DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
September 3, 2023 10:30 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Opening prayer
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: VT # 36 Let Us Build a House
Responsive Reading
Announcements
Offering and prayer
Hymn: VT 722 Help Us To Help Each Other
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT 778 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:22-36
Hymn: VT 365 Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:38-45
Message: Vindicated! A Murder Mystery
Closing Hymn: VT 387 – We are One in the Spirit
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Stephen R.
Worship Leader Cindy R.
Scripture reading Bethany W.
Song Leaders Ed F., Stephen R.
Musicians Stephen R. (guitar), Kathy W. (piano), Ray W.
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host Carol R.
A/V Technician Fazel S.
Adult Discussion Group
returns on September 10.
We will use Sept. 10 for organizing the class; hear what topics they wish to pursue. If there is time, Ed will begin with the topic – Life and death issues; strange bedfellows.
Call to Worship
(from Romans 12:14–21)
One: As followers of Jesus, we are called
Many: to bless those who persecute us;
One: to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn;
Many: to live in harmony with others and not be arrogant.
One: As disciples of the Prince of Peace, we are called
Many: to not repay anyone evil for evil;
One: to, as far as possible, live peaceably with all;
Many: to feed our enemies when they are hungry and offer a drink when they are thirsty.
One: Ours is a hard and holy calling, friends. And so we gather.
Many: We gather for prayer and study.
One: We gather for singing and silence.
Many: We gather for encouragement and support.
All: We gather for worship.
Responsive reading
One: Wherever the pride of a few causes harm to many, gracious God,
Many: bring your justice.
One: To those who feel resentment of all that is asked of them, gracious God,
Many: bring your peace.
One: To those who do not receive fair payment and appreciation for their service, gracious God,
Many: bring your justice.
One: In every place where people enact violence against each other, gracious God,
Many: bring your peace.
One: To every heart that is reluctant to share from the bounty you provide, gracious God,
Many: bring your justice.
One: To those who step out toward conflict despite their fear, gracious God,
Many: bring your peace.
One: Gracious God, may your justice rule our world, may your peace guard our hearts.
Scripture Readings
Acts 2:22-36
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene was a man whose credentials God proved to you through miracles, wonders, and signs, which God performed through him among you. You yourselves know this. 23 In accordance with God’s established plan and foreknowledge, he was betrayed. You, with the help of wicked men, had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross. 24 God raised him up! God freed him from death’s dreadful grip, since it was impossible for death to hang on to him. 25 David says about him,
I foresaw that the Lord was always with me;
because he is at my right hand I won’t be shaken.
26 Therefore, my heart was glad
and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover, my body will live in hope,
27 because you won’t abandon me to the grave,
nor permit your holy one to experience decay.
28 You have shown me the paths of life;
your presence will fill me with happiness.
29 “Brothers and sisters, I can speak confidently about the patriarch David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this very day. 30 Because he was a prophet, he knew that God promised him with a solemn pledge to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Having seen this beforehand, David spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he wasn’t abandoned to the grave, nor did his body experience decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact. 33 He was exalted to God’s right side and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit, and you are seeing and hearing the results of his having done so. 34 David didn’t ascend into heaven. Yet he says,
The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right side,
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.
36“Therefore, let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Matthew 5:38-45
Law of retaliation
38“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you that you must not oppose those who want to hurt you. If people slap you on your right cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well. 40 When they wish to haul you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. 41 When they force you to go one mile, go with them two. 42 Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you.
Law of love
43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you 45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
We return to regular Sunday hours
September 10
10:00 adult discussion group/hymn sing
11:00 church service
Hymn sing Sunday will commence in October.
The courtyard had been cleared at the end of May for Doors Open Toronto. The photo above shows us that weeds love rain. Thanks to our trustees, Vic and Walter, the courtyard is again ready for use by our congregation and our renters.
Our next session is starting Tuesday, October 3rd for 5 weeks.
There will be a short zoom training session for volunteers on September 28
at 1:30 p.m.
If you are interested in helping Carol O., please sign up or contact Bonnie.
Our final Outlook for the year
(covering September through December)
will focus on SCOC
This is the perfect opportunity to talk about the history, the programs, and the community. I am open to several articles along with photographs – whatever you would like to provide. You may have a connection from the past.
I will start working on this next edition in mid September with the deadline of latest – mid December. The newsletter will be published mid January 2024.
Worship Schedule reminder
September 10
Speaker Carol R.
Worship leader Arjun P.
Song Leader Stephen R.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Murray L.
September 17
Speaker Stephen R.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Emily L. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Anne R., Vic G.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Mike D.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
You are cordially invited to Toronto United Mennonite Church, 1774 Queen Street East for an Open House Hymn Sing on Saturday, September 9th, 2:00 – 5:00. This will be a celebration of our last three hymn books; Hymnal: A Worship Book, Sing the Journey, Sing the Story. We will journey through our favourites from beginning to the end. Of course, our final hymn will be #118 (606/70) “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”. Come for an hour, or come for a whole afternoon of singing fellowship.
Willowgrove is pleased to be hosting the GTA Mennonite Festival for World Relief this September. Swing by the farm to enjoy traditional Mennonite favourites like rosettes, freshly baked pies, hand-churned ice cream, as well as spring rolls, grilled chicken, back bacon, and more!
After you eat, shop for beautiful crafts, go on a wagon ride, attend a live Quilt auction, and grab some fresh produce.
Tickets are $10 in Advance / $15 Day of (Children 5 and under are free)
Calling for Volunteers! Please plan now to help take admissions as people arrive. DMC will again welcome guests as they come up the driveway. New this year: a few of us need to be early enough to welcome the other volunteers. Same as before: we collect regular admissions from 10am-4pm. New this year: Willowgrove staff will guide people to their parking spots, so we don’t have that responsibility. Mike will have more details in
1. Everyone: Please use the “Buy Tickets” link in the announcement to pre-purchase your admission tickets… one per person. It costs less than paying when you arrive.2. VOLUNTEERS:a. We need volunteers to start from 9:30am, not 10am. (Some guests arrive early!).b. We need 4 volunteers per shift. Each shift is 90 minutes, except the final shift from 3:30-4pm.c. Some volunteers will use their cell phone to take payments. But volunteers without cell phones also have lots to do.d. Volunteers: please contact Mike for the coupon code that gives you free admission when you register online. You need the code before you click on the “Buy Tickets” link in the announcement
| Buy Tickets |
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
September
9 Men’s breakfast
23 Messy Church
October
3 Healthy Eating
10 Healthy Eating
14 Men’s breakfast
17 Healthy Eating
21 Messy Church
24 Healthy Eating
31 Healthy Eating
November
7 Healthy Eating
11 Men’s breakfast
14 Healthy Eating
21 Healthy Eating
18 Messy Church
December
2 DMC Christmas banquet
12 Healthy Eating
Wider Church
September
9 TUMC Open House Hymn Sing
16 GTA Mennonite Festival at Willowgrove
16 & 17 Danforth East Arts Fair
21 Alpha Marriage Course
23 & 24 Yorkshire Rose Quilt Show
25 MCC Ontario AGM
October
14 Willowgrove 55th anniversary celebration
14 Danforth Grow Hope tour & dinner
November
29 ToTB at Hart House