiritual Healing Church (and I do mean "we"). I was given the text to preach on, and he was my interpreter. The Holy Spirit was so powerfully there. The word that the Spirit gave to me just flowed out. Then the interpretation that Mogomela rendered was so dynamic and powerful. It was the most amazing time of ministering in the Spirit. And then there was the singing. The women were dancing and singing their hearts out at the front, and I could see the joy of the Lord in their eyes. It is my greatest memory of our three years of ministry with Bopaganang. What a blessing!

In the joy of our Living and Loving Lord,
Garry and Diane Janzen, Botswana, 1985-88.

A Peek into the Past

2010-02-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

Where were you on the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison?

My daughter, Jill, has been reading a book about the story of Nelson Mandela. After she the read the stories from Botswana posted in another blog entry, she commented on how much fun it must have been recalling memories of ministry from 25 years ago, and then asked me if our time in Southern Africa had any connection to the story of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela. What follows is my response to her. She was 2 years old when we went to Botswana.

Hi Jill,
Yeah, it was fun calling up those stories again.

Yes, you did say something about reading the story of Nelson Mandela. The reality of it was that he was still in prison when we were there and Apartheid was in full swing. Because MCC workers had advocated for black people in legal matters, Mennonite workers were not allowed a multiple entry visa to South Africa. (We were fine with that because we agreed with the actions of the MCC workers.) What this meant is that we could get a single entry visa, which meant that we could go into South Africa for, I believe, 48 hours, and then we had to leave.

Now, South Africa had created a number of Homelands. Each tribal group was given a homeland, so there was: Siskei, Transkei, Bophutatswana, Kwazulu, etc. South Africa considered each of these to be an independent country, although no place else in the world recognized them as independent countries - every other country in the world recognized them for what they were, i.e. provinces of South Africa. The purpose of these, as we understand it, was to divide and conquer. If the apartheid government could cause each tribal group to develop a national pride in themselves, then they had no unified voice to stand against apartheid.

So, we played by South Africa's rules. We could go to Johannesburg and stay at the Baptist Guesthouse for night. Then we could continue on the next day to any one of the homelands and we were then in another country. We had a lovely vacation in the Transkei one time. There was a beautiful resort on the Indian Ocean that we stayed at for a week. Then we could go back the same way. By the world's standards, we were in South Africa for more than a week, but not by South Africa's standards. The downside of the single entry visa is that we never got to see Capetown because we couldn't go that far in a day.

My greatest memory regarding Nelson Mandela was listening to the drama of his release - live. It was February 11th, 1990. We had come back from Botswana in August of 1988, so we (or I) were going around speaking in churches about our work there. I was still doing this a full 1½ years after returning to Canada. The Sunday that Nelson Mandela was released I was going to do a mission presentation and preach in a little country church at Superb, SK. It was a 2 or 3 hour drive from Langham, Saskatchewan, where I was pasturing at the Zoar Mennonite Church. CBC radio broadcast the whole event. I listened to the lead up to his release as I was driving out. I preached, we had lunch together, and then I continued to listen to the drama of his release on the drive back. I think it happened mid-afternoon Saskatchewan time. Wow, what a moving event to take in, even on the radio.

Love,
Dad

To be at the Olympic Torch Run - It's not about being patriotic.

2010-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

I am rather proud to be wearing my hockey jersey from the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series. It was the first time that the top Canadian players from the National Hockey League played the top team from Russia. For those of us who follow hockey, it may seem strange, because some of the top players in the NHL are Russian, but back then there was no such thing. In fact, there was quite a mystique in the Russian players coming out from behind the Iron Curtain, and then the Canadian team going to play behind that curtain. Anyway, at the end of a series filled with much drama, controversy and entertaining hockey, Canada won! I know exactly where I was to watch that final game - and it was in the middle of a school day at a Mennonite High School in my hometown in Saskatchewan. Yes...the whole country shut down to watch that game!

So, what does that make me? A patriot? No, it makes me a person who loves hockey at its best, and someone who loves to cheer for the home team.

By-the-way, the dog bearing his teeth in the background of the picture - he's unpatriotic! Or maybe he just doesn't like hockey...or maybe he doesn't like Paul Henderson (who scored the winning goal in that final game, and whose number 19 is on the back of my jersey).

Now about the Olympic Torch Run. For those of you who don't know, thousands of different people carried the Olympic Torch across Canada, with it arriving and lighting the Olympic Cauldron yesterday. It was carried through and celebrated in many towns and cities, and it came through our town of Ladner, BC on Tuesday of this past week. It was a big deal, although I don't actually know who the person is that was carrying it on the stretch of the journey that we saw. For Diane and me, it was just a one minute walk from our home.

Again, I experienced lots of emotion. Was that patriotism? I guess to say that I am happy to be a Canadian, would be true. Would I fight to defend my country or encourage someone else to do so - absolutely not. Why? There are two reasons why I wouldn't go to war for Canada. One is that violence isn't Jesus' way of accomplishing his intentions. Secondly, the results of violence are not an improvement. Violence brings on more violence and to bring an end to conflict by violence is domination, not peace. Domination never sits well with those who are being dominated, so again, it often provokes people to new, creative forms of violence.

So, for me to celebrate the torch run with my community and for me to wear the colours of Canada may be an encouragement to some of you and a disappointment to others. This is a reality of the complexities of life. But, I hope I have been able to give a window into my understandings of how this works for me. Blessings.

Preaching Hope

2010-02-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

Today I was at the office of a prominent Member of Parliament (MP) representing the people of Vancouver in the area where my church is. I was with my friend from Iran who is seeking to bring his wife and daughter to Canada after seven years of separation. Last night he had spoken with his wife on the phone, and she expressed hope that something good would come out of our visit, because today is the holy day in Iran (Friday is the Muslim day of worship, as Sunday is the Christian day of worship.) I don't understand how this all works among the faiths that believe in one God, but I do know that they pray for God's will to be done, and so do I. As we pray, our common hope is that this family may be reunited. I also know that my friend has a love for Jesus and appreciation of the church. Our hope today was that the MP would offer a letter to Canadian Immigration asking that this family might be reunited on compassionate grounds. As my friend's story was told, it became clear to the MP that more work needed to be done in order to convince the Canadian Immigration that my friend and his wife are married. A letter from an MP would not make a difference at this point. It is sobering to understand how serious the repercussions of an error in judgement more than seven years ago can be. This morning's hope may have been dashed, not by a dead end wall, but by disappointment and more work ahead. (Greater detail has been withheld simply because of the public nature of this medium.)

The girl praying in the photo above showing the place in which we find our hope. Our prayers to a living and loving God through his Son Jesus Christ are the way to the hope of the Good News that he proclaimed and lived out. We sometimes live with having been shamed by people in authority. Yet, in Jesus, our hope is found in the reality that we are in Christ, that we are in Christ's body, and the God is for us. We sometimes live with the guilt of our own sins. Our hope is also found in God's forgiveness of our sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus. May our prayers find their hope in the completed work of Jesus.

I am preaching on hope this year. So far, I have been leaning on Romans 5:1-11 as my text. As the year progresses, I'm sure that other texts will arise. I invite any of you who read this blog to tell your stories of hope and to share places where you have found hope.

Finding Hope

2009-12-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

Where do you find hope?

I have been weighed down with the burdens of the difficulties of change in some of our MCBC congregations. I have also been weighed down in my volunteer ministry with the despair of a man who is seeking to bring his wife and daughter to Canada, but has almost exhausted all of his options. He is a fairly new Canadian, and I know him from when I was pastor at Sherbrooke. In my personal life, there are ongoing relationship challenges with some of our fellow-owners in our townhouse community strata.

Where is the hope in the midst of this kind of heaviness? In my last blog entry I shared about some new signs of the church coming together as a more unified voice of witness these days. This gives me hope.

Awhile back Diane and I went to a story-telling concert with Adrian Plass (as the Christian humourist storyteller) and Glen Soderholm (as the musician). It was so peaceful and energising of an evening.

Last night Diane and I, our daughter Jill and her husband Andrew went to the Vancouver Symphony Christmas concert. It included an ensemble choir and an actor/story-teller interspersing the songs with dramatic readings from "A Christmas Carol". What a great evening again set aside all the troubles of the world and just take it in.

Then tonight, the Place of Refuge Society board hosted the MP for Vancouver South, Ujjal Dosanjh, at the Place of Refuge house. Mr. Dosanjh was given a tour of the house and then we sat down to tell him about social justice concerns in this area of Vancouver - matters to which we would like him to give influence. These included: affordable housing, affordable daycare for low income people, the increasing number of people begging on Fraser Street, and more. There were people who spoke that represented MCC-related ministries in all of these areas of concern. Mr. Dosanjh was very supportive of our concerns and simply said that we needed to raise our voice louder so that our voice gets all the way to Ottawa for the federal government to hear these concerns. This meeting was filled with people that have hope for a better community. I also was filled with hope. I guess it is people with hope who give me hope. It is being with people who give off positive energy coming from godly convictions that energises me and lifts me to a place of new hope after walking in places of despair. (Photo courtesy Patrick Tam/FlungingPictures.com - Thank you Patrick.)

May God bless you with this hopefulness too!

The Church Coming Together Across the Board

2009-12-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

Recently I heard this quote, "What the ecumenical movement was unable to do, the missional church is doing." Within the last six months I have been given opportunity to participate in three gatherings of British Columbia church leaders that have brought together an unprecedented mix of area church leadership.

