East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday October 13, 2024 No. 41
Sunday October 13, 2024
Thanksgiving Sunday
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is about a God who is for you.
Prelude/Accompanist: Laurie Yantzi Song Leader: Susan Schmitz
Worship Leader: Kim Leis Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Greeters: Janice & Marlow Gingerich Message: Pastor Mike
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Coffee Hosts: Shirley & Phil Ruby
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT#7 “Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing”
VT #123 “Come, Ye Thankful People”
Offering – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Time with the Children
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-12, Luke 17:11-19
Message Pastor Mike
Song of Response
VT #114 “Now Thank We All Our God”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Mike
Sending Song
VT #845 “May God Grant You a Blessing”
Benediction
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.
Please note that we are not having Sunday School classes today.
1 p.m. Private Party
This Coming Week
Tuesday October 15th
- 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl at Jean MacDonald’s (182 Rudy Ave, Tavistock). Anyone interested in joining us for knit and chat is always welcome.
Wednesday October 16th
- 10:30 – 11:30 Coffee and Bible Study
- Play Group set up
- 6:30 p.m. CENT Meeting
- 7 p.m. Live Nativity Committee Meeting
Thursday October 17th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 7 p.m. Treasurer Hiring Committee Meeting
Friday October 18th
- 7 p.m. MYF – Open Mike Night @ church
Saturday October 19th
- 12 – 5 p.m. Private Party
Next Sunday – October 20, 2024
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel according to Paul.
Prelude/Accompanist: Bethany Zehr Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Worship Leader: Tyler Yantzi Offering: Leadership
Greeters: Marilyn & Bob Zehr Message: Tom Yoder Neufeld
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler
Coffee Hosts: Michelle & Brad Brenneman
Bibles will be presented to Grades 1 & 9 students during our morning worship service.
12 p.m. Private Party
EZMC Announcements
Thanks Giving Drive – Sunday October 13 & Sunday October 20
Over the next few weeks you are invited to support the T.A.P. (Tavistock Assistance Program) and the WFRC (Wilmot Family Resource Centre). Non-perishables and paper products are in need.
Please bring your non-perishables and paper products into the sanctuary with you, we will have children bring them to the front of the sanctuary as part of our offertory.
Designated offerings are also welcome. Envelopes with designated offering should be marked as “Thanks Giving Drive” or if you prefer to support one of the organizations specifically, please note on your offertory envelope if it is TAP or WFRC.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. SCRC invites you to express your personal gratitude to Ray and Mike in some way during the month.
Friday November 15th 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Everyone is invited to the Mennonite Central Committee Material Resources Centre at 65 Heritage Drive, New Hamburg. It will be a day of interactive learning about MCC Material Resources as well as the ability to pack hygiene kits for an upcoming international relief shipment. Kits can be purchased and packed for $6.59 each. This event is for all ages.
You, the very young to mature are invited to participate in Sunday Afternoon Services at The Maples and peopleCare on November 3rd! It’s a two hour commitment at the very most. The half hour service involves reading scripture, a poem or short story, singing and or playing an instrument followed by saying hello to the residents. The first service begins at 2:15 p.m. and all is done by 4 p.m. at the latest. Please reach out to Pastor Ray or Susan Schmitz if you would like to participate.
Thursday October 31st 6 p.m. CREATION CELEBRATION. Come join the fun! The Volunteer sign-up sheet will be ready 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.
East Zorra Potluck! In three weeks, Sunday November 3rd, we are having a church potluck. Plan to stay and meet the Daud Tokhi family of eight that we are sponsoring and take some time to meet and converse with them. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with members we had not seen during the summer months over tasty and lovingly prepared food to share with one another.
Please note that there has been a church mailbox shuffle and your box may now be in a slightly different place.
Finance and Facility Update
Thank you all for your generous giving so far in 2024. Our financial update indicates both increased giving and spending this year as compared to last year. As we approach the end of the calendar year we invite you to prayerfully consider giving extra in the coming weeks as we anticipate a fairly large amount still needed to meet our 2024 commitments.
Thanks again for your generous giving.
JCET is excited to welcome all the children back to Sunday school. We are looking forward to another fun year of learning and growing together in our faith in Jesus.
We are still in need of teachers and helpers! The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in basement near the teacher desk. We encourage you to consider how you could help support our program this year. Please see the link below.
If you have any questions, please reach out to one of us.
Erin Yantzi, Sue Martin, Holly Barron, Jess Yantzi.
A reminder that all who volunteer with children during Junior Sunday School are required to submit a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) and Volunteer Commitment Form before volunteering. If you have a VSC that was done within the last 6 months (because you volunteered with another organization ie. school or sports team) you can submit it to update your EZMC file. Please check in with Lisa in the office to see if your VSC is current or if you need to apply for a new one. Thanks so much.
Beyond our Church Community
Join students at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate on Friday, October 18 for our annual Spaghetti Supper School Fundraiser and Alumni Sports Challenge. Visit rockway.ca/events for more information and to use a credit card to pre-purchase your meals or simply join us that night with cash/cheque.
October 21-25 2024 Learning Tour: Travelling Together Through Truth
Reserve your space today! Get ready to be inspired and learn as we embark on an exciting journey of connecting and engaging with First Nations communities, organizations and partners of MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program in Timmins. To learn more, conatct Cam McEachern at 705-264-2494, ext. 220 or by email at cammceachern@mcco.ca.
Signs of Peace: A Retrospective of Peace Posters | until October 31, 2024 at the Grebel Gallery. Featuring over 40 posters from organizations and initiatives connected to Grebel, this pop-up exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on the messaging and design work that goes into inspiring peace action. uwaterloo.ca/centre-peace-advancement/grebel-gallery
Saturday November 2nd 7:30 p.m. (Trillium Lutheran Church, 22 William St, Waterloo): Menno Singers and The Laurier Singers with Artistic Director Brandon Leis join voices to present music for All Souls’ Day – ‘Love, Loss & Eternity.’ Tickets $25, Child/Student $5 at the door or from choir members.
Saturday November 2nd 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Challenge for the Church: Antisemitism at Waterloo North Mennonite Church. Antisemitism is a serious issue today, and we believe it’s important to come together and explore it more deeply. As followers of a faith that emerged from Judaism, we have a responsibility to understand the ways antisemitism has been woven into Christian history, including our own Mennonite tradition. Recent events, like the Hamas attacks on October 7 and the Israeli military actions in Gaza, have brought issues of antisemitism and Islamophobia to the surface in Canada. Join us for a meaningful workshop where we’ll unpack these challenges together. Cost is $10 at the door. Register here.
Saturday November 2nd. Tri-County Mennonite Homes Presents… An Evening With Darryl Sittler@ Puddicombe House. Get your Tickets by Wednesday October 16. Tickets are $175 each and each ticket purchased receive a $100 tax receipt. For Tickets, Donations, and More Information: https://tcmhomes.com/donate/
Calling all families interested in learning more about Rockway Mennonite Collegiate for their child. We invite you to attend our Discover Rockway information night on Thursday, November 7 from 7 – 9 pm. For more information and to register for this event, visit our Discover Rockway webpage
Villages Festival – Crafted by hand, inspired by purpose
Join us for a special two-weekend event featuring fair trade treasures and social enterprise products from around the world! Shop unique handcrafted items from Ten Thousand Villages, enjoy delicious Raw Carrot soup, and discover beautiful creations from Niska Artisans. Don’t miss this chance to support artisans globally and locally, all while finding meaningful gifts for the holiday season.
- Nov 7-9 at W-K United Mennonite Church, 15 George St, Waterloo
- Nov 21-23 at MCC, 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener
This pop-up sale recreates the beloved Ten Thousand Villages Festival sales—back by popular demand!
Thursday November 14th 7:30 p.m. Eby Lecture: Paint as Protest. Reading socio-political experiences through graffiti and street art in conflict-affected societies. Through his field research, Dr. Eric Lepp will engage with graffiti as a spatial and temporal resource in societies undergoing social and political transformation. grebel.ca/eby
Sunday November 17th 3 p.m. (St Matthews Lutheran Church, 54 Benton St, Kitchener): Menno Singers hosts its Annual Messiah Sing-Along with soloists and orchestra. Bring a score, sit in parts and join your voices to sing (or come and listen). Admittance by donation.
A NEW NITHVIEW – Building our house on a rock
Tri-County Mennonite Homes is redeveloping the long-term care home in New Hamburg at Nithview Community. As part of this, we will be reaching out to all of you as supporting churches, the community at large, and individual businesses across the Region to both be part of and support the “Building a New Nithview” campaign.
We take seriously Jesus’ parable in Luke 6 about the wise and foolish builders. We have invested a lot of resources to make sure the plans for our new home will have a solid foundation. But we also continue to listen and receive feedback to ensure that we are building on the spiritual foundation of our faith communities. We need you to share in this project for the sake of current and future residents under our care. This campaign will depend on the commitment of your time, talent and treasure to the project. Donations of your time can be as a volunteer, your talent as community leaders and experts, and your treasure in the form of a donation or investment to this project. Nithview will not be redeveloped on its own, and as we look to grow, we are going to be reaching out to all of you to support our community forward. There will be more to come into the future, but please take a look at our website www.tcmhomes.com for more information.
Hidden Acres new “Learning IN Community” Programs –
We believe that people of all abilities have been created to experience community! Our vision for “LINC” is to use its programs as a place of connection and growth for young adults with special needs. If you would like to learn more about our Day Programs or retreats, check our website at https://hiddenacres.ca/programs/linc or email cc@hiddenacres.ca
Friday November 29th – Saturday November 30th
Men Listening, Men Talking Retreat at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp & Retreat Centre. Set aside time for this opportunity to join a community of men seeking growth, understanding and meaningful connection. Leave feeling inspired, challenged and equipped with insights to navigate the complexities of being men of faith in today’s world. Register now and be part of this empowering journey. Visit mcc.org/men-talking to learn more.
The New Hamburg Thrift Centre invites you to join their volunteer team. They are currently seeking enthusiastic volunteers to support various areas of work. For more details, please refer to the poster on the main bulletin board. If you have any questions please call 519-662-2867 or email emmanorris@mcco.ca.
Volunteer with Circle of Friends
MCC is recruiting volunteers to become part of the Circle of Friends program to help support individuals transitioning out of homelessness. No special experience or background is required to volunteer, but volunteers should be compassionate, patient and good listeners. Go to mcc.org/opportunity/circle-friends for more information