East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday January 7, 2024 No. 1
Sunday Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Stories from the Life of Jesus: Baptism of Jesus
Prelude: Katie Wagler Accompanist: Katie Wagler
Worship Leader: Pastor Mike Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Kristen & Daryl Cressman Offering: Mission Partners
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Ray
Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise VT #91 “We Praise Thee, O God”
VT # 277 “As with Gladness”
Offering – Mission Partners
Offertory – Lydia Witzel and Hannah Witzel
Time with the Children
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42:1-3; Mark 1:1-11
Message – Pastor Ray
Reaffirmation of Baptismal Commitments
Song of Response: VT# 274 “See Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
Prayer of the Church Heidi Wagler
Sending Song: VT #240 “Joy to the World”
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.
No Junior Sunday School or Adult Sunday School classes today. Classes will resume on Sunday January 14, 2024.
This Coming Week
Tuesday January 9th
9 a.m. Sewing Circle – Everyone is welcome to join us to knot comforters or
quilt. Come for the day or part of the day. Please bring your lunch and
drinks.
Wednesday January 10th
7 p.m. Church Ministry Council Meeting
Play Group set up
Thursday January 11th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 12:00 High Noon Seniors Lunch at Grace United Church in Tavistock. A hot lunch will be served followed by a presentation from the OPP – Fraud schemes targeting seniors. Cost: Freewill offering.
- 7 p.m. Health Ministry Team Meeting
Friday January 12th
- MYF – Giant Dutch Blitz
Saturday January 13th
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Private Party
Next Sunday – January 14, 2024
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Temptation of Jesus
Prelude: Worship Band Accompanist: Worship Band
Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Carol & Owen Cook Offering: Mission Partners
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Megan MacDonald & Russ Schumm
11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages
12 p.m. Private Party
EZMC leads worship at peopleCare (2:15 pm) and Maples (3:15 pm)
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.
East Zorra is scheduled to provide the Sunday Afternoon Services at The Maples and peopleCare next Sunday January 14. The services (2:15 at peopleCare and 3:15 at The Maples) are 30 minutes services of readings and singing followed by some interaction with the residents. If you would be available to help with the services that day please reach out to Pastor Ray. Your help is appreciated. We are also scheduled to do services on March 24 and June 9.
Thank you for the cards, gifts and Christmas greetings you shared with us through the Christmas Season. Your Christmas blessings and thoughtfulness are very much appreciated. Peace and joy to each of you as you live into the New Year.
Mike, Brandy, Petra & Rebekah and Ray & Sue
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 Volunteer Commitment form 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) you can submit it to update your EZMC file. Thanks so much.
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
Tuesday January 23rd 12 – 1 p.m. Lunch and Listen with Sara Wyngaarden at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener or online. Join us online or in-person at the MCC office in Kitchener as we hear from Sara Wyngaarden, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator in Guatemala. Sara will be sharing stories from Guatemala. Go to mcc.org/events for more information.
Friday January 26th & Saturday January 27th Becoming Good Relatives Retreat at Jericho House, 10845 Rathfon Rd, Port Colborne. In this one-and-a-half-day retreat, author and speaker Patty Krawec will use Anishinaabe teachings to help participants reflect on their social and individual histories in order to improve their capacity to have difficult conversations with others about Canadian history and current impacts on Indigenous people. To learn more and to register, go to mcc.org/events.
Saturday January 27th 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Great Winter Warm-up at New Hamburg Material Resources Centre, 65 Heritage Dr, New Hamburg.
This winter, compassionate people like you are giving the gift of warm comforters to those in need around the world. Each comforter provides not only warmth but also a tangible reminder to people in vulnerable situations that their needs are not forgotten. Help us meet our goal to collect 7,000 comforters by holding or attending comforter-knotting blitzes during January and February. On January 27, you’re invited to participate in a comforter-knotting blitz. Knotters of all skills are welcome, and snacks and drinks will be provided. Learn more at mcc.org/events.
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.
Friday April 19 – Sunday April 21 – Music is Medicine Retreat
Come to Silver Lake for some time away at camp filled with singing and instrumental music! Sing through songbooks, hymnals and more in the company of music-lovers! Alissa Bender will be joined by Mykayla Turner and Joel Woods to lead this weekend. Connect and eat great food! All meals provided. Cost:$210 (+HST) per person. Please see SLMC’s website for more information and to register.
We’re looking for a Cannery Manager!
Things are moving along with the stationary meat canner and we need a Cannery Manger. The manager, based out of New Hamburg, will be responsible for the organization of all canning activities and volunteers who participate in the processing of canned meat. Learn more about this position at www.mcc.org/careers.