February 2ndMCM and First Mennonite Host Ecumenical Service
Around 100 people came out on a cold Sunday evening in January at First Mennonite Church to worship together. What made this worship service unusual? It was the service to open the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Winnipeg, and the leadership, the choir, and the congregation reflected many different Christian traditions, from Roman Catholic to Anglican to Salvation Army to Mennonite and more.
“I’ve been participating in these ecumenical services since I started in my role [in 2021],” says Michael Pahl, Executive Minister for Mennonite Church Manitoba. “They have a wonderful way of expanding our understanding of what it means to be the church, what worshiping God can look like. They also simply help us build connections with our siblings in Christ who we don’t regularly see, and who live and think very differently than us in some ways.”
It had been many years since MCM was asked to host the opening service of Winnipeg’s annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity—the last time was 2013 at Bethel Mennonite Church—and Michael jumped at the opportunity when it was presented to him at the fall planning meeting. He quickly contacted First Mennonite Church, and the congregation proved enthusiastic in cooperating to host the event.
“We’re grateful to First Menno folks for stepping up and helping out,” says Michael, “along with people from other MCM congregations who sang in the choir, played piano, made cookies for the fellowship time after, and more.”
This year’s service was written by members of the Christian community in Armenia, and representatives of Winnipeg’s Armenian community were present to bring some unique dimensions to the service, including the chanting of the Gospel reading in Armenian. Next year’s service is being written by Christians in Ireland.
“We’ve already got some Mennonites volunteering to lead the Irish dancing,” Michael says with a smile.
In what ways is your congregation nurturing relationships with other churches and denominations? We have much to learn from each other, and much we can collaborate on together. To support these connections at the regional and nationwide church level through a financial gift, see www.mennochurch.mb.ca/giving.