Yes, MCC Ontario is thinking seriously of a building project!
As a program and administrative centre, we and our partners have run out of space at 50 Kent Avenue here in Kitchener.
And our two Thrift Shops in Kitchener Waterloo have also grown out of their spaces, and are watching their sister shops in the province thrive and grow after their facilities have been improved and expanded. Overall Thrift shops in Ontario are making astounding contributions to MCC's international and local work...$1.8 million this year alone.
Our current partners in this building, as well as others who want to join us, are eager to see MCC Ontario take the lead in creating an innovative Centre for Anabaptist organizations that together would embody a wide, and deep commitment to faithful ministry.
It would be easy to say we do not need this improved infrastructure, and leave it to a later generation of leaders to worry about. That is a tempting option. I have been through enough building projects, from our own farm house, to our timber frame barn, to at least three church buildings in which my family has been involved. But of course it is not the bricks and mortar that are the source of excitement. The vision is about expanded capacity for collaborative Anabaptist Christian ministry, both in Ontario, and across the world...that is what builds excitement!
We invite you to use the bulletin announcement below inviting people to our Special Meeting on May 18. We hope then to communicate our vision, and listen deeply to your feedback.
Our Psalmist friend, David reminded us in chapter 127, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it". I think of that often as we prayerfully seek God's direction in all our ministry.
In Peace,
Rick Cober Bauman, MCC Ontario Executive Director 50 Kent Ave. Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 519-745-8458 http://ontario.mcc.org "Peace, Justice and Dignity for All People Harmony with God's Creation"
NEW BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Special MCC Ontario General Meeting: First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, May 18, 7 pm The Building Needs task Force of MCC O is eager to share its vision for an Anabaptist Centre, whichwillinclude office space for partners currently sharing space with us at 50 Kent, as well as several new partnersand acombined K-W Thrift Shop, Material Resources Centre, and MCC O Head Office at 851 King St E,directly across from First Mennonite Church. Please come and share your ideas and feedback on this exciting, innovative venture.
Our sisters and brothers in Colombia plead with us: Colombia's Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches are calling us to act in two ways: 1) individuals: contact your MP regarding Bill C-2 (formerly C-23) "Colombia-Canada Free Trade Agreement" currently before Parliament. Our Colombian brothers and sisters along with MCC partner organizations have voiced their deep concern around this potential trade deal that may exacerbate violence around land rights and add to the massive displacement of Colombians. More info and sample letters: http://ottawa.mcc.org/colombiafta
2) congregations: join the cry for justice, peace and healing in Colombia. Colombia is now home to almost five million internally displaced persons, having surpassed Sudan. Worship and action resources:http://washington.mcc.org/days
April 18-24 marks National Victims Week in Canada. Restorative Justice reminds us that the needs of victims are important and need to be heard and met if healing is to be possible. As a faith community this week prompts us to be mindful of the often unseen victims of crime and violence around us, to work at understanding the long journey they are on, and find ways of compassionately walking with them towards hope and healing.
ONGOING BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Solar Energy Information Night, hosted by MCCO. Wednesday May 12 at Erb Street Mennonite Church, 131 Erb Street W., Waterloo, 6:30 p.m. visit displays, 7 p.m. program Learn about solar energy opportunities for your home or church. Visit displays of local solar energy vendors. Program includes success stories of people going solar, information about Mennonite Saving and Credit Union’s Creation Care loans and a reflection on how our energy use impacts our global neighbours. For more information, contact
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or http://ontario.mcc.org/MISE.
Public school teachers needed to assist with peace project: As part of MCC Canada's "Peace Sunday Packet", we want to include a resource for public school teachers who seek to bring a peace perspective to the observance of Remembrance Day in their schools or broaden its focus to remembering not only Canadian soldiers but all people affected by the trauma of war. We seek teachers who have ideas about or experience with an alternative Remembrance Day observance. For elementary, middle or high school-aged students. Contact Matthew Bailey-Dick at
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800-313-6226.
MCC Haiti Update from Rick Cober Bauman
Friends
Many of our neighbours with no connection to the Anabaptist or any Christian church community are choosing MCC as their way to respond to the earthquake in Haiti. We are grateful and humbled. But why does such awareness and trust of MCC exist?
