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

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
December 29, 2024 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Land Acknowledgement
Welcome
Hymn:            VT #258 Love has come
Candle lighting
Call to worship
Hymn:          VT #259 To us a child of hope is born
Announcements
Offering prayer
Hymn:         VT #685 Oh Lord, hear my prayer
Congregational Prayer
Scripture I Samuel 8: 1-22, 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, I Kings 12: 1-20
Hymn:        VT #770 God is working this purpose out
Message: On the Other Hand
Hymn of Response:     VT #156 There’s a wideness in God’s Mercy
Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message:                  Jim W.
Worship Leader:  Linda D.
Song Leader:          Kathy W.
Musicians:              Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters:                 Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host:            Bonnie W.
A/V Technician:   Don B.

Hymn of the month: VT #258 Love has come

Hymn Sing Sunday and Adult Discussion Class
will return in January 2025

 

 

Call to worship
Based on Psalm 131:1–3

Leader: As we worship today,
God, we ask this of you:

People: Wipe pride from our hearts,
That we might truly love one another.
Rinse conceit from our eyes
That we might see one another as you see.

Leader: We rest in your promises and wait for you.

People: Calm and quiet, we trust in you.

Leader: Open our hearts,

All: That we might let go of all that separates us from you and one another.

 

Candle lighting

Men:  Have you heard the news? Jesus, the promised Messiah has come!

Women: I have heard the Good News! God is with us; Jesus is here!

Candlelighting (the Christ candle is lit)

All:  Let us shout it aloud for everyone to hear! Come join us on this journey, as we live out the Good News of Christ!

 

 

Scripture Reading
from the TANAKH translation
(Jewish Publication Society)

1 Samuel 8:1-22
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons judges [rulers] over Israel. 2 The name of his first-born son was Joel, and his second son’s name was Abijah; they sat as judges [rulers] in Beer-sheba. 3 But his sons did not follow in his ways; they were bent on gain, they accepted bribes, and they subverted justice.
4 All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and they said to him, “You have grown old, and your sons have not followed your ways. Therefore appoint a king for us, to govern [judge] us like all other nations.” 6 Samuel was displeased that they said “Give us a king to govern [judge] us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD, 7 and the LORD replied to Samuel, “Heed the demand of the people in everything they say to you. For it is not you that they have rejected; it is Me they have rejected as their king. 8 Like everything else they have done ever since I brought them out of Egypt to this day — forsaking Me and worshiping other gods — so they are doing to you. 9 Heed their demand; but warn them solemnly, and tell them about the practices of any king who will rule over them.”
10 Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people, who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and appoint them as his charioteers and horsemen, and they will serve as outrunners for his chariots. 12 He will appoint them as his chiefs of thousands and of fifties; or they will have to plow his fields, reap his harvest, and make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will seize your choice fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his courtiers. 15 He will take a tenth part of your grain and vintage and give it to his eunuchs and courtiers. 16 He will take your male and female slaves, your choice young men, and your asses, and put them to work for him. 17 He will take a tenth part of your flocks, and you shall become his slaves. 18 The day will come when you cry out because of the king whom you yourselves have chosen; and the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
19 But the people would not listen to Samuel’s warning. “No,” they said. “We must have a king over us, 20 that we may be like all the other nations: Let our king rule over [judge] us and go out at our head and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he reported it to the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed their demands and appoint a king for them.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “All of you go home.”

2 Samuel 7:1-16
1 When the king was settled in his palace [house] and the LORD had granted him safety from all the enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan: “Here I am dwelling in a house [palace] of cedar, while the Ark of the LORD abides in a tent!” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5 “Go and say to My servant David: Thus said the LORD: Are you the one to build a house [temple] for Me to dwell in? 6 From the day that I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to this day I have not dwelt in a house [temple], but have moved about in Tent and Tabernacle. 7 As I moved about wherever the Israelites went, did I ever reproach any of the tribal leaders whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house [temple] of cedar?
8 “Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel, 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you great renown like that of the greatest men on earth. 10 I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any more as in the past, 11 ever since I appointed chieftains [judges] over My people Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies.
“The LORD declares to you that He, the LORD, will establish a house [dynasty] for you. 12 When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. 13 He shall build a house [temple] for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will chastise him with the rod of men and the affliction of mortals; 15 but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed to make room for you. 16 Your house [dynasty] and your kingship shall ever be secure before you; your throne shall be established forever.”

