East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 66 Sunday October 29, 2023 No. 44
Sunday October 29, 2023
Sunday Morning Worship 10 a.m.
Prelude: Brandy Sell Accompanist: Heidi Wagler
Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich Song Leader: Myron Ruby
Greeters: Tracey & Larry Kropf Offering: Local Ministries
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Message: Mark Louden
Coffee Hosts: Gloria & Merv Ropp
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship and Opening prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT # 122 “Sing to the God of Harvest”
VT# 386 “One Is the Body”
Offering: Local Ministries
Time with the Children Mark Louden
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-12
Message: Walking the Old Order Way Mark Louden
Song of Response: VT #397 “The Church’s One Foundation”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song: VT# 761 “I Love to Tell the Story”
Benediction
Postlude
Today
9 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting
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.
A draft of the directory is now available in the basement. Please check your household listing and make any changes that are needed.
11 a.m.
Junior Sunday School children will meet in their classrooms.
Adults are invited to the sanctuary to hear further sharing and a discussion led by our guest Mark Louden.
2:15 p.m. EZMC will host the Sunday afternoon service at peopleCare.
This Coming Week
EZMC’s Office Administrator, Lisa, will be on holidays from Friday October 27th to Tuesday November 7th. Please send all items for the Sunday November 5th bulletin to Pastor Ray by 9 a.m. on Friday November 3rd. Thanks so much.
Monday October 30th
6:30 p.m. Creation Celebration Setup – Please talk to Joe Wagler or sign
the sheet if you would like to help with set up.
Tuesday 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.
Wednesday November 1st
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
6 p.m. SCRC Meeting
7 p.m. Play Group setup
7 p.m. Glorify rehearsal
Thursday November 2nd
9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
7 p.m. Health Ministry Team Meeting
7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Friday November 3rd
7 p.m. MYF
Saturday November 4th
10 am – 6 pm Private Party
Birthdays
Sunday October 29: Tristan Hohl, Liam Schumm
Monday October 30: Joe Wagler
Thursday November 2: Isaac Brenneman, Katelynn Cressman
Friday November 3: Edith Ropp, Baxton Wirth
Saturday November 4: Laurel Zehr, Sharon Pye
Next Sunday – November 5, 2023
The Parables of Jesus: The Shrewd Manager
Prelude & Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish
Worship Leader: Tracey Kropf Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Greeters: Elaine & Dale Leis Offering: Mission Partners
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Ray
Coffee Hosts: Carol & Owen Cook
Responding to the Palestine and Israel conflict
As conflict has escalated in the region, MCC laments the violence and mourns all lives lost in Palestine and Israel. MCC remains committed to a just peace for all, and we invite you to join us in praying for an end to the violence.
MCC is planning an emergency response to the current crisis with existing partners. Our response will focus on the humanitarian needs in Gaza, given the vulnerability of the population and lack of resources available to families. MCC’s work will build on previous responses to the ongoing conflict, including the distribution of food and bedding. We are also planning to offer trauma healing support and housing reconstruction. Donate online at mcc.org/Palestine-Israel.
EZMC Announcements
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. SCRC invites you to express your personal gratitude to Ray and Mike in some way during the month.
The Congregational Life Committee is looking for a donation of pies for Creation Celebration on October 31! If you are willing to bake a pie or 2 to help us out, please contact Tracey Kropf @ tracey.kropf@gmail.com. Thank you!
A note of gratitude from Tavistock Assistance Program: Thank you to East Zorra Mennonite Church members for your thoughtful and generous donations of paper products and other items for our neighbours in need! You are truly a blessing in spreading love to our community and surrounding area! Linda Holst, Program Director
Missing coat. If you took a black coat with a hood home on Sunday October 8th and have discovered that it is not yours, please speak to Merv Ropp. Your coat is hanging in the mailbox lobby and he would really like his back. Thanks so much.
Wednesday November 22nd Adult Fellowship Christmas Dinner
5:30 pm Punch; 6:15 pm Dinner
Entertainment – Harpist – Eduard & Christine Klassen
Tickets are $35 and are available now.
