East Zorra Mennonite Church
Volume 67 Sunday January 14, 2024 No. 2
Sunday Morning Worship – 10 a.m.
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Temptation of Jesus
Prelude: Worship Band Accompanist: Worship Band
Worship Leader: Marlow Gingerich Song Leader: Lindsay Zehr
Greeters: Carol & Owen Cook Offering: MCEC & MC Canada
Audio/Visual: Todd Bender/Brian Wagler Message: Pastor Mike
Coffee Hosts: Megan MacDonald & Russ Schumm
Prelude “Blessed Be Your Name”
“In Christ Alone”
“Days of Elijah”
“When Peace Like a River” (It Is Well with My Soul)
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Prayer
Songs of Gathering & Praises “Come, Now is the Time to Worship”
“Goodness of God”
Offering – MCEC MC Canada
Offertory – “Seek Ye First”
Time with the Children Pastor Mike
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13
Message Pastor Mike
Song of Response “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert”
Prayer of the Church Pastor Ray
Sending Song “Lord, I Need You”
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
12 p.m. Private Party
EZMC leads worship at peopleCare (2:15 pm) and Maples (3:15 pm)
This Coming Week
Tuesday January 16th
- 1 p.m. Care Team Meeting
- 1:30 – 3:30 Prayer Shawl at Jean MacDonald’s. New knitters are always welcome.
Wednesday January 17th
- 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee and Bible Study
- 6:30 p.m. Youth Ministry Team Meeting
- 7 p.m. Play Group set up
- 7 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting
Thursday January 18th
- 9:30 – 11 a.m. E Z Play Group
Friday January 19th
- MYF – Mystery Supper
- 6:30 p.m. JWalkers (Junior Youth) – Please meet at the New Hamburg Thrift Centre for a tour and to help out. More details were sent by email. Please contact the church office if you didn’t receive it.
Saturday January 20th
- Private Party
Next Sunday – January 21, 2024
Stories from the Life of Jesus – Jesus heals the paralytic
Prelude: Accompanist: Chantelle McNeish
Worship Leader: Bevin Witmer Song Leader: Caleb Leis
Greeters: Janice & Marlow Gingerich Offering: Leadership
Audio/Visual: Greg Pye/Larry Kropf Message: Pastor Ray
Coffee Hosts: Carol & Owen Cook
Extending God’s Love
We extend God’s love as we share with each other both our joys and our struggles.
EZMC Announcements
The 2023 EZMC Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday February 25, 2024.
- The meeting will be held in person and available virtually on Zoom.
- Please submit your Annual Reports, to Lisa by Tuesday January 30th. Email to office@ezmennonite.ca or call 519-655-6824 to make other arrangements.
- The Annual Report will be sent by email but if you would prefer a paper copy, let Lisa know by Thursday February 8th. Please note that paper copies of the report will be delivered to those who receive a printed copy of our Sunday bulletin each Friday.
East Zorra is scheduled to provide the Sunday Afternoon Services at The Maples and peopleCare on Sunday January 14. The services (2:15 at peopleCare and 3:15 at The Maples) are 30 minutes services of readings and singing followed by some interaction with the residents. If you would be available to help with the services that day please reach out to Pastor Ray. Your help is appreciated. We are also scheduled to do services on March 24 and June 9.
JCET is still in need of Volunteers.
January to June sign up sheets are up on the bulletin board, downstairs across from the desk. Whether you sign up once or weekly your time spent volunteering is greatly appreciated.
Church Leadership Retreat – January 26-27, 2024
On January 26 & 27, 2024 East Zorra is hosting a Church Leadership Retreat.
The retreat will be held at the church Friday evening 7 – 9:30 PM; Saturday 9 AM -1 PM (Lunch included). Our facilitator will be Betty Pries, Co-founder, and CEO of Credence & Co.
The retreat will include (a) time for prayer and reflection on Scripture, (b) opportunities for relationship building, and (c) discussion regarding our congregation’s purpose statement and its application.
Our Church Ministry Council, along with members from other committees, are invited, and encouraged to attend this retreat.
