BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
July 6, 2025
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/JeQ6QVropsE?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
July 6, 2025
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music
Land Acknowledgement and Welcome–Ada Schmidt-Tieszen
*Hymn–Precious Lord, Take My Hand–VT 610
Children and Youth Conversation–Kohlman Family
Scripture Reading–2 Kings 5:1-5a–Lyn Krause
*Hymn–Be Still My Soul, verse 1–VT 664
Scripture Reading–2 King 5:5b-7–Lyn Krause
*Hymn–Be Still My Soul, verse 2–VT 664
Scripture Reading–2 Kings 5:8-14–Lyn Krause
*Hymn–Be Still My Soul, verse 3–VT 664
Sermon–I’d Rather my Soul be Busy–Joanna Harader
*Hymn–Healer of Our Every Ill–VT 644
Prayers of God’s People–Ada Schmidt-Tieszen
MennoCon Blessing–Elizabeth Schmidt
*Hymn–When We Walk with the Lord–VT 570
*Benediction
Postlude
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together Audio visual— Ken Lamp
Hymns Sunday, July 6, were requested by the following.
Be Still, My Soul (VT 664) “This hymn was sung often in my childhood and later as a member of Pretty Prairie Mennonite Church. At times of loss of family and friends it was sung! This hymn’s music was written by Jean Sibelius (Finlandia) with text going back to 1752. Stille, mein Wille, translated in 1855, was also sung in my youth in the German language. Also VT 649, When Memory Fades, uses the same music (Finlandia).
—Steve Stucky
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (VT 610) Years ago, some time in the early ’70s, Richard and I went to a movie in Denver, Colorado about the life of Thomas A. Dorsey–the text and tune originator of this hymn. When this particular hymn was part of the movie script, the entire audience, mostly Black, stood up and sang along filling the theatre with powerful emotion. We simply sat and knew we had experienced a holy moment of solidarity with people who loved Jesus! —Dorothy Nickel Friesen
Trust and Obey (When We Walk with the Lord) (VT 570) “This hymn became our ‘family song’ after we sang it together at a C.E. program in my home church. It’s been sung many times over the years–including at my parents’ funerals–and brings smiles to my siblings and me whenever we hear it! — Carol Flickinger
Land Acknowledgement from words by Mark Charles and VT #878
As we do on the first Sunday of each month,
we acknowledge that we worship
on the land of the Kanza, Osage, and Wichita.
We thank them for their care and respect for this land
and acknowledge the injustice of their forced removal.
We ask the Spirit to heal our histories
and find new paths of right relationships with them
and all of creation.
GOING BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
–The Apache Stronghold led by Dr. Wendsler Nosie requests our prayers on their behalf. Pray for decision makers to revere the Earth, and for the Spirit to speak through all those in defense of Oak Flat. Ask your prayer circles to pray with you. Post a prayer on Facebook. Ask others if they know about Oak Flat and the work of the Apache Stronghold, a seminal case of shortsighted extraction for profit that decimates the sacred Earth and also religious freedom.
–Read about the extraction mindset we hold that has so harmed our Earth, a central theme in Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler’s last book, So We and Our Children May Live (2023), available in our church library.
–Read the story of Oak Flat. Browse on line, or read a fascinating visual nonfiction account by Lauren Redniss, Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West (2020). (Check the “New Yorker” review, “Lauren Redniss and the Art of the Indescribable” by Max Norman, July 23, 2021, available on line).
The Week at BCMC: July 6—13, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025—Worship 9:30 a.m. with Joanna Harader
Live-Stream Link: https://youtube.com/live/JeQ6QVropsE?feature=share
Monday, July 7, 2025—Church office will be closed
Sunday, July 13, 2025—Worship 9:30 a.m. with a hymn sing
Send some camp mail!
Summer camping season is in full swing! As a congregation we are fortunate we will have youth attending camps. As our youth form their faith in these special places, we encourage you to send letters of encouragement while they are there.
July 27-August 1 Maisie Brubacher, Lucy Burch, Collin Gaeddert, Adam
Oswald, Mara Oswald, Abram Wall, Mabel Wall @ Camp Mennoscah, 9458 SE 40th St., Murdock, KS 67111.Thank you for encouraging our youth to explore their faith!