On October 13th, district leaders from ten different evangelical denominations gathered in Surrey to build relationships and learn more about what it means to be missional. This group included the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Mennonite Brethren, Christian Reformed, four different types of Baptists, Evangelical Free, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and us. As Lee Dyck says in the ECDC report, Mennonites are very near to being the missional church that God has called us to be. For 10 years we have claimed our way of being as missional church and we have taken some major strides in this direction. Many other evangelical churches have only begun to realise that the church growth paradigm they have been working with is no longer useful in our multicultural world and with this generation of young adults, and that the missional church paradigm is worth considering.

On November 9th I attended a More Than Gold prayer meeting for the executive leaders of this effort (the coordinated Christian presence at the 2010 Olympic Games). Again, this was a cross-denominational gathering of church leaders seeking to respond to God's call.

Then yesterday (December 7th) I had the privilege of sharing lunch with a new, but not so new, group of church leaders - even more diverse than the first group. We were at least 15 church leaders called together because of our denominations' commitment to participate in More Than Gold, but more so, called together to just meet each other and let God lead us in the things that he might call us to do. Someone mentioned that if you added up the people that all of our church groups represented in BC, it would be at least a million. Wow! The interesting part is that six of those in this second group were also part of the first group called together on October 13th. I am working at helping coordinate this by simply making sure that the facilitators of both gatherings are talking to each other.

I believe that God is doing a new thing where the walls of division between churches are coming down. We are starting to find that our similarities are more important than our differences! Who knows what God's plans are, but let's be sure to engage the new thing that he is doing. In John 17 Jesus said the world will know who he is when his followers are unified.

Let me know what you think of all this.

U2 360 Tour Performance in Vancouver

2009-11-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, so this is a little late, but I wanted to tell you about our experience at the U2 concert on October 28th. Diane is not really a fan, but she came because I was going, and because she knows that they are the biggest band in the world right now, and have held this recognition for some time. She also knew about their over-the-top production that they were bringing. The massive claw that arched over the stage was overwhelming when you first entered the seating area of BC Place. The purpose of this stage effect was to ensure that, even in a football stadium with 60,000 people present, no one would have a bad seat. The screen that was suspended above the band gave everybody a 360 degree view of the concert, and the speakers gave a 360 sound. Take a look at my cell phone photo of the stage.

Yeah, I didn't think of bringing a real camera. I also was concerned about the appropriateness of taking photos at a concert, so I just took an empty stage, and no photos of the concert itself.

It was really loud! Since I know the words to many of the songs (or at least some of the words), I wanted to sing along, but unless I totally knew all the words, I couldn't pick up the words I didn't know because it was just too loud to understand them. I slept well the night after the concert, but my head didn't stop ringing until 8 o'clock the next morning! I guess it is expected at a rock concert. When I listen to their albums in the car or at home, I can adjust the volume to an understandable level, and that's how I learned to enjoy their stuff.

Volume aside, it was a great concert. The weaving together of themes of justice and songs that picked up these themes was very well done. Songs like Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and One were a real experience of God's presence, not to mention a rendition of Amazing Grace.

This was the last concert of the tour, and it seemed like they (the band) just didn't want it to end. They came back to the call of the audience three times.

I kind of wonder how long U2 is going to keep going and how long they will keep reinventing themselves.

A Night at a Very Special Opera

2009-11-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Diane and I attended a very powerful performance of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in English. Tonight it was at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church (Friday November 27th). There are still 5 performances left at various churches in Vancouver. Just go to www.operaappassionata.org - to learn about the opera, go to "Events;" to reserve tickets, go to "Tickets;" and to see when and where the next performances are, go to "Calendar."

I highly recommend it as a great event to help you enter this year's Christmas season. It presents some interesting new angles on how we might think about the Christmas story.

Do it! Don't delay. You will be blest.

Got It!

2009-11-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the help of the Administrator of the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO), I got the information about the Reformed/Mennonite reconciliation. It was found in an article in the August 2, 2004 issue of the Canadian Mennonite. An excerpt of the article is quoted below.

"On June 26, 2004, Christians from the Zwinglian Reformed tradition and the Anabaptist church confessed sin that had separated them 500 years ago and extended forgiveness to one other.

Some 400 people from four continents participated in the Anabaptist-Reformed Reconciliation Conference. The settings were the Grossmünster, the church where in 1525 Ulrich Zwingli preached against the Anabaptists, and the nearby Limmat River, where in 1527 Zurich authorities ordered the drowning of Felix Manz, one of the earliest Anabaptist leaders. About a dozen Canadians were present.

In an afternoon worship service, Larry Miller, executive secretary of Mennonite World Conference, preached from Zwingli’s pulpit. In his sermon, “The new city,” he said that the best in the Reformed vision of the church was like the Old Testament city, “open to all citizens without exception.” It lifts Jesus as lord of all and calls the church to shape society.

The Anabaptist vision, said Miller, was typical of the New Testament “city set on a hill,” a community of disciples following Jesus in daily life, separated from the world while witnessing to it. Persecution, however, drove Anabaptists into separatist communities.

“After lighting the lamp, we hid it under the bushel where it neither illuminates good works nor provokes offerings of glory to God,” said Miller. He commended the Reformed Church for taking steps “towards fuller communion with former adversaries.”

Confessions and responses from each group were among the conference’s most moving moments. Reudi Reich, president of the Reformed church in the Canton of Zurich, read a statement of regret for the persecution of the early Anabaptists.

In response, Ernest Geiser, president of the Council of Elders of the Swiss Mennonite Church, said: “Descendents of the formerly persecuted Anabaptists among you today no longer see themselves as victims…. We accept your confession with a spirit of forgiveness.”

In the evening, people gathered on the bank of the Limmat near the spot where Felix Manz was drowned. A rowboat slipped silently along the river and in a dramatic move, the rowers snatched the cover from a new plaque on the wall.

The English translation of the inscription reads: “Here in the middle of the Limmat River from a fishing platform, Felix Manz and five other Anabaptists were drowned between 1527 and 1532 during the Reformation. The last Anabaptist executed in Zurich was Hans Landis in 1614.”

At the dedication of the plaque, Reich again asked forgiveness for the persecution inflicted on Anabaptists nearly five centuries ago. Thomas Gyger, president of the Swiss Mennonite Conference, noted that city authorities and the church in the 16th century were trying to maintain public order in the face of what they considered a serious threat. He expressed gratitude for the memorial and the steps towards reconciliation."

Lutherans Seek Forgiveness

2009-11-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Back in July, in Paraguay, at Mennonite World Conference 2009, speakers from almost all of the major church groups around the world brought their greetings. While we all have our unique approach to being Christian, I was marvelling at this strong statement of commitment to work together. Then the Lutheran Church representative came up. One could have missed what he had to say if one was engaged in a side conversation with a new (or old) friend from a completely different place on our planet that just sat down in the chair next to you. Let me just give the quote about this historical event as taken directly from the Mennonite World Conference website.

"Asunción, Paraguay—A moving gesture of reconciliation and strong preaching marked Assembly 15’s first full day, on Wednesday, July 15.

Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), addressed the gathering with a “heavy heart,” he said, because of the “painful history” Lutherans and Mennonites share, especially the persecution – and execution – of Anabaptists in the 16th century.

“This history of condoning persecution," he said, "is a spiritual wound we [Lutherans] carry around in us." He further described the condemnations of Anabaptists, contained in the “anathemas” of the Augsburg Confession, as “the poison of a scorpion.” The Anabaptists did not strike back, he said; “we have it in us.”

“We were wrong, regrettably wrong,” he said. “Execution was not the only choice, even then.”

In recent years, Mennonites and Lutherans have been in dialogue about these matters, and Lutherans are seeking a “healthier” continuing dialogue now, said Noko, “as we address how we condemned you.” At their meeting in 2010, the LWF will be asked “to take action which will put us in a new position to the anathemas and express our deep repentance and regret.”

The assembled Mennonites reacted spontaneously to Noko’s words by standing and applauding.

MWC president Danisa Ndlovu also responded. “What we have heard will change our lives and perspectives,” he said.

“We are witnessing the breaking of walls,” he continued. “We are ready to receive the words we have heard.” The two men then embraced.

Ironically, these representatives of Anabaptists and Lutherans are both from Zimbabwe. Ishmael Noko's mother, in fact, was a Brethren in Christ woman who married a Lutheran. Said Larry Miller, MWC general secretary, "Divine providence has brought these [two men] together." End of quote.

Just to say a little more about the irony of who is carrying forward the reconciliation; these are two Zimbabweans, leading the healing process of disastrous times for European Christians. If the Mennonite Church had started in Africa, history may have taken an entirely different course, and this reconciliation may have never been necessary.

Well, this blog entry has been prompted by a praise item in the November 2009 edition of the Mennonite Church Canada Witness PrayerNet (to which you can subscribe - or may already). I quote, "We are grateful that God’s promises of reconciliation shine brightly in a damaged world! The Lutheran World Information (LWI) Council has unanimously adopted a statement asking forgiveness from Mennonites for a legacy of violent persecution. The statement expresses “deep regret and sorrow" for the past and asks forgiveness, “from God and from our Mennonite sisters and brothers.”

Praise the Lord for his hand of reconciliation! A similar process also took place with the Reformed Churches back in ... I'm still looking for when and where this happened, but it was only a few years ago.

