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"The Rabbi's Gift", by Scott Peck, tells the story of a dying monastery. The abbot of the monastery, not knowing how to rebuild the monastery, visited a rabbi living in the same woods. Before the abbot left, the rabbi told him that one of the monks in the monastery was the messiah. When the monks heard that, they began to question each other as to who, among the few remaining monks, could possibly be the messiah. But, in the off chance that this was really true, they began to treat each other with more respect and reverence. When this was noticed by the townsfolk, they too began to treat the monks with respect. They began coming to the monastery again, a few joined the monastery and it regained new life. They began to serve each other and the people in the community and the Lord's presence was again felt.
The creative movement team from McIvor Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg, accompanied by the singing of "Holy, Holy, Holy", beautifully dramatized the awe in which God is held by Isaiah in Isaiah 6.
Singing at all three evening meetings, as well as the Sunday morning worship time, was led by a worship team directed by Anne Friesen. The singers were accompanied by bongo drums, guitars, keyboard, rhythm instruments and synthesizer. The songs were mostly middle-of-the-road style, with some hymns and some choruses. Trevor Olfert was particularly effective on the synthesizer in the prelude on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning worship included another dramatic reading, this one entitled "Children and Heirs of God". The Spirit calls the child to follow Him; He also calls the senior. The senior says, "The Spirit and I have a long history. We have stayed together. I want to pass on to others what I have learned." The physically and mentally challenged person acknowledges that the Spirit recognizes her words; she has a unique perspective on life and others can benefit from her. The adolescent is not a child nor an adult, and yet she too recognizes the Spirit within her. Life is frightening but fun when she follows the Spirit. The marginalized person, whether a poet or artist or of another ethnic or racial background also knows that the Spirit is alive in him and understands him. But he also needs a community that will accept and understand him. The woman notes that the Spirit is working within her in new ways and the man expresses the tiredness he feels because of the many expectations of him. But all have access to grace and love; they all look to the Spirit and all are heirs of God, each as a favourite child. The singing of "They will know we are Christians by our love" completed the drama.
Sunday morning's worship was also augmented by a Concord College alumni choir led by Bill Baerg, and a band that accompanied the congregational singing.
The Saturday evening banquet worship time was enriched by testimonies from Sam Dyck, Martha Wall and Vidya Narimalla. Sam shared his love for Jesus and Jesus' love for him. He also spoke of the summers he had served with Youth Mission International, sharing Jesus' love with others. During his ministry with YMI, he was mentored by YMI leaders and learned to pray for the lost.
Martha Wall talked about her ministry in Institut biblique Laval, in Montreal. IBL was born 20 years ago when there was particular need for leaders for the small church in Quebec. Currently both young and older people are attending classes at IBL. IBL is also becoming a training centre for other ethnic groups such as Haitian and Cambodian church leaders in Montreal. However, there is still a big mission field in Quebec, and one of Martha's major projects is writing new tools to reach out to the children.
Vidya Narimalla is the pastor of New Covenant Christian Fellowship in Toronto. Narimalla came to Canada 16 years ago to get rich. However, God called him to church planting in "the greatest city in the country". The 50 people attending the church come from 10 different nationalities.
Offerings at the banquet and the Sunday morning service totalled almost $25,000. Of this, $7500 will go to IBL and Atlantic church planting, $12,500 to Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services and $5000 to the International Committee Of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB). Two of the projects being assisted by the MBM/S portion of the offerings are The Great Lakes Project in Zaire (helping to establish churches in eastern Zaire), and assisting Church Extension Workers in India. ICOMB is the association of moderators from the 14 national Mennonite Brethren conferences around the world. It was established to deal with issues of common concern, such as the Confession of Faith, pastoral and leadership training, church polity, ethics and morality, Christian education, missions and church planting.
The worship component got ratings of anywhere from 1 to 6 out of 6 on the evaluation forms completed by delegates to the convention. Comments included: more worship time; lacked passion; quite formal; too many new songs. One person summed it up by saying "I was blessed by the worship and devotionals. It is exciting to worship with people from across Canada."
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Return to the M.B. Herald Vol. 35, No. 15
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