DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
December 1, 2024 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Lighting the candle of HOPE
Words of Welcome
Call to Worship & Prayer
Hymn: VT #210 O Come. O Come, Immanuel
Announcements
Hymn: # 258 Love Has Come
Introduction to the theme
Prayers of the People
Hymn: VT #553 How Many Times We Start Again
Message: We Are On Our Way To Christmas
Hymn of Response: #443 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Tim R.
Worship Leader Dalton J.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musician Roger H. (piano), Kathy W. (organ),
Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Carol J., Leslie S.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Mike D.
December hymn of the month: VT #258 Love Has Come
It’s Hymn Sing this Sunday
and December 15th.
All are welcome to join us in the sanctuary
at 10:00 a.m.
Call to worship
Leader: Responding to the call of the living God,
People: our rescuer and Savior,
Leader: we welcome the Holy Spirit’s presence,
People: among and within us.
Leader: In the name of Jesus, our risen Lord,
All: we offer ourselves in worship.
Scripture Reading
Daniel 6: 6-27 (NIV)
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
It’s early but I am updating the contact section of the DMC Directory for 2025 in hopes of having it ready for our new Pastor when he joins us. The booklet will be on the lobby table. Please review and make any necessary changes, and initial that you want the information in the directory.
I will contact those of you who can’t come to the church building.
Please let us know how many are attending from your group/family. What are you bringing?
The sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board.
There will also be a second sign-up sheet for volunteers for setting up tables, greeting etc.
Containers wanted for leftovers
Please remit any DMC related expenses to Roger H. before December 15th. We want to pay out all expenses before year-end.
Christmas Giving Tree – 2024
In the weeks leading up to Christmas we will be collecting items 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. Non-perishable food items will be shared with the Nourish East End Food Bank program. $$ donations via the church, and earmarked for the institution you desire will also be forwarded to Nourish East End Food Bank and/or Teesdale Community Foodbank which helps them purchase needed scarce items such as meat and milk.
Let us think about food and clothing scarcity and how we can help to make a difference.
The Christmas giving tree is set up in the sanctuary. Please hang up your gifts on the tree or drop off your donations in the bins.
Thank you for your generosity.
Ladies Walking group
We won’t be walking on December 3rd BUT we will be visiting Allan Gardens on December 11th. Details will follow next week.
From Canadian Mennonite: With the Canada Post strike, your December print issue will be delayed. Sign up for digital delivery to get it by email on November 29. CM sends an email each Friday and attaches a PDF copy of the magazine once per month. Contact Lorna at office@canadianmennonite.org.
Who We Support
In December Church Council will be reviewing the financial support in our budget for other charities beyond our congregation. Currently our core support is for St. Clair O’Connor Community ($2,500 for Chaplaincy Support) and the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada ($3,060). We also support MCC Ontario, New Life Centre, Sanctuary Toronto, Willowgrove and Theatre of the Beat ($300 each). In 2023 we added the purchase of 1 acre of crop for the World Grains Food Bank through a project with other local churches known as Danforth Grow Hope ($600).
Church Council and the Finance Committee is inviting input from the congregation in this process. Is there a charitable organization that reflects our values and identity that you feel Danforth should add for financial support? Would you like to see a different mixture in our support? Should the dollar amount for our support be changed?
Please contact a council member by December 8th with your suggestions. They are Mike D., Donna A., Don B. and Roger H.
Worship Schedule reminder
December 8
Message Margaret A.
Worship leader Bonnie W.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
December 15
Message Carol O.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano),Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Murray L.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday services
Come, let us worship together
The St. Clair O’Connor Community invites everyone at DMC to join us for a
Service of Carols & Readings
On Sunday Dec. 15 at 7 pm.
Please note … we are hoping to sing Carols with the Long-Term Care residents at 6:30 that evening and will confirm this in the days leading up to the 15th.
Thank you for circling this event on your calendar. The residents at SCOC are most appreciative of our support.
In Summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
December
7 Messy Church
11 Ladies walking group – Allan Gardens
14 Men’s breakfast
14 DMC Christmas banquet
24 DMC Christmas Eve service
February
2 DMC AGM
Wider Church
December
15 SCOC service of Carols and readings
Community corner
November
29 Holiday concert (Ray W.)
30 Pax Chorale Children’s Messiah
December
4 & 7 Pax Chorale Christmas through the Ages
8 Toronto Beach Chorale concert
16 & 17 Messiah in Uxbridge