More Than Gold - Prayer

2009-11-09T22:00:00.000-08:00

I just spent an evening praying for More Than Gold (MTG). This is the Christian presence at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. It was a call to prayer for the staff and executive committee of MTG. MTG is a very diverse expression of the Christian faith, and this was reflected in our prayer experience. The prayer time began with the standard cell group/Bible study type spontaneous prayers of praise and intercession. Then the leader urged us raise our hands (if we were good with that) and give up to God whatever came to our hearts and minds. Then she asked us to pray as the Koreans pray (she had recently been at a Korean gathering for MTR). This Korean style was not different than what I would consider Pentecostal/charismatic prayer where everybody prays out loud at once. We prayed like this for a bit, and when things started quieting down, one in the group said that people and churches of the more liturgical tradition will give their prayers to God, ending each prayer with something like, "We lift our prayer to you," and then the whole group saying, "Lord hear our prayer." We carried on in this style for some time. We ended with praying with and for the person next to us.

The diversity of prayer traditions reflected the diversity of the church traditions participating in MTR. Even more, it reflected the willingness of the people to participate in each other's preferred styles. This diversity of church tradition and prayer style also brings diversity of ministry. It is very cool that MTR is doing: chaplaincy (the more direct outreach and spiritual ministry), radical hospitality, and social justice initiatives. Go to the website www.morethangold.ca to discover everything there is to know about this initiative. This coming weekend there are 2 training events and an opportunity to serve. You will be surprised as to how these folks from so many different traditions are taking the love of Jesus as their motivation and working together as one - without focusing on differences, in fact, actually taking interest in each others' unique priorities that they bring.

Go for it. Go to the website and just keep clicking on stuff to go deeper into what it's all about and how you can participate.

Pastors Gatherings

2009-09-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of each month (well, about 9 months of the year anyway) are the pastors lunch gatherings. We have 2 groups that meet. The Vancouver area gathering is on the 3rd Tuesday of the month and the Fraser Valley gathering is on the 3rd Wednesday. Just to prove that it is true, the photos above were taken this past week. The informal shot of the Valley Pastors gives the profile of the backs of the heads of three amazing pastors. I was going to offer to take anyone out for lunch if you could identify these pastors, but the "posed" photo reveals their identity. The picture just above this writing is the Vancouver group.

These gatherings are mostly the lead pastors, so we also have a youth pastors monthly gathering besides these. I am truly thankful for the partnership we have in the work of God's Kingdom here in Mennonite Church BC.

The Crazy Busy Fall

2009-09-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Throughout my years of pastoring people have often mentioned that the summer slowdown must be nice in my work. I have usually said that the change of pace from scheduled events to planning and connecting with people less formally is nice, but I haven't really seen the kind of slowdown that is imagined. In fact, the language of catchup is probably more correct that slowdown. Summer does give space for a vacation break and that's great. The break is probably more real for the members and volunteers who are able to take a break from church by being away on weekends because their ministry responsibilities stop for the summer. Regarding the crazy busyness that doesn't really stop during the summer for pastors - we do it to ourselves because we love what we are doing.

Regarding the fall - this year it all came from every direction at once sometime in the middle of last week. There were meetings - and the related tasks that always come out of meetings, the need to make a quick trip to Kelowna to care for some church matters, the need to do some writing - for this blog, and out of that, some reflections for News 'n Notes, getting ready for this year's Pastor/Spouse Retreat, working out some computer glitches, and doing my volunteer responsibilities as the communications coordinator for the Place of Refuge board (the board for our recently opened drug and alcohol recovery house in Vancouver).

Of course, there is the need to juggle things to accommodate my fitness schedule (i.e. the fall hockey schedule). I can't always change the busyness of work, but I can keep my life healthy in the midst of it by giving appropriate attention to my fitness and diet.

It is interesting that we don't have any pastoral installations, licensings or ordinations this fall. I believe it is the Lord's timing to allow for these other priorities to receive their due.

So, your prayers are appreciated - for me, and for all our pastors in MCBC as we serve and lead in the work of the Kingdom.

Our son, Mark, has a job - and more

2009-09-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

Just before Mark moved to Saskatchewan to start a new job as sports writer for the Prince Albert Daily Herald, he and Lisa got engaged! They are planning their wedding for next August (2010). Yeah, it's a little tough to move 20 hours away when you are newly engaged - thank goodness for Skype! They can talk to each other every day on the internet, and see each other while they're doing it - for free! If we had only had Skype when we were in Africa more than 20 years ago. Actually, email would have been amazing - anything more than recording audio cassette tapes of our kids talking and sending them in the mail.

Mark started his work at the beginning of September. This is the job of his dreams, the thing that he spent four years studying for. Every article is a good read, and usually accompanied with a really good photograph - but then who am I to speak, I'm just his Dad. No, he really does good work. Hopefully his work will be noticed by the Vancouver media outlets. Actually a daily paper in a small city is great experience on many levels.

A New Start in Burns Lake

2009-09-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

On August 16th, we celebrated a new start for First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake. Actually, Helmut and Eve Isaak already started as interim pastors in the middle of January of this year, but it soon became evident that they were the right people to lead the congregation into the years that lie ahead. The mid-August installation service simply served as the affirmation of this calling. Helmut and Eve have settled well into the congregation and the community, and are very well received.

It has often been difficult to have a meaningful partnership with our congregations that are further away from the Lower Mainland, but I believe that we have forged a very good relationship in the last couple of years - even though it has been through adverse times. There has also been a strengthening of the partnership between First Mennonite Burns Lake and Church of the Way in Granisle. Church of the Way was a church plant of First Mennonite, a little over an hour up the road, years ago. The current leadership of both congregations have a particular interest in nurturing this relationship. This is very encouraging.

MCBC Motorcycle Ride 2009

2009-08-24T20:42:00.001-07:00

Our second annual Mennonite Church BC Motorcycle Ride took place on the weekend of August 8th and 9th. This year there were 6 bikes with 7 riders (compared with 20 bikes and 23 riders last year). We went to Vancouver Island, making it a 2 day trip. Our connection on the Island was the United Mennonite Church at Black Creek (1/2 way between Courtenay and Campbell River). There are a couple of riders among the people at the Black Creek Church, but it only worked out for one couple to be involved. Gary and Gloria Cashman were wonderful hosts for the weekend. We stayed overnight at their home on Saturday.

Our place of meeting, and official start of the ride was on Saturday at noon at the Black Creek Church. Our destination was Gold River. This road is a beautiful ride with lots of nice twists and turns that only a motorcyclist can really enjoy. The weather was nice, but a bit iffy. We got rained on kind of in the middle of the ride both on the way out and on the way back. I don't think anyone complained too much. It was a lot of fun. The photo above is at the end of the road. Beyond the community of Gold River, the road continues down to the dock where a whole new opportunity awaits those who want to get out on the water.

When we got back to the Cashman home, Gloria had dinner ready for us! We had a great evening of connecting stories.

On Sunday we joined the Black Creek Church for their morning worship service. It was a neat show of support for a congregation that often feels it is quite removed from the majority out in the Lower Mainland. Not only were the bikers there, but 2 youth groups from the Lower Mainland were there, partnering to help them run their Vacation Bible School program. I was the preacher.

After worship we were all treated to a bbq at the church. Because most of the riders wanted to catch a ferry back to the mainland at a decent hour, we decided on a bit of a storter afternoon ride. We went up Mount Washington (the Island's ski resort). Upon arrival at the top, we realised that this was the end destination of a major motorcycle rally. I'm sure there were at least 100 bikes up there. It was fun to look around and watch them take off. Of course, there was a Starbucks, so that was our mountian top stop. Sunday was a warmer, sunnier day.

The ride down the mountain is the most beautiful part, with the views of expansive land and sea. We parted ways at the bottom of the mountain - I stayed with the Cashmans for another night because I wanted to do some stuff on the Island on Monday; the rest of them headed back to Nanaimo to meet the ferry.

Half way through the ride, some were already asking what the plans are for next year. The main idea was to do the Duffey Lake road. This is from Vancouver to Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet, and down the Fraser Canyon. We'll see, once the day gets closer.

Mennonite World Conference - Paraguay 2009

2009-08-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

We had the most wonderful time for 2 1/2 weeks in Paraguay and Brazil. Our main purpose was to attend the Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15. Every day was a learning day. I would say that the greatest highlight of the assembly itself was just being together with 6000 Anabaptist/Mennonite people from around the world.

It was meeting friends from home and friends from other parts of the world that we had not seen for some time. It was the experience of not having English as the main language, but Spanish. We had to wear headphones in all the sessions in order to hear the translation into English. This helped us to understrand what is like for so many people who come to Canada and need help to understand anything. This brought to my mind an experience I had when I was pastor at the Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver. I remember sitting so many times in the context of our Refugee Food Bank and hearing people speaking Spanish but not understanding it. For these people it was a relief to be able to be with people of their language. But, in the real world on the street, all these people would have to learn "my" language to function in "my" country.

Being present to hear stories of the activities of the global Anabaptist church over the past 6 years was a real privilege. We also heard representatives of many of the world communions of other churches. I was blest to hear the representative of the World Lutheran Federation speak of their preparations to officially acknowledge that their persecution of the early Anabaptists in the 16th century was wrong. The theme "Come together in the way of Jesus Christ" was addressed from many angles each day with sermons and stories from around the world.

I was particularly blest when I learned from friends in the Chaco (in the community of Loma Plata), that they watched the live stream of the conference sessions on their TV each evening of the conference.

It was meeting new people for another part of the world and hearing their story, such as the choir from Zimbabwe. Here in the picture, they were singing on the outdoor stage in the Global Village area behind the main convention centre. While they were waiting for their turn on the stage, Diane struck up a most interesting conversation with one of the choir members (English is the international language spoken in Zimbabwe).

