Faith Stories: Membership Sunday
May 12, 2013

June Dyck

God leads in ways we cannot understand. I sometimes have felt like one of the people of Israel wandering in the wilderness. In my teens I attended Rosthern Junior College boarding school for three years. Being an only child I enjoyed the larger school community and made many friends. After graduation I attended Canadian Mennonite Bible College and it was during this time that I was baptized in Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. I became a member of my home church in Hague. Peter and I attended First Mennonite Church in Saskatoon and became charter members of Nutana Park when it was organized.

When Peter and I parted ways I was accepted as a member at First Mennonite Church in Edmonton. I served as a choir leader for either girls or adult choirs in all four churches. I especially enjoyed working with Gary Harder in the music program in Edmonton. In this way I could show my inner joy of serving through music. For me the words in a hymn are like a sermon set to music. I appreciate the warm welcome I have received in this congregation, not only from old friends, but from so many members that are new to me. Thank you all for accepting me back.

 

Don Klaassen

I was raised on a farm near Rosthern. 4 miles down the road from our place was Eigenheim Mennonite Church, which our family attended regularly and became a large part of my life growing up. I did all the regular things: Sunday school, Junior choir and youth group, all of which instilled in me an appreciation for Christian community and for the presence of God in my life.

Starting in grade 10, I was fortunate to attend RJC, where I grew deeper roots in the history and theology of the Anabaptist faith and started asking bigger questions. While there are few specific moments from the daily chapels, Christian ethics classes or Deeper Life Days that I remember clearly, I know that being in this environment had a significant impact on the development of my beliefs.

In my grade 12 year my life was dramatically changed on March 3, 1992 when I was injured in a hockey game and became a quadriplegic. What followed for the next year or so was a difficult period as I struggled to adjust to my new reality. I know there were many people praying for me during this time, including members of this congregation. Although I did not receive physical healing, I did receive what I would call mental and spiritual healing where I was able to move from looking back at all the things I could no longer do and instead look ahead to the life that I still had and appreciate the many blessings I have been given.

I was baptized at Eigenheim on May 29, 1994. My faith journey since that time has not been a straight line, but rather one with ebbs and flows. I haven’t quite been able to work out how this whole being a Christian thing is supposed to work. I still have lots of questions and times of doubt. I deal with this in the manner described by Jason Boyett in his book “O Me of Little Faith”:

“ . . . despite the confusion, my goal is to keep moving forward toward faith rather than
away from it. I’m trying to keep the search active, and I rest in the hope that my continued
searching, in itself, contains a mustard seed’s worth of faith.”

I guess you could say that I have had my toes dipped in the waters of Nutana Park Mennonite Church for quite some time. Since moving to Saskatoon to attend university I have attended sporadically, and not as often as I would have liked due to various reasons. Fortunately in the last couple years I have been able to join worship services more frequently, and I especially want to thank Rob and Brandee for helping to make that possible. I feel it is time to make a commitment to this congregation. In Nutana I have found a church that shares and seeks to live out the fundamental aspects of my faith:

- a church that preaches the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ
- a church that seeks to make a difference in issues of social justice, in our immediate community and beyond
- a church that seeks to promote peace and nonviolence
- a church that supports RJC and the mandate of Christian education for young people
- a church that worships through song

And a church where I want to continue my search. Thank you.

 

Mary Martens

Mary Martens wishes to become a member of this congregation. She was able to attend worship on occasion a few years back but since then ill health has kept her from participating here on a weekly basis. Mary was born and grew up in Hanley. Her parents were Henry and Pauline Martens. Mary is a cousin to Anita Nickel and Evelyn Epp. She was baptized in 1951 at the Nordheimer church in Hanley after she had memorized the catechism and recited it on Ascension Day. She was church organist in Hanley for a few years before she left that community for further education.

Mary took her nurse’s training here in Saskatoon and later took additional training in Edmonton in the area of cardiology. She worked in Outlook, in the operating room at Vancouver General and also worked in Humboldt, Lanigan and all three hospitals in Saskatoon.

Mary transfers her membership from First Mennonite Church, Saskatoon and has also held membership in the past in Hanley Mennonite and Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church in Edmonton.

Currently Mary lives at Extendicare not far from here across from Market Mall. She says that, “without my faith I don’t know where I’d be” in response to the challenges of living with a variety of health issues. “Without prayer, what would I do?” Mary loves the Lord’s Prayer and prays it often. She is a breast cancer survivor and is grateful for life and thankful for friendships. She is committed to praying for the congregation.

 

Margaret Enns

I was born in 1927 on a farm north of Borden, SK and we moved to the Hague area when I was quite young.
I was blessed with loving Christian parents and the youngest of four brothers and four sisters.

My earliest Christian education came from my dear Mom and Dad, who believed in teaching with devotional periods and setting examples of their own lifestyle for us. I took most of my education in rural schools and also in the Hague school.

After graduating I went to work in Saskatoon in Ladies Wear stores and attended many evening classes to complete my education in Dressmaking and Design. I received my Instructors Degree and taught classes in city schools and rural Community Colleges.

I met my husband at work and we were married in 1948 and we both joined First Mennonite Church soon after.

I have two wonderful children, both married, three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

I was looking for another challenge and decided to go into Real Estate. I enjoyed this for 14 years until my husband had a severe stroke. I stayed home to care for him until his passing 21 years ago.

With God’s help, and family and dear friends, I have managed quite well on my own.

I look forward to being a member of your church and to be in God’s family forever.