East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 69 Sunday April 26, 2026 No. 17
Prelude/Accompanist: Heidi Wagler Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Gloria & Merv Ropp Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf Coffeetime: Shirley & Phil Ruby
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
Opening Prayer
Song of Gathering & Praise
VT#39 “As We Rise, O God, to Meet You”
VT#100 “Praise Him, Praise Him”
Offering – Relief/MCC
Time with the Children
Scripture Readings: Genesis 12:1-9, 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:8-12
Message Pastor Ray
Song of Response
VT#566 “We Will Follow”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song
VT#849 “We, Your People, Sing Your Praises”
Benediction
Today
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Faith Formation Class will meet in the MYF room.
Coffeetime in the basement immediately following worship. Everyone is welcome. We would ask that everyone provides their own mug to help simplify the preparation and clean up time. We will provide mugs for those who forget theirs or who come as guests on a Sunday morning.
11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages.
Pastor Mike’s mid-term review Focus groups will form immediately following the worship service for those interested in participating, with a quick break to grab coffee. A group will also be facilitated over zoom. Please see the announcement on page 5 for more details.
This Coming Week
Tuesday April 28th
- 9 a.m. Care Team Meeting
- 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Holy Movement – this week marks one year since we started Holy Movement! Do your fitness routines need some spring renewal? It’s not too late to join! Bring an exercise mat, water bottle, and light weights (there are a few extras at the church if you don’t have any).
Wednesday April 29th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee & Bible Study
- Play Group setup
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Authored by the Word
Thursday April 30th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Saturday May 2nd
- 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Grace Lao Mennonite Church Egg Roll Pickup @ EZMC. Payment can be made at time of pickup by either cash or cheque or you can pay via e-transfer to dylanyantzi@gmail.com. Cost is $20 per box.
Next Sunday – May 3, 2026
The Fire and the Cloud: Finding Jesus in the Journey of the Old Testament
The First Settlement: Genesis 45:1-15 (Joseph in Egypt)
Prelude/Accompanist: Brandy Sell Song Leader:
Greeters: Janet & Marv Yantzi Worship Leader:
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: Mission Partners
Coffeetime: Gloria & Merv Ropp Message: Pastor Mike
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Faith Formation Class will meet in the MYF room.
Focus groups for Pastor Mike’s mid-term review will happen during adult Sunday School today. Reflection questions were distributed a few weeks ago via email and are included here again for easy reference (see attached). There are also print copies available on the table at the back of the sanctuary. SCRC would encourage you to spend time in reflecting on Pastor Mike’s ministry to date and bless him with the gift of feedback. Focus groups will form immediately following the worship service for those interested in participating, with a quick break to grab coffee. A group will also be facilitated over zoom. If this timing doesn’t work for you, please consider sending a written response to the questions to tracey.kropf@gmail.com. Questions on the review process can be directed to any member of the SCRC – Tracey Kropf, Megan McDonald, Bevin Witmer, Tyler Yantzi.
Donut Project
The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is on Saturday, May 30 and there are lots of volunteer opportunities! Consider supporting the donut project in one of the following ways:
– sharing plastic 500ml containers (will be reused then recycled) – box under mailboxes
– making mashed potatoes – details and sign up sheet on bulletin board
– mixing or kneading in the donut tent – sign up sheet on bulletin board
– post-sale clean up at church – sign up sheet on bulletin board
– set up at the donut tent (Friday morning) and/or tear down at the donut tent (Saturday afternoon) – contact Bill Roth kilbride@rogers.com
Any questions contact Greg and Dawn gdzehr@gmail.com
VBS 2026 – July 6-10 Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God. Registration is open! Parents- please register your children and share the registration link found on our church website with friends and neighbours. Volunteers: please let us know your availability and what area you would like to help in. Email eastzorravbs@gmail.com with any questions.
CPR course – The Health Ministry team is offering CPR certification (including AED training) with Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
When: May 9th (9 a.m. morning class or 1:30 p.m. afternoon class)
Where: EZMC basement
Cost: $50 cash or e-transfer (email for course leader will be provided day of).
Please reach out to Jill Rempel or Heidi Wagler if you are interested by May 1st
Beyond Our Church Community
Sunday April 26th 7-9 p.m., MCEC Intercultural Worship Gathering,
(First Mennonite/Shalom Worship & Healing Center 800 King St. E., Kitchener, ON).
All are welcome to this time of worship, unity and celebration as various congregations come together to honour our diversity in Christ.
