Difference between revisions of "Emmaus Mennonite Church (Wymark, Saskatchewan, Canada)"

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[[File:emmaus.jpg|380px|thumb|right|''Emmaus Mennonite Church, Wymark, Saskatchewan<br />
 
[[File:emmaus.jpg|380px|thumb|right|''Emmaus Mennonite Church, Wymark, Saskatchewan<br />
 
Source: [http://www.mcsask.ca/churches/emmaus.htm Mennonite Church Saskatchewan website]'']]
 
Source: [http://www.mcsask.ca/churches/emmaus.htm Mennonite Church Saskatchewan website]'']]
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Emmaus Mennonite Church began services in 1927, and formally organized in 1928. The first building was occupied in 1937. [[Ewert, Benjamin (1870-1958)|Benjamin Ewert]] is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]]. The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1940s.
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In 1928 the Emmaus Mennonite Church in Wymark, [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]], [[Canada]] was founded by 75 charter members. Originally Emmaus was a collection of small worshipping community known as a ''Gemeinde'', with meeting places in Neville, [[Emmaus Mennonite Church (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Swift Current]], [[Emmaus Mennonite Church (Blumenhof, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Blumenhof]], [[Emmaus Mennonite Church (Schoenfeld, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Schoenfeld]], [[Emmaus Mennonite Church (Rhineland, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Rhineland]] and Wymark.
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[[Nickel, Valentine E. (1901-1965)|Valentine Nickel]], a school teacher in the Wymark area beginning in 1929, became actively engaged in the group meeting at Wymark. Many Sunday services were held in the Wymark school where Nickel taught. Valentine and Rose Marie Nickel spearheaded the search for a permanent place of worship at  Wymark. The group found a suitable building in a nearby village and moved it to Wymark. It was renovated and dedicated on 11 November 1938 and was used for the life of the congregation.  
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The Wymark congregation elected Valentine Nickel as its minister on 10 June 1938; he was ordained in August 1938. In 1945 he was elected elder, though he was not ordained until 1948.
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In 1959, there were 270 members in the whole Emmaus Gemeinde, and congregants decided to form two distinct churches. The Swift Current congregation initially became known as First Mennonite Church, but changed its name in 1961 to [[Zion Mennonite Church (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Zion Mennonite]]. The Wymark congregation kept the Emmaus name.
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For many years, Emmaus Mennonite was actively involved in mission and outreach in the local area. Through the Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization, Emmaus members helped found the Herbert Nursing Home and the [[Mennonite Youth Farm (Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Mennonite Youth Farm]] at Rosthern. Under Valentine Nickel’s leadership, they purchased property on Lac Pelletier, south of Swift Current, which became Camp Elim, one of [[Mennonite Church Saskatchewan|Mennonite Church Saskatchewan’s]] three camps. Emmaus Mennonite also helped establish and support [[Swift Current Bible Institute (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Swift Current Bible Institute]].
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By 2018 the reality of an aging congregation in a rural area took its toll. Emmaus had around 40 members, but only about 25 people attended regularly. In winter, with snowbirds gone to warmer climates, the number dwindled to 12. The congregation voted to close on 20 May 2018, and the final service took place on 28 October 2018.
  
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Wymark was part of the Emmaus church group.
 
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
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Unpublished congregational history, 1961, 26 pp. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/index.htm Mennonite Heritage Centre].
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"Emmaus Mennonite Church fonds." Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives. 21 June 2012. Web. 30 November 2018. http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/holdings/SK/SK_Emmaus.htm.
  
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Unpublished congregational history, 1972, 23 pp. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/index.htm  Mennonite Heritage Centre].
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Sawatsky, Ernie. "The History of the Emmaus Mennonite Church of Swift Current and South." Unpublished student paper, 1961. Web. 30 November 2018. http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/holdings/SK/scans/EmmausMChistory.pdf.  
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Schulz, Donna. "Emmaus Mennonite closes after 90 years: Aging Congregation and Dwindling Numbers cited as Reasons." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 19 November 2018. Web. 30 November 2018. https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/emmaus-mennonite-closes-after-90-years.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': Box 26, Wymark, SK S0N 2Y0
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'''Address''': Wymark, SK S0N 2Y0
  
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'''Phone''': 306-773-6061
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'''Phone''':  
  
 
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
 
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
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[[Mennonite Church Saskatchewan|Mennonite Church Saskatchewan]]
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[[Mennonite Church Saskatchewan]]
  
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[[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] / Mennonite Church Canada
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[[Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] / Mennonite Church Canada
  
 
General Conference Mennonite Church (1928-1999)
 
