Fwd: MWC Info November 2020: Following Jesus Christ into the climate crisis

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kristina Toews – Mennonite World Conference <info@mwc-cmm.org>
Date: Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 3:49 AM
Subject: MWC Info November 2020: Following Jesus Christ into the climate crisis
To: Gehman Mennonite Church <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>

MWC Info November 2020

	Pandemic fund targets inequalities in global church In May 2020, MWC gathered a task force from Anabaptist mission and service agencies to review proposals for relief funds from MWC member churches in the Global South. Up to November 2020, the MWC COVID-19 fund has supported... Read more
	Following Jesus our hope in(to) the climate crisis What does "following Jesus" mean? What does it mean to follow the One who is our Hope? These questions take on special importance at a time when people around the globe are worried about the fate of our earthly home. Even as we struggle with the immediate effects of the coronavirus,.. Read more
	Renewal through dialogue Pandemic and racism loom large in the Americas and in many parts of the world today. Those scourges also were rampant 500 years ago when Anabaptism emerged. Racism fueled European conquests in North and South America, and settlers brought diseases that killed millions of Indigenous people. Many... Read more
	Locked down but uplifted "The love from Indonesia": for YAMENers Enosh Rupamajhi, Jeu Song and Olicky Muchindu, the warmth of relationship – from their hosts and each other – is a hallmark of their year. ¡YAMEN! offers young adults from around the world an opportunity to leave what they know for a year to serve, grow and... Read more
	Knowledge for everyone Whether you're looking for historical background for an academic paper, a church anniversary story, or to confirm a detail like "when was the MWC Assembly held in Curitiba, Brazil?" the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online can help you. John Roth, the encyclopedia's general editor, tells... Read more
	Kindness during lockdown "We had only rice provided by the state government nothing else and we were having only rice for many days. I was concerned how to feed my family during this lockdown period. I am a daily wage labourer. During this time, our pastor came with a bag and told me this is for your family from our... Read more
	Where are we looking? Times of uncertainty. In such times people look for guidance. Like in a storm, people need a lighthouse to help them navigate through dangerous waters. COVID-19 has been a time of enormous uncertainty, now deepened by a financial crisis, environmental challenges and political instability in many... Read more

Assembly 17

Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday

Courier: COVID-19 in the Global South

Ministry partner update: ICOMB

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Prayers of gratitude and intercession

"At present, our hope is in God alone." Leaders of MWC national member church Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia call the global Anabaptist family to pray with them. "We need peace to continue bringing the good news of Jesus Christ." MKC has four congregations and almost two dozen church planting centres in the Tigray region where the federal and regional government have been in armed conflict for two weeks. Reports of 10,000-25,000 people have fled to neighbouring Sudan and Eritrea. Join MKC in fasting and prayer for peace, individually and collectively.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

Death has touched families and churches. Health care workers are worn out. The lack of personal contact and the loss of income due to the significant risk of contagion cause significant stress and misery in Anabaptist churches. Those who are not able to connect online – due to lack of knowledge or lack of tools – are extra isolated. "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit," (Psalm 34:18).

Read more: Fearless and prudent

Lord, have mercy!

As a world-wide community of faith and life, we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language.

Empower us to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God's grace by serving others, caring for creation, and inviting all people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

We seek to walk in peace by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently await Christ's return and the final fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Amen

Creation Care survey

The Creation Care Task Force requests that you take the creation care survey; we need your input!

As the task force begins our work, it is important we hear from you, as a congregation within Mennonite World Conference, about issues of creation care such as climate change.

Your feedback is critical as we create a plan to work on creation care issues which churches feel are most important, and as we provide resources for churches who want to engage with issues like climate change and other forms of environmental degradation which impact our congregations.

Please take about 15 minutes individually, or together with other members of your congregation, to fill out this survey.

Your input is highly valued; thank you for participating!

You can reach the creation care task force at CreationCare@mwc-cmm.org, or visit our website at mwc-cmm.org/creation-care-task-force.

Click here to fill out the survey

Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday worship materials

Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday is an opportunity to remind our communities of faith that we are all part of one body made up of many tribes, languages and nations (Revelation 7:9). Each year, we encourage Anabaptist-related churches across the globe to use a common theme in their service on the Sunday closest to 21 January. On this date in 1525, the first baptism took place in Zurich, Switzerland.

We celebrate that, in Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the cultural and national boundaries that separate us have been overcome by the cross.

Materials for 2021 were prepared by Asian church leaders on the Assembly theme "Following Jesus across barriers" from the texts Isaiah 55:1-6, Psalm 27, John 4:1-42, Philippians 2:1-11.

On Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday, Anabaptist congregations can lament together about pain and suffering; reflect the glory of God together as we reach across religious, racial/ethnic and gender boundaries; and follow Jesus together in obedience.

Download this resource to celebrate Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday in your local congregation with the global Anabaptist family in January or at whatever time is convenient for your congregation in 2021.

Send pictures and stories from your congregation's celebration to photos@mwc-cmm.org.

#mwcmm #AnabaptistWorldFellowshipSunday

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