It's been 100 years since Mennonite Central Committee came into being to respond to human need in southern Russian (present-day Ukraine). This centennial is a milestone to celebrate, and a time to inspire us toward the ongoing work of relief, development, and peace in the name of Christ, at home and around the world.
This year, MCC has:
special projects to donate to,
events to attend,
trees to plant,
and stories to hear.
(click on any of the above!)
MCC is also inviting others to share their story of MCC. What congregational stories could HMC share about MCC? How about...
- HMC members whose families may not have survived famine and come to Canada if it weren't for Mennonites in North America coming together to send aid.
- Refugee sponsorship that HMC started in 1979 with Vietnam and continues to this day with Syria.
- Many years of weekly coin offerings to support Menno-Santé, MCC health projects in the DR Congo
- Special Advent giving over the years for projects like Agriculture adaptations for changing climate, Water for First Nations, Books for refugee students, Peace Camps for kids
- HMCers working and volunteering with Circles of Support and Accountability, practicing restorative justice and creating community that is safer and restorative for all
- Inter-generational quilters learning from each other, connecting with one another, and creating beautiful pieces for the MCC Relief Sale in New Hamburg
- Annual My Coins Count collection that is carefully rolled and travels to the MCC Relief Sale to join with the rest
- Young people who have travelled with MCC to Guatemala, Palestine-Israel, etc, and shared those experiences with the rest of us
- Spending the Sunday School hour assembling Relief Kits and School Kits (200 last year!) together and blessing them for their journeys around the world
- 6 years of joining our Hamilton community to Ride For Refuge, cycling through the beautiful countryside to raise money for MCC.
- 17 years of hosting Ten Thousand Villages sales, making community, justice, beauty, and diversity tangible in our worship space as we pioneered fair trade giving (and the best soups!) in Hamilton.
- Enjoying coffee & conversation every Sunday morning, making new friends and deepening relationships as we sip our fair trade brew
- So many more possible stories to tell and to continue to live...
God has done and continues to do amazing things through the work of Mennonite Central Committee, and we are grateful to be part of the story! Do you have your own individual or family story with MCC? Is there a new story you would like to write? What stories from around the world would you like to learn? Take some time this year to discover how all of our stories intersect through MCC's 100 years of working for peace.
Click for MCC Centennial Website