Time for Thanks

Thanksgiving has come and gone - it was hard to be thankful for the weather here on the prairies where it seemed we were going to skip right over fall directly into winter. It's just one more lesson that we can't just expect gratitude to be based on the externals around us - gratitude is an intention of the heart.

I have a copy of a prayer in my office that keeps me grounded - I'm not sure where I picked it up or who the author is (if you know, please enlighten me). I thought I would share it with you on this day after Thanksgiving:

Expressing Gratitude: Communal Prayer

Gracious God, in the busy-ness of our days, we forget to
thank you for all that is good in life.
Our blessings are many and our hearts filled
with gratefulness
for the gift of living,
for the ability to love and be loved,
for opportunities to see the everyday wonders of creation,
for sleep
for water,
for a mind that thinks
for a body that feels.
Thank you, too, for things in our lives
that are disappointments.
Things that seem challenging, unfair, or difficult.
Times when my heart feels stretched and empty,
and pools of tears form in my weary eyes.
Still we join in gratitude that you are as near to us
as our next breath.
In the midst of turbulence, we are growing and learning.
In the silence,
we give thanks for unconditional and eternal love.
Amen.

Wall Quilts

As you all must know by now, yesterday Camp Squeah's new buildings were dedicated. They are amazingly beautiful! The rooms are gorgeous, as is the new Administration Building!

Administration Building!

But there are a lot, and I do mean a LOT of empty walls ! ! !
A call to MCBC Artists went out some time ago and I did find 2 beautiful art pieces, hanging proudly on 2 walls! But there could be so many more!

So here is their latest brainstorm!

Since this is a Mennonite Camp and Mennonites are known for their wonderful quilting abilities; they want quilts.
Not bed quilts but WALL quilts!
The above is a photo of one of the new rooms with art work by Jon Janzen (SMC), son of Garry and Diane Janzen; MCBC Executive Minister.

It is just beautiful! But..... see the wall where the desk is?
See the electrical box? Well..... all the rooms have a similar box and that is what they would like to cover with a quilt!

Here are the sizes and how many are needed:

36" x 36" wall quilt - - - 9 needed
60" x 60" wall quilt - - - 3 needed
36" x 60" wall quilt - - - 1 needed
32" x 32" wall quilt - - - 2 needed

They are hoping that the pictures in the quilts will represent/symbolize/remind us of Camp Squeah in some way. There is no time limit.

Should more quilts than needed, suddenly, make their appearance....... not to worry! It will give them the pleasure of being able to change quilts, as the seasons change during the year ! ! !

Now, go and find a quilting buddy/partner and start your project!

May you have many fun times ahead! God Bless!


Ohhhh... and just in case you are thinking that you are not a quilter???? Don't be discouraged!
They are still waiting for other forms of art to make a home for itself at Camp Squeah, what ever your genre is! Painting, metal work, ceramic work, carving, pottery, etc, etc, ... and even quilting! :-)

Don't be shy! Show us what you can do!

The painting below was done by Peter J. Hildebrand, also from (SMC) Sherbrooke Mennonite Church.
I should have gone closer to take the picture but I like the red wall behind it! It just gives the painting that something extra! If you look closely, you will see that it is Camp Squeah!

And finally...... don't forget to click here and fill out the Mennonite Women Canada "Task Force" Survey! Or at the top of this page! Thanks a bunch!

Summer is OVER! ! !

Summer has gone by so very fast and now it's B-A-C-K to W-O-R-K once again! ! !

Mennonite Women Canada "Task Force" is busy working on the final push to figure out what our Canadian Mennonite Women want, as far as, Women's Ministry is concerned.

We, the "Task Force", have worked hard and prepared a rather comprehensive survey. (12 questions :-)) From the results of it, we hope to make some recommendations to the Mennonite Women Canada Executive but first, all of you have to help us by answering the survey!

So please chick H-E-R-E NOW! It will take you maybe 5 minutes! :-)

The Survey has already been sent to all our MCBC churches.
Soooo.... if you don't have in your mail-slots this Sunday or next, then make sure to ask your office administrators for it.

It will also come to you as an insert in the next MCBC "News 'n Notes", due out a bit later this month.

I have also posted a link on the "Facebook"(MCBC Women's Ministry) group so there really is no excuse for you not to take a few minutes and answer our questions.

If you have any questions, you know where to reach me!

Thank you, one and all ! ! !

