DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist

 We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
January 7, 2024
Order of Service

Welcome

 Land Acknowledgement:

Opening Prayer

Opening Hymn:  VT 277 As With Gladness

Call to worship

Offering and Offertory Prayer

Hymn: VT 275 O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Congregational Prayer

Hymn:  VT 761 I Love to Tell the Story

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

Message:  Follow The Light

Star Words and Closing Hymn:  VT 395 the Church Of Christ, in Every Age

Benediction/Candle Lighting

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Carol O.
Worship Leader            Cindy R.
Scripture reading         Bethany W.
Song Leader                    Kathy W.
Musicians                         Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                           Leslie & Fazal S.
Zoom Host                      Mike D.
A/V Technician             Don B.

January hymn of the month:  VT #395  The Church of Christ, in Every Age

 

Hymn Sing – 10:00 a.m.
Everyone is welcome

 

Call to Worship

Leader: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

People: Lift up your eyes and look around; they gather and come to you.

Women: You shall see and be radiant;

Men: your heart shall thrill and rejoice and proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Leader: The mystery of Christ has been revealed by the Spirit. We have become fellow heirs, members of the same
body, and sharers in the promise of Christ through the gospel.

People: We know this through faith in Christ. May our lights shine!

(pause)

All: Together we carry the light.

 

Scripture Reading
Matthew 2: 1-12

Coming of the magi
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. ² They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”

³ When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. ⁴ He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

⁶ You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people Israel.”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” ⁹ When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. ¹¹ They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.

 

Candle lighting/benediction

Leader:                   Together we carry the light.

All:                             This is what we know.

Leader:                   Now go, basking in the glow of Christ! We have become God’s heirs, members of one body, and sharers of the promise. Amen!

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Congregational Survey: Inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ at Danforth Mennonite Church

The survey is now available in your church mail slot and was also emailed to you.  Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience and either reply by email or place it in the box in the foyer no later than January 7^th.  If you have questions, please contact Pastor Stephen.

 

Ladies Walking group
starts up on January 16^th.

 

DMC
Annual Business Meeting
Sunday, February 4, 2024

Committee chairs:  Please submit your reports to Bonnie by January 17^th.
 
Everyone is welcome to attend the Annual Business Meeting and participate in the discussion.  You are welcome to vote if you have been participating at DMC, and plan to continue doing so in the future.

 

Our healthy eating cooking classes
will start up again in March.

 

This week we will be delivering our collection 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. 
Thank you for your generosity.

 

There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for volunteers to help with Messy Church

 

Treasurer’s Report: In December we received $14,770 in offerings. These generous year end donations, along with the steady ongoing support throughout the year, helped us finish 2023 with a $6,438 operating surplus. It is with much gratitude that the Finance Committee thanks our church family for their solid financial commitment and for their unwavering dedication to the work of Danforth Mennonite Church during 2023.

We also received an additional $200 in designated Food Bank donations in December and a $900 cheque was sent to The Neighbourhoood Group in support of the 40 Teesdale Food Bank.

 

Men’s Choir

There will be ongoing practices for a men’s choir starting this Sunday. The choir will be singing at Stephen’s last service with us on Jan. 28th. All men are welcome. There will be a practice after the pre-service singing this Sunday (approx. 10:35) as well as a short practice after the service this Sunday. The short practices will continue after church until Jan. 28th. See Kathy Wert for further details

 

Worship Schedule reminder

January 14
Speaker                     Stephen R.
Worship leader    Mike D.
Song Leader           Ed F.
Musicians                Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                  Fazal & Leslie S.
ZOOM host           Carol R.
A/V Tech                  Roger H.

January 21
Speaker                    Dalton J.
Worship leader   Erma M.
Song Leader          Sue S.
Musicians              Jessie M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host           Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                 Murray L.

 

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CommonWord virtual book launch of Rudy Wiebe: Essays on His Works – Join us via livestream on Thursday, January 25 at 7:30 PM CST for a panel discussion with editor Bianca Lakoseljac and contributors Margaret Atwood, Paul Doerksen, and others about the literary influence of Rudy Wiebe. Visit commonword.ca/go/3730 for livestream link.