1 Kings 12:1-20
1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to acclaim him as king. 2 Jeroboam son of Nebat learned of it while he was still in Egypt; for Jeroboam had fled from King Solomon, and had settled in Egypt. 3 They sent for him; and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam as follows: 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke which your father laid on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He answered them, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.
6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. He said, “What answer do you advise me to give to this people?” 7 They answered him, “If you will be a servant to those people today and serve them, and if you respond to them with kind words, they will be your servants always.” 8 But he ignored the advice that the elders gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 “What,” he asked, “do you advise that we reply to the people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father placed upon us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him answered, “Speak thus to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us.’ Say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. 11 My father imposed a heavy yoke on you, and I will add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, but I will flog you with scorpions.'”
12 Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, since the king had told them: “Come back on the third day.” 13 The king answered the people harshly, ignoring the advice that the elders had given him. 14 He spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, and said, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, but I will flog you with scorpions.” 15 (The king did not listen to the people; for the LORD had brought it about in order to fulfill the promise that the LORD had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.) 16 When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered the king:
“We have no portion in David,
No share in Jesse’s son!
To your tents,
O Israel!
Now look to your own House [dynasty], O David.”
So the Israelites returned to their homes. 17 But Rehoboam continued to reign over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
18 King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel pelted him to death with stones. Thereupon King Rehoboam hurriedly mounted his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. 19 Thus Israel revolted against the House [dynasty] of David, as is still the case.
20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent messengers and summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the House [dynasty] of David.

 

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)

 

Christmas Giving Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your generosity.

 

Worship Schedule reminder

January 5
Message                   Robin W.
Worship leader   Margaret A.
Song Leader          Don B.
Musicians              Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host         Bonnie W.
A/V Tech              Mike D.

Hymn Sing         Kathy W.

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.

Book Study        Murray L.

 

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

A thankyou note from Theatre of the Beat

Dear friends at Danforth Mennonite Church,
I hope you’re having a lovely December so far!
I’m writing to express gratitude on behalf of the entire TOTB team for your recent donation to our Amplifying Social Change fundraising campaign.
Your generous gift, which was matched 1:1 by a small group of anonymous donors, will go twice as far in helping Theatre of the Beat with our exciting endeavors for 2025, including:
• Delivering 25 free drama-based workshops to underresourced youth in Ontario, educating them about consent and mental health & helping them build confidence, community, and creative expression

• Delivering 25 free workshops to seniors in Ontario, using the arts to share important messages and intervention strategies for elder abuse prevention
• Developing our new play Bargaining Human Life, which explores human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery and connects these issues to hyperconsumerism, global supply chains, and individual purchasing power
• Mounting the 2nd annual Emerging Producers Festival, which will offer hands-on training to four youth artist-producers and showcase four new Canadian works-in-progress addressing social justice topics.
We’re excited to stay in touch about these upcoming activities, and so grateful to have your support as we keep leveraging the power of theatre for positive social change!
Wishing you happiness & health,

Malia R.
Development Manager
Pronouns: she/her
theatreofthebeat.ca

 

 

In Summary, upcoming events:

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

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
 We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
December 22, 2024   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Welcome

Land Acknowledgment

Call to Worship

Candle Lighting

Opening Hymn: VT #47  God of our Strength

Announcements

Hymn: VT #258  Love Has Come

Offering

Hymn: VT #715     Longing for Light

Congregational Prayer

Scriptures: Luke 1: 46 – 55

Hymn: VT #222  My soul proclaims with wonder

Message:    Find the miracle in the mess

Closing Hymn: VT #209  We Dream of a Turning

Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Carol O.
Worship Leader             Mike D.
Song Leader                     Sue S.
Musician                            Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Roger H.

December hymn of the month:  VT #258  Love Has Come

Hymn Sing Sunday and Adult Discussion Class will return in January 2025

 

 

Call to worship

Leader:   God shows His strength:

People:   God casts the proud from their thrones.

Leader:   God shows His mercy:

People:   God helps the meek live together in peace.

