DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 17, 2024
Order of Service
Welcome/Land Acknowledgement
Call to Worship
Introduction
Opening hymn: #511 VT Come On Children, to the Gospel Feast
Announcements
Offering
Offertory Prayer
Hymn: #280 VT O Carpenter, Why Leave the Bench
Prayer Time
Hymn: #358 BH Oyenos mi Dios
Scripture: Luke 13: 22-35
Hymn: #556 BH Lord thou hast searched me
Message: The Narrow Door
Closing hymn: VT #610 Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message John E.
Worship Leader Sue S.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Roger H. (piano)
Greeters Leslie & Fazal S.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Technician Murray L.
Hymn of the month: VT# 280 O Carpenter, Why Leave the Bench
Adult Discussion Class
Starting April 14th, we will be studying the book “Baby and the Bathwater”. If you need a copy of the book, speak to Bonnie.
For this Sunday’s class please read the following passages out of Luke’s Gospel: 13:22-35.
Primer:
The centre of Luke is a complex piece of ancient artistry. There are three main parts, each having their own complex pattern. The three main parts are as follows:
The Bent Woman with parables 13:10 -21
*The Parable of Banquet surrounded by journey theme 13:22-35
The Man with Dropsy with the banquet scene in the Pharisee’s house. 14: 1- 24.
This coming Sunday we will focus on the central parable of the banquet. The sermon is entitled, “The Narrow Door.” Bring some questions you might have about this parable. Here’s some questions that came to my mind:
Questions:
Who are these people knocking?
Who’s the head of the household?
Why are they told to depart?
Digging Deeper:
The Head of the House uses the words of a deeply troubled psalmist. Please read Psalm 6. Who is the Psalmist? What is the trouble?
See you Sunday.
John
Feel free to bring your own Bible or grab one from the Church.
Call to Worship
Leader: The dust that shapes the journey, the cross that guides it, the colour that surrounds it, the light that fades through it,
the Word that foretells it, the wilderness that invites it —
All: This is Lent, and into its wilderness God calls us
Leader: Come, friends, Christ is heading for Jerusalem.
Scripture reading
Setting: We are on the road in the cool of the morning. Jesus teaches as he walks along with his disciples, a small crowd of both men and women.
22 And He was journeying through from one city and village to another, teaching as he went, making his journey to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”
31 Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Our Lent table display
THE ROCKS
The rocks remind us that Jesus alone is worthy of our adoration and praise. It reminds us that Jesus said if the people wouldn’t praise Him, the rocks would.
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. [Luke 19:40]
THE SAND
The sand reminds us of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He was alone, tempted, and hungry; yet He resisted sin and lived a perfect life.
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3]
THE CANDLES
The candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. And the light always overcomes the darkness.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [John 1:4-5]
On the first Sunday of Lent, all seven candles are lit. As each week of Lent passes, one candle is extinguished. Unlike Advent where a new candle is lit each week and the light slowly gets brighter, during Lent each week gets progressively darker, until there is complete darkness on Good Friday.
“Whereas Advent is a season of ever-increasing light anticipating the incarnation of Christ, Lent is a season of ever-decreasing light approaching His crucifixion. Light is gradually extinguished to symbolize the journey through the wilderness and toward the cross and tomb.”
On Good Friday it appeared that darkness and death had won. The Light had been extinguished.
But thanks be to God that it doesn’t end there! “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:55-57]
Sin and death have been defeated! On Resurrection Sunday all seven candles are lit as we celebrate the hope, life, and victory we have because of Jesus. He is risen, He is risen indeed!
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
The DMC choir
is preparing a hymn (VT # 359 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing!) for Easter Sunday morning.
All are welcome to attend.
Never any auditions.
There will be short practices after Sunday church services for about 5-10. See Kathy Wert for further details.
Easter Potluck Breakfast
Sunday, March 31, 2024
9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall
Please bring finger foods for all to share. Coffee, tea, and juice will be served.
10:45 am We are invited to the sanctuary for some pre-service
Easter hymn singing.
Everyone is welcome.
