East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 66 Sunday October 8, 2023 No. 41
The Parables of Jesus: The Pharisee & The Tax Collector
Prelude: Heidi Wagler Accompanist: Heidi Wagler
Worship Leader: Kim Leis Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Greeters: Carol & Owen Cook Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Ray
Coffeetime: Michelle & Brad Brenneman
Please note that we are not having Sunday School classes today.
Prelude
Call to Worship and Opening prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise VT # 35 “Come to the Water”
VT # 467 “Taste and See”
Offering: Mennonite Church Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Song: “Give Thanks”/”For the Beauty of the Earth”
Time with the Children – Ashley Witzel
Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14
Message: Pastor Ray
Song of Response VT # 170 “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”
Prayer of the Church
Sending Song VT # 747 “We Plow the fields and Scatter”
Benediction
Thanks Giving Offering/Drive – As an expression of thankfulness, Missions invites you to support TAP and Wilmot Family Resource Centre. Your gifts of offering, paper products or food items between October 1 – 15 would be gratefully received
- Gifts of offering should be designated as “Thanks Giving Offering” on the offertory envelope. he offering collected will be split between TAP and WFRC.
- Paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels, size 4 and 5 diapers, GoodniteT diapers for smaller adults, Boost, Ensure, coffee and tea would be welcome donations by TAP.
- Any food items that have not expired would be welcome donations by WFRC.
- Items may be placed in the lower foyer beside the mailboxes.
This Coming Week
Wednesday October 11th
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
7 p.m. Play Group setup
Thursday October 12th
9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
12 p.m. High Noon Lunch at Grace United Church. Socialize over a nutritious home-style lunch at 12 and then stay for music with Dwight Steinmann and Jim Bender. Cost: Freewill offering.
Friday October 13th
6:30 – 9 p.m. JWalkers (Jr Youth) at Heidi & Brian Wagler’s for outdoor
oven pizzas. Please bring your lawn chair, a drink and dress for
the weather.
7 p.m. MYF – Bigger Better Night. We will start shortly after 7pm.
Please be warned a group of youth may come knocking on your
door looking to trade up on the item they have!
Please see Caleb, Kris or Krista with any questions.
Saturday October 14th
10:30 a.m. Up the Nith Bus Tour Stop
2 – 4 p.m. Private Party
Next Sunday – October 15, 2023
The Parables of Jesus: The Rich Man & Lazarus
Communion Sunday & Bible Presentation Day (for Grades 1 & 9)
Prelude: Glorify Accompanist: Glorify
Worship Leader: Jared Yantzi Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Janice & Marlow Gingerich Offering: Leadership
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Coffeetime: Janet & Marv Yantzi
Extending God’s Love
Prayer Request for Gathering of Survivors of Mennonite-Run Residential Schools
MCC Canada and MCC Ontario invite your prayers for an upcoming gathering of historic proportions. Forty Survivors of Mennonite-run residential schools in Northern Ontario will gather from October 20-22 in Thunder Bay to share stories and pursue the ongoing work of healing. This is the first gathering of its kind organized by former students of the Mennonite-run schools. This will be a time of powerful and mixed emotions – and the Survivors have asked MCC to call for prayer in our faith communities.
MCC honours the strength of Survivors as we continue the unsettling work of knowing and owning the history of Mennonites on this land. We acknowledge that this painful history is part of the life story of many Mennonites. We offer our support to all as we humbly walk forward together in pursuit of healing. MCC will contribute funding and attend the gathering at the invitation of the organizing committee. Contact Scott Morton Ninomiya at scottmortonninomiya@mcco.ca or 519-745-8458 ext 292 for dialogue or support.
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 Worship Committee has been discussing bringing back the Live Nativity this Christmas, but we need some Leaders. If you feel the call to be a Chair or Co-Chair of the Live Nativity, please let anyone on the worship committee know by October 1. The Worship Community consists of Michelle Brenneman, Gwen Matthews, Linda Schumm, Lauren Witmer-Hohl, Pastor Ray and Lindsay Zehr.
