May 21, 2023
Exalting Christ
Prelude
Call to Worship
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High VT 365
O Lord My God VT 436
Prayer of Confession
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name VT 411
Beholding Christ
Children’s Time
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon: Jesus’ ascension: What difference does it make?
Christ Who Left His Home in Glory (verses 1 & 3) VT 361
Shaped by Christ
Congregational Prayer
Offering
Announcements
As You Go Out from Here VT 841
Benediction
Postlude
Leading us in worship:
Pianist: Delphine Schwartzentruber
Worship Leader: Janessa Otto
Song Leader: Norma Iutzi
Children’s Time: John Gruhl
Sermon: Pastor Steve Drudge
Congregational Prayer: Pastor Louise Wideman
A/V: Steve Carter, Mike Gingerich
An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under.
May Special Offering: Meserete Kristos Seminary, Ethiopia. Support Anabaptist pastor and mission training of leaders from over 2,200 communities, many of whom have little means for education. Give directly at https://mcec.ca/giving, designated: Meserete Kristos Seminary.
Kid’s Offering will be directed to the monthly special offering.
Plan to take home a Summer Worship Series Brochure and put in a prominent place. This brochure provides an overview of worship themes, scripture texts, and offers some ideas for spiritual practices during the summer months. Brochures are in the foyer by the bulletins.
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: Fireplace Room. Engaging in topics that help us practice our peaceful conflict skills. June 4 – MAID.
Next Sunday May 28 Pentecost Sunday
9:45 a.m. Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Scripture: Acts 2
Speaker: Pastor Kevin Peters Unrau, Hillcrest Mennonite Church.
Congregational Life
May 23 (Tues) The church office will be closed in lieu of Victoria Day.
May 23 (Tues.) 2 p.m. Care Team Meeting
May 23 (Tues.) 4 – 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Pickleball.
May 25 (Thur.) 10:00 a.m. Pastoral Congregational Relations Committee meeting in the old boardroom.
June 3 (Sat.) 2-4 p.m. Ladies’ Tea in honour of Lynelle Drudge. All women and girls are invited, hosted by the Ladies Bible Study Group. Please sign the sheet on the table by the mailboxes or call the church to rsvp. This will help us to know how many to prepare for. If you want to bake some special small petite desserts, indicate on the signup sheet. If you have questions contact Joy Wagler. Your presence is the perfect gift as we celebrate Lynelle!
June 7 (Wed.) Morning & afternoon – All women invited to the church to knot comforters and/or quilt. Potluck lunch, bring a dish to share. Drinks provided.
June 11 (Sun.) Program meeting in person only at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, including the ratification of the slate of volunteers beginning September 2023, brief update re: Safe Church Policy, and the celebration of Pastor Steve’s 20 years of ministry at Steinmann MC. Noon Potluck to follow.
July 30 (Sun.) Farewell Service for Pastor Steve. Noon Potluck. All are welcome!
August 11 – 13 Church Family Camping at Hidden Acres. Sign-up sheet for overnight camping is on the table by the mailboxes. Campsite $30 / night, Serviced Campsite $40 / night & Cabin $42 / night (sleeps 10). For more information or questions, talk to Anthony Helmuth.
MYF (Grades 9-12+)
June 9 (Fri.) 7-10 p.m. Family Dinner Campfire at Myron and Joy Wagler’s.
Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
May 24 (Wed.) – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Out for Supper Night. The Jr. Youth will be going out to a restaurant for supper. More details to come. *Note date and time change
Small Groups
May 23 (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.
May 25 (Thurs.) 10-11:30 a.m. – Women’s Bible study will be meeting in person and on Zoom. For “sharing life stories” and a prayer time. Questions – talk to Lynelle Drudge, Joy Wagler or Darlene Gingerich.
Steinmann Soxx Softball
May 24 (Wed.) 9 p.m. Steinmann Soxx @ Nith Valley Jays (Petersburg)
May 28 (Sun.) 7 p.m. Hillcrest Red Sox @ Steinmann Soxx (New Hamburg – 2)
Wider Community
Crosshill Mennonite Church is collecting Rhubarb to sell at the New Hamburg Relief Sale-May 26 & 27. If you have extra Rhubarb they will be located under the Grandstand or you can drop off at Main Gate. (Note: When cutting off leaves, please leave approx. 1½-2” of the leaf attached at the top of the stalk).
May 26 & 27 (Fri. & Sat.) New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale at the Fairgrounds & Arena in New Hamburg. Enjoy delicious food, quilt action, connecting with people and supporting Mennonite Central Committee. More information: mcco.ca/events. For this year’s Run for Relief information see https://nhmrs.com/run-for-relief
June 2 (Fri.) 6-8:30pm – Community Swap Till You Drop at Tavistock Mennonite Church. Earn your invitation by dropping off donations the week prior (see poster for times). Leftovers will be sold at the Community Garage Sale the next day (June 3) with proceeds benefiting refugee sponsorship. See poster on bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary or contact Alea F. at office@tavistockmennonitechurch.ca or Peggy J. at 519-655-2242.
June 4 (Sun.), 1:30 – 3:00 pm. at 183 Mill St., New Hamburg. Love Your Neighbour Communities (LYNC) Community Launch. Hear from community leaders Karen Redman, Region of Waterloo Chair; Natasha Salonen, Mayor, Wilmot Township; Police Chief Mark Crowell and Scott Piatkowski, Community Housing Transformation Centre. See the historic mill and view plans for the future build of attainable housing.
June 5 (Mon.) rescheduled date 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers present ‘a light exists in spring’ will include music for spring, seasonal congregational hymns, door prizes and refreshments at St Jacobs Mennonite Church (1310 King St. N, St Jacobs). For tickets www.mennosingers.com
June 13 (Tues) 5 – 7 pm (in person and take out) Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp’s 56th Annual Chicken BBQ & 15th Annual Pie Auction Fundraiser. Advance tickets required. $18 Small meal (1 piece of chicken) / $22 Regular meal (2 pieces of chicken). Please visit hiddenacres.ca for more details and to order your tickets.
June 17 (Sat.), 9-4 p.m. Pastors in Exile’s Beyond Binaries Conference at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener. Details and registration at https://bit.ly/3VWS04v .
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada is monitoring the wildfire situation in northern Alberta. Once the extent of the damage, insurance claims and government assistance has been assessed, MDS will determine if there are people who lack resources to repair or rebuild their homes.
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate is looking for local households to host an international student in their home as part of Rockway’s Homestay Program. Interested? Contact Jill: homestay@rockway.ca
The Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir invites children who love to sing, from Grade 1 and up to join for Fall 2023. Go to the website: www.mennosingers.com/imcc under “Join us” for more information or contact: conductor@imcchoir.org.
Personal Notes
Congratulations to Harold & Delores Swartzentruber who are celebrating their 64th anniversary Tuesday, May 23.
Remember in Prayer
Prayer requests from Mennonite World Conference,
- for humanitarian assistance in response to severe food insecurity in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia
- for Anabaptist-Mennonite churches in Ukraine to discern practical ways of being a peace church.
This week join Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) in prayer for Avon Church , Stratford, ON