Orange Shirt Day, Membership Sunday and Lunch and Learn

While wearing our Orange Shirts on the last Sunday of September, Mount Zion officially welcomed new members. Besong Lucas Ofande and Leonel Besong, Marie Besong's husband and son.

We recognized the retirements of Stephanie von Schilling, who retired as church council secretary and Helga Juergensen, Mayda Scoins, and Joan Brunger from Open Sesame Auxiliary. 

The third installment of the Lunch & Learn series followed, led by Cindy and David Jacobsen and focused on Indigenous Peoples. Rafael Rodriguez from the synod office was invited to share what the Eastern Synod is doing and how we can work towards decolonizing our church community as treaty people.

 

Mount Zion's New Instagram Account Goes Viral 

You might remember that Sarah Storms, our choir director, took on managing and producing social media for our new Instagram account. This fall, she created a post about Super Sunday at Mount Zion. Something about the post delighted the Insta clan, as it has received over 70,000 views. We too are delighted and astonished, and a little confused whatever the reason for the great numbers. Click on the video and be sure to turn on the sound.

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Financial Update

Results in the Ministry & Mission (current) account for the nine months of 2026 recorded a deficit of $41,754.

Despite being a significant deficit, it is $19,213 better than budget. Expenses are $1,645 higher, and receipts are $20,858 higher. Strong member support, combined with higher rental income, is the primary source of the improvement.

Additional Comments:

Member gifts of $171,655 are $9,280 better than plan. Thank you!!

Rental Income from parking & facility of $62,366 is $7,354 better than plan with increased activity.

Disbursements of $283,984 are $1,645 worse than plan.

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To see the full report, which includes reports on all other funds such as Benevolence, Capital, Rental Property and Special Funds, including the Reimagining Mount Zion Fund, click here

Richard Brubacher, Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee.

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Get the latest in Desk Accessories

Mount Zion’s third edition of our DIY Friends of Family Directory. It includes photos, phone numbers, and email addresses for congregation members and friends. It is handy for planning meetings and just keeping in touch!  Pick up yours in the narthex.​​​​​​​​

 

 

Justice through Service

Mount Zion’s SHOW Fundraiser off to a good start

As of September 23, our Mount Zion campaign to raise funds for “landscaping for wellness” for the SHOW modular housing project is going well, with $1,970 raised toward the $9,000 challenge goal!    

     SHOW’s Executive Director Brian Paul will screen the short film Unhoused, Unheard and Unbroken on Sunday, November 8, after the worship service.    

 

Food Card Distribution

As reported earlier, the Justice Through Service Committee is in the process of changing the Food Card distribution schedule and re-enrolling those on our list.  Especially this Thanksgiving season, please continue to donate to this important ministry.

 

Feather and Cross Bingo     

 Now that September 30 has passed, please bring in your Feather & Cross Bingo cards and deposit them in the white container in the Narthex. 

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Petition on behalf of Palestinian students:

Our national church has drawn to our attention the following: 

On June 2, 2026, Natalie Abudayyeh, a youth member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), was apprehended at gunpoint from her home, together with three other Palestinian women students at Birzeit University: Jolan Abu Awad, Sama Safi and Leila Na’el Khalil.  On July 22, 2026, an Israeli military court ruled that Natalie should remain in prison until a scheduled September 23, 2026 court appearance.   The ELCJHL has learned that the appearance took place, but that the decision regarding her release has been postponed to October 20.  We are invited to advocate for the release on bail of Natalie and the other three women, and for the rights of Palestinian youth and students in general to be respected.    

A letter petitioning our government to make this request to the Israeli authorities will be available to sign on October 4 and 11.

To learn more, read the link below or speak with Pastor Peter, who brought this to our attention.

https://elcic.ca/2026/06/16/national-bishop-shares-update-on-natalie-abudayyeh/

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Reimagining Update

At our Editor Karen’s wise suggestion, I will start off this report with the great advice from Matthew and Ashley from ABA, our Architectural Team.

     "Words first, then words turn into drawings, and then the drawings turn into buildings."

We are in the middle of our process with Ashley and Matthew of ABA (architects), gathering the information needed to develop three redevelopment options that satisfy our Congregational goals and Christian values. The first meeting and two small group meetings have been completed; the rest will unfold over the fall.

Developing our Open Sesame Preschool and our existing facilities to support the continuation of our programs and the use of our property as a community centre through facility rentals are priorities.

Developing family-friendly housing is also a primary priority. We also had a productive meeting with the Region of Waterloo on this.

We also anticipate working with the GSP Group (planners) in the new year to obtain Planning Act permissions with the City of Waterloo.

