East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 68 Sunday November 2, 2025 No. 44
Prelude/Accompanist: Katie Wagler Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Gwen & Dan Matthews Worship Leader: Sheryl Leis
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Mission Partners
Coffee: Brett Zehr & Ryan Wagler Message: Michelle Brenneman
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #122 “Sing to the God of Harvest”
VT #179 “At the Dawn of Your Creation”
Offering – Mission Partners
Time with the Children
Scripture Readings: John 4: 1-42; Galatians 5:13-25
Message Michelle Brenneman,
Executive Director at Mennonite Central Committee Ontario
Song of Response:
Prayer of the Church
Sending Song: VT#809 “Sing a New World into Being”
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.
This Coming Week
Monday November 3rd
- 7 p.m. Walking Club – A great way to spend a fall evening! Meet at the Memorial Hall Tavistock.
Tuesday November 4th
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sewing Circle. Everyone is welcome to join us to knot comforters or quilt.
- 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Holy Movement – use the fall transition to establish or reinforce your workout routine! Bring an exercise mat, water bottle, and light weights. New participants welcome!
Wednesday November 5th
- 10:30 – 11:30 Coffee and Bible Study
- E Z Play Group setup
- 6 p.m. Staff Congregational Relations Committee Meeting
- Glorify Rehearsal
Thursday November 6th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Next Sunday – November 9, 2025
Prelude/Accompanist: Glorify Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Dawn Bender Worship Leader: Pastor Mike
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: Local Ministries
Coffee: Kristen & Daryl Cressman Message: Pastor Ray
10 a.m. Parent/Child Dedication will take place during worship
12 p.m. Private Party (in the basement)
12 – 4 p.m. MYF Pizza Lunch (in MYF room) with Nursing Home Worship Services to follow
EZMC Announcements
We will be printing an updated EZMC Church Family Photo and Address Directory later this year. If you would like to submit updated home address/phone/email information or a photo (preferably in jpeg format) please send to Lisa asap at office@ezmennonite.ca. A draft of the directory will be available for edits on Sunday November 9th and 16th. Please check your household listing and make any changes that are needed.
Service of Remembering
During our worship service on November 23, we will take time to remember those who have died this past year by naming their names and lighting a candle in memory of them. As in previous years we plan to name our congregational members, along with other close family members (siblings, parents, children) of our congregational members.
If you have experienced another significant loss through death this year and wish to have that person named in our service, please contact Marv Yantzi, or Pastor Ray.
Thursday November 13th 12 p.m. High Noon Seniors Lunch at Grace United Church in Tavistock. A homestyle lunch (Cost: Freewill offering) will be served followed by a presentation by Amanda Hunter, the Worm Wrangler.
Thursday November 27th 6 p.m. Adult Fellowship Christmas Banquet
Cost $40.00 per person
Christmas concert to follow by Julie Gerber.
Tickets will be available from committee members.
Ray and Laurel Zehr, Owen and Carol Cook, Mike and Karen Wirth.
Interfaith Counselling Center (ICC) is excited to host a two-day Hold Me Tight couple’s workshop on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 6:30pm – 10pm and Saturday, November 8, from 9am – 6pm. The workshop will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2210 Line 29, Tavistock (Sebastopol). The Hold Me Tight workshop is designed to support couples of all ages and stages of their relationship, who are wanting to enhance their relationship and strengthen their bond with one another.
If you are interested in hearing more about this workshop, please speak to Pastor Ray this weekend or by early next week.
Beyond Our Church Community
Join the Mennonite Central Committee team!
We are excited to announce new opportunities to join our team and make a meaningful impact in communities across Ontario. If you are passionate about community engagement, collaboration and fostering belonging, we invite you to apply.
- Volunteer Engagement Manager – New Hamburg (Full time)
- Thrift Team Member: Processing – Fashion Focus – New Hamburg (Full time)
For full job descriptions and to apply, visit mcc.org/serve
Tuesday November 4th 12 – 1 p.m. Lunch and Listen: An MCC Journey Through Rwanda and Burundi at 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or Livestream on the MCC Ontario Facebook page. Bring your lunch to an engaging session with Dr. Mulanda “Jimmy” Juma, who serves as the MCC representative for Rwanda and Burundi. Mulanda will share about the importance of MCC’s work in two countries that have faced genocide and civil war a generation ago. Attend in person (no registration required) or livestream on Facebook: facebook.com/MCCOntario/. Learn more here.
Thursday November 6th 7 – 9 pm Calling all families interested in learning more about Rockway Mennonite Collegiate for their child. We invite you to attend our Discover Rockway information night. For more information and to register for this event, visit our Discover Rockway webpage.
