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A Month to Honour Mothers

The Rev Dr Marc Jerry

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Grace to you and peace!

There is a humourous story of a young father, with his four-year old daughter, who was sent to do a little grocery shopping. When they got to the store, the little one was enjoying having an outing with her father.  As they entered the store, the Dad, who was somewhat pleased with himself to be able to help out with the groceries, picked up a cart and headed to the first aisle in the store.  The little girl, not to be unnerved by a change in routine says to her Dad:

“Daddy, that’s not how mom does the shopping, she usually starts in the aisle with the vegetables.” 

“Oh, ok...,” says the Dad. So they head over to the aisle with the vegetables, and the father begins to select some fruit.  “That’s not how Mom picks fruit.” “Oh” says the Dad, getting a little more agitated by the criticism. “Ok, he said – maybe we’ll just do it Dad’s way today, ok?” “Ok,” replied the little one, who went back to humming her favourite song, pushing the cart, and helping her Dad with the groceries.

When they were all done, the father accidentally left two full cartons of milk on the roof of the car.  As they pulled away from their parking spot in a hurry, the milk cartons careened off the roof and spectacularly exploded all over the parking lot as they struck the pavement.  As they stopped to clean up the mess - the little girl simply said: “That’s not how Mom does it!”  

Among other things, May is a month to honour our mothers: we give thanks for them and for the care and love that they bring us. 

It is the image of God (imageo dei) that mothers represent as they bring forth new life, as they nurture us, and for the delicate balance that they bring to our lives in the tension of trying to keep us safe, and all the while trying give us freedom.

In recognizing mothers, we also often forget the toll motherhood takes, or even the anguish some experience of wanting to be a parent.  There are also especially those who desperately wished for, but never had, their own Mother’s love.

This past year, my own mother died at 89 years.  My mother was a psychologist and, in her role, cared for a great many people beyond her own two sons. She was a product of the great depression in Canada and, as such, had a very practical approach to life.

My mother expected hard work – all the time – and would never wish us good luck on our exams, but rather, “clear thinking.”  It was never enough to just pause and take a break, but what were we doing next?  In retrospect, my mother simply wanted the best for each of us and to succeed in all that we did.  A mother’s love is also a wonderful reflection of the grace we talk about in the church.  Unconditional love is really showing the grace we experience in Christ’s love. So, for this month, I give thanks for this unconditional love and grace from all mothers and pray that we can continue to experience them through the love of Christ – even when we no longer have our own mothers nearby.       

The Rev Dr Marc Jerry is a Lutheran Pastor and President and Vice-Chancellor of Renison (Anglican) University College at the University of Waterloo. Marnie, Marc, and Carmen began attending Mt. Zion when they moved to Waterloo last July as Marc took up the role at Renison.

 

In Our Prayers

Passings

It is with sadness that I convey the news that Ed Baumgart passed away on  Friday, May 2 at Freeport Hospital.   Funeral details will follow later.

Let us uphold Ed’s wife, Mary and family in our prayers as they grieve Ed’s death.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord in the death of his saints.”

Peace,   Pr. Philip Mathai

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In our Prayers​

God of comfort, you know our pain and carry our sorrows. Tend to all who are sick, grieving, or in distress. We remember especially: Matt, Ken, Dennis, Peggy, Bart, Sislyn, Christine, Marylin, Mary Helen, Sandra, Julien, George, Betty, Rosalie, Thelma, Helen, the Stewart family,  the Hahn family grieving the death of Jack and Mary and the Baumgart family as they mourn the loss of Ed.

Bring peace to regions suffering violence and hardship, including Gaza, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and others. Protect the innocent, guide leaders toward peace, and uphold all who work for relief and reconciliation.  Intern Leo Johnson​​​​

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Welcome New Members

New Members

Mr. Beno Helvin Joshua Henry Baskar and Mrs. Nancy Beaula Beno Helvin Joshua requested membership at Mount Zion. They come from Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, in India.

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​Congregational Profile

Ann Crossman and the Art of Lifelong Volunteering

by Pauline Finch for Justice and Service​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain. (Volunteer Australia)

Volunteering is when someone spends unpaid time doing something to benefit others. (National Council for Voluntary Organisations, UK)

Volunteering is the time you give to strengthen your community and improve others' quality of life, as well as your own. (Volunteer Canada)​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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When Ann Crossman recently spent part of a grey winter afternoon sharing what volunteering means in her life, she didn’t need to begin with a tidy and compact definition of what it actually means.

