| BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS MARCH 16, 2025 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit, to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. To livestream the worship service: On Sunday morning, around 9:20 a.m. go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org and click the green button labeled LIVE STREAM on the right side of the screen, which will take you to the worship service. If you get a message in the black box that the video is unavailable, click the gray box below that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. Anytime after the service concludes, you can watch a recording of the service at your convenience by clicking the same green LIVE STREAM button. Again, you will probably have to go to the gray box that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. That will transfer you to the BCMC YouTube Channel. You will have to click on the tab “Videos” to see all of the BCMC videos. Click the red button to see the bulletin/order of service. OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/89_3mBn41yw?feature=share The memorial service of Calvin Flickinger is Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m. at BCMC. The live-stream link for the service is: https://youtube.com/live/bet2chB3avQ?feature=share BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH March 16, 2025 Second Sunday of Lent Christ Candle Lighting Centering Music—As the Deer Runs to the River (Uehlein)–Karen Unruh Call to Worship—Mary Ann Boschmann Leader: In the wilderness we gather Congregation: with friends and strangers, All: forming a community of support. Leader: In the wilderness we struggle Congregation: against forces of violence, All: conspiring together for life. Leader: In the wilderness we wander Congregation: through unfamiliar landscapes, All: seeking a faithful path. Leader: In the wilderness we worship Congregation: our God of love and life, All: opening ourselves to the power of the Spirit. *Hymn—Spirit of God! Descend—VT 557 Children’s Conversation— Brad Kohlman *Hymn—With Mary Sing Magnificat–VT 208 One-Minute Meditation Scripture Reading—Exodus 1:22-2:10; Acts 7:17-22—Jim Robb Sermon—Ground-level God—Nathan Koontz *Hymn—O Healing River—VT 706 Prayers of God’s People *Hymn—Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song—VT 581 *Benediction Postlude–He Comes to Us as One Unknown (Weber)–Karen Unruh *You are invited to stand VT—Voices Together Audio-Visual–Ken LampThe Week at BCMC: March 16—March 23, 2025 Sunday, March 16, 2025 9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/89_3mBn41yw?feature=share Tuesday March 18, 2025 7 p.m. Women’s Fellowship General Meeting for a worknight at Mennonite Central Committee, 121 E. 30th St., North Newton Wednesday, March 19, 2025—Spring Break —No Wednesday Night Supper No Chancel Choir rehearsal tonight Thursday, March 20, 2025 6 p.m. Chancel Bells rehearsal in Room B7 Sunday, March 23, 2025—Third Sunday of Lent 9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by the Chancel Choir 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation Women’s Fellowship General Meeting will be work night at MCC (Mennonite Central Committee, 121 East 30th Street, NN) Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. with Brocia. See you there. Questions: call Lois Brubacher, 316-772-3033. Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Due to Bethel College’s Spring Break there will be no Life Enrichment on March 19. Menu for the March 26 supper is: Chicken a la king, rice, carrots, and Samuel German chocolate cake for dessert. Please sign up at a sign up sheet on bulletin board, on table in south entrance, or on ledge between the mailboxes in gathering place. Meal Cost is $6 per person or $18 per family. John Mark Koontz Senior Double Bass Recital Sat., April 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wichita State University, Wiedemann Hall. John will be performing mostly classical bass and ending with a jazz piece. Lenten Sunday Scripture Readings from Pastor Joanna: · March 16: Exodus 1:22-2:10; Acts 7:17-22 · March 23: Numbers 27:1-11 · March 30: 1 Kings 17:8-24 · April 6: Mark 5:21-34 · April 13: Luke 19:28-40; Luke 23:44-56 The Bethel College Mennonite Church office will be closed the week of March 17-21 (Spring Break). Pastors will be available on an on-call basis: Pastor Elizabeth, March 17-18; Pastor Joanna, March 19-20; Pastor Nathan, March 21-22. · Pastor Joanna is taking vacation days March 14-18 to move into her new house at 305 Campus Ct. in North Newton! · Pastor Nathan is taking vacation days March 17-19. · Pastor Elizabeth is taking vacation days March 19-21. Prone to Wander Sunday School book discussion Members of the Agape class are planning to lead a book discussion during Lent of Joanna’s new book, Prone to Wander. We will meet in the chapel for the weeks of Lent: March 9 – April 13 during the Sunday School hour. Reading the book is helpful, but not necessary. All are welcome and encouraged to come. Upcoming Memorial Services: · We offer sympathy to the family of Louise Thieszen. Louise died Feb. 