Weekly Letter and Announcements – No. 97
Resources to help us to stay Rooted in Christ and Growing together in Faith
Sunday January 23, 2022 Worship Gathering 10 AM
Message theme: Longing to hear God’s Word – Nehemiah 8:1-12
Register for Sunday morning in-person worship, anytime during the week, by contacting Lisa at office@ezmennonite.ca Please indicate which Sunday you are registering for and who will be attending with you. If Lisa is unable to take your call, leave a message that includes your name and phone number. Your registration will then be confirmed either by email or phone. Deadline to register each week is Saturday by 10 a.m.
** Our children will gather with their parents in the sanctuary for the first part of the worship service. Following a children’s time, they will be invited to move outside for play based activities, lead by their leaders, for the remainder of the worship service time. **During this current worship structure, we will continue to invite congregational sharing and prayer in the first half of the service.
We are grateful for your financial giving to the ongoing work and ministry of the church. This week our offering focus is “Local Ministries”. For people gathering in-person for worship an offering plate will now be available in the lobby to leave your offering on the way into the sanctuary.
Lloyd and Margaret plan to be away on holidays beginning Saturday January 22 through to Sunday evening January 30. Pray this holiday time can be a refreshing and life-giving time.
Next Sunday, January 30, Lakan and Lakambini (Dann and Joji Pantoja) will be joining us from their home in Mindanao in Southern Philippines. They will bring a message based on Jeremiah 33:3. “Expecting Marvelous and Wondrous Things in 2022”. They will also share updates on their ministry.
Thank you to all who took part in our Day of Prayer on Thursday January 20, 2022! As we continue to support each other in prayer, and seek the wisdom and will of God for our lives, may we be blessed and be a blessing. God rejoices in the prayers of God’s people.
“…the Lord takes pleasure in those who worship him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11
Coming Soon!
Surprised by Hope by N.T. WRIGHT – A 6-session Bible Study video series
To be held over Zoom. 7:30 PM.
Beginning Thursday February 3 for 6 consecutive weeks through Thursday March 10.
In this series Bible scholar N. T. Wright opens the Scriptures to help us grasp the full, breathtaking hope Jesus offers the world, and its impact on our lives today.
Jesus called his followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Your life here and now is of tremendous consequence, and what you believe about the future has a direct impact on how you live in the present.
We will explore questions like: What is heaven really like? Is our main duty as Christians simply to help non-Christians get there? What hope does the gospel hold for this present life? In what ways does God intend for us to experience that hope personally and spread its healing power to the world around us?
Surprised by Hope provides a clearer vision both of the future and of God’s kingdom at hand today. We will be helped to see the amazing full scope of what God’s Word has to say about the world to come and the world that is.
Sessions include:
- Hope for the World; 2. The Hope of the Resurrection; 3. The Hope of Heaven;
4. The Hope of Jesus’ Second Coming; 5. The Hope of Salvation; 6. The Hope of the Church
Please join us!
**If you are interested in digging deeper and doing further study on your own N.T. Wright has also written a book, “Surprised by Hope” and a Participants guide for the video series by the same name. Both can be order through Amazon. If you would like help with a purchase, please contact Ray. Neither of these books are needed to participate in the Video series.
We invite your prayers for our Pastoral Search Committee as they prepare to interview another pastoral candidate for our Faith Formation Pastor Position next week. Pray that God would give wisdom as they discern together.
EZMC Announcements
The EZMC 2021 Annual Meeting will held on Sunday February 13, 2022.
- The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom. There will be no in-person worship that day.
- Please submit your Annual Reports to Lisa by Monday January 31st by email at office@ezmennonite.ca. Some of our church programs were paused but many areas of ministry continued. Please report as it makes sense for your specific area. If you have questions, reach out to your Lay Minister for guidance. Thanks so much!
