Black History Celebration Service
11:00 am on Zoom Feb 28
We are a welcoming, caring community, called by Christ and enabled by the spirit, to share God’s love by living our faith.
Mount Zion
Lutheran Church, Waterloo
The Jyrkama Family
Summer News #4 August 12, 2022
Greetings everyone!
Welcome to Summer News. Over the summer our communications will take a more laid-back approach allowing for holiday schedules. This Summer News email will replace Pastor Philip’s regular email and the Newsletter. Our schedule depends on what’s going on. The regular communications will return in September. If you want anything included pls email Pastor Philip or Karen Gastmeier.
Soup’r Sunday will be Super this year Sept 11 following the service
It has been a few years since we have celebrated our coming together after the summer break. This year it will be more of a celebration as it has been two years since our last gathering. Plans are underway to make it even more festive this year with new fun menu items. Watch the newsletter for more information and mark it in your calendar.
July Financials
Richard Brubacher writes in his monthly update that overall, financial results are better than planned for this six month period in all categories. This is encouraging! Thank you for your support! This month he also includes a list of significant amounts donated by members to specific appeal areas:
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Food Voucher Program $12,193
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Mount Zion Kitchen 7,527
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Open Sesame Headstart 2,670
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CLWR 2,095
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K-W Food Bank 1,621
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Scholarship fund – Black history 1,500
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Luther & ELCIC ministries 365
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Others (Habitat, Music/Spirit etc) 150
Read the full report here
https://www.mzlc.ca/_files/ugd/c9da21_35e450ddcaa74447a0dc3a568e363948.pdf
Membership Photo Directory
We are delighted to report that our new membership photo directory is at the printers right now and will be ready for distribution in September. The directories will cost $10 each to cost of printing. Thanks to all of you who participated by sending in your photos. The directory contains 95 photos.
In Our Prayers
In our prayers let us remember Ed, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Ross, Helen, Gladys, and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai. Let us also remember those in places torn by strife and violence, especially Ukraine, Palestine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; those places of unrest, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and also those suffering from floods in Kentucky and forest fires in BC and Newfoundland.
ELFEC Grants received to support our ministries
Mount Zion received two grants in support our ministries from ELFEC, a foundation that assists churches with investments. The Mount Zion Kitchen received a grant of $3000 to purchase a new fridge and our Food Card Ministry received $3000 to assist with our ongoing efforts to help those with food insecurity.
Mary Thompson reports, ”We are excited and grateful to have been awarded an ELFEC grant of $3,000 for our food vouchers program — approximately the amount needed for two months of distribution! Adding in donations from the congregation in July, we should have enough now for our recipients in August through October. Again, many thanks to those who continue to support this ministry.”
Thank you to the creators of the grant applications for your efforts on our behalf.
Vacation Time
Pastor Philip will be taking vacation days Aug 17 – 20 and Sept 6 – 9. Not exactly a vacation, but he will also be at a youth retreat Aug 28, 29 and 30. To facilitate pastors being away, Bishop Pryse has recorded a sermon for our use.
Margaret will be away Aug 23 – 26.
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.
Along Her Banks Sept 10 - 10 am to noonish
Join Mary Anne Caibaiosai, Water-walker, knowledge-keeper, artist and educator for a family event along the banks of the Grand River .
Mary Anne will share knowledge gained from completing a four-year journey with the All Nations Grand River Water Walk, and the collective hope for these beautiful waters. We will honour those waters together and pay our respects to her by holding a day of clean up.
Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on for the teaching portion of the gathering. These teachings will be followed by a clean up of the trail and banks. Please bring your own gloves/ tongs for picking up garbage. Dress appropriately for the weather, the woods and the water.
For more information visit featherandcross.org
Summer News #3 July 15
Greetings everyone!
Welcome to Summer News. Over the summer our communications will take a more laid-back approach allowing for holiday schedules. This Summer News email will replace Pastor Philip’s regular email and the Newsletter. Our schedule will depend on what’s going on. The newsletter will return September 8. If you want anything included pls email Pastor Philip or Karen Gastmeier.
Upcoming
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National Convention July 15 -16
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Photo Directory Deadline for Photo submission July 22
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In person book discussion Sept 27 (see below)
At Rest
Terry Eichholz passed away, Tuesday morning, July 13, at Freeport Hospital. Information about funeral arrangements will be announced later. Let us hold Terry's family in our prayers and thoughts as they go through this time of grief and sorrow.
Celebrations
Richard Heimbecker will be 91 years old on July 17. On that same day, he and Gloria will celebrate our 68th anniversary. Yes, they were married on Rich's birthday.” Happy Birthday Richard, Happy Anniversary Richard and Gloria!
CLAY 2023: Location & Dates
The organizers of are beyond excited to announce the dates and location for CLAY 2023 so that you can start planning your trip! Come and join us for CLAY 2023 from Thursday August 10th until Sunday August 13th for a jam-packed weekend of worship, learning, community and fun.
CLAY 2023 – Ashes and Embers
August 10-13, 2023
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, ON
For more resources visit: claygathering.ca
Food Vouchers Update
A big thank you to congregation members for increasing donations to our food voucher program! As of the end of June we have been able to catch up to the cost of cards distributed, and prepaid for most of what will be needed in July. We will need to order again for August, so please do continue to keep this program in mind, and we will keep you updated regularly on how we are doing.
