Voices Together: World Communion Sunday
October 1, 2023
Gathering to praise….
Prelude
Call to Worship and Prayer
Hymn: We Praise Thee, O God VT 91
…to listen for God’s Spirit….
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8-10
Children’s Time
Hymn: O God of Blessings* (verses 1, 5 & 6) VT 700
Scripture: Philippians 3:4b-9
Sermon: Each has a Gift
…..that transforms us ….
Hymn: I Come with Joy VT 478
Communion Service
All are welcome to participate. Families may decide about children’s participation. Grapes are available for all as a sign of God’s love.
Hymn: Seed, Scattered and Sown VT 477
Congregational Sharing & Prayer: VT 989
Offering & Offertory
Announcements
….and sends us forth as bearers of God’s love.
Hymn: Sent Forth by God’s Blessing VT 812
Benediction
Postlude
*New Voices Together Hymn-of-the-Month for October 2023
An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under. Parents are expected to supervise their children while in the nursery.
Leading us in worship:
Prelude & Offertory: Sing the Journey
Accompanist & Postlude: Susan Seyler
Song Leader: Norma Iutzi
Worship Leader: Pastor Louise Wideman
Children’s Time: Joanne Schwartzentruber
Scripture: Elaine & Leah Finnie
Speaker & Congregational Prayer: Ben Cassels
A/V: Paul Hammer, Cliff Kennel
October Special Offering: Wilmot Family Resource Centre Food Bank. https://bit.ly/3t7i96r.
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. 5), basement
11:15 – 12 p.m. Jr. Youth (Gr. 6-8) & MYF (Gr. 9-12+), basement
– Adult Ed., Fireplace Room
We kindly ask, if the worship service ends early, that you continue to stay with your children until the 11 a.m. start time for Sunday School and Snack.
Next Sunday October 8
9:45 a.m. Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Scripture: Genesis 1m; Romans 12:1-2
Speaker: Pastor Ben Cassels
Thanksgiving Sunday: food item offering for Wilmot Family Resource Centre Food Bank. Most needed items: pasta & sauce/diced tomatoes, Kraft dinner, cereal, canned fruits, beans/legumes, 100% fruit juice, soups, canned meat, school snacks, & peanut butter. For more information or to donate financially please visit: https://bit.ly/3t7i96r & https://bit.ly/48rBwar.
Congregational Life
Request for help from property: We would like some help to replace the cemetery shed roof. Please contact Glen at 226-972-9580.
Oct. 3 (Tues.) 4 – 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Pickleball.
Oct. 4 (Wed.) Morning & afternoon – All women invited to the church to knot comforters and/or quilt. Bring a bag lunch. Drinks provided.
Oct. 12 (Thurs.) 7:00 p.m., Steinmann M.C.“We Own This Now” presented by Ted & Company TheatreWorks. Sponsored by MCC; the Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous/Settler Relationships; local churches; businesses and individuals. It explores the legal framework that justified European acquisition of the Americas and the oppression of Indigenous peoples. Tickets are $15 each ($10 for students). Get yours at mcc.org/we-own-this-now.
Oct. 13 – 14 (Fri. – Sat.) Women’s retreat at Blue Mountain Resort. Cost is approx. $150.00. Incudes lodging and food, 2 different times to leave on Friday 10:30 or 4:00 or later. Please sign up by Wed. Oct 4th.. Questions, contact Sandy Scheerer 519-274-4080.
Nov. 18 (Sat.) 9 – 2 p.m. 9th annual Makers Market. There will be 35+ local vendors including Ten Thousand Villages again this year. We have a wide variety of volunteer roles to fill! If you are interested, please contact Ashley – ad.drudge@gmail.com or 519-998-2955.
MYF (Grades 9-12+)
Today, 12 p.m. Beach Day! Bring a packed lunch, lots of layers to be prepped for all weather. Meet at the church.
Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
Oct. 19 (Thur.) 6:30-8 p.m. Outdoor Games at Chris & Wendy Lebolds.
KidsLIFE (Grades 1-5)
Oct. 4 (Wed.), 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Steinmann Mennonite Church, the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Children grades 1-5 are invited . Cost is free; register at https://smchurch.ca/kidslife/
Small Groups
Oct. 17 (Tues.) 10 a.m. The Adult Bible Study led by Wes Leis will meet in the fireplace room. Studying “Exploring the New Testament”. Everyone is welcome.
