DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
December 3, 2023
Order of Service
Welcome
Opening Prayer
Opening Hymn: VT 213 Poor of the Earth
Call to worship
Announcements
Offering and prayer
Hymn: VT 710 This is my Song
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT 211 Hope is A Candle
Lighting of the first advent candle
Scripture: Mark 13:24-37
Message: How will we know…how long?
Closing Hymn: VT 216 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Stephen R.
Worship Leader Cindy R.
Song Leader Kathy W.,
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Stephen R. (guitar), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie and Fazal S.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Don B.
December Hymn of the month: VT 216 Lo How Rose E’er Blooming
Sunday mornings 10:00 a.m.
Dec. 3 Hymn Sing Sunday
Dec. 10 Discussion – Visions of Jesus led by Ed
Dec. 17 Discussion – Visions of Jesus led by Ed
Dec. 24 The Virgin Birth
Call to worship
Leader: O God, tear open the heavens and come down so that the mountains would quake at your presence!
People: No one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for you.
Leader: No one knows when the time will come.
People: How long must we wait?
(pause)
All: Together we wait.
Scripture reading
Mark 13:24-37 (CEB)
24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. 25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Human One[a] coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. 27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.
28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. 30 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
32 “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert.
35 Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”
Opening Prayer for Advent
Almighty God, as we begin this season of Advent remind us again that in the midst of our darkness you are bringing us peace, to calm our anxious spirits and hectic lives. Turn our hearts again toward you. Make us ready to receive your Son our Savior. Slow our pace, and give us the blessing of feeling your peace in our spirits. For we ask this in Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
We will start practicing our Christmas choir song (Still,Still.Still VT # 264) this Sunday morning at 10:35 right after the pre-service hymn sing.
There will be a choir practice the next two Sundays after church. The practices will take place approximately 10 minutes after the service has ended and for about 10 minutes duration.
We can sing at various Christmas functions like Christmas Day church service, possibly carolling at St. Clair O’Connor.
There are of course no auditions.
All are most welcome.
See Kathy W. for more details.
Who We Support: In December Church Council will be reviewing the financial support in our budget for other charities beyond our congregation. Currently our core support is for St. Clair O’Connor Community ($2,500 for Chaplaincy Support) and the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada ($3,000). We also support MCC Ontario, New Life Centre, Sanctuary Toronto, Willowgrove and Theatre of the Beat ($300 each). In our 2023 budget we added the purchase of 1 acre of crop for the World Grains Food Bank through a project with other local churches known as Danforth Grow Hope ($600).
Council is inviting input from the congregation in this process. Is there a charitable organization that reflects our values and identity that you feel Danforth should add for financial support? Would you like to see a different mixture in our support?
Please contact a council member by the end of November with your suggestions. They are Mike D., Donna A., Don B., Roger H., Anne R. and Pastor Stephen R.
Please submit your DMC expenses
to Roger by December 15, 2023.
Ladies Walking Group
On Tuesday, December 5 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at the Birkdale Ravine (north of Lawrence Ave. E., on the west side of Brimley).
An email will go out on Monday December 4 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.
Our next Messy Church is
December 16th.
Looking ahead to Advent
Christmas Music at SCOC The newly formed Worship Committee at SCOC is asking folks at DMC (who are available) to circle the following date and to join our voices with residents for a service of Christmas Music.
Date: Sunday Afternoon Dec. 10 Please come to the Meeting Room at 6:15. We will proceed from there to the 3rd floor and sing carols for the residents in Long Term Care, then return to the Meeting Room for a 7 pm service. Along with our voices, we are being asked to provide accompaniment for the singing (piano, along with other instruments that will add richness to the service.)
Dalton – on behalf of Outreach & Service
Christmas Giving Tree – 2023
Let’s fill the tree with mittens.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas we will be collecting items of clothing suitable for the season (hats, scarves, mitts, socks) and non-perishable food items. These will be dropped off for distribution to struggling families in the Taylor/Massey community and shared as well with the Food Bank program at our nearby Salvation Army. $$ donations will be forwarded to Nourish East End Food Bank in support of their program.
Let us think about food and clothing scarcity and how we can help to make a difference.
The Christmas mitten tree is set up in the sanctuary. Please hang up your mittens on the tree or drop off your donations in the bins.
Thank you for your generosity.
Worship Schedule reminder
December 10
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Emily L. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Roger H.
December 17
Speaker Margaret A.
Worship leader Linda D.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Carol O. welcomes you to
the CoSA/FCRI Open House
on Saturday, December 9
at Danforth Mennonite Church.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Toronto United Mennonite Church (TUMC) invites you to their 57th Annual Advent Carol Sing, being held on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 PM at 1774 Queen Street East in Toronto. Come and sing your favourite Advent and Christmas Carols, and the Hallelujah Chorus! Fellowship with refreshments including homemade Christmas goodies will follow.
We’d love to see you there!
Sunday, December 10, 2023, 3pm. Menno Singers and Mennonite Mass Choir present Handel’s Messiah with artistic director Brandon Leis, a 230 voice choir, soloists Bethany Hörst (soprano), Jennifer Enns Modolo (mezzo soprano), Owen McCausland (tenor) and Nathan Keoughan (baritone) along with orchestra members of the former KW Symphony. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre in the Square Box Office. www.centreinthesquare.com
Pax Christi Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Elaine Choi, announces two events to brighten your holiday season.
On Saturday, December 2 at 1:30 pm and 4 pm, at Church of the Redeemer, Pax Christi Chorale will present Children’s Messiah, a 60-minute interactive music education experience suitable for children of all ages. Join us to learn about music through Handel’s well loved masterpiece Messiah, featuring stunning solos, brilliant organ accompaniment, glorious orchestral overtures and powerful choruses - over 100 singers and players! Admission is FREE – donations accepted for Church of the Redeemer’s The Common Table program.
And on Saturday, December 9, at 4 pm, at ESG United Church, we will present Christmas Through the Ages; music and stories to evoke the wonder and joy of Christmas, from our family to yours. In collaboration with Hogtown Brass, we will perform favourites by Halley, Victoria, Lauridsen and others; culminating in John Rutter’s spectacular Gloria for choir, brass and organ. There will also be carols for all to sing.
More information at www.paxchristichorale.org.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
December
2 DMC Christmas banquet
5 Ladies walking group
9 Men’s breakfast
10 Singing at SCOC
12 Ladies walking group
16 Messy Church
Wider Church
December
2 Pax Christi Chorale Children’s Messiah
3 TUMC Advent Carol Sing
9 CoSA Open House
9 Pax Christi Chorale Christmas through the Ages
10 Menno Singers Messiah