22. Louise’s memorial service will be March 29, 11 a.m. at BCMC · We offer sympathy to the family of Merrill Raber. Merrill died Feb. 16 at Kidron Bethel Village. Merrill’s memorial service will be May 3, 11 a.m. at BCMC. We offer sympathy to the family and extended family of Rachel Poling. Rachel died Tues., March 11, at Schowalter Villa, Hesston. The memorial service for Rachel will be Thurs., March 20, 10:30 a.m. at Schowalter Villa, 200 W. Cedar Hesston.Future Events at BCMC: · Join us on Wednesday nights! Wednesday night suppers will be March 26, April 2, 9. Please sign up at a sign up sheet on bulletin board, on table in south entrance, or on ledge between the mailboxes in gathering place. Cost is $6 per person or $18 per family. During Lent we will gather for a meal and brief program each Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m.–except for March 19, which is Spring Break. Then, on March 26, April 2, and April 9 we will explore some biblical stories through art and poetry using the new Anabaptism at 500 resource: Drawing Near. · BCMC’s Camp Mennoscah Retreat will be April 26-27. As most of you know, Pastor Elizabeth Schmidt has announced her plan to retire from her position at Bethel College Mennonite Church later this fall, after Pastor Nathan returns from his sabbatical. The BCMC board has had significant conversations with all three pastors and is now working to develop a job description for a future pastoral position. Our moderators will be creating a search committee that will carry forward our church’s search process. Your prayers are appreciated as we look toward this upcoming time of transition.The Staff Congregation Relations Committee will be conducting a regular pastoral review for Pastor Nathan Koontz this Spring. Pastor Nathan will be concluding his current term in October. We believe that the purpose of a pastoral review is to review the relationship between the congregation and the pastor and assess whether we have the right environment to foster growth. Because Pastor Nathan’s upcoming sabbatical will affect our timeline, we will be using an open-ended questionnaire for this review. Questionnaires will be sent to Sunday School class contacts, Commissions and Committees who work closely with Pastor Nathan, and will be available to all in the Gathering Place beginning Sunday, March 16. Please return questionnaires to either the box near the mailboxes or electronically to Megan Kohlman by April 13. You may also access a digital copy of the survey here, to be emailed to Megan when completed: http://bit.ly/4bILIgy Direct any questions to Megan Kohlman, meganbkohlman@gmail.com.An Invitation from Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBTQ Interests: The spring Supportive Communities Network (SCN) meeting will be Tues., March 25, 12 p.m. Central Time, via Zoom, featuring a workshop on how to interrupt the political violence that increasingly targets LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized groups. We are grateful to offer this training to SCN members for *free* via a grant in collaboration with SCN member “On Earth Peace and HOPE PV” (Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence). The Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart and SCN’s own Matt Guynn will co-facilitate. Come build power, skills, and relationships across the SCN network. While especially planned for SCN leaders, anyone is welcome. Click here for details and to receive the link. The training is two hours. Want to make your voice heard but don’t know how? Check out “5 Calls,” an easy and effective way to be in touch with your congressional reps. The website provides help with knowing how to make your calls, provides a timely list of topics to address (gets updated frequently) and a handy script guide to help you know what to say. Check them out at https://5calls.org/ —Witness CommissionThe Everence Sharing Fund provided $3,000 in matching funds to support special needs in our church last year. Jim Robb serves as the Everence advocate for our congregation. Please contact Jim with questions or for more information. The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is only weeks away (April 11 & 12). · Thank you BCMC Sunday School classes and others for contributing $5,805 to cover sale expenses. · My Coins Count! This year, coins will support food programs around the world. Bring coins (and bills!) to church Sunday mornings until the sale. Place coins into collection jars in Sunday School rooms or in the large jug in the gathering place. Last year BCMC raised almost $800 in this way! · Volunteers wanted. Many of the sign-up sheets are now conveniently located on line at KANSAS.MCCSALE.ORG/VOLUNTEER . The sooner you sign up, the better chance you have to get your preferred job and time slot. · Pies and zwieback. Sign up to bake pie or zwieback for the sale. Look for tins, bags, and sign-up sheets at the back of the sanctuary, beginning today. · Auction items. Photos at https://kansas.mccsale.org/auctions/general-auction/ · See the poster board in the Gathering Place for KMRS information and extra forms, or go to