This Christmas season, we are reminded of the love of Christ, born in humble circumstances to bring hope and light to all. Through your efforts—at the receiving door, sorting or processing donations or on the retail floor—you mirror His example of kindness and compassion, sharing His love in practical ways.
May the peace and joy of Christ fill your hearts this Christmas and throughout the coming year. Thank you for volunteering and for making a difference in the lives of so many in need, both locally and around the world.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
You may have already received the MCC Ontario Volunteer Survey. MCC Ontario cares about the experience you and the many other volunteers are having while giving of your time and skills to serve alongside us in this work of relief, development and peace. We would love to hear from you to help us see what is going well and what we need to work on. Kindly click this link to share your feedback with us: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024MCCOVOLUNTEER
Christmas Updates
We have two great opportunities to celebrate Christmas together as the TOK team!
Volunteer Christmas Potluck Lunch
Who: Any volunteers and staff who can make it!
What: A potluck!
Bring your favourite traditional meal, side dish or treat. Please label what it is, including any allergens and your name.
When? December 4 at 12 noon
Where? Hospitality room upstairs
- We will provide drinks, plates and utensils.
Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Party
Who: Any volunteers and staff who can make it!
What: A celebration!
When? December 12th, 6:30-8:30 PM
Where? WMB Church , Kitchener Site
A fun sign found in our shop that reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas, and embodies the values of MCC:
Meet Bishal and Joel!
By Giselle Carter
This month I sat down with Joel and Bishal to get to know them a bit better. They both joined us in October. Bishal is working primarily in receiving with Chuck. Joel is working primarily in the workroom.
Bishal enjoys going to church each Sunday and meeting new people and worshipping God. He finds it gives him strength and refreshes him for the next week.
Bishal is thankful for his wife who is very helpful and understanding. They have been married for almost two years. He likes to go out with his wife in the evenings. Bishal also loves to read Christian books and history. His dad is his hero because he helped Bishal come to Canada from Nepal. He worked hard and made sacrifices for this to happen.
Bishal has been to Qatar, Maldives, India and of course Nepal. Maldives is his favourite country with great beaches and lots of beauty with the ocean.
He is thankful for MCC and for the opportunity to work here. It isn’t like other companies—it’s like working in a family and he is really enjoying it here. He is happy to help MCC.
Joel is passionate about sports. He plays and watches a lot of sports and works for the Kitchener Rangers part time doing stats on shots-on-goal and assists. He grew up playing hockey and baseball and loves doing that in his free time. He and his brother would like to travel to all the MLB baseball stadiums and CHL hockey arenas. He was recently in Quebec for a game.
He grew up Mennonite and goes to Breslau Mennonite. He is a youth leader at the church there and helps usher and set up tables for events. He enjoys singing in a local young adult choir. He likes playing board games—favourites include Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride.
A Few Christmas Thoughts From Giselle
Having extended family members whose skin tones are various shades of white and brown, I am always on the lookout for nativity sets, angels or Santas that represent people of colour. Though we know that Jesus wasn’t White, in North America, most of the nativity scenes (and Santas too) often are, though sometimes the wise men do have different skin tones. Out of curiosity I took a quick look around the Christmas section today, and here is what I found:
• A Nativity scene with all White people except for this one angel (though the angel on the right doesn’t seem very impressed with her)
• A dark-skinned Santa—The pastel pink and grey outfit doesn’t work for me personally, but I appreciate the attempt and hope it finds a good home.
Woody (Elwood) Moshier
Philip Denison
Gaetan Desrochers
Linda Whitmore
Angie Grant
Anupa Bhatta
Marion Grousopoulos
Maaike Buma
Chris Brubacher
Charleene Fros Nikki Geddes
• An Old Order Mennonite Nativity set … I included this because although the skin tones are white, it represents Jesus in a specific culture.
This brings me full circle: why is it important to me that Jesus and angels (and even Santa :) ) aren’t just seen as White? Firstly, it is culturally inaccurate, so if we want to talk about the true story of Christmas, let’s make it as true as we can. But secondly, and maybe more importantly, it is about being able to see ourselves as part of the story, particularly as White Europeans have frequently misused their power and caused a lot of oppression. I find joy when there are Nativity scenes (and angels and Santas) that represent another culture. This communicates a different message: this story from so long ago is relevant to you, whatever your skin colour and whatever your culture. Merry Christmas!
Maryam (Mary) Aghaei
Jean-Pierre (JP) Traendlin
Furtuna Teklay
Diane
Welcoming the Stranger: A Journey of Hope and New Beginnings
Your work in MCC thrift shops has been a part of “welcoming the stranger” to our communities for years by supporting our migration and resettlement program. For over 40 years, compassionate Canadians have been sponsoring refugees to start new lives in Canada.
When Keli, Anderson and their two sons, David and Samuel, arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada, they carried the weight of years of hardship as Venezuelan refugees. After six years seeking asylum in a neighbouring country, they were uncertain about their future. Keli recalled the fear they felt, saying, “It was hard to imagine a brighter future when we had been met with exclusion and prejudice in the past.” But as they walked into the terminal, they were greeted by a group holding signs that read, “Bienvenidos! Welcome to Canada!” Keli said, “In that moment, it was as if every sorrow from our past was swept away.”
sponsorship initiative through the Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) program. MCC Ontario Executive Director Michelle Brenneman explained, “It’s a way for us to live our values—deepening our commitment to supporting people who are vulnerable.” The sponsor group faced challenges, such as securing housing, but with community support, they found a condo for the family in downtown Kitchener.
Joel Font—part of the IT support team at MCCO— knew the experience all too well, having been a refugee from Venezuela himself. “When I arrived in Canada, many people supported me,” he reflected. “Now it’s my chance to give back.” For the first time, Keli and Anderson felt seen and supported. Anderson shared, “Everyone from MCC has approached us with kindness, love and so much support. I can only say that this is God working for us.”
The warm welcome came from staff at MCC Ontario, who decided to take part in a refugee
Though the journey ahead remains difficult, Keli expressed, “We know we can ask for help. MCC is a big family that protects us.” Anderson agreed and added, “It’s sometimes overwhelming, but we see it as God’s blessing. We are so grateful.”
Welcome!
We welcome our new volunteer who started with us recently!
Vanessa—from Trios College
Nizar—retail fashion
Dan—receiving
Sheryl—retail store
Cindy—retail store
Welcome back: Woody, Clare and Nancy have returned after absences.
Beekeeper Robert Loketo talks about the DADO apiary project in Kachapangole, Uganda. A beehive is in the tree in the background.
Lunch & Listen: An MCC Journey Through Uganda
Join us for an inspiring presentation as MCC staff Lynda Lynch and Debbie Siertsema share their experiences from a recent learning tour in Uganda, where they explored MCC’s impactful programs across the region. Join us in person in the Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or watch the livestream on Facebook
