DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Pieter Niemeyer
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 16, 2025 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Introduction
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: VT #98 Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise
Announcements
Offering Prayer
Hymn: VT#201 Hear the Turmoil of the Nations
Congregational prayer time
Confession and words of assurance
Scripture reading: Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Hymn: Give the fig tree one more season
Sermon: Planting the seed
Closing hymn: VT #156 There’s Wideness in God’s Mercy
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Sermon Carol O.
Worship Leader Sue S.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Roger H.
Greeters Vic & Mary Jane G.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Don B.
Hymn of the month: VT #201 Hear the turmoil of the nations
Adult Discussion Class
We will be studying the 2nd chapter from the book “Radical gratitude”.
If you would like to receive emails regarding what’s happening in our class, please contact Bonnie.
Call to worship
One: Christ collides with our thoughts to condemn others.
Many: Put them in their place.
One: Who is more guilty of wrongdoing?
Many: Do you condemn? Should I condemn?
All: For your reign, O God, transform 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 are quick to pass judgment and to assume your authority to condemn others.
All: We repent before each other and before you, our loving God. Please help us open our hearts to your love. Help us shake free from our quickness to condemn 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 13:1-9, 31-35 (RSVU)
Repent or Perish
13 At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
The Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Give the Fig Tree One More Season
Give that fig tree one more season.
I’ll prune branches, work the soil.
Let me fling manure around it.
This old tree is worth the toil.
Lord, you walked about the vineyard,
came upon this aging tree,
Found the branches bare and barren,
where the fruit should rightly be.
Give me one more year, my master,
I will tend with love and care,
I’ll awaken from these branches
figs so all may freely share.
None of us will be forsaken
by our Savior, by the Lord,
As this parable reminds us
taken from God’s holy word.
When we’re weary and forsaken,
when our lives are fruitless too,
Jesus will our hearts awaken
and restore us through and through.
Frank Ramirez is pastor of Union Center Church of the Brethren in Nappanee, Ind., and a prolific writer for Brethren Press, Messenger, Newsline, and a wide variety of other publications.
(Text copyright Frank Ramirez, who has given permission to share this with others. Sung to the tune of “The Servant Song,” number 307 in Hymnal: A Worship Book and 778 in Voices Together)
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tables available to a good home
We are replacing the wooden tables in the lower hall with powder-coat steel and high-density polyethylene stacking tables.
We will be removing the old tables when the new tables arrive. There are 4’ square, and 6’ & 8’ rectangle tables available.
If you would like a table(s), please let Bonnie know.
Treasurer’s Report: To the end of February $17,794 has been received in offerings so far this year. We received $6,517 in February. In order to meet our 2025 budget our monthly target for Sunday offerings is $9,206. In February there was another $200 donated to our Food Bank fund. A further $810 has been added in March as a result of Government Rebate cheques being forwarded to our Food Bank fund. Other designated donations were $100 to our Benevolence Fund and $50 to Danforth Grow hope. On March 4 we enjoyed a Shrove Tuesday fellowship dinner. There was $110 thrown into the basket to cover costs. Expenses from the dinner came to $91.39. 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, March 18 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Taylor Creek Park (parking lot on west side of Dawes Road).
An email will go out on Monday, March 17 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.
Worship Schedule reminder
March 23
Message Pieter N.
Worship leader Linda D.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
Book study Radical Gratitude – Murray
March 30
Message Margaret A.
Worship leader Cindy R.
Song Leader Don B.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Mike D.
Adult class
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
SCOC Hymn Sing on
Sunday evening at 7 pm
March 16
All are invited
In This Together presents a webinar series…Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #3 takes place on Sunday March 30, 6pm CT, and will include stories of Mennonite Churches that have developed “Being At Variance Statements” and why this is important. We will facilitate two break out rooms; one that will strategize an addendum to article 19, and the other to brainstorm creative witness actions/events of being “Faithfully at Variance” during the upcoming Mennonite Church Canada gathering in Kitchener/Waterloo this July. To register, go to https://inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events.
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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 .
Questions contact Karen at jandkbarber @ gmail.com
MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2025
Called to Action by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 – 11:30 a.m. Online
Registration opens at the end of March.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Spring (classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich) Girl Guide cookies will be available from Bethany on
Sunday, March 23.
In summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
March
15 Messy Church
18 Ladies walking group – Taylor Creek Park
25 Ladies walking group
April
1 Ladies walking group
8 Ladies walking group
12 Men’s breakfast
12 Messy Church
15 Ladies walking group
22 Ladies walking group
29 Ladies walking group
Wider Church
March
April
5 Fraser Lake 70 years
13 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
26 MCEC Annual Gathering – online
Community Corner
March
23 Girl Guide cookies
We are in need of books for the Little Library.
We’re currently looking for assistance with a few finance-related tasks and would love to have a volunteer on board. Specifically, we’re seeking volunteers for: