Weekly Announcements

East Zorra Mennonite Church

Volume 66             Sunday March 19, 2023                      No. 12

Worship Service – Sunday March 19, 2023 at 10 a.m.

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

God Rejected as King 

Prelude: Brandy Sell                           Accompanist: Bethany Klein

Song Leader: Caleb Leis                      Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer

Message: Pastor Ray                            Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler

Coffee Hosts: Gwen & Dan Matthews  Offering: Local Ministries

Prelude

Welcome and Opening Greetings

Announcements

Call to Worship and Opening Prayer

Songs of Gathering & Praise          VT #47 God of Our Strength

                                                 VT #91 We Praise Thee, O God

Song of Response     VT #590 I know Not Why God’s Wonderous Grace    

Time with the Children 

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Message   

Song of Response     VT #790 How Can We Be Silent    

Prayer of the church – Pastor Mike

Sending Song          VT #815 We Will Walk with God     

Benediction

Postlude

Today

Coffee Time – We would ask that everyone provides their own coffee 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.   

Sunday School classes

Nursery to Grade 5 classes are being held downstairs.

Junior Youth class (Grades 6 to 8) meets upstairs in Room #9

Youth class meets upstairs in the MYF room (Room #11)

Adult Sunday School – God’s Story, Our Story: Reading the Bible Together

Following the service and a time of fellowship, you are invited to the basement for a time of discussion as we reflect on the Bible story for the week. Using the questions from the reading schedule to guide us, we will try and figure out what each story means to us today as God’s people. We will plan to keep the Zoom link open and will have a leader to guide discussion for Zoom participants.

This Coming Week

Tuesday March 21^st

          1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry at Jean MacDonald’s.

          7:15 p.m. Choir Practice in the sanctuary

Wednesday March 22^nd      

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee

Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!

Thursday March 23^rd    

9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group

12:10 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.

Theme is “Giving it Up”  Week 5:  Giving up Our Lives

2 – 3:30 p.m. A time of sharing, prayer and singing with East Zorra members living at the Maples led by Pastor Ray, Pastor Mike, and Parish Nurse Heidi.

Friday March 23^rd

          7 p.m. MYF – Comforter Knotting

Next Sunday – March 26, 2023

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

God Promises to choose a king like him 

Prelude: Worship Band                                    Accompanist: Heidi Wagler

Worship Leader: Tracey Kropf                        Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr                 

Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf       Message: Pastor Mike                         

Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman         Offering: Leadership

EZMC Announcements

Don’t forget to sign up to sing in the Easter choir!  Our first practice will be this Tuesday, March 21 at 7:15 pm, followed by the second and last practice on Sunday morning, April 2 at 8:45 am.  It’s gonna be fun!!!

Faith Exploration Class

Sundays 8:30am-9:30am

April 16 – May 28

*Lite breakfast will be provided*

This Spring, Youth and Young adults are invited to join this learning class to explore the questions Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him?

Our goal during this time is to provide a space for youth to reflect on the faith of their family and community and what it means to them. Participants are welcome to consider this class as a steppingstone towards the commitment of baptism, but it is also open to those who simply want to explore and learn more.

This is a time where we will seek to be clear about what we believe at East Zorra Mennonite while welcoming any questions or doubts, and never demand fake agreement.

Anyone who is interested can contact Pastor Ray at ray@ezmennonite.ca or Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca to register or learn more.

The Health Ministry Team is looking at offering a St. John’s CPR/First Aid training course for anyone that is interested. We are looking at March or April and have a sign up sheet on the bulletin board if anyone is interested. We are just getting a sense of how many are interested and then will find our a good date for everyone. The course is 8 hours long and will probably be on a Saturday and is roughly $125/ There is also a New Parent Course available that looks at infants specifically and CPR. This course if 3 hours longs and around $55. If you have more questions about the course you can ask Heidi or Phil.

Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument?  Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience?  If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.

Looking for folks who have used the Hearing Loop in the past and/or are currently accessing it. It has been 9 years since installation and we would like to do a review of its use. Asking that you contact either Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) or Ashley Witzel (ashleywitzel@gmail.com) to share your experience. 

And for those that do not know what a Hearing Loop is….stay tuned.

LADIES! LET’S WATCH GOD MOVE!

Join us for our first EZ Women’s IF: Gathering retreat

We desperately want to stay faithful in these times, but we know we can’t muster up the faith all on our own. Join us for IF: 2023 where we will gather for two days in worship, fellowship with one another, in prayer and with our Bibles, to remind each other that God is who we need and that He WILL provide.

Who: EZ Women of ALL ages. Invite your friends and family!

When: Friday May 5, 6:30pm and Saturday May 6, 8:30-3:00

Where: East Zorra Church

Cost: 25$/person. This includes breakfast Saturday morning and lunch. Friday evening we encourage all those who are able to bring an appetizer to share.

How: Signup on the sheet posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church or email Ashley Witzel at ashleywitzel@gmail.com so she can send you the registration form. If you have any questions please speak to, Ashley Witzel, Jess Yantzi, Erin Yantzi or Sheryl Leis. Please signup by April 16th

VBS 2023- July 10 -14

Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion! 

We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.

Naomi Witzel naomiwitzel8@gmail.com

Ashley Witzel ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com

Beyond Our Church Community

Saturday March 25^th 4 p.m. Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp’s 39^th Annual Bowl-a-thon is happening again this year at New Hamburg Lanes (formerly Riverside Lanes). This is one of the camp’s main annual fundraising events with last year’s Bowl-a-thon raising over $30,000! You can show your support by donating on-line at hiddenacres.ca/donate, and select “Annual Bowl-a-thon” from the list. Thank you

Saturday March 25^th 1:30 p.m. Wie Geht’s? In the Deitsch Language,
Local Residents Tell of their Life Experiences with Rev. Fred Lichti, Moderator

The Wie Geht’s Tavistock video recordings feature Wilmot-Tavistock residents who speak Deitsch, a German dialect which was brought from Europe by the settlers and spoken locally here for generations. 30 people from East Zorra-Tavistock (including some from EZMC), New Hamburg, Wilmot and Wellesley will be featured on March 25 in “Wie Geht’s Clips”, a story telling event in Deitsch (also called Pennsylvania German/Dutch) WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES.   You’ll hear stories about barn raising, butchering, school days, weddings, life-changing accidents, making maple syrup, changes in farming, why Deitsch is being lost and much more. This special presentation is taking place during the Tavistock and District Historical Society annual meeting at Tavistock Mennonite Church. All are welcome. Donations gratefully accepted.

Tuesday March 28^th 7 – 9 p.m. & Wednesday March 29^th 1 – 4 p.m. Fostering gender equality and Becoming whole together at Conrad Grebel University College
Gender Equity & Reconciliation International (GERI) applies principles of Truth and Reconciliation to create practical new pathways for establishing gender equality. You are warmly invited to join us as we explore a compassionate application of Truth and Reconciliation principle toward achieving gender equality in society. To learn more and to register, go to mcco.ca/events.

