EASTER SUNDAY
Christ is Risen!
East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 66 Sunday April 9, 2023 No. 15
Worship Service – Sunday April 9, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Prelude: Chantelle McNeish Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish
Worship Leader: Pastor Ray Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Shirley & Phil Ruby Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
VT #355 “Thine is the Glory”
Words of Welcome, Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Easter Performance by children and youth – “This is our God”
Dance Crew: Jenna Croft, Alexis Leis, Ila Schumm, Hannah Witzel
Lydia Witzel, Everleigh Yantzi, Adelynn Zehr, Julia Zehr
Sign/Flag Holders: Lake Barron, Katelynn Cressman, Hudson Leis,
Noah Waymouth, Petra Williamson, Bauer Yantzi
Emmett Yantzi, Rowan Yantzi, Darcy Zehr,
Devon Zehr, Garner Zehr
Songs VT #333 “Low in the Grave He Lay”
VT #346 “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”
Choir “Easter Song”
Soprano – Kim Gruber, Alexis Leis, Chantelle McNeish, Gloria Roth,
Leah Ruby, Karen Wirth, Lindsay Zehr, Lisa Zehr
Alto – Dawn Bender, Bethany Kropf, Kim Leis, Gwen Matthews,
Susan Schmitz, Katie Wagler
Tenor – Galen Leis, Howard Ropp, Myron Ruby, Brian Wagler, Jesse Yantzi
Bass – Gord Bender, Caleb Leis, Dan Matthews, Raymond Ramseyer, Merv Ropp
Piano – Heidi Wagler Bass Guitar – Brendan Leis
Drums – Dan Matthews Director – Connie Yantzi
Offering Prayer
Song of Praise: VT #340 “Lift Your Glad Voices”
Time with the children – Sheryl Leis
Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 20:1-18
Easter Message
Songs of Response
“You Are My King” (Amazing Love)
“How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”
Lindsay Zehr, Connie Yantzi, Brendan Leis, Alexis Leis, Kim Leis, Leah Ruby,
Brett Zehr, Addy Zehr & Chantelle McNeish
Sharing and Prayer of the Church
Sending Song: VT #361 “Christ Who Left His Home in Glory”
Benediction
Today
Fellowship Time in the basement immediately following worship. Today we will serve hot cross buns along with coffee, tea and juice. Everyone is welcome.
This Coming Week
Tuesday April 11th
7 p.m. Finance and Facility Meeting
Wednesday April 12th
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee
Drop-in at the church and join us as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Everyone is welcome!
Thursday April 13th
9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
12 p.m. High Noon Lunch @ Grace United Church in Tavistock.
Socialize over a nutritious home-style lunch and stay for our guest speaker, Geoff Hayman, the fire prevention officer for East Zorra-Tavistock Township.
Friday April 14th
6:30 p.m. Junior Youth (JWalkers – those in Grades 6 to 8).
“The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” Genesis 2:8
And then the people, to honor their Creator, planted a garden in the east of their church property and there they saw God’s created diversity.
J-walkers, if you’re ok with getting a little dirty and doing some manual labour, your help is needed to move dirt in preparation for a pollinator garden we will plant this spring in the fellowship space behind the church.
Please meet at church andbring shovels and wheelbarrows with you, if possible.
MYF – Service Night at the New Hamburg Thrift Centre.
Next Sunday – April 16, 2023
Teen Challenge will be sharing with us during morning worship & Sunday School. We will host them for a noon potluck meal.
A special offering will be collected for Teen Challenge.
Prelude: Katie Wagler Accompanist: Katie Wagler
Worship Leader: Pastor Ray Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Leadership
8:30-9:30 a.m. Faith Exploration Class
Coffee will be served during our noon potluck
EZMC Announcements
Help our MYF win a pizza party!
New Hamburg Thrift Centre is having a contest. How does it work? Look around your home and see if there are any items that you could donate to the Thrift Centre. When you drop off your donations simply tell them you want the point to be added to the count for EZMC MYF. At the end of day on April 15th they will tally up the donations and announce the winner! Then the pizza feasting can begin!