 CommonWord virtual book launch of Unburdened: A Lenton Journey Towards Forgiveness – Join us on Zoom on Thursday, February 1 at 7:30 PM CST for a conversation with author Carol Penner as she prepares us for Lent and a journey of forgiveness and healing. Visit commonword.ca/go/3610 to register for the Zoom link.

 

A note from MCC

Thank you for your recent financial gift of $300.00 designated to where needed most. Your generosity and ongoing partnership in the work of MCC is deeply appreciated. We are so grateful that you have chosen to partner with MCC.

For more than 100 years, MCC has been working faithfully with partners all around the world, and it’s all thanks to generous and compassionate people like you. Your financial gifts are making an incredible impact across the globe and closer to home. This past year, you’ve helped provide critical items like relief supplies, warm blankets, and food to children and families in the most desperate situations around the world. You’ve also supported long-term projects like giving access to clean water, healthcare to women and children, agricultural training, and sustainable livelihoods and educational opportunities. You are creating change in Ontario as well by walking alongside people experiencing poverty, supporting those who are reintegrating into community, welcoming newcomers, and actively advocating for peace and reconciliation.

The ways in which you’ve helped bring joy and hope to so many lives. Thank you for all you do.
With much gratitude,
Stephen  R.

 

In summary, upcoming events

At Danforth

January
7    2SLGBTQ+ survey deadline
12  2SLGBTQ+ survey results
14  2SLGBTQ+ Congregational meeting
16  Ladies walking group
17  AGM package reports due to Admin. Asst.
20  Messy Church

February
4  DMC AGM
24  Messy Church

Wider Church

January
25  book launch – Rudy Wiebe

February
1  book launch – Carol Penner

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
December 31, 2023
Order of Service

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome

Call to Worship

Hymn VT #95 “Praise the Lord, Sing Hallelujah”

Announcements

Offering

Offering Prayer

Hymn VT #715 “Longing for Light”

Congregational Prayer

Scripture Luke 2: 22-40

Hymn VT #213 “Poor of the Earth”

Message:  How will we know?

Hymn of Response VT #240 “Joy to the World”

Benediction/Candle Lighting

 

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Carol O.
Worship Leader             Linda D.
Song Leader                     Kathy W.
Musicians                          Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Mike D.

 

There will not be an Adult Discussion Group this Sunday morning

 

Call to Worship

Leader: Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Women: At that moment, Anna, a widow who worshiped at the temple with fasting and prayer night and day,

Men: began to praise God and to speak about the child to everyone who was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Leader: The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.

People: Our long wait is finally over!

(pause)

All: Together we rejoice.

 

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:22-40

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
²² When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), ²⁴ and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  ²⁷ Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

²⁹ “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵ so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child^[d] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth
³⁹ When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

 

Candle lighting/benediction

Leader:                   Together we rejoice!

All:                            Our waiting is over!

Leader:                   We’ve seen the One, the light to all peoples, who grew in strength and is filled with wisdom. The favor of God is upon him! Go! Rejoice! God is here!

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Congregational Survey: Inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ at

Danforth Mennonite Church

The survey is now available in your church mail slot and was also emailed to you.  Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience and either reply by email or place it in the box in the foyer no later than January 7^th.  If you have questions, please contact Pastor Stephen.

 

Ladies Walking group
starts up on January 16^th.

 

 

DMC

Annual Business Meeting
Sunday, February 4, 2024
 
Committee chairs:  Please submit your reports to Bonnie by January 17^th.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Annual Business Meeting and participate in the discussion.  You are welcome to vote if you have been participating at DMC, and plan to continue doing so in the future.

 

Worship Schedule reminder

 January 7
Speaker                  Carol O.
Worship leader  Cindy R.
Song Leader         Kathy W.
Musicians              Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                Fazal & Leslie S.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Don B.

January 14
Speaker                  Stephen R.
Worship leader  Mike D.
Song Leader         Ed F.
Musicians              Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                Fazal & Leslie S.
ZOOM host         Carol R.
A/V Tech               Roger H.

 

In summary, upcoming events

At Danforth

January
7   2SLGBTQ+ survey deadline
12  2SLGBTQ+ survey results
14  2SLGBTQ+ Congregational meeting
16  Ladies walking group
17  AGM package reports due to Admin. Asst.

February
4  DMC AGM