the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/ or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr). Bohne berrogie bake day for the MCC Sale is April 5 at Moundridge High School. Volunteers are needed in the morning for two hour shift. There is a sign up on the MCC website or you can contact Marla Gillmore at 620-921-0428. Bohne Berrogie will be sold from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. that day. Bethel College Announcements · Bethel College is on spring break March 17-21. Most offices and services are open but some may be on reduced hours. The Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center is closed. · Thurs., March 27, 7 p.m.: Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) Peace Lecture, “A Conversation with Sister Barbara McCracken” on community, social responsibility, and daily faith. Sister Barbara is a Benedictine from Mt. St. Scholastica, Leavenworth. · Sun., March 30: Michelle Armster and Heidi Regier Kreider, “The Impact of Immigration on Mennonite Churches Today,” 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium. This Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program is in connection to the current special exhibit, “Unlocking the Past: Immigrant Artifacts and the Stories They Tell.” Michelle is director of Mennonite Central Committee Central States and Heidi is conference minister for Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA.The Mennonite Heritage & Agriculture Museum, Goessel annual Heritage Dinner is Sat., March 29, 6:30 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church, 891 Chisholm Trail Road, Newton. Following a meal catered by Goessel Grocery & Deli, Donna Becker will present, “What Are They Thinking?” in which Donna portrays Helena Schroeder, a fictionalized Mennonite immigrant around 1879. Tickets are $75 per person (Ages 12 & under $15) 1st time attender? $40 per person. Make reservations by contacting the museum by Mon., March 24 at 620-367-8200 or email: goesselmuseum@gmail.comMen & Boys Retreat is April 4-6, at Camp Mennoscah! Claim a place to sleep in the cabins, bunkhouses, or sleep in your own tent. Meals can be purchased for Sat. night, Sun. morning, and Sun. lunch. Register on-line or registration can also be completed at camp. Contact Kevin at 316-322-5515 for more information.Western District Women in Mission invites women & girls to our annual potluck salad supper Mon., April 28, 6 p.m. at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton. The theme is “For the Beauty of the Earth” presented by WDWM executive committee member and Kansas City floral designer, Becca Schrag. Bring a salad to share and a small vessel to make a floral design in (a tea cup, bowl, or small vase). This is a free event with an offering taken to help cover expenses. RSVP not required but appreciated by email: westerndistrictwomen@gmail.comOrganist Christopher Shaw will present an organ recital/hymn festival to remember Shirley Sprunger King. Shirley taught at Bethel College for twenty years and was organist at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Christopher Shaw will be joined by Lorraine Miller (flute) and Don Kehrberg (oboe), both former members of the Deknatel Consort with Shirley. In addition to organ pieces and hymns, there will be remembrances of Shirley. The event will take place on Sat., April 5, 7:30 p.m. (note the time change from 7 to 7:30 p.m.) at Bethel College Mennonite Church, 2600 College Ave., North Newton.From Rocky Mountain Mennonite CampRocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is host to Colorado Roots Music Camp June 1-7, 2025. Break out of your routine and be inspired by a variety of styles, first-rate musicians, and the incredible experience of being immersed in acoustic music. Our instructors are some of the top players in the nation, but they were chosen because they’re known by peers and students as great instructors for all levels. Visit the camp website at rmmc.org for more details. Wilderness Camps at Rocky Mountain. RMMC offers a wilderness experience with a unique blend of destinations and activities. Campers participate in rock climbing and rappelling on Monkey Rock, backpack a few miles to a different destination for each camp week, experience the beauty of remote wilderness areas, play games, set up a campsite and learn skills of camping outside. For more information and registration, visit the camp website at rmmc.org. Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements. Important Training Opportunity! Youth Mental Health First Aid Training at Eden Mennonite Church (401 18th Ave, Moundridge, KS), March 22, 8:30am-5pm. This event will provide information about and offer training to respond to youth experiencing a mental health crisis. Registration cost of $25 includes the training, materials, snack, and lunch. Training provided by Prairie View. Register HERE For announcements from Mennonite Mission Network press here For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here Mennonite Central Committee Announcements Dear Friends,Your prayers and expressions of care over these last three years mean so much to Ukrainian families deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis. This update will give you a glimpse into how your gifts are sharing Christ’s love by providing food, comforters, heaters, other household essential items and trauma care to families with young children, elderly people and people with disabilities:Ukraine disaster report updateYour support is helping people survive and hope for a more peaceful tomorrow. Together, we are showing families in Ukraine that they are not forgotten. Thank you for your caring heart. With gratitude, Ann Graber Hershberger Executive Director, MCC U.S.P.S. More stories about how your gifts are ministering to families in Ukraine can be found at https://mcc.org/our-stories/bringing-comfort-weary-ukrainians Hello, Friends from Bethel College Mennonite Church! March brings the promise of longer days, fresh starts, and new opportunities to grow! As we “spring ahead” with the time change, why not spring ahead on our chosen verse John 1:39, and look ahead to John 1:43? When Jesus spoke to his disciples in John 1:39 and said “Come, and you will see.” He says this again to Philip in verse 43, who then tells Nathanael in verse 46. Jesus’ invitation sends a ripple of invitations—a call to see the work of Jesus has motivated the followers of Jesus for centuries now. It’s something we can see today, through your work. We are thankful for the lives you impact through your donations. Click below to view our update on our Spring Impact Report! May the beginning of spring bring you all together. Blessings, Kaytlen Keough (She/Her) US Central States Community Engagement Coordinator (316) 836-5049 121 E 30th St. North Newton, KS 67117 For the Impact Report press hereMennonite Church USA Announcements The MC USA Executive Board celebrated organizational milestones, financial growth, and the latest plans for the denomination’s largest faith formation gathering, Follow Jesus ’25, at its Feb. 8 meeting via Zoom. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/board/ MC USA’s Women in Leadership ministry will be hosting a one-day summit during this summer’s Follow Jesus ’25 convention. On March 20 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, join host Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, denominational minister for Peace and Justice for MC USA, and panelists Sue Park-Hur, director of racial/ethnic engagement for MC USA, and Women in Leadership steering committee members Shannon Dycus and Abby Endashaw, for a webinar as they discuss Women in Leadership and envision the Women’s Summit. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/WIL-summit-webinar Menno Snapshots Conference Minister Amy Zimbelman shares about a transformative weekend, in which Mountain States’ congregations welcomed and learned about the conference’s newest church plant and its ministry serving immigrants in San Antonio, Texas. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/mountain-states-learning-tour/ Thousands attended, in-person or online, MennoMedia’s Anabaptism at 500 celebration at College Mennonite Church, Jan. 21. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/anabaptism-500-event Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Caleb and Stephanie Schrock-Hurst are preparing for ministry in Taiwan, where they will renew relationships between the Mennonite Christian Hospital, in Hualien, and North American churches. Pray for them as they learn the Chinese language and finish raising the necessary funding. The Schrock-Hursts are jointly appointed through Mennonite Mission Network and Virginia Mennonite Missions. Western District Conference Prayer Request: During this season of Lent, pray for pastors in WDC as they encourage, teach and help guide congregations to walk faithfully in the way of Jesus.Bethel College Mennonite Church is an open and affirming congregation centered in the life and teachings of Jesus. Embracing the divine within each person, we warmly welcome any and all into fellowship without regard to race, ethnic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, marital status, or age. A note from Pastor Joanna: This past Monday, March 10, Pastor Nathan and I joined almost 200 other people of faith at the Kansas State Capital for KIFA (Kansas Interfaith Action) Day. We rallied together and talked with our legislators to express support for lgbtq+ rights, voting rights, economic justice, public education, and immigrant rights. I was invited to speak at the noon rally and called people to be prophetic voices that call our leaders to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. In the afternoon we were able to meet with Representative Mike King and discuss a few issues including upcoming revisions to the affordable housing tax credit. There is a great deal of harmful legislation coming out of Topeka right now, but there is also a powerful movement of people working together to call those in power to justice and kindness. You can learn more about KIFA and how to get involved in their work on their web site. |
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