Wednesday March 29^th 7-9 pm Bison and a Buggy at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, 110 Doon Rd, Kitchener, N2G 3C8. Join us at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate as we learn about The Landed Buggy artistic land acknowledgement and hear from Chef Destiny Moser about food sovereignty. Admission is free and open to all, however donations are appreciated. To learn more, go to mcco.ca/events.

Saturday April 1^st at 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers and artistic director Brandon Leis present Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil (Vespers) at Trillium Lutheran Church (22 Willow, Waterloo) on. $25 Adults. $5 Children/Students. Tickets available on-line or at the door (cash or credit)  www.mennosingers.com

Saturday April 14^th 7 p.m. NHMRS Comedy & Music Night
at Waterloo North Mennonite Church (100 Benjamin Rd, Waterloo N2V 2G8)
Come on out for an evening of fun in support of the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Laugh out loud with the award-winning, family-friendly entertainer JP and enjoy the honey-sweet vocal harmonies of Mike and Diane. To buy your tickets, head over to nhmrs.com. See you there!

Monday April 24^th 6 pm New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Promotion Dinner at Floradale Mennonite Church, 22 Florapine Rd, Floradale N0B 1V0More than just a meal, the NHMRS Promotion Dinner is a chance to connect with community and support MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner and hear an update on the stationary meat canner from MCC Ontario Material Resource Coordinator Jon Lebold. Tickets are $25 and are payable at the door. Reservations must be made in advance by emailing Justin Armitage or calling Justin at 519-745-8458 ext. 262.

MCEC Annual Church Gathering, April 28 & 29, 2023, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener, ON. Transformed. Inspired. Called. Join new and now friends as we grow, learn and serve together as a community of faith. Fanosie Legesse, MCEC Intercultural Mission Minister, will encourage and challenge us on Friday night at a Mass Intercultural Worship Service. Followed by a Saturday filled with celebration, learning, much discussion and worship. All are welcome! How do we choose to live a life of constant transformation, unceasing inspiration and filled with courage to stay strong in our calling? When we worship and pray togther, we become grounded in God’s love and conected to the Spirit’s movement. Come and gather as God’s people across MCEC. More information is available at the following link:

2023-04-28 – Annual Church Gathering 2023 – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (mcec.ca)

Monday May 1^st Hidden Acres Spring Seniors Retreat 2023 – Unlearning Loneliness: Relearning Community. Join us for a day or fellowship, learning and music with friends new and old! We will be hearing from Chip Bender and Cathi Watson as we reconnect and relearn how to live more fully as relational human beings created in God’s image. For more information and to register visit our website at www.hiddenacres.ca or contact the office at info@hiddenacres.ca or 519-625-8602.

New Hamburg Thrift Centre is looking for household donations!
Have you been meaning to clear out household items that you no longer use, but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Well, now’s the time to do it! Our thrift shops are in need of household donations to keep supplies strong on the sales floor. Pack up some boxes and head over to your local thrift shop today!

Raw Carrot soup is available at your local thrift shop
The Raw Carrot is excited to announce that our soup is available for sale at your local thrift shop! As an MCC Ontario program, The Raw Carrot provides a compassionate workplace to people on long term disability. Our healthy soups are handcrafted in small batches, packed with tasty veggies and free of added preservatives. Fresh ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Our staff are “stirring up” change with their delicious, handcrafted gourmet soup!” Learn more at mcco.ca.

Could you be the next NHMRS Logistics Coordinator?
The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is searching for a volunteer logistics coordinator (or coordinators). The logistics coordinator handles all the logistical planning, setup and teardown at the Sale and leads a well-oiled team of volunteers. Orientation and training are provided. Please contact Duane Martin at duanemartin@nhmrs.com if you would be interested in joining the NHMRS organizing team.

East Zorra Mennonite Church

Volume 66             Sunday March 12, 2023                      No. 11

Worship Service – Sunday March 12, 2023 at 10 a.m.

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

The God Who Is Above All Others

Prelude: Chantelle McNeish                Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish

Song Leader: Connie Yantzi                Worship Leader: Dawn Bender

Message: Pastor Mike                          Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf

Coffee Hosts: Gloria & Merv Ropp       Offering: Student Aid

Prelude

Welcome and Opening Greetings

Announcements

Call to Worship and Opening prayer

Songs of Gathering & Praise          VT # #137 “Holy, Holy, Holy”, (Holy is the Lord)

                                                 VT # 160 “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

Prayer of Confession & Song of Response

Response      VT #49 “All who are thirsty”

Time with the Children – Pastor Mike

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 5:1-15

Message – Pastor Mike

Song of Response     VT #437 “The Lord Is My Light”

Prayer of the church 

Sending Song          VT #849 “We Your People Sing Your Praises” 

Benediction

Postlude

Today

Coffee Time – We would ask that everyone provides their own coffee 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.   

Sunday School classes

Nursery to Grade 5 classes are being held downstairs.

Junior Youth class (Grades 6 to 8) meets upstairs in Room #9

Youth class meets upstairs in the MYF room (Room #11)

Adult Sunday School – God’s Story, Our Story: Reading the Bible Together

Following the service and a time of fellowship, you are invited to the basement for a time of discussion as we reflect on the Bible story for the week. Using the questions from the reading schedule to guide us, we will try and figure out what each story means to us today as God’s people. We will plan to keep the Zoom link open and will have a leader to guide discussion for Zoom participants.

This Coming Week

Wednesday March 15^th     

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee

Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!

Thursday March 16^th     

12:10 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.

Theme is “Giving it Up”  Week 4:  Giving up Enemies

Next Sunday – March 19, 2023

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

God Rejected as King 

Prelude: Brandy Sell                           Accompanist: Bethany Klein

Song Leader: Caleb Leis                      Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer

Message: Pastor Ray                            Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler

Coffee Hosts: Gwen & Dan Matthews  Offering: Local Ministries

EZMC Announcements

Easter Choir – You’re invited to add your voice to the choir on Easter Sunday morning!   There will be two practices….on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:15, and Sunday, April 2 at 8:45.  Please sign up on the back bulletin board. 

Faith Exploration Class

Sundays 8:30am-9:30am

April 16 – May 28

*Lite breakfast will be provided*

This Spring, Youth and Young adults are invited to join this learning class to explore the questions Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him?

Our goal during this time is to provide a space for youth to reflect on the faith of their family and community and what it means to them. Participants are welcome to consider this class as a steppingstone towards the commitment of baptism, but it is also open to those who simply want to explore and learn more.

This is a time where we will seek to be clear about what we believe at East Zorra Mennonite while welcoming any questions or doubts, and never demand fake agreement.

Anyone who is interested can contact Pastor Ray at ray@ezmennonite.ca or Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca to register or learn more.

