Sunday, January 8, 2023
An Unexpected Time: Light for the World
Epiphany
GATHERING
Prelude Doris Martin
Call to Worship Mark Scheerer
Prayer
Hymn: In the Beginning VT 270
Scripture Presentation: Isaiah 60: 1-6 Isaac Roth
Hymn: Arise, Your Light is Come! VT 273
HEARING
Children’s Time Joy Wagler
Gift of music Doris Martin
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 Mark Scheerer
Bell calls us to silence
Sermon: Signs and Wonders Pastor Louise Wideman
RESPONDING
Bell calls us to silence
Prayer (unison)
Hymn: O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem VT 275
Congregational Sharing & Prayer Pastor Steve Drudge
Offering & offertory
Announcements
Hymn: See Whose Glory Fills the Skies VT 274
Benediction Pastor Louise Wideman
Postlude Doris Martin
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Song Leader – Stephen Yantzi
A/V – Steve Kennel & Cliff Kennel
An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under.
Kids Offering and January Special Offering: Mennonite Central Committee’s Ukraine Emergency Response, providing trauma healing, emergency housing, supplies and food packages.
https://bit.ly/3vMq9I1. Information: https://bit.ly/3VTqhQx
Today
Coffee, tea & juice available in the fellowship hall following the service.
Christian Education (Sunday School) for all ages:
11:00 – 12 p.m. Children’s Sunday School (Age 2 – Gr. 4), basement
11:15 – 12 p.m. Jr. Youth (Gr. 5-8) & MYF (Gr. 9-12+), basement
Adult Ed., Fellowship Hall
Next Sunday January 15
9:45 a.m. – Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Scripture: John 1:29-42
Speaker: Pastor Steve Drudge
In person coffee time
Congregational Life
Jan. 10 (Tues) 4 – 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Pickleball.
Jan. 10 (Tues.) 7 p.m. Finance meeting (rescheduled)|
Jan. 11 (Wed.) 7 p.m. VFT meeting
Jan. 15 (Sun.) 1 p.m. Safe Church Training Day for all those who volunteer with children, youth, and seniors at SMC. An opportunity to explore ongoing ways to create safer and braver spaces within our ministries. Hosted by the Safe Church Committee: Gladys Bender, Kim Lichti, Pastor Sara.
Jan. 19 (Thur.) at 9 a.m. – 12 noon Steinmann members are needed to help cut rags at the MCC Material Resources Centre (previous Ten Thousand Villages building). Thank you for your help.
Jan. 19 (Thurs.), 7:00 p.m. “Debt Smarts” presented by volunteers from Kindred Credit Union. This customized congregation and community seminar will include various aspects of navigating debt and living costs as well as Q&A. Livestreaming will be available.
Feb. 11 (Sat) 7 p.m. Family Fun Night. Bowling at the New Hamburg Lanes. Sign up sheet on the table by the mailboxes.
The new photo directories have arrived! For those who ordered one, the final cost comes to $10. We ask that you pay for the book (cash or cheque) when you pick up the book. The directories will be available to pick up this Sunday following the worship service, or at the church office during the week.
MYF (Grades 9-12+)
Jan 20 (Fri.) 7pm. Family Dinner at Glen and Darlene Gingerich’s
Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
Jan 22 (Sun.) 1-5 pm. Jr. Youth Day hosted by Rockway and MCEC. A fun day of music, drama, Dutch Blitz, worship and robotics – with a peacemaking twist. Registration due by January 15th.
KidsLIFE (Grades 1-5)
Jan. 18, 2023 – Winter Fun
Small Groups
The Adult Bible Study led by Wes Leis will be taking a break over the winter. Next meeting date will be advised.
Jan 12 (Thurs.) 10-11:30 a.m. – Women’s Bible study will be meeting in person and on Zoom. Studying “Expecting Emmanuel – Eight Women Who Prepared the Way”. Read pages 72-90. Questions – talk to Lynelle Drudge, Joy Wagler or Darlene Gingerich.
Steinmann Hockey Team
Jan. 13 (Fri.) 11 p.m. Steinmann vs Creekside JBS (Wilmot Rec Complex)
Jan. 14 (Sat.) 11 p.m. Steinmann vs Creekside JBS (Wilmot Rec Complex)
Wider Community
Jan. 16 (Mon.) 2 – 8 p.m. Blood Donor Clinic at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Appointments are required. To book an appointment call 1-888-236-6283 or https://www.blood.ca/en
Jan 18 – March 8 (8 Wednesdays), 7-8:30 p.m. “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work” workshop, designed to help couples improve their friendship and conflict management skills. Offered on Zoom by Interfaith Counselling. $150. per couple. Subsidies available. Contact admin@interfaithcounselling.ca or 519-662-3092. Research shows that on average, couples wait 2.68 years from the first sign of problems before they seek professional help. Be proactive. Face problems before they get worse. Set up for success.
Jan. 26 (Thur.) 7 p.m. The Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous/Settler Relationships is hosting a free screening of “Colonization Road” – An exploration of the effects of road building by settlers on Indigenous land and culture at Zion United Church, New Hamburg. Masks required.
Feb 2 (Thur.) 7 p.m. Mathematics for Human Flourishing: A Public Lecture with Dr. Francis Su (at CMU). How can mathematics connect to our deepest human longings, such as justice? Livestream will be available: https://bit.ly/3IyhH6H
PiE for Supper –Young adults, join us Monday nights this winter for dinner, spiritual reflection and informal social time. Details at https://pastorsinexile.org/pie-for-supper/
MCC partner Crow Shield Lodge (https://www.crowshieldlodge.com/) is looking for sewing machines – donated or loaned – to create traditional indigenous ribbon skirts in a workshop setting. Contact rebeccaseiling@mcco.ca or 226-750-9118.
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada seeks a Financial Manager https://bit.ly/3VTmkeu and an Events and Communications Coordinator https://bit.ly/3X5TAAw
Personal Notes
Congratulations to Elmer & Ethel Zehr who are celebrating their 70th anniversary on Tuesday, January 10.
Remember in Prayer
This week join Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) in prayer for Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, Toronto, ON.