Join us for worship in person or on line at 10 am every Sunday

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Canadians Eh?

Last Wednesday Philip, Joy and Cherub took their oath of Canadian Citizenship. It has been a long journey for them and so to honour and celebrate this milestone, we will have cake and coffee in the narthex Sunday. Come out and say Congratulations!

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Choir Notes

The choir is preparing for Thanksgiving when they will sing John Rutter’s “Look At The World”.

On the 23rd of October we will join St. Matthew’s choir at their church, where we will sing Vaughn Williams’ glorious “O How Amiable Are Thy Dwellings” which ends with the hymn “O God Our Help”.  Don’t worry about missing it - we will sing it again at Mount Zion on Nov. 6 for All Saints.

Plans are in the works for a very special Reformation Sunday on October 30. Watch for more on this in the next newsletter.  Sarah

 

From the Justice Through Service Committee:

Mount Zion Refugee Assistance Fund

In the last newsletter we announced the setting up of a Mount Zion Refugee Assistance Fund, and introduced a project being undertaken by the Coalition of the Willing Family Sponsorship Initiative, involving several Eastern Synod ELCIC churches, working with Canadian Lutheran World Relief. 

The coalition is seeking to bring to Canada two families of refugees from Liberia, currently living in Sierra Leone. 

The heads of the families are community activists and peacebuilders.  Their case has been put forward by someone who came to know one of them when she volunteered with a trauma healing and reconciliation program in Liberia. 

The hope of the coalition is to raise enough funds for CLWR to be able to bring both families (11 people in total) to Hamilton, where there is a sizable Liberian community.  The funding needed “up front”  is for their start-up and first year expenses, a total of about $126,000, to be in place by the end of 2022. So far, about $66,000 has been pledged, with $60,000 still to raise from the participating churches. 

Although we must give priority to Mount Zion’s needs and the causes we are currently supporting, including Open Sesame, the Mount Zion Kitchen and the food vouchers program, we are hoping that it might be possible to raise a goodly contribution to this project from Mount Zion members by the end of the year.   We invite contributions large or small to the Refugee Assistance Fund, and will keep you posted on progress. 

   Mary Thompson

Thank you to supporters of Food Vouchers Program

Thank you to all who have donated to our food voucher program in the past couple of months.  Among the recipients we now have in each two-month period about 20 single people (receiving 3 $10 cards) and 40 families (receiving 6 $10 cards).  Many of the latter are immigrant families, very grateful for the assistance.  We are still not adding new registrants.  Because of the ELFEC grant of $3,000 and our own donations we have enough vouchers to carry on in October and halfway through November.  We hope you will continue to remember this program as we approach the Advent season.  

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Finance Matters

Results for the nine month period ending September 30 in our Ministry & Mission (current) account are $26,283 better than planned.  Although a significant deficit of $38,025 was recorded, this compares to a budgeted deficit of $64,308 for the period.  Improved receipts and reduced expenditures were responsible for this improvement in the full report.

Your support of Benevolence to the Synod and other designated needs including our Adopt a Causes was $51,418. Of this amount $39,418 was received from members in support of the Synod ($16,113), and Other specific appeals ($23,305).  In addition to member support as noted, $9,000 was received from grants in support of Open Sesame, and a grant of $3,000 for Food Vouchers.

See the full report       Richard Brubacher – Treasurer & Chair Finance  

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In Our Prayers

In our prayers let us remember Richard, Dianne, Ed, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, Gladys and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai.

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Upcoming Lessons

Sunday October 9
Luke 17:11-19 

 

Sunday October 16

Luke 18:1-8 

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From the Mount Zion Kitchen

Do you own an engraving tool?

Mount Zion Kitchen is looking for a volunteer who has and etching or engraving tool to mark our kitchen pots and trays in an effort to make sure they are returned to us.  Christine

You can both support the Mount Zion Kitchen and eat a nutritious meal by ordering a weekly meal.  To place an order for a meal, please contact Margaret at the church office. Payment can be made by cash, cheque at time of pick up or electronic fund transfer.

