East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 68 Sunday July 13, 2025 No. 28
Sunday July 13, 2025
Prelude/Accompanist: Heidi Wagler Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Lisa & Jay Zehr Worship Leader: Dawn Bender
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler Coffee: Michelle & Brad Brenneman
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Praise
VT #7 “Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing”
VT #133 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
Offering – Mennonite Church Canada & Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Time with the Children – Pastor Mike
Scripture Reading: John 15:1-4
Sharing by Amy Yantzi
Song of Response
VT #111 “10,000 Reasons/Bless the Lord”
Prayer of the Church – Dawn Bender
Sending Song
VT #716 “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Benediction
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.
This Coming Week
Monday July 14th
- 7 p.m. Walking Club – meet at the Mike Schout Wetlands Preserve, 28 Smith Creek’s Drive New Hamburg. This is a beautiful 1.6km raised boardwalk trail that spans multiple wetland ponds. You can walk the loop as often as you want! Parking lot available off Smith Creek’s drive. More info here => Mike Schout Wetlands Preserve – Wilmot Township. Decisions to cancel due to inclement weather will be made on location.
Wednesday July 16th
- 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Summer Campfire. Please see announcement for more info.
Saturday July 19th
- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Private Party in the green space
Next Sunday – July 20, 2025
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeters: Gloria & Merv Ropp Worship Leader: Kim Leis
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Leadership
Coffee: Janet & Marv Yantzi
Again this summer in our message time we will hear from various congregational members who will share about their life with God. We pray that the stories and experiences shared this summer will be an encouragement, and a reminder to each of us that God is with us.
The family of Jim and Carol Schumm invite you to an open house on Sunday, July 27th 2-4 pm at East Zorra Mennonite Church in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. Best wishes only please.
VBS 2025. True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World
Wow! What a week! We welcomed 180 kids (and more who wanted to come last minute) who joined us for a week of wild adventures as we explored God’s northern landscape. With only one rain day, the majority of our week was outside:
Playing games on our greenspace at Glacier Games;
Diving into the book of Matthew at Sticky Scripture. Here each child received their own Gospel of Matthew, where they could mark off their special Bible verses for each day and learn more about what Jesus says to each of us;
At Imagination Station kids saw science experiments that highlighted God‘s creativeness and innovation in the world around us;
And at Wild Bible Adventures they brought the Bible Stories to life as they experienced God’s word through tangible activities.
Our Assemblies were filled with visits from Scout and Alexis, enthusiastic worship songs, object lessons, interactive discussions, bible stories and learning our Bible Points.
Preparing Snack for 180 kids plus volunteers was not an easy feat, but our capable and hardworking crew kept everyone well nourished. A fan favorite snack was s’mores on a stick!
We are so thankful for each person who participated in VBS, through prayer, or as a child or volunteer! We know that God is planting seeds for His Kingdom and it’s an honor for us to participate in His special work.
We encourage you to chat with people involved at VBS and see what they thought about the week. We’re certain they have many stories to share. And we’re also certain you will want to be involved next year!
Upcoming Summer Services (not at EZMC)
Sunday August 3 – Shared Worship service hosted at Tavistock Mennonite Church.
Sunday August 10 – Tavistock and Area Ecumenical Worship Service in Queen’s Park.
Sunday August 31 –Shared Worship Service hosted at Cassel Mennonite Church.
Community Campfires at East Zorra Mennonite
6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Green Space on July 16, July 30, August 13 and 27
Everyone of all ages is invited to bring a lawn chair, a snack, and a refreshment to drink and join us this Summer in our Green Space around the campfire for a time of fellowship, conversation, and fun. There will be no set agenda and children will be free to use the equipment and play. Alexis will plan to provide a few organized events for the children for about 30 minutes.
On July 30 the Congregational Life group is planning to provide ice cream!
We look forward to enjoying each other’s company.
We thank God for our youth and look forward to continuing to provide fun and faith formative youth group experiences. To make this happen we need you prayers and your support. We are looking for a group of adults who are willing to serve as youth sponsors for approximately 2 events a month. We also need adults who are willing to support youth ministry by occasionally hosting an event or joining the youth and their sponsors at an event.
Please prayerfully consider how God may be nudging you to share in this important ministry. If you would be willing to serve in some way please reach out to one of our Gift Discernment Committee members: Kim Leis, Jon Witzel or Kristen Cressman.
Adult Fellowship Grand River Boat Cruise in Caledonia on Wednesday September 3 2025. We will meet at the church @ 8:30 am to carpool. Cost is $80.00 per person, dinner and show included. See bulletin board for your food choice and indicate any food intolerances. Also indicate a w/c or walker for seating. Please sign up by Sunday August 17. Payment can be made to committee members; Ray and Laurel Zehr, Owen and Carol Cook, Mike and Karen Wirth.
Beyond our Church Community
Saturday July 12th 8:30 – 10 a.m. Please join us for the Cassel Community Tractor Breakfast. Bring your tractor or car, visit with your neighbours and enjoy breakfast. Donations will be sent to Canadian Food Grains Bank.
Hidden Acres is hiring. We are looking to fill a part-time, year round housekeeping role as soon as possible. For more information visit www.hiddenacres.ca or contact the camp at info@hiddenacres.ca or 519-625-8602.
Grebel is hiring! Come work at Conrad Grebel University College. Affiliated with the University of Waterloo, Grebel offers programs in Peace and Conflict Studies, Music, Theology, and more, along with a residence community. Positions are available in a variety of departments:
- Director of Development – Review of applications begin July 14
- Peace and Conflict Studies Administrative and Graduate Coordinator – Apply by July 21
- Custodial team (two positions) – Apply by July 20
Learn more about each position and application details at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/contact-us/careers
July 2 – September 30, 2025: Tending Tomorrow, Picturing Todayuses photography and poetry to reflect on the interconnection between humans and the natural world, with works by Leah Reesor-Keller and Ndagire Brendah. All are invited to the exhibit at the Grebel Gallery, Conrad Grebel University College.
uwaterloo.ca/centre-peace-advancement/grebel-gallery
80th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Rockway invites everyone to join in the fun this September 13 & 14! Whether you buy tickets for our Food Market Fundraiser, or join in on one of the other FREE events (including a Hymn Sing!), go to rockway.ca/events to learn more about how we’re celebrating 80 years of Rockway.
10,000 Steps for Mental Health
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Shalom Counselling Services (9 Avondale Ave. S., Waterloo)
Registration at 9:00 am | Walk begins at 9:30 am
Join us for our 10th annual walk in support of accessible mental health care in Waterloo Region. The route travels from Shalom to the Iron Horse Trail and back, followed by a community barbecue to celebrate a decade of steps toward healing.
Whether your goal is 10,000 steps or 1,000, raising $10,000 or $100—every step and every dollar counts.
Sign up or donate at: shalomcounselling.org/steps