East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday September 8, 2024 No. 36
Sunday September 8, 2024
Prelude/Accompanist/Song Leader: Glorify Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Refugee Fund
Pre-Service Singing
“Amazing Love”
“Goodness of God”
“All the People Said Amen”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
“Come, Thou Fount”
“Grace Greater than our sin”
Offering – Refugee Fund
Offertory “Everyday”
Time with the Children – Jeanette Bender
Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 1: 4 to 9 & 1 Timothy 4:12
Sharing by Alexis Leis with Pastor Ray
Song of Response
“Battle Belongs”
Prayer of the Church
Sending Song
VT #393 “Build Your Kingdom Here”
Benediction
Today
Due to the weekend weather forecast our Outdoor Worship Service will be moved indoors. As we regather following our summer vacations, cottage and trailer times we are still inviting everyone to bring your own lunch so we can share in further conversation as we eat and share together following the service.
Please note that we will not be serving coffee/tea/juice at the picnic so please bring your own drinks along with your lunch.
This Coming Week
Wednesday September 11th
- Play Group set up
- 6:30 pm Youth Ministry Team Meeting
- 7 p.m. Treasurer and Finance Discussion
Thursday September 12th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Next Sunday – September 15, 2024
Prelude: Katie Wagler Accompanist: Katie Wagler
Worship Leader: Dawn Bender Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Greeters: Jessica & Tyler Yantzi Offering: Leadership
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Megan MacDonald & Russ Schumm
We will begin a new worship series called, What is the Gospel?
Surprisingly Good News About Jesus Christ the King
11 a.m. Attention Parents: During Coffeetime please take advantage of the opportunity to fill out registration/waiver forms for your children in the basement. Our Safe Church Policy requires that parents complete a separate form for each child involved in Sunday School, Junior Youth, and MYF who are under the age of 18.
Junior Sunday School classes JK to Grade 8 will meet in the assembly room and then move to the green space. Please dress for the weather. Nursery/Preschool children are welcome to join us outside with a parent.
Senior Sunday School classes will begin.
EZMC Announcements
August 2024 Donations Received Summary
Offering Schedule Designations – $33,939
Refugee Fund – $1,850
Please pickup your church mail today. You will find the September calendar and the Ministry Position List. There may also be other things that were placed in there over the summer. If you notice that a family member or neighbour has not been able to get their mail and you are willing to deliver it, please do that. Thanks so much.
As the fall approaches, your Junior Christian Education Team (JCET) invites you to prayerfully consider how you will support our children’s Christian Education Program. Possibly teacher, helper, make playdough, purchase snacks, prayers, are a few ideas. The sign-up sheet will soon be posted on the bulletin board but will also be online or talk to Jess Yantzi, Erin Yantzi., Holly Barron, or Sue Martin. (See weekly email for online link).
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.
Attention J-Walkers (Junior Youth)
We are excited to kick off the new year with our first event at the church, in the Green Space, on Saturday September 21st from 6:30 -9 p.m. We will have a campfire with s’mores and play some games/sports outside. This will also be our welcome night to all the new grade 6’s who will be joining us. Bring a lawn chair and a friend! Looking forward to seeing you there.
**Parents please plan to stay a few extra minutes at drop off to fill out waiver forms**
Update on Refugee Resettlement: Bibi Shah Bubo arrived safely July 15 and Daud, Sohaila and their 3 youngest children are arriving Aug 12. Please pray for a safe flight. They look forward to being reunited in Kitchener. Tamim Tohky’s family has welcomed the Tohki’s at the Toronto Pearson Airport. Mansoud and Mansor and Bibi have been settling in well in their new home, 50 Ingleside St., Kitchener. Please prayerfully and generously support our refugee resettlement commitments as costs have risen since we approved this mission ministry. Our initial financial commitments have risen from $50,000 to approx. $75,000.
The Anabaptist Community Bible Orders are due soon.
Celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism with the Anabaptist Community Bible. This study Bible features commentary from 60 Anabaptist scholars, biblical insights from 16th-century Anabaptists, and marginal notes from nearly 600 study groups from Anabaptists around the globe. The Anabaptist Community Bible uses the Common English Bible (CEB) translation. There are 3 editions available, Hardcover ($55.49), Soft Touch ($69.49) and Genuine Leather ($152.49). If you would like to pre-order a bible please put your name on the sheet posted on the main bulletin board or email Lisa at office@emennonite.ca. by September 30, 2024. Please specify which edition of bible you would like. Ordering in bulk will mean savings on shipping costs. Please see the main bulletin board for photos of the bibles and example pages or go to www.CommonWord.ca for more information. Once we know how many bibles we will be ordering we can determine shipping costs per bible. Payment will be due when our order is placed in early October. Publication date is January 2025.
Save the date! Saturday December 7.
The Christmas Story – Live Nativity!
We are hoping to do this again. Please talk to Sheryl Leis or Kim Leis if you are interested in being a part of this special day. We look forward to another fun time.
Beyond our Church Community
Thursday September 12th 4 p.m.. Book Launch | Celebrate the launch of Grebel Dean and Associate Professor of History and Theological Studies Troy Osborne’s new book Radicals and Reformers: A Survey of Global Anabaptist History. The afternoon will feature a short program and reception. Books will be available for purchase and signing. More information at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/radicals-reformers
Wednesday September 18th 4, 6:30 – 9 p.m., 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener
Training Active Bystanders community event. Active Bystander Training teaches participants to intervene in abusive or isolating situations, promoting pro-social behavior and community support. Suitable for ages 13+. Cost: $25 (no refunds). Capacity is limited – register today to reserve your seat. Learn more and register at mcc.org/events.
GTA Mennonite Festival Saturday September 21st from 10 a.ma – 4 p.m. Stouffville. It starts with the food! Come hungry for traditional and not-so-traditional Mennonite favourites. Bring the whole family for fun activities like wagon rides, apple picking, and more. Shop for beautiful crafts, fresh produce, and don’t miss the famous Quilt Auction. More info.
***NEW DATE*** Monday September 23rd MCC Ontario annual general meeting
7 p.m. Grounded in the church, our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an opportunity for us to be accountable, transparent and responsive to you. We invite you to join in celebrating the impact you’ve made of sharing God’s love and compassion in the lives of so many in Ontario and around the world. Delegates from constituent congregations are invited and authorized to vote. The meeting will take place over Zoom. For more information, go to mcc.org/Ontario-AGM.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was included in the 94 Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report. This federal holiday is intended to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools, honour Survivors, their families and communities and ensure that public commemoration of the history and heritage of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process. We’ve created a learning resource on how we can all participate in reconciliation. Go to mcc.org/resources/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation to download the resource.
MCC Ontario will recognize this important day on Tuesday September 24th. All thrift shops and offices will be closed, and staff will spend this day in learning activities related to the ongoing impact of this dark chapter in Canada’s history.
Montreal River Alternative Service Camp Historical Plaque to be installed!
The Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario and the Ontario Heritage Trust will install a commemorative historical plaque at the site of the WW2 Alternative Service (Conscientious Objector) Camp at Montreal River, just north of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. All are invited to the official unveiling of the plaque on Thursday, September 26 at 4:00 pm at Conrad Grebel University College. The next day, September 27, the MHSO has arranged for two buses to go from Waterloo to Montreal River for the installation of the plaque on September 28. Overnight accommodation has been reserved for bus participants for Friday, September 27 so they can take part in the Plaque installation the next day at the Montreal River site. The buses will then return to Waterloo.
For further details, and to reserve a spot on this trip (accommodation deadline is August 27), go to https://www.mhso.org/content/montreal-river-alternative-service-camp-bus-trip
Saturday October 5th 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. Enjoy activities for kids, pack a kit or two and experience the joy of community service. Admission is free, but we kindly ask for donations of large bath or laundry bars of soap (in original wrapping) to help fill our kits. Learn more at mcc.org/events/bucket-thanks.