East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 68 Sunday October 5, 2025 No. 40
Prelude/Accompanist: Glorify Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Karen & Larry Bearinger Worship Leader: Dawn Bender
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Mission Partners
Coffee: Michelle & Brad Brenneman Message: Pastor Mike
Prelude “Shout to the North”
“Blessed Assurance”
“Better is One Day”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise “King of Kings”
“The Table”
Offering – Mission Partners
Offertory “Oceans”
Prayer of the Church – Pastor Ray
Children’s Story – Dawn Bender
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 19:18-25; Galatians 3:26-29
Message – Pastor Mike
Song of Response “The Lord’s Prayer”
Communion Service
Sending Song “Shout to the North”
Benediction
Postlude
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.
Parents please note: Waiver forms are now available at the JCET desk if you haven’t had a chance to complete these for your child(ren). Thanks so much.
This Coming Week
Monday October 6th
- 7 p.m. Walking Club – Meet at the Wilmot Street parking lot New Hamburg. We’ll walk under the streetlights in NH as the sun sets.
Tuesday October 7th
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Sewing Circle – Everyone is welcome to join us to knot comforters or quilt.
- 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Holy Movement – use the fall transition to establish or reinforce your workout routine! Bring an exercise mat, water bottle, and light weights. New participants welcome!
Wednesday October 8th
- 10:30 – 11:30 Coffee and Bible Study
- E Z Play Group setup
- 7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Thursday October 9th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 12 p.m. High Noon Seniors Lunch at Grace United Church in Tavistock. A homestyle lunch (Cost: Freewill offering) will be served followed by a presentation by Holly Bucholtz. She will talk about her ministry “Home & Heart Community: Cancer Care Bags” and the pursuing her passion for helping others and providing cancer care bags for those battling cancer. There will also be an opportunity to donate to her project.
Saturday October 11th
- 12 p.m. Private Party
Next Sunday – October 12, 2025
Thanksgiving Sunday
The Widening of God’s Mercy – A Gracious and Merciful God
Prelude/Accompanist: Heidi Wagler Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Greeter: Jean MacDonald Worship Leader: Kim Leis
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Coffee: Janet & Marv Yantzi Message: Pastor Ray
EZMC Announcements
Coffee and Bible Study is Back! The weekly coffee and Bible study returns every Wednesday morning from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us in the church basement for hot coffee or tea, conversation and working through scripture together. This Fall, we will be looking at passages that speak about mercy and grace. Anyone is welcome to attend.
October is Pastors Month. Please consider how you might show your support and appreciation to Mike and Ray at some point throughout the month. Thank you on behalf of the Staff Congregation Relations Committee (SCRC)
Friday October 31st 6 p.m. CREATION CELEBRATION. Come join the fun! The Volunteer sign-up sheet will be ready soon. Watch the bulletin for more details in the coming weeks.
Holy Movement October Schedule – please note there will be no Holy Movement class on Oct 14 or 28. In lieu, there will be classes held on Oct 7 and Nov 4. To summarize, classes for the next 7 weeks will be as follows: Sept 30, Oct 7, Nov 4, Nov 11, and then bi-weekly from there. Mark it in your calendar! Walking club will be on its normal bi-weekly schedule. Watch the bulletin for location details.
Greeters and Coffeetime Hosts – You will find the new schedules in your church mailbox.
Monday November 3rd East Zorra is scheduled to serve a meal to approximately 225 people experiencing poverty and homelessness in downtown Kitchener at Ray of Hope. The missions committee is looking for 10-12 volunteers to assist in preparing and serving this meal. If you’re willing to volunteer or have any questions please speak to Dylan Yantzi or another member of the missions committee.
We will be printing an updated EZMC Church Family Photo and Address Directory later this year.
- If you moved or have a new phone number since the printing of the Church Directory in November 2023 and have not given your updated information to the church office, please do so. If you were not in the last directory but would like to be included, please contact the church office.