MYF is planning a Progressive Supper on Friday Oct 20. Please consider if you’d be willing to host us for either: appetizer, 1/2 a main meal, or dessert. We will get to the first house for 6:30. Sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board. If you have any questions please talk to Caleb, Kris, or Krista.
The Great East Zorra Men’s Turkey Gathering
Saturday October 21 11:00am-2:00pm at Trevor Kropf’s
Suggested Donation $10.00
The leaves are turning, the air is cooler, Fall is finally here and with it is a time for guys of all ages to gather once again at Trevor Kropf’s for an afternoon of feasting, fellowship and fun.
All you need to bring is a lawn chair, utensils, a beverage, and an appetite.
Please sign-up in the lobby or email Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca if you plan to attend.
Hope to see you there!
East Zorra is scheduled to provide the Sunday Afternoon Services at The Maples and peopleCare on Sunday October 29.
The services (2:15 at peopleCare and 3:15 at The Maples) are 30 minutes services of readings and singing followed by some interaction with the residents. If you would be available to help with the services that day please reach out to Pastor Ray. Your help is appreciated.
Tuesday 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.
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.
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
Calling all male singers!
Jubilation Men’s Choir is beginning rehearsals for their Christmas performance of sacred music in Waterloo. If you love singing, come join our enthusiastic group on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm at Waterloo Kitchener United Mennonite Church under the direction of Paul Saunders. Tenors especially welcome! Music is provided.
Contact Lloyd Koch lekoch@hotmail.com
60th Anniversary Gala Dinner. Wednesday, October 11, 6:00 PM | Hosted by Eric Friesen, this Gala will celebrate Grebel’s 60 years of impact! We’ll recreate memories of Community Supper and raise money for residence facility projects. University of Waterloo President Vivek Goel will speak about “Waterloo at 100.” Tickets available at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/60th-gala-dinner
We Own this Now
October 12, 2023 at 7:00 pm, Steinmann Mennonite Church, 1316 Snyder Rd W, Baden
October 15, 2023 at 7:00 pm, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, 110 Doon Rd, Kitchener
Starring Ted Swartz and Michelle Milne, We Own This Now is a play that looks at love of land, loss of land and what it means to “own” something. We Own This Now examines how the Doctrine of Discovery is still being used and causing harm today. Presented by Ted & Company TheatreWorks. Tickets are $15 each ($10 for students). Get yours at mcc.org/we-own-this-now.
Saturday October 14th Save the date: Empty Bowls for Haiti 5 pm and 7 pm, Steinmann Mennonite Church, Local potters donate hand-crafted bowls and local restaurants provide a wide variety of delicious soups. Funds raised strengthen communities in Haiti. Tickets are $35 each. Go to mcc.org/events to buy your tickets today!
Saturday October 21st 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Bucket of Thanks at Material Resources Warehouse, 65 Heritage Dr, New Hamburg. This fall, the Material Resources warehouse is opening its doors and welcoming visitors to an event for the whole family with games, snacks and hands-on activities for all ages. We invite you to participate in activities for kids and to pack a kit or two while you’re there! Admission is free, but we are asking for a donation of large bath soap bars (in original wrapping) to help stuff our kits. Go to mcc.org/events/bucket-thanks for more info.
Sunday October 22 2-5 pm A Celebration of Fun Event”. In memory of John (Jack) Schultz at Poole Mennonite Church. This is an afternoon of singing, playing, storytelling and comedy. Everyone is welcome. Hotdogs and light refreshments will be served.
The event is free, but there will be an opportunity to give a donation to The United Way (Stratford) (to fight homelessness) or if you would like to bring an item for the Milverton Food Bank. “This event is sponsored by the John Schultz Estate”
Hidden Acres’ 3rd Rally for Recreation is happening October 27-29. Will you join us in raising funds to upgrade our sports court? You can sign up as an individual, create a team and invite others to rally with you, or if you’re unable to participate but want to support the fundraiser, you can make a donation towards the project.
For more information and to sign up visit www.hiddenacres.ca
Save the Date: MCC Peace Conference
November 18, 2023 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. Stay tuned for more details.