On the Menu 

Oct 13th - Turkey Pot Pie filling with bread crumb filling with side chick pea Mediterranean Salad             $15.

Oct 20th - BBQ seasoned chicken leg, rice and red peas (red kidney beans) or Stewed peas and steamed rice.

Both come with coleslaw.                  $15.

Oct 27th - Macaroni and Cheese and cooked vegetables.             $15.

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In Our Prayers

In our prayers let us remember Richard, Dianne, Ed, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, Gladys and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai. 

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Mount Zion Cafe - October 19

Join Nurse Christine and members of the Health Council for coffee, treats and conversation at the bimonthly Cafe. It is a time to visit friends both old and new. The Cafe is held the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Next Cafe is on Oct 19.

Coffee is on at 10 am. 

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Come Make Art with Us – Feather and Cross

Come Make Art with Us:  October 23, 2022 1-3 pm, a collaboration by Music of the Spirit, Feather & Cross,  Thirdspace, Kanata Centre @Luther, and the Eastern Synod .

Come Make Art with Us is a free, intergenerational event and all are welcome (supervised children and youth are encouraged to participate). This is a great opportunity to meet, support and learn from these talented Indigenous artists. If you are participating in the Acoustic guitar workshop, please bring your own guitar. Refreshments will be served.

Sign-up for one of 4 workshops via email beverlymcnabb11@gmail.com. Spaces are limited. Limited free parking is available, and workshops are accessible.  

    

Mindfulness Meditation Practice

We are aiming to achieve a mindful awakening of our present time and space.  We strive to focus on our breathing, body and mind, sounds and sight, thoughts and emotions. There is no right or wrong in this meditation, only practice to be used for future applications. The next date is Tues. Oct. 11, 1.30 pm, upstairs

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Menno Singers Concert and Messiah Sing along

Menno Singers and artistic director Brandon Leis present a new composition by local composer Justin LaPierre, ‘Messe de Sainte Anne ’, a weaving together of Québécois hymns and folk music, at St Matthews Lutheran Church (54 Benton St, Kitchener) at 7:30pm on Saturday, October 22.  $25 Adults. $5 Children/Students. www.mennosingers.com

Our Messiah Sing-Along is back! Join Menno Singers, soloists, orchestra and a Mini-Mass Choir at St Matthews Lutheran Church (54 Benton St. Kitchener) at 3pm on Sunday, November 13. Participation by donation. Show up and sing or Sign up for the Mini-Mass Choir for 3 Monday rehearsals at First Mennonite Church, October 24, October 31 and November 7 – www.mennosingers.com

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Covid-19  Safety and Masking Protocols

Mount Zion remain strongly supportive of continued use of masks

for members and rental groups. We encourage good hand hygiene

and social distancing.

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Will Power

Through all the challenges of the last two years, Canadian Lutherans, congregations, and organizations within the ELCIC have never stopped working, changing, and adapting to meet a new reality.  Lutherans adapted to online worship, continued their work of refugee sponsorship, food distribution and meeting needs of their communities. ELFEC, the Lutheran Foundation in Canada, continued to support congregations.

Our resolve to do more for Lutherans in Canada has made us look for ways to do things differently. This is why we continue to partner with Will Power, a national movement inspiring all Canadians to think differently about charitable giving and support the causes they care about through a gift in their Wills.

Did you realize that you can make a large and lasting contribution to your congregation, the mission of the wider church, or another charity through a gift in your Will? Without using any of the resources you need now, or taking away from loved ones? Even 1% of your estate could result in a truly powerful and lasting gift, while still leaving 99% for family and friends. ELFEC can help.

Want to learn more?  ELFEC and the Will Power website have dynamic resources to show you how you can turn your Will into a powerful tool for change.  https://www.willpower.ca/

(browse charities to find ELFEC)

Excerpted from the Eastern Synod Newsletter. 

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