We want to also extend an invitation to anyone in the congregation who has shared in leadership in the past at East Zorra, or would consider serving in a leadership role in the future. If you would interested in being part of this weekend discussion and formation time please contact Brendan Leis our Congregational Chairperson, Pastor Ray or Pastor Mike by Tuesday January 16th.
Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) and Volunteer Commitment Form (VCF) reminder. If you are volunteering with children, youth, seniors, or refugees our Safe Church Policy requires these on file. Those who still need to do this were given reminders in their church mailbox recently. Please remember to save and then send your completed VSC to the church office at office@ezmennonite.ca, as soon as you receive it, because the link that is sent from your local police service expires within days. Your completed VCF can be put into Lisa’s church mailbox. If you have a VSC that was done within the last 6 months (because you volunteered with another organization ie. school or sports team) you can submit it to update your EZMC file. Thanks so much.
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
Tuesday January 23rd 12 – 1 p.m. Lunch and Listen with Sara Wyngaarden at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener or online. Join us online or in-person at the MCC office in Kitchener as we hear from Sara Wyngaarden, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator in Guatemala. Sara will be sharing stories from Guatemala. Go to mcc.org/events for more information.
Friday January 26th & Saturday January 27th Becoming Good Relatives Retreat at Jericho House, 10845 Rathfon Rd, Port Colborne. In this one-and-a-half-day retreat, author and speaker Patty Krawec will use Anishinaabe teachings to help participants reflect on their social and individual histories in order to improve their capacity to have difficult conversations with others about Canadian history and current impacts on Indigenous people. To learn more and to register, go to mcc.org/events.
Saturday January 27th 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Great Winter Warm-up at New Hamburg Material Resources Centre, 65 Heritage Dr, New Hamburg.
This winter, compassionate people like you are giving the gift of warm comforters to those in need around the world. Each comforter provides not only warmth but also a tangible reminder to people in vulnerable situations that their needs are not forgotten. Help us meet our goal to collect 7,000 comforters by holding or attending comforter-knotting blitzes during January and February. On January 27, you’re invited to participate in a comforter-knotting blitz. Knotters of all skills are welcome, and snacks and drinks will be provided. Learn more at mcc.org/events.
Saturday January 27th 7 p.m. – Join Menno Singers and Menno Youth Ensemble for an evening hymnsing – ‘My God is Here: Hymns for Lonely Hearts.’ Stirling Ave. Mennonite Church (57 Stirling Ave. N., Kitchener), There will be a free will offering.
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Feature Quilt Reveal
Monday January 29th at 9:30 a.m. MCC, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener
Each year, a talented individual or team creates the feature quilt for the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Feature quilts have depicted historical churches, the play of colour and light across fabric, a journey through Africa, among other innovative designs. On January 29, the curtain will be removed and the 2024 feature quilt will be revealed. Join us in the lower atrium at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener or on social media.
Thursday February 1st at 7 a.m.! Hidden Acres 2024 Summer Camp Registration Opens! Join us for Overnight Camp, Day Camp, Single Moms Camp, S.Y.A.C, Watsa Basketball Camp and L.I.T. Learn more on our website www.hiddenacres.ca or contact our Program Director Josh Penfold at josh@hiddenacres.ca for more information!
Friday February 2 – Sunday February 4 – Silver Lake Mennonite Camp Women’s Retreat: Forest Leadership. Come, experience the beauty of creation. Be nourished by the relaxed pace, good food and meaningful conversation. Leah Reesor-Keller will guide us through the weekend. Play in the snow, breathe deeply in yoga, cross country ski, go on a snowshoe hike through the woods, laugh into the wee hours of the night. Come, the circle is welcoming and wide! Cost: $260 (+HST) per person. Please see SLMC’s website for more information and to register.
Tuesday February 13th & Thursday February 15th Livestock Sale at the Ontario Livestock Exchange, St. Jacobs. Since 1981, the Livestock Sale (formerly Heifer Sale) has raised over $5.1 million to support the work of Mennonite Central Committee through the auctioning of heifers and other donated items. For more information, to sponsor or donate to the sale, visit mcc.org/events.
Monday February 19th 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! Choose a hot lunch for $5/person (RSVP required) or bring a bagged lunch (peanut free). RSVP to info@hiddenacres.ca or call 519-625-8602. Check out www.hiddenacres.ca for more details.