Monday April 27th 6 p.m. New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Fundraising Dinner at Calvary United Church (48 Hawkesville Rd, St. Jacobs N0B 2N0). More than just a meal, the NHMRS fundraising dinner is your chance to connect with the community and support the relief sale and MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner catered by Gracie’s Country Oven and hear an update from MCC. Tickets are $30 each and children aged 3-10 are only $10! Donations will be gratefully accepted at the event in support of the relief sale. Purchase your ticket here.
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate will be hosting, and performing in, the Mennonite Schools Network Choral Festival (MSN formerly MSC) on Saturday, May 2, 3pm at The St. Matthews Centre. For more information, please visit rockway.ca/events. All are welcome.
May 2nd – 16thRed Dress Day Art Exhibit and Call 30 at Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo. Red Dress Day, which is recognized on May 5, brings awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. In partnership with Conrad Grebel University College, MCC is featuring artwork that illustrates factors contributing to the criminalization and harm of Indigenous women. Visit the art exhibit between May 2 and 16. As part of this event, MCC is hosting two Call 30 activities, which will deepen your understanding of why Red Dress Day matters and why 50% of women in Ontario prisons are Indigenous.
Learn more: mcc.org/red-dress-day.
Interfaith Community Counselling will not host a virtual Silent Auction this June. Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has named May 4 – May 10 as Canadian Mental Health Week. It’s a call to spark small, everyday actions of connection, and to recognize the role we all play in supporting mental. In response to CMHA’s call and with the ending of the silent auction, we are hosting 7 Days of Wellness, the calendar of events is on the main bulletin board or ICC’s website. Our desire is to bring people together, provide meaningful resources, and raise funds to subsidize counselling.
Poole People Player’s Presents “Sneaky Citizens of Saddlesore City”.
Their play will be presented on May 7, 8, 9 at the PERC in Milverton.
Evening performance at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. afternoon performance at 2 p.m.
For tickets call Janet at 519-595-8424 or 519-301-3717 or email poolemem@perth.net
Thursday May 21st 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers and the Mennonite Mass Choir, conducted by Artistic Director Brandon Leis, presents Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and Johannes Brahms’ Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) at Centre in the Square (Kitchener) with Orchestra. Tickets available through Centre in the Square (https://centreinthesquare.com/event/)
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale 2026 – Friday May 29 & Saturday May 30th
This year, the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale proudly celebrates 60 years of coming together in faith, generosity, and community. Since 1967, this annual tradition has raised more than $15 million for Mennonite Central Committee, bringing hope, relief, and opportunity to communities around the world.
- Start collecting your loose change. Every year, spare change collected by churches, children and families across North America adds up to more than $600,000 for MCC’s work at home and around the world! Coins collected at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale are designated “where needed most” for the work of MCC, putting your change to work right away!
- Saturday May 30th Lace up for the Run for Relief. Register today for the Run for Relief – a 2k or 5k fun run at the fairgrounds. Raise funds for MCC, and enjoy a morning run along the Nith River before you take in the rest of the sale. Sign up today. Entry is free but fundraising is encouraged. Top fundraisers will win a prize, so get started today!
- Saturday May 30th If you have the gift of music and would like to share it with others for a good cause, we want to hear from you! The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is seeking musicians to enhance the ambience of the sale as patrons take in the atmosphere at this popular event. This opportunity is for 30-minute time slots between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. Please contact Lorieyantzi@outlook.com if you’re interested in this volunteer opportunity.
Tri-County Mennonite Homes is looking for members of our 15 supporting congregations to serve on our Board of Directors commencing at our annual meeting in June. If you are interested or have someone to recommend, please contact Bruce Bechtel for more information. 519-801-0470 BBechtel@tcmhomes.com.
Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Centre is currently seeking to hire a year-round Housekeeping Coordinator (20-25 hours/week) and Housekeeping Staff (10-15 hours/week) to begin as soon as possible. Job descriptions for both positions are available on our website at www.hiddenacres.ca. To apply, please forward your resume to brent@hiddenacres.ca.
Thrift Volunteers Needed! Do you have a heart for service and a few hours to spare each week? MCC Thrift & Gift in Elmira and the MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre are seeking volunteers to greet donors, receive and sort donations, and perform other roles. Join a community rooted in service and love. Visit mccthrift.com/volunteer to get in touch with us today!
Love Music? Lead the scene at Grebel! Conrad Grebel University Collegeis looking for a Music Ensemble & Concert Coordinator to bring our musical season to life! Applications due April 26, 2026. Visit uwaterloo.ca/grebel/contact-us/careers for more information.
It’s time to register for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC) | August 10-22, 2025. OMMC is a place where youth develop and enrich relationships, faith, musicality, and leadership in a fun and supportive summer camp e