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Winnipeg, Man.
MCC Canada holds Sing for Peace events across Canada


Mennonites and other peace-loving Christians gathered in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Abbotsford, B.C. on November 27 to sing and pray for peace. Mennonite Central Committee Canada organized the “Sing for Peace” events.

About 100 people gathered on Parliament Hill for the Sing for Peace. MCC news photo by Rick Cober Bauman

“The point of ‘Sing for Peace’ was to offer a public peace witness through prayer and song,” said Esther Epp-Thiessen, peace coordinator for MCC Canada.

“It is not enough for us as Mennonites and Brethren in Christ simply to believe that peace is the way. We are called to witness to that belief – to offer a message of peace to our communities and wider world.

“We are called not to ‘light our lamp and hide it under a bushel’ but to let it shine for the world to see. That is why the five ‘Sing for Peace’ events were held outdoors in public places, why we invited legislators (in Manitoba and Ottawa) to join us, why we notified the media, and why we distributed hand-outs to passers-by.”

“It was definitely worth doing,” said Elise Wiebe, who helped organize the Abbotsford “Sing for Peace”. “It was encouraging and meaningful to stand together beside the busiest street, in front of City Hall. It was significant and encouraging to know we were part of several other larger groups across the country.”

A highlight was the large number of young people who attended the Ottawa event, according to Rick Cober Bauman, who helped organize the event there. “It (the event) really got wonderfully taken over by youth who made it theirs and made it fun,” he said.

A highlight was the large number of young people who attended the Sing for Peace in Ottawa MCC news photo by Rick Cober Bauman

“Chilly weather, but a bunch of warm hearts,” said Eileen Klassen Hamm about the 200 people who turned out for the event in Saskatoon.

The group in Ottawa, with the help of Bill Janzen of the MCC Ottawa office, delivered a letter to the Prime Minister’s office, raising concerns about the “war on terrorism”.

“There seems to be far too much faith in the efficacy of military action,” states the letter in part. It was signed by Ron Dueck, chair of MCC Canada.

“The focus is too much on only some acts of terrorism,” the letter continues. “In many countries, including the Congo, Colombia and Indonesia, where there are Mennonite churches, and others where we have programs, millions of people have been terrorized, displaced and killed in recent years. But this has not aroused the world to action.”

The message of non-violence was conveyed to some provincial politicians as well. “We condemn the terrorist acts of September 11th. At the same time, we remind our leaders that violence begets more violence, and that the continuing war against Afghanistan will breed more terrorism,” said Eleanor Epp-Stobbe, peace and justice program coordinator for MCC Manitoba.

“We call on our government to pursue a strategy that will address the roots of terrorism and help to build a more just global order. We believe that our own security is found not in weapons, but in seeking the security and well-being of all God’s children,” she said.

Several members of the Manitoba legislature joined the part of the Winnipeg “Sing for Peace”. As a result, some of them, led by MLA Harry Schellenberg, decided to put together a statement that they intend to read in the Legislative Assembly. The statement was based on the hand-out distributed at the event.

 – a MCC Canada release

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Last modified January 9, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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