East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday March 3, 2024 No. 9
Sunday Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Jesus & The Unclean
Prelude: Worship Band Accompanist: Worship Band
Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer Song Leader: Connie Yantzi
Greeters: Gloria & Merv Ropp Offering: Mission Partners
Audio/Visual: Dathan Bender/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Megan MacDonald & Russ Schumm
Prelude
VT #162 “The Love of God”
“Be Unto Your Name”
“The River”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
“Days of Elijah”
Prayer for the Offering – Mission Partners
Offertory VT #155 “Lord, I Need You”
Time with the Children Pastor Mike
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-16. Matthew 9:9-13
Message: The Desire of God: Mercy, Not SacrificePastor Mike
Prayer of Confession
Song of Response
VT #169 “Mercy, Mercy, Lord”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song
VT #617 “When Peace Like a River”
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
This Coming Week
Tuesday March 5th
- 9 a.m. Sewing Circle – Everyone is welcome to join us to knot comforters or quilt.
Wednesday March 6th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
- 7 p.m. Play Group set up
- 7 p.m. Glorify rehearsal
- 7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Thursday March 7th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 12 p.m. Lenten Luncheon at Grace United Church at Grace United Church (Elevator and Hearing Assistance). Each Thursday during Lent beginning at noon with meditation and music in the Sanctuary followed by Soup and Sandwich Lunch at 12:30 p.m. Suggested contribution is $5-$10 for lunch. Theme is “Spiritual Practises for a Climate Crisis”
Each week we will focus on an emotion that describes our relationship with creation. Week 4: Love
Friday March 8th
- 7:30 – 9 p.m. Junior Youth – Zumba Night at church. Cost is $10 per person. We Zumba for an hour starting at 8pm. Please bring indoor shoes and water bottles and wear fitness clothes!
- MYF – Axe Throwing
Sunday March 10, 2024
Stories from the Life of Jesus – The Condemned Woman
Prelude: Glorify Accompanist: Glorify
Worship Leader: Tyler Yantzi Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Janet & Marv Yantzi Offering: Student Aid
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Ray
Coffee Hosts: Kristen & Daryl Cressman
EZMC Announcements
On behalf of Benedikt Isert Bender, MCEC has invited members of East Zorra to support Benedikt through prayer, encouragement, and financial gifts. Benedikt will be here March 10 to tell us more about his one-year service assignment as a Social Enterprise Trainee at Coffee for Peace, learning the value chain of the coffee industry framed in social justice and peacebuilding as well as additional responsibilities! Donations to support Benedikt can be made to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, designated “STIM – Bender” and mailed to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada 201 – 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1.
Sunday Services at The Maples and peopleCare March 24. You are invited to participate in Sunday afternoon services on March 24 and/or June 9. Very young to mature are welcome! It’s a two hour commitment at the very most. It involves saying hello to the seniors, participating in singing or playing a musical instrument, and/or reading a poem, short story or scripture.
Sunday Morning Volunteer Opportunities
Greeters – As a greeter (individual, couple, or family) you would stand at the top of the stairs outside the parent’s room and greet people as they arrive Sunday morning. We would encourage you to be here by 9:30 or shortly after when you serve in this role. Would you or your family be willing to serve as a greeter and be scheduled in for a few Sunday mornings through the year?
Coffee Time Hosts – A coffee host prepares the coffee and cleans up after.
Contact Lisa Suderman, our Office Administrator, by March 22nd if you are willing to volunteer as a greeter or coffee host. Thanks so much.
The 2024 Camp Subsidy Form is now available and you can complete and return to Dawn Zehr either by email (gdzehr@gmail.com) or mail (EZMC P.O. Box 997 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0). Forms are available in the literature rack beside the main bulletin board 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.
Mark your calendars for this year’s EZ Women’s IF Gathering here at the church, April 12th and 13th. What is an IF Gathering?
“If Gathering exists to equip women with gospel-centered resources, events and community so they may learn more about who God is and disciple other women.”