Coming Soon! MYF will be taking orders for T shirts, Golf shirts and Hoodies, complete with the EZ Logo. They will be selling these as a fundraiser.
A reminder to all parents that our Safe Church Policy requires a Child/Youth Participant Registration & Waiver Form for each child, each program year. If your child has been participating this year you will find a reminder and blank forms in your church mailbox. Please complete and return these to the church office as soon as possible. Thanks so much!
A reminder to all volunteers, who work with children, youth or vulnerable persons, that our Safe Church Policy requires a Volunteer Commitment Form for each volunteer, each program year. If you do not have one on file you will find a VCF in your church mailbox. Please return to the office as soon as possible. Thanks so much!
Friday April 21st 7 p.m. Adult Fellowship and MYF are planning to meet for an evening of crokinole, rook, and fellowship together at the church. Bring crokinole boards, cards, and finger foods to share for snack. Coffee, tea, and juice provided.
Faith Exploration Class
Sundays 8:30am-9:30am
April 16 – May 28
*Lite breakfast will be provided*
This Spring, Youth and Young adults are invited to join this learning class to explore the questions Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him?
Our goal during this time is to provide a space for youth to reflect on the faith of their family and community and what it means to them. Participants are welcome to consider this class as a steppingstone towards the commitment of baptism, but it is also open to those who simply want to explore and learn more.
This is a time where we will seek to be clear about what we believe at East Zorra Mennonite while welcoming any questions or doubts, and never demand fake agreement. Anyone who is interested can contact Pastor Ray at ray@ezmennonite.ca or Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca to register or learn more.
VBS 2023 – July 10 -14
Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion!
We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.
Naomi Witzel naomiwitzel8@gmail.com
Ashley Witzel ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com
LADIES! LET’S WATCH GOD MOVE!
Join us for our first EZ Women’s IF: Gathering retreat
What: IF Gathering is not only a weekend event but a discipleship ministry focused on putting tools and resources in the hands of women in the church. IF is working to empower women to reclaim discipleship as God’s means to change the world.
IF Gathering 2023: We desperately want to stay faithful in these times, but we know we can’t muster up the faith all on our own. Join us for IF: 2023 where we will gather for two days in worship, fellowship with one another, in prayer and with our Bibles, to remind each other that God is who we need and that He WILL provide.
Who: EZ Women of ALL ages. Invite your friends and family!
When: Friday May 5, 6:30pm and Saturday May 6, 8:30-3:00
Where: East Zorra Church
Cost: 25$/person. This includes breakfast Saturday morning and lunch. Friday evening we encourage all those who are able to bring an appetizer to share.
How: Signup on the sheet posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church or email Ashley Witzel at ashleywitzel@gmail.com so she can send you the registration form.
**Registration Forms have been sent out via Email. If you haven’t received a form, check your Spam folder or email Ashley and she will resend.
If you have any questions please speak to, Ashley Witzel, Jess Yantzi, Erin Yantzi or Sheryl Leis. Please signup by April 16th
Beyond Our Church Community
MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service) has an urgent need for volunteers in Cape Breton helping with work after Hurricane Fiona. Volunteers are needed April 8-15 and April 24-28. Are you able to serve? We also need more volunteers the weeks of May 7-13, May 28-June 3, Jun 25-July 1, Aug 20-26, Sept 4-10 and Sept 18-24. To volunteer, contact Clara Flores at cflores@mds.org or 866-261-1274. Travel subsidies are available.
Donations for the work in Cape Breton are also welcome! Visit www.mds.org to give.
Thursday April 13 12 p.m. High Noon Lunch
Friday April 14th 7 p.m. NHMRS Comedy & Music Night
at Waterloo North Mennonite Church (100 Benjamin Rd, Waterloo N2V 2G8)
Come on out for an evening of fun in support of the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Laugh out loud with the award-winning, family-friendly entertainer JP and enjoy the honey-sweet vocal harmonies of Mike and Diane. To buy your tickets, head over to nhmrs.com. See you there!
