Arts & Culture

Advent is both a season of celebration and waiting. In homes, the Advent calendar (with its daily allotment of chocolates) and in churches, the Advent evergreen wreath (with its coloured candles) are dusted off and set in their hallowed places. These heart-warming symbols telegraph the approaching Christmas Day and also invite us to a period of waiting…

Title: Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion.
Author: By Rebecca McLaughlin
Harold Jantz reviews and recommends this book that will not only equip you intellectually but also call you to compassion and empathy for your questioning, unbelieving neighbour,

Title: Unsettling Truths: The on-going, dehumanizing legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.
Author: Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
This book shines a damning light on the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the legal framework that grounded and justified European colonial rule of the Americas, and whose fallout continues to impact Indigenous lives to this day.

Speaking of God Anthony G. Siegrist Herald Press Reviewed by Joshua Nightingale What is the subject? Siegrist sets out to write a “little introductory handbook on Christian theology.” Speaking of…

All That Belongs Dora Dueck Turnstone Press Reviewed by Jon Isaak The novel – featuring a retired Mennonite archivist named Catherine Riediger, who makes several startling discoveries of her own…

Title: Toward an Anabaptist Political Theology
Author: A. James Reimer
Reimer develops a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between church and society so that the church might more effectively understand its role within “the world.”

Title: Peacemaking: A Community Workbook
Author: Matt Balcarras
This workbook encourages everyday peacemaking around kitchen tables, on the playground and at the PTA, in the pew, and at the poll booth.

Raising Disciples: How to make faith matter for our kids Natalie Frisk Herald Press Reviewed by Andrea Toews What is the subject? With Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as her basis, Natalie Frisk…

Commentary calls for allegiance to Messiah’s reign Believers Church Bible Commentary: Philippians Gordon Zerbe Herald Press Reviewed by Eric Jordan Doerksen What is the subject? Gordon Zerbe’s commentary on the…

I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People Terence Lester Review by Dave Ens What is the subject? How does your church approach ministry to people at…

Learning to Discern What the Spirit is Saying to the Church Spirit Hermeneutics: Reading Scripture in Light of Pentecost  Craig S. Keener Reviewed by Brad Sumner What is the subject?…

Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War Mennonite Heritage Centre The gallery was quiet when I went in; my lunch break didn’t appear to be during peak visiting…

“Going to church” with the MB Herald book club Ever been catching up on your newsfeed and impulsively clicked something that caught your eye? Just a momentary spark of interest…

Refugees and Ambassadors: Mennonite Missions in Brazil Victor Wiens Self published Reviewed by Eckhard Goerz What is the subject? An examination of Mennonites in Brazil, arriving initially as refugees largely…