DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

Danforth Mennonite Church
January 26, 2025   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome

Call to Worship

Opening Hymn: VT #91    We Praise Thee O God

Announcements

Offering Prayer

Hymn: VT #714    Let there be light, O Lord

Congregational Prayer

Hymn: VT #374     There are many gifts

Scripture:  1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Luke 4:14-21

Message: The Standard of the Spirit:  Part 1

Hymn of Response: VT #839   Go Ye Now in Peace

Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Pieter N.
Worship Leader             Linda D.
Song Leader                     Ed F.
Musician                            Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Wilda S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Fazal S.

Hymn of the month:  VT #839   Go Ye Now in Peace

Adult Discussion Class

We live in a culture of death. This Sunday we explore the reaction to the presence of New Life. Join us. We are reading Acts (5:17-42).

If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.

Call to worship

Leader: Christ is like a single body that has many parts.

All: It is still one body though every part is different.

Leader: Therefore the foot cannot say,

Men: I am not part of the body

Leader: nor can the ear say,

Women: I am not part of the body

Leader: The eye cannot say to the hand,

Men: I don’t need you,

Leader: nor can the head say to the feet,

Women: I don’t need you.

Leader: If one part suffers,

All: all parts share the pain,

Leader: if one part is praised,

All: all parts share the joy.

Leader: Together we are Christ’s body

All: each one of us is a part of it.

Offering Prayer

Leader: What will you offer the body of Christ today?

All: Bring all that you have.  Bring all that you are.

Men: The gifts of silence and the gifts of words are welcome.

Women: The gifts of leading and the gifts of following are welcome.

Men: The gifts of doubt and the gifts of faith are welcome.

Women: The gifts of the head and the gifts of the heart are welcome.

Men: The gifts of planning and the gifts of spontaneity are welcome.

All: May all that we are as individuals come together to strengthen the living body of the church, Christ Incarnate.

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Unity and Diversity in the Body
¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Luke 4:14:21

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Danforth Mennonite Church
Annual General meeting
February 2, 2025

Dates to note:

• printed copies upon request – will be available January 26 (Sunday before the meeting)

DMC Policy on Attending and Voting at
DMC Business and Congregation meetings

Everyone is welcome to attend the business and/or congregation meeting and participate in the discussion.  You are welcome to vote if you have been participating at DMC, and plan to continue doing so in the future.

I am updating the church directory and the birthday/anniversary list.

When you are at church, please review and initial the documents on the table outside the sanctuary that:

• Information is correct AND
• You give permission to publish.

I will contact via email those persons that don’t come in person to church.

The directory will only be distributed for those persons listed in it.

The birthday and anniversary information is used for notices in the bulletin.  I don’t put in the year unless it is requested.  We highlight (with your permission) birthdays ending in zero and five (e.g.  5. 50, 75, 80) in the church newsletter.

I am now focused on the birthday and anniversary list.

Ladies Walking group
will start up again on
January 28^th
at Taylor Creek Park.

See you in a week.

Worship Schedule reminder

February 2
Message                  Pieter N.
Worship leader   Cindy R.
Song Leader          Dalton J.
Musicians              Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Don B.

Hymn Sing             our favorites

February 9
Message                  Pieter N.
Worship leader   Erma M.
Song Leader          Don B.
Musicians               Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                 Murray L.

Book study             Murray

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hope Starts at Home:

An evening with Phyllis Webstad

March 24, 2025 at 6 pm, Bingemans Conference Centre, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr, Kitchener
Join us on March 24 along with author and speaker, Phyllis Webstad, the founder and ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society. Phyllis will share her childhood of healing and reconciliation in Canada as we seek to restore justice, foster belonging and address poverty in Ontario. Funds raised at the event will supply MCC Ontario’s new meat cannery. To learn more and order your tickets, go to

mcc.org/evening-with-phyllis-webstad.

In This together presents a webinar series…Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #2 takes place on Sunday February 2, 6pm CT. We will be discussing Queer Relationships to the Confession. Theologian and MCEC Pastor Eliot Chandler Burns will reflect on historical and current impacts of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective on Queer Mennonites, followed by responses by Anita Fast and Nessa Schattman. For more details and to register, visit inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events.

