East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday January 28, 2024 No. 4
Sunday January 28, 2024
Sunday Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Temptation of Jesus
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Worship Leader: Tyler Yantzi
Song Leader: Connie Yantzi & Worship Band Greeters: Bethany & Trevor Kropf
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: Local Ministries
Coffee Hosts: Gloria & Tom Roth Message: Pastor Mike
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT#11 “Mountain of God”
VT#398 “Come, Thou Fount”
Offering – Local Ministries
Offertory VT#398 “Thy Word is a Lamp”
Time with the Children
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13
Message: Pastor Mike
Song of Response: VT#307 “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert”
Prayer of the Church: Pastor Ray
Sending Song: VT#601 “Lead Me, Guide Me”
Benediction
Postlude
Today
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
12 p.m. Private Party
This Coming Week
Tuesday January 30th
- Annual Reports are due to the church office.
Wednesday January 31st
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
- 7 p.m. Play Group set up
Thursday February 1st
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Friday February 2nd
- 7 p.m. MYF – Minute to Win It
Next Sunday – February 4, 2024
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Jesus & Children
Prelude: Glorify Accompanist: Glorify
Worship Leader: Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Elaine & Dale Leis Offering: Mission Partners
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Ray
Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman
EZMC Announcements
The 2023 EZMC Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday February 25, 2024.
- The meeting will be held in person and available virtually on Zoom.
- Please submit your Annual Reports, to Lisa by Tuesday January 30th. Email to office@ezmennonite.ca.
- The Annual Report will be sent by email but if you would prefer a paper copy, let Lisa know by Thursday February 8th. Please note that paper copies of the report will be delivered to those who receive a printed copy of our Sunday bulletin each Friday.
Tuesday February 13
5:30 – 7 p.m. Care Team along with members of the Congregational Life committee are planning to host a Pancake supper at the church. Please join us for this intergenerational evening of food and fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Gluten free and dairy free pancakes will be available. Please sign up on the sign up sheet on the bulletin board or email your intent to office@ezmennonite.ca. You may also call Lisa at 519-655-6824.
December 2023 Donations Received Summary
Offering Schedule Designations – $130,803
Green Space – $145
Refugee Fund – $3,950
Christmas Eve – $3,651
JCET is still in need of Volunteers.
January to June sign up sheets are up on the bulletin board, downstairs across from the desk. Whether you sign up once or weekly your time spent volunteering is greatly appreciated.
Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) and Volunteer Commitment Form (VCF) reminder. If you are volunteering with children, youth, seniors, or refugees our Safe Church Policy requires these on file. Those who still need to do this were given reminders in their church mailbox recently. Please remember to save and then send your completed VSC to the church office at office@ezmennonite.ca, as soon as you receive it, because the link that is sent from your local police service expires within days. Your completed VCF can be put into Lisa’s church mailbox. If you have a VSC that was done within the last 6 months (because you volunteered with another organization ie. school or sports team) please submit it to update your EZMC file.
Save the Date:
Friday Night February 16, 2024, 7:00 pm
Health Ministry Team is Hosting a Coffee House Education Event.
February is known for Valentine’s, the Month of Love, or the Symbol of Hearts.
East Zorra will focus on Heart Health in the Month of February.
Enjoy fellowship over dessert and coffee/ tea, while learning how to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Musical Entertainment by No Discernible Key
Guest Speaker: Dr. Narayan ( Stratford Internist)
Personal Testimony: Nicole and Duane Swartzentruber
Sign up to reserve your spot at the Coffee House
Donations accepted at the Event to cover costs and for The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Help build a future of peace in Mindanao: Malipayon Peace Hub
On Friday November 24 our weekly email included an attachment of the monthly newsletter from Dann and Joji Pantoja, witness workers in the Philippines who we support. This newsletter highlights the Malipayon Peace Hub Project which we heard about last month when our guests from the Philippians were here. Mennonite Church Canada is supporting this project and has a fundraising goal of $230,000. They hope to reach this goal March 2024. If you would like to donate to this project please use the link provided below or send a cheque to Mennonite Church Canada 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, Man. R3P 0M4. Your support for this project will be a blessing.
Donation Link: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/philippines-transition
Beyond our Church Community
Material Resources shipments to Ukraine
Material Resources is organizing two shipments to Ukraine, one at the end of January and one in March. Our partners in Ukraine are in need of various items such as comforters, assorted kits and bars of laundry and bath soap. We are blessed to have recieved everything needed for January, but we still need more items for March. Your contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. Learn more at mcc.org/get-involved/kits.
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Feature Quilt Reveal
Monday January 29th at 9:30 a.m. MCC, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener
Each year, a talented individual or team creates the feature quilt for the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Feature quilts have depicted historical churches, the play of colour and light across fabric, a journey through Africa, among other innovative designs. On January 29, the curtain will be removed and the 2024 feature quilt will be revealed. Join us in the lower atrium at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener or on social media.
Thursday February 1st at 7 a.m.! Hidden Acres 2024 Summer Camp Registration Opens! Join us for Overnight Camp, Day Camp, Single Moms Camp, S.Y.A.C, Watsa Basketball Camp and L.I.T. Learn more on our website www.hiddenacres.ca or contact our Program Director Josh Penfold at josh@hiddenacres.ca for more information!
Friday February 2 – Sunday February 4 – Silver Lake Mennonite Camp Women’s Retreat: Forest Leadership. Come, experience the beauty of creation. Be nourished by the relaxed pace, good food and meaningful conversation. Leah Reesor-Keller will guide us through the weekend. Play in the snow, breathe deeply in yoga, cross country ski, go on a snowshoe hike through the woods, laugh into the wee hours of the night. Come, the circle is welcoming and wide! Cost: $260 (+HST) per person. Please see SLMC’s website for more information and to register.
Tuesday February 13th & Thursday February 15th Livestock Sale at the Ontario Livestock Exchange, St. Jacobs. Since 1981, the Livestock Sale (formerly Heifer Sale) has raised over $5.1 million to support the work of Mennonite Central Committee through the auctioning of heifers and other donated items. For more information, to sponsor or donate to the sale, visit mcc.org/events.
Monday February 19th 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m Free Family Day Open House at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp — Come for a fun and relaxing day with your family! Pretzel-making, roasting bannock around the fire, sledding, skating, games, puzzles, crafts, ping-pong and more! Choose a hot lunch for $5/person (RSVP required) or bring a bagged lunch (peanut free). RSVP to info@hiddenacres.ca or call 519-625-8602. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details.
Students in Grade 10 and their families are invited to Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo on Thursday, February 22 at 5 p.m. to share a meal and tour the residence at Grebel before attending Waterloo’s Grade 10 Info Night. Learn about the supportive environment that this small and vibrant faith-based community can provide for students studying in any faculty or program at UWaterloo. Email grebelstudentservices@uwaterloo.ca by Wednesday, February 7 to register for dinner.
Thursday February 29th 7:30 p.m. Is Reconciliation Possible? Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred, Director of the Indigenous Studies program at Vancouver School of Theology is Grebel’s 2024 Sawatsky Visiting Scholar. His free public lecture asks the question, “Is Reconciliation Possible?” and he will address sustaining efforts towards reconciliation when justice is so far away. More details at Conrad Grebel University College. grebel.ca/sawatsky.
Join our Team!
The MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre is searching for a new associate to join their Softline team. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something meaningful! Go to mcc.org/careers for more information and to apply.