Author: CMU

Farmers, Hunters, and Urban Eaters to Gather for Conversation About Food and Faith

Post author By CMU
Post date October 3, 2013

Germinating Conversations: Eating Together at the Table takes place on World Food Day

Eating is one thing that all people have in common, but what do we eat when we are together? Who grows it? How did it get to our table? What was the impact on the land? Does the food nourish us? Is there enough? Does it taste good? How might these questions be informed by our faith?

These questions will be part of a roundtable conversation at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) with food growers and eaters who think hard about these questions.

Titled “Germinating Conversations: Eating Together at the Table,” the conversation takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in CMU’s Great Hall (500 Shaftesbury Blvd.). The event starts at 7:00 PM and all are welcome. Admission is free.

It’s the fifth in the Germinating Conversations series on food, faith, eating, and the land presented by a partnership of CMU, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Manitoba Peace Program, A Rocha Prairie Canada, and Food Matters Manitoba.

The conversations invite growers and eaters to the table to listen to one another, and are intended to help bridge divides among people of faith.

Kenton Lobe, instructor in International Development Studies at CMU and one of the event’s organizers, says that Germinating Conversations aims to promote an understanding of how land stewardship and food ethics are understood in both urban and rural contexts.

“As farmers markets expand and the interest in ‘eating local’ surges, there remains a tension between those who grow food and those who eat it,” Lobe says. “Germinating Conversations explores what it means for people of faith to eat. How does one’s understanding of food as a gift from God impact daily decisions in the supermarket and in our kitchens?”

Lobe will facilitate the Oct. 16 conversation along with Deanna Zantingh, a student from CMU’s Graduate School of Theology. The panel will include Ron Krahn, a third-generation grain farmer from Rivers, MB; Terry Mierau, an opera singer-turned-chicken farmer from Neubergthal, MB; Tina Hildebrand, a cattle farmer from the Pembina Valley; Aaron Epp, an urban eater who has lost 100 pounds over the past two years through diet and exercise; Melanie Unger, Spiritual Life Facilitator from CMU; and Matthew Dueck, a CMU student, urban farmer, and avid hunter.

“Germinating Conversations: Eating at the Table Together” is the second of seven Face2Face events CMU will host during the 2013-14 school year. The Face2Face series of conversations with CMU faculty designed to engage the community on a wide variety of current events and issues at the intersection of faith and life. For the complete Face2Face schedule, please visit cmu.ca/face2face.

“Germinating Conversations: Eating at the Table Together” falls on World Food Day, an annual event meant to encourage attention to agricultural food production, and strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

Tags Face2Face, Germinating Conversations, Kenton Lobe

Events General News News Releases

Class of 1953 Gathers for 60-Year Reunion

Post author By CMU
Post date October 1, 2013

‘God only knows how much impact they have had on society,’ organizer says

Graduates from the 1953 classes of two of Canadian Mennonite University’s (CMU) predecessor colleges gathered at the university’s Fall Festival Sept. 28 for their 60^th class reunion.

Seven alumni from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC) and Mennonite Brethren Bible College (MBBC) reunited for a time of sharing, remembering, fellowship, singing, and prayer.

“A good number of us are still alive and with it—we can’t take that for granted,” said John B. Epp, who helped organize the reunion.

John Unger, another reunion organizer, said that a highlight for him was a “ministry map” the committee put together indicating the places in the world where 1953 graduates have worked and served.

Of the seven CMBC graduates and 20 MBBC graduates from that year, seven went into pastoral ministries and four went into church conference ministries. Twelve went into education, with seven acquiring PhDs in fields including mathematics, sociology, and history, and teaching throughout North America.

At least five went into missions, with their work taking them to countries that include Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Israel, China, and Japan.

Almost all are or were affiliated with a church congregation where they served as well.

“We’re amazed at what God can do with 27 people if they really are the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” Unger said. “God only knows how much impact they have had on society.”

