East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 69 Sunday May 31, 2026 No. 22
Prelude/Accompanist: Laurie Yantzi Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeter: Janice & Marlow Gingerich Worship Leader: Kim Leis
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Coffeetime: Kristen & Daryl Cressman
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
VT #868
Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #7 “Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing”
VT #377 “New Earth, Heavens New”
Grade 12 Recognition & Blessing Dawn Bender & Caleb Leis
(CENT Lay Ministers)
Offering – Leadership
Time with the Children Leah Ruby
Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11 Leah Ruby
Message From Nouns to Names Pastor Mike
Song of Response
VT #419 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song
VT #840 “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”
Benediction
Today
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Faith Formation Class will meet in the MYF room.
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.
This Coming Week
Monday June 1
- 7 p.m. Walking Club – nature walk at the Hickson trail. This is mostly a flat, grass covered trail through woodland at the Hickson access point. It’s an out and back trail so come walk as far as you’d like! Meet at Hickson Park located at 99 Lovey’s Street.
Tuesday June 2nd
- 9 a.m. Sewing Circle
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Authored by the Word Wrap-Up Gathering. Join us for an evening of reflection as we conclude our study together. We will spend time looking back on the course and will hear some final thoughts from Pastor Mike as we look ahead to what the Lord is calling us toward next.
Wednesday June 3rd
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee & Bible Study
- Play Group setup
- 7 p.m. Finance & Facility Meeting
Thursday June 4th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Friday June 5th & Saturday June 6th
- MYF at a Youth Conference.
Next Sunday – June 7, 2026
We will join Meheret Evangelical Church in Kitchener.
(456 Krug Street, Kitchener, ON N2B 1L1) Start time is 10 a.m.
Following the service there will be a fellowship time.
Coffee, tea and Ethiopian bread will be served.
Please note that there is no worship service here at EZMC.
EZMC Announcements
The Hidden Acres Chicken BBQ and Pie Auctionwill be taking place on June 9th. EZMC has been asked to provide 10 pies. If this is something you could do, please sign the sheet on the bulletin board or contact any member of the Mission Committee. The pie boxes are on the bench outside Lisa’s office. Please pick up as many as needed for the pies you are making. The pies need to be delivered to church on Tuesday June 9th by noon. Thanks so much!
Wednesday June 10th – Our church has a day booked to volunteer at the MCC meat cannery in New Hamburg. Approximately 700kg of chicken will be canned that day and we are looking for help! Sign up on the bulletin board for the morning (9-12) or afternoon (12:30-3:30), we can have up to 15 people per shift. Any questions please speak to Dylan Yantzi.
Saturday June 20th 2-4 p.m. You are invited to an 80th Birthday Party Open House for Sherman Roth at Oxford Haus (65 Oxford St. Stratford). Best Wishes only.
Holy Movement & Walking Club summer series! Summer comes with vacation time for many & lots of opportunities to be active. This is all good, keep moving! For those interested in Holy Movement and Walking Club over the summer, details and dates are provided below. Mark it in your calendar and join when you can! New participants always welcome!
Holy Movement – 7:30-8:30 – Thurs June 25; Tues July 14 & 28; Tues Aug 4 & 18
Walking Club – meet at 7pm – will continue on our bi-weekly Monday schedule – June 1, 15, 29; July 13 & 27; Aug 10 & 24
Upcoming Summer Services:
Sunday June 14 During Worship there will be a CENT Volunteer Appreciation. The Sunday School Year End Celebration will follow with lunch.
Sunday June 21 Baptism Sunday.
Sunday June 28 We will be welcoming Cassel Mennonite and Tavistock Mennonite at East Zorra as we meet for the first of our shared Worship services on holidays weekend this summer.
Sunday July 5 EZMC Worship Service in Queen’s Park.
Sunday August 2 Shared Worship service hosted at Tavistock Mennonite Church.
Sunday August 9 Tavistock & Area Ecumenical Worship Service in Queen’s Park.
