DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
Pastor Stephen Reist
We welcome all guests who have joined us.
Danforth Mennonite Church
September 10, 2023 11 a.m.
Order of Service
Welcome
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Prayer
Opening Hymn: VT #1 Summoned by the God Who Made Us
Announcements
Offering and prayer
Hymn: VT #794 If the War Goes On
Hymn: VT #787 O Day of Peace (v1 only)
Congregational Prayer
Hymn: VT 738 Open My Eyes That I May See
Scripture Readings: 2 Kings 6:8-23, Luke 6:32-36
Message: Peace with Pizza
Closing Hymn: VT #36 Let Us Build a House
Benediction
Leading Us in Worship
Message Carol R.
Worship Leader Stephen R.
Congregational Prayer Dalton J.
Scripture reading DMC Theatre
Song Leader Stephen R.
Musicians Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host Mike D.
A/V Technician Murray L.
September Hymn of the month: VT #36 Let Us Build a House
Call to Worship
One: We come from the chaos of the world,
Many: seeking to be centered in God.
One: We come from the confusion of the world,
Many: seeking the truth of God.
One: We come from the foolishness of the world,
Many: seeking the wisdom of God.
One: We come from the hunger of the world,
Many: seeking the nourishment of God.
One: We come from the violence of the world,
Many: seeking the peace of God.
One: We gather together now, with God and with each other.
Many: May God bless our time of worship.
Scripture Readings
2 Kings 6:8-23 (The Voice)
8 Aram’s king had waged war against Israel. He gave instructions to those who served him: “I want my war camp at this particular place.” 9 The man of God sent a message to Israel’s king.
Elisha’s Message: Be sure not to travel through this place. The Arameans are on their way.
10 Israel’s king passed this warning on to those in the place the man of God had told him about. Elisha’s warning saved Israel’s king more than a few times. 11 Aram’s king became greatly angered by this. He gathered his servants together.
King of Aram: Which one of you has betrayed me and sided with Israel’s king?
Servant: 12 It is none of us, my lord and king. The prophet Elisha, who lives in Israel, is the one who informs Israel’s king of these things. Elisha somehow knows everything you say—even the secret things you whisper in your private chambers.
King of Aram: 13 Find Elisha right away so that I may capture him!
The servants found Elisha and informed Aram’s king, “Elisha is in Dothan.” 14 So Aram’s king dispatched a great army of warriors, along with many horses and chariots, and they encircled the city of Dothan at night.
15 The servant of the man of God woke up early and went outside. There he saw a great army, along with many horses and chariots, encircling Dothan.
Elisha’s Servant: Ah! Master, what are we going to do now?
Elisha: 16 Have no fear. We have more on our side than they do.
17 (praying) O Eternal One, I ask You to allow my servant to see heavenly realities.
The Eternal awakened Elisha’s servant so that he could see. This is what he saw: the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. 18 When the enemy approached Elisha, he prayed.
Elisha: Eternal One, I ask you to blind these people.
The Eternal blinded them, just as Elisha had requested.
Elisha (to the blind army): 19 You are wrong. This is the wrong path and the wrong city. I will lead you to the person you are really after.
Elisha then led them to Samaria.
Elisha (arriving in Samaria): 20 O Eternal One, I ask you to allow these men to see.
The Eternal awakened the men so they could see. This is what they saw: they were in Samaria. 21 The king of Israel saw them.
King of Israel (to Elisha): Do you want me to slaughter these men, my father? Shall I slaughter them?
Elisha: 22 No, do not slaughter them. Would you really slaughter men whom you have captured with your sword and with your bow? Set the table and fill it with bread and water. Let them eat and drink and return to their own master.
23 Israel’s king had the table set and offered the Arameans a great feast. After they ate and drank, Israel’s king told them to leave. They returned to their own master, and the Arameans stopped sending raiding parties into Israel.
Luke 6:32-36 (CEB)
32 “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. 36 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our next session is starting Tuesday, October 3rd for 5 weeks.
There will be a short zoom training session for volunteers on September 28
at 1:30 p.m.
If you are interested in helping Carol O., please sign up or contact Bonnie.
Our final Outlook for the year (covering September through December) will focus on SCOC.
This is the perfect opportunity to talk about the history, the programs, and the community. I am open to several articles along with photographs – whatever you would like to provide. You may have a connection from the past.
I will start working on this next edition in mid September with the deadline of latest – mid December. The newsletter will be published mid January 2024.