Later, back in Canada, I found out from a Dutch friend in the Black Creek Mennonite Church on Vancouver Island, that the women of the Dutch Mennonite Church raised money for the last number of years in order to sponsor the choir from Zimbabwe to go the the Mennonite World Conference. When I showed this picture in my sharing in her congregation a couple of weeks ago, she was so blest.

The assembly itself was held in this amazing new church building. I say "new" because it wasn't even finished. It is a building that seats 10,000 people. One year ago, the leaders of the congregation that will worship here said that the building will not be ready for the Mennonite Conference. The organisers said that it must be ready, because we have no other venue. The Mennonites in Paraguay provided up to 200 workers to help them complete the building. While it was fully usable for our purposes, when one looked up in the expansive front entrance, the drywall on the 2nd floor was only taped and had not yet been painted. Also, in talking with one of the worship team members, he said that the speakers were being mounted in the sancturay while they were practicing underneath on the stage. He said that the first full sound check for the system was also the sound check for the world conference - only the day before the assembly began. Praise the Lord - it was ready just on time!!

We're off to Paraguay

2009-07-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

On Friday, July 10th, Diane and I are off to the Mennonite World Conference gathering in Paraguay. For those of you who don't know, this happens about once every 6 years. It was last held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (2003), and previous to that in India (1997). The one previous to that is the only one Diane and I have ever attended - Winnipeg 1990.

We look forward to meeting many old and new friends; old friends from our connections across the Mennonite Church over the many years, and new friends as God gives opportunity to build relationships with some of the almost 6,000 people who will gather. I understand that there are 7 people going from my congregation alone (Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver), although some of these have roots in Paraguay and are also taking opportunity to "go home".

I don't know what opportunities I will have to get on the internet, but if I do, I hope to send some updates as we go along. We are part of a tour group. We start in Iguazzu Falls, Brazil, arriving on July 11th. We will take a bus from there to Asuncion, Paraguay, visiting Mennonite colonies along the way (Apparently these folks have developed amazing dairy operations, and supply a good portion of the milk for the whole country). The conference is from July 14th to 19th. After that we will go to Menno Colony and stay in the community of Loma Plata. There are several friends who are formerly from Sherbrooke Church who live there, and we already have plans to meet them. On July 22nd we return to Asuncion, and on the 23rd, Diane I go our separate ways from the tour group.

We are making a 3-day visit to Brazil. Our main interest is to go to Curitiba, where friends from Sherbrooke Church have roots. We have already hooked up with a sister of one of our friends who is a travel agent there. She has set up our travel itinerary, and the bonus is that we get to also stay with her family.

We arrive home in Vancouver on July 27th.

Talk to you from out there.

The Ride to Saskatoon

2009-07-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

I chose to do a kind of a ride of a lifetime for my travel to and from the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly in Saskatoon. I put just over 4,000 kms on my motorcycle on this 2-week trek. The reason the ride was special for me is that I was on roads that for-the-most-part I had been on before, only this time I would enjoy them from the open view of a motorcycle. It was amazing! The other special thing was seeing and staying with friends and family. Someone mentioned that it was something like the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys. I like that image. I took Highway No. 3 on the way to Saskatchewan. For my whole journey, I took the perspective that pictures could never do justice to the scenery around me - so I just rode and didn't take any pictures. I didn't count, but I'm sure I passed through at least four uniquely different mountain ranges. There were the mountains that start at Hope, then the desert-like mountains at Osoyoos. Once past Osoyoos, it doesn't take long to switch to a mountain that I have not really been able to describe - kind of a small and rugged type. They are not the majestic-rugged that the Rockies are. These are the mountains around Grand Forks.

Below you will see three pictures from my first night's stop. I stayed with friends that are formerly from Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver, now at Grand Forks - Tony & Jen Boschmann and their boys, Lukas and Jakob. You will see their house, their front yard and them.

After spending and evening and a morning with Tony and Jen, there was the next day. I rode through the Kootenays. The Kootenay Pass is apparently the highest pass in Canada. The air temperature was okay, but I was way above the snow line - there was snow on the ground amongst the trees as far down as I could see on the side of the road away from the mountain. I stopped for lunch in Cranbrook at Werner and Sue Froese's - retired pastors that I know both from BC and Saskatchewan. It took a picture, but it wasn't good, so I'm not putting it in here.

Travelling through Fernie and on to the Crowsnest Pass gave me a peek at the Rockies, but I didn't really get into them. The Crowsnest opens the way out of the mountains and to the prairies. The first things that stood out on the southern Alberta landscape were the hundreds of wind turbines. These are massive fans that generate electricity, placed on ridges to catch the maximum amount of prairie wind. This took me to Lethbridge for night. I actually stayed in a hotel - the only one on the journey.

Seeing the green fields of sprouting crops provided its unique beauty. I think the prairie beauty also had something to do with the fact that I was going home - that is, the place of my growing up and where my family is. I spent a week with Diane's parents in Saskatoon while attending the assembly. It was pretty cold the whole time, but then I didn't have far to ride each day. Nak Sun Kim, the pastor of the Sherbrooke Korean Mennonite Fellowship, stayed there with me.

After the assembly I went to Outlook, an hour south of Saskatoon, and stayed a night and a morning with my brother and his wife (Howard and Lori). The next day was rainy, but not real cold. Howard and I spent the day riding, ending up at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home - where our parents are now living.

I spent two nights with my Mom and Dad at Rosthern. They are really doing well, and it is so good to know that they are in good hands while we live 18 hours away. They posed with my bike all loaded again for the journey home.

When I hit the road, I went to Didsbury, Alberta to spend a night with Diane's brother and his family (Terry and Kim Falk). It was wonderful, including taking in their daughter Dynna's soccer game. The next day was my longest day, ending up at Clare & Bev Neufeld's in Kelowna (pastor of First Mennonite Church, and friend from Vancouver as well as Saskatchewan). On this ride is where I saw the Rockies in their fullest majesty!

Clare suggested I head for the Fraser Canyon for my trek home. So, I went through Merrit and on to Spence's Bridge. Just as I stopped at Spence's Bridge to look down at the Fraser River far below, it started to rain for pretty much the only time other than the one day in Saskatchewan. Low and behold, just ahead of me was a little restaurant that had a veranda for me to park my bike out of the rain while I had a bite to eat.

The end of my journey was at Camp Squeah where my congregation, Sherbrooke Mennonite Church was having their annual family camp. This is where I met Diane as she came by herself from home. It was a wonderful trip; it was wonderful to be together again. I officially ended back at home Sunday afternoon after the family camp.

I give thanks to God for safety and blessing.

Photos from Saskatoon 2009

2009-07-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with people at the displays

Putting on Clothes of Christlikeness - based on Colossians 3:12

People - Actually, friends. It's cool that when you go to these assemblies over the years many people become both acquaintances and friends - I know a number of these people in this random photo taken by an MC Canada photographer.

Rudy Baergen of the MC Canada Faith and Life Committee presenting the introduction to prepare us for the discernment time on biblical interpretation. The "Living Inside Out" theme banner is behind him.

Discerning what God is saying and doing amongst his people.

Mennonite Church Canada Assembly - Saskatoon 2009

2009-07-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

From my two lame photos of the building where the Assembly took place, you may be able to tell that I am a person who often forgets to get out the camera because I am busy connecting with friends and taking in the conference sessions.

Anyway, I would say it was a very good conference. I began by taking in a meeting of Conference Ministers and then taking in the Ministers' Conference. Actually, in Mennonite Church Canada language, conference ministers are now called Area Church Ministers. We met Wednesday afternoon (June 3rd) in the "Africa Room" at the MCC Saskatchewan offices. We spend more time catching up with each other and the stuff going on in our area churches across Canada (that is: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Eastern Canada), than we spend on business. Our MC Canada denominational minister, Karen Martens-Zimmerly, leads us - as does a great job. We also have Anna Rehan, Mennonite Church Canada Youth Minister, joining us as her place of connecting. The price Anna had to pay for joining was to serve all of us dinner at her, and her husband Ed's, beautiful home on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.

On Thursday was the Minsters' Conference - this is a special time for pastors and spouses to focus on a learning theme. Dan Epp-Tiessen spoke on "Nurturing a Vision for Engaged Congregations," based on 1 Corinthians 12. I particularly learned that it would be good to preach less about all the things we should be doing, and preach more of the good news of Jesus' love! I also had the privilege of discovering that our closing worship was to be led by Valerie Wiebe, a good friend from the congregation in Langham, SK where I used to serve.

The big event was the main assembly, and I would say that the highlight for me was the discernment that we had around tables on three topics: biblical interpretation, proclaiming peace in the public square, and being a healthy church. You can check out the details of these discussions and the assembly in general by checking out the Bridge City Bulletin and the photos at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/events/saskatoon2009/. Actually, I think I can snag a couple of photos from that website to give you some of my highlights. Check my next blog entry for this.

Also, check out a bit about my ride to the conference in another blog.

REACH - MCBC Joint Worship Service 2009

2009-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

I would say that REACH went really well. Sorry, no photos - the photos that were sent to me were, for some reason, not uploadable. We had approximately 375 people gather together. We had hoped for many more, but it was a sunny summer-like afternoon and many of our congregations already had a morning worship service. Some of the highlights were: 6 very interesting interviews with people involved in various ministries, lots of visuals dipicting ministry among our 31 congregations, good worship singing, a song that was sung in 9 different languages (representing almost all of the languages in which our MCBC congregations worship), and good food afterward.

