DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
February 18, 2024
Order of Service
Land Acknowledgement
Introduction to our Lenten series
Opening Prayer
Call to worship
Opening Hymn: VT #573 Strong Peaceful Man of Galilee
Announcements
Offering
Hymn: VT #628 What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT #703 Rain Down
Scripture reading: Luke 1:39-45, Luke 24:36-42, Isaiah 55:10-12
Message: Finally, it has Begun
Closing Hymn: VT #847 You Shall Go Out With Joy
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message John E.
Worship Leader Cindy R.
Scripture reading Bethany W.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Murray L.
February hymn of the month: VT #573 Strong, Peaceful Man of Galilee
Adult Discussion Group:
This Sunday we will be discussing the scripture readings for our service:
Luke 1:1 – 3:20
Luke 24
Call to Worship
based on Psalm 98
One: We sing because God does marvelous things!
Many: He opened salvation to all and revealed his righteousness to the world.
One: Make joyful noise the Lord, all the earth!
Many: We join in joyous song and sing God’s praises!
One: It’s not only us, but the sea, the rivers, even the mountains rejoice out loud.
Many: The whole cosmos sings because the Lord is coming to establish justice on earth!
Scripture Reading
*Setting: Nestled in the hills is the home of a simple village priest. In this home we hear the voices of two women, one old and one young. Great excitement is in the air.
A reading from Luke 1:39-45
39 A few days later Mary got up and ran into the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
*Setting: Now leave the simple home in the hills and come to an upper room in near by Jerusalem. Once again excited voices. Night has fallen. An oil lamp burns in the dark. Excited voices exchange stories.
A reading from Luke 24:36-42
36 And just as they were talking about all these things, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
Setting: Now come back in time, a thousand years before these things happened. In this same city a prophet in a royal robe stood up and the Lord spoke the following words though him.
A reading from Isaiah 55:12
12 I promise you that one day you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace;
Yes, the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Our Lent table display
THE ROCKS
The rocks remind us that Jesus alone is worthy of our adoration and praise. It reminds us that Jesus said if the people wouldn’t praise Him, the rocks would.
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. [Luke 19:40]
THE SAND
The sand reminds us of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He was alone, tempted, and hungry; yet He resisted sin and lived a perfect life.
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3]
THE CANDLES
The candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. And the light always overcomes the darkness.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [John 1:4-5]
On the first Sunday of Lent, all seven candles are lit. As each week of Lent passes, one candle is extinguished. Unlike Advent where a new candle is lit each week and the light slowly gets brighter, during Lent each week gets progressively darker, until there is complete darkness on Good Friday.
“Whereas Advent is a season of ever-increasing light anticipating the incarnation of Christ, Lent is a season of ever-decreasing light approaching His crucifixion. Light is gradually extinguished to symbolize the journey through the wilderness and toward the cross and tomb.”
On Good Friday it appeared that darkness and death had won. The Light had been extinguished.
But thanks be to God that it doesn’t end there! “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:55-57]
Sin and death have been defeated! On Resurrection Sunday all seven candles are lit as we celebrate the hope, life, and victory we have because of Jesus. He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Good Friday service
The Ministry Support Team
(Cindy, Dalton, Margaret and Shannon)
will lead us in the service on
March 29th at 10:30 a.m.
Lent Confession Prayer
Written by Carol Penner
God of grace,
in this season of Lent,
we ask for four gifts.
Courage to admit the harm
we know we’ve done.
Insight to grasp the harm
we didn’t know we did.
Wisdom to apologize if we can,
and try to make things right.
And, finally, humility.
It is through your love
we are saved.
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our thanks to Ray and Bethany for shoveling the snow in front of the church on Thursday evening.
Treasurer’s Report: Our AGM is over, and we are well into 2024. In January we received $7,729 in offerings. $8,114 is needed each month to meet our 2024 budget. In January $600 (2 x $300) was distributed from the Benevolence Fund to assist 2 Palestinian families. The Outreach and Service Committee has been in contact with them and recommended the assistance. Designated donations are always welcome to the Benevolence Fund.
Please save the date for the
GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
April 7, 5 pm.
Rouge Valley Mennonite Church.
