March 12, 2023 Bulletin

March 12, 2023
Lent 2023 – Created in the Image of God, Shaped by Jesus
Lent 3:  Shaped by Thirst

We gather as one people ….

Prelude

Call to worship

Hymn:  All Who Are Thirsty     VT 49

…to listen for God’s nourishing word ….

 Prayer of Confession                        

Hymn of Assurance: Jesus, Rock of Ages     VT 622

Children’s Time

Gift of Music

Scripture:  John 4:5-15

Sermon:  Blessing at the well

… and respond with gratitude. 

Hymn:  You Are All We Have     VT 701

Faith Reflection

Congregational Prayer

Offering & Offertory

Announcements

Hymn: Rain Down     VT 703

Benediction

Postlude

 

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Leading us in worship:
Worship Leader:  Lynnette Hammer
Song Leader:  Suzanne Bender
Prayer:  Joanne Schwartzentruber
Children’s Time:  Sara Roth
Prelude/Offertory/Postlude:  Doris Martin
Gift of Music:  Norma Iutzi, Rose Wagler
Faith Reflection: Ardys Brenneman
Scripture:  Brian Sararus
Sermon:  Pastor Louise Wideman
A/V:  Cliff Kennel, Steve Kennel

An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under.

Kids Offering:  Mennonite Central Committee’s Ukraine Emergency Response: https://bit.ly/3vMq9I1. From a recent trip to Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3XyJcRz

March Special Offering: PeaceBuilders Community Inc., peace and justice training, and Coffee for Peace, which ensures a fair return and responsible environmental practices for coffee farmers in a conflict zone in the Philippines – initiated by Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers Dann & Joji Pantoja. http://bit.ly/3Z7CiUW.

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., Sanctuary

11 a.m. Zoom Coffee Time.

Next Sunday March 19 – Lent 4
9:45 a.m. – Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Theme: Created in the Image of God, Shaped by Jesus
Scripture:  Psalm 23, When Darkness Comes …
Speaker: Pastor Sara Erb
The service will include prayers for anointing.

Congregational Life
March 14 (Tues) 4 – 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Pickleball.

March 16 (Thur.) at 9 a.m. – 12 noon Steinmann members are needed to help cut rags at the MCC Material Resources Centre. Thank you for your help.

Holy Week worship service dates for your calendar:

¨ Thursday evening, April 6, Maundy Thursday Seder Meal & Foot washing  (in-person only)

¨ Friday morning, April 7, Good Friday Service, including      Communion (Livestreamed

¨ Sunday morning, April 9, Easter Breakfast followed by Worship Service. (Livestreamed)

August 14-18, 2023 (mornings) Baden Summer Bible Camp. Save The Date!  Please contact Sara Roth (519-498-7907 or badensbc@gmail.com) if you would consider helping out in any capacity.  We will be looking for volunteers during this week for worship and drama, Bible study, STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, math), and active games, snacks and group leaders. Children and adults are invited to see and experience the transforming love of God.

August 11 – 13 Church Family Camping at Hidden Acres. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.  More details to come.

Oct. 13-14 (Fri. – Sat.) Women’s Retreat. Save the date.  Watch for more details.  Organizer: Sandy Scheerer.

MYF (Grades 9-12+)
March 24. Family Dinner at the Vandermolens. Meet at the church at 7 p.m. for carpooling.

March 24. Deposit for MDS trip due.

Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
Watch your email for details on possible skating event.

KidsLIFE (Grades 1-5)
March 22 (Wed.) 6 – 7:30 p.m.  Outer Space: Get ready for take off!

Small Groups
March 21 (Tues.) 10 a.m. The Adult Bible Study led by Wes Leis will meet in the fireplace room at the church. Studying “The Uniqueness of Jesus”. Everyone is welcome.

March 23 (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 116-127. Questions – talk to Lynelle Drudge, Joy Wagler or Darlene Gingerich.

Wider Community
Sun., Mar 18, 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grebel and University of Waterloo Open house for prospective students. Free parking, and Grebel cookies! Visit grebel.ca/events for more information.

March 21, 7-9 pm. Nith Valley EcoBoosters presents Electric Vehicles – Ask the Owners of a variety of EVs. Details and free registration: https://bit.ly/ElectricVehicles2

March 25 (Sat.) Hidden Acre’s  39th Annual Bowlathon. This is one of the camp’s main annual fundraising events. To show your sponsor go to www.hiddenacres.ca/donate and select Annual Bowlathon.

Mar 28 (Tues) 7 – 9 p.m. and Mar 29 (Wed.) 1 to 4 p.m. Mennonite   Central Committee: Fostering gender equality and Becoming whole    together presented at Conrad Grebel University College. Come explore a compassionate application of Truth and Reconciliation principle toward achieving gender equality in society. To learn more and to register, go to http://bit.ly/3IHIAU3

March 31 (Fri.), 7 p.m. at Zion United Church, New Hamburg. New date for free film screening of “Colonization Road” re the effects of road building by settlers on Indigenous land and culture.

April 1 (Sat.) 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers present Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil (Vespers) at Trillium Lutheran Church (22 Willow, Waterloo). Tickets $25 Adults. $5 Children/Students, available on-line or at the door (cash or credit)  www.mennosingers.com.

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp:

  • Indigenous Learning Retreat (April 26-27):  Indigenous cultural awareness workshop with Diane Giroux. For more information and to register https://bit.ly/3ugT85T.
  • Youth Camp (May 12-14):  Click for more information and to book https://bit.ly/3ugT85T.
  • Summer Camp Registration is now Open: for more information http://bit.ly/3okUkCA.

Erb Street Mennonite Church (ESMC) seeks a part-time Communications and Office Manager. This position is approximately 20 hours a week, with some fixed office hours.  If you are interested in this position or would like more details please reach out to Sandra Schiedel, chair of Personnel Committee, personnel.chair@erbstchurch.ca.

The New Hamburg Thrift Center needs more donated items to sell.  If you have items to donate, don’t wait.

Personal Notes
Pastor Louise Wideman will be on vacation Monday, March 13 – Monday, March 20.  She will return to the office Tuesday, March 21.

Remember in Prayer
Pray for Cathy Knipfel who is recuperating at Grand River Hospital.  Cathy fell on Tuesday, March 7 and had hip replacement surgery on Wednesday , March 8.

Pray for Anabaptist-Mennonites around the world – Mennonite World Conference:

  • Pastor training (Vietnam, Cuba, etc.).
  • youth faith development (Kenya)
  • Evangelistic outreach (Malawi, Uganda))
  • Deliverance from political violence (Congo)

This week join Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) in prayer for Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church, Waterloo,  Ontario.