To Mask or Not to Mask?

“To mask or not to mask?” It is the question of the day. The wearing of that small swatch of fabric has become the most talked about and debated item other than perhaps the recent antics of Will Smith.

After the province rescinded the State of Emergency and eased restrictions, we have been pretty much left on our own to make our own policies. Fortunately, we have a lot of help in that regard, we have our health council and parish nurse, synod resources and my personal favourite Dr Peter Jüni of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. They are all recommending a cautious approach. With all this in mind and with knowledge of the recent uptick in cases, council voted to extend Mount Zion’s mask requirement for one month at which time council will review. So the answer to the debated question is, mask up, at least for the time being.  Karen Gastmeier on behalf of Church Council

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Nurse Christine on medical leave

On Monday evening Nurse Christine underwent emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder and so will be on medical leave for at least two weeks. She is back home and on her way to recovery. She reports that she is feeling well and is just itching to get back to work. In the meantime, please direct any enquiries that normally would go to Christine to the church office and we would try our best to be of assistance!!  Pastor Philip

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Donations requested for food vouchers

This year, the Justice through Service Committee is designating support of local food security as a kind of Adopt-a-Cause.  This will include support of our long-standing food voucher program, in which we distribute grocery cards to those in need at the door of the church. As we heard at the Annual Meeting, the demand has increased greatly in the pandemic.  In 2021, we handed out over 900 ten-dollar cards.  A gift in cards of $30 to a single person or $60 to a family, once every two months, contributes just a small portion of what they require, but it is still very much appreciated by the recipients.  Although we are not accepting any new registrants for now, and are limiting the distribution to just two mornings a month, we hope to be able to keep helping those on our list.  Please continue to donate generously to this program, to ease the hardship of many of our K-W neighbours who find themselves in need.  Mary Thompson

 

It's not too early to talk about Holy Week

Holy Week is just around the corner. The palm branches and the hydrangeas have been ordered. Pastor Philip is busy planning the services and music director Sarah has been writing brass parts for our visiting musician, trumpeter, David Manning. On Thursday mornings the sanctuary is filled with music all in preparation of Holy Week when we will be able to worship in person together for the first time in two years.

The Three Days begins with a Maundy Thursday Service April 14 at 7 p.m. followed by Good Friday April 15 at 10 a.m. and Easter celebrations at 10 am April 17 all in the sanctuary. Good Friday and Easter services will also be live streamed..

 

Easter Flowers

This year we will once again be decorating our chancel with an array of Blue Hydrangeas for Easter.  If you wish to participate by supporting this purchase, please see the signup sheet found in the narthex or you may sign up by calling the church office at 519-886-5820.  The 10” pots cost $40.00 and the 6” pots cost $23.00.  Please pick up your plant immediately after service on Easter Sunday if possible.  (Please indicate “Flowers” in the “other” section of your envelope.)  Thank you for your support.
Susan Brubacher

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Mount Zion Café open on April 13 and 27

The Mount Zion Cafe will be open for coffee, tea and cookies from 10 AM to Noon on Wednesday April 13, and then the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, ending for the summer on June 8th.  We are all ready for a little socializing, so come and join us at the Mount Zion Cafe for an enjoyable morning. Stephanie von Schilling

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WATERLOO LUTHERANS & ANGLICANS PRESENT

2022 Lenten Series  

Lament to Hope

7:30 pm Wednesdays nights throughout Lent

The Zoom Link is the same for every service

Zoom Meeting ID: 836 4183 0711 Passcode: Lamenting

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April 6: Viewing party hosted and led by Christ Lutheran Church

Poverty and Precarious Work

with The Rev. Ann Anderson

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Synod-Wide Palm Sunday Worship and a challenge

This year, the Eastern Synod will be partnering with St. Peter’s, Kitchener to provide a Palm Sunday worship opportunity. This televised service will be available to those who may choose to participate on Sunday morning via the live broadcast, as well as to those who may wish to view the recording at a later date. Please note, that this worship opportunity will be in addition to local services (we are not asking you to cancel your local Palm Sunday services).

Leading the service will be Bishop Susan Johnson, Bishop Michael Pryse, Pastor Mark Ehlebracht, Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land), President Conrad Plummer (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana), as well as rostered and lay participants from across our Synod.

The Challenge

As part of the service the synod is inviting you to wave textile items which can be donated to local agencies in your community. Wave socks…receiving blankets…washcloths…bedsheets…towels…or even underwear! At Mount Zion we are asking that you purchase towels or socks that will be donated to the Anishanabee Outreach or Marilac Place.

You can set your PVR or tune into this live, national CTV Palm Sunday broadcast, April 10 at 10 am from St Peter’s Kitchener.

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SEEKING WISDOM: a Holy Week art display by artist Helen Weber

For more than a decade, each year, each day of Lent; local artist, Helen Weber, creates a piece of art as part of a personal spiritual journey. A few years ago, Helen (a member of Trillium Lutheran Church) looked at Lent through the lens of other traditional spiritual teachings and writings. The resulting art that will be on at Trillium Lutheran

Place: Trillium Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall,

22 Willow St., Waterloo

Artist: Helen Weber

Dates of Display: Monday April 11 to Friday April 15

Mon to Wed: 1:00 to 4:30 pm, Thurs: 1:00 to 8:30 pm, Friday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

 

In our Prayers

Let us pray for George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai. Let us also continue to remember the situation in Ukraine in our prayers, for peace and the laying down of weapons, for wisdom, discernment and compassion.

 

Upcoming Lessons

Sun. Apr. 3 — Fifth Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm 126 (5)

Philippians 3:4b-14 

John 12:1-8 

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Sun. Apr. 10 — Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday

Luke 19:28-40, Procession with Palms

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16 (5)

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke 22:14 — 23:56

Luke 23:1-49

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Live Spring Book Discussion, Tuesday, May 3, 1:30-3:00 pm

Health Council will be holding a book discussion on Made for Goodness and Why This Makes All the Difference by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Mpho Tutu, also an Anglican priest. Tutu tells touching stories from his own life, as well as horrific memories of his work in dark places of the world. From there he invites us to take on the disciplines of goodness, the practices that are key to finding fulfillment, meaning and happiness for our lives. We think this book is a fitting selection as a way of honouring a great man who most recently died.

The place and format of the discussion will be decided as we get closer to the date. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Slethaug. If interested, Betty Behm will order and deliver a book for you. Please contact her at 519-896-2245.