East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 68 Sunday June 8, 2025 No. 23
The Lord’s Prayer
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours…Amen
Prelude/Accompanist: Glorify Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Mike Williamson & Brandy Sell Worship Leader: Tyler Yantzi
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Coffee: Carol & Owen Cook Message: Pastor Ray
Prelude
“Lord I need You”
“All the people said Amen”
“The Lord’s Prayer”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Songs of Praise
“How Great is our God”
VT #436 “How great Thou art”
CENT Appreciation
Offering – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Offertory Song “King of Heaven”
Time with the Children
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:20-23; Revelation 7:9-12
Message – Pastor Ray
Song of Response “Yes and Amen”
Commissioning for Lay Ministers
Naomi Witzel, Lay Minister of Christian Education
Dylan Yantzi, Lay Minister of Missions
Linda Schumm, Care Team Member
Prayer of the Church
Sending Song “The Lord’s Prayer”
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.
JCET would like to invite you to our year-end Sunday School Celebration and Picnic
Children in grades 1-8 will participate in games and activities in the Green Space during the regular Sunday school hour. JCET is excited to announce that we have also rented an inflated obstacle course for the kids to use, weather permitting. There will also be face painting, bubbles and more.
Please note that we will not be providing supervision for the Nursery and Preschool class but encourage these children to still join us in the Green Space while being accompanied by an adult. They are welcome to play in the sandbox and enjoy the outdoor space.
Following the Sunday school hour we invite everyone to join us for a free BBQ picnic lunch. This picnic is for our entire church family. All ages are welcome! Activities for the children will continue into the picnic hour. Please bring your lawn chairs.
If the weather does not cooperate, we will be moving everything indoors but will not have the inflatable obstacle course.
We hope to see you there!
This Coming Week
Tuesday June 10th
- 2 p.m. Senior 80 and over Gathering at church
- 7:30pm – Holy Movement Stretch and Strength (last session of 8-week trial) – come provide your input to shape where we go from here and enjoy a celebratory snack provided by Health Ministry team! Bring an exercise mat / towel, water bottle, and light weights if desired (note: household items like water bottles, cans or bags of food, laundry detergent etc. can also be used as weights).
Wednesday June 11th
- E Z Play Group setup
- 7 p.m. Mission Committee Meeting
Thursday June 12th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Friday June 13th
- 7 p.m. MYF – Year End Gathering
Saturday June 14th
- 1 p.m. Men’s BBQ at Trevor Kropf’s house (985019 Perth-Oxford Rd. Tavistock ON). Lunch at 1 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and your own beverages. Sign-up sheet is on the main bulletin board.
Next Sunday – June 15, 2025
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Song Leader: Susan Schmitz
Greeters: Joyce & Howard Ropp Worship Leader: Tracey Kropf
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Leadership
Coffee: Gloria & Tom Roth Message: Pastor Mike
EZMC Announcements
Thank you for your responses to the building visioning survey. We are currently compiling the data. If you were not able to submit your survey, please pass it along directly to Brendan or drop off at church in the mailbox. Thank you for your feedback and prayerful support of this process.
Baptism 2025
Anyone who would like to Baptized at the upcoming Baptismal Service on June 22nd are asked to contact either Pastor Ray Martin or Pastor Mike Williamson by Monday June 9th.
The Health Ministry Team is hosting a Smoothie Shack and Juice Bar after our last Holy Movement Stretch and Strength Session this Tuesday Night (June 10) We will have a selection of Energy Bites as well. Plan to stay a little longer after class to enjoy this social time and complete a survey of the Movement and Walking Initiatives. Let us know if you have found this beneficial and would consider continuation of these programs in the future.
There will be no Prayer Shawl Knitting in June. Enjoy your summer and we will meet again in September.
Jean
Wednesday June 25th 7 pm. Adult Fellowship Strawberry Social. Bill and Susan Schmitz will be sharing about their trip to Greece.
Please note that the 2025 Camp Subsidy Form deadline is June 15th and needs to be returned to our treasurer, Becky Bender by that date. This can be done either by email (treasurer@ezmennonite.ca) or put in her church mailbox. Forms are available in the literature rack beside the main bulletin board or you may email office@ezmennonite.ca
to get one. If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Caleb Leis.
Rejoice Magazine – Nurture your soul through this quarterly devotional magazine from Menno Media. Each day’s entry features a Bible reading, a short inspirational message, and a prayer of response. We will be updating our subscription list soon. If you are not on the list but would like to start receiving Rejoice OR if you are currently receiving this magazine and would like to be removed from the list please contact Lisa at office@ezmennonite.ca or 519-655-6824 by Tuesday June 17th. Subscriptions are paid by EZMC so there is no cost to you.