Remember in your prayers the following BCMC members and friends who will be attending Mennnonite Church USA’s MennoCon in Greensboro, NC this coming week: BCMC Delegates: Joanna Harader, David Kreider, Jill Robb; Western District Conference Delegate, Heidi Reiger Kreider
Youth: Kaiya Anderson, Maisie Brubacher, Lucy Burch, Orlando Gonzalez, Adah Hodge, Pozzi Krehbiel, Adam Oswald, Mara Oswald, Chris Sattler, Lily Schloneger, Rylee Schmidt-Stapleton, Abram Wall, Mabel Wall; Youth Sponsors: George Leary, Megan Leary, Marlene Ewert, and Cliff Dick.
The church board is pleased to announce that we have formed a search committee! Megan Leary will serve as chair. Additional committee members are Karen Ediger, Mary Ellen Hodge, Mara Oswald, and Francis Toews. They will soon begin their thoughtful work alongside Western District Conference, our staff, and the board. Brad Kohlman will serve as a liaison between the committee and the board/congregation. Please keep the committee members in your prayers as their work begins.
It’s time to renew the BCMC group subscription for the devotional magazine “Rejoice”. The September-October-November issue will be in your mailboxes here at the church (or mailed) in late July, early August. If you wish to renew or want a new subscription to “Rejoice”, place a check for $36.63 in the offering plate or bring to the church office.
BCMC Offering for June 29: General $10,647; MCC $460; Plant Fund $50; Kitchen Fund $17.50; Misc. Income $6.99; Merrill Raber Mem. $500.
BCMC will be putting together Mennonite Central Committee school kits in August. If you would like to donate money for this special project, place your donations in the designated fish bowls at the back of the sanctuary. Please make checks payable to “BCMC” with “school kits” in the memo line. Donations will be accepted through July and into August.
Colorado peaches are coming to Mennonite Central Committee: Palisade peaches from western Colorado are available for order and purchase until July 30. Two sizes are available: 9 lb. for $30 and 18 lb. for $42. Orders can be placed by emailing patsydirksen@mcc.org or by calling MCC, 316.283.2720. Payment in the form of cash or check is due by July 30. Make checks payable to Beth-El Mennonite Church with “peaches” in the memo line and mail to: MCC, PO Box 235, North Newton, KS 67117 or dropped off at MCC at 121 East 30th, North Newton. Peaches will be ready for pick-up on Mon., Aug. 18 at the MCC warehouse. Beth-El Mennonite Church sells peaches as a fundraiser for bierocks ingredients that are sold at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Relief Sale in October.
Mennonite Central Committee Peace Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Sept. 21-27: How can we live out God’s call for justice and reconciliation through nonviolence in a world that is built on the myth of redemptive violence? If you are a young adult (age 18-30) concerned about the state of our world and energized to reimagine society built on God’s vision of love and justice for all, come join us for a week of experiential learning rooted in theological reflection, peacebuilding practices, and real-world application. Register by Aug. 31 at mcc.org/events/rocky-mountain-peace-camp.
Sat., July 19: The first-ever group to win the national talent competition “The Voice” is three Mennonite siblings from Pettisville, OH. Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty, “Girl Named Tom”, will give a free concert at Bethel College, with opening act “The Flannelbacks”. The Green “opens” at 4:30 p.m. and food and beverage trucks/vendors start serving at 5. Local favorites and Bethel alumni The Flannelbacks open the show at 7, with Girl Named Tom taking the stage at 8. Plan now to attend!
Western District Women in Mission’s annual Women’s & Girls Retreat will be Sat., Sept. 6 – Sun., Sept. 7 at Camp Mennoscah. Registration is open. For more information go to westerndistrictwomeninmission.org This year’s featured speakers are Pastor Katherine Goerzen and Pastor Laura Goerzen. Comforter tying will start Sat. at 10 a.m. Afternoon seminars will include dried flower bookmarks, yoga, guided nature walk, book reviews with Bethany Martin from Faith & Life Bookstore and free time. Come for fun and fellowship!