Ride-a-Bus Event in Waterloo
Get to know Grand River Transit (GRT) and acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with the Region’s transit services. On Wednesday, August 24, you are invited to participate in a free orientation session sponsored by the Region of Waterloo Age Friendly Network and GRT. This event is designed for older adults wishing to become comfortable with bus and light rail train service in Waterloo Region. The event includes a short training session with GRT community relations providers, and an escorted outing on a GRT bus to sites within the city of Waterloo. The event will begin and end at the new Community Pavilion at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Father David Bauer Drive. The Ride-a-Bus event begins at 9:30 a.m. with refreshments, and will be finished around noon. To register, please call 519 579 1020, or go to the Eventbrite site: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/365900326727
We look forward to seeing you. Rick Chambers, Volunteer, Waterloo Region Age Friendly Network
A note from the Committee for Justice through Service Committee
Working Centre renovation of 97 Victoria Street North
- those who are following local efforts to do something about growing homelessness may read about a new project of the Working Centre in downtown Kitchener in the most recent issue of Good Work News at https://www.theworkingcentre.org/sites/default/files/article_files/GWN-June2022.pdf
Feather and Cross event
July 27 (28 if rain) 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at Trillium Lutheran Church, Waterloo. From 7:00 to 8:30 there will be an outdoor Kairos Blanket Exercise, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a youth jam session — a unique opportunity! — led by Six Nations musician James Wilson, who works with Music for the Spirit. (Bring guitars or ukuleles.) Register at
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.
Prayers
Let us pray for Ed, Jim, Sandra, Gladys, George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Ross, Helen and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai. Let us remember the Eichholz family in our prayers as they mourn the death of Terry. The National Assembly of the ELCIC is being held virtually today and tomorrow, pray that our church would remain faithful to the call of God in these times of uncertainty and pain and that our leaders would be granted wisdom and discernment to guide.
Karen and Philip
Summer News #2 July 5, 2022
June Financials
Treasurer Richard Brubacher reports that the results for the six-month period ending June 30 in our Ministry & Mission (current) account are $21,528 better than planned. Although a significant deficit of $25,202 was recorded, this compares to a budgeted deficit of $46,730 for the period. Improved receipts and reduced expenditures were responsible for this improvement as noted below:
Overall, financial results are better than planned for this six-month period in all categories. This is encouraging! Thank you for your support!
Richard Brubacher – Treasurer & Chair Finance
Photo/Phone Directory…We need your Photos by July 22
Work is underway creating our new Photo/Phone Directory. This new directory will replace the phone directory that was done in 2019. This time we hope to add your photo along with your name and address. As with former editions, the directory is a printed document for use by congregational members. It will not appear on-line in any format. The target date for the finished directory is mid to late September. Here’s how you can help us with this project --
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Let the office know of any changes in your address, postal code, phone numbers, email addresses or the spelling of a name
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Send in an informal headshot .singles, couples, family. **These photos can be something you or a friend has taken with a cell phone or iPad. Feel free to include your furry family members, too.
Please email me or drop off at the office, your photo as a .JPG file ASAP or by July 22, the latest. Remember not to crop or resize your photo. This will be done when formatting the directory.
To accommodate your busy schedule and staff vacation times, an informal photo shoot will be conducted after Sunday Worship for the month of July.
If you have any questions, please drop Margaret a note or call the office, 519-886-5820.
Countdown to Convention
From ELCIC News
In just over two weeks, Lutherans from across the ELCIC will gather online for the ELCIC National Convention taking place virtually from July 15-16. As we count down to convention, we will continue to highlight what's new, what to watch for and how to keep informed in a weekly newsletter called, Countdown to Convention. The first and second installments of this newsletter have already been sent to our subscribers' emails. If you didn't receive our Countdown to Convention and you would like to sign-up to stay informed, an email can be sent to info@elcic.ca which will add you to the list. You can also click here to manually enter your email address as a subscriber to our weekly content.
Round Up
Girls Rock Camp began a six week stay with us this week. The Chinese Seniors are back in the building on Sunday afternoons along with the Tai Chi group on Thursdays and the Women’s Dance group on Fridays. If anyone would like to join Tai Chi, please contact Margaret at the office.
Karen and Philip
Summer News #1 June 29 2022
Greetings everyone.
Summer has finally arrived and in order to enjoy the somewhat slower pace, our summer communications will take a more laid-back approach allowing too for holiday schedules. Instead of a biweekly newsletter plus a biweekly email from Philip, we will be combining our efforts to send out a joint email with news about what is going on in the congregation with a little from synod and the community.
Our schedule will depend on what’s going on. The newsletter will return September 8.
If you want anything included pls email both Pastor Philip and Karen Gastmeier.
Gladys Roeder celebrated her 97th birthday last week!!
Gladys, we are grateful for your life and pray for God's continued blessing as you enter this new year.
In Our Prayers
Karin von Schilling passed away at Lanark Heights on June 11, 2022. The celebration of life service was held at Mount Zion on June 18, 3 pm.
Let us uphold in our prayers Terry Eichholz, Gladys, George, Betty, Marjorie, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Ross, Helen, and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai; Stephanie and the von Schilling family mourning the death of Karin.
Five Little Indians
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 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.
Heidi writes about Bridges VBS In-Person Gatherings:
"As promised, we will be hosting two in-person outdoor family gatherings to celebrate VBS this year. On Sunday July 10th at 4pm, we will be opening our week with music, skits and you can pick up your free take home activity kit. On Friday July 15th at 7pm, join us for more music, fun and a chance to win your own mini Clark the Caterpillar. Both gatherings will be held outside at Martin Luther University College and are weather permitting. Please bring your own lawn chair or blankets and masks are mandatory. If you are planning on attending, please reply to bridgesvbs@gmail.com by June 30th."
Karen and Philip