Saturday December 13th – Christmas Carolling Reminder.
Please join us to sing at 10:30 am beside the post office in Downtown Tavistock. Carol sheets will be provided. All ages welcome!
East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 68 Sunday December 14, 2025 No. 50
Prelude/Accompanist: Laurie Yantzi Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeters: Fern & Galen Leis Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Larry Kropf Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Coffee: Michelle & Brad Brenneman Message: Pastor Mike
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Advent Candle Lighting
Songs of Gathering & Praise
VT #215 “O, How Shall I Receive Thee”
VT #221 “The Angel Gabriel Called Mary Blessed”
Offering – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada & Mennonite Church Canada
Children will collect the MCC Giving Project offering on their way to the Children’s time.
Time with the Children Alexis Leis
Following Children’s Time all children in Grades 1-8, that are involved in the Children’s Christmas Program, are dismissed to the blue assembly room for the remainder of the service
Scripture Reading Luke 1:26-38, 46-55
Message There’s Something about Mary Pastor Mike
Song of Response VT #621 “My Hope Is Built”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Songs VT #241 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
VT #240 “Joy to the World”
Benediction
Postlude
During Children’s Time each week through Advent the children will receive 2 or 3 pages of the “Celebrate Jesus!” Advent and Christmas Kit. This kit is easy-to-use and perfect for families looking to deepen their faith during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Filled with engaging activities for families, this kit invites everyone to explore the true meaning of Christmas together. If you know you will miss a Sunday, extra pages will be placed on the table in the foyer.
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.
4 – 5 p.m. Christmas Choir Practice
This Coming Week
Monday December 15th
- 7 p.m. Walking Club – Meet at the Memorial Hall Tavistock. Come enjoy Christmas lights while getting some exercise!
- 7 – 8 p.m. Christmas Choir practice
Tuesday December 16th
- 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl at Jean MacDonald’s (182 Rudy Ave, Tavistock).
Wednesday December 17th
- E Z Play Group setup
- 7:30 p.m. Women’s Bible Study in the MYF room
Thursday December 18th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Saturday December 20th
- Private Party
Next Sunday – December 21, 2025
4th Sunday of Advent
Children’s Christmas Program
Prelude: Brandy Sell/Rebekah Williamson/Hannah Witzel Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Susan & Ray Martin Worship Leader: JCET
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: Leadership
Coffee: Janet & Marv Yantzi
Please note that we will not be Sunday School classes on this day.
12 p.m. Private Party
Daily Bible Readings for December 15-19
Monday: Isaiah 7:10-17
Tuesday: Psalm 80
Wednesday: Romans 1:1-7
Thursday: Matthew 1:18-25
Friday: Galatians 4:1-7
EZMC Announcements
Financial update as of Dec 11/25
As we near the end of 2025, we thank you all for your generous giving throughout this year. We invite your prayers and donations as we seek to meet remaining Commitments and Expenses for 2025.
Summary of remaining 2025 External Commitments and expected Expenses
2025 External Commitments – $174,000
External Commitments paid to date (Dec 1st) – $85,216
External Commitments remaining – $88,784
Approx Expenses for remainder of 2025 – $32,000
Total External Commitments/Expenses yet to be covered – $120,784 (as of December 11th, 2025)
Please submit any 2025 expenses you have to Becky as soon as possible. Thank you.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Christmas Giving Project.
The Worship Committee invites you to bring coins and bills to help support our MCC Christmas 2025 Giving Project. This year we will help purchase ducks to support families around the globe. Whether they’re waddling, swimming or flying, ducks help families put dreams into motion. These adaptable creatures provide protein and extra income streams to farmers like Nikhil Chandra Mondol of Bangladesh. Each week as the children come to Children’s Time they will move through the congregation to collect coins. Children who want to help collect will receive a cup as they come into church. $15 purchases one duck for a family in need. Thank you for your support!
Children will also receive a coloring page on Sunday to colour 3 ducks. Through the rest of December these ducks will be hung on the Christmas Tree (one for each $15 raised) at the front of the church.
Upcoming Christmas Choir Practice Dates:
Sunday December 14 from 4-5 pm
Monday December 15 from 7-8 pm
Monday December 22 from 7-8 pm
Wednesday December 24th – 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Service at EZMC
📚 The Winter Great Big Read is Returning This January 2026 📚
We’re excited to announce our next read: Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World by Troy D. Watson (Foreword by Betty Pries).
In this thoughtful and accessible book, Pastor Troy Watson explores how Jesus’ teachings help us face life’s contradictions—teaching us to embrace who we truly are as both flawed and beloved. Through engaging reflection and theological insight, we’ll discover how authenticity and faith intersect in our everyday lives.
✨ This book promises great group discussion — offering rich topics about identity, grace, and living more fully in faith.