Treasurer’s Report: We received $7,964 in offerings in February. Our budget calls for $8,114 each month in offerings. Due to the absence of a paid Pastor we now have a $6,633 operating surplus. In February there was $300 donated to the Benevolence Fund and $100 donated to the Food Bank Fund. Also $300 was given with direction towards our Danforth Grow Hope budget line. $280 was used from the Spirit of MDS Fund as Honorariums for the Healthy Eating Program coordinator. 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.
Good Friday service
The Ministry Support Team
(Cindy, Dalton, Margaret and Shannon)
will lead us in the service on
March 29th at 10:30 a.m.
Worship Schedule reminder
March 24
Speaker Carol O.
Worship leader Dalton J.
Song Leader Kathy W.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Cindy R., Bethany W.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Fazal S.
Good Friday Margaret A., Shannon E., Dalton J., Cindy R.
March 31
Speaker John E.
Worship leader Margaret A.
Song Leader Dalton J.
Musicians Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Vic G., Murray L.
ZOOM host Mike D.
A/V Tech Don B.
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, March 19 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Bluffers Park (1 Brimley Road South). Take Brimley Road to the bottom of the hill and follow to the right and park in the lot near the washrooms.
An email will go out on Monday March 18 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.
Do you have some ideas for our next newsletter?
Please contact Bonnie.
Our next edition covers January – April.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome the Stranger-GTA is expecting an Afghan refugee family to arrive sometime in May or June 2024. This is a family of three, mother, father and six-year-old daughter. The team of WtS volunteers are now looking for an apartment, hopefully less than $1,900 per month inclusive, in Stouffville, with access to public transportation. WtS is also asking for household items to furnish the apartment. We do not have storage so let us know if you have items that we can count on when the family arrives. Send a note to Carolyn carolyn.reesor @ gmail.com or 416.580.4271 or Andrew arm5 @ sympatico.ca or 647.879.5040 if you have leads on an apartment or household items.
You are invited to worship with the
St. Clair O’Connor Community.
Your presence and support are appreciated.
7:00 p.m.
March 17 – hymn sing
March 31 – an Easter service by The Church of St. Bedes.
As we celebrated MNLCT's 40th Anniversary in 2023, we are so grateful that you have been a part of our community! Together we celebrated our achievements, remembered when the centre was founded, grown and served more clients – tens of thousands of newcomers since 1983. For forty years, we have helped newcomers, immigrants and vulnerable clients to meet integration needs, form social networks, and shape their environment through community engagement. You, our supporters and donors, have helped us provide settlement services, language instruction, community emotional and mental health support, life and career coaching and training to the numerous newcomers we have seen both in-person and virtually over the years. Almost 500 friends, founders, partners, former and current clients joined together on February 10 at LiUNA! Local 183 - Wilson Centre to celebrate this amazing milestone. Thank you all! Our 40th anniversary fundraising campaign raised almost $20,000!
MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2024
Inspired by Hope
April 26 & 27, 2024
Leamington, ON
Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus, hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God when we meet together as a family of congregations.
More Information
GTA Mennonite Festival
Annual General Meeting
April 7 at 4 pm,
Rouge Valley Mennonite Church,
7452 Reesor Rd, Markham
The 2024 AGM is taking place on Sunday, April 7 at 4 PM at Rouge Valley Mennonite Church. Please join us for a delicious soup supper from MCC’s Raw Carrot Soup program, hear about the impact of your support of the GTA Mennonite Festival and learn about plans for 2024. RSVP online at gtamennonitefestival.ca/agm.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
March
19 Ladies walking group – Scarborough Bluffs
23 Messy Church
26 Ladies walking group – Norway Church
29 Good Friday service 10:30 a.m.
31 Easter breakfast and service
May
11 DMC Spring Cleaning
Wider Church
March
17 SCOC evening service
20 Beyond Polarized Kvetching workshop Part 2
31 SCOC evening service
April
7 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
14 Silent Auction at Church of the Resurrection
26 & 27 MCEC Annual Church Gathering
May
4 GTA Mennonite Church Work Bee Willowgrove
5 Celebration of Life for Dave M.