The Health Ministry Team is looking at offering a St. John’s CPR/First Aid training course for anyone that is interested. We are looking at March or April and have a sign up sheet on the bulletin board if anyone is interested. We are just getting a sense of how many are interested and then will find our a good date for everyone. The course is 8 hours long and will probably be on a Saturday and is roughly $125/ There is also a New Parent Course available that looks at infants specifically and CPR. This course if 3 hours longs and around $55. If you have more questions about the course you can ask Heidi or Phil.

Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument?  Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience?  If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.

Looking for folks who have used the Hearing Loop in the past and/or are currently accessing it. It has been 9 years since installation and we would like to do a review of its use. Asking that you contact either Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) or Ashley Witzel (ashleywitzel@gmail.com) to share your experience. 

And for those that do not know what a Hearing Loop is….stay tuned.

LADIES! LET’S WATCH GOD MOVE!

Join us for our first EZ Women’s IF: Gathering retreat

We desperately want to stay faithful in these times, but we know we can’t muster up the faith all on our own. Join us for IF: 2023 where we will gather for two days in worship, fellowship with one another, in prayer and with our Bibles, to remind each other that God is who we need and that He WILL provide.

Who: EZ Women of ALL ages. Invite your friends and family!

When: Friday May 5, 6:30pm and Saturday May 6, 8:30-3:00

Where: East Zorra Church

Cost: 25$/person. This includes breakfast Saturday morning and lunch. Friday evening we encourage all those who are able to bring an appetizer to share.

How: Signup on the sheet posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church or email Ashley Witzel at ashleywitzel@gmail.com so she can send you the registration form. If you have any questions please speak to, Ashley Witzel, Jess Yantzi, Erin Yantzi or Sheryl Leis. Please signup by April 16th

VBS 2023- July 10 -14

Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion! 

We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.

Naomi Witzel – naomiwitzel8@gmail.com

Ashley Witzel – ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com

Beyond Our Church Community

Monday March 13^th Grandparent and Grandchild Day at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. The annual Grandparent-Grandchild Days sponsored by Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp..  This retreat is for grandparents and their grandchildren in Grades 1-6.  Greg Taylor will be leading the day, focusing on the theme of God of Wonders: Discovering the Creator Through Space. More details at www.hiddenacres.ca  

Saturday March 18^th & Saturday March 25^th 10 am – 12:30 pm Stitching and Stories at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener, N2G 3R1. Join our Indigenous Neighbours team for a time of storytelling and stitching as Niska artisan Lucie Iserhoff teaches us how to bead a simple pin. A kit will be mailed to you with sewing materials. Register by March 6th, 2023 at 12 p.m. to ensure the arrival of your sewing kit before the event begins. All proceeds from this event will go toward supporting the Niska program and future workshops. For more info, go to mcco.ca/events.

Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp’s 39^th Annual Bowl-a-thon is happening again this year on Saturday, March 25 at 4:00pm at New Hamburg Lanes (formerly Riverside Lanes).! This is one of the camp’s main annual fundraising events with last year’s Bowlathon raising over $30,000! You can show your support by donating on-line at hiddenacres.ca/donate, and select “Annual Bowlathon” from the list. Thank you

Saturday April 1^st at 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers and artistic director Brandon Leis present Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil (Vespers) at Trillium Lutheran Church (22 Willow, Waterloo) on. $25 Adults. $5 Children/Students. Tickets available on-line or at the door (cash or credit)  www.mennosingers.com

MCEC Annual Church Gathering, April 28 & 29, 2023, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener, ON. Transformed. Inspired. Called. Join new and now friends as we grow, learn and serve together as a community of faith. Fanosie Legesse, MCEC Intercultural Mission Minister, will encourage and challenge us on Friday night at a Mass Intercultural Worship Service. Followed by a Saturday filled with celebration, learning, much discussion and worship. All are welcome! How do we choose to live a life of constant transformation, unceasing inspiration and filled with courage to stay strong in our calling? When we worship and pray togther, we become grounded in God’s love and conected to the Spirit’s movement. Come and gather as God’s people across MCEC. More information is available at the following link:

2023-04-28 – Annual Church Gathering 2023 – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (mcec.ca)

New Hamburg Thrift Centre is looking for household donations!
Have you been meaning to clear out household items that you no longer use, but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Well, now’s the time to do it! Our thrift shops are in need of household donations to keep supplies strong on the sales floor. Pack up some boxes and head over to your local thrift shop today!

Raw Carrot soup is available at your local thrift shop
The Raw Carrot is excited to announce that our soup is available for sale at your local thrift shop! As an MCC Ontario program, The Raw Carrot provides a compassionate workplace to people on long term disability. Our healthy soups are handcrafted in small batches, packed with tasty veggies and free of added preservatives. Fresh ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Our staff are “stirring up” change with their delicious, handcrafted gourmet soup!” Learn more at mcco.ca.

Could you be the next NHMRS Logistics Coordinator?
The New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale is searching for a volunteer logistics coordinator (or coordinators). The logistics coordinator handles all the logistical planning, setup and teardown at the Sale and leads a well-oiled team of volunteers. Orientation and training are provided. Please contact Duane Martin at duanemartin@nhmrs.com if you would be interested in joining the NHMRS organizing team.

EZMC Contact Information

Pastor Ray Martin               ray@ezmennonite.ca          

Pastor Mike Williamson        mike@ezmennonite.ca       

Parish Nurse Heidi Wagler    heidi@ezmennonite.ca       

Office Admin Lisa Suderman office@ezmennonite.ca      

East Zorra Mennonite Church

Volume 66             Sunday February 26, 2023                      No. 9

Worship Service – Sunday February 26, 2023 at 10 a.m.

EZMC 2022 Annual Meeting

Prelude: Glorify/Chantelle McNeish   Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish

Song Leader: Melanie Wiegand           Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf

The annual meeting will be held during Worship and Sunday School, in person, and virtually on Zoom.  

Pre-Service led by Glorify  

King of My Heart

Behold Him

King of Heaven

Words of Welcome & Announcements   Brendan Leis

Call to Worship & Opening Prayer   Pastor Ray

Songs of Praise                           

Cornerstone

Build Your Kingdom Here

Prayer for the Offering

          Offering Focus – Leadership

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6     Pastor Mike

Time with the Children   Pastor Mike

Sharing by Lindsay Zehr, Lay Ministers of Worship; Susan Schmitz, Lay Minister of Mission; and Bethany Kropf & Jared Yantzi, Lay Ministers of Christian Education

Song – VT160 What a Fellowship/Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Sharing by Larry Kropf from Building Visioning Committee 

Time of remembering led by Care Team              

We will remember the lives of our congregational members who died in 2022

Marv Leis to remember Nelson Yantzi

Joan Yantzi to remember Ken Ruby

Merv Ropp to remember Leander Wagler and Ken Roth

Janice Ropp to remember Geneva Lichti and Ray Steinmann

Sharing & Prayer of the Church    Pastor Ray      

Congregational Song: How Great is our God/Then Sings my Soul

East Zorra Community Slideshow: Celebration of many programs & volunteers  

Children dismissed to Sunday School

Sunday School Hour (immediately following worship) – Review of business operations of our church 

• Review of the 2022 Annual Meeting minutes from February 19, 2022. (see pages 4-10)
• Agenda Review
• Treasurer’s Report
  • Review and auditor approval of 2022 financial statements (see pages 35-40)
  • Review and approval of 2023 commitments and offering schedule (see page 41)
• Trustee Update (see page 26)
• Opportunity for Questions
• Departing to Serve – closing prayer

Following the meeting, everyone is invited to stay for a fellowship meal.

