East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday July 14, 2024 No. 28
Sunday July 14, 2024 – Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeters: Joyce & Howard Ropp Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Coffee Hosts: Gloria & Tom Roth
Prelude “You Gave”
“What Child is This?”
“Angels we have Heard on High”
“Oh How I Love Jesus”
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise “God With Us”
“Great Things”
Offering – Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Offertory “Nothing is Impossible”
Time with the Children: Skit Brian Wagler and Pastor Mike
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
Message: VBS Reflections by Susan Schmitz, Megan MacDonald, Maddie Cressman
Song of Response: “Praise Him”
Sharing and Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song: “Must Be Done In Love”
Benediction
Postlude: “Must Be Done In Love”
*All song videos are from Hometown Nazareth – Where Jesus was a kid used this past week at Vacation Bible School.
This morning we will continue our Summer worship series entitled: “Experiencing The God Who Is With Us.” In the message time each week Ray or Mike will interview a congregational member who will share from experiences of their life.
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.
Jesus left this promise as he prepared to ascend to the Father: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
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
Next Sunday – July 21, 2024
Prelude: Connie & friends Accompanist: Bethany Zehr
Worship Leader: Tyler Yantzi Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Greeters: Susan & Bill Schmitz Offering: Leadership
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Larry Kropf Coffee Hosts: Carol & Owen Cook
Message: Sharing by Tyler Yantzi
Extending God’s Love
We extend God’s love as we share with each other both our joys and our struggles.
Pastor Ray is taking holidays during the last two weeks of July. He will return on July 30. In the event of a pastoral care need please reach out to Pastor Mike.
EZMC Announcements
Library Book Missing
We are missing Book 1 of a series of 5 books on Chronicles of the King titled “Gods and Kings” By Lynn Austin.
If anyone has this book please let us know.
Thanks Joyce Ropp, Janet Yantzi, Arlene Baechler
Community Campfires at East Zorra Mennonite
6:30-8:30 in the Green Space
July 24, August 7, August 21
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 (though Pastors Ray and Mike may spark some short conversations…) and children will be free to use the equipment and play.
We look forward to enjoying each other’s company.
Refugee Resettlement Update: Mansor and Masoud Tokhi arrived safely on Monday July 1st. (The date the other six family members arrive is yet to be confirmed.) Tamim Tohky’s family welcomed their nephews/cousins at Toronto Pearson Airport and will help them settle in their new home in Kitchener. Our initial commitment to cover one year in rent has risen to $40,800. Maryam Mosrafa Al Younes and her family of five, who were co-sponsored with TMC (Tavistock Mennonite Church),arrived safely April 4, 2024. Due to the increased prices in housing, the initial cost of the co-sponsorship has risen since we approved this mission ministry. Our initial commitment of $25,000 to co-sponsor Maryam Mosrafa Al Younes and her family of five, should be adjusted to $35,000. Please prayerfully and generously support our refugee resettlement commitments.
Further to the request for prayers and financial support for our refugee resettlement fund, Tamim Tokhy would gratefully receive any of the following for the Daud Tokhi family. 1) a queen size bed and box spring; 2) 3 or 4 single bed mattresses and box springs; 3) one double bed and box spring; 4) a dining table with six chairs; and 5) clothing of all sizes for cooler weather. Should you have any of the furniture listed to donate, please contact Tamim at 226-808-4001 or tamimtokhy1@hotmail.com to arrange drop off at 50 Ingleside Dr. Kitchener. For clothing of all sizes, including men’s size 28 and 30 waist, please contact Tamim at 226-808-4001 or tamimtokhy1@hotmail.com to arrange pick up.
Upcoming Summer Services:
Sunday August 4
Shared Worship service hosted at Tavistock Mennonite Church.
Sunday August 11
Tavistock and Area Ecumenical Worship Service in Queen’s Park.
Sunday September 1
Shared Worship Service hosted at Cassel Mennonite Church.
Saturday September 7th Adult Fellowship
2 p.m. Play “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz”, the story of the Farmerettes, at Blyth Theatre. Tickets are $43.00. For tickets speak to Owen and Carol Cook as soon as possible. Deadline to order is July 28th. We will carpool to Blyth and plan to stop at Swiss Chalet in Stratford for Supper after the play. More info to follow. Payment for tickets is due by July 28th and can be given to Carol & Owen Cook.