- We would love to see updated photos! Please send to Lisa, preferably in digital form (jpeg) by email at office@ezmennonite.ca. If you have a photo you would like her to scan, make arrangements to drop it off and she will return it to you. These photos can be casual. If you are submitting a photo please remember that professional photos are subject to copyright so permission would be needed from the photographer to include.
- Please note that we encourage every person or family unit to submit a photo. Thank you so much for your willingness to submit a photo! It is very much appreciated!
- Deadline to submit is October 28, 2025.
Beyond Our Church Community
The September edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service. In this edition, you’ll read about Jeff and Sylvia Starr who received a new home thanks to the MDS Manitoba Unit. As she spoke about MDS, Sylvia said, “I never thought there were so many kind people in the world.” Read On the Level: https://conta.cc/4pxWgG4
Kits, Cans and Comforters: Tours of the MCC Hub
1st Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. and 3rd Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.
65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg
You don’t have to wait for a special event to explore the MCC Hub. Invite a friend and join one of two monthly tours open to the public. Learn what’s involved in packing and preparing kits and comforters for international shipment, and tour MCC’s new meat canning facility, which sends thousands of pounds of nutrient-rich meat to countries facing food shortages. No RSVP required.
Peace Week: Elephant at the Border
Sunday October 5 7 – 8:30 p.m. On Zoom
Amidst political discord and talks of annexation across the Canada-US border, what is the call of followers of Jesus to respond? MCC is hosting three webinars that will explore the power and possibility of nonviolence in light of U.S. aggression. Join a series of online workshops starting on Sunday, September 21st. Attend one or attend them all. These events are free and expand on conversations from our first series this past spring. Learn more and register here.
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate invites you to its annual Spaghetti Supper School Fundraiser followed by the Alumni Sports Challenge. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 17 and join us for some family-friendly fun! Visit www.rockway.ca/events for more information, to buy your spaghetti tickets or to learn how to play on the Alumni team!
Saturday October 18th 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Empty Bowls for Haiti at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Plan to be at this year’s Empty Bowls for Haiti event at Steinmann Mennonite Church in Baden. Local potters donate hand-crafted bowls and local restaurants provide a wide variety of delicious soups. Funds raised strengthen communities in Haiti through the work of MCC. Tickets are $35 each. Go to mcc.org/events to buy your tickets today!
MCC Peace Conference: Learn the Art of Everyday Peace
November 1, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener; Watch-parties in Stouffville, Leamington, Markham and St. Catharines
Register today for the 2025 MCC Peace Conference. The conference will teach you insights and skills drawn from MCC’s collaborative peacebuilding efforts with partners around the world. Gain practical knowledge from these shared experiences and be equipped to contribute meaningfully to peace in your own context. Each location will have the same activities, talks and opportunities to engage with speakers. Learn more and register at mcc.org/Peace-Conference.
Saturday November 1st 7:30 p.m. (St Jacobs Mennonite Church, 1310 King St N, St Jacobs): To kick off our 70th Anniversary Season, Menno Singers and Artistic Director Brandon Leis present ‘From Then to Now – Celebrating a 70-year choral legacy.’ This concert will feature favourite repertoire from each of our last 7 decades and a newly commissioned work by composer Jeff Enns. Tickets $30, Child/Student $5 at the door, from choir members or at www.mennosingers.com
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 6 from 7 – 9 pm. For more information and to register for this event, visit our Discover Rockway webpage.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 – Challenge for the Church: Islamophobia at
Waterloo North Mennonite Church. How has the Church been Islamophobic in the past? How can the Church resist Islamophobia today? And other uncomfortable questions… Join us for a day that calls us to a deeper examination of Mennonite thought and action. Brought to you by the MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group. Save the date. Registration will open soon
November 19: Join a five week peer support group where we will create a sacred space to explore our mental health journey where scripture is used to ground us. The location and time may change depending on interest of people. Email melodysteinman@gmail.com for details.