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How can I celebrate?
I am tired of war, conflict, hunger, poverty, division, hatred, gun violence, black and white class difference, the oppression of women, slaughter of children and women, fake news, liars and unjust authorities and leaders and so many, many issues that you all are aware of.
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United in the defence of life: water more precious than gold
Friday morning Once the laws became progressively more flexible during the lockdown we all experienced in 2020, I was able to cycle through the mountains in my home city. Although we were not allowed to mill about on the street, we were allowed to go out and do sports for a few hours at a…
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Interethnic and ecumenical work in violent contexts
Friday morning Ephesians 2:14-17 “For he is our peace, in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the…
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A gospel light in the USA
Christmas around the world Every year on 24 December, my family goes to the Christmas Eve service at Park View Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia). It’s a traditional ‘lessons and carols’ service, where we read the Christmas Story from Luke and sing accompanying hymns as we work our way through the text. The whole service is…
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Jesus brings us together in our differences
How to represent Jesus in a live painting? White with a beard as he is often represented in churches? Not really! We had it in our hearts to paint a colorful Jesus, a Jesus in green, yellow, blue, white, red and orange. We are the camp “Juntos in Portugal.” Organized by Joy and Life (Joie…
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Assembly financial update
As the year draws to a close, MWC is finalizing the numbers on the Assembly in Indonesia. “We are very pleased to report that, as of publication time, we met the financial goal of breaking even,” says Chief Operating Officer Jeanette Bissoon. This was MWC’s first time hosting a hybrid event with in-person and online…
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Ministry partner update: ICOMB – December 2022
Siriwan Trakunhan is one of Multiply’s key national partners in Thailand. Over the years, she has served in many capacities: working at the Chiang Mai office, teaching the Bible at a juvenile detention center with Carmen Owen and Cynthia Friesen, and founding Freedom Trades, a vocational training program for women released from prison. More recently,…
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All voices praising Jesus together in Uruguay
I really love the simplicity of our Christmas parties where we meet to enjoy each other’s company and remember the one that keeps us united.
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A family that prays for each other
“You have been with us even though you were far from us. You helped us with your messages and calls,” says Kyendrébéogo Wendyam Natacha. The young woman who recently completed a YAMEN assignment with MWC presented an update in the November online prayer hour to attendees from three dozen countries. “My country [Burkina Faso] underwent…
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A month of celebrating Charni Daan
In India, Christmas is celebrated with great enthusiasm from mid November to New Year. Christmas is more special because we get a chance to meet our family and friends.
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Together across barriers
“Our duty is to bring peace and love.” These words, relayed from Indonesian by a translator at the closing worship service of Mennonite World Conference’s Assembly 17 in Indonesia, came not from one of the featured speakers but from the governor of Central Java. “Our founding fathers gave us this mission of peace,” said Ganjar…
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Sharing love – with sprinkles – in Germany
This tradition reminds me of the message of hope, peace, joy and love at Christmas because you can enjoy a peaceful time together with your loved ones and you can even share this love by giving Christmas cookies to others.
