Reimaging the Possible: Recognizing the Body of Christ

By Nancy Vernon Kelly

In this time of so much change, last Sunday in the middle of a bitter snowstorm, my husband and I were among the sixty-nine households who worshiped God with the help of Mount Zion’s livestream. It’s hard to believe that we are now among those who mostly worship with the help of technology. I am grateful to those who make it possible for many of us to recognize and feel part of the Body of Christ in a new way.

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Saint Paul teaches us to us to recognize Christ’s Body in the gift of each other. On Sunday mornings, on the screen, at our house we are able to recognize Christ’s Body in the hubbub of voices before the Prelude begins. In bodies swaying and clapping to lively music. In legs comfortably crossed. In hands and feet dancing on the organ’s keys and pedals. In voices raised in song, prayer and in preaching. In nods, nudges and whispers among worshipers. In grandsons who deliver Grandma’s walker so she can join the procession to receive Communion.

Both in person and on screen, we are the Body of Christ.

Jesus teaches us to recognize His body and blood in Holy Communion. At first, when Robert and I began worshiping at home with the help of the livestream, I felt more like a spectator than a participant as I watched friends move forward. I wasn’t an early adapter to communing at home.

Recently, something changed after a conversation with a neighbour. Like Robert and me, this neighbour worships with the help of a livestream. After his wife died, he mentioned to his pastor how lonely he felt communing alone at home. His pastor nodded sympathetically and said communion is one of the times when we, in faith, can feel the nearness of those we love who have died. Because they’re communing with us.

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At the time I heard this story, Robert’s mother had just died, and the following Sunday and every Sunday since we have communed at home on Sunday mornings. It’s easy to sense Robert’s Mom drawing near, welcoming us to the table.

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Long ago, we belonged to a church where we communed in a semi-circle in front of the altar. When our younger daughter was preparing for her first communion, our pastor said that when we commune, the semi-circle stretches out to become a full circle to make room for all the ones who have died. Or maybe they’re making room for us.

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All this musing leads me in 2026 to cherish the circle around the Lord’s Table that includes all members of Christ’s Body, living and dead, young and old, in person and on the livestream, all of us together, neighbours worldwide, and likely many folks we wouldn’t expect.

Christ longs for us to recognize Him. His Body is large, generous, welcoming, beautifully diverse, beloved, broken and poured out for us all in our various needs. As the world changes, and as we change, Christ keeps finding new ways to connect us with His Body and feed us with the gift of Himself. Our livestream is one of those ways.

Nancy Vernon Kelly

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Black History Sunday is February 22

February is Black History Month in Canada, and Mount Zion is now home to one of the city's most vibrant celebrations of Black History. It is now our biggest event of the year.

Planning is well underway for the celebration on February 22, which will begin with worship at 10:00 am, a change from previous years.

We are pleased to welcome back both Bishop Carla and Bishop Ali Tote of Saskatchewan, with preaching duties shared by Bishop Ali and our Intern Leo. We will also celebrate Leo’s ministry with us as he concludes his internship that day.

The choir is rehearsing, and soloists are practicing. The Acoustic Steel Band will be back to add Caribbean flair. Mrs. Bell and her kitchen team are already preparing a special meal to be served at noon. 

After the meal, you’ll have the chance to meet the first recipients of the Mount Zion Education Scholarship, Brandon Riggan, and the Esselyn Bell Education Scholarship, Lulia Habtemichael .Now alll we need is you to come out and help welcome our guests, showing the world 

Come celebrate, sing and maybe even dance in the aisles on February 22 at 10 am. Please join us for this very special day in the life of Mount Zion. Yes, that is 10 o'clock!  Karen Gastmeier

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The Annual Meeting - March 1 11:30 am

Plan to attend our Annual Meeting on March 1 at 11:30.  The Annual M eeting is a time to foster community, learn of the past year's accomplishiments, approve budgest, elect leaders and be a part of our future.

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Financial Update

An interesting start to the New Year!

Richard Brubacher, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair

Results in the Ministry & Mission (current) account for the first month of 2026 recorded a deficit of $8,607, which is amazingly close to the budget. This is remarkable since our spending exceeded plan by $6,035, mostly due to a continuation of “snowmageddon” with snow removal costs of $9,810 exceeding plan by $4,810 in January.

The good news is that receipts also exceeded plan by $5,262, with strong member support and higher rental income almost offsetting the expense overrun.  Results were $773 worse than plan overall.

Unfortunately, one month does not make a trend.  We can be thankful for the response overall, but it looks like winter will not be kind to us again in 2026.

Please see the commentary in the reports attached.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards, Richard

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Acknowledgment of Indigenous Treaties

For a long time, our Land Acknowledgment at the beginning of the worship services ended this way:  “We recognize our responsibility as treaty people to care for the land and waters that give us strength.  We also acknowledge that it is our duty to do more to learn about the rich history of this land, to better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, caretakers and sojourners.”  In the past few months, we have been varying our Land Acknowledgment by focusing on elements of the history, and in particular on some of the relevant treaties:   the Haldimand Proclamation, the Dish With One Spoon, and the Two-Row Wampum.   

For those interested in learning more about the history in greater depth, there is a wonderful new, accessible website on Indigenous Treaty Making, created by the Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University.  You can find it by searching for “Yellowhead Institute Treaty Map”.  

