News from Mount Zion
November 12, 2021

We are open

for in-person

worship

Sundays 10 am

We are open for in-person worship, Sundays at 10 am. Read more here 

Order your Christmas Boxed Dinner Now

On November 20 Mrs. Bell and company will once again be offering boxed Christmas dinners for pick up in lieu of the in-person Mount Zion's Caribbean Christmas party. There are three menu options this year. All dinners include dessert. The cost of the dinners is $35. each.

1. Traditional Turkey Dinner

2. Caribbean Ox Tail Dinner

3. Vegetarian Box Dinner

Dinners will be available for pick up between 4 and 6 pm on Nov. 20 at the Dawson Street entrance.

You can order your dinner by either phoning Margaret at the church office (519 886 5820) or emailing her at mtzion@mzlc.ca 

In your email pls indicate

• your menu options

• the number of dinners you require

• the time you wish to pick up (between 4 and 6 pm)

Payment can be made in advance by dropping of a cheque or cash to the church office or pay Electronic Fund Transfer. See https://www.mzlc.ca/electronic-transfer

How you can help

• spend a few hours helping peel and prep vegetables on the morning of Nov 20

• be a part of the team that delivers food orders to cars from 4 to 6 pm.

• Donate an item of food in-kind. A list of needed food items will be available soon.

If you are willing to lend a hand for a few hours, please email the office. mtzion@mzlc.ca

The proceeds of the dinner will be divided between the Caribbean Scholarship fund and Mount Zion’s ministries.

Update: Pastor Philip reports that the kitchen put out 80 meals for distribution to Luther and to Mount Zion's list.

Mount Zion’s New Food Ministry

Great and wonderful plans are underway for Mount Zion’s food ministry which started yesterday. The potential reach of this ministry is vast and we are excited to see it get started.  The intent of this ministry is

• to assist those with food insecurity by providing a nutritious meal.

• meals will be made to be delivered to those home bound or those who would benefit from a ready to eat nutritious meal.

• Partner with Luther to support their program which supports 80-100 students in need per week

• Meals will also be available for Mount Zion and community members to purchase for $7 which will support the ministry financially. 

How You Can Help

• Donations are always welcome or purchase a meal

• Volunteer to help with a variety of small tasks such as

  • receiving the weekly grocery delivery

  • assist in prepping food

  • running for supplies

  • washing dishes

  •  laundering of kitchen aprons and towels

  • delivering meals

  • making phone calls and organizing supplies/inventory

Nurse Christine is presently compiling a list of volunteer opportunities, so give her a call if you are able to lend a few hours monthly or you know someone who would benefit by a meal.

We are fortunate to have two experienced chefs who have volunteered to do our weekly cooking.  Mrs. Bell and her friend Winston will take the lead in creating delicious food each week.

If you would like to order a meal please call or email the church office by Wednesday. Pick up is between 12:30 and 1 pm at the upstairs (Dawson St.) entrance. Your meal will be hot, ready to eat and packed “to go”. We would be happy to bring your meal out to your vehicle if that is helpful to you.

Help Others Stay Warm!

The Mitten Tree

Mount Zion, in arrangement with the Anishnabeg Outreach Centre, is collecting donations of hand-made, purchased or gently used items to decorate our Holiday Mitten Tree. Warm items, for all ages, such as gloves, mittens, toques, hats, scarves, socks, slippers, etc… are needed. Even warm winter coats will be accepted.

Donations to decorate The Mitten Tree are now being accepted until December 19th. These items will then be delivered to the Anishnabeg Outreach Centre for distribution, to those in need, throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge area.

If you have any questions, please contact: Joan Schweitzer, 519-886-5977

Justice through Service Committee

Participate in Amnesty International Write for Rights

At the service of May 7, 2021 we had a presentation to begin the “international” Adopt-a-Cause for this year, Amnesty International (AI).  AI is the largest human rights organization in the world. Founded in 1961, it is 60 years old this year. Its original mandate was the release of prisoners of conscience. Now its activities cover the full spectrum of Human Rights, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, the rights of refugees, and human rights crises resulting from climate change.

Each year, on or around December 10, Human Rights Day, AI holds Write for Rights, in which supporters from around the world send letters, emails, tweets and petitions in support of ten people whose human rights are being denied.  The Committee for Justice Through Service would like to invite Mount Zion people to join us in a group Write for Rights effort this year.

If you would like to participate, please contact Mary Thompson.   

Last year, 5.9 million letters and messages were sent from more than 200 countries. Of the ten cases featured last year, two of the subjects have been released, one in Burundi and one in Saudi Arabia. Full particulars of this year’s cases can be found at this link.  They are:

• Bernardo Caal Xol, a Maya Q’eqchi’ Indigenous community leader who is in prison for defending the rights of his people in Guatemala  

• Zhang Zhan, a journalist imprisoned for reporting on COVID-19 in China

• Imoleayo Michael, a computer programmer who faces prison for protesting to #EndSARS in Nigeria

• Wendy Galarza, a childcare worker in Mexico who was shot while peacefully protesting violence against women

• Janna Jihad, a 15-year-old journalist who faces threats for exposing systemic discrimination against Palestinians

• Mohamed Baker, a human rights lawyer, imprisoned for defending some of the most marginalized people in Egypt

• SPHERE, an NGO in Ukraine, attacked for defending LGBTI and women’s rights

• Rung Panusaya, a leading voice in Thailand’s youth democracy movement, facing life in prison for demanding social reform

• Mikita Zalatarou, a teen in Belarus who has been beaten, given electric shock treatment, and jailed

• Ciham Ali, born in Los Angeles and raised in Eritrea, arrested at age 15, whereabouts unknown. 

