DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
December 10, 2023
Order of Service
Welcome
Land acknowledgment
Opening Hymn # 241 O Come All Ye Faithful
Call to Worship
Candle Lighting and Litany
Hymn# 222 My Soul Proclaims With Wonder
Announcements
Offering and Prayer
Hymn # 216 Lo How a Rose E’re Blooming
Congregational Prayer
Scripture: John 1: 6-8 19-28
Solo – Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Message: Who Is Worthy?
Christmas Song: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message John E.
Worship Leader Erma M.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Scripture reading Vic G.
Musicians Emily L. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Roger H.
December hymn of the month: VT 216 Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
Sunday mornings 10:00 a.m.
Dec. 10 Discussion – Visions of Jesus led by Ed
Dec. 17 Discussion – Visions of Jesus led by Ed
Dec. 24 The Virgin Birth
Call to worship
Leader: Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with God one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
Ladies: God is not slow, as some think of slowness,
Men: but is patient with us,
People: not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Leader: The word of our God will stand forever.
People: How shall we live while we wait for salvation?
All: Together we wait.
Scripture reading
John 1:6-8, 19-28
6 There came a man sent from God. His name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, he came to bear witness to the light.
19 And this is the witness of John when the Judeans from Jerusalem sent to him priests and Levites. They asked him, “Who are you?”
20 And John confessed, he did not deny it,
he confessed saying, “I am NOT the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 Then they said to him, “Who then are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’ just as Isaiah the prophet had said.”
24 Now, these priests and Levites had been sent from the Pharisees.
25 And furthermore they asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ? Nor Elijah? Nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.
27 “He is the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
28 These things took place in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan, the place where John was baptizing.
Advent candle lighting/benediction
Leader: We light a candle for peace.
Peace in our hearts,
peace in our homes,
peace in our world.
People: May the light of peace shine through our lives.
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Treasurer’s Report: In November we received $10,205 in offerings. This strong offering support along with our rental income has helped to eliminate our operating deficit and we now have a surplus of $378. Some additional expenses are expected in December, but with your help we hope to finish the year without a deficit.
Our Food Bank Designated Fund is always open and ongoing, and it received a $700 donation in November. These donations will be passed on to the Neighbourhood Group in support of the 40 Teesdale Food Bank. You can also contribute to the Nourish East End Food Bank through our Christmas Giving Tree project. Please designate cash donations “Christmas Giving Tree” if you would like your donation directed to this project.
Thanks
Roger
Please submit your DMC expenses
to Roger by December 15, 2023.
We will be practicing our Christmas choir song
(Still,Still.Still VT # 264).
There will be a choir practice on Sundays after church. The practices will take place approximately 10 minutes after the service has ended and for about 10 minutes duration.
We can sing at various Christmas functions like Christmas Day church service, possibly carolling at St. Clair O’Connor.
There are of course no auditions.
All are most welcome.
See Kathy W. for more details.
Ladies Walking Group
See you in January
Our next Messy Church is
December 16th.
A note from Doors Open Toronto
We are pleased to welcome Danforth Mennonite Church into Doors Open Toronto 2024, taking place May 25 & 26, 2024.
The theme for Doors Open 2024 is “Hidden Histories,” tracking the lesser known, forgotten, and overlooked aspects of our great city.
Christmas Music at SCOC The newly formed Worship Committee at SCOC is asking folks at DMC (who are available) to circle the following date and to join our voices with residents for a service of Christmas Music. Date: Sunday Afternoon Dec. 10 Please come to the Meeting Room at 6:15. We will proceed from there to the 3rd floor and sing carols for the residents in Long Term Care, then return to the Meeting Room for a 7 pm service. Along with our voices, we are being asked to provide accompaniment for the singing (piano, along with other instruments that will add richness to the service.) Dalton - on behalf of Outreach & Service
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 and shared as well with the Food Bank program at our nearby Salvation Army. $$ donations will be forwarded to Nourish East End Food Bank in support of their program.
Let us think about food and clothing scarcity and how we can help to make a difference.
The Christmas mitten tree is set up in the sanctuary. Please hang up your mittens on the tree or drop off your donations in the bins.
Thank you for your generosity.
The tree is filling up but there’s still room for more mittens.
Worship Schedule reminder
December 17
Speaker Margaret A.
Worship leader Linda D.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
December 24
Speaker Stephen R.
Worship leader Sue S.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
Longest Night Service
Wednesday, December 20, 7-8 pm
At Danforth Mennonite Church and on Zoom
All are welcome to this service on the longest night of the year. Friends, this service is for you. Bring your grief. Bring your weariness. Bring your fatigue and allow yourself a quiet space to reflect and draw near to God.
Mennonite Days of Action
When we watch the news updates from Gaza it can feel quite overwhelming. So we ask: “What can we do that will make a difference?” Have you checked to see whether your MP is among those who have signed the letter asking our federal government to request an immediate ceasefire? Please check out this initiative and consider becoming involved.
If you have further questions please contact Murray or Dalton.
Mennonite Day of Action for a Ceasefire: Dec 19
On Dec 19., Mennonites across Canada and the US will hold demonstrations at their representatives offices to ask them to support a ceasefire. Over 200 Mennonites from 93 different congregations have already signed up to participate. Sign up now to get involved.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Carol O. welcomes you to
the CoSA/FCRI Open House
on Saturday, December 9
at Danforth Mennonite Church.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 10, 2023, 3pm. Menno Singers and Mennonite Mass Choir present Handel’s Messiah with artistic director Brandon Leis, a 230 voice choir, soloists Bethany Hörst (soprano), Jennifer Enns Modolo (mezzo soprano), Owen McCausland (tenor) and Nathan Keoughan (baritone) along with orchestra members of the former KW Symphony. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre in the Square Box Office. www.centreinthesquare.com
Pax Christi Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Elaine Choi, announces the following event to brighten your holiday season.
Saturday, December 9, at 4 pm, at ESG United Church, we will present Christmas Through the Ages; music and stories to evoke the wonder and joy of Christmas, from our family to yours. In collaboration with Hogtown Brass, we will perform favourites by Halley, Victoria, Lauridsen and others; culminating in John Rutter’s spectacular Gloria for choir, brass and organ. There will also be carols for all to sing.
More information at www.paxchristichorale.org.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
December
9 Men’s breakfast
10 Singing at SCOC
16 Messy Church
20 Longest Night service
Wider Church
December
9 CoSA Open House
9 Pax Christi Chorale Christmas through the Ages
10 Menno Singers Messiah
19 Mennonite Day of Action for a Ceasefire