The interviews included: Billy Chiew (ministry in downtown Vancouver at Vancouver Chinese Mennonite Church), Kristina Toews, youth worker at Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church in Abbotsford (also Mennonite Church Canada's representative at the Mennonite World Conference Youth Summit), Rob Tiessen (talking about missional opportunity at Camp Squeah), Lee Dyck (talking about her and her husband Gerald's observations as they have been on a mission of visiting many of the MCBC congregations in the Lower Mainland), Nhien Pham (speaking of the Vietnamese church plant in Abbotsford), and Paul Heinrichs (representing the Karen ministry at Living Hope Christian Fellowship).

We are looking for good ideas as to what we could do next year to build our unity. It has been suggested to have a sports day and picnic. What do you think?

The 2009 Ride

2009-05-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

It looks like the time of year to enjoy a good motorcycle ride is upon us again. Since last year's ride, I have been dreaming of taking a group of riders to Vancouver Island. We have one MCBC congregation on the Island, so what better connection than to work with them. Thankfully they also have a few riders in their midst. I have met with leadership in the church and with some of their riders, and the folks at the Black Creek United Mennonite Church are excited about being our host for this year's ride.

The details are not all finalised, but here's a sketch of what we might do. We are planning for the weekend of August 8-9. We would take the ferry across to Nanaimo early Saturday morning and ride to the church (approximately 2 hours north - between Courtenay and Campbell River). We would ride all day Saturday and folks from the Black Creek church would host us Saturday night.

We would join them for worship on Sunday. I am planning to preach, but we would welcome others from the crowd of riders to make a contribution to the worship. Sunday afternoon we would ride again, ending up at Nanaimo to take the ferry home.

What do you think? If you wanted to stretch it out a little more, you could go to the Island on Friday and find your own accommodations, joining the rest of the group on Saturday.

2009-05-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to coming together with brothers and sisters from across Mennnonite Church BC in worship, learning, fellowship and food. I hope you are all planning to come.

We will be led in our worship by Dan Loewen and the worship team from Level Ground Mennonite Church. We will hear interviews of a variety of people talking about missional activities that are happening through congregations across our church in BC. We will see photos and video of what God is doing in our midst.

You will meet people who care about the church and God's mission. Come and see what the Lord is doing!

Come and be part of it!

Mothers' Day doesn't get better than this!

2009-05-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

My Mom was able to fly out from Saskatchewan to be at Jill and Andrew's wedding. Remember that 15 months earlier, she had a massive brain aneurism. Due to immediate surgery, much prayer, and time, Mom started getting significantly more alert and self-sufficient last fall. It was in December that she first showed interest in coming to the wedding. My brother Howard and his wife Lori accompanied Mom on the trip out to BC, but he said that she really didn't need any assistance. What a miracle!

All along, my Dad was the healthy one. Yet, as the wedding day approached, he had this nagging cold that kept him down. In the end, he was unable to come. We always thought it would likely be the other way around.

What a great Mothers' Day gift - to have Mom back!

A Son-in-Law

2009-05-09T15:53:00.001-07:00

Our daughter Jill was married to Andrew Goertzen on April 4th, 2009. It was the most wonderful day. I was able to just be the dad for the day. Jill and Andrew's former youth pastor at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church, Rod Wiebe, did a marvellous job of working with Jill and Andrew in putting together the wedding ceremony. Rod also presented a very good word to them in the wedding message.

Diane and I couldn't be happier. Please pray for Jill and Andrew as they start their new life together.

The wedding took place at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver and the reception was at the Delta Town and Country Inn (near to our home). Jill and Andrew are living in an apartment in southeast Vancouver.

MCBC Annual Meeting - February 21, 2009

2009-05-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

OLD COAT-NEW CLOTH: FASHIONING THE FUTURE FOR MCBC

(I have to give credit to Amy Dueckman, our MCBC writer for the Canadian Mennonite, for much of this article. She gave me permission to use excerpts from her article in the MCBC News 'n Notes. In fact, you could just go to the Jan./Feb./March 2009 News 'n Notes on the MCBC website for the full version of her article - and photos.)

I would say that we had one of our best Mennonite Church BC annual meetings in a while. I would also say that a key reason for this is the new level of commitment and trust that our re-covenanting has given us. While we are a diverse body of congregations, and we wouldn't all want to live completely in each other's skin, we are in a place where we prepared to be the church together and get on with the mission to which God is calling us.

A feeling of unity and moving forward pervaded the MCBC annual meeting at Cedar Valley Mennonite Church on Feb. 21st. Delegates witnessed Level Ground Mennonite Church signing the MCBC covenant. This is the new congregation formed as a result of the coming together of the West Abbotsford Mennonite Church and Wellspring Christian Fellowship.

Delegates also witnesed the appointment of Rob Tiessen as Executive Director of Camp Squeah, after having served as Interim Executive Director for the past two years. Camp Squeah reported on the building project of two new buildings scheduled for completion later this spring. It was reported that $1.3 million has been raised with $600,000 left to be raised. Delegates were challenged to engage their congregations with energy to raise what is left.

The delegates came through with an amazing affirmation of what it means to be in a covenant relationship with each other. First Mennonite Church Burns Lake has gone through two rounds of difficulties that has caused the congregation significant loss of membership over the past years. They are now a small congregation, yet with a unity in purpose unseen for some time. The delegates committed to assist the congregation with up to $27,000 annually for 3 years (as needed) in order for them to have a fulltime pastor who will lead them back to good health.

Young Adults in Focus

2009-03-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

The MCBC LEAD Conference focused on learning about our young adults and their hopes for the future of the church. In the photo, Rob Brown and Chris Dirkson are leading the worship singing (pastors at Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack). The words of the song on the screen, "Jesus, all for Jesus" are rather fitting. Sometimes our young adults have been frustrated by the church, but they do love Jesus. We had a movie made with interviews of a number of young adults who are, or have been, a part of our churches. The primary things I heard from these young people about what they would like to see in the future of the church are: openness to new ideas and to people who are different than ourselves, love, respect and relationships. The LEAD Conference theme was "Old Coat, New Cloth," based on the Scripture, Matthew 9:16. These are days when the usable cloth of the old coats that have made up the church is becoming the new cloth that is being used to shape the church. The Word of God remains steady and unchanging. It has been said that this generation of young adults are the most culturally engaged ever. I think they also have amazing opportunities to shine the light of the gospel into the lives of their many pre-Christian friends. Many in my generation don't have a lot of close non-Christian friends, so I commend our young adults for the connections they have. Angelika Dawson told us about Columbia Bible College students working at the MCC warehouse in Abbotsford, redesigning old garments into new products that reflect their interests. Gareth Brandt taught using jazz as the image to represent this generation of Christians. The jazz image being one of improvization and one of a band working together to form new music as they go along. The form of the faith of these young adult Christians has this kind of improvization, yet is also deeply authentic and real.

More on the State of the Union

2009-02-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of the First Mennonite Church Burns Lake Covenant signing.

More Than Gold is is a unique opportunity for churches of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to work together in service and ministry. MCBC has signed up as a supporting denomination, but we have been unable to find a volunteer to coordinate our response. We are now asking the BC Mennonite Brethren Conference if we can partner with them under their leadership. Once we are organised, we will give opportunity for local congregations to register your support of Serving, Praying and Giving by saying YES to being involved. There are so many opportunities and you can customize the ministries you want to be involved in to suit your gifts and capacity. Stay tuned for more information as we receive it.

One more exciting thing. We are proceding with a potential church plant in the Cloverdale area. We are planning in partnership with Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Surrey.

State of the Union Address

2009-02-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

We are looking forward to a wonderful time of celebrating the work of God's kingdom among us as we gather on the afternoon of May 24th to worship, fellowship and eat together. I encourage your congregation to consider closing your regular worship service and making this the one to focus on. We are also asking each congregation to either share a few words, send a video, or photos, showing some missional activity that you are involved with. Let's make it a blessed time.

This is a sneak preview of the state of the union address that I will give at the Mennonite Church BC annual meeting on Saturday, February 21st. It's kind of like when someone's speech gets leaked to the media and snippits from it end up in the newspaper before it is given. I thought I would pre-empt all the reporters that are lurking at my office door and pre-disclose it myself.

Our theme for our leadership conference (LEAD) and for the annual sessions is "Old Coat New Cloth: Fashioning the Future for MCBC" from Matthew 9:16. May we be the new cloth that God wants to work with, especially new cloth that is fashioned from an old coat.

First Mennonite Church Burns Lake has signed the Covenant. Now they are seeking to know what covenant-living is really like. Because of some tough years in the last decade, this congregation has lost many members, but they are now a unified, smaller congregation seeking the partnership that a covenanted people should provide. May we come alongside of them in faithfulness.

Abbotsford Mennonite Fellowship has also signed the covenant. Let us find meaningful partnership with them too.

We are now 31 covenanted congregations. May it be a healthy union of congregations that are definitely not all alike, but hold together in a covenant relationship.

Karen Martens is the new Denominational Minister and Director of Leadership Development for Mennonite Church Canada. You will get to meet her this weekend at both the LEAD Conference and the annual meetings. She and her husband Terry co-pastored the Grace Mennonite Church in Regina, Saskatchewan for around 15 years. She began in this position in the fall of 2008.

We are going to be our Identity, Purpose and Vision statements as the statement of who we are. But out of who we are comes our commitments as to what we are going to do. Just go back to the MCBC Home Page and and click on Our Vision Statement to see all this (or come to the annual meeting on Saturday, February 21st!)

We are going to celebrate the beginning of Level Ground Mennonite Church, yet at the same time to give recognition to the good ministry of its predecesors - West Abbotsford Mennonite Church and Wellspring Christian Fellowship. I think we should commission someone to write a new history of Mennonite Church BC, especially since we are newly covenanted together. The update would be from 1990 until now.

