DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Pieter Niemeyer
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 30, 2025 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Introduction
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: VT #647 There is a Balm in Gilead
Announcements
Offering Prayer
Hymn: VT#201 Hear the Turmoil of the Nations
Congregational prayer time
Confession and words of assurance
Scripture reading: Luke 16:13-15, 19-33
Hymn: #745 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
Sermon: Christ collides with our selfishness
Closing Hymn/Benediction: VT #545 Here I Am, Lord
Leading Us in Worship
Sermon Margaret A.
Worship Leader Sue S.
Song Leader Don B.
Musician Kathy W., Ray W.
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Fazal S.
Hymn of the month: VT #201 Hear the Turmoil of the Nations
Adult Discussion Class
The Adult Class invites the church to view a powerful film portraying the life and martyrdom of El Salvadoran archbishop, Oscar Romero. This coming Sunday, John E. will interview our brother Edgardo R. on his reflections on this film, the Book of Acts and Venezuela. Make this film and the Adult Class part of your Lenten journey.
The film raises many questions:
– How do we respond to a totalitarian government?
– Is there a time to take up arms?
– Can we see what Jesus launched as a revolution?
How is it similar to an armed revolution?
How is it different?
– Where do you see yourself in this film?
If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.
View Film (1hr 45mins)
Confession and words of assurance
All: Loving and merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you.
Leader: We have not loved you with all our thoughts, words, and actions.
People: We have sinned through what we have chosen to do and what we have chosen to neglect.
Leader: We have not fully accepted your love for us. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
People: We put our trust in material things, always seeking to accumulate more, ignoring the needs of those around us.
All: We repent before each other and before you, our loving God. Please help us loosen our grip on what we have and challenge the selfishness of our society with open hands so we may better share your peace in your world, rejoicing in your name. Amen.
Leader: Now hear these words of assurance: God tells us that we are created in God’s image. God created us for relationship with God and each other. In this, we know that God will never break our relationship. God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Scripture Reading
Luke 16:13-15, 19-33
13 No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.
15 So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’
27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
There will be a brief choir practice for Easter Sunday morning this Sunday after church (March 31st). There will again be a practice during the hymn sing on Sun. April 6th and a possible practice after the Good Friday service on April 18th. We will be singing VT# 359 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing. See Kathy W. if you have any questions. All are welcome.
Easter Potluck Breakfast
Sunday, April 20, 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.
Good Friday service
and communion
On April 18 at 10:30 am
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, April 1st at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Birkdale (off Brimley, north of Lawrence on the west side.)
An email will go out on Monday, March 31 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.
Worship Schedule reminder
April 6
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
Hymn Sing Kathy W.
April 13
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship leader Margaret A.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Roger H.
Adult Class John E.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
In This Together presents a webinar series…Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #3 takes place on Sunday March 30, 6pm CT, and will include stories of Mennonite Churches that have developed “Being At Variance Statements” and why this is important. We will facilitate two break out rooms; one that will strategize an addendum to article 19, and the other to brainstorm creative witness actions/events of being “Faithfully at Variance” during the upcoming Mennonite Church Canada gathering in Kitchener/Waterloo this July. To register, go to https://inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events.
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GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
at Willowgrove dining hall.
April 13 – 5 pm
Supper will be served.
Please register by April 10th at https://www.gtamennonitefestival.ca/agm .
Questions contact Karen at jandkbarber@gmail.com
MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2025
Called to Action by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 – 11:30 a.m. Online
Registration opens at the end of March.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Spring (classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich) Girl Guide cookies will be available from Bethany on Sunday, March 30.
In summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
April
1 Ladies walking group – Birkdale
8 Ladies walking group – Rosetta McLain
12 Men’s breakfast
12 Messy Church
15 Ladies walking group
18 Good Friday service
20 Easter Potluck breakfast and service
22 Ladies walking group
29 Ladies walking group
Wider Church
March
30 In this together
April
5 Fraser Lake 70 years
13 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
26 MCEC Annual Gathering – online
Community Corner
March
30 Girl Guide cookies