Canadian Mennonite Bible College - Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 33 text:

MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP BAND Jake Giesbrecht, Anne Braun, secretary; John Wiens, chairman; Leo Driedger, Rev. B. Toews, faculty advisor. Die Glieder des Missionsverbands moechten euch alien die Worte des Psalmisten zurufen, ,,Kommt, lasst uns anbeten und knieen und niederfallen vor dem Herrn, der uns gemacht hat. Psalm 95:6. Wie erbaulich sind doch diese Stunden der Gemeinschaft mit Gott und miteinander, die wir besonders hier im College so reichlich pflegen duerfen. Der Missionsverband wurde seiner Zeit gegreundet und hat die Auf- gabe, durch Programme und Gebetsstunden das Gebetsleben der Studenten zu foerdern, und einen regen Missionssinn zu wecken. Zweimal woechentlich werden in der Mittagspause kurze Berichte ueber die Missionsfelder der innern und aeussern Mission gegeben. Auf diese Art koennen wir im Laufe des Jahres alle Missionsfelder der Konferenz im Geiste besuchen. Diese Programme haben schon viel dazu beigetragen, uns mit unsern Missionsfeldern, mit den Missionaren, mit den Freuden die sie in ihrer Arbeit erleben, und auch mit den Schwierigkeiten, mit denen sie dort zu kaempfen haben, bekannt zu machen. Wir haben auch die Freude, jeden dritten Sonnabend im Monate und jeden dritten Dienstagabend mit einem Programm zu dienen, welches mit einer Gebetsstunde abgeschlossen wird. Diese Programme und Gebetsstunden spornen uns an, das Feld der Mission fuerbittend zu gedenken. 31

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iSSslKi LITERARY SOCIETY Rev. D. Janzen, faculty advisor; Irma Jantz, chairman; Lois Bartel, secretary; Henry Dueck. Peace I bring unto you. Four of the debaters: Korny, Katherine, Nettie, Peter. The Literary Society was organized to create a deeper interest for great literary works both English and German, and to encourage students to make known their own talents in this field. Various types of programs were pre¬ sented every third Tuesday. The first evening was devoted to poetry written by Mennonite authors and was concluded by a poem written and recited by one of our own student poets. At Christmas time a play, Peace I Bring Unto You, was presented. One evening, which proved to be very entertaining even for outsiders, was a program of low-German poetry and readings. A social, including literary games, was of a more relaxing type, and then, of course, the highlight of the year for the Literary Society was the debate entitled, In order to fulfill their mission, Mennonites should seek to retain their reiigio-cultural patterns. Creative expression is the road to fuller, more richly developed per¬ sonalities. College life has become more enjoyable because of the oppor¬ tunities offered to the students for creative expression in this field. 30

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THE COLLEGE OCTETTE The idea of having an octette originated with Rev. A. J. Regier during the first year the Cpllege was in operation, and the first group of eight members was accordingly formed soon after New Year of 1948. Since that time the octette has come to be a natural part of the institution. A year ago five extra scholarships were awarded to increase the member¬ ship to 13. This was done in order to provide stand-ins in case of sickness or other con¬ tingency. This year the number of scholarship winners is 12, with four auxiliary members bringing the total to 16. Not all extra members will have the opportunity to participate in giving programs, but the experience of practising together and the repertoire of songs learned will make it easier for them next year, when many of the other members will have left. The purposes and aims of the octette are, first, to be a definite witness in building the kingdom of God; and secondly, to help our churches to become more closely acquaint¬ ed with the work of the College. Then, too, it gives opportunity for the members to visit the churches of our Conference, and thus a greater unity of spirit and a greater understanding of the problems of others is attained. The experience is also valuable in preparing for future Christian service, while an appreciation of our heritage of church music is also ac¬ quired. This appreciation, it is hoped, is also acquired to an extent by those who hear the octette. Five out-of-province tours have been made since the octette was formed. In 1948 and 1 950 tours were made in Saskatchewan; in 1949 a quartet made a trip to Ontario, and later the whole group toured Alberta, British Columbia and part of Washington. In 1950 a tour of the mid-western States was also made. Besides these extended trips, a great many pro¬ grams have been and are being given in local Manitoba churches. It was also the privilege of the octette to serve at the Annual Conference at Sardis in 1949 and at Rosthern a year later, while an invitation to sing at the Conference at Leamington this summer has also been received. Altogether, a total of 28 persons have participated in the octette for periods ranging from three months to three years. Fullfledged members (those who have received voice scholarships), past and present, include: Mary Penner, Mildred Bartel, Lois Bartel, Grace Day, Bruno Epp, Henry Wiens, Bill Dick, John Neufeld, Dorothy Schmidt, Irma Jantz, Mimi Penner, Abe Poettcker, John Martens, Nettie Friesen, Margaret Kehler, Edgar Epp, Norman Bergen, Esther Hiebert, Leola Jantz, June Wieler, George Wiebe and Henry Dueck. Auxiliary members are: Gerta Loewen, Willie Loewen, Henry Neufeld, Dennis Bartel. Mary Fransen and Pauline Jahnke assisted for three months each in 1948 and 1949 respectively. 32