Leader:   God shows His justice:

People:  God sends the rich away hungry.

Leader:   God shows His loving care:

People:   God feeds the hungry.

Leader:   God shows His constant love…

People:   …to His servants in the past, the present, and the future.

All:   Thanks be to God, our eternal hope and Saviour.

 

Candle lighting

Reader 1:   Mary was told that she would be the mother to the promised Messiah.

Reader 2:   And she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.”

Reader 1:   With the courage of Mary, we can accept the journey ahead of us.

Reader 2:   But we do not need to walk it alone.

Reader 1:   We need the support of others.

All: With Christ as our center, we join hands with others, walking together on the journey.

 

Benediction

May Jesus be nurtured, and born, and grow in our lives so that he would find a home with us.
May we also be at home with him.
May the world be blessed to see and know and love this Jesus, who is “God-with-us”.
Amen.

 

Scripture Reading
Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s Song of Praise
⁴⁶ And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
⁵⁰ indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

All are welcome to join us for the
Christmas Eve service.
The children will be participating
Cold drinks and cookies
will be served
after the service.

 

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)

 

Did you know?
DMC Prayer requests

This past Monday Bonnie sent out the prayer requests from Sunday’s service to the BULLETIN email group.

During our congregational prayer time every Sunday, someone is designated to document the prayer requests which Bonnie then sends out to the “WEEKLY PRAYER” email group on Monday.

If you have trouble hearing the requests, or can’t attend the services, but would like to know what the requests have been, please contact Bonnie and she will add you on to the WEEKLY PRAYER email group.

 

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.

It’s getting filled up!

 

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 29
Message                  Jim W.
Worship leader   Linda D.
Song Leader          Kathy W.
Musicians              Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host          Mike D.
A/V Tech                Don B.

January 5
Message                     Robin W.
Worship leader      Margaret A.
Song Leader             Don B.
Musicians                  Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                    Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host             Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                   Mike D.

Hymn Sing             Kathy W.

 

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

A thankyou note from Theatre of the Beat

Dear friends at Danforth Mennonite Church,
I hope you're having a lovely December so far!
I'm writing to express gratitude on behalf of the entire TOTB team for your recent donation to our Amplifying Social Change fundraising campaign.

Your generous gift, which was matched 1:1 by a small group of anonymous donors, will go twice as far in helping Theatre of the Beat with our exciting endeavors for 2025, including:

• Delivering 25 free drama-based workshops to underresourced youth in Ontario, educating them about consent and mental health & helping them build confidence, community, and creative expression

• Delivering 25 free workshops to seniors in Ontario, using the arts to share important messages and intervention strategies for elder abuse prevention

• Developing our new play Bargaining Human Life, which explores human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery and connects these issues to hyperconsumerism, global supply chains, and individual purchasing power

• Mounting the 2nd annual Emerging Producers Festival, which will offer hands-on training to four youth artist-producers and showcase four new Canadian works-in-progress addressing social justice topics.

We're excited to stay in touch about these upcoming activities, and so grateful to have your support as we keep leveraging the power of theatre for positive social change!

Wishing you happiness & health,
Malia R.
Development Manager
Pronouns: she/her
theatreofthebeat.ca

 

Urgent Financial Need – MCEC

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to support the ongoing ministry and mission of MCEC. We face a financial challenge to meet the approved budget. Despite strong reduction in expenses, revenue has greatly declined. Our MCEC Finance Update for December

(https://mcec.ca/res/pub/Documents/Financial-Statements/MCEC-Finance-Update-December-2024.pdf) outlines the details.

 

In Summary, upcoming events:

At Danforth
December
24  DMC Christmas Eve service

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

Wider Church
December
Community corner
December

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

 We welcome all guests who have joined us.

 

Danforth Mennonite Church
December 8, 2024   11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

 

Lighting the candle of PEACE

Words of Welcome

Call to Worship & Prayer

Hymn: VT #57  Holy Spirit, Come with Power

Announcements

Offering and prayer VT #1015

Hymn:  VT #258  Love Has Come

Congregational prayer

Hymn: VT #533     Quietly, Peacefully

Scripture reading:  Joel 2:12-22, 28-32, Luke 11:9-13

Message:  What will you ask for?

