DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
May 5, 2024
Order of Service
Call to Worship
Introduction
Welcome/Land Acknowledgement
Opening prayer
Opening Hymn: VT #29 Come, Now is the time to worship
Announcements
Offering
Offertory Prayer
Hymn: VT # 437 The Lord is My Light
Prayer Time
Scripture: Matthew 25: 14-29, John 20: 14-18, 19-23
Hymn: VT #745 God, Whose Giving
Message: What saves you?
Closing hymn: VT #549 Be Thou My Vision
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Lisa W.
Worship Leader Sue S.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica Martin (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Wilda S., Mike D.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Fazal S.
Hymn of the month: VT 437 The Lord is my Light
Hymn Sing Sunday
Everyone is welcome to join us at 10:00
in the sanctuary to sing our favorites and some new hymn.
Call to Worship
Leader: In the beginning,
Before time, before people,
Before the world began
All: God was.
Leader: Here and now,
Among us, beside us,
Clearer than air, closer than breathing,
All: God is.
Leader: In all that is to come,
When we have turned to dust,
And human knowledge has been completed
All: God will be.
Leader: Not despairing of earth, but delighting in it
Not condemning the world but redeeming it,
Through Jesus Christ,
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
All: God was, God is, God will be. Amen
Scripture Reading
Matthew 25: 14-29 (NRSV)
The Parable of the Talents
14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.
18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” 21 His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” 23 His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”
26 But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.
29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
John 20:14-18, 19-23
14 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Contacting Bonnie
If it’s church business, please use the church email account. If it’s personal, please contact me at my Rogers’s email account.
Thank you.
Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage and DMC
On May 11 & 12, dozens of Christians & people of faith will embark on a Prayer Pilgrimage across Toronto. If you are interested in joining at any time, we are walking, rolling & singing across Bloor, Danforth Ave & Kingston Road from Etobicoke to the Rouge Hill GO Station over 2 days.
Our objectives are:
- Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire.
- Immediate flow of life-saving food, water, fuel and humanitarian assistance.
- Release of all captives.
- End all arms transfers to Israel.
- End of occupation so a just peace can begin.
We ask each participant to adhere to our Core Convictions:
https://www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com/core-convictions
All info & a registration page are at
https://www.kairoscanada.org/event/toronto-gaza-ceasefire-pilgrimage.
Sponsorships to raise money for charities assisting people in Gaza are encouraged. https://www.kairoscanada.org/gaza-ceasefire-pilgrimage/middle-east-partners
Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage walkers will arrive from East Lynn Park to DMC at approximately 10:45 am on Sunday, May 12 for a brief stop.
A table will be set up outside the front door with some coffee, cups and a pitcher of water. Walkers will be invited to use the lower level washrooms as needed. Helping out with this are Dalton, Ray, and Leslie. So far, those registered to walk from East Lynn Park to DMC are Anne R., Leslie and Fazal S., and Murray L.
Thanks to all who are assisting. We ask for prayers for the walkers and a permanent Ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all hostages/prisoners to their families in Gaza and Israel/Palestine
Men’s (and women) breakfast before the
Annual Church Cleaning
Saturday, May 11, 2024
There will be a Pot-Luck finger food
breakfast before the cleaning project.
8:30 a.m. setup for breakfast
9:00 a.m. breakfast
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. church cleaning
If you haven’t attended the church Spring Cleaning event in the past, it’s very simple – a list of chores is left on the table, you select what you will do and then get to it.
If you wish to forego the breakfast, you are welcome to get started earlier than 10:00 a.m. The trustees thank you for your participation. And thanks to the Men’s breakfast group for hosting us!
Worship Schedule reminder
May 12
Worship leader Dalton J. & Friends
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Mike D.
May 19
Message: Cedric M.
Worship leader Cindy R.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
Doors Open Toronto
May 25 & 26
Explore Toronto’s architectural, historical, cultural and socially significant buildings for free during the Doors Open weekend. This year’s theme is hidden histories. Uncover untold stories from across the city through a variety of open house experiences, engaging tours and insightful talks.
