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

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At Last . . . . !!!!

As most of you are aware, as a family we had been waiting for the completion of our citizenship application process since November 2019, a process that took around a year.  Yes, COVID was to blame but it was frustrating to wait this long, holding up also our ability to make international travel.

I am delighted to let you know that we have a date for our Oath Ceremony to become Canadian citizens, it will be on October 5 at 1:15 pm. The ceremony is being held virtually.

Thanks to all of you for your support and care through this journey of ours. We are grateful as a family to be part of the Mount Zion family and look to being part of the larger Canadian family in a different and intimate way as we journey on!    Pastor Philip

editor's note...we will celebrate wtih Philip and Joy after the service on October 9 with coffee and cake.

 

Season of Creation

We have been observing the Season of Creation, using also resources that the synod has made available. The season extends from September 1 to October 4 and the theme this year is Listen to the Voice of Creation.  During this time we have also been listening to readings from other faith and cultural traditions which touch upon the relationship of human-beings with the earth.

On Sunday, September 4, we heard from the Khasi community from the Northeastern region of India.  On September 11 we heard from the Indigenous communities of Canada, a reading from the website of the Assembly of First Nations of Canada on Honouring the Earth.  On September 18, Dr Mitra Barua, from Bangladesh, who teaches and works at Luther, was with us and shared his thoughts from a Buddhist perspective.

On September 25, we will listen to voices from Caribbean/Africa and on the last Sunday, October 2, we will sum up and look at how we could, as those from the Christian faith, learn from others and from our own scripture of what our relationship with creation ought to look like and how we ought to be sensitive to the groans and cries of the created order.

 

Even though the emphasis will be the Season of Creation, we will also mark The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation's Orange Shirt Day which falls later in the week.  Mary Thompson is encouraging everyone to wear orange on Sunday.​

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Music for the Sound of Creation

On Sunday the 25th, the choir will continue the emphasis on creation singing "God Still Sings" which tells us how God sings to us through the life of Christ and through creation. They will also sing John Rutter's beautiful "Gaelic Blessing" with it's lovely text –

   Deep peace of the running wave to you

   Deep peace of the flowing air to you

   Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

   Deep peace of Christ to you.

More John Rutter is coming up for Thanksgiving with "Look At The World"

The choir will be going to St. Matthew's on October 23 and on November 13 St. Matthew's hand bell choir will be coming to Mount Zion.

It is not too late to join the choir. Practices are at 10 am Thursdays.

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Refugee Support:

A message from the Committee for Justice through Service

Mount Zion is setting up a Refugee Assistance Fund for the purpose of gathering donations toward the support of refugee families coming to Canada.  

The intention to begin with is to join with some other Eastern Synod churches  in a project called “Coalition of the Willing Family Sponsorship Initiative" to bring to Canada two related families from Liberia.    They are currently in Sierra Leone, awaiting resettlement.  If this project is not successful in bringing the families, we would apply the funds to other refugee support initiatives.

Watch for more information in subsequent newsletters.  

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Five Little Indians - In Person Book Discussion

In support of Synod’s commitment to following paths to reconciliation, and working with the Committee for Justice Through Service, Health Council will offer an in-person book discussion of Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. It will be held in the Glebe Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, September 27, 1:30-3:00 pm.   The well-known author is a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, and the book is about five young people emerging from a remote residential school where they had been sent as small children. If you plan to attend, call the church office, 9 am-1 pm.

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Be a part of the Mount Zion Kitchen Delivery Team

The Mount Zion kitchen is looking for delivery drivers to deliver meals to some of our shut ins who rely on these hot and nutritious meals for many reasons. After the kitchen crew is finished chopping, peeling, sauteing, and frying, the last step to getting to food to those in need requires a few drivers that would be willing to deliver meals to those anxious to receive them. It is your choice to drive a little or lot.