Bible study group for women of all ages – If you would like to participate in a study group that will meet on the second and fourth Thursday (10 a.m.), in the board room at church and/or via Zoom, contact Darlene Gingerich, 519.662.3492 or dargingerich@yahoo.com. A start date will be determined by responses.
Personal Notes
Congratulations to Brian & Carol Sararus who are celebrating their 52nd anniversary on October 1.
We sincerely thank the Steinmann congregation for the many prayers, cards and visits that came our way during the 2 months of being in the hospital and since returning home. The prayer shawl I received was a great comfort in the many weeks I spent in pain while recovering from a serious infection. We also would appreciate continued prayer for our son Brian who is on life support in Toronto General Hospital. God Bless you. Nyle and Kathleen Hofstetter.
Remember in Prayer
Continue to remember the many persons we know with ongoing health challenges
We extend our sympathy to Erma Steinmann, Susan Seyler, Nancy Steinmann Yantzi, and Doug Steinmann and their families as they grieve the death of Ervin. Ervin died on September 28 at Nithview Home. Plans for a service are pending.
We extend our sympathy to Sue and Arne Kennel. Sue’s brother, Brian Gerber, died on September 24. His funeral took place at the Francis Funeral Home, Tavistock on Friday, September 29.
This week join Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) in prayer for Burning Bush Forest Church, Kitchener – Waterloo, ON.
Wider Community
Oct. 1 (Sun.) 3 p.m. Silver Lake Mennonite Camp hosts a Book Launch – “Childhood Unplugged” by Katherine Johnson Martinko. Join us to discuss and hear advice about how to get kids off screens and find balance with nature. Location: Community Room at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener.
Oct. 9 (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.
Oct. 14 (Sat) 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Empty Bowls for Haiti at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Tickets and info: https://bit.ly/3Pk3xrJ.
Oct. 15 (Sun.) 7 p.m. St. Jacobs Mennonite Church will host the Heart Cry Ensemble for a concert of choral music. No cost a freewill offering will be collected. For more link https://bit.ly/469nWHg.
Oct. 20 (Fri.) CMU Discover Day – Full- or half-day options available. Prospective students the CMU campus, visit a class, meet professors and current students, ask questions and have lunch and treats on us! Visit https://www.cmu.ca/future/experience.
Oct. 22 (Sun.) 2:30 4:30 p.m. East Zorra Mennonite Church invites you to an information and fundraising event for Help Build a Future of Peace in Mindanao. The Future of Ministry in Philippines: Malipayon Peace Hub. For info https://bit.ly/3PUuTWS.
Oct. 28 (Sun.) 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Voices Together Resource Day at Shantz Mennonite Church. Come explore the music and resources of the new Voices Together Hymnal with some of the members of the VT Committee and other MCEC musicians. Register at https://bit.ly/3runeFo. The day ends with a Voices Together Hymn Sing at 7 p.m. open to the whole community. All are invited to bring your voices.
Oct. 27-29 Hidden Acres’ 3rd Rally for Recreation. For more information and to sign up visit www.hiddenacres.ca
Oct. 28 (Sat.) 5 p.m. House of Friendship’s Friendship Dinner. Celebrate inspiring youth who are overcoming the odds! More info and tickets https://bit.ly/3YVx.
Nov 9 (Thur.) 7-9 pm. Discover Rockway – information night for families interested in Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. https://bit.ly/3ESAfwO.
Update on Steinmann MC Accounting Role:
On Wed. Sept. 20, Vision Focus Team (VFT) approved a recommendation from the Finance Transition Working Group and the Finance Committee to contract with a company called Church Bookkeeping to manage Steinmann MC finances as of October 1.
We are grateful to have worked and consulted with Sean East these past few months as we explore our next steps. This role is not as broad as Wendy’s role had been; we narrowed the focus specifically for bookkeeping which Wendy did so well for us.
Some things to know about Church Bookkeeping:
- Specializes in charitable financial operations
- Accurate recording of our finances
- Good financial reports
- Streamlined way to pay invoices & reimburse expenses
- Timely management of our payroll
- Accurate recording of donations
- Annual charitable receipts
- Files all government reports for us
- Prepares and submits our annual charity tax return
- Helps the auditor with our annual audit
- Company owned by a Christian who grew up in an MCEC
Congregation
- This new system will be primarily electronic
- The average person in the congregation will not be impacted by the few changes necessary.
- A designated point person will be named to hand in expense reports or make financial inquiries.