This trust does not come from how MCC has responded to this disaster in Haiti in these recent weeks. Rather this trust is built on the work of MCC and its multitudes of "owners" over the last 90 years. One of my colleagues has commented that we who are currently at MCC are "on the shoulders of giants"...giants who went before us with integrity, building trust, leaving a legacy that MCC would get the job done well, efficiently, and effectively.
This trust is a gift of grace.
We who are here now did not earn it. We had it given to us by the giants who went before us. Mennonite and Brethren in Christ people and churches built MCC into an organization that they and their neighbours trust.
When I asked a Kitchener City Councillor why they chose MCC for their Haiti Earthquake donation he said simply: "MCC is our trusted local charity".
But the generous giving of money, time, blankets, relief kits...these gifts from across our community call for a response.
We cannot say "thank you" in our churches alone. We need to say a broader public thank you. We cannot report to our churches alone. Hundreds of others deserve to know how their gifts were used.
And yet, we will remain grounded in the church. We know that the word "Mennonite" in our name, connecting us to the whole of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ history and life, is a huge part of why MCC is trusted. So what does this mean for you in the churches? Is MCC making you a stronger congregation because we provide an opportunity to share with Haiti "in the name of Christ"? We hope so. We believe we are about strengthening the church, both in Haiti and here. That is our commitment as we continue on this journey of being good stewards in Haiti and beyond.
In Christ,
Rick Cober Bauman, MCC Ontario Executive Director 50 Kent Ave. Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 519-745-8458 http://ontario.mcc.org "Peace, Justice and Dignity for All People Harmony with God's Creation"
MCC Haiti Update: Structural engineers inspecting buildings, staff and partners distributing water filters, canned meat, temporary shelter and relief kits, praying with friends and partners in street worship services. This is MCC responding to the Haiti earthquake "in the name of Christ".
Over 2200 Relief Kits already assembled in Ontario, first shipment on its way to Haiti. Collection continues until March 1
$ 2.1 million in Ontario alone to respond to immediate and long term rebuilding
A long list of people wanting to serve in Haiti [MCC will contact based on matches of skills to need in coming weeks]
-A three year MCC Haiti Disaster Response Coordinator has been hired
Please continue your prayers for our sisters and brothers in Haiti.
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Watch a short 90sec video message from MCC
Mennonite Central Committee has created a short PowerPoint slideshow with pictures from the Haiti Earthquake as well as information on how you can support aid work.
It has been a busy week here at MCC Ontario! We are humbled by the generosity and support of so many people as we respond to the disaster in Haiti.
We have bombarded you with a great deal of information this week, but as things developed here, we wanted to keep you up to date with how you can help the people of Haiti in this difficult time.
A few additional notes for you to pass on to your congregations
1) NEW! Main Dropoff location for MCC Blankets, Sheets and Relief Kits for Haiti---Unit 1, 50 Ottawa St S, Kitchener, OntarioStarting Monday January 25th, the main dropoff location will be at Unit 1, 50 Ottawa St. S in Kitchener (yes, we mean Ottawa St!) The warehouse space is located beside the new City Cafe location on Ottawa St Charles St, and will be open Monday - Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am-12pm. Other dropoff locations include the MCC Thrift Shops and the MCC Ontario Material Resources Centre at 50 Kent Avenue in Kitchener.
2) MSCU accepting financial donations for Haiti! All of the Mennonite Savings & Credit Union (MSCU) branches are currently accepting financial donations in support of MCC's relief efforts.
Please continue to check the mcc.org website for resources for prayer and worship
Thanks for your patience as we all work together to respond...in the name of Christ!
Have a blessed weekend,
Lori Martin MCC Ontario Administrative Assistant (519) 745-8458 Ext 218 http://ontario.mcc.org
"Peace, Justice and Dignity for All People, Harmony with God's Creation"
Thanks to all of you who have contacted us with your support and prayers for our friends and colleagues working in Port-au-Prince. Everyone on the Mennonite Central Committee team has been accounted for, as well as many of our friends outside of MCC. We have been in contact with them, directly and indirectly, and have expressed how much our family and friends are thinking and praying for them. I was recently chatting (via Yahoomail) with a Haitian friend who works for a grassroots advocacy organization in Haiti. As part of the international community, he said, we need to show our solidarity with the Haitian people.
How are we to do this?
