Mennonite Women Canada encourages women to: - nurture their life in Christ - acknowledge and share their gifts - hear and support each other - serve and minister across the street and around the world

Volume 4, Issue 1 – April, 2014

Connections

Left to right: Elsie Wiebe (MB) Myrna Sawatzky (SK) Liz Koop, President Lois Mierau, Sec/Treas Kate Janzen (AB) Linda Wiens (ON) Waltrude Gortzen (BC)

Greetings from the President

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This issue of Connections is the 7th one that our Communications Committee has put together. Intended to connect, inform, encourage and affirm Mennonite women across Canada Connections is published twice a year, in the spring and the fall. There are a number of ways that you can receive Connections. A printed version and an electronic version are sent to every Mennonite Church Canada congregation. Please ask your pastor or church administrator to make copies for the women in your congregation. You can also find it on our web page and blog. In each issue of our newsletter we include an update of some of our projects as well as interviews or profiles of women from across Canada. This is one way for us to learn what other women are involved in, to hear of their joys, challenges and struggles, and to broaden our own perspectives.

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In this issue we have 4 interviews with women who have shared their gift of music in the church. Due to space we can print only a shortened version of the interviews, so please go to our web page or blog to read their full story. As Mennonite women across Canada let us encourage, hear, and support each other as we continue to serve and minister to those in our midst – across the street and around the world.

~ Liz Koop ~

Together we can do so much more!

Please visit our connecting links: P Please visit our connecting:

Please visit our connecting links: Website www.mennonitechurch.ca/mwc/

Blog www.mennowomencanada.blogspot.ca Facebook www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/2009

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I was raised in a musical house. Our stereo was always blaring with anything from Beethoven to Mahler. My father had a real interest in classical music and by osmosis all seven of us children learned something about what makes good music. We all took music lessons of some sort; I began piano when I was in grade four.

Our church, Elmira Mennonite (ON), still sings primarily a cappella. When the church first got a piano to use for worship, my involvement was a natural next step since not many members could play. Over the years I have accompanied choirs, soloists, small groups and on occasion for congregational singing if the accompaniment enhances the piece or if it’s a new song. My motivation is to do my best to create a worship setting when I do preludes, offertories or postludes and to allow soloists, groups and choirs to express their faith in song.

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Marlene Martens, mother, grandmother, homemaker and pastor’s wife, has farmed with her husband Cornie for over 50 years. She has been accompanist in the Saskatchewan congregations of Rabbit Lake and Glenbush for over 55 years. “My parents purchased a

piano from Eaton’s. After it arrived on the train, I eagerly attempted to play “Jesus Loves Me” by ear. I began playing the pump organ for church as a teenager. Not knowing the selections in advance, I was forced to sight-read. German chorales were a challenge because I couldn’t read the gothic script well enough to know if the notes and words matched. My mother and extended family sang together. Walking to school, my older sister and I practiced harmony singing. Cornie and I began singing duets shortly after getting married; twelve years ago we made a CD of our songs. I formed our five children into a singing group - they even won an Amateur Hour competition. It’s my love of music that motivates me to sing and play: praising God, soothing my soul, being my Christian

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witness. The words and music speak to me and hopefully to others of God’s grace and comfort. On a cruise, Cornie and I sang “The Love of God” during the Sunday service. We knew no one and had no accompaniment, but wanted to sing of God’s love in that setting. Playing and singing in public is very humbling. There are others who can do it better. So I pray for God to help my hands and head to work together. A favorite hymn, “I know Whom I Have Believed,” affirms my faith. A newer song, “God of the Mountain,” reminds me of God’s presence in all circumstances. I love four-part singing and hope the next generation will cherish such hymns too. A special memory was when my cousin, an operatic baritone, sang the hymns at his dad’s funeral. As the sound of his voice enveloped us, I longed to stop playing and simply listen.”

~ Edited by Naomi Unger

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Music workshops have given me a real desire to continue my own journey of music ministry. When I retire it is my desire to publish some of my own arrangements. At my church, the standard hymns are staples and they love old gospel songs, but they also totally embrace songs from Sing the Journey and Sing the Story when they are familiar. I find some pieces from these books absolutely, profoundly beautiful and I use them frequently. Among my favourites are “Nothing is lost on the breath of God” (#121 STS) and “Lord, Jesus you shall be my Song” (#14 STJ). The melody and harmony of this latter song captivate me, but the lyrics are a real self-challenge and a confession of faith. I love it! I have several special memories of accompanying solos or choirs where I responded to the music with emotion. When a soloist, small group or the congregation sings lustily, sweetly or prayerfully and my accompaniment enhances the mood, it’s like heaven! It is with sincere humility that I have offered over four decades of service.

