DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Pieter Niemeyer
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
April 27, 2025 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Land acknowledgement
Announcements
Call to Worship
Hymn: VT 180 This is God’s Wonderous World
Litany: VT 884 God was, God is, God will be
Scripture reading part one: John 20:19-23
Hymn: VT 57 Holy Spirit, Come with Power
Offering prayer
Hymn: VT #708 As the waters Rise Around us
Congregational prayer
Scripture reading part two: John 20:24-31
Sermon: Resurrection Hope
Hymn: VT 353 Now the Green Blade Rises
Blessing
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Sermon Carol O.
Worship Leader Pieter N.
Song Leader Don B.
Musician Kathy W., Ray W.
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host Mike DeHaan
A/V Murray L.
Hymn of the month: VT# 708 As the Waters Rise Around Us
The Adult Discussion
Chapter Three, 2nd half – Radical Gratitude, Sunday April 27, 2025
Please read the 2nd half of the chapter, p. 52 through p. 70.
Call to Worship
Leader: Come let us celebrate God’s good gift.
Creation reverberates with new life, of what was dormant, sleeping, or dead- awakens to new life.
The land in all its various forms, from prairies to mountains and forests proclaim the glory of God as well as the Oceans, rivers, lakes, and seas.
The in-between places of marshes, wetlands, mangroves and estuaries with platypus, shoebills, and fishing cats all unique to these in-between places- they, too, proclaim the glory of God.
Let us dwell in God’s work of art.
Come, because the Earth is the Lord’s,
And God’s Earth is our home.
All:
We live in God’s World; we are not alone.
We share this life with the heavens and the earth,
With the waters and the land,
With trees and grasses,
With fish, birds, and animals,
With minerals and creatures of every form,
And with all our siblings.
Leader: God is good and everything God makes is good. God is love and everything God makes is love’s fruit. Let us worship God!
Scripture Reading
John 20:19-23 (NRSVUE)
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20:24-31
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Mennonite World Conference
joins Catholics and other faith communities across the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who died on 21 April 2025, at the age of 88.
“With gratitude, we remember the life of Pope Francis,” says César García, MWC general secretary. “We reflect on how, through his life and teachings, he highlighted important issues for our Anabaptist communion: the imitation of Christ in his approach to power; his understanding of leadership as service; his commitment to peace; his focus on marginalized individuals, the poor, and immigrants; his concern for church unity as demonstrated in his relationships with other Christian communions and the practice of synodality; his respect for different faiths; and his care for God’s creation. These efforts, among others, endeared him to many of our brothers and sisters throughout his years of ministry.”
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
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.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, April 29, we return at 10:30 a.m. to Rosetta McClain Gardens at 5 Glen Everest Road (Kingston Road and Birchmount) for a one-hour stroll through the gardens.
An email will go out on Monday April 28th 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.
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 Rudy-Frose 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.
Doors Open Toronto
May 24 & 25
Explore Toronto’s architectural, historical, cultural and socially significant buildings for free during Doors Open weekend. With sports, music and theatre venues and more than 150 sites to discover, the city becomes an urban playground. Get ready to play.
This will be DMC’s third year participating in Doors Open Toronto. We will gear our weekend to family activities, thanks to Theatre of the Beat and our 128th Girl Guide Troupe.
We enjoyed the hymn sing last year and are doing it again on the Saturday afternoon. If you would like to join us in the singing, please add your name to the sign-up sheet.
We need volunteers as greeters in the lower lobby, upper lobby, the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. If you’re not up to speed on our history, no worries. We have handouts with the information.
Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board.
Worship Schedule reminder
May 4
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship leader Dalton J.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
Adult class John E.
May 10 – Saturday evening service
Worship leader Pieter N.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
Silent Auction
in Support of Danforth Grow Hope
At Church of the Resurrection,
1100 Woodbine Avenue
(at corner of Milverton)
Sunday, April 27
12 noon to about 1 pm
*They are looking for auction items, in case anyone has anything to donate. Please contact Giselle Randall at giselle.randall @ gmail.com
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.
In summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
April
29 Ladies walking group – Rosetta McLain Gardens
May
10 Saturday evening dinner and service
17 Church Spring Cleaning
18 Pastor Pieter’s installation
24/25 Doors Open Toronto
Wider Church
April
26 MCEC Annual Gathering – online
Community Corner
April
26 SCOC garage sale
27 Toronto Beach Chorale concert
27 Silent Auction – Church of the Resurrection
May
9 Mark Battenberg
10 We Are Phoenx – Pax Chorale
10 Mother’s Day for Peace