Unlike many of us, who became volunteers by being drawn into it from outside our homes or immediate experiences, Ann was literally born into the idea that helping others, people you might never get to know, is a natural part of everyday life.

Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, where her family had deep roots in both the Lutheran and Methodist faiths, some of her earliest memories are as a pre-schooler tagging along with her mother as she went door-to-door, canvassing for Red Cross donations; it was just one of many church and community tasks she enjoyed in between housework and child-rearing.

“My mother had worked as a secretary, but in her time, women had to quit when they became pregnant and were expected to stay at home with their children. Volunteering was their way of getting back into the community. Far fewer men volunteered, although my father (a high school math teacher) would lead Vacation Bible School in the summers.”

With her only sibling a brother six years older, Ann recalls that “I often played by myself and made up interesting things to do.” And one of those things was learning from her mom’s example how to confidently approach people.  Click here to read more about Ann

 

Music Notes

The choir did an excellent job with the Holy Week and Easter music. Many people have expressed their appreciation for the choir’s efforts, particularly the Good Friday piece “How Can It Be?” which many found very moving.

The choir is currently preparing for the ordination next week and looking forward to Pentecost in June. For Pentecost, we will switch to Setting 10 for the summer months.

Sarah 🎶

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A Note from Finance 

Snow & Cold Impacts!!

Our results for YTD April reflect the impacts of a “cold & snowy” winter with a deficit of $26,324.  Although a deficit was expected, results are $4,836 worse than plan in the Ministry & Mission (current) account.  Snow removal costs exceeded plan by $7,500, and higher utility expenses for heat & hydro were the leading causes.

• Thanks to a few members who acknowledged the extreme weather expense and donated $5,400 to assist! 

• Member regular gifts of $70,699 are $324 better than plan. Thank you!

• Rental Income from parking & facility of $21,841 was short by $214.

• Other income of $8,753 is $203 better than plan and includes Endowment fund earnings from 2024.

• Disbursements of $127,617 are $5,149 higher than planned.  The major issue in spending was heavy snow removal and salt costs which exceeded plan by $7,500.  Some of these negative items were offset by lower spending on staffing.​​

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Alleluia! Jesus Lives! A Bible study for the Easter season continues

Deepen your resurrection joy by joining Pastor Claudine by studying the four gospel accounts of Resurrection Day and post-resurrection appearances. Once again, we’ll use a multi-faceted approach to learning through contemplation, questioning, discussion, and biblical scholarship. We will re-enter and rediscover the power of this sacred story to touch, transform, renew, and strengthen our faith. The resurrection of Jesus did, after all, change the entire course of human history and, through his followers, continues to do so.

April 28 - June 9, Mondays, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm

Registration is suggested, but not required. (It lets us know how many copies of study materials we need, but feel free to invite a friend at the last minute - they’d be more than welcome!) Register by calling and/or e-mailing Claudine at 519-501-3759 - carlsonclaudine@gmail.com

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Mount Zion Kitchen – Off for the summer

MZ Kitchen Food Ministry's Thursday volunteers had a visit from the Easter Bunny thanks to Joan and Jacquelyn. Rob Zilles is shown with his weekly delivery bags! We are going on summer vacation after May 1. We will begin in September with the preparation of meals for our church members. It has been decided to continue delivery of a hot meal and bag of salad to The Better Tent City on Ardelt Ave as our outreach focus. Thank you to everyone for volunteering and supporting us. See you in September! Jane Schlegel 

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Lend us your Green Thumbs for a Morning

Don your gardening gloves, grab your clippers and come spend the morning of May 10, spring cleaning the flower beds at the church! Chat with friends and enjoy some refreshments while bringing the rock garden back to life. We need your help for the morning! If you’re available and can ‘lend a hand’, please call the church office at 519-886-5820 and let us know.  Saturday, May 10 from 10 am until 12 noon.  Refreshments will be available.

 

Mount Zion Café  May 14 and 28

Drop in on Wednesday, May 14 and 28 for a cup of coffee and a chat. If you have errands to run at church, do it on a Café Day to add a little caffeine and joy to your day. It is something to look forward to. Coffee is on at 10 am. May 28 will be the last of the season.

