East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday October 20, 2024 No. 42
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
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #22 “What is This Place”
VT #419 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Offering – Leadership
Time with the Children/Bible Presentation Pastor Mike, Bethany Kropf, Caleb Leis
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 57:18,19; Isaiah 52:7; Ephesians 2:13-18
Message Dr. Tom Yoder Neufeld
Song of Response
VT #716 “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Prayer of the Church
Sending Song
VT #740 “Spirit of the Living God”
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.
11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages.
12 p.m. Private Party
This Coming Week
Wednesday October 23rd
- 10:30 – 11:30 Coffee and Bible Study
- Play Group set up
Thursday October 24th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 7 p.m. Church Ministry Council Meeting
Friday October 25th
- 7 p.m. MYF @ church
Next Sunday – October 27, 2024
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is about a Kingdom Revelation
Prelude/Accompanist: Katie Wagler Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Worship Leader: Dylan Yantzi Offering: Maintenance
Greeters: Sheryl & Brendan Leis Message: Pastor Ray
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Brian Wagler Coffee Hosts: Janet & Marv Yantzi
EZMC Announcements
Thanks Giving Drive – Sunday October 20
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.
Thursday October 31st 6 p.m. CREATION CELEBRATION. Come join the fun! The Volunteer sign-up sheet is ready! 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.
Sunday November 3rd East Zorra 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.
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.
East Zorra Mennonite Church is hiring a treasurer. The position is interim/temporary for approximately 18-24 months as finance processes and systems will be undergoing review and the treasurer position change as part of this review.
The position includes bookkeeping tasks, tracking donations, accounts payable activities, and payroll responsibilities. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of financial record keeping, payroll requirements, charitable and non-profit legislation, and legal remittance obligations. The position requires an average of 5-10 hours per week, with additional hours at year end. Compensation is $22-28 per hour depending on experience and skills. Start date is December 2024. A full job description is attached to the October 20 bulletin email.
If you are interested in this position, please forward written communication outlining your skills and experience that aligns with the job description to Megan at rusandmeg@gmail.com by Sunday November 3, 2024.
Thank you on behalf of the Treasurer Hiring Committee of Megan MacDonald, Jill Rempel, Susan Schmitz, Brian Wagler.
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.
Thursday November 28th – Adult Fellowship Christmas Dinner
Look for more details next week in our bulletin announcement.
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.
Saturday December 7th 5-8 p.m. Live Nativity (Weather date Sunday December 8)
The live nativity was first done in 2021, and we had over 400 people attend, and over 100 volunteers from East Zorra involved to make it happen …lets see if we can top that this year to create another memorable experience.
Please review the sign-up sheets posted in the back lobby to find your spot!
The times are from 4-8 and there will be two shifts to chose from
Please sign up by November 3 so that we can begin to arrange costumes
Feel free to also contact Sheryl or Kim
This a great way to come out and give back with your family and friends, and we look forward to having you involved!
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.
Beyond our Church Community
Mennonite Disaster Service is responding to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Volunteer teams are in North Carolina and Florida assisting with an early response to both hurricanes. Please pray for the people impacted by these disasters and the volunteers as they respond. Visit mds.org to donate or view volunteer needs.
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/
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.
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.
Walking Through The Fire: Visual Album is a unique musical film experience. It features award-winning First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island not only sharing their music, but also their stories. They are joined by Billboard charting/6x Canadian Folk Music Award winners Sultans of String.
The Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous/Settler Relationships is hosting a free screening of this newly released film on Thursday, November 14, 2024 7 p.m. at Zion United Church, 215 Peel St., New Hamburg, ON.
Sultans of String created this project in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, that asks for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together as an opportunity to show a path forward. As bandleader Chris McKhool says “We know that as a society we can’t move ahead without acknowledging and reflecting on the past. Before reconciliation can occur, the full truth of the Indigenous experience in this country needs to be told, so we’ve been calling on Indigenous artists to share with us their stories”.
The screening on November 14th will be followed by a Q&A panel with artists from the film including Shannon Thunderbird and Sultans of String producers Chris McKhool and local GRAMMY Winner John “Beetle” Bailey.
There will be a free will donation at the door. The building is accessible but parking at the church is limited to those with mobility issues. Street parking is available on Peel and Wilmot streets plus at the Sobeys Plaza. Seating is limited so people are being asked to reserve a spot at https://walkingwilmot.eventbrite.ca
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