Driving duties start at 11:30 on Thursdays and will take approximately an hour of your day. You can sign up to drive weekly, monthly or whatever fits your schedule. Give Margaret in the office a call and sign up for a few dates. (519 886 5820) For other volunteer opportunities Contact:  Nurse Christine Ramseyer,  pnchristine@hotmail.com  cell: 519-588-8006

There are many that would be grateful for your help.

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You can both support the Mount Zion Kitchen and eat a nutritious meal by ordering a weekly meal. Your purchase helps support the ministry financially. Because the cost of both groceries and packaging has increased by more than 50% in some cases, we have had to increase our prices.  Entrees are now $15 each. When soup is on the menu, they will be available in 1 Litre jars for $15. 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 

Sept 29th -   Sausage, mashed potatoes and braised cabbage,

                     Or Vegetarian Stew - vegetarian meal.  Both with side salad    $15.

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In Our Prayers

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

Please say a special prayer on September 26 for Ed Riegert as he celebrates his 90th birthday while in hospital. Ed was recently hospitalized as his Alzheimer's has progressed. Please keep Ladona and family in your prayers.

 

Family Friday Nites

Join Pastor Philip and friends for dinner and conversation on Family Friday nights which will resume Sept 30 at 6 pm. FFN's are scheduled for the last Friday of the month.  

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Mount Zion Cafe - September 28

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.

Coffee is on at 10 am. 

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New Phone Directory is ready for pick up

Our new photo/phone directory is available for pick up on Sunday mornings

 or during office hours. The cost of the directory is $10 to help defray the cost of printing.

    

Fall Prevention and Exercise Classes Monday afternoons.

Exercise classes presented by Community Support Connections will return on September 19th at 1:30 pm in the gym. The program will begin with their fall prevention program. The class will be led by Christina, a staff kinesiologist.  For more information

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Happy Birthday Gloria

A lot happened around the world in 1929. It is the year that will always be remembered for the crash of  New York Stock Exchange after peaking in September at a number that would not be reached again until 1954.  Closer to home, the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada that women could not be members of the legislature. This case, had important ramifications for the rights of women. A few new stars were born, including Tintin and Popeye. Bingo became popular.

But most importantly for members of Mount Zion, on Sept 25 Gloria Heimbecker was born. Happy Birthday 93rd birthday to our star.
 

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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Fabric Request from our Bag Lady

Pauline Finch who has recently decided to self identify as the “bag lady” is looking for more of your left-over fabrics in order to make more hot food delivery bags for Luther’s Distro. Last season, Pauline designed, and sewed together over a hundred bags for the Mount Zion Kitchen and others. She is looking for cotton or polyester ½ metre scraps. She would also be delighted to receive donations of thread in order that she can complete this next bag project.

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COVID Booster now available

With the arrival of fall, my mind turns to the prevention of the illnesses we typically see during this season. There is a well-known pattern in infection control that the illness case spikes in our school aged children spreads in the weeks after to our seniors. Consider getting a booster dose for COVID as well as your seasonal flu vaccine this fall.  Priority groups can now book to get their bivalent booster dose for COVID now and then it opens to everyone over 18 years of age on Sept 26th.

The bivalent vaccine targets both the original COVID strain as well as the omicron variant.  As your immunity from previous doses starts to wane, consider getting a booster to help protect you through the winter. For most, the side effects from the vaccine include mild symptoms that generally only last a few days.  It is recommended that you wait 6 months from your last booster but there are possibilities to book sooner, as long as three months have passed. In order for this to be possible, you must speak with a staff member from the provincial vaccine contact centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or I can be of assistance to book booster doses for you.   

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002277/ontarians-aged-18-eligible-for-bivalent-covid-19-booster-dose

Nurse Christine

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Upcoming Lessons

Sunday Sept 25 - 

Listening to faith traditions

Luke 16:19-31 

 

Sunday Oct 2

Listening to faith traditions

Luke 17:5-10

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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.