VBS 2025
Please continue to pray for VBS and join us specifically this week in praying for the kids coming to VBS this year.
Jesus, we pray that through VBS, kids in our community will grow in their relationship with you. We ask that you begin to break down any walls that might be preventing their young hearts from receiving your love. We ask that the truth of who you are sinks deep into their hearts. Let them leave knowing who you are and the overwhelming, joyful love you have for them. May the impact of VBS last a lifetime. Amen
Also please note that the work bee for June 9 has been postponed until a later date.
All volunteers, including youth, please mark your calendar for our orientation/training night on June 16 @ 8:00pm. This will be 1 hour or less, but important information for all. Please make this a priority to attend.
Looking for a few people who love the outdoors and our Greenspace.
Christmas lights need to be removed from the trees and put back on the reels located in the shed so they can shine brightly next Christmas.
Let Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) know if that would be you.
Summer Internship Update
We are happy to share the news that Alexis Leis has accepted the Summer Internship position for 2025.
Alexis will begin her work on Monday June 23, and you can expect to see her serving and learning in a variety of church contexts this Summer.
Please keep Alexis in your prayers as she serves, learns, and discerns God’s call among us in the months to come.
Blessings,
Pastor Ray Martin & Pastor Mike Williamson
Beyond our Church Community
Sunday June 8 (7 – 8:30 p.m.) | Online Elephant at the Border: A Peace Church Response to Annexation. Amidst political discord and talks of annexation across the Canada-US border, what is the call of followers of Jesus to respond? MCC is hosting four webinars that will explore the power and possibility of nonviolence in light of U.S. aggression. Join a series of online workshops with guest speakers and small group discussion. Attend one or attend them all. This event is free. To learn more, visit mcc.org/peace-church-response.
Tuesday June 10th 5 – 7 pm Hidden Acres is hosting the 58th Annual Chicken BBQ & 17th Annual Pie Auction Fundraiser. Come and enjoy our delicious chicken dinner that thousands of people have come to know and love. Along with the chicken, your meal includes potato salad, coleslaw, veggies, pickles, a fresh roll, chips and an apple or fresh baked apple fritter. $21 – 1 Piece Meal / $25 – 2 Piece Meal. Pie Auction will happen during the meal. Please visit hiddenacres.ca for more details and to order your tickets. Tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Saturday June 14th 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion at
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener. You’re warmly invited to Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This year’s event will seek to build on the momentum of last year’s conversation about the Spiritual Covenant, which is a way to acknowledge Indigenous jurisdiction over lands through an annual token lease payment. $25 is recommended to help cover the cost of lunch. Visit mcc.org/strawberry-thanksgiving to learn more.
Save the Date! Tuesday June 17th 6 – 8 p.m., Tri-County Mennonite Homes is having its Annual General Meeting in the Nithview Community Auditorium (New Hamburg). For more information, please contact Bruce Bechtel (bbechtel@tcmhomes.com; 519-801-0470) or Emily Shannon (eshannon@tcmhomes.com; 519-662-2718).
Friday June 20th 12 – 1 p.m. Online Lunch Hour with the MCEC Executive Minister. Join us on Zoom for a midday conversation with Anthony Siegrist! Take a pause in your day to connect, reflect, and be encouraged. This is a space to bring your questions, share your voice, and energize one another for the work of God’s reconciling ministry. This session, we’ll be joined by Lori Guenther Reesor to talk about churches and money, generosity and discipleship. More information and to register.
Registration now for Gathering 2025 – Mennonite Church Canada taking place from July 2-5, 2025 in Kitchener/Waterloo. Don’t miss this incredible experience of our nationwide faith community together in worship, building relationships, discerning our next steps and taking care of business. This Gathering is shaping up to be an incredible experience with three unique avenues for engagement – Congregational Gathering, Youth Gathering, U30 Young Adult Gathering.
Thursday July 3rd 1 pm – 2:30 p.m., A Compassionate Response in the Middle East and Ukraine in the Community Room at 50 Kent, Kitchener and Online
Hear powerful stories of how MCC and its local partners are responding to the needs of communities in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and other regions affected by conflict. You’ll also hear heartfelt stories of individuals whose families have been assisted by MCC’s work, along with a quick update on local Ontario programs. Join in person or online at facebook.com/MCCOntario/. Visit here to learn more.