East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday December 8, 2024 No. 49
Join Zoom Meeting at 10 a.m.
Watch Out! God is on the Way
Advent Week Two: Surprised
Prelude/Accompanist: Glorify Song Leader: Glorify
Greeters: Donna & Jim Witzel Worship Leader: Dawn Bender
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Brian Wagler Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Coffee Hosts: Carol & Owen Cook Message: Pastor Mike
Prelude
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”/”King of Heaven”
“High King of Heaven”/”Jesus We Love You”
VT#275 “Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praise
“Joy to the World” (Unspeakable Joy)
“King of Kings”
Offering – Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and Mennonite Church Canada
Offertory – “On Christmas Eve in Bethlehem”
Time with the Children & Lighting of the Advent Candles – Dawn Bender
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-11; Mark 1:1-8
Message – Pastor Mike
Song of Response
VT#212 “Comfort, Comfort, O My People”
Prayer of the Church – Pastor Ray
Sending Song
“We Have a Savior”
Benediction
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.
12 p.m. Private Party
Christmas Giving Gift Card Project
Each Sunday during Advent as you come to worship the worship committee will be collecting Gift Cards that we will distribute to Tavistock Assistance Program (TAP) and Wilmot Family Resource Centre. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your gift cards. While any gift card amount is welcome, $25 Gift Cards (or lower) become the most useful to distribute. The Gift cards most requested are: Shell, PC, Esso, Petro-Canada, Walmart. Winners, IDA, Shoppers Drugmart. Each week, beginning December 8. we will display ornaments on a Christmas Tree to mark the number of cards we have received. Thank you for any contribution you can make to the Christmas giving project!
This Coming Week
Wednesday December 11th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
- E Z Play Group setup
- 7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Thursday December 12th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
- 12 p.m. High Noon Lunch @ Grace United in Tavistock. A homestyle lunch will be served followed by a musical entertainment by a presentation by Callie Haverkamp about Northern Love and singing of favourite Christmas Carols. Cost: Freewill offering.
Friday December 13th
- 7 p.m. MYF – Games Night
Saturday December 14th
- 8 a.m. Live Nativity Set Takedown.
- 12:30 – 6 p.m. Private Party
Next Sunday – December 15, 2024
Watch Out! God is on the Way
Advent Week Three: Light
Prelude/Accompanist: Brandy Sell Song Leader: Susan Schmitz
Greeter: Jan Ropp Worship Leader: Jared Yantzi
Audio/Visual: Drystan Bender/Larry Kropf Offering: Leadership
Coffee Hosts: Shirley & Phil Ruby Message: Pastor Ray
12 p.m. Private Party
This Advent season, we will be drawing on a resource by Will Willimon called Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation. In it, Willimon challenges readers to wrestle anew with scripture traditionally heard during the Advent season. He writes “You’ve got four weeks to adjust to the jolt of God taking time for us…So brace yourself. God is on the way.”
Advent is a time of recommitting ourselves to the God who is decisively committed to us in Jesus Christ – even if that commitment makes us squirm. The following Scripture readings are meant to help us prepare, grow, and even squirm before the God who is coming to us.
Let us heed the call of John the Baptist, last of the prophets who cries out: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
Bible Readings for Week Two: Surprised
December 9th to 13th
Monday Isaiah 64
Tuesday Psalm 126
Wednesday 1 Thessalonians 5
Thursday John 1:1-18
Friday John 1:19-28
Extending God’s Love
We extend our sympathy to the family of Mary Ropp. Mary died on Thursday December 5th. Her visitation will be on Sunday December 8th from 2-5 p.m. at Francis Funeral Home in Tavistock. Her funeral service will be here at East Zorra on Monday December 9th at 2 p.m.
EZMC Announcements
We are pleased to share that Becky Bender has accepted the position of temporary/interim Treasurer at East Zorra. Becky brings a wealth of bookkeeping, financial systems, and volunteer treasurer experience to this role. We thank Dawn for her many years of service and her willingness to remain involved during this time of transition. Becky’s training and transition will begin in the new year and Dawn will be involved with year end activities until after the annual meeting.
Are you looking for some reading material to enjoy over the holidays? Stop in at the library and see the selection of Christmas books for adults and children!
Church Directory Update Page – We are not printing a full church directory in 2024. Please send any address, email or phone updates, that have taken place since the last directory printing in November 2023, to Lisa by Tuesday December 10th. She will be printing a directory update page later in December. Thanks so much.
Saturday December 14th 8 a.m. The Live Nativity Sets will be removed and put away. Please contact Joe Wagler if you can help with this.
Saturday December 14th Christmas Carolling at 10:30 a.m. Join us to spread some Christmas joy. Please gather by the post office. Carol sheets will be provided.
Thursday December 19 from 7-9 – Games night – Come for an informal night of games or puzzles in the church basement. Bring along games or puzzles to enjoy with people of all ages.
