Palm Sunday
East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday March 24, 2024 No. 12
Sunday Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Palm Sunday
Prelude: Brandy Sell Accompanist: Bethany Zehr
Worship Leader: Tracey Kropf Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Greeters: Susan & Bill Schmitz Offering: Leadership
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Carol & Owen Cook
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #313 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
VT #315 “All Glory, Laud, and Honour”
Offering – Leadership
Time with the Children
Scripture Reading: Mark 11:1-11
Message: Pastor Mike
Prayer of Confession & Assurance
Song of Response
VT #316 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
Lay Minister Nominations: Pastor Ray
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song
VT #436 How Great Thou Art
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.
11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages
12:30 – 6 p.m. Private Party
EZMC leads afternoon worship services at 2:15 pm peopleCare & 3:15 pm Maples
This Coming Week
Wednesday March 27th
- 7 p.m. Play Group set up
Thursday March 28th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Maundy Thursday Service
7 p.m.
Prelude: Katie Wagler Accompanist: Katie Wagler
Worship Leader: Pastors Ray & Pastor Mike Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Ray
This service will include hand washing and communion.
Saturday March 30th
- 1 – 7 p.m. Private Party
Birthdays
Sunday March 24: Colton Yantzi
Monday March 25: Lindsay Zehr, Mary Ann Zehr
Thursday March 28: Jean MacDonald, Victoria Green
Saturday March 30: Selena Lupton
Easter Sunday – March 31, 2024
8:30 a.m. – A light Easter breakfast will be served. Please sign the sheet on the bulletin board today, March 24th, if you plan to attend.
9:15-9:50 a.m. Easter Children’s Gathering in the Assembly Room for Grades 1-8. Create your own Easter Story Snack Mix and participate in an act of KINDNESS and LOVE like the Disciples did with Jesus. Children in Nursery to SK can gather with their parent by the climber where a table with colouring & activity sheets will be available & each child will be given an Easter Story Snack Mix.
10 a.m. Worship Service
Prelude: Heidi/Lydia/Hannah Accompanist: Heidi Wagler
Worship Leader: Pastor Ray Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Ashley & Jon Witzel Offering: Maintenance
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Please note that coffee will be served at breakfast, and we will not be having coffeetime after the worship service.
EZMC Announcements
All items for the Easter Sunday bulletin (March 31st), are due to the church office by 9 a.m. on Thursday March 28th. Thanks so much.
The 2023 Annual Meeting minutes were sent by email on Friday March 22nd. Paper copies are available on the bottom row of the church mailboxes. Please take a copy if you would like one.
Nominations for Lay Ministers
Jared Yantzi will be completing his term as one of our two Lay Ministers of Christian Education and Nurture and Marv Leis will be completing his term as a Care Team member. We would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to each of them for their dedication and commitment to their role.
To assist the Gift Discernment Committee in the discerning process you will be invited on Sunday, March 24, to submit nominations for these two positions. Please prayerfully consider who you feel could serve in these roles.
Your nomination for the Care Team member should be a male with daytime flexibility. If you are unable to be at church on March 24 please submit your nominations to Wayne Yantzi by email, wdyantzi@gmail.com by Sunday March 31.
The MYF and the Adult Fellowship group will be enjoying an evening of friendly crokinole games and finger foods on Friday April 5th at 7 pm at the church.
Please bring your crokinole board and finger foods to share.
Plastic containers needed!
Please save 500 ml/2 cup size plastic containers (eg sour cream, margarine) to be reused for this year’s relief sale donut project. They can be placed in the marked box under the mailboxes in the lobby. Thank you!
Mark your calendars for this year’s EZ Women’s IF Gathering here at the church,
April 12th and 13th. What is an IF Gathering? “If Gathering exists to equip women with gospel-centered resources, events and community so they may learn more about who God is and disciple other women.” The theme this year is- A Reason to Celebrate, A Moment to Risk Again. Come join us as we thank God for all he has done in our past and discuss how are we going to live differently for Him going forward. The cost for registration is $30 and this includes lunch on Saturday from Raja Thai and Indian Cuisine. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board in the front lobby. Spread the word and invite your friends to join us! If you have any questions you can ask one of the planning team members, Erin Yantzi, Ashley Witzel, Sheryl Leis, Heidi Wagler or Jess Yantzi. Stay tuned for more details to come!
