Volume 66 Sunday February 26, 2023 No. 9
Worship Service – Sunday February 26, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Prelude: Glorify/Chantelle McNeish Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish
Song Leader: Melanie Wiegand Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf
The annual meeting will be held during Worship and Sunday School, in person, and virtually on Zoom.
King of My Heart
Behold Him
King of Heaven
Words of Welcome & Announcements Brendan Leis
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer Pastor Ray
Songs of Praise
Build Your Kingdom Here
Prayer for the Offering
Offering Focus – Leadership
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 Pastor Mike
Time with the Children Pastor Mike
Sharing by Lindsay Zehr, Lay Ministers of Worship; Susan Schmitz, Lay Minister of Mission; and Bethany Kropf & Jared Yantzi, Lay Ministers of Christian Education
Song – VT160 What a Fellowship/Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Sharing by Larry Kropf from Building Visioning Committee
Time of remembering led by Care Team
We will remember the lives of our congregational members who died in 2022
Marv Leis to remember Nelson Yantzi
Joan Yantzi to remember Ken Ruby
Merv Ropp to remember Leander Wagler and Ken Roth
Janice Ropp to remember Geneva Lichti and Ray Steinmann
Sharing & Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Congregational Song: How Great is our God/Then Sings my Soul
East Zorra Community Slideshow: Celebration of many programs & volunteers
Children dismissed to Sunday School
Sunday School Hour (immediately following worship) – Review of business operations of our church
- Review of the 2022 Annual Meeting minutes from February 19, 2022. (see pages 4-10)
- Agenda Review
- Treasurer’s Report
- Review and auditor approval of 2022 financial statements (see pages 35-40)
- Review and approval of 2023 commitments and offering schedule (see page 41)
- Trustee Update (see page 26)
- Opportunity for Questions
- Departing to Serve – closing prayer
Following the meeting, everyone is invited to stay for a fellowship meal.
The MYF will be serving a soup lunch as a fundraiser. Please let us know if your MYFer is able to help out. We would need help at 9:30 a.m. setting up and preparing in the kitchen and then help serving lunch and cleaning up. Lunch will be served after the meeting, with clean up to follow. Please let one of the sponsors know if your youth can help out in any capacity or any length of time.
This Coming Week
Tuesday February 28th
11:30 a.m. Care Team Meeting
7 p.m. Health Ministry Team Meeting
Wednesday March 1st
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee
7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Thursday March 2nd
9:30 a.m. E Z Play Group
12:10 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church.
7 p.m. MYF would like to invite the Seniors in our congregation for
an evening of fellowship, Crokinole and more!
Next Sunday – March 5, 2023
The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together
Esther: The God who Protects his people
Prelude: Katie Wagler Accompanist: Katie Wagler
Song Leader: Myron Ruby Worship Leader: Sheryl Leis
Message: Pastor Mike Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler
Coffee Hosts: Janet & Marv Yantzi
Extending God’s Love
EZMC Announcements
It’s cold out there.
Tomorrow, Saturday February 25, Operation Sharing is hosting the Coldest Night of the Year, a 2 & 5 km winterrific walk hosted in 170+ cities across Canada, in support of their work in Oxford County with people experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger. Our Missions Committee team (EZ Walkers) is ready to walk. If you would like to join our team of walkers and/or sponsor us to help raise funds please speak to one of the members of our Missions Ministry Committee: Susan Schmitz, Dan Matthews, Sheryl Leis, Jessie Yantzi or Pastor Ray. The walk begins in Woodstock at 5 PM. You may also join the team of walkers or sponsor us by using this link: Sponsor EZ Walkers or Join the Team. Our goal is to raise $2000 or more to help respond to the growing needs in Oxford County. We have raised about 70% of our goal. Thanks for your support!
Faith Exploration Class
Sundays 8:30am-9:30am
March 5 – April 30
*Lite breakfast will be provided*
Over the season of Lent and Easter 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.
Sunday Afternoon Services at PeopleCare and Maples Home for Seniors
The Tavistock area churches are again providing Sunday afternoon worship services at the People Care and Maples Long-Term Care Homes. In order to keep residents safe, all volunteers need to take a simple rapid COVID test before having contact with residents in the homes.
This is the schedule we will be using: 2 pm rapid test at People Care. 2.30 worship service at People Care. Make sure you get a receipt from your rapid test so you can use it to then enter the Maples for the 3.15 service. This way you will only need 1 test for the day. Thanks for your willingness to help meet the spiritual needs of these residents in our community.
East Zorra is scheduled to lead the service on Sunday March 5. Heid Wagler will be taking leadership that Sunday. A few volunteers are needed. Please speak to Heidi if you would be able to help with this service. The services are about 30 minutes and involve music, readings, prayers. Thank you for considering sharing in this ministry.
The 2023 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (657173 15th line, R.R.#1 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0). Forms are available on the table by the Nursery or by contacting Lisa Suderman at office@ezmennonite.ca
If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Jared Yantzi.
Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee – Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 at the Church
Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings 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. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!
Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument? Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience? If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.
Thursday March 2nd 12:10 p.m. TAVISTOCK & AREA MINISTERIAL 2023 Lenten Luncheons at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.
Theme is “Giving it Up”
Week 2: Giving up Expectations
Many of us give up certain things during Lent. Are there things we should give up for the rest of our lives? We invite you to come and worship and reflect with us, and then share in conversation with others over lunch.
There will be no Lenten Service and Luncheon during Holy Week this year.
Looking for folks who have used the Hearing Loop in the past and/or are currently accessing it. It has been 9 years since installation and we would like to do a review of its use. Asking that you contact either Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) or Ashley Witzel (ashleywitzel@gmail.com) to share your experience.
And for those that do not know what a Hearing Loop is….stay tuned.
JCET is still in need of volunteers to help with the children. Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the JCET desk, in the basement. Below is a description of the various types of roles needed. If you have any questions please ask anyone on the team (Jess Y., Holly, Erin Y. Sue M.)
Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK TEACHERS:
Plan for an hour which includes: welcoming children and have an activity on the table (puzzles, playdough, etc); story, activity and activity sheets using the Gospel Light curriculum which is provided. Play time is also encouraged as it builds friendships & many other skills (getting along, cooperation, listening, leading, imagination, etc)
JK/SK join the older children for assembly time for the first 10 min of the Christian Education hour.
Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK HELPERS:
Welcome and assist the teacher and children.
Grades 1-5
DEVOTIONS: Using the curriculum provided, tell the story, ask questions from God’s big picture and do the Bible verse Object talk provided. Approx. 15-20 min.
CRAFT/GAMES: Plan to lead either the games or craft suggestions provided. There are also discussion questions to help tie the activity to the story. Approx. 15-20 min.
JWalker TEACHER: Plan for an hour. Students watch a video from the Meeting House and then have a discussion based on the video.
JWalker HELPER: Assists the teacher to help keep order, offer input into the discussion and is a 2nd adult in the room.
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
Beyond Our Church Community
New Hamburg Thrift Centre Needs Your Donations!
It’s been an interesting winter at the thrift store, and we have found ourselves in a place of desperately needing donated items to sell. We have had to send volunteers home due to lack of work, and we are seeing sales starting to trend downwards as a result of not having enough to sell.
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.
Monday February 27th 7 – 8:30 p.m. (room 2202) Film Screening | Zwingli: Der Reformator (The Reformer. Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait), hosted by the Institute of Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College. The MCEC church community is invited to watch and discuss Swiss filmmaker Stephan Haupt’s award-winning 2019 depiction of the early Reformation in Zurich. Dr. David Neufeld will provide a brief introduction to the film and lead a post-screening discussion with attendees. Go to grebel.ca/events
Monday February 27th 7 p.m. (CST) Face to Face | Polarization: Get over it! Stories that lead the way –Jayme Menzies of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dougald Lamont, and Jamie Moses will share examples and stories of how they’ve overcome polarization in big and small ways in their various contexts. Join in-person and livestream. . More information and livestream at cmu.ca/face2face.
Monday March 13th Grandparent and Grandchild Day at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. The annual Grandparent-Grandchild Days sponsored by Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp.. This retreat is for grandparents and their grandchildren in Grades 1-6. Greg Taylor will be leading the day, focusing on the theme of God of Wonders: Discovering the Creator Through Space. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details.
The 10th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality will be hosted at Conrad Grebel University College from June 4 to 7. Registration is now open! All are welcome to attend and take advantage of workshops and seminars by researchers, scholars, faith leaders, seniors, policy makers, and care partners. Early bird pricing is available until March 18, 2023. Visit uwaterloo.ca/ageing-spirituality/ for more information and to register.
Registration is open for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC), running August 13 – 15 at Conrad Grebel University College. OMMC provides an exciting camp adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds, pairing exceptional musical instruction with traditional camp activities. Campers will find a safe and supportive community to explore their love of music, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their faith. Register by April 15 for the early bird discount: grebel.ca/ommc
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:
- Winter and Spring Retreats: Come to Silver Lake in 2023 for some fun camp experiences! Coming up soon are… Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Mar 3-5), March Break Family Getaway (Mar 14-17). Go to SLMC Retreats & Events for more info and to register.
- Summer Camp Registration is now Open: Visit the SLMC website for more details about overnight camps, outtrips and day camps. New this year – March Break Day Camp in Kitchener (Mar 13-17). Click here forCamp Info and Registration
Call for German Mennonite Poetry – Do you or your relatives have self-composed German Mennonite poetry that you’re interested in sharing with the community? Brubacher House Artists-in-Residence are collecting previously untranslated German language poems for a bilingual collection of German Mennonite poetry from the Waterloo Region. Email submissions to brubacherpoetryproject@gmail.com. More information at uwaterloo.ca/brubacher-house