Columbia Bible College is seeking the wisdom of the Mennonite Church BC and BC Mennonite Brethren churches (the two bodies that own the school) by drawing me and my MB counterpart into a Leadership Development Task Force with the president and academic dean. This is to help the school develop students whose competencies that align what the churches are looking for. I think we are in a great place of strengthening the role of CBC as our school for our students, whether we are training up lay people in our church ministries or people for staff positions.

An interesting conversation that we are having with CBC is regarding bursaries. There is a sense among the MB leaders that the subsidy given by the conference should be developed into bursaries for students rather than general giving to the school's budget. As MCBC leaders, we are okay with continuing to give to the general budget, but think it might be a good idea for the congregations to develop their own bursaries to give to their students. Now, one radical step further would be for MCBC congregations with a bursary who don't have students in a certain year, to make their bursary available for students from other congregations that may not have sufficient bursary funds. I think this would be a great expression of covenanting together.

Please pray for Mennonite Japanese Christian Fellowship in Surrey and their pastor, Gerald Neufeld. Any time I have worshiped there, I have truly experienced blessed worship, but they struggle to keep up their support for their pastor. Pray for God's wisdom and creativity.

A Sip of Scripture

2009-01-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a little ad for any of you who are still wondering what you might do for your devotions this year. If you got this far into the MCBC website, then you will have passed by a tab on the homepage called Links. If you click on Links there's lots of good stuff, but go right to the bottom and you will find A Sip of Scripture. This is a daily Scripture reading. This year the Sip of Scripture is going through the book pictured above. If you are not familiar with this book, it is a collection of the primary Scripture texts that the early Anabaptists leaned on most heavily. You can buy the book from Pandora Press. But, you can also be challenged and blessed by going to the MCBC website every day and making this your daily Scripture reading. If you go to the source of this webpage, you will be at Thirdway Cafe. At Thirdway there is lots of good stuff about Anabaptists, but at Thirdway you can also get this daily devotional sent to your email address and have it pop up for you every morning! You can even go back to January 1st and get the full-meal-deal from the beginning of the book.

And, a bonus - this is not just a Scripture reading, but a devotional. When you scroll down you will find a daily blog called A Simple Desire. Every day one of a number of people will write a reflection on the Scripture passage.

One surprise - the early Anabaptists included the Apocrypha in their Scriptures, so you will find the occasional text that is not from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that we carry. Blessings.

New Year's Day

2009-01-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

The U2 song New Year's Day has been one of my favourites. It probably has been a real frustration for those who want to start afresh and make all kinds of resolutions to live a better life. Here are the words of the first verse and the chorus,

"All is quiet on New Year's Day.

A world in white gets underway.

I want to be with you, be with you night and day.

Nothing changes on New Year's Day.

On New Year's Day.

and then the chorus

I... will be with you again."

This song has always struck me as encouraging. Bono often intertwines the story of his relation with his wife, with God and the world. It is heartening to know that we will spend another year together - through the good and the bad, the celebrations and the frustrations. To celebrate that the first day of the new year is not miraculously different that the last day of the year before is encouraging. God is with us and we will find him when we seek him.

May 2009 be filled with the hope of the God who was, and is, and is to come.

Life in the Fast Lane

2009-01-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

There have been a few people who have suggested that breaking my leg just before Christmas might be just what I needed to cause me to stop working and be with my family at Christmas. Some have suggested that it may have even been God's intervention. I do not disagree. I did cancel one speaking engagement due to my injury. I also missed the celebration at Camp Squeah of Dan Friesen's 20 years of service there. Certainly, being unable to drive a car kept me at home much more. I did slow down. While it has caused me to reorganise my schedule to travel less and work more from my home, it has also been very frustrating. But, it has caused much reflection on what life is like for those who do not have full mobility and for those who must rely on the assistance of others for some very basic activities. Trying to bring down the swelling in the lower leg and ankle has resulted in the possibility photos like the one above.

I have deeply appreciated the assistance offered by my family and so many others. I have also appreciated the privilege of being able to laugh at myself as others laugh at me. I am thankful that my travel schedule took a break at this time. I am thankful for every time that God speaks to me about having too much on my plate. This has probably been the most obvious one. But there have been others, such as physical signs of stress. The one I like the most is when someone cancels an assignment to which I have said yes, and I have known all along that I should not have taken it on. If I have ever felt freed up, it has been when one of these happens.

I would welcome any of your stories about what God has done in your lives to help you to slow down or to show you a better pathway.

Blessings.

A White Vancouver Christmas

2008-12-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, so we live in Ladner, but I just thought I would show you a photo of our picnic table on Boxing Day 2008. It is apparently the most snow that Metro Vancouver has ever had at Christmas! The snow is changing to rain, so please pray that our neighbourhoods would be spared serious flooding.

It's Broken

2008-12-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

I broke my leg playing hockey on Monday, December 15th. That sounds pretty bad. The fibula is the thinner bone in the lower leg. It broke a couple of inches above the angle. It didn't go out of place, so I just have one of these big plastic boots to walk around in. My doctor said that the boot is not needed to hold it in place, but to protect it and allow me to get around without hurting myself. I told my doctor that "God is good," because God gives us pain. I'm telling you, if I accidentally put any weight on it (such as when a crutch slips on the smooth, polished floor in a mall - not because the floor has water on it, but because the crutch is still a little wet on the bottom from trudging through the snow outside), the shock of pain I get is an instant message of protection! It's too bad its the right leg, because that keeps me from driving. Yeah, I could use my left foot, but in our car, I can't get my right leg out of the way to do that.

On the second day of my injury, I was walking the short distance from our townhouse to my doctor's office, which is in the mall just across the street. I stopped six times to rest and catch my breath. I was amazed that, not only at every stop, but as I was walking, almost everybody had a well-meaning comment. I was just thinking, "Why?" Why does everybody feel the impluse to talk with an able-bodied person who is temporarily disabled? I wonder if people do that with a person who is obviously permanently disabled? I wonder if it is because when a person is injured, yet otherwise healthy, that they are less intimidating? This person is now no competition, even though normally they would be. I don't know. It is nice getting all the friendly, sympathetic conversation from people.

A few people have suggested that the broken leg might be a gift from God to slow me down a bit during the Christmas season. I agree. In my efforts at trying to worship with every congregation in Mennonite Church BC in my first year on the job, I ended up taking on preaching assignments on 3 of 4 Sundays in December. The injury has caused me to cancel preaching at Vancouver Chinese Mennonite Church on December 28th. This has actually been just the right break to let me settle into the celebration of the season!

One commitment I did keep was to preach at Sherbrooke Mennonite Church this past Sunday, December 21st. Along with preaching, I also had opportunity to do my last set of baptisms before Sherbrooke's new senior pastor starts on January 1st. The couple that I baptised were attending Sherbrooke most of the years I was pastoring there, and committed their lives to following Jesus during this time. They just arrived at the decision to go public with their faith in baptism during this past year.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Garry and Diane Janzen

Pastor/Spouse Retreat

2008-12-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have put something up on my blog. Thank you, to all of you who stop by to check every once in awhile, for your patience.

We had a wonderful Mennonite Church BC Pastor/Spouse Retreat on October 6th to 8th. We were at the Cedar Springs Christian Retreat just across the border from Abbotsford into Washington State. It is beautifully snuggled into the base of a small mountain. Take a look at the centre from the viewpoint on the mountain.

We had two special features this year. One was that the speakers were our own brothers - two pastors from our MCBC congregations. They spoke about important practices in their spiritual lives. Tim Kuepfer, pastor at Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, encouraged us to use The Daily Office for our devotional life - we practiced it in his sessions. He also talked about his (together with his wife Sandra and their boys) discipline of Scripture memory. Rob Brown, pastor at Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack was the other speaker. He spoke on the importance of spiritual disciplines and some of his recent experiences.

The second thing that was special about this year's Pastor/Spouse Retreat was having our Pastoral Care Reps with us. In the new structure of MCBC, the Executive Minister (that's me) gives attention to all the ministries of the conference. This includes: the Faith and Life Committee, Evangelism and Church Development, Finances, Church Health and Camp Squeah. Notice that I said "gives attention." This means that every one of these ministries has its own leadership and a chairperson that sits on the MCBC Leadership Board, yet I attend most of their meetings in order to seek to hold it all together. So, given this larger mandate, the Executive Minister can't be a pastor to the pastors as the former Conference Minister was. The Conference Minister served, in essence, as a staff person for the Church Health committee. Since I give attention to the whole, we need help in caring for the pastors - this is where the Pastoral Care Reps (PCRs) come in. They are respected people in our conference who can take up no more than six of our pastors and care for them. They are responsible to the Executive Minister. Anyway, there were some good relationship building times for the PCRs and the pastors to whom they relate.

This is probably the last time we will cross the border for this event. Hopefully the new retreat facilities will be ready by next fall - we are already booked for that weekend.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

2008-10-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

This morning I had the privilege of preaching at my home church - Sherbrooke Mennonite Church, Vancouver. The text was Psalm 105. The psalmist begins by calling the people of Israel to "Give praise to the LORD and make known among the nations what he has done." Then the psalmist proceeds with a recitation of the story of God's people from the promise of the land of Canaan to Abraham to their entrance into that land, ending with a statement of purpose for this story - "that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws."

When we celebrate God's goodness at Thanksgiving, we cannot be focused only on our own benefits. As with the people of Israel, we are called to make known among the nations what the LORD has done.

