Inspirational Day - May 5, 2012

Ready and waiting! 

The day started out sunny but cool. 

Worship Team.

The worship team was practicing, the kitchen was busy, the displays were set up. 


The registration desk was ready and waiting, waiting, waiting.....

...and then... 
shortly before 10:00 am the ladies started to arrive and line up. 

Greeting old and new friends with hugs, chatter and laughter. It was obvious, they were happy and excited to see each other again.

Amanda Hickey - MC.

The program started promptly at 10:30 am with a warm welcome from our hosting church, Bethel Mennonite Church in Langley. 

This was followed with Scripture reading and singing. The sound of a church full of women singing always gives me goosebumps. I love it! 

A candle in memory of each loved one.

Singers Deana Ganger & Judy Nash.

As every year, we have a time to remember our dear departed sisters. This year we did that by observing a moment of silence followed by the lighting of the candles accompanied by special music.

Then we listened to 3 testimonies from residents of Campbell River House of Hope - Wagner Hills Farm. It is a Christian healing community that offers residential care and counseling for women in need of healing from brokenness and addictive life styles. House of Hope is a licensed 14 bed facility. It is not too far from Bethel M. Church and the congregation is actively involved in their ministry.  The hosting women chose it to be the recipient of 1/4 of the offering from this day.

Anna speaking about House of Hope.

The other quarter was designated to go to the Samuelito Day Care Centre in Bolivia. This project is supported through Mennonite Women Canada who partners with Mennonite Church Canada, Bolivian Mennonite Church and Mennonite Central Committee and the remainder, as in the past several years, goes to Camp Squeah kitchen needs. 

Of course, a little bit of business is always part of our gathering. One important little tidbit that needed to be announced is the fact that we do not have a hosting church for 2013 at this time. Other than that everything else was quickly dealt with and then we proceeded to enjoy the lunch that our hostesses had lovingly prepared for everyone.

When it was time to once again assemble in the sanctuary it seemed like the ladies had not quite finished visiting. :-)

The afternoon program started with a bit more singing and then we enjoyed the presentation by our guest speaker - Eden Jersak - author and teacher and pastor of Fresh Winds Christian Fellowship in Abbotsford, BC. She spoke about deep and all fulfilling JOY. Not happiness, which is fleeting, but the kind of JOY that is with you even in the most difficult situation. An all embracing JOY. She based her presentation on Isaiah 61.

Eden Jersak 

When Eden was done only two more thing were left on the agenda,  inviting all the ladies to this year`s fall retreat and have another cup of coffee to go with some more visiting.


When all was said and done, about 140 women were blessed with a wonderful day, this included everyone that was part of the program or helped in the kitchen.
In total 15 MCBC congregations were represented and 2 visiting churches.
Our collection was almost $4,000.00, give or take a few $$$.

Because we had to retract the invitation to th 2013 Inspirational Day for next year we now  a few churches thinking about hosting the event. This could mean that we just might have a church for the next 2 or 3 years. Bonus! Will keep you posted as things develop.

Finally, we have been searching, high and low, for our 3^rd Women’s Ministry Committee member and 2 days after the Inspirational Day that also fell into place.

We thank Rita Siebert from Sherbrooke M. Church for volunteering to join the fun!
It was a great day! God blessed us all!