The 2024 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (EZMC P.O. Box 997 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0). Forms are available in the literature rack beside the main bulletin board or by contacting Lisa Suderman at office@ezmennonite.ca
If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Jared Yantzi.
It has been 10 years since EZ installed a Hearing Loop, a device meant to assist anyone with hearing aids struggling to hear during services in the auditorium.
The loop can discreetly assist anyone who wears hearing aids regardless of their age to hear sound directly from the microphone without the added distraction of background noise. In short, the sound travels through a wire that is installed around the sanctuary and connected to the sound system. In turn the hearing aid is set to wirelessly pick up that sound.
Should you be interested in more info please contact either Marilyn Zehr, 519-462-2320 or Ashley Witzel, 519-577-4888.
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
On behalf of Benedikt Isert Bender, MCEC has invited members of East Zorra to support Benedikt through prayer, encouragement, and financial gifts. Benedikt was here March 10 and shared about his one-year service assignment as a Social Enterprise Trainee at Coffee for Peace, learning the value chain of the coffee industry framed in social justice and peacebuilding as well as additional responsibilities! Donations to support Benedikt can be made to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, designated “STIM – Bender” and mailed to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada 201 – 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1.
Beyond our Church Community
Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous/Settler Relationships
Two members of our group will be presenting on Thursday March 28, 2024 from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. to the Active Living Centre at the Wilmot Recreation Complex at 1291 Nafziger Road, Baden. All those 55+ are invited. Registration is not required.
Celebrate the launch of On Mennonite/s Writing, a collection of essays by literary scholar Dr. Hildi Froese Tiessen, edited by Rob Zacharias. This book gathers eighteen essays that reflect a half-century of critical engagement. April 4, 7:30 p.m. at Conrad Grebel University College (Chapel). Reception to follow. grebel.ca/events
Saturday April 6th Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp’s 40th Annual Bowlathon.
This is one of the camp’s main annual fundraising events with last year’s Bowlathon raising almost $30,000! You can show your support by making a donation at hiddenacres.ca/donate, and select “Annual Bowlathon” from the list. If you have any questions please contact us at info@hiddenacres.ca or 519-625-8602. Thank you!
Conrad Grebel University College is accepting student residence applications for the 2024/25 academic year. Grebel is an enthusiastic residence community that houses University of Waterloo students on the UWaterloo campus. Students in any year of study are welcome. Learn about rooms, spaces, food, fees, and important dates at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/apply.
Monday April 29th 6 p.m. New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Promotion Dinner
at Calvary United Church (48 Hawkesville Rd, St. Jacobs).
More than just a meal, the NHMRS promotion dinner is your chance to connect with community and support MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and acapella music by Surrendered. MCC will share an update on their work in Ethiopia. Funds raised will offset costs of running the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Skip the line and order your tickets online today! Tickets can also be reserved in advance by contacting Justin Armitage at 519-745-8458 ext. 262.
Interfaith Counselling Centre – 40th Anniversary Celebration
Come join us in celebrating 40 years of instilling hope in our community. With multiple services, including support for those dealing with anxiety, depression, anger management, stress reduction, trauma, bullying, addiction recovery, separation, and divorce and so much more — we could not have done it without the support of our amazing caring community.
In celebration we are hosting a phenomenal unforgettable event — formal attire, delicious food and live musical entertainment, featuring local talent Daniel Lichti, Angelica Appelman, and Mike and Diana Erb.
GET YOUR TICKET TODAY!!! Celebrate the great work of the past and be a part of supporting mental health work into the future.
Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Time: 6:00pm (dinner starts at 6:30pm)
Location: Puddicombe Banquet Hall (145 Peel Street, New Hamburg, ON)
Attire: Formal
Ticket price: $140 / person ($80 receiptable)