Farewell Service for Steve Drudge
Sunday, July 30, 2023
We gather to praise our loving God …
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship & Prayer
Hymns: 10,000 Reasons/Bless the Lord VT 111
…to listen for God’s Word ….
Children’s Time
Hymn: Be Thou My Vision VT 549
Scripture Mark 1:14b-20, 10:28-30
Sermon
.. responding with gratitude…
Hymn: Will You Come and Follow Me VT 540
Sharing from MDS group
Congregational Sharing & Prayer
Offering & offertory “Let Me Sing (a Song For You)” by Dylan Soto (Lynelle’s nephew)
Hymn: Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore VT 283
Announcements
…and sent forth as bearers of God’s peace.
Presentation of gifts
Litany of Release
Filling Steve’s Shoes with Blessings and Love Feast
Gift of Music: He Never Failed Me Yet choir
Somlandela(We will Follow) VT 566
Grace and Benediction
Postlude
Leading us in worship:
Worship Leader: Gladys Bender
Scripture Readers: Neisha Marquis and Niyah Marquis
Congregational Prayer: Joanne Schwartzentruber
MDS Sharing:
Children’s Time: Sara Roth
Song Leader: Norma Iutzi
Music: STJ, Susan Seyler, Doris Martin
Choir led by: Nancy Steinmann Yantzi
Sermon, Grace and Benediction: Pastor Steve Drudge
Offertory: John Wiebe, Joel Godfrey
Love Feast: Pastors Sara Erb and Louise Wideman
AV: Steve Carter & Steve Kennel
An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under. Parents are expected to supervise their child/ren while in the nursery.
July Special Offering and Kid’s Offering: Support leadership development and peace theology training in the context of military violence as requested by Anabaptist Christians in Myanmar. They are closely connected to Chin congregations in Canada. https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/myanmar
Chin congregations across Canada collect funds to send to Chin Christian leaders in neighbouring India, who arrange the purchase of food, tarps for shelter and other supplies for internally displaced people suffering in Myanmar due to military bombing and terrorism. You may help by giving to Chin Christian Church, 182 Victoria St N, Kitchener, ON N2H 5C6
Today
Farewell Service for Pastor Steve Followed by a noon Potluck. Steve and Lynelle are providing dessert. All are welcome.
- Today you are invited to write a blessing and place it in Steve’s shoes. Instructions will be given during the service for those who wish to participate.
MDS crew who participated in Cape Breton.
Trevor Helmuth, Aleah Laverty, Isaac Roth, Zach Schwartzentruber, Sam Vandermolen, Samantha Wagler, Suzanne Bender, Steve Drudge, Elaine Finnie, John Iutzi, Michelle Palmer, Nicole Pohl & Rich Steinmann, Ron Roth, Joanne Schwartzentruber, Jim Steckle, Keith Wagler, Larry Wagler.
Next Sunday August 6
10:00 a.m. Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Scripture: John 2:1-11
Speaker: Pastor Louise Wideman
Congregational Life
Aug. 1 (Tues.) 4 – 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Pickleball.
August 11 – 13 Hidden Acres Church Family Camp reminders:
- Last date to sign up for overnight family camp is Sunday, Aug. 6.
- Saturday, August 12: Everyone is invited to come for the evening corn and hot dog roast at 5:30 pm even if you are not camping for the weekend. Plan to bring lawn chairs, own dishes/drinking cup/bottle, hot dog roasting stick.
- Sunday, August 13: Worship begins at 10 am. Plan to bring lawn chairs, dishes, food to share. Coffee and water will be provided.
August 14-18 (9:00-11:45a.m.) Baden Summer Bible Camp (BSBC)
Needed for Bible Camp!
- Small pieces of scrap material
- Science lab props (beakers, microscopes, telescopes, containers, magnifying glasses, safety glasses)
- Lab coats and/or scrubs
- Balloons – all colours and all sizes!
- Food colouring
Please consider placing these items on the Bible Camp table in the lobby over the next few weeks as we prepare for camp. Clearly label anything that you would like returned to you.
Steinmann Soxx Softball
July 31 (Mon.) 9 p.m. West Hills Rays @ Steinmann Soxx (Tavistock – Optimist )
Wider Community
Sept. 28-30 Shantz Mennonite Church is offering a bus trip to Lancaster PA to the Site & Sound Theatre to see “Moses”. If interested contact Doug Wagner at doug.wagner1177@gmail.com. Registration forms on the table by the mailboxes.
Personal Notes
Your help with meals for Tasha (Steckle), Matthew and family would be much appreciated. In lieu of ground beef, please substitute ground chicken or ground turkey. Other forms of beef are okay. A “Meal Train” has been created. You can click on the link https://mealtrain.com/qk71ml to sign up for the date you choose and meal menu. If you have questions or prefer signing up for a meal by phone, please contact Darlene Gingerich. Thank you.
Congratulations to Elmer Zehr who is celebrating his 92nd birthday on Monday, July 31.
Remember in Prayer
Nyle Hofstetter remains hospitalized in London. His health improves with each day. Let us continue to pray for both Nyle and Kathleen and their family.
Remember Sandra Roth in this time of health decline.
Pray for Ruby Gingerich who is hospitalized in Kitchener following a stroke. She is doing fairly well and will remain in hospital until a bed in a Long Term Care facility becomes available.
“Tasha Steckle and her family express their gratitude for your prayers and support through the meal train. Please remember Tasha as she begins another round of chemo this week. Pray for strength that side effects will be less severe. “