East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday November 24, 2024 No. 47
Sunday November 24, 2024
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Dawn & Greg Zehr Worship Leader: Tracey Kropf
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: Local Ministries
Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman Message: Phil Wagler
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #34 “We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer”
VT #433 “I Believe in God Almighty”
Offering – Local Ministries
Time with the Children – Phil Wagler
Scripture Reading: Mark 12: 13-17
Message – What Do You See Here? A Vision of Good News for an Unreconciled World
(with additional scripture passage 2 Corinthians 5:16-19) Phil Wagler
Song of Response
VT # 797 “We Are People of God’s Peace”
Prayer of the Church – Pastor Mike
Sending Song
VT #812 “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”
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 p.m. Private Party
This Coming Week
Tuesday November 26th
- 7 p.m. Church Ministry Council Meeting
Wednesday November 27th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
- E Z Play Group setup
Thursday November 28th
- 9 a.m. Care Team Meeting
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 6 p.m. Adult Fellowship Christmas Dinner followed by a Christmas Concert by Menno Valley Sound. For those who purchased tickets, please be at church and seated before 6 pm so the meal can start promptly at 6.
Friday November 29th
- MYF
Saturday November 30th
- 8 a.m. Live Nativity Set Placement. Please contact Joe if you can help.
- 6 p.m. JWalkers (Junior Youth) Christmas Mystery Supper
Next Sunday – December 1, 2024
Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation
Week One: Meanwhile…
Prelude/Accompanist: Katie Wagler Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeters: Mike Williamson & Brandy Sell Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Mission Partners
Coffee Hosts: Gloria & Tom Roth Message: Pastor Ray
12:30 p.m. Private Party
This Advent season, we will be drawing on a resource by Will Willimon called Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation. In it, Willimon challenges readers to wrestle anew with scripture traditionally heard during the Advent season. He writes “You’ve got four weeks to adjust to the jolt of God taking time for us…So brace yourself. God is on the way.”
Advent is a time of recommitting ourselves to the God who is decisively committed to us in Jesus Christ – even if that commitment makes us squirm. The following Scripture readings are meant to help us prepare, grow, and even squirm before the God who is coming to us.
Let us heed the call of John the Baptist, last of the prophets who cries out: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
Bible Readings for Week One: Meanwhile…
November 25th to 29th
Monday Isaiah 64:1-9
Tuesday Psalm 80
Wednesday 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Thursday Mark 13:1-23
Friday Mark 13:24-37
EZMC Announcements
From Canadian Mennonite: With the Canada Post strike, your December print issue will be delayed. Sign up for digital delivery to get it by email on November 29. CM sends an email each Friday and attaches a PDF copy of the magazine once per month. Contact Lorna at office@canadianmennonite.org.
Church Directory Update Page – We are not printing a full church directory in 2024. Please send any address, email or phone updates, that have taken place since the last directory printing in November 2023, to Lisa by Tuesday December 10th. She will be printing a directory update page later in December. Thanks so much.
Saturday November 30th 6 p.m. JWalkers (Junior Youth) will having a Christmas Mystery Supper at church. Youth are encouraged to wear Christmas sweaters and hats etc. Please let one of the Jwalker leaders know if your youth will be attending as well as if they will be bringing friends so we can plan for food. An email with more details will be sent soon.
Saturday December 7th 5-8 p.m. Live Nativity (Weather date Sunday December 8)
Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help make this event happen!
Please note the following important dates:
Saturday November 30th
- 8 a.m. Sets will be put in place. Please contact Joe Wagler if you can help with this.
Sunday December 1
- 12:00-12:30 pm Walk Through – We will do a quick walk through of the set for all characters and guides who can attend
Saturday December 14th
- 8 a.m. Sets will be removed and put away. Please contact Joe Wagler if you can help with this.
Please also promote this event with others so that we can share the Christmas story with many!
You are invited to support a local family this Christmas
Tavistock Assistance Program (TAP) is busy preparing for the holiday season and would like to thank those who have reached out to enquire about supporting a family or individual in our community through gift giving this Christmas. If you would like to support this program by purchasing gifts for a family, donating funds for gifts, or volunteering to wrap gifts, we welcome you to reach out to TAP by November 22 at tapisforyou@outlook.com or (519)655-3500.
Beyond our Church Community
The MDS newsletter – November edition of On the Level is now available.