In Summary, upcoming events:

At Danforth

January
26  AGM booklet printed copies available on request
28  Ladies Walking Group – Taylor Creek Park
 
February
1  Pastor Pieter joins us as our Pastor
2  DMC AGM
4  Ladies walking group
8  Men’s breakfast
8  Messy Church
11  Ladies walking group
18  Ladies walking group
25  Ladies walking group

Wider Church

February
2  In This Together webinar

March
24  Evening with Phyllis Webstad

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
January 19, 2025   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Welcome

Introduction and video

Opening Hymn:  VT#778 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

Announcements

Offering Prayer

Special Music:   ‘Anointing, Fall on Me’  — Don B. and Kathy W.

Congregational prayer time

Scripture reading:  Mark 1:14-20

Hymn: VT #283  Lord, You Have Come To The Lakeshore

Introduction of this morning’s speaker

Message:  Ordinary People

Closing hymn:  VT #839  Go my friends, in peace

Benediction

 

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Stephen R., MCC Ontario
Worship Leader             Sue S.
Song Leader                     Sue S.
Musician                            Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Wilda S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Fazal S.

 

Hymn of the month:  VT #839  Go Ye Now in Peace

 

Adult Discussion Class

This week we continue to explore the early church. Please read along with us Acts 4:32-5:11. All are invited to join.

If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.

 

Scripture Reading

Mark 1:14-20
Jesus Announces the Good News
¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples
¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.
¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

 

SHARING IN THE PATH TO
RECONCILIATION

A message from the Outreach and Service Committee

An eye-opener for me was in Thompson Highway’s chapter titled “Why Cree is the Funniest of All Languages”. He writes “Here for the purpose of comparison, is a creation myth that should knock the socks right off your English-speaking feet and, in the process, make you laugh until you’re bent over double.” Leslie S., O&S Committee

“Humour is the WD-40 of healing”
the words of a Blood Reserve elder

Summary from The Toronto Public Library…
Humor has always been an essential part of North American aboriginal culture. This fact remained unnoticed by most settlers, however, since non-aboriginals just didn’t get the joke. For most of written history, a stern, unyielding profile of “the Indian” dominated the popular mainstream imagination. Indians, it was believed, never laughed. But Indians themselves always knew better.  As an award-winning playwright, columnist, and comedy-sketch creator, Drew Hayden Taylor has spent 15 years writing and researching aboriginal humor. For Me Funny, he asked a noted cast of writers from a variety of fields — including such celebrated wordsmiths as Thomas King, Allan J. Ryan, Mirjam Hirch, and Tomson Highway — to take a look at what makes aboriginal humor tick. Their hilarious, enlightening contributions playfully examine the use of humor in areas as diverse as stand-up comedy, fiction, visual art, drama, performance, poetry, traditional storytelling, and education.

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
Annual General meeting
February 2, 2025

Dates to note:

• AGM booklet will be emailed out January 22
• printed copies upon request – will be available January 26 (Sunday before the meeting)

DMC Policy on Attending and Voting at
DMC Business and Congregation meetings

Everyone is welcome to attend the business and/or congregation meeting and participate in the discussion.  You are welcome to vote if you have been participating at DMC, and plan to continue doing so in the future.

Church directory and
birthday list

I am updating the church directory and the birthday/anniversary list.

When you are at church, please review and initial the documents on the table outside the sanctuary that: 

• Information is correct AND
• You give permission to publish.

I will contact via email those persons that don’t come in person to church.

The directory will only be distributed for those persons listed in it.

The birthday and anniversary information is used for notices in the bulletin.  I don’t put in the year unless it is requested.  We highlight (with your permission) birthdays ending in zero and five (e.g.  5. 50, 75, 80) in the church newsletter.

I am now focused on the birthday and anniversary list.

 

Treasurer’s Report: We received $7,102 in offerings in December. Your donations along with the absence of a paid Pastor have led to a $43,715 operating surplus to the end of 2024. Expenses were also low in 2024.  More details will follow in the Financial Report for the AGM. Thank you for your steady financial commitment to Danforth during this unusual year.

In December we received $1,400 in donations directed towards our Benevolence Fund. At year end there is $2,251 in the fund. Our policy has a target of keeping $2,000 in the fund for crisis situations.

In December there was an additional $560 donated to our Food Bank fund. This additional money allowed us to send $680 to the Neighbourhood Group for the 40 Teesdale Food Bank and $680 to the Nourish East End Food Bank by year end.