This will be DMC’s second year participating in Doors Open Toronto. Last year there were 235 people coming through our doors. This year we are expecting more people as we gear our weekend to family activities, thanks to Theatre of the Beat and our 128th Girl Guide Troupe.
We enjoyed the hymn sign last year and are doing it again on the Saturday afternoon. If you would like to join us in the singing, please add your name to the sign-up sheet.
We need volunteers as greeters in the lower lobby, upper lobby, the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. If you’re not up to speed on our history, no worries. We have handouts with the information.
Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, May 7, we will be meeting at 10:30 a.m. at Rosetta McClain Gardens at 5 Glen Everest Road (Kingston Road and Birchmount) for a one-hour stroll through the gardens.
An email will go out on Monday May 6 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.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Danforth Grow Hope Spring Field Visit
Saturday, May 4 at 2:30 pm
On Saturday May 4, at 2:30 pm, you are invited to join us near Stouffville at the field that will be producing grains for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in 2024! We’ll be meeting others from our church partners, doing a little planting, and praying over the field for this year’s harvest. If you’d like to learn more about the work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, or simply want out of the city for a couple of hours, we invite you to join us. Afterwards we’ll get a tour of Reesor Seed and Grain – 5309 Durham Rd 30, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON. (who work with us on this project), and perhaps we’ll grab an ice cream before heading home.
Please speak to or contact Murray L. if you would like to go, and need directions or a ride.
Thanks, Murray
Join us at the 58th New Hamburg
Mennonite Relief Sale
May 24 & 25, New Hamburg Fairgrounds
Get ready for a weekend of excitement at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale! Join us for a fantastic time filled with fun, food, and the chance to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. Mark your calendars for Friday evening and Saturday as we kick off the festivities! Don’t let this chance slip by to immerse yourself in community spirit and lend your support to MCC. Visit nhmrs.com for all the details. See you there!
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale
You are invited to worship with the St. Clair O’Connor Community. Your presence and support are appreciated. 7:00 p.m. May 5 - Worship Service at 7 pm May 19 - Hymn Sing
GTA Mennonite Festival bulletin announcement
Thank you to everyone who attended the GTA Mennonite Festival for World Relief AGM! As we prepare for our Sept 21st sale at Willowgrove we are looking to attract new volunteers to help us with the sale. We are specifically hoping to offer a children’s fun run, a croquet area, face painting and a pickup soccer kickball game. If you are interested in helping with any of these activities (or if you know someone who would like to get involved) or if you have another idea please contact us at jandkbarber@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of the sale and MCC!
The Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario is planning a bus trip to the Niagara Peninsula on June 15, 2024 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Russian Mennonites (Russlaender) to Ontario in 1924. The MHSO would appreciate it if you could place the following announcement in your Sunday bulletin or electronic email announcements.
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100th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Russian Mennonite Refugees to Ontario in 1924: Bus Tour
The Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario is hosting a one-day Bus Tour to the Niagara Peninsula on June 15, 2024 to commemorate this event. The tour will visit sites of Russlaender settlement in several Niagara communities and will also include a history of Swiss and Amish Mennonites first coming to Ontario, and how these Mennonites assisted the settlement of the Russian Mennonites to Canada. The tour will also include a catered lunch in Virgil at the Niagara United Mennonite Church followed by the MHSO annual meeting. Join the tour in Kitchener or in Vineland. For more details and to register, please go to our Russlaender Tour website (www. MHSO.org).
Thank you.
Harold Thiessen
Secretary, MHSO
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
May
7 Ladies walking group – Rosetta McClain
11 Men’s breakfast
11 DMC Spring Cleaning
14 Ladies walking group
21 Ladies walking group
25/26 Doors Open Toronto
28 Ladies walking group
Wider Church
May
3-5 Woodbine Heights play
4 GTA Mennonite Church Work Bee Willowgrove
4 Danforth Grow Hope Spring Field visit
5 Celebration of Life for Dave Martin
5 SCOC worship service
11/12 Gaza Pilgrimage walk – stop at DMC
19 SCOC hymn sing
24/25 New Hamburg MCC