DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 29, 2024 10:30 a.m.
Good Friday Order of Service
Welcome
Call to Worship
Prayer
Opening Hymn: VT #323 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Scripture: John 18: 28-40
Hymn: VT #325 Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Scripture: John 19: 1-16
Prayer of Thanks to a Welcoming God
Hymn: VT #329 Were You There (vs 1-2)
Prayer of Invitation to the Table
A Prayer for Good Friday: Now We Know
Hymn: VT #329 Were You There (vs 3-5)
Bread of life Communion Service
Closing Hymn: VT #327 – Jesus, Remember Me
Leading Us in Worship
Worship Leaders Margaret A,, Shannon E., Dalton J., Cindy R.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Roger H. (piano)
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Fazal S.
A Prayer for Good Friday: Now We Know
(written by Christine Jerrett)
Now we know:
all is grace
all is gift.
You give us all good things:
life and love;
daily bread and water that quenches our thirst;
friends and faith.
Most of all, in your Son, Jesus,
you meet us with a love that will never let us go;
you utter words of mercy and forgiveness
that override the hurts,
and heal our brokenness;
you offer new beginnings
where we had expected only dead ends.
We give you thanks and praise
for the mystery of your suffering love
that gives us life.
We give you thanks and praise
that you know our weakness
and hear our prayers.
We give you thanks and praise
that all our dying and living
is held in your good keeping.
Now we know:
all is grace
all is gift.
We give you thanks and praise.
Concluding words to our communion service:
We have come to the Lord’s table,
we have eaten the bread of heaven.
The Holy Spirit will transform us from within
so that we can see with Jesus’ eyes,
hear with Jesus’ ears,
feel the world as Jesus feels;
to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Let us leave this time together, nourished by the Bread of Life,
to do what the Spirit has called us to do.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 31, 2024 11:00 a.m.
Easter Sunday Order of Service
Welcome
Call to worship
Hymn: VT 333 Low in the Grave He Lay
Announcements
Special Music: Children
Offering Prayer
Hymn: VT 346 Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Prayer
Special Music: Choir VT 359 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing!
Hymn: VT 364 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Scripture Text: Luke 24:36-53
Sermon: Finally it has Begun
Hymn of Response: VT 355 Thine is the Glory
Benediction: And we will leave the sanctuary singing VT 847 You shall go out in Peace
Leading Us in Worship
Message John E.
Worship Leader Margaret A.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Bonnie W. (piano)
Greeters Vic G., Murray L.
Zoom Host Mike D.
A/V Technician Don B.
Call to worship
One: When it is still dark, we come seeking Jesus.
Many: The risen Christ is here among us!
One: The stone has been rolled away, walls torn down.
Many: The risen Christ is here among us!
One: The burial cloth removed, his body transformed.
Many: The risen Christ is here among us!
One: Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John see and believe.
All: We find the risen Christ among us who has made all things new!
The tomb is empty, the way of Love has prevailed!
One: Peace be with you!
Many: Peace be with you!
Scripture reading
Setting:
Night has fallen on Jerusalem. The glow of an oil lamp encompasses the disciples in an upper room. The women have come back from the tomb. The body is gone. Cleopas and his wife have come back. They have encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Voices mingle vigorously and then suddenly… quiet.
Luke 24:36-53
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
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!
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Annual Church Cleaning
Saturday, May 11, 2024
There will be a Women & Men Pot-Luck Breakfast before the cleaning project.
More details to follow in April.
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
April 7
Speaker Peter N.
Worship leader Cindy R.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
April 14
Speaker Carol O.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Roger H.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, April 2 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at St. John’s Norway Cemetery. The parking lot entrance is off of Woodbine.
An email will go out on Monday April 1 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.
Bonnie, the DMC office administrator will be on vacation April 3 – 13. Please speak with Roger if you have any notices for the bulletin or other inquiries.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
You are invited to worship with the
St. Clair O’Connor Community.
Your presence and support are appreciated.
7:00 p.m.
March 31 – an Easter service by The Church of St. Bedes
April 7 – Worship Service
April 21 – Hymn Sing
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
GTA Mennonite Festival
Annual General Meeting
April 7 at 4 pm,
Rouge Valley Mennonite Church,
7452 Reesor Rd, Markham
The 2024 AGM is taking place on Sunday, April 7 at 4 PM at Rouge Valley Mennonite Church. Please join us for a delicious soup supper from MCC’s Raw Carrot Soup program, hear about the impact of your support of the GTA Mennonite Festival and learn about plans for 2024. RSVP online at gtamennonitefestival.ca/agm.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
March
29 Good Friday service 10:30 a.m.
31 Easter breakfast and service
April
2 Ladies walking group – St. John’s Norway Cemetery
9 Ladies walking group – Rosetta McClain gardens
13 Men’s breakfast
16 Ladies walking group – Warden Woods
23 Ladies walking group
30 Ladies walking group
May
11 DMC Spring Cleaning
Wider Church
March
31 SCOC evening service
April
7 gta mennonite festival agm
7 scoc worship service
13 scoc art show
14 silent auction at Church of the Resurrection
21 SCOC Hymn sing
26 & 27 MCEC Annual Church Gathering
May
4 GTA Mennonite Church Work Bee Willowgrove
5 Celebration of Life for Dave M.