April 16-23, 2023 is National Volunteer Week
This past year would not be the success it has been without the steady heart and presence that you bring. You have been there with us, bringing joy, compassion, energy, hope, peace and more. You, our volunteers, continue to help weave us together to move forward in this work of peace and justice. THANK YOU!
Monday April 17th 7:30 p.m. Annual Meeting of the members of A.M. Fire & Storm Aid Union will be held at Crosshill Mennonite Church.
Monday April 24th 6 pm New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Promotion Dinner at Floradale Mennonite Church, 22 Florapine Rd, Floradale N0B 1V0More than just a meal, the NHMRS Promotion Dinner is a chance to connect with community and support MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner and hear an update on the stationary meat canner from MCC Ontario Material Resource Coordinator Jon Lebold. Tickets are $25 and are payable at the door. Reservations must be made in advance by emailing Justin Armitage or calling Justin at 519-745-8458 ext. 262.
MCEC Annual Church Gathering, April 28 & 29, 2023, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener, ON. Transformed. Inspired. Called. Join new and now friends as we grow, learn and serve together as a community of faith. Fanosie Legesse, MCEC Intercultural Mission Minister, will encourage and challenge us on Friday night at a Mass Intercultural Worship Service. Followed by a Saturday filled with celebration, learning, much discussion and worship. All are welcome! How do we choose to live a life of constant transformation, unceasing inspiration and filled with courage to stay strong in our calling? When we worship and pray togther, we become grounded in God’s love and conected to the Spirit’s movement. Come and gather as God’s people across MCEC. More information is available at the following link:
2023-04-28 – Annual Church Gathering 2023 – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (mcec.ca)
Monday May 1st Hidden Acres Spring Seniors Retreat 2023 – Unlearning Loneliness: Relearning Community. Join us for a day or fellowship, learning and music with friends new and old! We will be hearing from Chip Bender and Cathi Watson as we reconnect and relearn how to live more fully as relational human beings created in God’s image. For more information and to register visit our website at www.hiddenacres.ca or contact the office at info@hiddenacres.ca or 519-625-8602.
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:
- Youth Camp (May 12-14): A fun-filled weekend for teens! Join us at camp for a relaxed weekend and participate in waterfront activities, campfires, games, and more! Youth can come with or without a sponsor. Click here for Youth Camp Details
- Summer Camp Registration is now Open: Visit the SLMC website for more details about overnight camps, outtrips and day camps. Click here forCamp Info and Registration
Conrad Grebel University College is seeking a Theological Studies Graduate Coordinator, beginning as soon as possible. The role involves providing administrative support to the Theological Studies (TS) program and Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program, as well as recruitment and promotion of the MTS program, and administrative support of the Conrad Grebel Review scholarly journal. Applications will be reviewed beginning Monday April 10, 2023, however applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Visit our careers page for more information, including a full job description. grebel.ca/positions
Join Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp Staff Team for Summer 2023!
We are currently accepting applications for Cabin Leaders, Lifeguards, Cooks and more. Apply to be part of our enthusiastic team of young people seeking to make an impact this summer! For more information or to apply go to www.hiddenacres.ca or contact Emily Taylor at emily@hiddenacres.ca
Raw Carrot soup is available at your local thrift shop
The Raw Carrot is excited to announce that our soup is available for sale at your local thrift shop! As an MCC Ontario program, The Raw Carrot provides a compassionate workplace to people on long term disability. Our healthy soups are handcrafted in small batches, packed with tasty veggies and free of added preservatives. Fresh ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Our staff are “stirring up” change with their delicious, handcrafted gourmet soup!” Learn more at mcco.ca.
Could you be the next NHMRS Logistics Coordinator?
The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is searching for a volunteer logistics coordinator (or coordinators). The logistics coordinator handles all the logistical planning, setup and teardown at the Sale and leads a well-oiled team of volunteers. Orientation and training are provided. Please contact Duane Martin at duanemartin@nhmrs.com if you would be interested in joining the NHMRS organizing team.