Worship Schedule reminder
September 17
Speaker Stephen R.
Worship leader Erma M.
Song Leader Ed F.
Musicians Emily L. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Murray L., Vic G.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Mike D.
September 24
Speaker Carol O.
Worship leader Dalton J.
Song Leader Sue S.
Musicians Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters Anne R., Vic G.
ZOOM host Bonnie W.
A/V Tech Don B.
WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp
Registration is now open for a wide variety of fun retreats coming up this fall. Click here for more info about the retreats below… slmc.ca/retreats
Men’s Retreat (Sep 15-17)
Bruce Trail Hike (Sep 18-21)
Fall Hike Retreat (Sep 29-Oct 1)
Fall Work Weekend (Oct 27-29) – Help get camp ready for the winter season!
Book Launch (Oct 1 at 3pm) – SLMC is hosting the book launch of “Childhood Unplugged” by Katherine Johnson Martinko. Join us to discuss and hear advice about how to get kids off screens and find balance. Location: Community Room at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener.
MCEC Truth and Reconciliation Working Group – Indigenous Relations
Marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation /Orange Shirt Day
Jesus said our highest calling is to love God and love our neighbour (Matt 22:35-40). The Christian call to reconciliation is rooted in 2 Corinthians 5:18. Reconciliation is love in action. The practices of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada of the 21st century are also guided by the 94 Calls to Action of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Read more.
Support Grassy Narrows
A practical act of walking side by side with Indigenous people on the path of reconciliation: join the “Free Grassy Narrows” march on September 27 to demonstrate their demand of the Ontario government that there be no mining and development on their land and that they be consulted because their way of life will be impacted. (https://freegrassy.net/) To join the Truth and Reconciliation Working Group on this march contact Ron Flaming at trwg@mcec.ca.
Willowgrove is pleased to be hosting the GTA Mennonite Festival for World Relief this September. Swing by the farm to enjoy traditional Mennonite favourites like rosettes, freshly baked pies, hand-churned ice cream, as well as spring rolls, grilled chicken, back bacon, and more!
After you eat, shop for beautiful crafts, go on a wagon ride, attend a live Quilt auction, and grab some fresh produce.
Tickets are $10 in Advance / $15 Day of (Children 5 and under are free)
Calling for Volunteers! Please plan now to help take admissions as people arrive. DMC will again welcome guests as they come up the driveway. New this year: a few of us need to be early enough to welcome the other volunteers. Same as before: we collect regular admissions from 10am-4pm. New this year: Willowgrove staff will guide people to their parking spots, so we don’t have that responsibility.
1. Everyone: Please use the “Buy Tickets” link in the announcement to pre-purchase your admission tickets… one per person. It costs less than paying when you arrive.
2. VOLUNTEERS:
a. We need volunteers to start from 9:30am, not 10am. (Some guests arrive early!).
b. We need 4 volunteers per shift. Each shift is 90 minutes, except the final shift from 3:30-4pm.
c. Some volunteers will use their cell phone to take payments. But volunteers without cell phones also have lots to do.
d. Volunteers: please contact Mike for the coupon code that gives you free admission when you register online. You need the code before you click on the “Buy Tickets” link in the announcement
News from
St. Clair O’Connor Community (SCOC)
Voices Together Resource Day
October 28, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Shantz Mennonite Church, Baden, ON.
A day set aside for worship leaders, worship lovers, musicians, pastors and congregational leaders to explore the music and resources from, Voices Together. An evening hymn sing will close our worship. Registration is open at mcec.ca.
In summary, upcoming events
At Danforth
September
23 Messy Church
October
3 Healthy Eating
10 Healthy Eating
14 Men’s breakfast
17 Healthy Eating
21 Messy Church
24 Healthy Eating
31 Healthy Eating
November
7 Healthy Eating
11 Men’s breakfast
14 Healthy Eating
21 Healthy Eating
18 Messy Church
December
2 DMC Christmas banquet
12 Healthy Eating
Wider Church
September
16 GTA Mennonite Festival at Willowgrove
16 & 17 Danforth East Arts Fair
21 Alpha Marriage Course
23 & 24 Yorkshire Rose Quilt Show
25 MCC Ontario AGM
27 Free Grassy Narrows March
30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October
14 Willowgrove 55th anniversary celebration
14 Danforth Grow Hope tour & dinner
28 Voices Together Resource Day
November
29 ToTB at Hart House