DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
October 15, 2023
Order of Service
Welcome and opening prayer
Opening Hymn: VT #75 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Announcements
Offering
Hymn: VT #70 Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Hymn: VT #404 We Praise The Word of God
Congregational Prayer
Scripture reading: Jonah Chapter 3
Hymn: VT #205 Light Dawns on a Weary World
Scripture reading: Jonah Chapter 4
Message: God’s justice is not like ours
Closing Hymn: VT #705 For the Healing of the Nations
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Stephen R.
Worship Leader Bonnie W.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
Zoom Host Carol R.
A/V Technician Fazal S.
October’s Hymn of the month: VT #205 Light Dawns on a Weary World
Adult Discussion Group – 10:00 a.m.
October
15 Visions of Jesus (Part 1)
22 Justice Discussion – Stephen
29 Visions of Jesus (Part 1)
Prayer for Victims and Perpetrators of Injustice
Leader: For all those who have fallen victim to hatred and inhumanity, for those loved ones who are left behind to mourn, for the souls of those whose hearts are cold,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For the children who are being born into this world of conflict and violence, for women and mothers who suffer needlessly,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For all those who have been forced into unemployment, who long to return to work, for all those who struggle to support their families,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For the soldiers who are misguided in thinking that their bullets will bring about peace, for those who feel called to conscientiously object to military orders,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For the children who cry in their beds at night and wonder “what have I done?”
For the mothers and fathers who must try to explain the unexplainable,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For all the children who have died before their time, for the soldiers who allow their uniform to strip them of their humanity, for the healers who are denied the opportunity to use their gifts,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For the redemption of souls of both victim and perpetrator, for those who commit themselves to the forgiveness of sins,
All: Lord, hear our prayer. Amen
– Author Unknown
Scripture Readings
Jonah 3 (CEB)
3 The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and declare against it the proclamation that I am commanding you.” 3 And Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s word. (Now Nineveh was indeed an enormous city, a three days’ walk across.)
4 Jonah started into the city, walking one day, and he cried out, “Just forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant.
6 When word of it reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, stripped himself of his robe, covered himself with mourning clothes, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he announced, “In Nineveh, by decree of the king and his officials: Neither human nor animal, cattle nor flock, will taste anything! No grazing and no drinking water! 8 Let humans and animals alike put on mourning clothes, and let them call upon God forcefully! And let all persons stop their evil behavior and the violence that’s under their control!” 9 He thought, Who knows? God may see this and turn from his wrath, so that we might not perish.
10 God saw what they were doing—that they had ceased their evil behavior. So God stopped planning to destroy them, and he didn’t do it.
Jonah 4 (CEB)
4 But Jonah thought this was utterly wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Come on, Lord! Wasn’t this precisely my point when I was back in my own land? This is why I fled to Tarshish earlier! I know that you are a merciful and compassionate God, very patient, full of faithful love, and willing not to destroy. 3 At this point, Lord, you may as well take my life from me, because it would be better for me to die than to live.”
4 The Lord responded, “Is your anger a good thing?” 5 But Jonah went out from the city and sat down east of the city. There he made himself a hut and sat under it, in the shade, to see what would happen to the city.
6 Then the Lord God provided a shrub, and it grew up over Jonah, providing shade for his head and saving him from his misery. Jonah was very happy about the shrub. 7 But God provided a worm the next day at dawn, and it attacked the shrub so that it died. 8 Then as the sun rose God provided a dry east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint. He begged that he might die, saying, “It’s better for me to die than to live.”
9 God said to Jonah, “Is your anger about the shrub a good thing?”
Jonah said, “Yes, my anger is good—even to the point of death!”
10 But the Lord said, “You ‘pitied’ the shrub, for which you didn’t work and which you didn’t raise; it grew in a night and perished in a night. 11 Yet for my part, can’t I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than one hundred twenty thousand people who can’t tell their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”
Mennonite Church Canada shared the following note and prayer
By Palestine-Israel Network
Since the October 7 Hamas attack near the Gaza Strip and Israel’s crushing military reaction, violence and destruction have escalated in the land we often call “Holy.” As we lament the carnage among Israelis and Palestinians, let us also pray for those working for a future that ends the deep and longstanding injustices that lie at the root of the crisis.
Prayer of lament and intercession for Palestine and Israel
God of love and justice, our hearts are perplexed, paralyzed and broken at the recent carnage in Palestine and Israel. We lament the loss of life and the suffering of so many innocent people on both sides. We are shocked at the inhumanity of soldiers and militants, especially when they act in the name of God.
We lament that our prayers for peace seem to go unanswered. We wish you would intervene. We cling to your promise of a different world, but we see so few signs of its fulfillment. Why?
In our feeble faith, we declare your desire for life and for peace.
Holy Spirit, strengthen our resolve to advocate for peace, justice, equality, and compassion for all. Don’t let us turn our face away.
Comfort all who are overwhelmed with loss—loss of life, loss of homes, loss of safety and security.
God of the vulnerable and the oppressed, neutralize the power of tyrants in their thirst for domination and control. Renew the strength and resolve of leaders committed to nonviolent resistance and change.
Remember the Christian communities in the land where Jesus walked ad where the church was born. May their witness to your love remain bright among their Muslim and Jewish neighbours. May they recognize your hand in their lives, even amidst the suffering.