The MYF will be serving a soup lunch as a fundraiser. Please let us know if your MYFer is able to help out. We would need help at 9:30 a.m. setting up and preparing in the kitchen and then help serving lunch and cleaning up. Lunch will be served after the meeting, with clean up to follow. Please let one of the sponsors know if your youth can help out in any capacity or any length of time.

This Coming Week

Tuesday February 28^th 

          11:30 a.m. Care Team Meeting    

7 p.m. Health Ministry Team Meeting

Wednesday March 1^st    

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee

7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting

Thursday March 2^nd    

9:30 a.m. E Z Play Group

12:10 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church.

Friday March 3^rd   

          7 p.m. MYF would like to invite the Seniors in our congregation for

an evening of fellowship, Crokinole and more!

Next Sunday – March 5, 2023

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

Esther: The God who Protects his people 

Prelude: Katie Wagler                         Accompanist: Katie Wagler

Song Leader: Myron Ruby                    Worship Leader: Sheryl Leis

Message: Pastor Mike                          Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler

Coffee Hosts: Janet & Marv Yantzi

Extending God’s Love

EZMC Announcements

It’s cold out there.

Tomorrow, Saturday February 25, Operation Sharing is hosting the Coldest Night of the Year, a 2 & 5 km winterrific walk hosted in 170+ cities across Canada, in support of their work in Oxford County with people experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger. Our Missions Committee team (EZ Walkers) is ready to walk. If you would like to join our team of walkers and/or sponsor us to help raise funds please speak to one of the members of our Missions Ministry Committee: Susan Schmitz, Dan Matthews, Sheryl Leis, Jessie Yantzi or Pastor Ray. The walk begins in Woodstock at 5 PM. You may also join the team of walkers or sponsor us by using this link: Sponsor EZ Walkers or Join the Team. Our goal is to raise $2000 or more to help respond to the growing needs in Oxford County. We have raised about 70% of our goal. Thanks for your support!

Faith Exploration Class

Sundays 8:30am-9:30am

March 5 – April 30

*Lite breakfast will be provided*

Over the season of Lent and Easter Youth and Young adults are invited to join this learning class to explore the questions Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him?

Our goal during this time is to provide a space for youth to reflect on the faith of their family and community and what it means to them. Participants are welcome to consider this class as a steppingstone towards the commitment of baptism, but it is also open to those who simply want to explore and learn more.

This is a time where we will seek to be clear about what we believe at East Zorra Mennonite while welcoming any questions or doubts, and never demand fake agreement.

Anyone who is interested can contact Pastor Ray at ray@ezmennonite.ca or Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca to register or learn more.

Sunday Afternoon Services at PeopleCare and Maples Home for Seniors

The Tavistock area churches are again providing Sunday afternoon worship services at the People Care and Maples Long-Term Care Homes. In order to keep residents safe, all volunteers need to take a simple rapid COVID test before having contact with residents in the homes. 

This is the schedule we will be using:  2 pm rapid test at People Care.  2.30 worship service at People Care.  Make sure you get a receipt from your rapid test so you can use it to then enter the Maples for the 3.15 service.  This way you will only need 1 test for the day. Thanks for your willingness to help meet the spiritual needs of these residents in our community.

East Zorra is scheduled to lead the service on Sunday March 5. Heid Wagler will be taking leadership that Sunday. A few volunteers are needed. Please speak to Heidi if you would be able to help with this service. The services are about 30 minutes and involve music, readings, prayers. Thank you for considering sharing in this ministry.

The 2023 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (657173 15th line, R.R.#1 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0).  Forms are available on the table by the Nursery or by contacting Lisa Suderman at office@ezmennonite.ca 

If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Jared Yantzi.

Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee – Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 at the Church

Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!

Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument?  Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience?  If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.

Thursday March 2^nd 12:10 p.m. TAVISTOCK & AREA MINISTERIAL 2023 Lenten Luncheons at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.

Theme is “Giving it Up”

Week 2:  Giving up Expectations

Many of us give up certain things during Lent. Are there things we should give up for the rest of our lives? We invite you to come and worship and reflect with us, and then share in conversation with others over lunch.

There will be no Lenten Service and Luncheon during Holy Week this year.

Looking for folks who have used the Hearing Loop in the past and/or are currently accessing it. It has been 9 years since installation and we would like to do a review of its use. Asking that you contact either Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) or Ashley Witzel (ashleywitzel@gmail.com) to share your experience. 

And for those that do not know what a Hearing Loop is….stay tuned.

JCET is still in need of volunteers to help with the children. Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the JCET desk, in the basement. Below is a description of the various types of roles needed. If you have any questions please ask anyone on the team (Jess Y., Holly, Erin Y. Sue M.)

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK TEACHERS:

Plan for an hour which includes: welcoming children and have an activity on the table (puzzles, playdough, etc); story, activity and activity sheets using the Gospel Light curriculum which is provided.  Play time is also encouraged as it builds friendships & many other skills (getting along, cooperation, listening, leading, imagination, etc)

JK/SK join the older children for assembly time for the first 10 min of the Christian Education hour.

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK HELPERS:

Welcome and assist the teacher and children.

Grades 1-5

DEVOTIONS: Using the curriculum provided, tell the story, ask questions from God’s big picture and do the Bible verse Object talk provided. Approx. 15-20 min.  

CRAFT/GAMES: Plan to lead either the games or craft suggestions provided.  There are also discussion questions to help tie the activity to the story. Approx. 15-20 min.

JWalker TEACHER: Plan for an hour. Students watch a video from the Meeting House and then have a discussion based on the video.

JWalker HELPER: Assists the teacher to help keep order, offer input into the discussion and is a 2^nd adult in the room. 

VBS 2023- July 10-14

Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion! 

We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.

Naomi Witzel naomiwitzel8@gmail.com

Ashley Witzel ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com

Beyond Our Church Community

New Hamburg Thrift Centre Needs Your Donations!

It’s been an interesting winter at the thrift store, and we have found ourselves in a place of desperately needing donated items to sell. We have had to send volunteers home due to lack of work, and we are seeing sales starting to trend downwards as a result of not having enough to sell.