Benediction:  VT #839 Go Ye Now in Peace

 

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Margaret A.
Worship Leader             Bonnie W.
Song Leader                     Sue S.
Musician                            Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Cindy R., Bethany W.
Zoom Host                        Mike D.
A/V Technician               Fazal S.

 

December Hymn of the month   VT #258   Love Has Come

 

Adult Discussion Class
Coffee will be served

This Sunday the Adult Discussion group will be looking at our program for 2025.  We would like your input on what we would like to do – topics, book study, etc.
All are welcome to join us in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m.

 

Call to worship
based on Joel 2:12-13

 

Leader: Let us return to the Lord with all our hearts.

People: With our whole heart?

Leader: The hurting and hurtful part? The bleeding and empty part?

People:   The sewn-up-tight-don’t-come-in heart part?

All: With our whole heart, with all our hearts we come to worship the Lord God,

Leader: whose merciful compassion, abundant patience, and faithful forgiving love meet us in our need.

 

Scripture Reading
Joel 2:12-22, 28-32

Change your hearts
¹² Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your hearts,
with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow;
¹³ tear your hearts
and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
very patient, full of faithful love,
and ready to forgive.
¹⁴ Who knows whether he will have a change of heart
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
¹⁵ Blow the horn in Zion;
demand a fast;
request a special assembly.
¹⁶ Gather the people;
prepare a holy meeting;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the groom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep.
Let them say, “Have mercy, Lord, on your people,
and don’t make your inheritance a disgrace,
an example of failure among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

Words of compassion and promise
¹⁸ Then the Lord became passionate about this land, and had pity on his people.
¹⁹ The Lord responded to the people:
See, I am sending you
the corn, new wine, and fresh oil,
and you will be fully satisfied by it;
and I will no longer make you
a disgrace among the nations.
²⁰ I will remove the northern army far from you
and drive it into a dried-up and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea,
and its rear into the western sea.
Its stench will rise up;
its stink will come to the surface.
The Lord is about to do great things!
²¹ Don’t fear, fertile land;
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord is about to do great things!
²² Don’t be afraid, animals of the field,
for the meadows of the wilderness will turn green;
the tree will bear its fruit;
the fig tree and grapevine will give their full yield.

²⁸ After that I will pour out my spirit upon everyone;
your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
²⁹ In those days, I will also pour out my
spirit on the male and female slaves.

³⁰ I will give signs in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke. ³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ³² But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be security, as the Lord has promised; and in Jerusalem, the Lord will summon those who survive.

Luke 11:9-13
⁹ And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.

¹¹ “Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? ¹² If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? ¹³ If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

 

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

The choir will be singing at our service on December 22nd. All are welcome. There will be a practice during the pre-service singing on Sunday, December 15^th as well as a short practice after church on December 15thWe are singing VT# 242 – Night Long Awaited.

See Kathy W. if you have any questions.

 

Treasurer’s Report: We received $11,557 in offerings in November. We need $8,114 in offerings to meet our 2024 budget. These November donations along with the absence of a paid Pastor have led to a $40,457 operating surplus to the end of November.
 
In November we sent a $550 cheque to the Nourish East End Food Bank. This money was raised during our Thanksgiving Food Bank drive. There has now been an additional $800 donated to our Food Bank fund. We will be passing on our Food Bank donations to the 40 Teesdale Food Bank and the Nourish East End Food Bank by the end of the year. Our Food Bank fund is open for donations year around. Please designate your donation “Food Bank” to support this need.
 
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.

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 remit any DMC related expenses to Roger H. before December 15^th.   We want to pay out all expenses before year end.

 

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

 

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)

 

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.

Let’s fill the tree with mittens.

 

Ladies Walking group

We will be visiting Allan Gardens with plans to meet there at 10:30 a.m.  We are carpooling and some are going by TTC.

If you need a ride, please contact Bonnie.

 

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 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.

December 22
Message                Carol O.
Worship leader Mike D.
Song Leader        Sue S.
Musicians             Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host         Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Roger H.

 

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

December
7  Pax Chorale Christmas through the Ages
8  Toronto Beach Chorale concert
16 & 17  Messiah  in Uxbridge