The theme this year is- A Reason to Celebrate, A Moment to Risk Again.
Come join us as we thank God for all he has done in our past and discuss how are we going to live differently for Him going forward.
The cost for registration is $30 and this includes lunch on Saturday from Raja Thai and Indian Cuisine. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board in the front lobby. Spread the word and invite your friends to join us! If you have any questions you can ask one of the planning team members, Erin Yantzi, Ashley Witzel, Sheryl Leis, Heidi Wagler or Jess Yantzi.
Stay tuned for more details to come!
Help build a future of peace in Mindanao: Malipayon Peace Hub
On Friday November 24 our weekly email included an attachment of the monthly newsletter from Dann and Joji Pantoja, witness workers in the Philippines who we support. This newsletter highlights the Malipayon Peace Hub Project which we heard about last month when our guests from the Philippians were here. Mennonite Church Canada is supporting this project and has a fundraising goal of $230,000. They hope to reach this goal March 2024. If you would like to donate to this project please use the link provided below or send a cheque to Mennonite Church Canada 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, Man. R3P 0M4.Your support for this project will be a blessing. Donation Link: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/philippines-transition
Beyond our Church Community
Material Resources shipments to Ukraine
Material Resources is organizing two shipments to Ukraine, one at the end of January and one in March. Our partners in Ukraine are in need of various items such as comforters, assorted kits and bars of laundry and bath soap. We are blessed to have received everything needed for January, but we still need more items for March. Your contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. Learn more at mcc.org/get-involved/kits.
Saturday March 9th 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers with Artistic Director Brandon Leis present‘At the Foot of the Cross,’ with cellist Ben Bolt-Martin and Menno Youth Ensemble. The concerts includes Bach’s Jesu Meine Freude and works by Morlock, Tavener, Casarrubbios and Carol Ann Weaver. Trillium Lutheran Church (22 Willow St., Waterloo). Tickets $25, Child/Student $5 at www.mennosingers.com or at the door.
Grandparent & Grandchild Retreat at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp
Monday, March 11th @ 9:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Grandparents and grandchildren in grades 1-6 are invited to camp to “Discover God through the Creative Process” with Mike Vlaming, owner of Little Creek Pottery. Join us for a day of creativity, fun and connecting! For more information or to register go to our website www.hiddenacres.ca. Brochures are available on the main bulletin board.
Thursday March 21st 7:30 p.m. Bechtel Lecture | | A lot-Driven People: Mennonite Narratives in Age of Nationalism (1870-1945). John P. Eicher will give a free public lecture focusing on two groups of German-speaking Mennonites from Russia—one composed of voluntary migrants and the other composed of refugees—who settled in Paraguay’s Gran Chaco during the interwar years of the twentieth century. Conrad Grebel University College, Great Hall. grebel.ca/bechtel.
Friday April 19 – Sunday April 21 – Music is Medicine Retreat
Come to Silver Lake for some time away at camp filled with singing and instrumental music! Sing through songbooks, hymnals and more in the company of music-lovers! Alissa Bender will be joined by Mykayla Turner and Joel Woods to lead this weekend. Connect and eat great food! All meals provided. Cost:$210 (+HST) per person. Please see SLMC’s website for more information and to register.
Monday April 29th 6 p.m. New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Promotion Dinner
at Calvary United Church (48 Hawkesville Rd, St. Jacobs).
More than just a meal, the NHMRS promotion dinner is your chance to connect with community and support MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and acapella music by Surrendered. MCC will share an update on their work in Ethiopia. Funds raised will offset costs of running the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Skip the line and order your tickets online today! Tickets can also be reserved in advance by contacting Justin Armitage at 519-745-8458 ext. 262.
Saturday June 15, 2024 Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario Annual Meeting & Niagara Russlaender Centenary Tour,. Join the Society for a day tour of sites in the Niagara region to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of Russlaender Mennonite immigrants in Ontario. Visit www.mhso.org and fill out a form to be notified when registration opens.