Raw Carrot soup is available at your local thrift shop
The Raw Carrot is excited to announce that our soup is available for sale at your local thrift shop! As an MCC Ontario program, The Raw Carrot provides a compassionate workplace to people on long term disability. Our healthy soups are handcrafted in small batches, packed with tasty veggies and free of added preservatives. Fresh ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Our staff are “stirring up” change with their delicious, handcrafted gourmet soup!” Learn more at mcco.ca.

Monday February 27^th  7 – 8:30 p.m. (room 2202) Film Screening | Zwingli: Der Reformator (The Reformer. Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait), hosted by the Institute of Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College. The MCEC church community is invited to watch and discuss Swiss filmmaker Stephan Haupt’s award-winning 2019 depiction of the early Reformation in Zurich. Dr. David Neufeld will provide a brief introduction to the film and lead a post-screening discussion with attendees. Go to grebel.ca/events

Monday February 27^th 7 p.m. (CST) Face to Face | Polarization: Get over it! Stories that lead the way –Jayme Menzies of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dougald Lamont, and Jamie Moses will share examples and stories of how they’ve overcome polarization in big and small ways in their various contexts. Join in-person and livestream.  . More information and livestream at cmu.ca/face2face. 

Monday March 13^th Grandparent and Grandchild Day at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. The annual Grandparent-Grandchild Days sponsored by Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp..  This retreat is for grandparents and their grandchildren in Grades 1-6.  Greg Taylor will be leading the day, focusing on the theme of God of Wonders: Discovering the Creator Through Space. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details. 

The 10^th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality will be hosted at Conrad Grebel University College from June 4 to 7. Registration is now open! All are welcome to attend and take advantage of workshops and seminars by researchers, scholars, faith leaders, seniors, policy makers, and care partners. Early bird pricing is available until March 18, 2023. Visit uwaterloo.ca/ageing-spirituality/ for more information and to register.

Registration is open for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC), running August 13 – 15 at Conrad Grebel University College. OMMC provides an exciting camp adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds, pairing exceptional musical instruction with traditional camp activities. Campers will find a safe and supportive community to explore their love of music, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their faith. Register by April 15 for the early bird discount: grebel.ca/ommc

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:

• Winter and Spring Retreats:  Come to Silver Lake in 2023 for some fun camp experiences! Coming up soon are… Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Mar 3-5), March Break Family Getaway (Mar 14-17). Go to SLMC Retreats & Events for more info and to register.
• Summer Camp Registration is now Open:  Visit the SLMC website for more details about overnight camps, outtrips and day camps. New this year – March Break Day Camp in Kitchener (Mar 13-17). Click here forCamp Info and Registration

Call for German Mennonite Poetry – Do you or your relatives have self-composed German Mennonite poetry that you’re interested in sharing with the community? Brubacher House Artists-in-Residence are collecting previously untranslated German language poems for a bilingual collection of German Mennonite poetry from the Waterloo Region. Email submissions to brubacherpoetryproject@gmail.com. More information at uwaterloo.ca/brubacher-house

East Zorra Mennonite Church

Volume 66             Sunday February 19, 2023                      No. 8

Worship Service – Sunday February 19, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Join Sunday Morning Worship Gathering

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

Genesis 12: The God who delivers and makes a way out of no way 

Prelude: Heidi Wagler                         Accompanist: Heidi Wagler

Song Leader: Myron Ruby                    Worship Leaders: Jared Yantzi

Message: Pastor Ray                            Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship & Opening Prayer

Songs of Praise        VT #25 “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”

                             VT #84 “To God Be the Glory”

Prayer for Offering 

          Offering Focus – Relief/Mennonite Central Committee

Time with the Children

Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:10-14, 30-31 & Exodus 15:1-21

Message:  The God who delivers and makes a way out of no way           Pastor Ray

Song of Response:   VT #193 “When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land”

Sharing Time & Prayer of the church – Heidi Wagler

Sending Song:          VT # 849 “We, Your People, Sing Your Praises”

Benediction

Today

Coffee Time will be hosted by Shirley & Phil Ruby. We would ask that everyone provide their own coffee 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.

Sunday School classes

Nursery to Grade 5 classes are being held downstairs.

Junior Youth class meets upstairs in Room #9

Youth class meets upstairs in the MYF room (Room #11)

Adult Sunday School – God’s Story, Our Story: Reading the Bible Together

Following the service and a time of fellowship, you are invited to the basement for a time of discussion as we reflect on the Bible story for the week. Using the questions from the reading schedule to guide us, we will try and figure out what each story means to us today as God’s people. We will plan to keep the Zoom link open and will have a leader to guide discussion for Zoom participants.

This Coming Week

Tuesday February 21^st

          1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry at Jean MacDonald’s.

5:30 – 7 p.m. Pancake Supper – Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board.

Wednesday February 22^nd   

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee

Thursday February 23^rd   

9:30 a.m. E Z Play Group

12:10 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church.

Friday February 24^th  

          6:30 – 9 p.m. Junior Youth @ church – Pizza & Games with Pastor Mike!

Please RSVP to Lisa Zehr by texting 519-949-0990.

          MYF – Escape Room

Saturday February 25^th

          Coldest Night of the Year Walk.

Please see the announcements below for more details on the above events.

Wednesday February 22: Andrea & Nick Green

Next Sunday – February 26, 2023

EZMC Annual Meeting

Prelude: Glorify/Chantelle McNeish   Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish

Song Leader: Melanie Wiegand           Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf

The annual meeting will be held during Worship and Sunday School, in person and also available virtually on Zoom. The annual report was sent by email on Friday February 10^th but there will be some paper copies of the report booklet on the table outside the nursery. 

Following the meeting, everyone is invited to stay for a fellowship meal.

The MYF will be serving a soup lunch as a fundraiser. Please let us know if your MYF’er is able to help out. We would need help at 9:30 a.m. setting up and preparing in the kitchen and then help serving lunch and cleaning up. Lunch will be served after the meeting, with clean up to follow. Please let one of the sponsors know if your youth can help out in any capacity or any length of time.

Please keep the children and families of Syria and Türkiye in your prayers.

MCC is accepting donations to support people affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. MCC is working with long-term partners in Aleppo and surrounding areas to provide emergency food, shelter, hygiene, sanitation supplies and trauma counselling. In a country already vulnerable from years of conflict, this was a devastating blow. You can share God’s love and compassion with our global neighbours by providing a gift online at mcccanada.ca/earthquake, by calling 800-313-6226 or by sending a cheque earmarked for “Syria and Türkiye earthquake” to MCC, 203-50 Kent Ave, Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 

If you have a pastoral care concern or prayer request that you would like to share with us, or have us share with the congregation, please feel free to reach out to Pastor Ray (519-501-7831) or Pastor Mike (519-890-4291)  

EZMC Announcements

The Rejoice, Salt & Light and Leader magazines will be in your church mailboxes by Sunday morning if you are subscribing to them. 