Sunday Sept 6 Shared Worship Service hosted at Cassel Mennonite Church.
Upcoming Adult Fellowship Events – Save the Dates
Tuesday June 23rd 7 p.m. Strawberry Socialwith guest speaker Beth Hovius who will share her experience in Uganda on an MCC Learning Tour.
Tuesday August 27th Gunn’s Hill Cheese tour and lunch at Sunrise Pho Binh Thanh Ben Thah in Woodstock (more details to follow in July).
Please note that the 2026 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 receive one. If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Dawn Bender or Caleb Leis.
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 2026/2027 school year (Sept 2026 – Aug 2027). 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.
Community Campfires at East Zorra Mennonite
6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Green Space on June 24, July 22, August 5 & 19, September 2.
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.
We look forward to enjoying each other’s company.
For those that are on the subscription list for Salt & Light and the Rejoice magazine you will find them in your church mailbox this morning. This will be the last issue for those who cancelled starting this Fall. If you recently asked to have your name added to the list you will receive your first issue in late August.
VBS Rainforest Falls 2026
Registration will close on June 1st. Please use the link found on our church website to get your children registered.
All Volunteers – please mark your calendars for VBS orientation night on June 8 @ 8pm. Please make it a priority to attend this brief but important information night- thank you!
Calling all Grandparents!
We need your help at VBS July 6 -10.
Bring your lawn chair and sit under a tree in our green space. Kids may come visit you to take a rest in the shade on a blanket, to take a break from the busyness and fun activities, when they need a friend to sit quietly with, or maybe they need a Band-Aid.
This was a favourite spot for many and gives a glimpse into our fun activities at VBS!
Come for one day or all five, whatever suits your schedule. If you think you might be interested in helping in this role, please contact Ashley Witzel or Chelsea Sider.
Beyond Our Church Community
Tuesday June 2nd 2 p.m. Lifted Voices concert at First Mennonite Church (800 King St. E., Kitchener). All are welcome to this free concert in the sanctuary, featuring songs from the heart. Refreshment to follow.
Tuesday June 9th 5-7 p.m. Hidden Acres is hosting our 59th Annual Chicken BBQ & 18th 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.
$22 – 1 Piece Meal / $27 – 2 Piece Meal
Pie Auction will happen during the meal.
Please visit www.hiddenacres.ca for more details and to order your tickets.
Tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Saturday June 13th 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion atSix Nations Polytechnic, Ohsweken, ON. 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.
The May edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service.
In this edition, you’ll read about two friends, Andrew and Will, from Winnipeg, Manitoba who spent a week serving with MDS in Puerto Rico. “It was a great way to learn about another part of the world, meet other people, and really help someone,” said Andrew. You’ll also discover a Q&A with three Canadian couples who served for a month in Hawai’i. Read On the Level: https://conta.cc/43f2xwi
After the excitement of our 80th Anniversary Barn event last September, we are planning another one! This time, at the Tapestry Hall in Cambridge. Join us on Friday, September 25 for Rockway’s BIG Night Out. For more information and to get your Early Bird ticket, visit rockway.ca/events.
Thrift Volunteers Needed! Do you have a heart for service and a few hours to spare each week? MCC Thrift & Gift in Elmira and the MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre are seeking volunteers to greet donors, receive and sort donations, and perform other roles. Join a community rooted in service and love. Visit mccthrift.com/volunteer to get in touch with us today!
Come to Hidden Acres Summer Camp!
Are you looking for a fun, safe summer camp experience? Hidden Acres’ camp provides great opportunities to connect with God, each other and nature. Campers get to enjoy swimming, canoeing, archery, nature exploration, rock climbing, low ropes, camp-outs, sports, group games and more, all in the company of peers and our fun and supportive staff team. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for our dates & rates. Contact our Program Director, Josh Penfold at josh@hiddenacres.ca for more information. See you for summer 2026!