There was also a $172 donation to the John G. Memorial Fund. This fund now stands at $1200

Special Note: We recently received in January 2025, a planned gift from the Estate of Salome H. There will be more information about this bequest in the Financial Report for the AGM and a full report from Church Council at the AGM on Feb. 2, 2025.

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
will start up again on
January 28^th
at Taylor Creek Park.

See you in a week.

 

Worship Schedule reminder

January 26
Message                   Pieter N.
Worship leader    Linda D.
Song Leader           Don B.
Musicians                Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                  Wilda S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host           Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                 Roger H.

Discussion Class     Acts – John E.

February 2
Message                    Pieter N.
Worship leader     Cindy R.
Song Leader            Dalton J.
Musicians                 Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                   Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host            Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                   Don B.

Hymn Sing             our favorites lead by Dalton

 

Church Council is pleased to announce that Pieter N.
 will begin the role of pastor of DMC on Sat. Feb. 1, 2025…

just in time for our Annual General Meeting on Sunday Feb. 2.

Just a note about the schedule for speaking on Sundays:

Before Pieter’s start date was finalized, Worship Committee had already scheduled Pieter to return as a guest speaker on Sun. Jan. 26.

As pastor, Pieter will speak several times a month; for example, on Feb. 2, 9, and 23. As we resume having a pastor, we will also resume our long-held practice of having a guest speaker at least once a month, on average. This gives the pastor more time, in that week, to focus on other aspects of ministry.

 

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Hope Starts at Home:
An evening with Phyllis W.

March 24, 2025 at 6 pm
Bingemans Conference Centre,
425 Bingemans Centre Dr, Kitchener

Join us on March 24 along with author and speaker, Phyllis W., the founder and ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society. Phyllis will share her childhood of healing and reconciliation in Canada as we seek to restore justice, foster belonging and address poverty in Ontario. Funds raised at the event will supply MCC Ontario’s new meat cannery. To learn more and order your tickets, go to

mcc.org/evening-with-phyllis-webstad.

 

 

In This together presents a webinar series…Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #2 takes place on Sunday February 2, 6pm CT. We will be discussing Queer Relationships to the Confession. Theologian and MCEC Pastor Eliot Chandler Burns will reflect on historical and current impacts of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective on Queer Mennonites, followed by responses by Anita F. and Nessa S. For more details and to register,

visit inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events.

 

In Summary, upcoming events:

At Danforth
January
22  AGM booklet will be emailed
26  AGM booklet printed copies available on request
28  Ladies Walking Group – Taylor Creek Park

February
1  Pastor Pieter joins us as our Pastor
2  DMC AGM
4  Ladies walking group
8  Men’s breakfast
8  Messy Church
11  Ladies walking group
18  Ladies walking group
25  Ladies walking group

Wider Church
February
2  In This Together webinar

March
24  Evening with Phyllis W.

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
January 12, 2025   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Prelude

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Call to Worship

Hymn:  #57  Holy Spirit, Come with Power

Announcements 

Presenting our Gifts

Hymn:  #718  Gentle Shepherd, Come and Lead Us

Prayers of the people

Hymn:  #716  God of Grace and God of Glory

Scripture –  Acts 4: 23-31

Message: Resisting Chaos: Living Stones, Living Temple   

Hymn of Response: S&R #60  Living Stones

Benediction

Postlude

 

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             John E.
Worship Leader             Dalton J.
Scripture reading          Chuck R.
Song Leader                     Kathy W.
Musician                            Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Vic & Mary Jane G.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Murray L.

Hymn of the month   VT #839   Go Ye Now in Peace

The adult discussion class will be meeting this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. to select a book for the book study starting February 9^th.
If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.

 

Scripture Reading
Acts 4: 23-31 (NIV)

The Believers Pray
²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

 

Call to Worship

God of every place, some of us see you today from mountains of joy and confidence, mountains of gratitude and praise.

Some of us seek you today from valleys of grief or doubt, valleys of loss or exhaustion.

And in all places, there you are with us, nudging us onward.

When we descent from the heights, show us your presence on the ground.

When we rise from the depths, show us the light of your way. Meet us all on the path made by Jesus.

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
Annual General meeting
February 2, 2025

Dates to note:

• submissions no later than January 15
• AGM booklet will be emailed out January 22
• printed copies upon request – will be available January 26 (Sunday before the meeting)

DMC Policy on Attending and Voting at
DMC Business and Congregation meetings

Everyone is welcome to attend the business and/or congregation meeting and participate in the discussion.  You are welcome to vote if you have been participating at DMC, and plan to continue doing so in the future.