- The annual report will be sent by email but if you would prefer a paper copy, let Lisa know by Thursday February 3rd. Please note that paper copies of the report will be delivered to those who receive a printed copy of our Friday letter.
- A Church Directory Update Page is attached to the Friday January 21st letter.
Missions committee, with the approval from Church Ministry Council, has decided to bless four organizations with the remaining financial surplus from 2020 ($8000) and 2019 ($2000).
- $2000 TAP
- $2000 Wilmot Family Resource Centre
- $3000 Youth For Christ – Waterloo Oxford – Currently all the youth from EZ are attending W-O and their vision statement is.
- We exist to see every young person living fully in Christ
- We are committed to helping youth develop holistically by offering programs and developing relationships that nurture the whole person – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually
- We see the hope and potential in every young person
- $3000 – LIFT church – A building has recently been purchased close to McMaster University. The donations will now be used for updates and renovations. The building will be used to train and equip disciples to be sent to university and college campuses. Erika Kropf Is active in the ministry of LIFT church.
Beyond Our Church Community
Conrad Grebel University College is hosting a variety of virtual events over the next few months. Visit grebel.ca/events for information on Virtual Noon Hour Concerts, March Virtual Open House, a new Spirituality and Aging webinar, and the 2022 Bechtel Lecture: On Dwelling: Shelters in Place and Time, with fantasy author Dr. Sofia Samatar.
Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo is hiring a new Director of Student Services to build a community where students find belonging, form lifelong friendships, and develop as both successful university students and as whole persons, in alignment with the mission, values and identity of the College. The successful candidate will have significant leadership experience in university or college student affairs or in a similar setting. Read the full job description and apply by March 1, 2022: grebel.ca/positions
Registration for Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC) is now open for summer 2022! OMMC is a vibrant summer camp experience designed to nurture the musical talent of youth who have finished grade 6-12, with a Leader-In-Training program available for students who have finished grades 11 or 12. Campers form friendships, enhance their musical abilities, grow in their faith, and develop leadership skills. This overnight camp is held at Conrad Grebel University College Aug 14 – 26, 2022. Register online at grebel.ca/ommc (before April 15 for the early bird rate.
Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp is Hiring for Summer Camp 2022!
Located just outside of Shakespeare, ON, Hidden Acres provides opportunities for you to impact the lives of young people, serve God and others in a safe and fun environment, grow in your ability to be a great leader and have fun through it all! We are accepting applications until February 14 for all of our summer staff roles. For more information or to apply, go to www.hiddenacres.ca or contact Chris Pot at 519-625-8602 or chrispot@hiddenacres.ca
Hidden Acres Mennonite Campis Hiring: a full-time Assistant Director (seven month position possibly becoming permanent in the fall of 2022; application deadline is January 25) as well as for our Summer Camp Staff Team (application deadline: February 14). For more information or to apply, go to www.hiddenacres.ca or contact Chris Pot at 519-625-8602 or chrispot@hiddenacres.ca
Thursday February 24th @ 6 pm The Power of Partnership 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
Join us and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell as we discuss the Power of Partnership and how a legacy of partnership with local, on-the-ground organizations can bring peace, dignity and hope to those who need it most with the unintended consequence of creating more peaceful communities. This event will also be livestreamed. For more info, go to powerofpartnership.ca.
Bingemans Conference Centre and MCC are working closely to provide a safe and healthy experience for all participants and will follow all local and provincial COVID-19 regulations and guidelines.
February 22-24, 2022 – Peace & Justice Student Seminar
Every year, MCC Canada’s Peace & Justice Office holds a seminar for students who are passionate about issues of justice, peace and advocacy. This year’s seminar, Is our climate polarized? Building bridges for our shared future, will be a hybrid event. Local MCC offices across the country will host students for a mix of shared online content and local in-person speakers. Students will engage with parliamentarians, policy experts and others to learn about addressing the impacts of climate change in their communities and around the globe. Learn more about the Peace & Justice Seminar here.