It’s a Party! Announcing Summer Story Days 2025. Join Western District Conference Resource Library staff for stories and come & go activities for ages 3-8 and their caregivers. New this year: Virtual participation with mailed craft kits available–sign up for virtual participation at forms.gle/8DnWnLs64VkZJoeB6. No sign up for in-person activities in North Newton. Join us July 12 at 11 a.m. for a special virtual author visit from Aimee Reid and August 9 as a part of WDC Annual Assembly. For more information contact Jennie at crlib@mennowdc.org.
The Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, (KIPCOR) affiliated with Bethel College, is offering a 2-day training on “Managing Differences Within Faith Communities” on Friday and Saturday, July 25-26, 2025, at KIPCOR’s training facility in North Newton. This course is designed for congregational leaders, pastors, and anyone who would like to explore ways to navigate differences as a faith community in a healthier way. This training is led by Robert Yutzy, KIPCOR Senior Associate for Congregational Ministries, and Keren Kandel, KIPCOR Executive Director. This course will help to better understand the dynamics when there is disagreement and gives opportunities to engage in practical tools that can transform conflict and difference into spiritual and community renewal. Please see the flier on the church bulletin board for more information and the cost of registration.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Mennonite World Conference “Info” press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
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| August 10, 2025 | 1:05 PM | Equity Bank Park, Wichita, KS Join Prairie View on August 10th at 1:05pm for Family Funday as the Wind Surge take on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Every ticket purchased through our link will have a donation straight back to Prairie View!When you support Prairie View, you help make vital behavioral health services accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Prairie View provides comprehensive care, including Behavioral Health Urgent Care, same-day access, and critical services for uninsured and underinsured individuals.Your participation in events like Prairie View Day at the Ballpark ensures that children, adults, and families in crisis can receive timely, compassionate mental health support when and where they need it most.Together, we’re removing barriers, responding to urgent needs, and creating a stronger, healthier community for all.For group tickets in our section of 20+, please contact Alissa directly to help get your group set up: abasabe@windsurge.com or 316-221-8023.We hope to see you there!Ashleigh Hollis Director of Fundraising and Community Events 316-284-6400 | 800-992-6292 | Ext. 6379 Prairie View, Inc. | Newton Campus hollisar@pvi.org | prairieview.org Facebook.com/PrairieViewInc | @PrairieViewKS on TwitterBuy Tickets Here!Mennonite Church USA Announcements Sunday, July 6The MC USA Delegate Assembly is Friday, July 11, at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons in Greensboro, North Carolina. Delegate resources, including the agenda, bylaws, proposed bylaw changes, previous minutes and proposed resolutions, will be posted on MC USA’s Delegate Assembly website, as they are available. See the web page here: mennoniteusa.org/2025-delegate-assembly-resources/ Register for Delegate Assembly here: mennoniteusa.org/registration/ Stay up to date on all things Follow Jesus ’25, MC USA’s national convention, by subscribing to the weekly convention newsletter! Subscribe here: mennoniteusa.org/fj25-newsletter Follow along online here: mennoniteusa.org/gritsandbits MC USA lives into its Accessibility Resolution by removing barriers and providing resources to make the Follow Jesus ’25 convention accessible to all. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/accessibility-fj25 Menno Snapshots As part of MC USA’s Learn, Pray, Join: Undoing Patriarchy blog series, Sheri Hostetler shares how a dream about her deceased mother reminded her about our need to care for Earth, just as her mother took care of the household. Read her thoughts here: mennoniteusa.org/planetary-homemakers In her blog for MC USA’s Learn, Pray, Join: Undoing Patriarchy series, Hannah Geiser shares that as a child, she felt the need to hide the feminine side of herself, so she could excel at soccer, but as she grew, she realized that she was hiding part of herself. Read more about her experience here: mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/finding-my-femininity Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Church of Christ in Thailand District 20 Hmong, which is an organization that facilitates ministry among Hmong communities around the world. Pray for the leaders and lay people as they witness to Jesus’ love, wherever they find themselves. Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for all WDC members participating in Mennonite Church USA convention this week, as they worship, fellowship, learn and discern together with others from across our wider church body. |
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.