Tuesday February 21st

5:30 – 7 p.m. Care Team along with members of the Congregational Life committee are planning to host a Pancake supper at the church. Please join us for this intergenerational evening of food and fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Gluten free and dairy free pancakes will be available. Please sign up on the sign up sheet on the bulletin board or email your intent to office@ezmennonite.ca. You may also call Lisa at 519-655-6824. This will help give us an idea of how many sausages to order.  

Faith Exploration Class

Sundays 8:30am-9:30am

March 5 – April 30

*Lite breakfast will be provided*

Over the season of Lent and Easter Youth and Young adults are invited to join this learning class to explore the questions Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him?

Our goal during this time is to provide a space for youth to reflect on the faith of their family and community and what it means to them. Participants are welcome to consider this class as a steppingstone towards the commitment of baptism, but it is also open to those who simply want to explore and learn more.

This is a time where we will seek to be clear about what we believe at East Zorra Mennonite while welcoming any questions or doubts, and never demand fake agreement.

Anyone who is interested can contact Pastor Ray at ray@ezmennonite.ca or Pastor Mike at mike@ezmennonite.ca to register or learn more.

The 2023 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (657173 15th line, R.R.#1 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0).  Forms are available on the table by the Nursery or by contacting Lisa Suderman at office@ezmennonite.ca 

If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Jared Yantzi.

Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee – Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 at the Church

Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!

Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument?  Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience?  If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.

Thursday February 23^rd 12:10 p.m. TAVISTOCK & AREA MINISTERIAL 2020 Lenten Luncheons at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.

Theme is “Giving it Up”

Week 1:  Giving up Control

Many of us give up certain things during Lent. Are there things we should give up for the rest of our lives? We invite you to come and worship and reflect with us, and then share in conversation with others over lunch.

There will be no Lenten Service and Luncheon during Holy Week this year.

It’s cold out there.

On February 25, Operation Sharing is hosting the Coldest Night of the Year, a 2 & 5 km winterrific walk hosted in 170+ cities across Canada, in support of their work in Oxford County with people experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger. Our Missions Committee has registered a team (EZ Walkers) and plan to walk in Woodstock on February 25. If you would like to join our team of walkers and/or sponsor us to help raise funds please speak to one of the members of our Missions Ministry Committee: Susan Schmitz, Dan Matthews, Sheryl Leis, Jessie Yantzi or Pastor Ray. . You may also join the team of walkers or sponsor us by using this link: Sponsor EZ Walkers or Join the Team. Our goal is to raise $2000 or more to help respond to the growing needs in Oxford County. Thanks for your support!

The Nursing Homes of Tavistock have requested that our ministerial churches begin offering Sunday afternoon services again. It feels important that East Zorra be involved in this important ministry to our seniors in Long Term Care. The ministerial is working on scheduling and response to this request. If your family, small group or group of friends, would be willing to be involved please speak to Pastor Ray or Susan Schmitz. The services are about 30 minutes and involve music, readings, prayers. Thank you for considering sharing in this ministry.

Looking for folks who have used the Hearing Loop in the past and/or are currently accessing it. It has been 9 years since installation and we would like to do a review of its use. Asking that you contact either Marilyn Zehr (mbrownzehr@gmail.com) or Ashley Witzel (ashleywitzel@gmail.com) to share your experience. 

And for those that do not know what a Hearing Loop is….stay tuned.

JCET is still in need of volunteers to help with the children. Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the JCET desk, in the basement. Below is a description of the various types of roles needed. If you have any questions please ask anyone on the team (Jess Y., Holly, Erin Y. Sue M.)

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK TEACHERS:

Plan for an hour which includes: welcoming children and have an activity on the table (puzzles, playdough, etc); story, activity and activity sheets using the Gospel Light curriculum which is provided.  Play time is also encouraged as it builds friendships & many other skills (getting along, cooperation, listening, leading, imagination, etc)

JK/SK join the older children for assembly time for the first 10 min of the Christian Education hour.

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK HELPERS:

Welcome and assist the teacher and children.

Grades 1-5

DEVOTIONS: Using the curriculum provided, tell the story, ask questions from God’s big picture and do the Bible verse Object talk provided. Approx. 15-20 min.  

CRAFT/GAMES: Plan to lead either the games or craft suggestions provided.  There are also discussion questions to help tie the activity to the story. Approx. 15-20 min.

JWalker TEACHER: Plan for an hour. Students watch a video from the Meeting House and then have a discussion based on the video.

JWalker HELPER: Assists the teacher to help keep order, offer input into the discussion and is a 2^nd adult in the room. 

VBS 2023- July 10-14

Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion! 

We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.

Naomi Witzel naomiwitzel8@gmail.com

Ashley Witzel ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com

Beyond Our Church Community

Raw Carrot soup is available at your local thrift shop
The Raw Carrot is excited to announce that our soup is available for sale at your local thrift shop! As an MCC Ontario program, The Raw Carrot provides a compassionate workplace to people on long term disability. Our healthy soups are handcrafted in small batches, packed with tasty veggies and free of added preservatives. Fresh ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Our staff are “stirring up” change with their delicious, handcrafted gourmet soup!” Learn more at mcco.ca.

Monday February 20^th 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Free Family Day Open House at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. Come for a fun and relaxing day with your family! Pretzel-making, roasting bannock around the fire, sledding, skating, games, puzzles, crafts, ping-pong and more! RSVP to info@hiddenacres.ca or call (519) 625-8602. Check www.hiddenacres.ca for more details.

Wednesday February 22^nd 6:30 – 8 pm Piecing together the allyship puzzle
Join MCC for part two of the Watershed Moment webinar series. This webinar will discuss walking with communities and supporting First Nations’ efforts to obtain access to safe drinking water. The webinar is part of a series of educational opportunities that MCC and partners are hosting to discuss the spiritual and cultural importance of water and the necessity of access to clean, safe water. Throughout the series, we’ll explore what it means to listen, learn and connect with water, as well as with one another. Register online at mcco.ca/events.

Monday February 27^th  7 – 8:30 p.m. (room 2202) Film Screening | Zwingli: Der Reformator (The Reformer. Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait), hosted by the Institute of Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College. The MCEC church community is invited to watch and discuss Swiss filmmaker Stephan Haupt’s award-winning 2019 depiction of the early Reformation in Zurich. Dr. David Neufeld will provide a brief introduction to the film and lead a post-screening discussion with attendees. Go to grebel.ca/events

Monday February 27^th 7 p.m. (CST) Face to Face | Polarization: Get over it! Stories that lead the way –Jayme Menzies of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dougald Lamont, and Jamie Moses will share examples and stories of how they’ve overcome polarization in big and small ways in their various contexts. Join in-person and livestream.  . More information and livestream at cmu.ca/face2face. 

Monday March 13^th Grandparent and Grandchild Day at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. The annual Grandparent-Grandchild Days sponsored by Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp..  This retreat is for grandparents and their grandchildren in Grades 1-6.  Greg Taylor will be leading the day, focusing on the theme of God of Wonders: Discovering the Creator Through Space. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details. 

