East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 69 Sunday October 11, 2026 No. 41
Sunday October 11, 2026 – Join Sunday Worship Zoom at 10 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83137404938?pwd=hcotNxuDaoj9icACblTui3Jcsx9aOK.1
Meeting ID: 831 3740 4938 Passcode: 415319
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Greeter: Hannah & Dylan Yantzi Worship Leader: Pastor Ray
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler
Coffeetime: Megan MacDonald & Russ Schumm
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Praise
VT #120 “For the Beauty of the Earth”
VT #122 “Sing to the God of Harvest”
Offering – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Children’s Story Amy Yantzi
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12 Jean MacDonald
Message Pastor Mike
Song of Response
VT #419 “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song
VT #436 “How Great Thou Art”
Benediction
Postlude
Today
Coffeetime immediately following the worship service. 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.
Please note that we are not having Sunday School classes today.
This Coming Week
Tuesday October 13th
- 9 a.m. Care Team Meeting
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sewing Circle
- 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Holy Movement – Come join this community of friends as we strengthen our bodies and worship our God! Bring a water bottle, fitness mat, and light weights. New participants welcome!
Wednesday October 14th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study.
- Play Group setup
- 6:30 – 7:30 Listening to Scripture Together
Thursday October 15th
- 9:15 – 11:15 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 7:30 p.m. Men’s Bible Study (ages 20+) begins and will meet upstairs in the MYF room every 3rd Thursday of the month. Please see the EZMC website or contact Nathan Ropp for more information.
Friday October 16th
- MYF – Open Mike Night at church
Saturday October 17th
- 1 -7 p.m. Private Party
- 6:45 p.m. Grassroots Rehearsal
- 7:30 – 9 p.m. Young Adults will be meeting together for Bible Study at Blake Zehr’s barn “Upper Room”, 657030 15th Line Tavistock. Our study and discussion will be focused on Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-17, “humans sin”. Take some time to read these scripture passages, bring your questions and friends with you. You are welcome to bring snacks for the evening.
Next Sunday – October 18, 2026
Stewardship Sunday
Prelude/Accompanist: Katie Wagler Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeter: Tracey & Larry Kropf Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Leadership
Coffeetime: Gloria & Tom Roth Message: Len Rempel
Bibles will be presented to Grade 1 and Grade 9 students during the worship service.
EZMC will provide the Sunday AfternoonServices at The Maples and peopleCare. It’s a two hour commitment at the very most. The half hour service involves reading scripture, a poem or short story, and singing followed by saying hello to the residents. The service at peopleCare begins at 1:30 followed by a 2:30service at The Maples. Please reach out to Pastor Ray if you would like to participate.
2 – 4 p.m. JWalkers (Junior Youth Gr 6-8) – Canoe the Nith. Drop off and pickup at Tyler & Jess Yantzi’s in New Hamburg.
7 p.m. Concert / Sing-Along at East Zorra Mennonite Church
Featuring East Zorra Praise Band, Myron & his Mighty Men, and Grassroots.
Free will offering for TAP. Hope to see you there and bring your friends!
EZMC Announcements
October is Pastor’s Appreciation Month. East Zorra is blessed with two passionate, caring, gifted and knowledgeable pastors. Please consider how you might show your support and appreciation to Pastor Mike and Pastor Ray at some point throughout the month. Thank you on behalf of the Staff Congregation Relations Committee (SCRC).
Today you will find the EZMC Church Directory Update page in your church mailbox. Please make the changes listed in your December 2025 directory as we are not printing a full directory this year. If you have any changes that were not listed on the update page please notify Lisa in the office.
Listening to Scripture: 1 Peter – Living as Exiles
Do you ever feel like a stranger in your own culture — like your convictions put you out of step with the world around you? If so, you’re in good company.
This fall, we are listening 1 Peter, a letter written to those facing hostility for their faith as Peter reminds them not to fight back or to disappear but reminds them who they are: adopted into God’s family, citizens of a kingdom that doesn’t waver, and people whose suffering can become a refining fire rather than a defeat.
Together we’ll explore what it means to:
- Live as “exiles and wanderers” whose true home is with God
- Meet hostility with love, honor, and generosity instead of retaliation
- Root our hope not in circumstances, but in the resurrection of Jesus and His promised return
Whether you’re wrestling with cultural pressure, personal hardship, or just want to grow deeper in the Word, this study offers real encouragement for real life.
Space is limited. Contact Pastor Mike to register.
📅 Wednesdays – October 14, 28, November 11, 25, December 9
🕐 6:30 -7:30 PM
📍 Church Basement
Fall Walk & Connect
Do you desire more community connections and time outside this fall?
Do the shorter days of fall leave you feeling tired and with less energy to do the things you enjoy?
If so, embrace this season and join a ‘Fall Walk & Connect’! Come when you can, walk at your pace, and enjoy wonderful connection with others! Open to all youth and adults, your neighbours and friends!