 

Church directory and
birthday list

I am updating the church directory and the birthday/anniversary list.

When you are at church, please review and initial the documents on the table outside the sanctuary that:

• Information is correct AND
• You give permission to publish.

I will contact via email those persons that don’t come in person to church.

The directory will only be distributed for those persons listed in it.

The birthday and anniversary information is used for notices in the bulletin.  I don’t put in the year unless it is requested.  We highlight (with your permission) birthdays ending in zero and five (e.g.  5. 50, 75, 80) in the church newsletter.

I am now focused on the birthday and anniversary list.

 

Treasurer’s Report: We received $7,102 in offerings in December. Your donations along with the absence of a paid Pastor have led to a $43,715 operating surplus to the end of 2024. Expenses were also low in 2024.  More details will follow in the Financial Report for the AGM. Thank you for your steady financial commitment to Danforth during this unusual year.

In December we received $1,400 in donations directed towards our Benevolence Fund. At year end there is $2,251 in the fund. Our policy has a target of keeping $2,000 in the fund for crisis situations.

In December there was an additional $560 donated to our Food Bank fund. This additional money allowed us to send $680 to the Neighbourhood Group for the 40 Teesdale Food Bank and $680 to the Nourish East End Food Bank by year end.

There was also a $172 donation to the John G. Memorial Fund. This fund now stands at $1200

Special Note: We recently received in January 2025, a planned gift from the Estate of Salome H. There will be more information about this bequest in the Financial Report for the AGM and a full report from Church Council at the AGM on Feb. 2, 2025.

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
will start up again on
January 28^th.

 

Men’s breakfast
Saturday, January 11

 

 

Worship Schedule reminder

January 19
Message                  Stephen R. – from MCC
Worship leader   Sue S.
Song Leader          Sue S.
Musicians              Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                Wilda S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host         Bonnie W.
A/V Tech               Fazal S.

Discussion Class     Acts – John E.

January 26
Message                   Pieter N.
Worship leader    Linda D.
Song Leader          Don B.
Musicians               Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Wilda S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Roger H.

Discussion Class     Acts – John E.

Church Council is pleased to announce that Pieter N. will begin the role of pastor of DMC on Sat. Feb. 1, 2025…

just in time for our Annual General Meeting on Sunday Feb. 2.

Just a note about the schedule for speaking on Sundays:
Before Pieter’s start date was finalized, the Worship Committee had already scheduled Pieter to return as a guest speaker on Sun. Jan. 26.

As pastor, Pieter will speak several times a month; for example, on Feb. 2, 9, and 23. As we resume having a pastor, we will also resume our long-held practice of having a guest speaker at least once a month, on average. This gives the pastor more time, in that week, to focus on other aspects of ministry.

 

Our Little Library is in need of books.

 

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 – 11:30 a.m. ONLINE
ACG will take place as an online business meeting – a chance to connect and collaborate as an online community. Don’t miss the chance to meet Anthony Siegrist, MCEC’s newly appointed Executive Minister.

 

MC Canada Gathering in MCEC!
July 2-5, 2025
Kitchener-Waterloo, ON
Three unique avenues for engagement: Congregational Gathering; Youth Gathering; U30 Young Adult Gathering. Also look for meetings for Creation Care, Pastors and more!

 

In Summary, upcoming events:

At Danforth
January
11 Men’s Breakfast
15 AGM Deadline for submissions for the booklet
22 AGM booklet will be emailed
26 AGM booklet printed copies available on request
28 Ladies Walking Group

February
1 Pastor Pieter joins us as our Pastor
2 DMC AGM
4 Ladies walking group
8 Men’s breakfast
8 Messy Church
11 Ladies walking group
18 Ladies walking group
25 Ladies walking group

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
January 5, 2025   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Welcome

Land Acknowledgement 

Call to Worship

Hymn: VT #9 Come Away from Rush and Hurry

Announcements

Offering Prayer

Hymn: VT #37 Be Still and Know that I am God

Congregational Prayer

Hymn: VT #570 When we Walk with the Lord

Scripture Text: Luke 2:41-52 and Psalm 2:7-8

Message: When I was Twelve

Hymn of Response: #4 VT#839 Go Ye Now in Peace

Benediction 

  

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Robin W.
Worship Leader             Margaret A.
Song Leader                     Don B.
Musician                            Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Vic & Mary Jane G.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Mike D.

