Thanks for the Extra Effort!

 Financial Update – December 2025 Year End

Our results for the year finished in a positive position and were much improved from the prior month. Although we ended with a deficit of $26,303, it was $16,941 better than our budget in the Ministry & Mission (current) account.

 

Thanks for your support!!

What follows is a partial report, but please see Richard's full year-end report here

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Comments:

• Member gifts of $262,737 are $18,812 (7.7%) better than plan.

• Rental Income from parking & facility of $65,550 is $5,550 better than plan.

• Other income of $16,252 is $7,452 better due to investment income on invested assets.

• Disbursements of $370,841 are $14,872 worse than plan. The major issue in spending was heavy snow removal and salt costs, which exceeded the plan by $13,500.

 

Your support of Benevolence to the Synod and other designated appeals was $74,092. Of this amount, $54,092 was received from members in support of the Synod ($21,500), and Other specific appeals ($32,592). In addition to member support, we have received $20,000 in grants that were disbursed as noted. A breakdown of total Benevolence follows:

• Synod support $21,500

• Food Voucher Program $15,166

• Open Sesame Headstart $11,301 (incl. $10,000 grant rec’d)

• Camp Kukatonon Liberian Assn $10,000 (incl. $10,000 grant rec’d)

• CLWR general appeals $ 5,795

• CLWR- Friends of creation-Lake Chad $ 1,550

• KW Food Bank $ 4,210

• Scholarship Fund $ 3,000

• SHOW (Supportive Housing of Wat.) $ 2,060

• Trinity Village $ 1,000

• Luther & Other ELCIC Ministries $ 730

• Other (Habitat, Working Centre etc.) $ 780

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Further details will be provided in our annual report to be presented at the AGM on March 1, 2026.   Richard Brubacher – Treasurer & Chair of Finance

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Mount Zion Kitchen Reopens

The kitchen will begin preparation of meals to be ordered by January 7 with delivery on January 8. Please visit our website to view our menu. On December 18, we held a potluck lunch for our volunteers.  We greatly appreciate all our volunteers who help in the kitchen and with the delivery of our meals. Patrick and Mrs. Bell deliver our outreach meal every Thursday to Better Tent City on Ardelt. Thank you to Cobbs Bread on Northfield and to DISTRO for picking up our breads every Wednesday evening.

We look forward to your food orders in 2026 to help sustain our Outreach Ministry. 

Thank you, Jane Schlegel 

 

An Invitation from CLWR and the Service Committee

Hello members of Mount Zion,

On Saturday, January 17, from 5 pm to 8 pm, Mount Zion will be hosting a Winter Party organized by Canadian Lutheran World Relief.  The guests will be refugee families who have arrived in our community in the past few years.   The dinner will be potluck, with families bringing and serving their own food.  We are asked to have a few volunteers there to make the guests feel welcome and to participate in the occasion. 

If you are able to provide a hosting presence in this way, please let me know at melinoret@gmail.com or call  519-886-4393.

Thanks for your support.    Mary Thompson,  Justice for Service Chair

 

Congratulations to David Schnasa Jacobsen on the Publication of His Latest Book

David Jacobsen recently received copies of his new book, Race, Preaching, and Ricoeur, published by Bloomsbury Academic and Fortress Academic.  The book is a series of essays and sermons that aim to bring theory and praxis together to preach the gospel amid white racism.

David says he takes great joy in the publication, knowing the struggle against racism must continue, even in times as difficult as these.

He reports that he worked with many wonderful people to get this book together. Chief among them is co-author Scott Donahue-Martens, whose brilliance and skill made it all seem easy. “Those of you in homiletics will marvel at the contributors we lined up for insightful essays: Eunjoo Kim (Vanderbilt), James Henry Harris (Virginia Union), and Carolyn Helsel (Austin Presbyterian). Preachers contributing sermons on white racism include Anna Carter Florence (Columbia Presbyterian), Jake Myers (Columbia Presbyterian), Tony Baugh, and Yohan Go.
We put this volume together in the hope that it will help Christian preachers to keep the faith. I hope you will find in it both struggle and grace,” he says.
 

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.

We anticipate many visitors and look forward to your help in welcoming our guests, exemplifying the warm hospitality for which Mount Zion is known.

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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Your Gifts of Poinsettias add much to Christmas Celebrations

Thank you to all of you who purchased Poinsettias in memory of loved ones. The blooms graced the sanctuary for the Christmas Season.

Name                                      In memory of :

Richard & Susan Brubacher     Loved ones

Rev. Dr. Marc & Marnie Jerry     Loved ones

Peggy Nickels & Patrick Seliske     Loved ones

Pauline Finch     Husband, Alfred & Catherine

Henriette Stumper     Husband, Jake

Judi Harris     Husband, Jim and Son, Jeff      

Margaret Waechter     Loved ones

Helga Juergensen     Husband, Martin

Margaret Murison     Husband, Sandy

Carol & Lloyd Ziegler     Loved ones

Jane & Ross Schlegel     Loved ones

Stephanie von Schilling     Family

Joan & Jacquelyn Schweitzer     Grandpa, Parents, Joyce

Mary Thompson    Loved ones

Karen & Bill Gastmeier     Family & Friends

Marg & Roger Tupling      Family & Friends

Mary Jean Lange     Husband, Norman

Hermine Nassau     Husband, Willi    

Robert & Nancy Kelly      Mother, Mary Helen

Peter & Karen Kuhnert     Hope Eaton

Charlotte Bourdon     Loved ones

Judy & John Penteker     Loved ones

 

Lunch and Learn

The Lunch and Learn luncheon will return on January 25 after the service.

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Mount Zion Café

The Café will be serving coffee, cookies and conversation on Jan 14 and Jan 28 at 10 am.

 

Choir Practice

The choir resumes practice on Jan 15 at 20 am. If you have ever considered joining, this is a great time to do so.

 

Upcoming

The Annual Meeting will be held on March 1 at about 11:30 am, after the service. On that note, if you have not yet completed your Annual Report, please send it to Margaret as soon as possible.