The program will run bi-weekly on Monday evenings from Oct 5 to Dec 14 under streetlights in Tavistock or New Hamburg (in areas that are well-lit). If there is interest, we may add an occasional daytime and/or weekend walk. No pressure to attend all, come when you can!
Time spent walking outside with others can boost your mood, reduce your stress, and enhance your overall well-being. Hope to connect with you there!
If you have questions, or ideas for theme walks, please contact Tracey Kropf.
Wednesday October 21st from 4 – 8 p.m. East Zorra is scheduled to prepare and serve a meal to approximately 225 people experiencing poverty and homelessness in downtown Kitchener at Ray of Hope. The missions committee is looking for 10-12 volunteers. If you’re willing to volunteer please sign up on the bulletin board or have any questions please speak to Dylan Yantzi.
Friday October 31st 6 p.m. CREATION CELEBRATION. Come join the fun! The Volunteer sign-up sheet will be next Sunday.Donations of cash and candy will be happily accepted. As allergies are an on-going concern, we are asking for NUT FREE treats only – please carefully check the package ingredient list (contains or may contain peanuts or tree nuts – we are unable to put these treats into the bags). Candy can be placed in the bin under the mailboxes, cash can be given to Joe Wagler, or both can be dropped off at Creation Celebration.
Beyond Our Church Community
CONNECTIONS HOMECOMING NIGHT
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate invites you to its annual Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser followed by the Alumni Sports Challenge. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 16 and join us for some family-friendly fun in our NEWLY RENOVATED Athletics Facility! Visitwww.rockway.ca/events for details, tickets or to learn how to play on the Alumni teams!
Saturday October 31st 7-8:30 p.m. With Grateful Hearts – Mennonite Disaster Service is hosting a special evening to celebrate God’s work through MDS at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Join us for food, fellowship, music, and to hear stories from Kevin King (retiring MDS U.S. Executive Director). Find more details on our events page: https://mds.org/event/ .
Friday November 6th 7:30 p.m. at St Jacobs Mennonite Church (1310 King St N, St Jacobs).Menno Singers, with Artistic Director Brandon Leis, presents its first concert of the year, ‘Pale Blue Dot Earth’, a musical exploration of the seasons and places of our world. The concert also includes Lieder and Art songs performed by tenor Brandon Leis and pianist Charmaine Fopoussi. Tickets available atwww.mennosingers.com or at the door.
Save the Date – Saturday November 7th Peace Conference: Nourishing Peace Together at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener.Registration opens August 1st. If you’re hungry for connection, meaning and practical ways to resist despair in a world that feels overwhelming, plan to be at this year’s Peace Conference. MCC Ontario is hosting an in‑person event for people who don’t have everything figured out but who want to build peace. Attendees will:
- Learn how to practice peace in everyday life
- Hear from courageous people pursuing justice, reconciliation and care in hard places
- Share food, stories and space
- Take action, like knotting comforters and sending advocacy letters, to remind us we’re not powerless
Fair Trade Pop-Up Coming to New Hamburg
The Village Fair is a new local not-for-profit working to carry forward the fair trade mission of Ten Thousand Villages.
This November, we are hosting a seasonal pop-up in collaboration with Ten Thousand Villages Cobourg. Shop a beautiful selection of fairly traded, handcrafted products made by artisans around the world.
Dates: November 12–14, 19–21 and 26–28
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: 112 Peel Street, New Hamburg
Please note that handwoven rugs will not be available November 12–14. They will be featured November 19–21 and 26–28.
Volunteers are also needed. To get involved, email info@thevillagefair.ca.
Follow The Village Fair on Facebook and Instagram at @villagefairwaterloo.
High School Students! Are you thinking of attending the University of Waterloo? OnSaturday November 14th 10am-4pm, attend the UWaterloo Open House and stop by the Conrad Grebel University College residence, right on the Waterloo campus. Learn about the supportive residence environment that this small and vibrant faith-based community can provide for students studying in any faculty or program at UWaterloo. uwaterloo.ca/grebel/tour
Benjamin Eby Lecture, with Assistant Professor David Neufeld | Thursday, November 19, 7:30 pm. “Credit Worthy: Anabaptist Debt and the Material Bases of Coexistence.” Hosted at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo. Please register in advance. More information at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/credit-worthy
Free Noon Hour Concerts | Most Wednesdays from September to November at Conrad Grebel University College. Enjoy performances by professional musicians during the lunch hour. All are welcome! Concerts begin at noon in the Grebel Chapel. Full schedule: grebel.ca/music/events
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.
Hidden Acres is hiring. We are looking to fill a part-time, year round housekeeping role as soon as possible. For more information visit www.hiddenacres.ca or contact Brent at brent@hiddenacres.ca or 519-625-8602.
Join the MCEC Team
A calling to serve youth and young adults!MCEC seeks a Regional Minister who is passionate about helping congregations nurture the faith, gifts and leadership of youth and young adults. This role will equip and encourage ministry leaders across MCEC. This is a .50 FTE position and is based in Kitchener, ON.More information at mcec.ca/careers.