The organizing committee wanted to plan a 60th reunion after hosting a successful 50th reunion in 2003. At that reunion, the Class of 1953 established a $20,000 endowment for a student bursary. To date, more than $6,000 has been distributed to CMU students in need.

By now, members of the Class of 1953 are in their 80s. Eight class members have passed away, and some were not able to make it to the reunion due to health concerns.

Still, those who were there enjoyed connecting with one another.

“I’m glad we can celebrate together,” Unger said. “My bottom line is the thought that was mentioned in Job 19:25 – ‘I know that my redeemer lives.’ We have to keep our central focus on the Lord, and He is still ruling, and we want to live by faith day by day until He calls us.”

Henry Visch, one of the organizers of the CMBC/MBBC Class of 1953 60-year reunion, stands with a “ministry map” he created. The map indicates where members of the Class of 1953 have worked and served, including Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Israel, China, and Japan.

Members of CMBC’s and MBBC’s Class of 1953 gathered at CMU on Sept. 28 for their 60th class reunion. From left to right: George Wiebe, Hedy Sawatsky, Leo Driedger, Henry Visch, John Unger, John Epp, and Peter Penner.

Tags Fall Festival, MBBC, Reunion

Events General News News Releases

CMU Celebrates Start of School Year with Fall Festival and Opening Program

Post author By CMU
Post date September 30, 2013

Themes of bridges, building, and relying on Jesus Christ were explored as Canadian Mennonite University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters gathered to mark the beginning of the 2013 school year.

“Walls, Bridges, and Living Stones” was the title of CMU’s opening program, a time of worship held on Saturday, Sept. 28 as part of the university’s Fall Festival.

In a meditation he gave during the program, Andrew Dyck, Assistant Professor of Ministry Studies, drew from 1 Peter 2:4-5, suggesting that each person in the room—students, donors, friends, and employees—were living stones.

At the centre of CMU’s mission statement is Jesus Christ, whose life, teachings, death, and resurrection moves and transforms the community, Dyck added.

“When we build on this living cornerstone—both wonderful and inscrutable—we will eventually discover that God is using our various efforts at building walls and bridges to accomplish something greater than anything we could ask or imagine: a house of healing, a house for all peoples, a house for God’s Spirit!”

Earlier in the program, during his CMU update, Vice President External Terry Schellenberg noted that the university’s enrolment is up two per cent from last year, with 629 students at the Shaftesbury campus. This includes students from 12 countries, including Chile, Cina, Congo, Germany, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Paraguay, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

Schellenberg added that construction has started on CMU’s new Library, Learning Commons, and Bridge. $10.2 million of a total $14 million has been given and committed, and people are invited to contribute in a variety of ways.

“If it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly takes a generous and visionary community of supporters and alumni to move CMU forward for a new generation,” Schellenberg said. “Thank you for your support of this project and your interest in a vital university mission, of the church, in and for the world.”

The opening program was the culmination of Fall Festival, CMU’s annual homecoming weekend.

Fall Festival started on Friday, Sept. 27 with the presentation of the 2013 Blazer Distinguished Alumni Awards, which celebrate alumni who, through their lives, embody CMU’s values and mission of service, leadership, and reconciliation and society. CMU President Cheryl Pauls presented the awards to John Siebert, Leonard Doell, Robin & Zachary Heppner Entz, and Carol Penner.

Pauls also presented the Blazer Distinguished Community Service Award to Selma Loewen, Sara Stoesz, Susan Giesbrecht, and Linie Friesen, the four women who started the first Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Shop.

The evening concluded with, “Oh My God! – Making Sense of Everyday Talk,” a presentation by CMU professors David Balzer and Gordon Matties on the use of the phrase “Oh my God” in today’s culture.

Earlier in the evening, CMU’s women’s and men’s basketball teams won their pre-season games, 62-45 and 101-85, respectively

Fall Festival continued on Saturday, Sept. 28 with a variety of different activities, including a farmer’s market that included more than 10 vendors from the community, as well as a pie bakeoff.

