Who is MWC?

Councils

Networks & Projects

News & Testimony

Publications

World Assembly: Africa 2003

World Directory

Site Map

New MWC Songbook Goes to Press

The manuscript for the Mennonite World 2003 International Assembly Songbook went to Victoria Printers, a Bulawayo, Zimbabwe company, on July 7. 5,000 copies of the songbook are expected to be ready for use at the Global Youth Summit, beginning August 8, and Assembly Gathered, August 11-17.

"When we sing together in worship, we meet God, and we meet one another," says Marilyn Houser Hamm, editor of the songbook. She adds that this assembly begins a new era for the global Anabaptist communion, moving participants "beyond fellowship, to being the church together 'in suffering and in joy.'"

A special section at the beginning of this book, "Gifts from Zimbabwe," includes three songs written for Africa 2003 and a set of internationally known songs from Zimbabwe. Nearly one third of the songs are from southern Africa.

The book has 90 songs in about 20 languages, presented first in their original language and translated into English, French and Spanish. It is an adaptation and expansion of the MWC Songbook published in 1990 for the Assembly in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).

For the first time, the MWC Songbook was created by a committee composed of at least one representative from each of the continental regions, reflecting the new reality of the global church. Glenn Fretz from Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) designed the book. Margaret Brubacher from MWC's Kitchener office and Jim Clemens provided administrative and technical assistance.