What to expect at our services

We meet in the church for our Sunday morning worship services at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome. You may also join us through ZOOM. Please contact the office administrator for a ZOOM invite.

An adult discussion group meets at 10:00 a.m. Sunday mornings except for the first Sunday of the month which is used for a hymn sing hour.

Summer hours: 10:30 – 11:30 am. There is no Sunday School during July and August.

There is a table set up at the back of the sanctuary where children will be welcome to go to use the “age–appropriate” activity bags. There will be a host available at the table and/or in the nursery to assist the children as needed. The children are welcome to use the activity bags if they wish to stay in the sanctuary with their parents.

We gather every Sunday to worship, to learn and share, and to enjoy fellowship. In our service, we seek to develop:

♦ a close connection with God,

♦ an understanding of what it means to be followers of Christ,

♦ a sense of community,

♦ a strong base of mutual support, encouragement and prayer.

Adult Discussion class

On Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. there is a group that gathers to have conversation about faith, life, and spiritual growth.

The Sunday morning group gathers to explore questions of faith and life by either doing a book study or study of a particular passage of scripture. It’s an opportunity to learn from one another, explore questions, and encourage one another in the pursuit of faith that makes a difference in our lived experience.

The first Sunday of the month is reserved for a hymn sing where those gathered enjoy singing their favourite hymn or learn new ones. If you are not as familiar with four-part harmony, it can also be a time of learning where your voice fits in! No pressure though, if you just enjoy singing then you are free to join in as you like.

Messy Church

Messy Church is a family event and a ministry of Danforth Mennonite Church (DMC) and is held once a month on a Saturday evening from 5-7p.m.

What is Messy Church you’re thinking? It’s a DMC inititative that provides faith-based programming once a month on a Saturday evening from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. for families with children (roughly from 4 – 14 years of age). With today’s schedules we recognize that getting to church on Sunday mornings can be a challenge and so the timing and format of the Saturday evening works as a better option for some families. Messy Church offers about 30 minutes of faith-based activities informed through a peace church perspective, followed by a shared meal and then game-based activities.

As part of this program, we also designate four Saturdays in a year in which DMC cancels our Sunday morning service and joins Messy Church.

We ask that parents/caregivers accompany their children for this family event.

Schedule of Saturday events:

October 18 November 15 December 13

January 17, 2026 February 21 March 21

April 18 May 23 June 20

Our church through the years

Our church from 1911 through to the 1970's

The Mennonite mission started in Toronto's east end on Danforth Avenue in 1909, initially renting a hall and later building a new structure dedicated on April 16, 1911 as the Mennonite Gospel Mission. The mission Sunday School had become quite popular among children of many Christian denominations in the Danforth area. Part of the reason was that Toronto, like the rest of the province was ruled by a strong puritanical Sabbath ethic. Not only were people to not work on Sundays, neither were they allowed to play. Parks were closed, as were restaurants and bars. Children weren't allowed to do much at all except to go to Sunday School, so some of them went two or even three times every Sunday. One reason the Mennonite mission's Sunday School was so well attended was because it was held in the morning, so kids could go to the mission Sunday School and then their own denomination's Sunday School in the afternoon. During the 1920s and 30s, Sunday School attendance was high, particularly during the Depression, and the mission added programs like Summer Bible School and provided Christmas assistance to needy families.

Mission workers hand delivered the monthly evangelical newsletter The Way to every home in the Danforth community. Also round this time the church began a women's group which was open to women from other churches and those without church affiliation in the Danforth area. This group provided fellowship and spiritual direction for many women in the neighbourhood and was know as the Pleasant Wednesday Afternoon Ladies' Group. Danforth established a long tradition of supplying Christmas baskets to needy families. This work was supported not only by the congregation of DMC but by the women's groups (WMSC) from the Markham area Mennonite churches.

In the post-war years, the mission's outreach led to the formation of two church plants; Morningside Mennonite achieved church status in 1951, and Warden Park Mennonite (later Warden Woods) gained this status in 1952. Both of these congregations were nurtured through the Danforth Mission outreach which started in the late 30s and 40s. During the ministry of Emerson McDowell, from 1945 through to1964, the community became known as Danforth Mennonite Church. The Danforth story through the 50s, centered on the development and growth of Fraser Lake Camp, a residential summer camp near Bancroft, Ontario. In 1958, 14 acres of land around Fraser Lake was purchased, along with a much needed bus to transport kids from the city to the "wilderness." The work of Danforth continued to place a strong emphasis on children through the 1960's. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, boys' and girls' clubs were all very active and well attended.

Adaptations in the 1970s included seniors' outreach programs and sharing their building with the Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church. From 1977 to 1983 we had a part time outreach worker to the O'Connor Hills area. Outreach work also began with seniors including a seniors drop in, a monthly dinner and home visitation. Meals on Wheels began using Danforth as a base for deliveries. The 1980s focused on community housing, resulting in the St. Clair O'Connor residential facility, and a refugee assistance program.

In the early 1990's, time had caught up with our building. The building was not user friendly, many stairs to climb up and down, a small kitchen, one small washroom downstairs, an old furnace system and no office for the Pastor. Good reasons for a new building. A new, accessible building was constructed and the first service in the new building was held on March 5, 1995. A spirit of thankfulness and joy was felt throughout the service and on into the afternoon talent show. The church was filled with guests and congregants praising and thanking God. Work continued throughout the spring and summer on the front gardens and back patio and other finishing touches.

Today our Meeting House is used by many church groups, clubs, community events and city meetings. Danforth now hosts our in-residence theatre - Theatre of the Beat. We continue supporting our community through our Outreach programs and community programs held here at the church.

Our Staff

Pieter Niemeyer
Pastor

pastor.danforthmennonitechurch@gmail.com

Tel. 905-640-0832

Bonnie Wright
Office and Building Manager

danforthmennonnitechurch@gmail.com

Tel. 416-422-2406