DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
February 25, 2024
Order of Service
Welcome
Land Acknowledgment
Opening Hymn: VT #573 Strong, Peaceful Man of Galilee
Prayer of Confession
Announcements
Offering
Hymn: VT #610 Precious Lord, Take my Hand
Congregational Prayer
Scripture: (#1) Luke 3: 21 – 22; Luke 4: 1 – 2; 13. (#2) Luke 4: 16 – 21. (#3) Luke 4: 31-37.
Hymn: VT #307 Jesus, Tempted in the Desert
Message: Deliver us from Evil
Closing Hymn: VT #847 You Shall Go Out with Joy
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message John E.
Worship Leader Mike D.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Fazal S.
February hymn of the month: VT # 573 Strong, Peaceful Man of Galilee
Adult Discussion Group
This Sunday we’re looking at a chunk from Luke, 3: 21 to 4: 37. The sermon title is “Deliver us from Evil.” Please read these verses for this coming Sunday. Take note of two things:
- Who are the Characters?
- What is the Tension?
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Trustworthy God, we want to live with faith, yet we worry there will not be enough.
We want to believe in your promises, yet we lose hope. We want to follow you, but sometimes the road is too hard.
People: We confess before you our unbelief, our worry, our hopelessness.
Leader: Shape us into a people who will live in faith. Strengthen us so we can deny ourselves, take up your cross, and follow you.
People: In your grace, Lord, give us faith to believe that you will call into existence the things that do not exist. Amen.
Scripture Reading (NLT)
*Setting: This place is a wasteland. A threatening wind stirs. Crowds upon crowds gather around the river being baptized. Jesus stands among the people, soaked with water and very deep in prayer.
Readings from Luke chapters 3 and 4.
Listen:
3 21One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my Beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.”
4 1Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry… 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
*Setting: After a week of walking Jesus returns to his hometown. Children play, chickens chitter and chatter, donkeys stand. We enter the cool of the synagogue. Familiar people have all gathered.
Listen: 16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
Setting: After a long walk to the shores of Galilee, Jesus enters another synagogue in a busy ancient city. As Jesus is teaching, suddenly a quiet shriek comes from a man, a shriek that grew loader.
Listen: 31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. 32 There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.
33 Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—cried out, shouting, 34 “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” 37 The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.
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
Treasurer’s Report: Our AGM is over, and we are well into 2024. In January we received $7,729 in offerings. $8,114 is needed each month to meet our 2024 budget.
In January $600 (2 x $300) was distributed from the Benevolence Fund to assist 2 Palestinian families. The Outreach and Service Committee has been in contact with them and recommended assistance. Designated donations are always welcome to the Benevolence Fund.
Good Friday service
The Ministry Support Team
(Cindy, Dalton, Margaret and Shannon)
will lead us in the service on
March 29th at 10:30 a.m.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, February 27 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Bluffers Park (1 Brimley Road South). Take Brimley Road to the bottom of the hill and follow to the left and go to the end of the road to the parking lot (past the marina).
An email will go out on Monday February 26 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.
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
March 3
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie & Fazal S.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
March 10
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Linda D.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie & Fazal S.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Roger H.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peace & Possibility, Part II: Raja Khouri is a Palestinian-Canadian; Jeffrey Wilkinson is an American Jew. Hear them discuss their 2023 book, The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know About Each Other. Hosted by Canadian Mennonite, Anabaptist World and the Palestine-Israel Network. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. CT. Click here to learn more.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Lorna Aberdein
Circulation Administrator
Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service
Educating, inspiring, informing and fostering dialogue on Mennonites in Canada
www.canadianmennonite.org
Support our mission
Please save the date for the GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
April 7, 5 pm. Rouge Valley Mennonite Church. Details to follow.
A note from Stephen Roy, MCC I know you care deeply about the ongoing tragedy in Gaza and Israel. While conflict has made it challenging for us to receive timely information, we’re committed to keeping you updated as best as we can, and that’s why I have some exciting news to share with you today. On February 29th at 1:00 pm, we will be hosting a webinar with Sarah Funkhouser and Seth Malone, MCC Country Representatives for Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. During our time together, Sarah and Seth will share updates about what they’re hearing from local partners and MCC’s current and future emergency response in Gaza and the West Bank. I would love for you to join us. This is a very special opportunity to learn more about the hopes, needs and challenges of MCC’s work from those directly on the ground. You can register to be part of this webinar online. I really do hope to see you there. Register
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
A note from Peter H.
Wed March 6 – ‘Beyond Polarized Kvetching’, a workshop on helpful conversations about controversial topics, hosted by TUMC’s Mission & Service Committee. Join Lia and Emily as they share insights coming from their own advocacy for Palestine among their Jewish and Israeli family members. Part 2 is March 20. Come at 6pm for a simple soup supper, workshop is 7-9pm. Please register at this link:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/toronto-united-mennonite-church/events/beyond-polarized-kvetching/
Note – this is not an event to discuss or debate Israeli and Palestinian issues. Participants are welcome to bring their own perspectives, but the focus of the event is developing tools for healthy discussions.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
February
24 Messy Church
27 Ladies walking group
March
5 Ladies walking group
9 Men’s breakfast
12 Ladies walking group
19 Ladies walking group
23 Messy Church
26 Ladies walking group
29 Good Friday service 10:30 a.m.
31 Easter breakfast and service
Wider Church
February
24 Coldest Night of the Year walk
28 Peace and Possibility Part 2
March
1 Hope for Gaza? Hope for Palestine and Israel?
6 Beyond Polarized Kvetching workshop
20 Beyond Polarized Kvetching workshop Part 2
April
7 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
14 Silent Auction at Church of the Resurrection
26 & 27 MCEC Annual Church Gathering