Saturday November 8th – Challenge for the Church: Islamophobia at
Waterloo North Mennonite Church. How has the Church been complicit in Islamophobia—through silence, theology or action? How can we respond differently today? This workshop invites honest reflection and courageous conversation as we examine Mennonite history, thought, and practice through the lens of anti-Islamophobia. Join a day of learning, confession and renewed commitment to peace and justice in our interfaith world. This event builds on our previous workshop on Antisemitism and continues the vital work of confronting prejudice within the Church. To learn more, visit here. An MCEC event in partnership with MCC.
Saturday November 15th 9 am to 2 pm. The 11th Annual Makers Market will be held at Steinmann Mennonite Church (1316 Snyder’s Rd. W. Baden). You are warmly invited to attend and peruse 35+ local vendors’ homemade items as well as, the popular, Ten Thousand Villages and Raw Carrot. (A great opportunity to support local artisans and find that perfect gift). Soup lunch will be served at 11 am. Proceeds will be given to Wilmot & Wellesley Resource Centre. For more information, see the poster on the main bulletin board. Hope to see you there!
Saturday November 15th An Evening With Wendel Clark – Join us for an unforgettable evening with Toronto Maple Leafs legend Wendel Clark at the award-winning Puddicombe House, in downtown New Hamburg. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner, while supporting Building a New Nithview, Tri County Mennonite Home’s long-term care expansion that will provide enhanced care for seniors in our community. The evening will feature personal stories from Wendel’s celebrated hockey career, as well as the opportunity for photographs and one autograph per guest prior to dinner. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and Wendel’s remarks will follow the meal. Tickets are $250 per guest and include a $175 charitable tax receipt. All tickets must be purchased online in advance, as no tickets will be available at the door. Please note that all sales are final and non-refundable. Your attendance supports a vital community project while offering an exceptional evening of dining, conversation, and inspiration.
Ten Thousand Villages and Friends are holding two Christmas Markets this November. Your purchase of these unique, fairly traded and handcrafted product supports employment and skill development. Come check it out at WK United Mennonite Church, Waterloo (Nov 13-15) and MCC Ontario, Kitchener (Nov 27-29). Please see the poster on the main bulletin board for more details.
Sunday November 16th 3 p.m. Come out with your voice and your score to join Menno Singers in a Singalong Messiah with orchestra and soloists at St Matthews Lutheran Church (54 Benton St, Kitchener). The audience is the choir! Entrance by donation. www.mennosingers.com
Friday November 28 – Saturday November 29th Men Listening, Men Talking: A Men’s Retreat at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Centre.
Just a few spots remain for this men’s retreat that will focus on building healthy relationships of peace in your daily roles as fathers, sons, husbands and neighbours. We’ll learn lessons from guest speaker Arthur Boers, teacher, author and pastor, as he reflects on the impact and healing of generational trauma in his childhood. Learn more here.
Sunday December 14th A LYNC Christmas 2 – 4:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Come join us for an amazing multimedia, light, and music extravaganza as we celebrate Christmas with our community. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas with Juneyt an award winning, world renowned musician and flamenco and Nuevo-flamenco guitarist, Anat Hector one of KW’s finest singer/pianist, Lisa Hagen and the Local Vocals, Derek Goupil and the Hillview Band present “let it be Christmas, A multimedia musical presentation of the Christmas story with the music of the Beatles.
The event is free but guests are encouraged to make a donation in support of LYNC’s Millblock Community Development. Tickets are free through Eventbrite.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-lync-christmas-tickets-1720500044949?aff=oddtdtcreator
Turn Time into Meals: Group Canning at MCC Material Resources
MCC Material Resources (65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg) is inviting workplace, church, and community groups to can nutritious food for communities in need. Groups are asked to contribute $6.50 per can to cover costs and keep this vital work going. Flexible scheduling is available. A typical daily output can range from 350–1,200 cans. Learn more or book a canning date today! Contact Reid Kennel at reidkennel@mcco.ca or by calling 226-338-4956.
Interfaith Counselling Centre Calendar Fundraiser – Help Us Bring Hope and Healing to Our Community. This October, we’re inviting you to support the Interfaith Counselling Centre through our Calendar Fundraiser—a beautiful way to give back while celebrating the seasons of life and wellness.
Each calendar features inspiring artwork and messages that reflect the heart of our mission: to provide accessible, compassionate counselling to those in need. Your purchase directly supports our programs and helps ensure that no one in our community is left without support during difficult times.
Calendars are available at our office and select community locations. You can also order online at interfaithcounselling.ca or by calling (519) 662-3092.
Kits, Cans and Comforters: Tours of the MCC Hub
1st Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. and 3rd Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.
65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg. You don’t have to wait for a special event to explore the MCC Hub. Invite a friend and join one of two monthly tours open to the public. Learn what’s involved in packing and preparing kits and comforters for international shipment, and tour MCC’s new meat canning facility, which sends thousands of pounds of nutrient-rich meat to countries facing food shortages. No RSVP required.