Summer at Mount Zion

July 2 until Labour Day -  Sunday Morning Hymn Sings Return – 9:45 am.

July 16 - Sundae Sunday -  the name says it all; enjoy a small make-it-yourself sundae with all the toppings on Sunday, July 16

August – we are still looking for an idea for a special mini-celebration in August;

suggestions would be welcome. Speak with Margaret or Karen if you have a brilliant but easy idea.

Sept 10 – Soup’r Sunday – Start dreaming of a soup recipe you would like to share when our thoughts move on to exciting new fall activities.

Every Sunday - Take the service to the cottage by tuning into our live stream at https://www.youtube.com/@mountzionworship9606/streams

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Music Notes

If you love to sing, be sure to be a part of the Summer Humn Sings on Sunday morning at 9:45 am. You get to pick and sing your favourites.

While the choir, enjoys a summer break, we will have an exciting mix of solos, small ensembles and instrumental music.  Sarah

 

Staff Updates

Pastor Philip is visiting his family in India from June 12 to 26. Pastor Marie Besong will preach and preside on June. Pastor Leannne Darlington will be available June 12-17 and  for  David Melina from June 19-26 for pastoral emergencies.

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An Urgent Appeal from CLWR

Canadian Lutheran World Relief has joined its partners in the Humanitarian Coalition in calling on all Canadians to pray for the millions facing hunger, conflict, and the effects of climate change in East Africa, and to give generously in support of the needs of all those affected. The Canadian government is matching donations until June 30th, so the impact of your gift will double! Donate today at clwr.org/eastafrica or call 1-800-661-2597 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm CDT). 

“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

 

Next Steps in our Reimagining Mount Zion Initiative

Next Wednesday about 35 members of Mount Zion will meet with ten members of a selection of community organizations when we will explore the community around us through conversations with local service organizations and leaders. By listening and learning, we will explore new ways to partner and serve the community in the future. Using the information garnered from the Community Round Table and our newly developed values and Vision Statement, council will start working on a new Mission Statement.

 

Graduation Time at Open Sesame

Open Sesame’s 53rd year of operation concludes this week with a graduation celebration for some special little people... It’s a time when teachers and parents acknowledge the many successes made by the children. Many parents wrote to thank the teachers for their care and dedication, as in past years. Open Sesame parents appreciate the program, which remains highly regarded in the community.

Behind the scenes, this was a challenging year as the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care program (usually referred to as the $10 a Day program) was implemented. The Region is supportive of the unique needs of Open Sesame, and funding for next year is in place.

Thank you to our fantastic teaching staff Jana Kelly and Samantha Beesley, for the care and attention that they bring to the classroom every day, making our program unique in the area.

We also want to thank our treasurer, Joan Brunger, who will retire after nine years in September. Thank you to Richard Brubacher for his support as he teased out the complexities of our new funding model.  Carol Ziegler

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Summer Reading

Health Council’s Fall Book Study

Health Council will hold a book study on The Berry Pickers by Canadian author, Amanda Peters. This story is about a Mi’kmaq (First Nations) family in 1962 who travels to Maine to pick blueberries with their five children, including six-year-old Joe and four-year-old Ruthie. When Ruthie disappears, Joe, the last person to see Ruthie, is devastated by his sister’s disappearance, and her loss remains a part of his life for years.

Elsewhere in Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as an only child with a distant father and an overprotective mother. As Norma gets older, she feels her family is holding something back and is determined to find the truth. The story is told between Joe and Norma focusing from the present day to the past. It is about the search for truth, the constant presence of trauma, and the persistence of love.

The study will be in-person in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, September 26, 1:30-3:00 pm. Copies are available at local libraries and bookstores, or if you wish to borrow a book for a short time, contact Betty Behm.          Mary Slethaug

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CLAY  Canadian Lutheran and Anglican Youth

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!! Waterloo is hosting Lutheran and Anglican youth from across Canada from August 10-13, and we need your help welcoming youth, leaders, Bishops and all CLAY participants and making this gathering a safe, fun, well-organized event

Volunteers are needed for registration, late-night spots, chaplains, traffic control and lots of areas around the event.  We will find a space for you to use your gifts!! 

To register as a volunteer, you can contact Pastor Bonnie Schelter-Brown at pbschelterbrown@gmail.com or Pastor Anne Anderson at ananderson@luther.wlu.ca  or go to the CLAY 2023 Website and register as a volunteer!!  https://claygathering.ca/

Thanks for your support of our youth!!  You can make a real difference in the lives of these youth!! 

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In Our Prayers

We pray for all who are sick Mary Helen (mother of Bob Kelly), Joy, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai and the Roeder family grieving the death of Gladys.

 

Bridges Vacation Bible School

Join Bridges Vacation Bible School held this year at St. Luke's in Kitchener for a fun week of VBS adventures from July 10 to 14! Kids will enjoy daily worship, music, crafts, games and more! Read the details at https://bridgesvbs.weebly.com/

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Upcoming Lessons

Sunday June 25 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Psalm 69:7-10 [11-15] 16-18 (16)

Romans 6:1b-11

Matthew 10:24-39 

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Sunday July 16 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 

Isaiah 55:10-13

Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-13 (11)

Romans 8:1-11

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 

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Announcements Worth Repeating

Food Card Distribution Reminder

The Justice Through Service Committee sends a reminder that each month we continue to distribute grocery cards to single persons and families in need and who are registered with our program.  A warm thank you to the volunteers who carry out the distribution and the congregation for supporting the program with donations.  We have sufficient funds for June and hope to continue the program through the summer.  Please continue to remember this part of our ministry with regular contributions as you are able.

Mary Thompson, Justice Through Service Committee Co Chair

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Hearing Assistant System

If you are having trouble hearing on Sunday mornings, please investigate our Hearing Assistant System. Headphones which are easily accessible in the narthex. Ask an usher for assistance if you need to. Another tactic for catching every word is to sit closer to the front in the centre section. But it does seem that Lutherans prefer the back pews 😊

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Home Care Items Available for Short or Long-term Use

Nurse Christine reminds us that she  has a small supply of walkers or wheelchairs available for members to borrow. Give her a call if you interested. 

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A reminder from Mount Zion Kitchen 

If you are done with the Thursday meal reusable containers, soup jars and cloth delivery bags, please return them to the Blue Collection bin outside  the office at your convenience.  They’ll be sanitized and packed away until September.

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Mask Policy Change

Mask Policy Change Based on a recommendation from the health council, Mount Zion’s mask policy was  updated to read “that the wearing of a mask at services and on other occasions within the church be made OPTIONAL starting today until further notice.”

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Is there an Oscar in Mount Zion's Future?

Did you notice a videographer roaming about the festivities during Black History Month Celebrations? Dave Delouchery from Hawkeye Films has helped us with our live-streaming setup and has occasionally sat in for David M.

Dave D has done a splendid job of capturing the highlights and the energy of the day and has edited it into a very professional video. I encourage you to grab a coffee, put your feet up and give it a watch. Just click ont the link below.  An Oscar may be a bit of a stretch, but it's a masterpiece in my eyes. Editor. 

ahttps://www.youtube.com/@mountzionworship9606