A bicycle race, folk music festival, learning samplers—where faculty and staff shared an aspect of their teaching and work—were also part of Fall Festival, as well as a community supper and class reunions.

Reflecting during opening program on her time at Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC), one of CMU’s predecessor colleges, alumna Sherry Sawatzky-Dyck said that CMBC taught her that the love of God and the peace of Christ are the cornerstones of her faith and work.

“What I learned here, and who I learned it from, became my foundation,” she said. “Like those pillars that will support our new bridge over Grant Avenue, my foundation became strengthened.”

CMU President Cheryl Pauls talks about the university’s future during a learning sampler at Fall Festival 2013. Enrolment at the university is up for 2013-14, and construction began this past July on a new Library, Learning Commons, and Bridge.

During CMU’s opening program on Sept. 28, Vice President External Terry Schellenberg gave an update on the university and thanked the constituency for its support. “If it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly takes a generous and visionary community of supporters and alumni to move CMU forward for a new generation,” he said.

Seven alumni from the 1953 classes of two of CMU’s predecessor colleges, Canadian Mennonite Bible College and Mennonite Brethren Bible College, gathered for their 60-year reunion during Fall Festival.

Tags Blazer Awards, Fall Festival, Opening Program

Face2Face: On Campus – Community in Conversation Video

‘Oh My God’: Making Sense of Everyday Talk with David Balzer & Gordon Matties

Post author By CMU
Post date September 30, 2013

As the first installment of CMU’s Face2Face conversation series, university instructors David Balzer and Gordon Matties explored the way people use the phrase “Oh my God” in everyday life.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUngBaGwnV8[/youtube]

Tags David Balzer, Face2Face, Gordon Matties

Events General News Lectures News Releases

Redekop School of Business Hosts Distinguished Businesswoman

Post author By CMU
Post date September 19, 2013

Social entrepreneur Sarah J. Smith to spend week meeting with students and business people

The Redekop School of Business (RSB) welcomes Sarah J. Smith to Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) as its 2013 Social Entrepreneur In-Residence. Ms. Smith will spend September 23-27 mentoring students and meeting local business people to share her story, which combines business, social justice, and Biblical principles.

Ms. Smith, who holds a number of degrees including a Doctorate of Theology and Bachelor of Business Administration, is founder and president of Sarah’s Hope Jewelry. The Wisconsin-based for-profit company was started in 2004 to fund non-profit organizations that provide small business micro-loans and training for women in the USA and developing world.

Ms. Smith’s week-long visit will include a number of classroom appearances and one-on-one sessions with RSB students. Additionally, she will also be the keynote speaker at a luncheon presented by MEDA Winnipeg, scheduled for September 26 at the Notre Dame Avenue Independent Jewellers location. There she will share how her business model has helped small business owners in less developed countries overcome poverty and become viable contributors to their local communities.

“Through the combination of Sarah J. Smith’s business acumen and pastoral ministries, Sarah’s Hope Jewelry is a testament to the impact one individual can have on communities around the world,” say RSB Director, Dr. Ray Vander Zaag. “The opportunity for our students and faculty to experience her passion for international development and business will prove there is room for social justice in a commerce environment.”

For more information regarding Ms. Smith’s background and a schedule of events, please visit www.cmu.ca/business.

RSB’s 2012 In-Residence guest was Art DeFehr, Winnipeg-based businessman, humanitarian, and philanthropist who has bettered the lives of others in Manitoba and around the world.

Tags In-Residence, MEDA, microfinance, RSB, Sarah J. Smith

Events News Releases

CMU Recognizes Distinguished Alumni with 2013 Blazer Awards

Post author By CMU
Post date September 9, 2013

MCC thrift shop founders to receive university’s Distinguished Community Service Award

WINNIPEG – A public policy expert, a man working at building relationships between First Nations people and Mennonites, two international development workers living in West Africa, and a pastor who donated one of her kidneys are the recipients of Canadian Mennonite University’s (CMU) 2013 Blazer Distinguished Alumni Awards.

