March 16, 2025 Bulletin

Lent Theme: “The Lord’s Prayer: Praying with Jesus”
March 16, 2025 – Lent 2
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”
Gathering to praise….
Prelude
Call to Worship
Prayer
Hymn: Come, Christians, Join to Sing VT 28
Hymn: Praise, I Will Praise You, Lord VT 131
Lord’s Prayer Reflection
Hymn-of-the-month: Our God in Heaven VT 673
…to listen for God’s Spirit….
Children’s Time
Hymn: Somebody Prayed for Me VT 698
Confession & Assurance
Scripture: Luke 13:31-35
Sermon: Chickens and Foxes
…..that transforms us ….
Hymn: Let Justice Flow Down VT 791
Congregational Prayer
Offering & Offertory
Prayer
….and sends us forth as bearers of God’s love.
Announcements
Hymn: Go, My Friends, in Peace (v.2) VT 839
Benediction
Postlude

Leading us in worship:
Prelude/offertory/Postlude: Doris Martin
Song leader: Norma Iutzi
Children’s Time: Pastor Ben Cassels
Worship Leader/Scripture: Gladys Bender
Lord’s Prayer Reflection: Reta Bender
Reader’s Theatre: Esther and Glenn Buck
Sermon: Pastor Louise Wideman
Congregational Prayer: Sue Kennel
AV: Steve Carter, Steve Kennel

An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages five and under. Parents are expected to supervise their children while in the nursery.

Special Coin Offering this morning is in support of the Breakfast Club which is a joint effort between Steinmann Mennonite Church and Hillcrest Mennonite Church to provide meals for children at local schools.

Today
Christian Education (Sunday School) for all ages:
11 – 12:15 pm Children’s Sunday School (Age 2 – Gr. 4) basement
11:15 – 12 pm Jr. Youth (Gr. 5-8) & MYF (Gr. 9-12+), basement

Pre-AGM Meeting during Sunday School in Fellowship Hall: Congregational Spending Plan (CSP); Cemetery Update.  Here is the Zoom link

Next Sunday
9:45 am Livestream and in-person worship
Speaker: Pastor Sara Erb
Lent 3: The Lord’s Prayer; Daily Bread
Worship is in the Fellowship Hall with the AGM to follow.

Financial Update
Thanks for all givings so far this year. As of February 28, CSP Donations equalled $57,969.
Next month (after the AGM where the 2025 CSP is determined), CSP donations will be tracked against either the expenses to date or budgeted CSP.

This week at Steinmann MC
Mar 17 & 18 (Mon & Tues): Pickleball
Mar 21 (Fri) 3:30 pm: Gifts Discernment Meeting via Zoom

MYF (Grades 9-12+)
Mar 20 (Thurs) 7:30 – 9 pm: Bible Quizzing Practice, Acts 19-20
Mar 21 (Fri): Grebel Play

Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
Mar 26 (Wed) 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Dinner out

KidsLIFE (Grades 1-5)
Mar 19 (Wed) 6:30 pm: Baking Night with Dianne and Paulette.

Small Groups
Mar 27 (Thurs) 10 am: Women’s Book Study. All women are invited to attend. Meeting 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. We are using the devotional “Prone to Wander, A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness” by Joanna Harader. Contact Darlene Gingerich for more info.

Mar 28 (Fri) 5:30 pm: TGIF A gathering of young families for a meal that you don’t have to make or plan! If interested, RSVP to darryl.drudge@gmail.com by the Wednesday prior.

Congregational Life
Lent Prayer Practice: Various versions of the Lord’s prayer are available in bookmark form to journey with you during Lent this year. Choose the version(s) you wish to explore. Traditional, Contemporary, Child Friendly, even Pennsylvania Dutch! May we encounter God’s love as this prayer shapes our lives.

Mar 20 (Thurs): 9 am – 12 noon Steinmann members are needed to help cut rags at the MCC Material Resources Centre. Thank you for your help.

The Annual Bowl-a-thon fundraiser for Hidden Acres Camp is approaching! Anthony Helmuth is collecting donations. There is a sheet by the mailboxes for ways to donate and to sign up as a donor.

Congratulations to the Steinmann Hockey Team! They won the last game of the season in a shoot out against East Zorra. The trophy is sitting above the church mailboxes. SMC players included: Kevin Clement, Ryan Drudge, Darryl Drudge, Adam Roth, Isaac Roth, and Ryan Roth.

Joys & Concerns
Happy 80th Birthday to Carol Schwartz on March 19.
Happy 84th Birthday to Ray McAllister on March 22.

Ray McAllister appreciates our ongoing prayer support as he lives with chronic respiratory issues.

Remember Edith Gingerich as she recuperates from a skin infection at home.

Community Events
This Wednesday’s (March 19) Lenten Lunch will be at Wilmot Centre Church, 2463 Bleams Rd, Petersburg at 12 noon.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter: March 21 – 23. Presented by Conrad Grebel University College Student Council. Buy tickets at uwaterloo.ca/grebel/clockmakers-daughter

2025 New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Fundraiser Dinner on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6 pm. Held at Calvary United Church in St. Jacobs. See bulletin board and postcards for details.

MC Canada Gathering 2025: Registration is now open. As well, MCEC is looking for volunteers of all ages. For more information, please contact: gathering@mennonitechurch.ca, Ashley Drudge, or Gladys Bender.

Mar 23 (Sun) 2 pm: Service of Lament and Hope at Zion United. This service is planned as a response to people’s angst about our current world situation. Flyer is on the bulletin board.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Sunday March 23rd, 11:15am-12:30pm (next Sunday), is the Steinmann Mennonite Church Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year will also include a motion to amend our Bylaws. Participation is possible online via this Zoom link This meeting is an important yearly event in the life of our church and how we are community together. All are welcome to attend and voting privileges extend to members. Report Books including Agenda and Congregational Spending Plan have been distributed in mailboxes. Copies are also available in the hallway across from the mailboxes. The summary of the proposed Bylaw amendments are also available in the hallway. Electronic copies of all these documents are available upon request from the office.
To aid in our discernment process, Vision Focus Team (VFT) is hosting a Pre-AGM meeting during the Sunday School hour today, when the proposed Spending Plan will be discussed in-depth. There will also be an update from the Cemetery Committee.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
holy is your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us when we do wrong,
as we forgive those who do wrong against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours.
Now and forever.
Amen.