Guiding all of this is our primary congregational goal to unlock the value of our property and resources to ensure the sustainability of Mount Zion Lutheran Church and all its current and imagined programs well into the future.

Redevelopment efforts can take many months or years to put everything in place and there will be bumps in the road. We feel we are on track and we are moving along well and in a timely fashion. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.   Bill Gastmeier

 

The Kitchen is OPEN

Once again, the Mount Zion Kitchen volunteers opened the doors and rolled up their sleeves on September 17, cooking four jumbo containers of chilli and cornbread for delivery to the Cabins on Ardelt (formerly Better Tent City), along with individual meals for pickup.

Hard-working and dedicated, Mrs. Bell, Patrick S, Hermine N, and Helga J not only cooked, packaged, and delivered, but also taste-tested the cornbread, which was deemed “delicious.”

Thank you to Margaret for all her help in ordering our meal food items for our startup and thanks to everyone for purchasing the meals that support our meal delivery to Cabins On Ardelt.  It was a successful start for the season!      Jane Schlegel 
 

Black History Scholarships

On September 20th, I had the pleasure of attending the Congress of Black Women of Canada, Waterloo Region and the Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region 2026 Awards of Excellence banquet along with several other members of Mount Zion.

At this event, two exceptional young adults received the Esselyne Bell Educational Scholarship and the Mount Zion Education Scholarship.  The Esselyne Bell Educational Scholarship was awarded to Hiab Goitom, who is attending Laurier to study Psychology and Neuroscience. While at St. Mary’s High School, Hiab ensured student voice in staff decision-making by founding the Eagles Decision Making Committee and serving on the Black Student Union and the Student Equity and Engagement Council. Hiab is very active in the community, particularly in civic engagement, including founding Youth Smile Link to give youth leadership opportunities.

The recipient of the Mount Zion Education Scholarship was Amen Kasu who is attending the University of Waterloo to study Kinesiology with the goal of becoming a healthcare professional. At Cameron Heights Collegiate, Amen led the EmpowerHER Conference, an annual WRDSB event for racialized girls, and organized initiatives promoting equity, inclusion, and student engagement. Through the WRPS youth program, she helped create a film project on crime and the justice system. She also volunteers at the hospital and tutors at the Homework Hub. We hope both of these amazing young adults can join us for Black History Sunday!   Marnie Jerry

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A Lutheran-Anglican Conversation about Changing MAID legislation in Canada

 

Overview

Waterloo Lutherans and Anglicans are invited to discuss changing MAID legislation in 2027.

Participants will discuss the development of current MAID legislation in Canada, with a focus on the three proposed expansions to MAID legislation in 2027- MAID by advanced directive, MAID for Canadians under the age of 18 years, and MAID for Canadians where their sole underlying medical condition is a psychiatric condition. We will consider Lutheran and Anglican responses to current MAID legislation and also to the proposed expansions to the legislation. This event is intended for Lutheran and Anglican members of Tri-City congregations of either the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada or the Anglican Church of Canada.

 

Venue

Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Waterloo, ON

Thursday, November 12  •  7 PM - 9 PM

 

To register:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-lutheran-anglican-conversation-about-changing-maid-legislation-in-canada-tickets-1997725192829

For more information: Pr. Peter Kuhnert ( peterkuhnertcan@aol.com) Mount Zion Lutheran

 

Luther installs new Principal-Dean

Partners and friends gathered on Sept. 27, 2026, at Trillium Lutheran Church in Waterloo to install Rev. Dr. Daranne Harris as Principal-Dean of Martin Luther University College.

Dr. Daranne Harris brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across congregational ministry, humanitarian aid and development, healthcare, and education organizations.

“I am excited to join Martin Luther University College to prepare leaders who can engage the challenges and opportunities of our time with thoughtful scholarship and spiritual depth. Luther’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity demonstrates that communities can be deeply rooted in their traditions while genuinely welcoming people from different backgrounds and perspectives to learn with and from one another. I believe this model of community is one of Luther’s distinctive strengths and offers a form of leadership needed in our increasingly pluralistic world,” says Dr. Harris.

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Jeff Harris Memorial Concert Thank You

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the memorial concert in honour of Jeff Harris. Your presence, support, and generosity helped make the evening a truly meaningful celebration of Jeff’s life and the impact he had on so many people. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came together to remember Jeff through music and to support a lasting tribute to his memory.

We are pleased to share that, together, we raised $5,843.00 toward a bursary in Jeff’s honour. This generous contribution will help keep Jeff’s spirit of giving and encouragement alive by supporting students through an annual scholarship.    With heartfelt gratitude,
Donna, Graydon & Lauren 

 

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