Peace & Justice
| The Peace and Justice Ministry (P&J; formerly known as Christian Witness) encourages the people of ESMC to branch out beyond our walls to help people in need across the street and around the world. As we reach out, our faiths grows and deepens as we learn new perspectives and understandings. Below are listed the various ways P&J helps our church to branch, grow and become rooted in the ways of peacemaking. |
| Awareness | Our Ministry collaborates with Education and Worship Ministries to learn more about the justice issues – poverty, refugees, indigenous people and the environment. We seek out the facts and listen to the stories. Empathy and compassion spark us to speak and act in solidarity with those seeking justice. | |
| Partnerships | As a church community we don’t work at these challenges alone. We have access to many partners – organizations and agencies that are doing significant work globally and/or locally. Many of us are involved volunteering, participating on boards, being donors. We have members who provide leadership. | |
| ESMC Initiatives | ||
| Underhill Residential Home | We have been providing monthly birthday treats for our neighbours since 1999. | |
| Out of the Cold | Our volunteers currently support First United Church, Waterloo each Friday evening serving supper, providing hospitality overnight and serving breakfast the following morning. | |
| Mary’s Place Dinner | Each year our junior youth and youth host a dinner at Mary’s Place. Food and other donations are appreciated and can be left in the designated box. | |
| House of Friendship | Our monthly food caddy collection supports the regional food bank. Special collections are highlighted throughout the year – Thanksgiving, turkey drive, potato drive, etc. | |
| MCRS & SHOW | Through sales of Zehrs and Sobeys grocery gift cards respectively, we raise funds for these local non-profit organizations. | |
| New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale | Each year in May, MCCO hosts this Relief Sale. ESMC volunteers help with the sausage breakfast, quilt sale, electrical set up and grounds clean up. | |
| Partnership with Andrew and Karen Suderman | Our congregation shares in partnership with Karen and Andrew Suderman, Mennonite Church Canada (MC Canada) Witness workers in South Africa (beginning July 2009). They work in partnership with Mennonite Mission Network, the Mission Agency of Mennonite Church USA and Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, especially in the work of Bible teaching; peace, justice and reconciliation initiatives. They have helped to develop the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA). This is an opportunity to strengthen participation in the global Church through prayer and communication. | |
| Service and Peace Witness Fund | P&J provides some financial support to congregants at Erb Street who participate in service and peace witness activities. Applications for support from this fund may be made through the pastor. | |
| Erb Street Idol | Each year P&J hosts a night of music and entertainment whose goal is to raise awareness of the many mission and service programs supported by the Erb Street congregation through the Peace & Justice Ministry. |
Erb Street Idol remix 2011
Erb Street Idol 2013