In this edition, you’ll read about three generations of family volunteers at Fraser Lake in Ontario and find out what Evelyn Peters-Rojas has been up to in retirement.
Read On the Level: https://conta.cc/3ANNKy8
Hillcrest Mennonite Church is 60 Years Old! As part of our celebrations and acknowledgement, we have printed a 60 Year Anniversary Book, highlighting some of the events and stories that make up the people who have called Hillcrest home, written by Glenn Zehr. We will have an official book launch on Sunday November 17. Worship begins at 9:45 with a focus on celebrating these 60 years. Some of the 50th Anniversary exhibits will be on display again. The book launch will start at 10:45 AM. Autographed books will be available for $20.00 each. Following our celebrations, all are invited for a potluck meal. If you are unable to join us and would like a copy of the book, contact Marietta at office@hillcrestmc.ca or by phone 519-662-1577.
Sunday November 17th 2 p.m. – Free Concert for Kids Community Event at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. Musicians of the KW Symphony present Music for Horn and Harp, an introduction to these instruments featuring a selection of classical, popular, and folk songs. Refreshments to follow. For more info contact Pauline at church@sjmc.on.ca
Sunday November 17th 3 p.m. Menno Singers hosts its Annual Messiah Sing-Along with soloists and orchestra. (St Matthews Lutheran Church, 54 Benton St, Kitchener): Bring a score, sit in parts and join your voices to sing (or come and listen). Admittance by donation.
Sunday December 1st 2 p.m. at Tavistock Mennonite Church. We are excited to announce the return of “An A Capella Christmas” performed by the Twin City Harmonizers, with special guest, Nichelle Bauman. All your favourite Christmas songs sung in 4-part harmony. Tickets are available by calling the Tavistock church office at 519-655-2581 or office@tavistockmennonitechurch.ca $20/adults, $15/youth & students, free for children 12 and under. Join us for this exciting afternoon in support of our Refugee Sponsorship Fund and Harmonize for Speech.
Sunday December 1st 7:30 p.m. You are invited to attend the Area Churches Christmas Choir Concert at Steinmann Mennonite Church (1316 Snyder’s Rd W Baden). There will be a freewill offering in support of Mennonite Central Committee’s Meat Canning Project. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tuesday December 3rd Students of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate invite you to their annual Christmas Concert to be held at Rockway at 7:30 pm. For more information, please visit our concert webpage.
All are welcome. https://rockway.ca/events/christmas-concert/
Sunday December 8th 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers with Artistic Director Brandon Leis invites you to a service of Lessons and Carols, with choral music for the season, plus readings and congregational singing. (Trillium Lutheran Church, 22 William St, Waterloo): Tickets $25, Child/Student $5 at the door or from choir members.
Tuesday December 10th 12 p.m. Lunch and Listen: An MCC Journey through Uganda, in the Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or online.
Join us for an inspiring presentation as MCC staff Lynda Lynch and Debbie Siertsema share their experiences from a recent learning tour in Uganda, where they explored MCC’s impactful programs across the region. Join us in-person in the Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or watch the livestream on Facebook.
Friday December 13th 7 p.m. Menno Youth Ensemble is excited to present our Christmas concert: For the Beauty of the Earth, at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. The concert will explore the wonders of nature and the joys of the Christmas season through choral music, original compositions, and carols. Admission is by donation.
Friday January 10th & Saturday January 11th 7 p.m. Bonhoeffer: Cell 92 – | A cinematic theatre production created by Jerry Holsopple and Justin Poole. This thought-provoking single actor play focuses on the final period of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, a German pastor and theologian involved in the Protestant resistance to Hitler and National Socialism. Two nights only, at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo. Tickets: uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/bonhoeffer-cell-92
January 25, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join us for the Great Winter WarmUp!
at the MCC Material Resources Centre, 65 Heritage Dr, New Hamburg
Get ready to cozy up at the Great Winter WarmUp! We’re inviting you, your friends and your family to the MCC Material Resource Centre for a fun-filled comforter knotting blitz. Together, we’ll create handmade comforters that bring warmth and remind those in need that they are loved and cared for. No experience? No problem! Whether you’re a pro at knotting or trying it for the first time, everyone is welcome. Enjoy some hot beverages, connect with great people and help us spread warmth and comfort this winter. We can’t wait to see you there and share some warmth together! For more info, go to mcc.org/events.