CMU President Cheryl Pauls is pleased to present the awards to John Siebert, Leonard Doell, Robin & Zachary Heppner Entz, and Carol Penner on Friday, September 27 during the university’s Fall Festival.

The Blazer Awards celebrate alumni who, through their lives, embody CMU’s values and mission of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society. The awards are presented annually to alumni from CMU and its predecessor colleges: Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC) and Mennonite Brethren Bible College (MBBC)/Concord College.

“We want to honour and celebrate the significant contributions that alumni make to the church and the broader community,” Pauls says. “In telling their stories, it’s an encouragement and an inspiration to the rest of us. It awakens those of us who hear their stories to new possibilities for ourselves.”

Pauls will also present the university’s Blazer Distinguished Community Service Award to Selma Loewen, Sara Stoesz, Susan Giesbrecht, and Linie Friesen, the four women who started the first Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Shop.

“The vision, initiative, and level of commitment these four women displayed is remarkable,” Pauls says. “They had the imagination to create a project that was able to create good in multiple ways.”

The awards ceremony honouring these men and women takes place at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 27 in CMU’s Laudamus Auditorium.

Information about the award recipients:

John Siebert attended MBBC from 1977 to 1979 and has worked on public policy issues for the past 30 years. He is currently the executive director at Project Ploughshares, a Waterloo, ON-based non-governmental organization that works with churches, governments, and civil society, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions to prevent war and armed violence, and build peace.

Historical research and writing have been strong interests throughout Leonard Doell’s life. Since attending CMBC in the late ‘70s, he has written extensively about Mennonite and First Nations history. Doell works as the Aboriginal Neighbours Coordinator at MCC Saskatchewan, where he helps build relationships between Mennonites and First Nations peoples.

Robin and Zachary Heppner Entz earned degrees from CMU. They have spent the past six years working in the West African nation of Mali as community development consultants advocating on behalf of the Fulani communities as they seek to retain ownership of their communal lands. Robin and Zachary work with World Renew, the development, disaster response, and justice arm of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

With a PhD in Systematic Theology, Carol Penner has taught courses at Conrad Grebel University College, enjoys freelance writing, maintains a blog of worship resources, and has worked as a pastor for the past 13 years. Last year, Penner, who graduated from CMBC in 1981, donated one of her kidneys to a stranger after watching the process that her husband, Eugene, went through when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2008 and had his diseased kidney removed.

In 1972, Selma Loewen, Sara Stoesz, Susan Giesbrecht, and Linie Friesen started a thrift shop in Altona, MB to raise funds for MCC’s work overseas. It was the beginning of a network that has grown to more than 100 shops across North America that has generated contributions totaling $167 million for the work of MCC.

Tags Blazer Awards, Cheryl Pauls, Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Community Service Awards, MCC Thrift Shop

General News News Releases

2013 Fall Enrolment Numbers Show Increase in CMU Students

Post author By CMU
Post date September 6, 2013

Preliminary fall enrolment at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) shows a 2.5% increase in students registered for classes at its Shaftesbury campus and Outtatown program compared to last year. Overall, 621 students have registered, with Graduate program registrations increasing significantly by 15%.

“Students are drawn to the high quality of academic programs and mentoring by CMU faculty and to the university’s distinct practicum program, through which all BA students make connections in the workplace and the broader community.” said CMU President Cheryl Pauls.

Final enrolment numbers will be confirmed in the upcoming weeks as registrations continue to be processed.

Note: Enrolment figures discussed do not include registrations for Menno Simons College.

Tags Cheryl Pauls, enrolment

Alumni Profiles Articles

Royal Canoe guitarist talks about how CMU has shaped his life

Post author By CMU
Post date August 22, 2013

RCbubbles-edited — Royal Canoe guitarist Bucky Driedger (bottom left) graduated from CMU in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, with a concentration in Communications.

