East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday June 30, 2024 No. 26
Sunday June 30 2024 – Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Join Sunday Morning Worship
Prelude: Heidi Wagler Accompanist: Heidi Wagler
Worship Leader: Pastor Ray Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeter: Jean MacDonald Offering: Local Ministries
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman
A special welcome to our friends and neighbours joining us from Cassel and Tavistock. We are glad you could join us this morning for the first of our three combined long weekend services.
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #7 “Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing
VT #84 “To God Be the Glory”
Offering – Local Ministries
Time with the Children Hannah Yantzi
Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 Jean MacDonald
Message Good News for Anxious Christians Pastor Mike
Song of Response VT #617 “When Peace like a River”
Sharing & Prayer of the Church
Sending Song VT # 114 “Now Thank We All Our God”
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
Wednesday July 3rd
- 6:30-8:30 p.m. Campfire in the Greenspace (see announcement on p.5)
Next Sunday – July 7, 2024
10:30 a.m.
EZMC Outdoor Service in Queen’s Park Pavilion Tavistock.
On July 7 we will begin 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)
Worship Leader: Dylan Yantzi Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Prelude & Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Offering: Mission Partners
Sharing by: Rick Roes with Pastor Ray Audio: Drystan Bender
Please note that there will not be a Zoom service on this day.
Potluck immediately following worship. Please bring your own dishes and cutlery, lawn chairs, (and of course delicious food!). Drinks will be provided.
Extending God’s Love
We extend God’s love as we share with each other both our joys and our struggles.
We extend our sympathy to Kelly, Lisa, Julianna and Leighton Suderman on the passing of their mother and grandmother Ethel Suderman. Ethel died peacefully on Thursday June 27th in Mission, B.C. Prayers are appreciated for Kelly’s Dad Peter, who remains in hospital, but anticipates a move to Tabor Home in Abbotsford this weekend. May God’s healing peace surround Kelly and his family as grieve Ethel’s death and determine memorial service details to celebrate her life.
A celebration of life will be held for Arvilla’s son James Leis at Hillcrest Mennonite Church on June 29th, 2024, at 1:30 pm. There will be no formal visitation but you are invited to fellowship with the family after the service. May God’s healing peace surround Arvilla and her family as grieve Jim’s death and celebrate his life.
Norma and Roy Ropp and their family appreciate your ongoing prayers and support. Norma is getting weaker as she continues to rest at home surrounded by family.
Bob and Lynda Lichti and their family are thankful for ongoing prayers for Lynda. Lynda was transferred this week to St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital. Lynda appreciates our continuing prayers.
EZMC Announcements
Refugee Resettlement Update: Mansor and Masoud Tokhi are arriving Monday July 1st! (The date the other family members arrive is yet to be confirmed.) Housing has been secured for the Daud Tokhi family as of this past week. Our commitment to cover rent for one year is $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 costs of the co-sponsorships have risen since we approved these mission ministries. 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.
You are invited to attend Agape’s final service July 14 at 4 p.m. There will be a time of sharing and refreshments afterwards and saying goodbye. If you would like to attend, please contact Susan Schmitz (ws.schmitz23@gmail.com or 519.505.1638) or Pastor Ray.
Community Campfires at East Zorra Mennonite
6:30-8:30 in the Green Space
July 3, 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.
July 8-12th – VBS Week – Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus Was a Kid
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer during VBS, don’t hesitate to reach out to Naomi or Ashley.
We would like to thank everyone for all their support of VBS this year. We are need of several hammers as well as several mortar and pestle sets for our VBS week. If you would be willing to share these with us, please label them well and put them in the teal/blue Sunday school room prior to July 8th. We will leave them in the same room for pick up at the end of the week.
We also request your prayers for all the kids coming, the volunteers helping and for the sun to shine.
Thank you,
Ashley and Naomi
Student Aid Applications:
Students, are you considering a Christian school for your education for the next school year? (e.g. Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Canadian Mennonite University, Conrad Grebel University College, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary). East Zorra is committed to supporting individuals who consider Christian nurture and leadership development to be part of their education. Student aid applications are due June 30th for the 2024/2025 school year (Sept 2024 – Aug 2025). If you are interested in applying or would like to know more, you will find the Student Aid policy and application under the church mailboxes or contact Lisa at office@ezmennonite.ca who can email the application to you. You can direct the completed applications and any questions to Finance and Facility Chair Brendan Leis at b_leis@hotmail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Shop the Raw Carrot today!
Looking for a hostess or appreciation gift? Consider purchasing a jar of granola topper for $6 or a package of pancake and waffle mix for $8. Going camping? These make easy and delicious take-alongs, along with a package of our frozen gourmet soup that can double as an ice pack in your cooler until it’s thawed! The Raw Carrot is an MCC partner program that employs people with diverse abilities to prepare handmade food products in the Kitchener area. Pick up some soup at your local MCC thrift shop or email rawcarrot@mcco.ca to place an order.
Soap for hope
MCC urgently needs soap donations for countries where soap is scarce. Both bath soap (85g or larger, in wrapper) and laundry soap (Fels Naptha, Sunlight, or Zote) are needed. Please donate to meet this crucial need. Donations can be dropped off at your local MCC Thrift shop, MCC office or the Material Resources warehouse. Learn more at mcc.org/kits.
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.
Learning Tour: Travelling Together Through Truth
October 21-25, Timmins, ON
Get ready to be inspired and learn as we embark on an exciting journey of connecting and engaging with First Nations communities, organizations and partners of MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program in Timmins. To learn more, conatct Cam McEachern at 705-264-2494, ext. 220 or by email at cammceachern@mcco.ca.
Men Listening, Men Talking Retreat
November 29-30, 2024 at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp & Retreat Centre
Who are men called to be in 2024 and beyond, and how can they live lives that matter? Join a two-day retreat to take a deep dive into honest conversations on healthy masculinity. The cost is $115 and includes refreshments, meals and accommodations. Learn more at mcc.org/events/men-listening-men-talking-retreat.