Beyond our Church Community
Sunday December 8th 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers with Artistic Director Brandon Leis invites you to a service of Lessons and Carols, with choral music for the season, plus readings and congregational singing. (Trillium Lutheran Church, 22 William St, Waterloo): Tickets $25, Child/Student $5 at the door or from choir members.
Tuesday December 10th 12 p.m. Lunch and Listen: An MCC Journey through Uganda, in the Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or online.
Join us for an inspiring presentation as MCC staff Lynda Lynch and Debbie Siertsema share their experiences from a recent learning tour in Uganda, where they explored MCC’s impactful programs across the region. Join us in-person in the Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or watch the livestream on Facebook.
Friday December 13th 7 p.m. Menno Youth Ensemble is excited to present our Christmas concert: For the Beauty of the Earth, at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. The concert will explore the wonders of nature and the joys of the Christmas season through choral music, original compositions, and carols. Admission is by donation.
Friday January 10th & Saturday January 11th 7 p.m. Bonhoeffer: Cell 92 – | A cinematic theatre production created by Jerry Holsopple and Justin Poole. This thought-provoking single actor play focuses on the final period of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, a German pastor and theologian involved in the Protestant resistance to Hitler and National Socialism. Two nights only, at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo. Tickets: uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/bonhoeffer-cell-92
Exciting News! The New MCC Meat Cannery is ready!
Saturday January 18, 2025 from 1:45 – 4 p.m., 65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg
After months of hard work and anticipation, the MCC Meat Cannery in New Hamburg is complete—and it’s time to celebrate!
? Join us for the grand dedication event ?
✨ Explore the new facility.
? Discover the life-changing impact of MCC’s canned meat around the world.
? Enjoy delicious refreshments and appetizers.
No need to RSVP—just come as you are and be part of this special moment.
For details, visit mcc.org/meat-cannery-dedication.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Saturday January 25, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join us for the Great Winter WarmUp!
at the MCC Material Resources Centre, 65 Heritage Dr, New Hamburg
Get ready to cozy up at the Great Winter WarmUp! We’re inviting you, your friends and your family to the MCC Material Resource Centre for a fun-filled comforter knotting blitz. Together, we’ll create handmade comforters that bring warmth and remind those in need that they are loved and cared for. No experience? No problem! Whether you’re a pro at knotting or trying it for the first time, everyone is welcome. Enjoy some hot beverages, connect with great people and help us spread warmth and comfort this winter. We can’t wait to see you there and share some warmth together! For more info, go to mcc.org/events.
Mail delivery this Christmas will likely be impacted by the postal strike
While this creates uncertainty for many Canadians, we want to reassure you that Mennonite Central Committee’s work continues. Your generosity makes it possible for us to bring Christ’s love to those in need and we’re here to ensure you can stay engaged with the issues you care about. If you usually send your donations through the mail, here are some secure alternatives to consider:
?Donate Online: Make a secure donation anytime on our website. It’s quick, easy and safe. To support MCC this Christmas season, go to https://mcc.org/christmas.
☎️Call-In Donations: Prefer to donate by phone? Call us at 1-888-622-6337, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Our team will be happy to assist you.
This Christmas, we’re grateful to partner with you in spreading warmth, hope, and Christ’s love around the world. Thank you for your continued support during this season of giving.
Due to the Canada Post strike, Mennonite Disaster Services encourages you to consider their online and telephone giving options this Christmas season.
You can:
- Donate online at mds.org/donate-canada; or
- Make a credit card donation by calling us toll-free at 1(866) 261-1274.
Your gift will bring hope, warmth and a community of volunteers around those who need it most — so that disaster survivors don’t face a difficult journey towards recovery alone.
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp
Winter and Spring Retreats Registration Opens December 1 at 12pm: Come to Silver Lake in 2025 for fun camp experiences! On the calendar are… Fathers & Kids Retreat (Jan 17-19), Women’s Retreat (Jan 31-Feb 2), Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Feb 28-Mar 2), Staff Alumni Retreat (Mar 21-23), Music Retreat (Mar 28-30), Family Camp (May 16-18). Go to slmc.ca/retreats for more info.
Summer Camp: Registration for overnight camp and day camp opens February 1 at 8am. Outtrip registration opens Jan 7 – sign up before Jan 30 to get $100 off! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to have a sneak peek at the 2025 schedule.
Mennonite Church Canada Gathering – July 2-5, 2025 in Kitchener/Waterloo.
This Gathering is shaping up to be an incredible experience with three unique avenues for engagement:
1.Congregational Gathering: Join delegates and congregational representatives for inspiring sessions, worship, and connection.
2.Youth Gathering: A vibrant, energetic event designed specifically for youth, hosted on the University of Waterloo campus.
3.U30 Young Adult Gathering: Engage with peers through tailored events, including a special post-Gathering celebration at Hidden Acres!
More info coming soon!