August 22, 2013 – With its forward-thinking blend of pop, rock, hip hop, dance, soul, and electronic music, as well as its energetic live shows, Royal Canoe has made a name for itself as one of Winnipeg’s most exciting bands.

Two of the band’s singles have reached the Top 5 on CBC Radio 3, they have toured throughout North America and Europe, and they’ve earned praise from venerable publications like The New York Times to blogs like This Music Doesn’t Suck, which described the band’s sound as “a clever blend of aesthetics and genres executed with a confidence and expertise usually reserved for more established groups.”

Bucky Driedger, Royal Canoe’s guitarist, backing vocalist and co-songwriter, sees a clear connection between the work he does in the band and the time he spent on Outtatown in 2002-2003 and then studying at CMU.

“Both were experiences that shaped my worldview and gave me a desire to experience new places and try new things,” says Driedger, who graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, with a concentration in Communications.

He adds that he studied and lived in residence with many creative people who were interested in making music and visual art.

“Being in a culture where my peers valued thinking outside the box really helped me develop my sense of taste and what I value in art,” he says. “Good art should help people . . . imagine a new way of thinking about the world.”

Studying communications gave Driedger an appreciation for the way media and pop culture interact, and the subtleties involved in phrasing a message so that it has a particular impact on its intended audience.

RC-SmallCover — “Today We’re Believers,” Royal Canoe’s new album, is in stores Tuesday, Sept. 3.

CMU also equipped Driedger with some of the tools he uses to help promote the band. While Royal Canoe has a manager, booking agents, and record label support, each member is actively involved with every aspect of the business side of the music industry, from graphic design, to photo shoots, to booking tours, to writing press releases and updates for the band’s website.

“Gone are the days when you can be a mad genius in your basement, get discovered by a major record label, and have everyone do everything for you,” he says. “You need to have copywriters and booking agents in your band.”

While at CMU, Driedger sang in choir. Growing up in the Mennonite Church, he saw what an important part music plays in Mennonite culture.

“From a young age, I learned to value thoughtful music-making,” he says.

The intricate composition and harmony Driedger and his bandmates witnessed in church has made its way into Royal Canoe’s sound. Some of the group’s songs have a classical music feel, and at any given moment, four of the band’s six members could be singing at the same time, weaving different harmonies together behind the melody.

This fall, Royal Canoe will spend three-and-a-half months touring throughout North America and Europe in support of its second full-length album, Today We’re Believers, which hits stores on Sept. 3. Driedger is excited to see how people respond to the album, which the band worked on for the better part of three years.

“We put a lot of thought into every tone and lyric,” he says. “They’re not just throwaway [songs]. They all represent really important moments in our lives.”

Royal Canoe will celebrate the release of Today We’re Believers with two shows in Winnipeg this week: An all ages show at the Park Theatre tonight (Thursday, Aug. 22), and an 18+ show at Union Sound Hall tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 23). For details, and to hear the band’s music, visit www.royalcanoe.com.

Tags alumni, Bucky Driedger, Canadian Mennonite University, CMU, music, Outtatown, Royal Canoe

Events News Releases

Helping Worship Leaders Find New Songs Goal of CMU Workshop

Post author By CMU
Post date August 15, 2013

New Songs for Worship to be held November 2; will also address issue of musical style

WINNIPEG, August 15, 2013 – With so many new songs in so many different styles being written for worship these days, how can worship leaders even begin to sort through them all?

“Some people suggest that more songs have been written for worship since 1970 than were written in the two thousand years prior,” says Christine Longhurst, who teaches at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU).

“We can’t know if that’s true, but it often feels like it. There’s a steady stream of new songs coming at today’s song leaders and worship leaders. It’s tough to keep up.”

<strong>Helping worship leaders discover the best new songs is the goal of New Songs for Worship, to be held Saturday, November 2, 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM at CMU’s Chapel, 600 Shaftesbury Boulevard in Winnipeg.</strong> — Helping worship leaders discover the best new songs is the goal of New Songs for Worship, to be held Saturday, November 2, 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM at CMU’s Chapel, 600 Shaftesbury Boulevard in Winnipeg.