Details to follow.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, February 20 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Woodbine Beach to see the outdoor winter stations art exhibit.
The theme chosen for the 2024 edition of Winter Stations is Resonance. https://winterstations.com/
An email will go out on Monday February 19 to confirm the place and time.
If you need to be picked up or dropped off, please check in with fellow walkers or email Bonnie.
Easter Potluck Breakfast
Sunday, March 31, 2024
9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall
Please bring finger foods for all to share. Coffee, tea, and juice will be served.
10:45 am We are invited to the sanctuary for some pre-service
Easter hymn singing. Everyone is welcome.
Worship Schedule reminder
February 25
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Mike D.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
March 3
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie & Fazal S.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peace & Possibility, Part I: Tune into a live web event with Maoz Inon, an Israeli peace and tourism entrepreneur with strong Mennonite links. Since his parents were killed by Hamas, Inon’s message of peace has drawn the attention of international media. Hosted by Canadian Mennonite, Anabaptist World and the Palestine-Israel Network. Feb. 21, 11 a.m. CT. Click here to learn more.
Peace & Possibility, Part II: Raja Khouri is a Palestinian-Canadian; Jeffrey Wilkinson is an American Jew. Hear them discuss their 2023 book, The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know About Each Other. Hosted by Canadian Mennonite, Anabaptist World and the Palestine-Israel Network. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. CT. Click here to learn more.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Lorna Aberdein
Circulation Administrator
Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service
Educating, inspiring, informing and fostering dialogue on Mennonites in Canada
www.canadianmennonite.org
Hello Friends, You are cordially invited to an event in which Michael Lynk will be doing a Power Point presentation. Details are as follows: Title: Hope for Gaza? Hope for Palestine and Israel? Date: Friday, March 1 at 7:00 pm Place: Valleyview Mennonite Church 1170 Melsandra Avenue, London, Ontario N5Y 4N9 Phone: (519) 438-1705 Speaker: Michael Lynk – Former United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, Western University, London, Ontario Admission: Free. There will be an opportunity for donations to Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, to support projects in Gaza which are already in place. The book “Protecting Human Rights in Occupied Palestine” will be sold for $30, by cash or e-transfer only. The book is authored by Richard Falk, John Dugard and Michael Lynk. Working through the United Nations Human Rights Council, these three international legal experts each served for six years as unpaid Special Rapporteurs, with a UN mandate to report on Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and human rights standards. Event will be live streamed…valleyviewmc.ca/watch We look forward to seeing you at this event! Peace, Esther Kern
Welcome the Stranger-GTA is asking for prayers for the successful immigration interview for the Bayene family which we are sponsoring. They are now living as refugees in South Africa. The first interview resulted in a rejection. Our lawyer was able to arrange for an appeal which will be held on February 29. Please pray for success in this interview.
MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2024
Inspired by Hope
April 26 & 27, 2024
Leamington, ON
Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus, hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God when we meet together as a family of congregations.
More Information
A note from Peter Haresnape…
Wed March 6 – ‘Beyond Polarized Kvetching’, a workshop on helpful conversations about controversial topics, hosted by TUMC’s Mission & Service Committee. Join Lia and Emily as they share insights coming from their own advocacy for Palestine among their Jewish and Israeli family members. Part 2 is March 20. Come at 6pm for a simple soup supper, workshop is 7-9pm. Please register at this link:
Note – this is not an event to discuss or debate Israeli and Palestinian issues. Participants are welcome to bring their own perspectives, but the focus of the event is developing tools for healthy discussions.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
February
20 Ladies walking group – Woodbine beach
24 Messy Church
27 Ladies walking group
March
5 Ladies walking group
9 Men’s breakfast
12 Ladies walking group
19 Ladies walking group
23 Messy Church
26 Ladies walking group
29 Good Friday service 10:30 a.m.
31 Easter breakfast and service
Wider Church
February
21 Peace and Possibility Part 1
24 Coldest Night of the Year walk
28 Peace and Possibility Part 2
March
1 Hope for Gaza? Hope for Palestine and Israel?
6 Beyond Polarized Kvetching workshop
20 Beyond Polarized Kvetching workshop Part 2
April
7 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
26 & 27 MCEC Annual Church Gathering