God's gift of grace is so generous, that often our only way of saying thankyou is to pass on another gift of kindness to someone else.

The Covenant

2008-10-12T21:38:00.001-07:00

It gives me great pleasure to announce that First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake has voted to sign the MCBC Covenant.

This has not been an easy journey for them and it will not be without pain and difficulties ahead. But, MCBC is committed to walk with them. They are in the process of searching for a pastor. What I believe is needed is someone with strong Anabaptist belief and practice, someone who can help re-establish unity, and is able to nurture healing and new hope.

Dave Friesen (and Doris) is going to serve as interim pastor for a month, starting October 24th. MCBC is helping to provide interim ministry as well as working with their search committee to find long-term pastoral leadership.

A Covenant-signing service is being planned for November 23rd, so if any of you are interested in going up to Burns Lake to celebrate with them, let me know. We are hoping to take a 15-passenger van, driving up on the 22nd and returning on the 24th.

Election Primer

2008-10-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Remember to vote on October 14th! Check out the Election Primer put out by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). It has been added to the bottom of the Homepage of our MCBC website. This article discusses issues on the Canadian scene that are important to Anabaptist Christians. Take a look at it before going to the polls on Tuesday.

There was also a very helpful comparison of the party positions on 15 important issues in Saturday's Vancouver Sun. Check it out.

The Line Up This Fall

2008-09-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Many congregations are moving into new starts with leadership. We have a number of installations; please come and celebrate God’s work in our various congregations (See list in the News ‘n Notes that will be in your mailboxes next week. Your congregation will have also received an email with this information.)

We continue to work with the congregations who did not sign the covenant with plans to be clear on our MCBC membership by the end of the year. We also have another congregation that is considering joining MCBC.

I am taking a Leadership course in Pennsylvania in the 3rd week of September. I look forward to developing my abilities in being a good leader.

Thanks for your prayers!

Mennonite Church Canada Assembly and the People's Summit

2008-08-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Mennonite Church Canada Assembly and the People's Summit was encouraging, challenging, informative. It was in Winnipeg - July 7-10. After the Canadian business meeting, a North American gathering for fellowship and learning took place. The major themes included "Care for God's Creation", and the unveiling of the results of "The Pastor Trends Survey".

There are 6 photos below that represent these priorities: worship, work, fellowship, fun, the future and teaching.

Next year the adult assembly will be in Saskatoon from June 5-7. The youth assembly will be in Caronport, SK from July 6-10. And remember the great opportunity to go to Paraguay for the Mennonite World Conference, July 14-19, 2009.

The Sunshine Coast Route

2008-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is the story of another motorcycle ride.

Diane and I took a short 4 - day vacation this past weekend (August 8-11). We went on our motorcycle to the Sunshine Coast, then crossed the ferry from Powell River to Comox, taking the Oceanside Route all the way down to Victoria. We actually have no motorcycle pictures, but I'm including the view of one of our B & B's and the view from another B & B.

I remember the winding road from Pender Harbour to the Earl's Cove ferry from a car trip some years ago. I got a headache; but I also said that this would be an amazing trip on a motorcycle, and so it was. The weather was great. I would encourage anyone to make this trek in mid-summer. Riding between the mountains and the ocean takes your breath away.

MCBC Motorcycle Ride

2008-08-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

Wow!! What a great time. 20 bikes and 23 riders went on a tour around the backroads of the Lower Mainland on Saturday, July 26th. Seven bikes with eight riders left from the Peace Mennonite Church, Richmond, parking lot at 8:00 am. It was very cool to pull into the Columbia Bible College parking lot to see a row of 13 motorcycles awaiting our arrival.

After a word of prayer, we were on our way, riding down to Huntingdon Road and then following the back roads along the south side of the Fraser Valley. We went through Yarrow, and stopped at Cultus Lake for ice cream. After Cultus, we continued on backroads around the east side of Chilliwack and crossed over the #1 Highway on Annis Road. It was neat to come right up to the foot of the mountains on several occasions and then turn to continue our trek. We went through Rosedale and ended up at the Wildcat Cafe for lunch - just on the north side of Minter Garden (great food, by-the-way).

After lunch we went through Agassiz and up to Harrison Hot Springs. We skirted around the bottom of Harrison Lake and stopped up at Sasquatch Provincial Park to enjoy the beauty and cool off a bit.

Then we were led by Len and Cheryl Dyck, of Cedar Valley Mennonite Church in Mission, on some more amazing back roads - taking Sylvester Road and riding to their church from the north side. Cheryl had a snack prepared for us. The Vancouver riders said goodbye to the the Valley riders at Cedar Valley. We continued on back to Vancouver - for the most part on Dewdney Trunk Road - going up to Stave Lake and following the Barnet Highway around the north side of Burnaby Mountain. Our last leg of the journey included a view of Burrard Inlet. Once we hit Boundary Road, we stopped to bid farewell to each other and headed in our separate ways, returning to our homes around 5:30 pm.

It was a great time of meeting folks from a number of different MCBC congregations from around the Lower Mainland. We plan to do another ride next summer - maybe to the Island.

Pray for Zimbabwe

2008-06-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Deborah Froese, Interim PrayerNet Coordinator, sent this urgent prayer concern last week. Since then the opposition leader has withdrawn due to escalating violence against his supporters. Inspite of no opposition, the election is still apparently going ahead today. Please pray.

Dear Friends and fellow pray-ers,

Since the last issue of PrayerNet was distributed, Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) have issued an urgent call for intercessory prayer on behalf of Zimbabweans as they face a tense run-off election on June 27. (MWC 2006 statistics count over 33,000 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ members in Zimbabwe.) MC Canada Witness workers Dan Nighswander and Yvonne Snider-Nighswander will be in Zimbabwe as deacons for the MWC community for two weeks surrounding the election period. For your convenience, we have attached a PDF copy of this request that has been formatted to include in your church bulletin.

Urgent call to Intercession

Please note June 26 and 27 on your calendar. Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and Mennonite Church Canada are calling for prayer and fasting on those dates to support Zimbabweans as they face a tense run-off election on June 27.

Dan Nighswander and Yvonne Snider-Nighswander, MC Canada Witness workers in South Africa, have been blessed by MC Canada to serve as deacons of the MWC community during that time. They will provide encouragement to Bishop Ndlovu, MWC president-elect and leader of the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe (BICCZ), Bishop Ndlovu’s family, pastors and others under stress.

Dan and Yvonne have specifically asked for prayers for wisdom during this time of uncertainty. Please also pray:
that God will intervene in a visible way to end the violence and suffering that have afflicted Zimbabwe;
that the churches of Zimbabwe will be signs of God’s love and justice in the midst of this struggle;
that those who have been intimidated will be able to exercise their right to vote without further threat;
that election monitors will be permitted to play a credible role to assure integrity and lack of violence at polling stations;
that the government in power will allow honest results to be reported;
that, whatever the election results, the government in power will agree to come to the table with opposition political leaders, military and security forces, and church and civil society organizations to map out a workable path for the future of the country;
that African and United Nations leaders will play a strong and clear role in pressing for the above outcomes.

Mennonite World Conference is a communion (Koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness.

A Motorcycle Ride

2008-06-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been talking about pulling together an MCBC motorcycle ride for some time. I guess I better come through with it. I am setting the day for July 26th. I am now looking for bikers. Please call me or email me if you are going to participate.

This is what I am thinking. A group could start in the Vancouver area (say from the Peace Mennonite Church parking lot in Richmond). We could take some back roads to Abbotsford and join a Valley group (say at the CBC parking lot). From there we would take some nice back roads along the south side of the Valley, going around Chilliwack and continuing on back roads and crossing the bridge to Agassiz. We could then work our way back on the No. 7 highway. We would work out some good places to stop for coffee breaks and lunch.

All bikers who can do highway speed are welcome - cruisers, sport bikes, touring bikes or any kind of bike you may have.

I'll throw in a couple pictures of mine (a Yamaha V-Star 650). When you reply include a picture of your bike. I can post it too.

Photos from the Palestine-Israel Learning Tour

2008-06-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy since the last posting. I have had lots of thoughts about blogs to write, but other priorities have kept crowding them out. I have had several requests to post some photos from my trip to Palestine and Israel, so I will do that.

While there was much learning to do, walking into the Garden Tomb area, and then having the empty tomb appear before my eyes, was the highlight of my trip. I am posting 3 photos: one from a distance (my first sighting), one close up and one inside (showing the actual place where it is believed that the body of Jesus lay.)

Our time up in Galilee was amazing. I echo many others who have said this line, but it is true, "I will never read my Bible the same again." By this I mean that being in the places where Jesus was gives a context for the things he said and did.

I have a whole new appreciation of Capernaum. I hadn't noted that Jesus loved being there so much. This is likely because it was the place where Peter lived.

To see the ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum and of Peter's house was amazing. Then to go back to the Bible and read texts from these places was very cool; for example, Luke 4:31-44

There is much, much more to be said, but I will just leave you with one image of the current dynamics of the relationship of the people of Palestine and Israel. It is the wall. I could not believe that in this day of international awareness, a 30 foot wall was being built to divide two peoples. I, along with many Palestinians and Jews, pray that there may be a way to reconcile these peoples so that they may co-exist in this land in peace.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is wishing all mothers a blessed day. May those who are close to you make your day special.