 

Hymn of the month:  VT #839  Go Ye in Peace

 

It’s Hymn Sing Sunday
All are welcome to join us in the sanctuary
at 10:00 a.m.

 

The adult discussion class returns on January 12.  If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.

 

 

Call to worship
based on Luke 2:41–52

Leader:               Jesus, grant that we may learn from You as long as we live,

People:              that we would mature in wisdom and years.

Leader:               Just as you listened and questioned, grant us humility

People:              that we would sit among the teachers.

Leader:               We look to you, Emmanuel,

All:                        Jesus, teach us how to learn.

 

Scripture Reading
Psalm 2

God’s Promise to His Anointed

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against God and his anointed, saying,
‘Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us.’
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
God has them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
‘I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.’
7 I will tell of the decree of the Holy One:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
   today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve God with fear,
with trembling
12 kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Luke 2:41-52
Jesus increased in favor with all. Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware of this. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in God’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.

 

SHARING IN THE PATH TO
RECONCILIATION

A message from the
Outreach and Service Committee

Throughout 2025, the O&S Committee will provide submissions to the church bulletin under the above heading. This is one of the ways in which we plan to fulfill our 215+ Pledge Call to Action. It is an ongoing effort towards reconciliation.

We will highlight numerous ANNUAL INDIGENOUS DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE as well as other points of interest.

NATIONAL RIBBON SKIRT DAY, January 4^th.

Here is an excerpt from a statement by the Prime Minister on NATIONAL RIBBON SKIRT DAY 2024…
“Observed for the first time last year, National Ribbon Skirt Day commemorates the experience of Isabella Kulak, a member of Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan who was shamed for wearing a handmade ribbon skirt to a formal day at her elementary school.

Ribbon skirts have been worn by First Nations and Métis women, girls, and gender-diverse people for generations. With their vibrant colours, bold patterns, and intricate designs, they are a symbol of pride and offer a deep connection to Mother Earth.

Isabella’s story– and the stories of so many others – reminds us of the ongoing challenges Indigenous Peoples face, including racism and inequity, and of the work we need to continue doing, together, on the shared path of reconciliation. Today, we see women, girls, and gender-diverse people wearing ribbon skirts both formally and informally – like when they cross the stage to receive their degrees or when they are passing on traditional knowledge to the next generations at home or in classrooms. Thanks to their resilience, that history has not been and will never be lost.”

Photo reference: Isabelle Kulak, second from right, poses in front of her school with Eunice Ketchemonia-Cote, a ribbon skirt maker, right, her daughter Heather Ketchemonia, second from left, and mother, Stella Ketchemonia, CBC News, 2023.

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
Annual General meeting
February 2, 2025

Dates to note:

• submissions no later than January 15
• AGM booklet will be emailed out January 22
• printed copies upon request – will be available January 26 (Sunday before the meeting)

 

Ladies Walking group
will start up again on
January 28^th.

 

 

Worship Schedule reminder

January 12
Message                     John E.
Worship leader      Dalton J.
Song Leader             Kathy W.
Musicians                  Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                    Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host             Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                   Murray L.

Discussion Class     Book Study – Murray L.

January 19
Message                       Stephen R. – from MCC
Worship leader        Sue S.
Song Leader               Sue S.
Musicians                   Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                     Wilda S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host               Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                     Fazal S.

Discussion Class     Acts – John E.

 

Church Council is pleased to announce that Pieter N. will begin the role of pastor of DMC on Sat. Feb. 1, 2025…

just in time for our Annual General Meeting on Sunday Feb. 2.

Just a note about the schedule for speaking on Sundays:
Before Pieter’s start date was finalized, Worship Committee had already scheduled Pieter to return as a guest speaker on Sun. Jan. 26.

As pastor, Pieter will speak several times a month; for example, on Feb. 2, 9, and 23. As we resume having a pastor, we will also resume our long-held practice of having a guest speaker at least once a month, on average. This gives the pastor more time, in that week, to focus on other aspects of ministry.

 

 

In Summary, upcoming events:

At Danforth

January
11  Men’s Breakfast
15  AGM Deadline for submissions for the booklet
22  AGM booklet will be emailed
26  AGM booklet printed copies available on request
28  Ladies Walking Group

February
1  Pastor Pieter joins us as our Pastor
2  DMC AGM