As we enter into this season of Eastertide, celebrating the joy of Jesus’ resurrection, we remember God’s commitment to continue breathing new life into places of death, here and now. And we remember how we are invited to join in that life-giving work with God.
During this pandemic, opportunities for sharing life and hope abound. Today we highlight several opportunities coming from Western District Conference:
Western District Conference has established a Hope Fund to support congregations and ministers in direct response to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. WDC is seeking to raise funds to respond to the most vulnerable by empowering local congregations to meet needs with Christ’s love and generosity in a time of fear and anxiety. If you have interest in learning more or contributing to this fund, you can find more information here: https://mennowdc.org/wdc-hope-fund-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
Western District Conference Israel-Palestine Task Force, in partnership with Mennonite Palestine Israel Network (MennoPIN), asks you to pray for and share resources with people deeply in need in Gaza. The Gaza Strip is a densely populated region, with more than two million people. Suffering from a 13-year air, land, and sea blockade and three devastating wars, Gaza faces economic collapse and is very vulnerable during this pandemic. In response, the WDC Israel-Palestine Task Force requests your help to share funds with Youth Vision Society (YVS), who will distribute food baskets and hygiene kits to affected families. See attachment (below) for information about how you can help. (ATTACHMENT) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ljmDgFnd3VtRSb_76iW_zDz8Lopbm1_c
You can also support the ongoing work of BCMC by contributing to the General Fund, or to two special projects: the Caring Fund (to respond to needs within our congregation and local community), or the Elevator Fund (to make our building fully accessible to diversely-abled folks). Gifts to any of the funds can be made through BCMC’s online giving option (see “Support BCMC” at the top right corner of the BCMC website homepage) or a check made out to BCMC (with designated gifts noted in the memo line).
May this Praise Song for the Pandemic offer us a way to pray together throughout the week! https://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2020/03/19/praise-song-for-the-pandemic/
We welcome your prayers for Vince and Priscilla Miller, Wider Fellowship members at BCMC currently residing in Idaho, upon the death of their son, Tamen, who took his life on April 9, fearing that he had Covid 19. If you would like to share your care through a card, please send it to Vince and Priscilla Miller, 1617 Calico Circle, Pocatello, ID 83201.
Christopher Shaw offered this 12 minute organ recital during Holy Week. Listen on YouTube here.
The Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale that was set for this weekend was one of the many events that has been cancelled this past month. Fortunately, organizers have put together a virtual 5K Run/Walk for people to participate on their own. Pastor Renee is participating in this 5K Run/Walk on Saturday. Anyone looking for ways to donate the money they would have spent on food or auction items at the MCC Sale is invited to donate to her link. Or, you can sign up and participate in your own 5K run/walk here! The goal for this fundraiser is $30,000, let’s see if we can reach that goal together!
Each year at the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale there is a German buffet. The average amount that each “diner” paid for a meal last year was $11.80. The Committee would like to propose that those who can donate $12.00 a person around their dinner table on Saturday, April 18. This is a reasonable amount for such a good cause. We hope that this will raise awareness of the importance of the MCC Sale. Please make your checks payable to KMRS and mail to Tim Miller, Treasurer, 4805 S Broadacres Road, Hutchinson, KS 67502. Feeding the Multitude Committee: Doug & Cathy Everingham, Delon & Joretta Martens, Francis & Margaret Toews, Hugo & Mary Ann Boschmann, Bob & Barb Esau, Delbert & Janine Peters
Camp Mennoscah announcements:
· Keep in touch on the Camp Mennoscah Facebook page and YouTube channel. Reach camp at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org. They will update the website and social media sites, as well as through email.
· Camp Mennoscah is planning to have summer youth camps, but recognizing the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, a final decision will be made closer to the start of camps. Your camp fees, including the non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, will be refunded if camp is canceled. Further information can be found at www.campmennoscah.org or by calling 620-297-3290.
· Send words! Camp Mennoscah will create the 2020 tee shirt from three pairs of words representing important parts of Camp Mennoscah, serious or playful. An example would be Gaga Ball, Verenike Casserole, Campfire Songs. Send your ideas to olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or send a message to the Camp Mennoscah Facebook page by April 30.
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), Everence and Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (MCC U.S.) have joined together to launch a COVID-19 Congregational Relief Fund to aid churches facing financial crisis due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The fund will accept grant requests of up to $5,000 each from churches that might not have means to recover from this unprecedented global situation. Recipient churches may use the grants to meet their congregational financial needs (such as rent, mortgage, utilities, staff salaries, etc.) or to assist families and individuals in their midst recover from COVID-19 hardships. Churches with historic roots or relationships with the Anabaptist faith community are eligible to apply for a grant. Priority will be given to racially and ethnically diverse churches serving in historically under-resourced communities, i.e. communities and households that are underbanked, underinsured and/or uninsured. To learn more and/or apply for a grant, see everence.com/covid-19-congregational-relief-fund. Click here to see additional information on the Everence website.
Kauffman Museum might be closed to the public, but there are still two exhibits visitors can view. One is “Meta: An Exhibition about Exhibitions,” a senior project by Bethel College students Elizabeth Friesen Birky and Emma Girton. Take a virtual tour of this exhibit at https://tinyurl.com/metavirtualexhibit
The other is “Science Behind the News: Viruses,” a pop-up exhibit mounted on the outside of the museum at the corner of Main and 27th Streets in North Newton, by the front door. Text is in both English and Spanish. You can also see the “Viruses” exhibit at Newton Medical Center and Health Ministries Clinic.