God of all nations, guide our own government in responding in ways that support the legitimate rights of all, especially those who are most vulnerable, those who continue to suffer after decades of occupation, dispossession, and denial of basic human rights.
May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever.
Amen
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Treasurer’s Report: We received $6,692 in offerings in September. Year to date offerings is $63,967 which is below the target budget number of $73,808. Our operating deficit to the end of September is -$1,382.
The special Outreach Committee Thanksgiving Projects will remain open until the end of October. So far $250 has been donated to support the Nourish East End Food Bank and $150 has been given for MCC World Relief.
Please note that $281 from the Bill B. memorial fund will be added to the Nourish East End Food Bank donation.
Please designate your offering if you would like to contribute to these projects.
On Sunday, October 15th, following the service we would like to have a brief time of discussion about the proposal followed by a vote on the two questions at the end of the proposal. This vote will let us know how to proceed. (Zoom will be included in the discussion and vote.)
Questions to vote on in order to move forward:
Do you support the proposal to hold congregational discussions in the next few months about the inclusion of 2sLGBTQ+ persons in our church?
Do you support the proposed process (3 congregational discussions and a survey with coaching from Credence & Co.)?
Men’s breakfast
October 14th
If you are not one of our regulars, please – consider joining us on the second Saturday of each month.
It’s a potluck breakfast so it’s a variety of food each time we meet. Our numbers are fairly constant at around ten.
Coffee is started, and cooking begins around 8:30, with breakfasters arriving around 9, ready for coffee and table setup. Eating is always underway by 9:15.
Besides eating, we talk. We talk about all manner of subjects, such as baseball, faith and religion, politics and elections, as well as our prostates. We even, periodically, tell each other jokes.
As is often the case, the cleaning and washing up is as important a time of fellowship as the eating and chatting.
We hope you’ll join us.
If you would like more information, please contact Fazal.
Ladies Walking Group
On Tuesday, October 17 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at St. John’s Norway Cemetery. The parking lot entrance is off of Woodbine.
St. John’s Norway Cemetery, though originally Anglican, is now a nondenominational inter-faith cemetery that has been serving Toronto and surrounding communities since 1853 – 160 years!
An email will go out on Monday October 16 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.
Pastor Ashenafi Fulase of Freedom Gospel Ethiopian Church has given me permission to share the news of the passing of his father in Ethiopia this past Tuesday. The funeral was on Thursday.
He asks that we pray for peace for the whole family.
Come and join us for
MESSY CHURCH which is a
FREE FAMILY EVENT
for children 4-12 on
Saturday, October 21
from 5 – 7p.m.
It includes crafts, games, Bible stories, music and dinner. We ask that parents/caregiver accompany their children at this family event.
The MC team would appreciate volunteers to help in the kitchen for Messy Church events. If you can help, please sign your name on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
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 have started working on this next edition. Do you have a story to share? Deadline for submission is early December. The newsletter will be published mid January 2024.
White poppies available in the upper lobby.
Worship Schedule reminder
October 22
Speaker Carol O.
Worship leader Bonnie W.
Song Leader Bonnie W.
Musicians (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Carol R.
A/V Tech Mike D.
October 29
Speaker Edgardo R.
Worship leader Dalton J.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Murray L., Carol J.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pax Christi Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Elaine Choi, announces a special concert in partnership with Alzheimer Society of Toronto, Xenia Concerts and Music Care. On October 29, 2023, Pax Christi Chorale will present the Canadian premiere of Robert Cohen’s Alzheimer’s Stories, an oratorio inspired by those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and those who love them. The concert will be presented at Holy Blossom Temple at 4 pm.
Tickets are $45 (regular), $40 (senior), $20 (young adult 18-35), $10 (student) For more information, and to buy tickets, go to www.paxchristichorale.org.
Save the Date: Peace Conference
November 18, 2023
at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate,
110 Doon Rd, Kitchener
The MCC Peace Conference is your chance to see, hear and experience first-hand how you and MCC are changing lives and communities through peacebuilding. This event will inspire and inform through general sessions, workshops and conversations with messengers of peace. Go to mcc.org/peace-conference to learn more.
Voices Together Resource Day
October 28, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Shantz Mennonite Church, Baden, ON.
A day set aside for worship leaders, worship lovers, musicians, pastors and congregational leaders to explore the music and resources from, Voices Together. An evening hymn sing will close our worship. Registration is open at mcec.ca.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
October
14 Men’s breakfast
17 Healthy Eating
17 Ladies walking group – St. John’s Norway
21 Messy Church
24 Healthy Eating
24 Ladies walking group – Warden Woods
31 Healthy Eating
31 Ladies walking group
November
7 Healthy Eating
7 Ladies walking group
11 Men’s breakfast
14 Healthy Eating
14 Ladies walking group
18 Messy Church
21 Healthy Eating
21 Ladies walking group
28 Ladies walking group
December
2 DMC Christmas banquet
12 Healthy Eating
Wider Church
October
14 Willowgrove 55th anniversary celebration
14 Danforth Grow Hope tour & dinner
26 SCOC AGM
28 Voices Together Resource Day
29 Pax Christi Chorale concert
November
18 MCC Peace conference
29 ToTB at Hart House
