Reflections from Pastor Philip

During my last visit with Gladys Roeder, one of our senior charter members, only a day before her death and even in her then condition she inquired about Mount Zion and how things were. The act of communing in her hospital room, as part of the Mount Zion community, was profound. The commitment and faithfulness of our earlier members and leadership allowed us to be true to God’s call as a community, folks were invested in what happened at Mount Zion. Despite the ups and downs, the community has remained authentic and sincere to the call to be disciples of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and that journey continues.

The Reimagining Mount Zion Initiative is part of that journey where we continue to explore and discern where God is leading us in these different times and contexts. Mount Zion’s beginnings when Pastor Glebe went from door to door and invited people to join this new community had its own particular needs and realities. The result was a vibrant and enthusiastic community eager to live out their faith in love and with compassion.

As we continue that journey, I see that the enthusiasm and eagerness is very much there, there is that desire to be what God wants us to be. But are the needs and realities different now? How is it that we could continue to be faithful? With the changing times, the role of the church or faith communities is not what it used to be in the public sphere. This impacts how we understand and live out our faith. What are some of our core beliefs that continue to guide and direct our behaviour? Our understanding of the role of women in leadership, our relationship with the indigenous communities, racial and LGBTQ2+ relations, and our relationship with all of creation, among others, have evolved, while still being rooted firmly in who we are as the baptized, called to be God’s instruments and reach out in love and compassion to the world around.

We are continuing this journey of being faithful through the Reimagining Mount Zion Initiative. What is God telling us in these times, where is God leading us in how we live out our baptismal call?

The involvement of the community in the congregational meeting on April 30, to discuss the survey and the engaging and passionate conversations, was really encouraging. It pointed to the fact that we do care about the how’s and why’s of who we are as a community. This is not going to be an easy journey, there will be frustrations, there will be hurts, but let us listen to each other in love and together discern God’s will, resting assured that we are not alone, like the song we are familiar with reads – We are not alone, we are not alone . . . God is with us. . . . I pray that this participation and involvement continues to be a character of this journey of ours.

Council’s writing group, of which I am a member, has reviewed the input from the meeting and incorporated your suggestions into what we feel are more comprehensive definitions of the beliefs that undergird the congregation’s vision for the future.

As we go further into spring, we see the colours of flowers and leaves and the chirping of birds indicating life stirring from the throes of winter. May that be our experience too as a community.

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Pastor Philip

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BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS

Not Hitchcock’s, but origami ones! We had an “origami bee” at Mount Zion Monday afternoon, making nearly 200 folded paper birds to suspend in the church entrance hall on Pentecost Sunday. The colours of red, orange and yellow symbolize flames. A good deal of the paper was recycled and pre-cut for us by office manager Margaret Waechter. And there was coffee and cookies to keep us energized! A great get-together on a beautiful day.  from a FaceBook post by Pauline Finch  

It is not too late to be a part of this project. You can pick up paper and instructions from the office.

 

Financial Report

Results for the four months of 2023 reflects a deficit of $37,817.  This is a significant number and compares to a budget deficit of $42,924 for this period in our Ministry & Mission (current) account.

Total receipts were $2,776 higher than plan, and disbursements were lower by $2,331, resulting in a positive deviation of $5,107.

See Treasurer Richard Brubacher’s full report here.

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Staff Matters

Margaret will be spending a week touring Ireland from May 16 to May 23

Nurse Christine is on sick leave for the next while, as she as been diagnosed with Covid.

 

Reimagining Mount Zion Progress Report

As Pastor Philip mentioned in his above reflections, council’s writing group gathered to discuss, debate and improve the Draft Vision Statement and the Core Values incorporating comments made at the information meeting held on April 30. They also added a preamble which they thought would incorporate many of the suggestions made at the meeting. Council met last night to review and the new draft will be available shortly. Stay tuned.    

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With Heavy Hearts

It is with a heavy heart that learned of the news of Gladys Roeder's death this week St. Mary's Hospital.  Please keep Gerry and Linda and his siblings and their families in our prayers as they go through this time of grief. Gladys was a charter member of Mount Zion.

Her funeral will be held at Mount Zion today at 11 a.m. The service will be live streamed.

"Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine on her."

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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.       

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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. It was Dave Delouchery from Hawkeye Films who has helped us out with our live streaming set up and has sat in for David M on occasion.

Dave D has done a splendid job of capturing the highlights and the energy of the day and has edited into a very professional video. I encourage you to grab a coffee, put your feet up and give it a watch. Just hit the big red arrow to your left.  An Oscar, maybe that is a bit of a stretch, but it's a masterpiece in my eyes. editor.

 

Mount Zion Cafe - May 24

The Mount Zion Café continues to offer coffee and goodies on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Please join us. Coffee is on at 10 a.m. Taxi rides are available to the café, whose cost is covered by Mount Zion.  If you require a ride, please call the church office and speak to Margaret by 9:45 AM LATEST on the morning of a cafe or the day before if you know.  Margaret will order you a taxi, and the cafe volunteers will see you get a taxi home.

Dates:   May 24  and  June 14

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Friday Fun Nite - May 26

Join Pastor Philip for a night of fun on May 26th at 6:00 pm during the "Friday Fun Night."

Give the office a call if you would like to attend so we can plan the menu.

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Mindfulness Meditation Practice Continues May 23

Everyone is welcome to attend our Mindful Meditation group every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Meet upstairs. Wear a mask, and be fragrance-free. Open to all—no charge and no previous experience necessary.  Just come.  

Tues. May 23, 1.30 pm, ​

Summer Break - June to September

Call Henriette Stumper  519.885.3434 for more details.

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A reminder from Mount Zion Kitchen 

Remember, if you are done with the Thursday meal reusable containers, soup jars and cloth delivery bags, please return them to the church office at your convenience. 

They’ll be sanitized and packed away until September.

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In Our Prayers

Grant healing and wholeness to all who seek them, Helga, Lars and Dirk and their families grieve the loss of Martin Juergensen, the Nanson family upon the passing of Shirley Nanson, Helen, Joy, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, Gladys and Don & Jean and their daughter Tai;

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Upcoming Lessons

Sunday May 14 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 17:22-31

Psalm 66:8-20 (8)

1 Peter 3:13-22

John 14:15-21 

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Sunday May 21 – Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:6-14

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 (4)

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

John 17:1-11 

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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”