The 10^th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality will be hosted at Conrad Grebel University College from June 4 to 7. Registration is now open! All are welcome to attend and take advantage of workshops and seminars by researchers, scholars, faith leaders, seniors, policy makers, and care partners. Early bird pricing is available until March 18, 2023. Visit uwaterloo.ca/ageing-spirituality/ for more information and to register.

Registration is open for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC), running August 13 – 15 at Conrad Grebel University College. OMMC provides an exciting camp adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds, pairing exceptional musical instruction with traditional camp activities. Campers will find a safe and supportive community to explore their love of music, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their faith. Register by April 15 for the early bird discount: grebel.ca/ommc

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:

• Winter and Spring Retreats:  Come to Silver Lake in 2023 for some fun camp experiences! Coming up soon are… Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Mar 3-5), March Break Family Getaway (Mar 14-17). Go to SLMC Retreats & Events for more info and to register.
• Summer Camp Registration is now Open:  Visit the SLMC website for more details about overnight camps, outtrips and day camps. New this year – March Break Day Camp in Kitchener (Mar 13-17). Click here forCamp Info and Registration

Call for German Mennonite Poetry – Do you or your relatives have self-composed German Mennonite poetry that you’re interested in sharing with the community? Brubacher House Artists-in-Residence are collecting previously untranslated German language poems for a bilingual collection of German Mennonite poetry from the Waterloo Region. Email submissions to brubacherpoetryproject@gmail.com. More information at uwaterloo.ca/brubacher-house

East Zorra Mennonite Church

Volume 66             Sunday February 12, 2023                      No. 7

Worship Service – Sunday February 12, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Join Sunday Morning Worship Gathering

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

Genesis 12: The God who makes and keep promises 

Prelude: Chantelle McNeish                Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish

Song Leader: Caleb Leis                      Worship Leaders: Tyler Yantzi

Message: Pastor Mike                          Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf

Welcome and Opening Greetings

Announcements

Call to Worship and Opening Prayer

Songs of Gathering & Praise VT #62 “God Is Here among Us”

                                      VT #75 “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven!”

Prayer for Offering 

          Offering Focus – Leadership

Time with the Children

Scripture Reading: Genesis 15:1-18

Message:  Pastor Mike

Song of Response:   VT #606 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

Prayer of the church 

Sending Song:          VT # 832 “The Lord Lift You Up”

Benediction

Today

Sunday School classes

Nursery to Grade 5 classes are being held downstairs.

Junior Youth class meets upstairs in Room #9

Youth class meets upstairs in the MYF room (Room #11)

Adult Sunday School – God’s Story, Our Story: Reading the Bible Together

Following the service and a time of fellowship, you are invited to the basement for a time of discussion as we reflect on the Bible story for the week. Using the questions from the reading schedule to guide us, we will try and figure out what each story means to us today as God’s people. We will plan to keep the Zoom link open and will have a leader to guide discussion for Zoom participants.

This Coming Week

Wednesday February 15^th  

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee – Please see the announcement for more details about this weekly bible study opportunity.

Thursday February 16^th  

9:30 a.m. E Z Play Group

6 p.m. SCRC Meeting

Friday February 17^th  

          7 p.m. MYF

Saturday February 18^th

          1-6 p.m. Private Party

Next Sunday – February 19, 2023

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Reading the Bible Together

Genesis 12: The God who delivers and makes a way out of no way 

Prelude: Heidi Wagler                         Accompanist: Heidi Wagler

Song Leader: Myron Ruby                    Worship Leaders: Jared Yantzi

Message: Pastor Ray                            Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler

Coffee Time: Shirley & Phil Ruby

Extending God’s Love

Please keep the children and families of Syria and Türkiye in your prayers.

MCC is accepting donations to support people affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. MCC is working with long-term partners in Aleppo and surrounding areas to provide emergency food, shelter, hygiene, sanitation supplies and trauma counselling. In a country already vulnerable from years of conflict, this was a devastating blow. You can share God’s love and compassion with our global neighbours by providing a gift online at mcccanada.ca/earthquake, by calling 800-313-6226 or by sending a cheque earmarked for “Syria and Türkiye earthquake” to MCC, 203-50 Kent Ave, Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 

Dear friends at East Zorra Mennonite Church,

Tavistock Assistance Program would like to thank you for your generous donations throughout the past year but especially at Christmas time! You blessed neighbours in need with your kind, generous and thoughtful gifts, providing comfort, food, and warmth to many! You are a blessing to our community and you really do make a difference in people’s lives. Together, with neighbours helping neighbours, we can build strong and healthy communities!!

Sincerely, Linda Holst, Program Director

EZMC Announcements

The 2023 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (657173 15th line, R.R.#1 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0).  Forms are available on the table by the Nursery or by contacting Lisa Suderman at office@ezmennonite.ca 

If you have any questions please contact one of the Christian Education Lay Ministers – Bethany Kropf or Jared Yantzi.

Unwrapping Scripture over Coffee

Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 at the Church

Winter blues got you down? Are you bored? Do you miss getting out of the house? Then come drop-in at the church and join us on Wednesday mornings as we open and read the Bible together over a hot cup of coffee or tea. Bring your Bibles and your questions as we reflect on a story from the Bible and what it teaches us about ourselves and God. Whether you are a Bible expert or completely confused, everyone is welcome!

Tuesday February 21st

5:30 – 7 p.m. Care Team along with members of the Congregational Life committee are planning to host a Pancake supper at the church. Please join us for this intergenerational evening of food and fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Gluten free and dairy free pancakes will be available. Please sign up on the sign up sheet on the bulletin board or email your intent to office@ezmennonite.ca. You may also call Lisa at 519-655-6824. This will help give us an idea of how many sausages to order.  

Thursday February 23^rd 12:10 p.m. TAVISTOCK & AREA MINISTERIAL 2020 Lenten Luncheons at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at 12:10 p.m. with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch.

Theme is “Giving it Up”

Week 1:  Giving up Control

Many of us give up certain things during Lent. Are there things we should give up for the rest of our lives? We invite you to come and worship and reflect with us, and then share in conversation with others over lunch.

There will be no Lenten Service and Luncheon during Holy Week this year.

On February 25, Operation Sharing is hosting the Coldest Night of the Year, a 2 & 5 km winterrific walk hosted in 170+ cities across Canada, in support of their work in Oxford County with people experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger. Our Missions Committee has registered a team (EZ Walkers) and plan to walk in Woodstock on February 25. If you would like to join our team of walkers and/or sponsor us to help raise funds please speak to one of the members of our Missions Ministry Committee: Susan Schmitz, Dan Matthews, Sheryl Leis, Jessie Yantzi or Pastor Ray. . You may also join the team of walkers or sponsor us by using this link: Sponsor EZ Walkers or Join the Team. Our goal is to raise $2000 or more to help respond to the growing needs in Oxford County. Thanks for your support!