We will gather once a month on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:00pm for Pizza followed by conversation.
Join us as we dig in and grow together!
You can sign-up to pre-order the book using the sheet on the bulletin board OR e-mailing Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca
The 2026 Camp Subsidy Form is now available. You can complete it and return to Becky Bender either by email (treasurer@ezmennonite.ca) or put in her church mailbox. Forms are available in the literature rack beside the main bulletin board or by contacting Lisa at office@ezmennonite.ca If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Dawn Bender or Caleb Leis.
Beyond Our Church Community
Sunday December 14th A LYNC Christmas 2 – 4:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Come join us for an amazing multimedia, light, and music extravaganza as we celebrate Christmas with our community. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas with Juneyt an award winning, world renowned musician and flamenco and Nuevo-flamenco guitarist, Anat Hector one of KW’s finest singer/pianist, Lisa Hagen and the Local Vocals, Derek Goupil and the Hillview Band present “let it be Christmas, A multimedia musical presentation of the Christmas story with the music of the Beatles. The event is free but guests are encouraged to make a donation in support of LYNC’s Millblock Community Development. Tickets are free through Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-lync-christmas-tickets-1720500044949?aff=oddtdtcreator
Best Christmas Pageant Ever @ Tavistock Mennonite Church
You are invited to TMC’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Our main showing is on Dec 24th @ 7pm. We recognize that many people have longstanding traditions on Christmas Eve, so we will also be having an open dress rehearsal on Dec 23rd @ 7pm. Come and enjoy some Christmas carols amidst this intergenerational performance. No cost, no tickets, no RSVP, just show up!
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate thanks you for supporting us this school year! Whether it was through prayer, a financial contribution or by volunteering at or attending an event, your engagement was (is) appreciated. As we come to the end of the year, we welcome your contributions to help raise funds for our Go Rockway! Annual Fund and Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more at rockway.ca/donate.
Give gifts of comfort and joy this Christmas
This Christmas season, choose a gift that will honour your loved ones and change lives across the globe. MCC’s Christmas Giving Guide lets you celebrate what you hold dear about your loved ones, from the art lover to the gardener. By helping people build skills, grow food or meet basic needs, the impact of your generosity is a cause for celebration long after the lights and tree are taken down. Pick up a gift catalogue at church (on the table in the sanctuary foyer), a local MCC Thrift Shop or give online at mcc.org/Christmas.
Interfaith Counselling Centre Calendar Fundraiser – Help Us Bring Hope and Healing to Our Community. This October, we’re inviting you to support the Interfaith Counselling Centre through our Calendar Fundraiser—a beautiful way to give back while celebrating the seasons of life and wellness. Each calendar features inspiring artwork and messages that reflect the heart of our mission: to provide accessible, compassionate counselling to those in need. Your purchase directly supports our programs and helps ensure that no one in our community is left without support during difficult times.
Calendars are available at our office and select community locations. You can also order online at interfaithcounselling.ca or by calling (519) 662-3092.
Give the gift of Mental Health!
Support Interfaith Counselling Services as we work to ensure all in Wilmot and surrounding Rural Communities have access to professional counselling services.
Donations can be made through: e transfer to admin@interfaithcounselling.ca;
Canada Helps through our website, www.interfaithcounselling.ca;
Mailing or dropping off a cheque at the office. Thank you!
Turn Time into Meals: Group Canning at MCC Material Resources
MCC Material Resources (65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg) is inviting workplace, church, and community groups to can nutritious food for communities in need. Groups are asked to contribute $6.50 per can to cover costs and keep this vital work going. Flexible scheduling is available. A typical daily output can range from 350–1,200 cans. Learn more or book a canning date today! Contact Reid Kennel at reidkennel@mcco.ca or by calling 226-338-4956.
Would you help us support disaster survivors? There are many more people who need to be reminded there still good things and good people in the world—people Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) wants to help.
To donate, go to mds.org/donate-canada/. Your donation can help us continue to do that for more people who have lost their homes to devastating disasters. Thank you for your support!
Save the Date! Saturday January 31st – Great Winter Warm Up Quilting Blitz (65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg)
Sign up to sing with the Mennonite Mass Choir as we join Menno Singers to perform Johannes Brahm’s Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) and Karl Jenken’s The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Centre in the Square with soloists and members of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, conducted by Brandon Leis. Rehearsals begin on Monday nights on February 23, 2026. www.mennosingers.com
Tickets are on sale for Rockway Mennonite Collegiate’s grade 7&8 production of Humpty-Dumpty is missing! They will make great last minute Christmas gifts!! Visit rockway.ca/events for a show synopsis and to buy your tickets for this comedy whodunit. Show dates: March 5 & 6, 2026