Fwd: Courage to love those who are different

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kristina Toews – Mennonite World Conference <info@mwc-cmm.org>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Subject: Courage to love those who are different
To: Friend <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>

Monthly e-newsletter from the global Anabaptist family

View this email in your browser May 2025 Dear Friends Greetings in the Lord! We are excited that this month we are coming together in different ways around the theme "love". Read more about them all below. Our General Council meetings begin in a few days. Your national church representatives will be learning, praying and discerning together over several days. During this time, we will meet with guests from other church communions, including the World Communion of Reformed Churches. MWC has been in dialogue with them to jointly create a statement on common witness. This statement will be celebrated at our one-day anniversary event in Zurich where we are coming together in person and online. The closing service will be livestreamed: host a watch party wherever you are in the world to join us in this special service. After that the young leaders will be Empowered to Love at the Global Youth Summit. We ask you to please pray with us for all these gatherings. May the Spirit permeate all our encounters with the courage to love. We apologize the late arrival of our first issue of Courier this year. Please take a look at the stories and reflections on 100 years of MWC and let us know what you think. This is a digital-only version. In Christ, —Kristina Toews, chief communications officer A celebration of ecumenism, joy, confession of hope We invite everyone to worship with us!  The worship service marking the culmination of Mennonite World Conference's 500th anniversary event in Zurich, Switzerland, will be livestreamed. The event takes place Thursday, 29 May 2025, at 13:00 UTC.  Read more Seeking common witness together The collaborative work of Mennonite and Reformed delegations produced a shared statement for the anniversary commemoration in Zurich on 29 May 2025. They also produced a study guide to assist local congregations in celebrating common witness with WCRC siblings in their local contexts. Read more Powering the spinning wheel As we approach the commemoration event for the 500th anniversary of our movement, MWC calls on its members around the world to pray with and for us. The day of remembrance and reconciliation will be preceded by the triennial meetings of the General Council. Read more Bigger responsibilities in the global church At the meetings in May 2025, General Council members will vote on a proposal for every Mennonite World Conference full member to have one Young AnaBaptist (YAB) delegate in the General Council starting 2028.   This change will make MWC one of the few global Christian communions that formally include young people in their global decision-making body.  Read more MWC welcomes election of new pope Mennonite World Conference congratulates Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his election as Pope and 267th Bishop of Rome 8 May 2025, taking the papal name Leo XIV. The election makes history with the first pope selected from North America, following Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) who was the first Latin American. Read more Prayers of gratitude and intercession Pray for the many delegates who will represent their member church for the first time. May they receive a welcoming embrace from the global family. May they depart with new friendships that further their understanding of the reign of God. Pray that delegates would willingly practice unity in the body of Christ even as they encounter difference and disagreement. May the diversity of the family of God renew our faith and increase our vision of our work for a common witness. Pray that delegates would build a common mind as they process decisions using the consensus process. May there be courage and truth at each step of the process.  Pray for the seeds that will be planted through the course of the gathering, both of General Council and of Global Youth Summit. May the relationships built, the collaborations established and the understandings deepened give glory to God for a maturing church living out unity.  Pray that this global concentration of Anabaptists would leave behind the aroma of Christ. As we follow Jesus to, at and beyond these events, may our presence impact those we encounter and the spaces we leave behind with a vision of shalom. Praise God for the gifts each member brings to share: wisdom, experience, love and also financial support, each according to their ability under the Fair Share policy. Read more prayers Urgent prayer: MKC MKC urgently calls upon partners, friends and the Body of Christ to join us in prayer for the following...   Pray for MKC Courier 40.1 This issue of contains reflections on this anniversary and its theme by general secretary César García, and snapshots of member churches. Read more MWC videos Learn about MWC's history, vision & mission, structure and decision making process in these short videos.   Watch   Anniversary challenges   What is the most memorable song you learned at an MWC Assembly? How has this song been meaningful in your faith journey in the years since?   The challenge campaign will continue throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or subscribe to MWC Info, our monthly e-newsletter to discover the next challenge. Click here to share your song story We pray that our 500th anniversary commemoration may inspire you to new ways to support MWC in building up thriving communities of faith globally. Give now Register CC BY-NC-SA 4.0  2025 Mennonite World Conference You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive mailings from MWC. Our mailing address is: Mennonite World Conference 50 Kent Avenue Suite 206 Kitchener, Ontario N2G 3R1 Canada Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.