The website is at https://treatymap.yellowheadinstitute.org/map/

Mary Thmposon, Justice Through Service Committee Chairperson.​​​​​​​​

 

Sunday School Brings it to the Service

 In the photo to the left, Mount Zion’s Sunday School children are performing a radio play about Jesus’s baptism and John the Baptist. They especially like the description of John the Baptist, who dressed in animal skins and ate locusts and honey. This led to telling their own stories of accidentally eating bugs. Despite the buggy conversation, our snack that Sunday did not include anything related to that story, even though they probably would have thought bugs would be cool!

Currently, we have 6 children attending Sunday School regularly, plus 4 others who join us occasionally.   Anne Woolner

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Mount Zion Kitchen

On Wednesday, January 21, the Peelers, Choppers and Spinners had to move their stations to the 'little kitchen' to prepare for our Thursday meal. We were happy that the leak in the 'large kitchen' was fixed on Friday. 

Our fingers are crossed that we will not have to use our Snow Emergency Plan this winter. We have yummy dinner plans for the coming weeks. Please call the office to order. Feb 5 - Tuna Noodle Casserole, Feb 12 - Beef Barley Soup, Feb 19 - Jerk Chicken (mild or spicy), and Feb 26 - Beef Chili. These meals are sure to keep you warm this month!

Jane Schlegel ​​

 

Mount Zion Women's Retreat   

Women of Mount Zion, you are invited to attend our 37th Annual Women's Retreat, on Friday May 1st - Sunday May 3rd, at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Centre, West of New Hamburg.  Pastor Tanya Varner, of Trinity New Hamburg, will lead us in the theme -" Beloved - Resting in God's Grace".  Come and give yourself a "Gift of Time"..... "Time for Spiritual Renewal".........."Time for Laughter"......"Time for Experiencing  Spring in the air at Hidden Acres".  

Cost is $140.  For more information, speak to Carol Ziegler at 519-886-6675, Anne Woolner at 519-743-2277, or Joan Schweitzer at 519-886-5977 and watch the bulletin board in the narthex for registration forms.        Carol Ziegler

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St. Paul's Cambridge - Together We Make a Difference Lecture Series.

We encourage you to watch this third video from the 4-part Lecture Series held in 2025 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cambridge, to hear more about the significant need for mental health services across Canada and to learn about the "No Wrong Door" approach of Camino Well-being and Mental Health. The Camino approach utilizes Wayfinders to link 140 services across a region of seven diverse municipalities (rural, urban, sub-urban...). 
According to speaker Kathryn McEwin, "6.7 Million Canadians annually struggle with mental health" and "... about 40% of parents say they wouldn't tell anyone, not even their family doctor, if their child was experiencing a mental health problem." These statistics and others presented highlight the on-going need for overcoming stigma as well as accessibility barriers related to mental health and well-being. This lecture nods to the key role congregations and rostered faith leaders can play in breaking down barriers and intervening for wellness and flourishing.
Together We Make A Difference: St. Paul's Series -Camino Well-being & Mental Health, Kathryn McEwin

 

Collecting And Saving Tabs

With the removal of the recycling area in the cloakroom, if you are still collecting aluminum can tabs, please place them in a plastic baggie and give them to Joan or Jacquelyn Schweiter. Some members in the past have given us the tabs this way.

A little information about why we collect tabs: The tabs are pure aluminum and can be converted into cash. The cash is used to purchase wheelchairs, scooters, and other assistive devices for people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors. It takes an average of three million tabs to purchase one wheelchair.

The tabs we have collected are taken to the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, The 404 Wing, 510 Dutton Drive in Waterloo. The 404 Wing has assisted with over 1,600 wheelchairs in the past.

A member of the Elora/Fergus Legion comes in to collect the tabs. They collect, sort, weigh, and package the tabs for transport to the next stage.

So a small aluminum tab can change the life of someone in need.

Thank you.   Joan Schweitzer

 

Concerns, Prayers for Venezuela

ELCIC Stands in Solidarity with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela

The ELCIC joins with The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and stands in solidarity with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela and with the communities affected by the situation in the country that has been deteriorating for months. ELCIC National Bishop Larry Kochendorfer offers the following prayer:

God most mighty, God most merciful, you are our refuge and strength. We come before you with heavy hearts, lifting up the people of Venezuela following the U.S. military action on January 3. Bring calm where there is fear, clarity where there is confusion, and restraint where there is anger or despair. We pray for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela and its Bishop, Gerardo A Hands Colmenares. Let the church be a living sign of your grace and a place of refuge, truth, accompaniment, and hope for all who suffer. Where systems oppress and voices are silenced, raise up pathways of accountability, reconcilliation and peace. Guide us all in the way of building peace built on justice, equality, and recognition of every human life as sacred. We entrust Venezuela, its people and your church into your loving hands, trusting not in our own strength but in your steadfast love made known in Jesus Christ, who is our peace, and whose name we pray. Amen.  

To read the statement published by LWF, please click here.

 

World Council of Churches General Secretary Condemns U.S. Attacks 

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay has strongly condemned recent attacks carried out by the United States of America in Venezuela, including the capture and detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, describing the actions as “stunningly flagrant violations of international law.”

Read the statement from the WCC here.​

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​Mount Zion Café

​The Café will be serving coffee, cookies and conversation on Feb 11 and Feb 25 at 10 am.​

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