 

Red Dress Sunday – May 4, 2025

is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People. Many congregations will be acknowledging this day on May 4, 2025, or the following Sunday. Hanging red dresses or placing red ribbons around our public and worship spaces helps commemorate and draw attention to this issue and acts as a call to action. On this day, hopefully, there will be hundreds of red dresses visible across Canada.

Watch for Red Dresses at Mount Zion next week. Please consider some action to acknowledge the importance of open and active reconciliation. The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice. 

See more about what is going on throughout the synod  The Eastern Synod Weekly - May 02

 

Sign the petition

Faith Climate Justice Blue Box Advocacy

As of January 2026, under a current plan of the Ontario government, about 500 Institutions, Commercial businesses and Industrial companies (ICIs) in Waterloo Region -- outside of downtown areas (Business Improvement Areas) -- will lose their blue box recycling service.  The Institutions category includes churches and faith communities like our own.  

Faith Climate Justice of Waterloo Region is inviting us to join in their efforts to advocate for the inclusion of faith communities in the blue box service.  Mount Zion Council will be participating by sending a letter to our local Members of Provincial Parliament.   There will be a copy of the letter and a page for adding signatures in the narthex up to May 18.    Mary Thompson

 

Interfaith Community Breakfast 2025

7:00 am – 9 am, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Bingemans Conference Centre, Marshall Hall

Join us for a morning of celebration, unity, and delicious food. This special event brings together people of all faiths to commemorate 50 years of fostering understanding and cooperation with our community.

Featured speakers are Misha Mirmiwal, a Grade 10 internal Baccalaureate Student at Cameron Heights and Jim Erb, who has attended every Breakfast except the first.

To reserve your ticket  50th Anniversary Interfaith Community Breakfast Tickets, Wed, 28 May 2025 at 7:00 AM | Eventbrite

 

Music Therapy and Parkinson's Disease Research Volunteers Needed

My name is Tian Ip. I am the music director at Listowel Mennonite Church and also a doctoral researcher at Wilfrid Laurier University. I am looking to recruit participants, either healthy or with Parkinson's for a study sponsored by Mitacs and Parkinson's Society Southwestern Ontario. It aims to investigate the efficacy of using music therapy to predict the decline of Parkinson's disease. Participants only need to come in once for about 1.5 hours. No music experience is necessary! Email Tian Ip for more information: tianip220@gmail.comTian

 

St Matthews Presents a fundraiser for the KW Symphony

with the Stillwater Trio of Cathy Anderson, cello, Bruce Skelton, violin and Joanne Bender, piano, with works by Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, and Schubert

Sunday, May 4, 2025, 3 pm

Proceeds to support the KW Symphony. Admission: $30. Children under 12, Free

Phone Orders 578-1570 or 1 800 265 8922 or at the Centre in the Square Box Office or www.kwtickets.ca

 

Martin Luther House – Student Residence Openings in Edmonton!

Martin Luther House in Edmonton offers an Intentional Christian Community living experience for five students just steps from the U of A campus. Furnished bedrooms, living & dining rooms & kitchen. Contact Rev. Richard Reimer, Lutheran Campus Chaplain, E-mail: rfreimer@ualberta.ca or visit: www.lcmedmonton.ca

 

Easter Flowers – April 20, 2025

Thank you to all who dedicated hydrangeas to loved ones on Easter Sunday

Richard & Susan Brubacher    Loved Ones

Dianne Frombach                    Husband -- Elmer

Mary Thompson                       Great-aunt

Mary Jean Lange                      Husband – Norman

Joan & Jacquelyn Schweitzer  Family:  parents, sister, Grandpa

Ross & Jane Schlegel               Loved ones

Carol & Lloyd Ziegler               Loved ones

Margaret Waechter                  Loved ones

Hermine Nassau                       Husband – Willi

Marg Tupling                             Family & Friends

Ann Crossman                           Brother

Henriette Stumper                    Husband -- Jake

Stephanie von Schilling            Family

Helga Juergensen                     Husband -- Martin

Judy & John Penteker               Loved Ones

Margrit Notter                            Family

Joshua Beno Henry                    Family

Shirley McCall                             Family

Hailing Huang                            Family

 

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