Who is Painting on Your Canvas?

Women being encouraged to be creative!
Women re-learning how to play, without guilt attached!

Women came from near and far.
The laughter of old friends greeting each other could be heard all over as the women started to arrive on Friday evening.
There were several mother-daughter duos. There were a number of first time participants.
Old and young, enjoying each others company, playing and praying together.

Everyone was registered and name tagged on Friday evening.

Some very serious Scrabble players on Friday evening.

“The Call to Creative Living” was the topic for the 2008 MCBC Women’s Retreat at Camp Squeah, with an attendance of about 90 women that came to listen to Betty Spackman, Christian artist, teacher, author and curator. Betty enriched us with two wonderful presentations.

Betty Spackman - Guest Speaker

Saturday A.M. - “Art and the Christian Community”

We are called to be co-creators with the Creator. We are created in the image of the Creator and therefore, each of us has the responsibility to be creative, through which ever gift God has given us. Our biggest stumbling blocks, as Christians, are FEAR and the false belief of having to be modest. We should let the love of creativity overcome our fears and learn to enjoy our creative gifts. Spackman’s favourite quote is; “Fear is NOT a Factor”! “It does not matter what others say or think. If we know that God loves us, we will do what He has called us to do. No matter where or what!” says Betty.

Saturday morning discussion group!

Before the afternoon session began there was time to enjoy the wonderful fall weather. Go for a walk or simply sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.

"He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water." Psalm 23:2

Saturday P.M. - “Creative Work and Play”

We don’t feel safe to go out and play. (Being Creative) but when we do, we are rewarded with a feeling of well being and happiness.

She says that “Playing can be a difficult and dangerous leap of faith for many Christians who desire to “tell the truth” with their hearts/God given gifts and talents.”

“How sad that we seem to allow the gift of imagination only to children.” Spackman.

She says that art is very hard work, indeed, but the trick is not to lose your sense of wonder. The enemy will try to steal your gift but he can’t get at them if you have given then to God, the Creator. (1Cor. 1:26-28)

Besides having a great speaker for the Retreat, there were also a lot of other things provided for the ladies. Blessings Christian Marketplace had set up a few tables and made it easy for the women to purchase a book or two.

Heidi Epp facilitated a great workshop called “Who is drawing on my canvas?” and everyone who participated in the workshop, came away having learned new things about themselves and each other.

A movie (The Pearl Diver) was presented on Saturday night and is now highly recommended by everyone that watched it.

In conclusion, the Sunday morning Worship Service, with sharing and singing, led us to a very moving Communion Celebration.

Grace Epp leading us into Communion time.

It was a wonderful weekend of making new friends and meeting old friends, again. A time to share our burdens and joys with each other. A time for Worship and renewal in MCBC’s “Place of Refuge”.

Camp Squeah Lodge

The little Chapel in Woods!

The colours at this time of year are majestic!

Simply breath taking!

Time to go home! To be continued next year!

God willing!

What Will The Future Hold?

Yesterday, a month ago, September 18th, 2008, the Canadian Women in Mission "Task Force" had just finished an all day meeting in a Board Room of Mennonite Church Canada offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Seven women from across the country meeting to discuss the future of Canadian Women in Mission.
Is Canadian Women in Mission still important today?
Are the Canadian Mennonite Women still interested?
We know that the older generation is emotionally tied to this Ministry but how can we cultivate enthusiasm in the younger generation?
Will we still be important to future generations? And how?
These were the questions being asked and discussed.
Each of us coming from a different province, with very different experiences and levels of involvement in Women's Ministries, it was amazing how quickly we started to connect.
Primarily because we have the common bond of being followers of Jesus Christ and I know the Holy Spirit was with us as we sat around the table and started to get to know each other.
We all felt that it is still, very important for Canadian Mennonite Women to be able to serve and support each other, in their local churches, as well as, throughout Mennonite Church Canada.
The "Task Force" has the strong desire to keep the provinces connected with each other and Canadian Women in Mission is the venue through which this can be achieved.
Do we need to make some changes in order to stay alive and active?
Most likely!
What will these changes be and how will they be implemented?
Well, that is what we are discussing!
The process will take a while and the "Task Force" will be meeting a few more times over the next year or so. Canadian Women in Mission will deliberate over the suggestions and ideas that the "Task Force" will present to them and then report through various ways to the Canadian Mennonite Women.
It will be an interesting journey and we ask that you keep the "Task Force" in your prayers as we work through the mandate that was given to us.

Left to right:
Front row: Irene Bartel - Saskatchewan (Recording Secretary);
Marguerite Jack - Alberta (Chair Person); Liz Koop - Ontario;
Back row: Justina Heese - Manitoba (Assistant Chair);
Ruby Harder - Saskatchewan (Canadian Women in Mission Rep.);
Waltrude Gortzen - BC; Myléne Melaçon - Quebec.

Shop for a Cure?

Recently, I’ve received a few flyers and personalized mass-invitations inviting me to support a particular cause by shopping. The first I received was from a clothing store advertising a ladies night where, for every $65 I spent, $5 would go to support breast cancer research. The flyer left me with the uncomfortable feeling that I was being manipulated.

I have no argument with the cause – in the past year breast cancer has been diagnosed in 3 women I care about. While it might have been an honest attempt by the retailer to support a worthy cause, I doubt it. For a number of years, we’ve been encouraged to purchase many items in pink and the manufacturer or retailer (or both) will send funds to breast cancer research. When you read the fine print, there is often a maximum dollar amount that will be sent and the percentage of each sale is tiny. You don't actually know that your purchase contributed to the cause.

Is this the best way to show we care? By shopping? Are we to sooth our need to help our fellow citizens by consuming? Or is this pure manipulation on the part of retailers and manufacturers? By appealing to our altruistic impulses, can they more easily separate us women from our money? I've bought pink and I've struggled with whether or not I should.

What do you think? Do you buy pink? Why or why not?

Thanks for inviting me!

Hi There!

I'm really pleased that Waltrude asked if I would like to participate in this blog! (And I confess that I've never blogged before!) I think it's a fantastic way for women to stay connected with each other since life seems to be busier and it's just plain hard to meet over a cup of tea sometimes!

I'm married with two step-children that are now in their late teens. We live in southern Ontario where I work for Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) - a public charitable foundation that encourages us to be generous. It's through work that I connected with Waltrude. We (MFC) are working on an information day for women about money and that interested Waltrude - would we be interested in connecting to women in BC through her blog? Sure! So I suspect that many of my posts will have a connection to money, faith and generosity - tying those three together is part of who I am and why I love this job!

I'm planning to get my first post up this afternoon. Be sure to let me know what you think!

Have a fabulous Wednesday!
Sherri

Number Two!

We have another contributor that has signed on and eventually we will be hearing from these ladies! You will just have to stay tuned! :-)