The first, and most immediate step, is to give money. There are many reputable organization who have the right resources for providing emergency aid- the Red Cross comes to mind. Over the long-term, however, we would suggest donating to the Mennonite Central Committee. Perhaps we are slightly biased toward them considered our time with them in Haiti, but they are exceptional organization when it comes to medium and long term disaster recovery - long after the headlines find a new story. You can find a lot of information about them and how to donate on their homepage: www.mcc.org.
While giving money is the necessary first step, many people have written us wishing there was more that they could do. Well, there always is!
On January 25th, donor countries and institutions (EU, UN, development banks) from around the world will be meeting in Montreal to discuss the long-term reconstruction effort in Haiti. The meeting is to establish and “clear and common vision” for Haiti relief partners. While $1.2 billion has already been pledged by these donors, Dominican Republic President Lionel Fernandez has called for $10 billion over 5 years that should be used in addressing the most important problems facing Haiti such as boosting national production, deceasing their dependence on food imports, and investing more in education, infrastructure and health. Renowned global economist Jeffery Sachs suggested the first priority should be increasing the quantity of food being produced locally. World Vision has also noted that in general, after a disaster, local food can usually be brought into the affected region within a day. Our Haitian friend and mentor living in the countryside, Jean Remy, has actually been driving into Port-au-Prince every day with a pick up truck full of rice and corn. The drive is a mere 3 hours from the capital. Imagine how much faster the response could be if Haiti could actually build up its own food stocks, instead of relying on imports.
This brings me to another point, that I want to mention briefly. The devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, and others like it, are often referred to as “natural disasters.” While the movement of tectonic plates is a natural and necessary process that is required for life on this earth to function, the “disaster” which these movements can cause are anything but “natural.” Imagine that Haitians could afford to build a proper structure for their homes. Imagine if there were building codes enforced by a responsible government. Imagine if rural Haitians could make a decent living in the countryside and not have to move to an already overpopulated city and live in slums and mountainside communities. Now imagine how many fewer Haitians would have been affected by this earthquake, and how much quicker and more effective the response could have been. Sachs echoes this by noting, “if we stop at humanitarian relief alone, Haiti will be back in crisis soon enough, after the next disaster.”
So what else can we do?
1) Ensure that donor institution pledge at least $10 billion over five years, in addition to the previous aid commitments made to Haiti in the past.
2) Ask that a large portion of that aid goes into increasing national production through sustainable methods.
3) Ask that the aid is directed also at rural development, where increased opportunities will reduce the strain on Port-au-Prince.
For you all in Canada, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs will be attending this meeting on the 25th. Please, ever so quickly, send him an email or call his office stating your concern for Haiti. It seems like a small action, but it is an action that we as Canadian citizens can do, and that Haitian citizens cannot.
Below is the short email I have sent. Feel free to use it as a template, though try and personalize yours as best you can.
To: Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Re: January 25th Haiti Relief Meeting
Greetings Hon. Cannon,
I want to commend the response of the Canadian government regarding the earthquake in Haiti. The aid the government has pledged, as well as the expedition of visas for Haitians and their families are all necessary immediate actions. As a former volunteer for the Mennonite Central Committee in Port-au-Prince, I can say that this disaster would not have been as grave if it were not for the grinding economic poverty obviously present before the earthquake.
As such, I trust that Canada will not only play a leading role in the emergency relief efforts, but more importantly, in long-term development. The first opportunity to show Canada’s leadership will be at the donor meeting in Montreal on January 25th 2010. Many respected people such as the President of the Dominican Republic, and noted economist Jeffery Sachs, have suggested that Haiti will need at least $2-3 billion of international aid per year, over five years.
I hope that you, and the Canadian government can:
a) ensure such a goal is met
b) keep previous commitments of Canadian aid for Haiti
c) encourage that long-term aid is directed toward rural development and agricultural production to reduce the rural to urban migration and relieve the strain on Port-au-Prince
I trust that you will represent Canada well as the donor meeting. I want to tell my Haitian friends and colleague that they can count on the Canadian government to lead the international community in its commitment to provide Haiti with the aid it needs for a sustainable, long-term recovery.
The Gathering Church | 519-576-6776 | info@gatheringchurch.ca Church: 245 Activa Ave. Kitchener, ON. N2E 4A3 | Office: 50 Kent Ave. Kitchener, ON. N2G 3R1