Sunday February 26^th – EZMC 2022 Annual Meeting

The meeting will be held during Worship and Sunday School, in person and also available virtually on Zoom. The annual report was sent by email on Friday February 10^th but there will be some paper copies of the report booklet on the table outside the nursery. 

The Nursing Homes of Tavistock have requested that our ministerial churches begin offering Sunday afternoon services again. It feels important that East Zorra be involved in this important ministry to our seniors in Long Term Care. The ministerial is working on scheduling and response to this request. If your family, small group or group of friends, would be willing to be involved please speak to Pastor Ray or Susan Schmitz. The services are about 30 minutes and involve music, readings, prayers. Thank you for considering sharing in this ministry.

Do you love music? Do you know how to play the organ, piano, guitar or other instrument?  Or maybe you just love to sing? Is music at East Zorra an important part of your worship experience?  If so, the worship committee would like to encourage you. Perhaps God is calling you to share your gift at East Zorra, and possibly discover and develop leadership skills. We would love to mentor new leaders and also find out if there are any musicians among us that we are not aware of. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, and you feel so led, please speak to Connie Yantzi or Lindsay Zehr.

JCET is still in need of volunteers to help with the children. Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the JCET desk, in the basement. Below is a description of the various types of roles needed. If you have any questions please ask anyone on the team (Jess Y., Holly, Erin Y. Sue M.)

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK TEACHERS:

Plan for an hour which includes: welcoming children and have an activity on the table (puzzles, playdough, etc); story, activity and activity sheets using the Gospel Light curriculum which is provided.  Play time is also encouraged as it builds friendships & many other skills (getting along, cooperation, listening, leading, imagination, etc)

JK/SK join the older children for assembly time for the first 10 min of the Christian Education hour.

Nursery/Preschool and JK/SK HELPERS:

Welcome and assist the teacher and children.

Grades 1-5

DEVOTIONS: Using the curriculum provided, tell the story, ask questions from God’s big picture and do the Bible verse Object talk provided. Approx. 15-20 min.  

CRAFT/GAMES: Plan to lead either the games or craft suggestions provided.  There are also discussion questions to help tie the activity to the story. Approx. 15-20 min.

JWalker TEACHER: Plan for an hour. Students watch a video from the Meeting House and then have a discussion based on the video.

JWalker HELPER: Assists the teacher to help keep order, offer input into the discussion and is a 2^nd adult in the room. 

VBS 2023- July 10-14

Please save the date for this year’s Vacation Bible School at East Zorra. Our theme this year is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The week will be set up similar to last summer, with kids split into Tribes, daily Celebration Time, rotations to new shops in the Marketplace (crafts) and new games to play in the Palace Playground. We will also learn about Daniel’s story each day and how he stayed committed to the one true God when others were turning away from Him. We look forward to learning that God is with us through every situation and emotion! 

We will be opening registration to the community this year so share these dates with your friends! To do this, we will need lots of volunteers. Please consider how helping out with VBS 2023 can fit into your summer plans.

Naomi Witzel naomiwitzel8@gmail.com

Ashley Witzel ezvbsbabylon@gmail.com

Beyond Our Church Community

Monday February 20^th 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Free Family Day Open House at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. Come for a fun and relaxing day with your family! Pretzel-making, roasting bannock around the fire, sledding, skating, games, puzzles, crafts, ping-pong and more! RSVP to info@hiddenacres.ca or call (519) 625-8602. Check www.hiddenacres.ca for more details.

Monday February 27^th  7 – 8:30 p.m. (room 2202) Film Screening | Zwingli: Der Reformator (The Reformer. Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait), hosted by the Institute of Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College. The MCEC church community is invited to watch and discuss Swiss filmmaker Stephan Haupt’s award-winning 2019 depiction of the early Reformation in Zurich. Dr. David Neufeld will provide a brief introduction to the film and lead a post-screening discussion with attendees. Go to grebel.ca/events

Monday February 27^th 7 p.m. (CST) Face to Face | Polarization: Get over it! Stories that lead the way –Jayme Menzies of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dougald Lamont, and Jamie Moses will share examples and stories of how they’ve overcome polarization in big and small ways in their various contexts. Join in-person and livestream.  . More information and livestream at cmu.ca/face2face. 

Monday March 13^th Grandparent and Grandchild Day at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp. The annual Grandparent-Grandchild Days sponsored by Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp..  This retreat is for grandparents and their grandchildren in Grades 1-6.  Greg Taylor will be leading the day, focusing on the theme of God of Wonders: Discovering the Creator Through Space. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details. 

The 10^th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality will be hosted at Conrad Grebel University College from June 4 to 7. Registration is now open! All are welcome to attend and take advantage of workshops and seminars by researchers, scholars, faith leaders, seniors, policy makers, and care partners. Early bird pricing is available until March 18, 2023. Visit uwaterloo.ca/ageing-spirituality/ for more information and to register.

Registration is open for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC), running August 13 – 15 at Conrad Grebel University College. OMMC provides an exciting camp adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds, pairing exceptional musical instruction with traditional camp activities. Campers will find a safe and supportive community to explore their love of music, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their faith. Register by April 15 for the early bird discount: grebel.ca/ommc

Walking Together Book Study – MCEC Truth & Reconciliation Working Group

Join the MCEC Truth and Reconciliation Working Group in this 4-part book study, Walking Togther: Intercultural Stories of Love and Acceptance. We will begin our study with Edith and Neill von Gunten, the authors, on Wednesday, February 15.

We will meet every other Wednesday evening from 7 – 9 Eastern time.

(Wed Feb 15, Wed Mar 1, 15, & 29). Walking Together invites the church to grapple with questions of racism and Christian supremacy in order to see that all peoples and cultures bear Creator’s beauty and gifts, and that our reconciliation—even our salvation—depends upon embracing that truth.

  More Information and to Register

The constituency-based MCEC Truth & Reconciliation Working Group serves the MCEC constituency by promoting awareness and education on specific issues and topics. The information and links are those of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent MCEC as a whole.

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:

• Winter and Spring Retreats:  Come to Silver Lake in 2023 for some fun camp experiences! Coming up soon are… Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Mar 3-5), March Break Family Getaway (Mar 14-17). Go to SLMC Retreats & Events for more info and to register.
• Summer Camp Registration is now Open:  Visit the SLMC website for more details about overnight camps, outtrips and day camps. New this year – March Break Day Camp in Kitchener (Mar 13-17). Click here forCamp Info and Registration

Call for German Mennonite Poetry – Do you or your relatives have self-composed German Mennonite poetry that you’re interested in sharing with the community? Brubacher House Artists-in-Residence are collecting previously untranslated German language poems for a bilingual collection of German Mennonite poetry from the Waterloo Region. Email submissions to brubacherpoetryproject@gmail.com. More information at uwaterloo.ca/brubacher-house