Fall Retreat Weekend ! ! !

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Time creeps up quickly after a busy summer!

MCBC WOMEN’S MINISTRY RETREAT WEEKEND

October 16, 17, 18, 2009

Our speaker this year is Sheila Klassen-Wiebe,
Associate Professor of New Testament at

Canadian Mennonite University. Sheila will be speaking about

“The Women Who Walked with Jesus”.

Come and experience the beautiful new facilities at Camp Squeah!
Lovely rooms available (no stairs and wheelchair accessible)

The "Silent Auction" is always a big hit –
start working on those items to bring along for the sale!

This year we will be providing the ladies with a Service Project during the weekend!

Join in and make a blanket for charity!

You can contribute some fleece fabric, 2 pieces that are 60x60 in. large.
You chose the colour and the pattern!

Or you can donate funds toward a blanket, and/or donate your time to help make one!
The blankets will be given to the girls at the Spirit Bear Center Society! www.spiritbearcenter.com
Make sure you bring your scissor with you!

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings, go for a hike, read, bring a craft,
relax, catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Registration (and more information) will be available on-line
beginning August 1, 2009 www.squeah.com
Deadline to register is October 2, 2009

YOU WON’T WANT TO BE LATE!
One other thing to consider....
if you are unable to attend....
...maybe you may want to SPONSOR someone?
...or contribute to our "Bursary Fund"?

The "Bursary Fund" has been available for many years!
If you know of someone who would like to attend but cannot afford to participate,
please, let us know and we will help, as best we can!

Inspirational Day 2009

Saturday, May 2nd.
A cool but sunny morning and women are arriving at their appointed pick up locations.

Lots of chatter and laughter can be heard as they great each other and get ready to board the buses.

Destination.... First Mennonite Church, Kelowna, in BC`s beautiful Okanagan Valley!

112 women are exited to visit their Christian Sisters in Kelowna for a day of food, worship and a bit of fellowship. A little short on the fellowship, since the clock is ticking for our bus drivers, but still enough time for some quick visiting around the tables while enjoying a great meal that was waiting for us upon arrival.

Our very comfy coaches in the parking lot of First Mennonite Church, Kelowna.

When we arrived at the church, the tables were beautifully set and the meal was ready and waiting for us.

Very tasty, indeed! Yum!

Ladies lining up and enjoying their meals!

Visiting around the tables!

More visiting!

An then the afternoon program started!

The topic was "Facing Life's Challenges with Courage".

Peggy Hiebert introduced us to the speakers.

Five women from First Mennonite Church, Kelowna, shared their life altering experiences and how their faith in Jesus Christ sustained them through the journey.

1. The loss of a spouse.
Fran Siemens

2. Living with and recovering from cancer.Reatha Thiessen

3. Living with a special needs child and the loss of this child.Jacqueline Neun

4. Being a refugee and having to move from country to country.Margaret Doerksen

5. Losing a home not once but twice, first time because of war and
the second time because of the Kelowna Summer Fires of 2005.

Gertrude Loewen

A group of ladies had also prepared some special music for the event.
It sounded beautiful!

The singing was followed a time of remembering Sisters that have gone to meet their Lord & Saviour. This is always a very special time during the annual Inspirational Day. This year, 33 special ladies were remembered by the lighting of a candle when their name was read.

In the background reading the names are Ann Wiebe and Helene Wieler.

Lighting the candles are Gerda Dueck and Helga Nickel.

Remembering!

After the Memorial Service the invitation to next year's Inspirational Day was extended by Elinor Neufeld from Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford.

Then, Grace Epp, chair of the Women's Retreat Committee invited all the ladies to the

Fall Women's Retreat at Camp Squeah, Oct. 16 -18.

We are hoping that many of our senior ladies will consider coming back to the retreat weekend now that we have such wonderful new accommodations at Camp Squeah.Hope to see you there in October!

Cleaning Poem

The little tidbit below was sent to me by a lovely computer friend and I thought that I would share it with all of you out there. Hope you like it!
Also, please keep your eye on this page!
There will be new stuff posted, over the next few days!

My Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my "chair"
(Actually it said "Butt" but I wasn't sure I should use that word.)
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick....
I was just admiring my work...
I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site.
That I got SO way into.
I was into it all night. <>

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney!!

I love my Computer because my Friends live in it!
Thank you for being my e-mail buddy and friend!

Now if only you would all become my "blogging buddies", too! :-)