DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Pieter Niemeyer
Danforth Mennonite Church
April 13, 2025 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Land Acknowledgment
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: VT #313 Hosanna, Loud hosanna
Announcements
Offering Prayer
Confession and words of assurance
Hymn: VT #708 As the Waters Rise Around us
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT #316 Ride on, Ride on in Majesty
Scripture: Luke 19:29-44
Sermon: Christ Collides with Our Expectations
Hymn of Response: VT # 617 When Peace Like a River
Leading Us in Worship
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship Leader Margart A.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musician Jessica M., Ray W.
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Roger H.
Hymn of the month: VT # 708 As the Waters Rise Around Us
Adult Class: Witness to Hope
Some in our Western world are saying Christianity is a failure. Can it still offer the world hope? Today we reflect on the vision of Stephen, the first martyr in the Book of Acts, and the vision of John of Patmos (Book of Revelation chapters 4-5).
Call to Worship
based partly on Luke 19:38
Leader: As we worship this Palm Sunday, Christ collides with our expectations.
People: Have we not collided enough?
Leader: In deep compassion, our Lord sets out a mission of full life.
People: Form us fully, Jesus.
Leader: “Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”
All: Our Lord, it is time for you to work in and with us as we worship you!
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 cling to our expectations, and we do not make space for you to challenge them.
All: We repent before each other and before you, our loving God. Please help us open our hearts to your love. Help us let go of our narrow expectations 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 19:29-44 (NRSVUE)
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
Prayer
O God of justice and mercy,
Over this season of Lent, we have seen how power distorts truth, silencing the oppressed and justifying violence. Misinformation spreads, and we grow weary, tempted into either mindless outrage or fearful inaction. Yet you call us to walk in wisdom—to act with courage, even when we don’t have all the answers.
Over this season of reflection, grant us ears to hear the truly marginalized, hearts to discern truth amid distortion, and boldness to challenge injustice. Humble us to examine our own complicity, to acknowledge that we are part of the problem—so that by your grace, we may also be part of the solution.
As we fast from indifference, may we feast on justice.
As we lay down comfort, may we take up the cross of reconciliation. As we resist oppression, let us not only dismantle what is broken but also build what is just and life-giving.
Shape us into a people who restore, who heal, who create new ways of being—for one another, for the earth, and for your kingdom.
And, Lord, may we never give up on one another. Teach us to seek reconciliation, to build relationships even in conflict, to speak truth with love, and to hold fast to hope.
Oh, how I long for Your Church to be at the frontlines of these new beginnings— embodying justice, mercy, and prophetic witness to a world aching for transformation.
As we follow Christ to the cross, may we be a people of truth. As we await resurrection, may we be a people of justice. As we walk in faith, may we be a people of hope.
As we are reconciled in Christ, may we be a people of reconciliation.
Amen. Adapted from prayer written by Pablo Kim
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Easter Choir
There will be a brief choir practice for our Easter Sunday morning hymn. Next practice may be after the Good Friday service on April 18th. We will be singing VT# 359 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing. See Kathy Wert 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.
Please add your name to the signup sheet if you plan to attend.
Good Friday service
and communion
On April 18 at 10:30 am
Our next gathering is Saturday, April 12
9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
It’s from 9-11 a.m.
We share in Food, Fellowship, etc.
This is not limited to the men at DMC, so please bring a friend.
This is a Potluck Affair 🙂
Happy 500th birthday
to the Anabaptist community.
The congregation is invited to join with Messy Church on
Saturday, May 10th
at 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
for an evening of worship, activities and dinner.
More information to follow.
NOTE: There won’t be a service on Sunday, May 11th.
Treasurer’s Report: To the end of March $25,021 has been received in offerings. We received $7,227 in March. In order to meet our 2025 budget our monthly target for Sunday offerings is $9,206.
In March there was another $910 donated to our Food Bank fund. Some of this was the result of Government Rebate cheques being forwarded to our Food Bank fund. The Food Bank fund now has $1,510 in it and this money will be sent to our Food Bank partners in April.
Other designated donations received in March were another $150 directed to the Danforth Grow Hope Fund. The price per acre will soon be determined and we will then send our 2-acre commitment to Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
There was a $3,096 disbursement from the General Designated Fund as approved by the Trustees and Church Council. This money was for the purchase of new tables and table carts for the lower meeting room.
Donations to Danforth Mennonite Church are always welcome through Sunday morning offerings, mailed cheques or email transfers at dmmc2174@gmail.com. Please contact Roger H. if you would like to join the monthly giving program which happens through bank transfers on the 15th of each month. Thank you to all for your generous support for the work of our church.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, April 15 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 right and park in the lot near the washrooms.
An email will go out on Monday April 14 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.
Canadian Mennonite subscription changes/additions
will be submitted April 17, 2025.
Would you like to receive a free subscription to Canadian Mennonite? You can request a digital and/or print copy. Speak with Bonnie and she will submit the request.
We are happy to announce that on May 18th 2025, Danforth will hold a service of installation and blessing for Pastor Pieter Niemeyer as part of our regular worship. Marilyn R.-F. from Mennonite Church Eastern Canada will be present to share greetings and encouragement. There will be a fellowship potluck lunch after the service at the church. Go light on the desserts – there will be cake! Please plan to attend in person or through zoom. Please add your name to the signup sheet if you plan to attend the lunch so we can set up tables to accommodate everyone.
DMC Spring Cleaning on
May 17, 9:00 a.m. – noon.
Snacks and coffee will be provided.
We’ll have a clean church ready for Pastor Pieter’s installation and Doors Open Toronto.
\Worship Schedule reminder
April 18 – Good Friday
Worship leader Pieter N.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
April 20
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship leader Mike D.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
Adult Class no class – Easter breakfast
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Whether you’re representing your congregation, a youth looking to connect with peers from across Canada, or a young adult seeking inspiration, there’s something for everyone at Gathering 2025. Registration opens March 5
· Youth Gathering Schedule coming soon!
· Promotional Materials – bulletin inserts, posters
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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 .
MCEC – Annual Church Gathering 2025
Called to Action by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 – 11:30 a.m. Online
We invite you to the ACG, centered on the theme: “Called to Action by the Power of the Holy Spirit,” with reflection on Galatians 5:22–23 – the Fruits of the Spirit. We will explore how the Spirit’s presence—through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—guides and sustains our ministry, calling us to action.
We’ll conduct the business necessary to support this ongoing mission to energize congregations, encourage leaders and embody God’s reconciling ministry for all of creation. Your presence and voice are important as we walk together.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Garage & Rummage Sale at St. Clair O’Connor Community
Support local seniors at the St. Clair O’Connor Community (SCOC) indoor garage sale! All proceeds will help expand SCOC’s senior day programs, making social activities, friendship, and community support more accessible to seniors across East York.
Location: 2703 St. Clair Ave. East
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Come shop for a good cause and support the amazing work SCOC has done for our seniors for decades.
Spring (classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich) Girl Guide cookies will be available from Bethany on Sunday, April 13.
In summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
April
12 Men’s breakfast
12 Messy Church
15 Ladies walking group – Bluffers Park
18 Good Friday service
20 Easter Potluck breakfast and service
22 Ladies walking group – Ashbridges Bay
29 Ladies walking group – Rosetta McLain Gardens
May
10 Saturday evening dinner and service
17 Chuch cleaning
18 Pastor Pieter’s installation
24/25 Doors Open Toronto
Wider Church
April
13 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
26 MCEC Annual Gathering – online
Community Corner
April
13 Girl Guide cookies
26 SCOC garage sale
27 Toronto Beach Chorale concert