DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
January 7, 2024
Order of Service
Welcome
Land Acknowledgement:
Opening Prayer
Opening Hymn: VT 277 As With Gladness
Call to worship
Offering and Offertory Prayer
Hymn: VT 275 O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT 761 I Love to Tell the Story
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12
Message: Follow The Light
Star Words and Closing Hymn: VT 395 the Church Of Christ, in Every Age
Benediction/Candle Lighting
Leading Us in Worship
Message Carol O.
Worship Leader Cindy R.
Scripture reading Bethany W.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie & Fazal S.
Zoom Host Mike D.
A/V Technician Don B.
January hymn of the month: VT #395 The Church of Christ, in Every Age
Hymn Sing – 10:00 a.m.
Everyone is welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
People: Lift up your eyes and look around; they gather and come to you.
Women: You shall see and be radiant;
Men: your heart shall thrill and rejoice and proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Leader: The mystery of Christ has been revealed by the Spirit. We have become fellow heirs, members of the same
body, and sharers in the promise of Christ through the gospel.
People: We know this through faith in Christ. May our lights shine!
(pause)
All: Together we carry the light.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 2: 1-12
Coming of the magi
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. 4 He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” 9 When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.
Candle lighting/benediction
Leader: Together we carry the light.
All: This is what we know.
Leader: Now go, basking in the glow of Christ! We have become God’s heirs, members of one body, and sharers of the promise. Amen!
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congregational Survey: Inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ at Danforth Mennonite Church
The survey is now available in your church mail slot and was also emailed to you. Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience and either reply by email or place it in the box in the foyer no later than January 7th. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Stephen.
Ladies Walking group
starts up on January 16th.
DMC
Annual Business Meeting
Sunday, February 4, 2024
Committee chairs: Please submit your reports to Bonnie by January 17th.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Annual Business 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.
Our healthy eating cooking classes
will start up again in March.
This week we will be delivering our collection 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. Thank you for your generosity.
There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for volunteers to help with Messy Church
Treasurer’s Report: In December we received $14,770 in offerings. These generous year end donations, along with the steady ongoing support throughout the year, helped us finish 2023 with a $6,438 operating surplus. It is with much gratitude that the Finance Committee thanks our church family for their solid financial commitment and for their unwavering dedication to the work of Danforth Mennonite Church during 2023.
We also received an additional $200 in designated Food Bank donations in December and a $900 cheque was sent to The Neighbourhoood Group in support of the 40 Teesdale Food Bank.
Men’s Choir
There will be ongoing practices for a men’s choir starting this Sunday. The choir will be singing at Stephen’s last service with us on Jan. 28th. All men are welcome. There will be a practice after the pre-service singing this Sunday (approx. 10:35) as well as a short practice after the service this Sunday. The short practices will continue after church until Jan. 28th. See Kathy Wert for further details
Worship Schedule reminder
January 14
Speaker Stephen R.
Worship leader Mike D.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Fazal & Leslie S.
ZOOM host Carol R.
A/V Tech Roger H.
January 21
Speaker Dalton J.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessie M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
CommonWord virtual book launch of Rudy Wiebe: Essays on His Works – Join us via livestream on Thursday, January 25 at 7:30 PM CST for a panel discussion with editor Bianca Lakoseljac and contributors Margaret Atwood, Paul Doerksen, and others about the literary influence of Rudy Wiebe. Visit commonword.ca/go/3730 for livestream link.
CommonWord virtual book launch of Unburdened: A Lenton Journey Towards Forgiveness – Join us on Zoom on Thursday, February 1 at 7:30 PM CST for a conversation with author Carol Penner as she prepares us for Lent and a journey of forgiveness and healing. Visit commonword.ca/go/3610 to register for the Zoom link.
A note from MCC
Thank you for your recent financial gift of $300.00 designated to where needed most. Your generosity and ongoing partnership in the work of MCC is deeply appreciated. We are so grateful that you have chosen to partner with MCC.
For more than 100 years, MCC has been working faithfully with partners all around the world, and it’s all thanks to generous and compassionate people like you. Your financial gifts are making an incredible impact across the globe and closer to home. This past year, you’ve helped provide critical items like relief supplies, warm blankets, and food to children and families in the most desperate situations around the world. You’ve also supported long-term projects like giving access to clean water, healthcare to women and children, agricultural training, and sustainable livelihoods and educational opportunities. You are creating change in Ontario as well by walking alongside people experiencing poverty, supporting those who are reintegrating into community, welcoming newcomers, and actively advocating for peace and reconciliation.
The ways in which you’ve helped bring joy and hope to so many lives. Thank you for all you do.
With much gratitude,
Stephen R.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
January
7 2SLGBTQ+ survey deadline
12 2SLGBTQ+ survey results
14 2SLGBTQ+ Congregational meeting
16 Ladies walking group
17 AGM package reports due to Admin. Asst.
20 Messy Church
February
4 DMC AGM
24 Messy Church
Wider Church
January
25 book launch – Rudy Wiebe
February
1 book launch – Carol Penner