Adult Fellowship Committee Members are Jim & Carol Schumm, Shirley & Phil Ruby, and Laurel & Ray Zehr
Church Directory – The printing of the Fall 2023 EZMC Church Directory will happen in November. If you would still like to submit a photo, please send to Lisa at office@ezmennonite.ca, preferably in jpeg format by Tuesday November 7th. She will reply after her holidays to confirm that she received it.
Agape Fellowship Invitation: As Agape Fellowship continues to be without a pastor, there is a need for speakers at their church this fall. We would like to support them on one of their November dates (November 12, 19 or 26) with some sharing and music. If you are interested in speaking and/or singing, please contact Pastor Ray or Susan Schmitz in the next few weeks. Thank you so much.
Thank you ……… to all who participated in choosing a forever name for EZ’s newly developed outdoor space.
The result was overwhelming support for the name “Green Space” citing a feeling the name brought positive feelings of new life, fresh beginnings etc.
Again – thank you for your support and interest in naming this space.
That fall feeling is settling in on the Green Space.
It has been a hub of activities hosting – Tuesday team meetings, Junior S S. year end parties, funeral lunches, overflow parking (funerals), EZ young family events, a wedding, VBS, Ice Skating, a winter Nativity walk through, campfires, worship service, baptism, anniversary celebrations, potlucks and more – all since its beginning in 2021. Thank You to everyone who has contributed to this project to date. There is a shortfall of 2117.42 needed to meet the projected budget of 3,672.42 for 2023 and the completion of G.S. projects. As we thank God for such a wonderful space – your ongoing contributions are very appreciated.
JCET is still in need of volunteers for the month of November and a couple in December. Please check the sign up sheet across on the bulletin board by the back stairwells. Thank you to everyone who has signed up!
Beyond Our Church Community
Sunday November 12th 7 p.m. St Jacobs Mennonite Church is hosting members of the KW Symphony in a Fundraising Concert entitled ‘Baroque and Beyond… A Musician’s Fundraiser.’ This concert of Baroque music will be conducted by Andre Feher and feature Ian Whitman on solo bass and guest soprano Bethany Horst.
Saturday November 18th at Elmira Mennonite Church
Following their popularity at the Not Alone Conference earlier this year, we are excited to announce that Theatre of the Beat are returning to Elmira for a FREE workshop. Theatre of the Beat will use forum theatre to present three short plays that offer an effective and unique way to recognize subtle signs of abuse, and to find solutions to change unsafe and unhealthy behaviours.
Since 1984, the Province of Ontario, through the Ontario Women’s Directorate, has traditionally declared November as “Wife Assault Prevention Month”, “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”, and now “Women Abuse Prevention Month.” The Family Violence Prevention Program (FVPP) prefers the more inclusive term of “Family Violence Prevention Month” because we believe violence in relationships is a broader issue than that of physical assaults on women.
This event, including breakfast, is FREE to attend, however registration is still required. Please follow this link to ensure your spot.
Saturday November 18th MCC Peace Conference at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, 110 Doon Rd, Kitchener. The MCC Peace Conference is your chance to see, hear and experience first-hand how you and MCC are changing lives and communities through peacebuilding. This event will inspire and inform through general sessions, workshops and conversations with messengers of peace. Go to mcc.org/peace-conference to learn more and to register today.
High School Students! Are you thinking of attending the University of Waterloo? On Saturday, November 25 from 10-5, attend the UWaterloo Open House and stop by the Conrad Grebel University College residence, right on the UWaterloo 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
Sunday December 10th 3 p.m. Menno Singers and Mennonite Mass Choir present Handel’s Messiah with artistic director Brandon Leis, a 230 voice choir, soloists Bethany Hörst (soprano), Jennifer Enns Modolo (mezzo soprano), Owen McCausland (tenor) and Nathan Keoughan (baritone) along with orchestra members of the former KW Symphony. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre in the Square Box Office. www.centreinthesquare.com
Mennonite Central Committee Ontario Current Openings
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of others? If so, we’d love to have you join our team. We have an opening for an Advocacy and Program Associate, and Community Safety and Outreach Associate in Kitchener, as well as an Associate Hardline at the New Hamburg Thrift Centre. Learn more about these positions at www.mcc.org/careers.
NHMRS Food Convener
The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale committee is looking for a new food convener. If this is something you’re interested in, contact John Reimer at johnreimer@nhmrs.com for more information.