DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Pieter Niemeyer
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
March 23, 2025 11:00 a.m.
Order of Service
Land Acknowledgement
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn: RB #552 There were ninety and nine
Confession
Words of Assurance
Announcements
Offering Prayer
Hymn: VT #653 Nothing is lost on the breath of God
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT #201 Hear the tumult of the Nations
Scripture Luke 15: 1-32
Sermon: Christ Collides with our Priorities
Hymn of Response: VT #812 Sent forth by God’s Blessing
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Sermon Pieter N.
Worship Leader Linda D.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musician Jessica M.
Greeters Vic & Mary Jane G.
Zoom Host Bonnie W.
A/V Fazal S.
Hymn of the month: VT #201 Hear the turmoil of the Nations
Adult Discussion Class
We will be studying the 3rd chapter. Please read the first half of the chapter, pages 38 through 52.
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 15: 1-32 (NRSVUE)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father[d] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ladies Walking group
On Tuesday, March 25 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at The Boardwalk at Woodbine Beach. We will park in the same place as when we went to see the art installation. Coming south on Woodbine onto Lake Shore Blvd. E., turn south (towards the lake) at Northern Dancer Blvd. Follow the road in and turn to the parking lot on the left.
An email will go out on Monday, March 24 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.
Good Friday service
and communion
On April 18 at 10:30 am
Easter
Potluck
Breakfast
Sunday, April 20, 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.
Worship Schedule reminder
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 Edgardo R.
April 6
Message Pieter N.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Leslie S., Tessa R.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Murray L.
Hymn Sing Kathy W.
In summary, upcoming events:
At Danforth
March
25 Ladies walking group – Boardwalk
April
1 Ladies walking group
8 Ladies walking group
12 Men’s breakfast
12 Messy Church
15 Ladies walking group
18 Good Friday service
20 Easter Potluck breakfast and service
22 Ladies walking group
29 Ladies walking group
Wider Church
March
30 In this together
April
5 Fraser Lake 70 years
13 GTA Mennonite Festival AGM
26 MCEC Annual Gathering – online
Community Corner
March
23 Girl Guide cookies