Led by Longhurst, a former worship pastor and author of the popular re:Worship blog (re-worship.blogspot.ca), the workshop will also address issues of musical style.

“We’ll look at new music in a wide range of styles—new contemporary hymns, Praise & Worship, and everything in between,” says Longhurst. “The goal is to help leaders find ways to bridge the stylistic gaps that often exist in congregations.”

This year’s workshop will also include a look at the recent resurgence of traditional hymnody.

“Many of today’s contemporary songwriters are drawing from traditional hymn sources for their inspiration,” Longhurst says. “We’ll take time to look at these new trends.”

The workshop is also “a chance to interact with song leaders and worship leaders from other congregations who face similar challenges and opportunities,” she adds.

New Songs for Worship is presented by CMU, with sponsorship from the Mennonite Brethren Church Manitoba, Go Mission!/EMMC, and Mennonite Church Manitoba. Cost of the workshop is $35 ($25 for additional registrants from the same congregation). Students and seniors are $20. For more information, or to register, contact Cori Braun at cbraun@cmu.ca or 204-487-3300.

A second New Songs for Worship workshop is planned for January 25, 2014 in Winkler, MB.

Tags Christine Longhurst, new songs, workshop, worship

Uncategorized

Prof. Sue Sorensen shares her summer booklist

Post author By CMU
Post date July 30, 2013

As one might expect from an English professor, Sue Sorensen is someone who spends a lot of time with books. The following is a run-down of what’s on her summer reading list right now:

Right now I’m reading: Bobcat, and Other Stories by Rebecca Lee, a brand new award-winning book of fiction by a writer who grew up in Regina, where I lived for many years. Her short stories are wonderfully original and surprising, and perfect examples of the well-structured tale.

I Just finished: Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, a beautiful and gentle book about a 1950s pastor in Iowa. Nearly every page shimmers with compassion and deep insight. (It’s part of my research on pastors, for a study of literary pastors I’m writing called The Collar, but it’s also just lovely to read.) Here’s my favourite humourous line from Gilead about being a pastor: “So often people tell me about some wickedness they’ve been up to, or they’ve suffered from, and I think, Oh, that again!”

Just for fun I’m reading: The 1960s mysteries of Florida writer John D. MacDonald. They are much smarter than your average thriller, and MacDonald always had a mad on about something – corporate greed, or the destruction of the environment. His detective, Travis McGee, is a great character. The Travis McGee novels all have a colour in the title; right now I’m reading Pale Gray for Guilt.

With my son: I’m reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels with my son Theo, who is 10, getting ready for the new movie Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters coming out on August 7. They are clever and funny books with lots of great material for kids about Greek myth.

Not so much: Earlier this summer on holiday I read a biography of the lead singer of the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, called This is A Call by Paul Brannigan. I like Grohl a lot, but the book was only so-so.

I’m re-reading: The novels of Graham Greene. I just finished Our Man in Havana (about Cuba before the revolution) and am starting The Comedians (set in Haiti in the 1960s). I read these years ago, but this summer my husband and I are both working our way through them again and then watching the movies based on them. Greene was a great writer – his books are both clever and entertaining, and he was so unassuming about his cleverness.

Professor Sorensen’s interests extend from 19th and 20th century British literature—her core area of specialization—to film adaptations of literature and the examination of popular song lyrics as poetry. Her doctoral dissertation was “Verbal and Visual Language and the Question of Faith in the Fiction of A. S. Byatt.” A member of the Henry James Society and the George Eliot Fellowship, she also has research interests in Guy Vanderhaeghe and children’s literature.

Prior to coming to CMU, Professor Sorensen taught English at University of Western Ontario and University of Winnipeg. She also worked in the field of publishing. Stay tuned for when her book on representations of the clergy in fiction and film will be published.