The Anabaptist Community Bible.
Celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism with the Anabaptist Community Bible. This study Bible features commentary from 60 Anabaptist scholars, biblical insights from 16th-century Anabaptists, and marginal notes from nearly 600 study groups from Anabaptists around the globe. The Anabaptist Community Bible uses the Common English Bible (CEB) translation.
There are 3 editions available, Hardcover ($55.49), Soft Touch ($69.49) and Genuine Leather ($152.49). If you would like to pre-order a bible please put your name on the sheet posted on the main bulletin board or email Lisa at office@emennonite.ca. by September 30, 2024. Please specify which edition of bible you would like. Ordering in bulk with mean savings on shipping costs. Please see the main bulletin board for photos of the bibles and example pages or go to www.CommonWord.ca for more information. Once we know how many bibles we will be ordering we can determine shipping costs per bible. Payment will be due when our order is placed in early October. Publication date is January 2025.
Staff Congregation Relations Committee (SCRC) would like to let everyone know that our treasurer, Dawn Zehr, will be retiring at the end of this year. We’d like to thank her for 23 years of faithful service to our church. We have started conversations about how best to fill this huge responsibility. Please stay tuned over the next few months as we work through this process.
Blessings Dawn as you work towards wrapping up your role and all the best for your future endeavours.
Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp is once again offering two weeks of camp for Low Income single moms and their children (between ages 5 to 12) this summer.
For any single parent families in our congregation that are interested in this opportunity, please contact your pastors or any member of the Care Team. If you are aware of single parents in our community who could benefit from this, please also contact us. If anyone wishes to offer financial assistance or support of any kind, please contact Maryanne Lebold at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp.
Beyond our Church Community
Saturday July 13th
Cassel Mennonite Church invites you to their Community Tractor Breakfast.
Breakfast will be served between 8:30 – 10 a.m. Tractors optional. Donations to the Canadian Food Grains Bank. Everyone welcome. 17th Line and Cassel Sideroad.
MCC Thrift Stores are looking for household donations!
Have you been meaning to clear out household items that you no longer use, but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Well, now’s the time to do it! Our thrift shops need household donations to keep supplies strong on the sales floor. Pack up some boxes and head over to your local thrift shop today!
Food Truck Thursdays at the New Hamburg Thrift Centre. Every Thursday from 4-8 pm, food trucks will be at the New Hamburg Thrift Centre beginning on June 20th. A poster and schedule of the different food trucks is on the main bulletin board.
Urgent Call for Soap Donations!
Help make a difference with MCC! We urgently need your support to provide soap to communities where it’s in short supply. Whether bath soap (85g or larger, in wrapper) or laundry soap (Fels Naptha, Sunlight, or Zote), every donation counts.
Please consider donating today to meet this crucial need. You can drop off your donations at your local MCC Thrift Shop, MCC office, or the Material Resources Warehouse.
Together, we can ensure hygiene and health for those who need it most. Thank you for your generosity!
The School Kit Challenge
Enter the School Kit Challenge: 24,000 school kits to help 24,000 kids during the month of August. To help you meet this challenge, we’ve got a fun school kit activity resource for Sunday school and VBS students! Sign up to receive our free resource full of activities for kids to learn how school supplies help children around the world receive an education. Learn more at mcc.org/school-kit-challenge.
Join MDS and respond to wildfire in Shuswap, B.C. this September! Sign up to volunteer for a week and help rebuild a home lost to wildfire. Construction experience not required. To learn more and sign up, visit mds.org/canadian-opportunities or call Clara at 1-866-261-1274.
GTA Mennonite Festival
Sept 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM | Stouffville
It starts with the food! Come hungry for traditional and not-so-traditional Mennonite favourites. Bring the whole family for fun activities like wagon rides, apple picking, and more. Shop for beautiful crafts, fresh produce, and don’t miss the famous Quilt Auction. More info.
Thursday September 26th The Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario, along with the Ontario Heritage Trust, will unveil a commemorative plaque to be placed at the site of the Montreal River Alternative Service camp (just north of Sault Ste. Marie). Canada’s Alternative Service program ran from 1941-1946, with over 10,000 participants, many of them Mennonite. The unveiling will take place at Conrad Grebel University College at 4:00 pm. Then on September 28, the plaque will be installed at the Montreal River site. For more information, please visit the MHSO website at MHSO.org