~ Edited by Barb Draper

Please go to our blog and website to read the full-length interviews

www.mennowomencanada.blogspot.ca www.mennonitechurch.ca/mwc/

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I am the mother of two little boys and business manager of my husband’s medical practice. I play tin whistle and mandolin in a music team at Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary. My mother was a professional singer, so I went to many rehearsals and was surrounded with incredible vocalists and musicians. I loved the

joy that music brought. When I learned to play trumpet, my own musical journey blossomed. I graduated from Trinity Western University, served as a missionary in Ireland for two years and worked in the film and television industry for over fifteen. I’m passionate about encouraging authenticity in myself and in others and revealing God’s incredible creation in everyone. At home, I’d often climb to a nearby ridge. Sitting under ancient pine trees, I started to play the tin whistle. I had no sheet music, no instructor, just my environment to provide inspiration. There was something elemental - ethereal - to learning that way. The birds, the wind, the

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light in the clouds became my inspiration and song. The forest echoing back my notes linked me in a very powerful way to God's great creation. My music became my prayer, acknowledging God's glory and power through His creation around me. If my whistle's descant moves people to closer communion with God, what more could I ask? Through playing, I am learning to love God, love myself and love my neighbour. That’s my motivation. My all-time favorite hymn is “Be Thou My Vision”, perhaps because of my Irish ancestry. It calls us to find God in all that we do and everywhere we go. A newer favorite is Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin's "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).” Whatever our situation, we are called to find God's grace in the shimmering moments of each day, each day is a new creation. For me, it’s small moments, such as making eye contact with someone while I play and seeing the joy of shared worship, that are memorable.

~Edited by Naomi Unger

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I am dedicating this, with overwhelming gratitude, to a “Worship Team” that is willing, available and ready to serve MCBC Women’s Ministry! Spring 2011… as the Retreat Planning Committee was finalizing the retreat details, one large piece was still missing…. who would lead the worship singing? After pursuing several options, Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Surrey, BC accepted our invitation. Praise the Lord! Four lovely women, Cheryl Heinrichs, Carla Hordyk, Dorothy Friesen and Elly Federau, joined us for the retreat weekend. They came with joyful hearts, prepared to serve the Lord with their voices, instruments and inspired readings to complement their songs and our weekend theme. On Sunday, as the retreat was wrapping up, having heard many positive comments regarding the Worship Team, I light-heartedly asked Cheryl, the team leader, if the group would consider becoming the ‘official’ Retreat Worship Team ---- to my surprise and without hesitation she said YES! Since then they led the worship time for the 60th Anniversary of Mennonite Women Canada (July 2012 - Richmond, BC) and have also taken on our Annual Inspirational Day.

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Team members from left to right are Carla,

Cheryl, Dorothy and Elly. When interviewed, the team members commented on their ministry. Cheryl says, “We desire to be a blessing to our church family. We believe that out of thanks to God we are to use our gifts to serve where we have been called to serve.” Elly commented, “Our job is to help people worship.” Carla shared, “The Lord has given everyone a part! My approach is doing this as an ‘offering of love’ toward the Lord and let Him use it as He sees fit.”

~ Text and photo by Waltrude Gortzen

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President: Liz Koop 905-562-5920 Email: presmwcanada@mennonitechurch.ca

Secretary-Treasurer: Lois Mierau Phone: 306-283-4657 Email: glmierau@yourlink.ca

Mennonite Church Canada 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4

Darnell & Christina Barkman (Philippines)

Nathan & Taryn Dirks (Botswana)

Waltrude Gortzen - Waltrude@shaw.ca Naomi Unger - dnunger@sasktel.net Barbara Draper - rbdraper@golden.net Liz Koop - presmwcanada@mennonitechurch.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Left to right: Iris Leung from Burnaby, BC is studying at Trinity Western University; Melody Neufeld-Rocheleau from Saskatoon, SK is taking courses at CMU. Jessica Reesor Rempel from Kitchener, ON is at Toronto School of Theology and Conrad Grebel College. Their letters are printed in our Annual Report Book. Scholarship Applications for the 2014 school year are available at http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/mwc/ministries or from the President. See below for contact information. Deadline for applications is July 1.

April 12 ~ Women of MCEC – Spring Enrichment Day April 26 ~ Saskatchewan WM – Enrichment Day May 2 - 4 ~ Women of MCEC – Tulip Festival Bus Tour May 3 ~ MCBC Women’ Ministry – Inspirational Day – 75th Anniversary Celebration! May 23 - 25 ~ Alberta WM – Spring Retreat July 4 ~ Mennonite Women Canada Annual Meeting will take place during MC Canada’s Assembly sessions in Winnipeg. Join us at 6:30 pm for a dessert and coffee evening. A musical program will follow at 7:30 pm. More details will be posted in the coming weeks. Posters for these events can be found on our website and blog. Write-ups of events will be posted on our blog.

2014 Bible Study Guide Practicing Presence

Look for it in July!

EACH CHURCH WILL RECEIVE ONE COMPLEMENTARY COPY! To order additional copies contact

Craig Anderson at 1-800-631-6535 or craiga@mennomedia.org.

Online at www.mennomedia.org or www.resources.mennonitechurch.ca/

• Spiritual Growth Assistance Fund (SGAF) • Pennies and Prayer Legacy Fund (PPLF) • International Ministries • Radical Journey • Publication and Communication • Operating Funds • Undesignated

DESIGNATED DONATIONS to PPLF

~ Women’ Fellowship of Lethbridge, AB ~ MCBC Women’s Ministry ~ The Goodwill Club of Coaldale Mennonite Church, AB ~ In Memory of Esther Mierau, Langham, SK – see our Report Book, blog and website for the memorial tribute.

For more information please visit our Donate pages at: https://donate.mennonitechurch.ca/mennonite-women

We are thankful for all donations towards this fund. We encourage you to honour the life of a loved one by making a memorial donation or to recognize a milestone event in your family, congregation or community with a celebration donation.