From Council and other Tidbits

Director of Music    As we say goodbye to Amy, we welcome back Sarah Cardwell to Mount Zion’s Music Program. Many of you will remember her when she was our interim director of Music in 2019 -20. She will begin her duties on December 1.

Synod Grants    We were delighted to learn that Mount Zion was the recipient of two synod grants this year. Funding was approved for $4000 to support the work the Care and Zoom Café and $7000 was allotted for Open Sesame Headstart Preschool. We thank the synod for their support and those many people who had a hand in conceiving and writing the grant proposals

Katarina Kuhnert, a youth from the Eastern Synod, has been selected by the Lutheran World Federation to join their delegation heading to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP26, in Glasgow Scotland. She joined three other global youth from the LWF in person and 28 global youth delegates online. As a part of the People’s Summit for Climate Justice, she spoke on the panel Energy Transitions - Deciding Our Future on November 8.

The Eternal Flame  Thank you to John White (Scott Knarr’s husband) for refurbishing our Eternal Flame which resides behind the pulpit. Recently in -person worshippers noticed that its light was getting dim and it didn’t look like it was going to be eternal for much longer.

Opportuniteis to Gather in-person 

New opportunities to gather, socialize and worship are coming to Mount Zion as the province continues to follow its reopening plan. Covid 19 protocols are in place for every in-person gathering at Mount Zion to ensure everyone’s safety from COVID.

A reminder from Margaret –

Meeting Space Availability

As Mount Zion moves closer to having more in-person gatherings (worship, meditation, Café) AND as more outside groups become interested in renting our meeting space, please check with the church office on meeting space availability for when your committee/group is planning to resume in-person meetings.  Thank you.  Margaret Waechter, Church Administrator

Some of the activities that have returned to our building are:

Mindful Meditation

-- experience calm, relaxation, balance

Free Mindful Meditation sessions will be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in the Boardroom. Bring a pillow, mat, blanket, water – all optional.  Wear comfortable clothing and be scent-free! MUST BE fully vaccinated to participate.

These sessions are open to all. No experience is necessary. Upon arrival, you sign-in and set up your meditation space.  Be prepared to maintain a distance of 2 metres.

More information can be obtained by contacting:  Henriette Stumper, 519-885-3534

Mount Zion Café 

Health council held their first in person to the Mount Zion Café on Wednesday where a few folks gathered to enjoy coffee, tea and snacks.

A second in-person cafe is planned for Wed Dec 8th from 10am to noon. Please mark your calendars.

During the cafes, Nurse Christine runs the Zoom Cafe allowing those present in person to chat with those on Zoom. The Café hopes to re-establish their tradition soup lunch in the new year.

The Zoom Cafe continues to run 10 to 11:30 am every week. Sing into Zoom and join the conversation at https://zoom.us/j/99145666538     Please contact Christine or a member of health council if you have any questions.

Friday Night Get-togethers

We had our first Friday Night Get-together in almost 2 years on Friday, October 29. There were 12 of us in attendance, breaking bread and having fellowship together. The next meeting will be on Friday, November 26. Please let Margaret or me know if you would like to come.

In Our Prayers

Let us pray for George, Betty, Jake, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Willie, Kerry, and Jean and her daughter Tai.

Upcoming Readings

Sun. Nov. 14 — Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Daniel 12:1-3

Psalm 16 (9)

Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25

Mark 13:1-8

Sun. Nov. 21 — Christ the King Sunday Last Sunday after Pentecost
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93 (2)
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

October Financial Report

Results through October are positive however the results have been buoyed by Government Support & other one-time benefits. Government support is finished, and rental income will not be at planned levels. A recent forecast suggests that we will likely end the year better than budget but in a deficit position.

Our results for the ten-month period ending October 31 in the Ministry and Mission (current) account are significantly better than planned. The continuation of unbudgeted Government wage support, an investment gain, coupled with reduced spending resulted in a deficit of $13,008. This is $26,658 better than the budgeted deficit of $39,666.  See the full report

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Links for Worship and more

Mount Zion's office tel.: 519 886-5820  office hours: Tues. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

How to contact our staff, while our building is closed:  
Pastor Philip Mathai               pmathai@mzlc.ca                       cell: 519-781-5602
Music Director Amy Di Nino   amy@connectinginrhythm.com   cell: 905-466-3774
Office Administrator Margaret Waechter mtzion@mzlc.ca           
Nurse Christine Ramseyer     pnchristine@hotmail.com            cell: 519-588-8006
Feel free to call our cell phones. If we aren't available we'll return your call!

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