Some of you may recall that my mother had a brain aneurism on December 26th. She had emergency surgery and has since gone through much hospital care and therapy. She has improved much and we are very thankful, but she is now in a nursing home. She first went to a nursing home in a neighbouring town, but as of yesterday, our prayers were answered. She was moved to the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home. She is now in her home town where Dad, her sisters and brothers, neighbours and church friends can easily visit her. She also knows many others who are resident there. There is an assisted living facility, called Pineview, attached and her sister is living there. In fact, Dad is on a short list for getting into Pineview. It seems as though Dad may be able to get a room there within the next month. In Mom and Dad's situation, this is truly the best case scenario. The wonderful thing is that they have not fought any of this, but accepted the realities of their situation. In fact, yesterday when I was speaking with my Dad, he suggested that this may be his last year of driving, and was imagining people with whom he might get rides to church. Remember that he is 90.

Just a brief word on my trip to Palestine-Israel. People have asked what the highlight of the trip was. While the whole trip was a highlight, and everything we did left a powerful impact, I have three things I would lift out. Remember, this trip was a learning tour sponsored and hosted by MCC (Mennonite Central Committee), so it was an opportunity to see the holy sites, but also to see the realities of life in that region. The first highlight was seeing the empty tomb - the place where we believe Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. Second was the incredible hospitality of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, especially in Bethlehem. Third was a very hopeful sign in the midst of tragedy, and for this I quote one of my fellow travellers, Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, who wrote this as part of her response to an article in the Calgary Herald regarding the 60th anniversary of the formation of the state of Israel (May 14th, 2008). "The most moving, and hopeful meeting we had was with the Parents Circle. www.parentscircle.org This group is made up of bereaved families supporting peace, reconciliation, and tolerance. Aisha is a Muslim woman who lost her brother to an Israeli attack. Robi is a secular Jew, who lost her son, a soldier, when he was shot by a Palestinian sniper. Together, the women speak to groups about their losses and the understanding that violence does not solve problems, but good relationships might. Unfortunately, the increasing segregation of the two peoples is making it almost impossible for them to see each other and to spread their humanizing message."

Off to Palestine-Israel

2008-04-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

I am actually going to Palestine-Israel tomorrow morning for 2 weeks. I will be returning on the evening of May 2nd. Please pray for me. It is such an awesome opportunity. MCC Canada is hosting the tour and MCC BC is sponsoring my Mennonite Brethren counterpart and myself. We are going to see the work that MCC is doing in the region. We will also be going to some of the holy sites. We will be doing lots of learning.

I will tell you all about it when I get back.

The Message Doesn't Change, but the Methods Do

2008-04-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to pay attention to new expressions of being the church so as to remain fresh and effective.

At least 10 years ago leaders of the Mennonite Church were trying to get our minds around the concept of "missional church". In 1998 the book entitled "Missional Church," edited by Darrell L. Guder, was published by Eerdmans. Lois Barrett, a Mennonite mission leader was one of the writers. The subtitle of the book explains the concept, "A vision for the sending of the church in North America." The idea is that our mission emphasis is not focused on the church simply sending out and supporting missionaries, but on the church actually being sent into God's mission. This makes us all mission workers wherever we are and wherever God sends us, be it at home, across the street or around the world. It also means that to understand God's mission, we must listen well to what God is doing in the world. When Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA were formed in 2001, we embraced "missional church" as our way of being. Since then we have been attempting to learn what it means for us and our world.

I welcome your thoughts about being a missional church and being missional Christians.

The Significance of the Resurrection

2008-03-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

I have added a new book to my list of favourites. It is "The Resurrection Life" by Myron Augsburger. Much writing has been done with regard to the significance of the cross, but much less is available on the significance of the resurrection. Augsburger gives us a look into this theme with the Anabaptist perspective in mind. The book is available to purchase from Hearld Press and to borrow at the Columbia Bible College library.

Two things have been impressed upon me recently concerning the Resurrection. One is that, since the word Easter comes from a pagan celebration, it would be better to refer to Easter Sunday as "Resurrection Sunday". I don't think it's a real big deal because we as Christians know exactly what we are celebrating when we speak of Easter, but for those who are new to the story of Jesus, it would clarify the reason that this "holiday" exists.

The congregations that I have served in my years of ministry have given recognition to Lent (the season of reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus through the six Sundays leading up to Easter). I always felt it to be a bit odd that we would give so much time to the suffering of Jesus, but only one day to the resurrection of our Lord. This leads me to the second thing that has impressed me. Sometime in the last number of years I came to realise that in the layout of the church year, the Resurrection is to be celebrated from Easter Sunday all the way to the Sunday before Pentecost. Now that makes sense - a seven Sunday celebration of the Resurrection!

On a personal note, Diane and I were back home (Rosthern, Saskatchewan) to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday in the middle of March. We were also there to see my Mom, who suffered a brain anuerism on Boxing Day. She is doing much better - talking, walking - but not well enough to come home. Just this week she was admitted to a nursing home. Please pray for her and my Dad as they make these adjustments. Thanks.

Easter

2008-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday; the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In my life it usually becomes just an ordinary day to work at home, do some business, or do something with Diane.

When we were mission workers in Africa (Botswana), the churches we worked with celebrated Easter by gathering together for the whole weekend. They would meet on Thursday at the location where their church was founded. Friday would be somber, with worship gatherings and communion. The worship would begin on Saturday night and go all through the night with lots of preaching and singing. As the sun rose, the Resurrection of our Lord was celebrated with baptisms. After breakfast they would return to their homes. But, Saturday was also a day of relaxing, hanging out with church friends from other locations, sleeping, etc.

What should we do on this day of confusion and grieving for the disciples, Mary and the women? It is hard, even for the African Indigenous Church people, to hold the intensity of the story through the whole weekend. Is it irreverent to return to ordinary life after the intensity of the cross on Good Friday? Some of us start returning to ordinary things already on Friday afternoon. My best answer to this question is that, while this is a weekend of commemoration filled with immense grief and great joy, and the most important weekend in the church year, it is only a commemoration. What we do with Jesus' calling on our lives through the rest of the year is what matters most to him.

I welcome your thoughts.

More Annual Meeting photos just in

2008-03-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

Mr. Thien is the representative of the Karen group from Myanmar who have become a part of Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Surrey.

The worship team, led by Heidi Epp at the piano.

A worship display, including: the Bible, candles and a beautiful quilt.

Pictures of the MCBC Annual Meeting

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The first picture is of Nhien Pham, pastor of the Vancouver Vietnamese Mennonite Church, a newly accepted member congregation into MCBC. On the right is Jack Suderman, representing their membership also in Mennonite Church Canada.

The next two pictures are of my installation service as Executive Minister.
It was really neat when Erwin Cornelsen came up in front of Diane and myself to pray over us as the whole assembly held hands in a chain of prayer. Erwin is the founding pastor of Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver and a very important mentor to me.

I haven't been able to get any other pictures yet.

Going for a ride

2008-03-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

I talked about organising a motorcycle ride for anyone who is interested. I have heard a lot of positive response, so we might have to do two rides, one starting and returning to Vancouver, and one from Abbotsford. I was thinking that somewhere in the middle or towards the end of July would be a good time. We'll see once we get closer. Remember, bikers in the oulying areas (Burns Lake/Granisle, Kelowna and Black Creek) that you are encouraged to join in. Also, I would love for anyone to suggest some good one-day routes. I guess an over-nighter might be fun too.

On this same topic, I hear a group from Emmanuel Mennonite have joined the Abbotsford Toy Run the last couple of years. I think you can contact their youth pastor, Rod Wiebe, to join. It would be fun to also get a group of Mennonites joining the Vancouver Toy Run. I don't know the dates yet.

I have chatted with a few of you, expressing the idea of riding motorcycle to the MC Canada Assembly and Summit in Winnipeg. But, being a prairie boy, I have reconsidered the long ride across the flat land. I think this might be an idea some year when the conference is in Edmonton or Calgary.

A Sip of Scripture

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I want to draw your attention to a new feature on the MCBC website. Go to Links and scroll right down to the bottom. Click on "A Sip of Scripture" and you will get a daily Scripture reading. You can go as deep as you want. There is a daily verse or two, or you can read the larger context of that Scripture, or you can go to a blog about that Scripture called "A Simple Desire". The blog serves as a devotional based on the Scripure. There are six bloggers that take turns writing their thoughts about the daily Scripture.

So, for example, March 4th follows the topic "Do Not Fight". The daily verse is 1 Kings 12:24a. The larger context is 1 Kings 12:1-24. This day's blog, at "A Simple Desire", is written by Carole Boshart. I have found that the blogs may come a little late at times.

You can also get "A Sip of Scripture" sent to your email, so it automatically shows up everyday for you. If you click on "Pondering at the Well", you are sent to a page with some options. Click on 'Email Subscription'. It takes you to a page from which you can subscribe to a number of different Anabaptist related items, including "A Sip of Scripture", that you can have sent to your email address.

My response to the MCBC Annual Meeting

2008-02-27T12:23:00.000-08:00

I think the meetings went very well. There was a positive - forward thinking atmosphere. I was really blessed by the installation service and the very special gifts I was given by people from MCBC and my home congregation, Sherbrooke Mennonite Church. The theme that "We're in a new place" was fitting. It was great to celebrate our togetherness. It was great to see a strong commitment to move forward with building an adult-0riented retreat facility at Camp Squeah. The hope is that it would be ready sometime in 2009.

There is also some tough work ahead. I was encouraged that the delegates gave their approval to the proposed process for working with the congregations that did not sign at our re-covenanting celebration last year (May 2007). But, the work related to this matter will not be easy. I ask your prayers for the MCBC leadership as we engage in this work - prayers for courage, wisdom, grace and love.

Look for pictures as soon as I get some together - probably next week.

I look forward to any of your comments.