General Conference Mennonite Church (1928-1999)
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== Ordained Ministers at Emmaus Mennonite Church ==
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=== Emmaus Mennonite Church Membership ===
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Valentine Nickel || 1938-1960
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|-
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| W. Zacharias|| 1950-1954
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|-
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| J. Friesen || 1946-1958
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|-
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| Cornelius Kehler || 1952-1964
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|-
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| Hans Dyck || 1962-1967
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|-
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| Elwin Epp || 1969-1972
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|-
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| Ruben Siemens || 1973-1982
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|-
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| Stan Martens || 1984-1985
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|-
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| Ken Schrag || 1987-1990
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|-
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| Fred Heese || 1968-1972<br />1975-?
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|-
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| Ray and Sylvia Friesen || 2004-2018
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|}
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== Emmaus Mennonite Church Membership ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
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| 2000 || align="right" | 51
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| 2015 || align="right" | 40
 
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=November 2018|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Sam|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Congregations]]
 
[[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]]
 
[[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]]
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[[Category:Extinct Congregations]]

Revision as of 20:54, 30 November 2018

Emmaus Mennonite Church, Wymark, Saskatchewan
Source: Mennonite Church Saskatchewan website

In 1928 the Emmaus Mennonite Church in Wymark, Saskatchewan, Canada was founded by 75 charter members. Originally Emmaus was a collection of small worshipping community known as a Gemeinde, with meeting places in Neville, Swift Current, Blumenhof, Schoenfeld, Rhineland and Wymark.

Valentine Nickel, a school teacher in the Wymark area beginning in 1929, became actively engaged in the group meeting at Wymark. Many Sunday services were held in the Wymark school where Nickel taught. Valentine and Rose Marie Nickel spearheaded the search for a permanent place of worship at Wymark. The group found a suitable building in a nearby village and moved it to Wymark. It was renovated and dedicated on 11 November 1938 and was used for the life of the congregation.

The Wymark congregation elected Valentine Nickel as its minister on 10 June 1938; he was ordained in August 1938. In 1945 he was elected elder, though he was not ordained until 1948.

In 1959, there were 270 members in the whole Emmaus Gemeinde, and congregants decided to form two distinct churches. The Swift Current congregation initially became known as First Mennonite Church, but changed its name in 1961 to Zion Mennonite. The Wymark congregation kept the Emmaus name.

For many years, Emmaus Mennonite was actively involved in mission and outreach in the local area. Through the Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization, Emmaus members helped found the Herbert Nursing Home and the Mennonite Youth Farm at Rosthern. Under Valentine Nickel’s leadership, they purchased property on Lac Pelletier, south of Swift Current, which became Camp Elim, one of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan’s three camps. Emmaus Mennonite also helped establish and support Swift Current Bible Institute.

By 2018 the reality of an aging congregation in a rural area took its toll. Emmaus had around 40 members, but only about 25 people attended regularly. In winter, with snowbirds gone to warmer climates, the number dwindled to 12. The congregation voted to close on 20 May 2018, and the final service took place on 28 October 2018.

Bibliography

"Emmaus Mennonite Church fonds." Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives. 21 June 2012. Web. 30 November 2018. http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/holdings/SK/SK_Emmaus.htm.

Sawatsky, Ernie. "The History of the Emmaus Mennonite Church of Swift Current and South." Unpublished student paper, 1961. Web. 30 November 2018. http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/holdings/SK/scans/EmmausMChistory.pdf.

Schulz, Donna. "Emmaus Mennonite closes after 90 years: Aging Congregation and Dwindling Numbers cited as Reasons." Canadian Mennonite 19 November 2018. Web. 30 November 2018. https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/emmaus-mennonite-closes-after-90-years.

Additional Information

Address: Wymark, SK S0N 2Y0

Phone:

Denominational Affiliations:

Mennonite Church Saskatchewan

Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada

General Conference Mennonite Church (1928-1999)

Ordained Ministers at Emmaus Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Valentine Nickel 1938-1960
W. Zacharias 1950-1954
J. Friesen 1946-1958
Cornelius Kehler 1952-1964
Hans Dyck 1962-1967
Elwin Epp 1969-1972
Ruben Siemens 1973-1982
Stan Martens 1984-1985
Ken Schrag 1987-1990
Fred Heese 1968-1972
1975-?
Ray and Sylvia Friesen 2004-2018

Emmaus Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1965 60
1975 58
1985 74
1995 54
2000 51
2015 40


Author(s) Sam Steiner
Date Published November 2018

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Sam. "Emmaus Mennonite Church (Wymark, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2018. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Emmaus_Mennonite_Church_(Wymark,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=162522.

APA style

Steiner, Sam. (November 2018). Emmaus Mennonite Church (Wymark, Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Emmaus_Mennonite_Church_(Wymark,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=162522.



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