| Worship on Sunday December 27 will include ample time for Christmas carols throughout the service (30 minutes to be exact)! Please send Christmas carol requests to Verlene Garber to have your favorite tunes be included for that service. This Advent we are once again enjoying banners created by Bob Regier forty years ago. Thank you, Bob, for your artwork that keeps on giving! This year we are seeing the banners from a different angle as they are displayed in the choir loft (within view of the camera). Thanks to Bill and Susie Swartley for the creation of the banner stands! As you view the banners during worship, what do you see? Consider writing a poem or brief reflection about what the banners help you see and experience throughout the season. ADVENT GIFT PROJECTS: Share the joy! The Witness Commission has chosen two Advent gift projects for our congregation this year, both addressing COVID 19 related needs: The Covid 19 Congregational Relief Fund provides grants to help Anabaptist-related churches meet their congregational financial needs (such as rent, mortgage, utilities, staff salaries, etc.) or to assist families and individuals in their midst in recovering from COVID-19 hardships. Priority is given to racially and ethnically diverse churches serving in historically under-resourced communities. To contribute to this fund, click here. The Harvest of Love is a support program managed by the Newton Ministerial Alliance (NMA). When the program started, it was originally to provide food assistance to those who were in need. By now the Harvest of Love also provides support for people in need of rent, utility, and other types of financial assistance. The Harvest of Love is run out of the Salvation Army food pantry. During COVID-19, the need for assistance has been on the rise. To help our community, the Harvest of Love has removed restrictions on how often a family can receive food and financial assistance. You can contribute to the Harvest of Love in two ways. You can drop off material donations at 208 W 6th St, Newton. For monetary donations please make your check payable to Harvest of Love. You can mail your monetary donation to Newton Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 1084, Newton, KS 67114 Most of the Advent Books from the BCMC Library have been pulled and are on display in the checkout room, including most of the Everybody Books. Please feel free to come by and check out our eclectic offerings. Western District Conference – WDC Garden You are invited to read the December 2020/January/February 2021 issue of WDC’s quarterly newsletter, WDC Garden, now available at: https://mennowdc.org/wdc-garden-december-2020-january-february-2021/. Free resource from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC): Learning about generosity! Help children learn about generosity with MCC printable worksheets including activities, a story, a craft to make and Christmas gift ideas that benefit global neighbors with colorable greeting cards, find it all at mcc.org/generosity. Explore the full list of Christmas giving options from MCC at mcc.org/christmas. A memorable, meaningful and unique MCC gift to give this Christmas! Grab a piece of MCC history to use in a modern day Mennonite feeding station – your home! Get one for yourself and order more for family and friends. Hang it on the wall in your kitchen or dining room, display it on a shelf or use it as a serving tray! Remember the kitchen at your church, too. Each tray was uniquely handcrafted by an artisan in Siberia using Siberian hardwood. The tray is 16” in diameter and 2” deep. Suggested donation per tray is $150. Full details and pictures are available at https://mcc.org/feeding-station-tray. The Rocky Mountain December newsletter is here! The newsletter shares stories about what is going on at camp. Read about past and future programs, hear about the important support of our volunteers and donors, and see the “Spotted” photo of someone with their trading post items. All newsletters are posted on the camp website from the “About Us” tab and then selecting “News” for easy access to this and other newsletter posts. TODAY (Sunday, Dec. 6), 7-8:30 p.m. – Bethel College alumni and others who studied organ with Shirley Sprunger King are invited to a virtual reunion with Shirley and other organ alumni. RSVP by 3 p.m. Sunday, by clicking https://tinyurl.com/yxrll99y, to receive the link to the Zoom meeting, hosted by Bethel instructor of organ Donna (Ratzlaff) Hetrick. Sunday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. – All are invited to take part in Bethel College’s annual Lighting of the Green, from wherever you are. This long-standing Bethel Advent tradition celebrates the Light that shines in the darkness, the life and light of Christ who came into the world giving light to all humankind. Normally held on the Green in the center of campus, the gathering will take place virtually this year, live online (links follow) with some parts pre-recorded. YouTube: https://youtu.be/LZeLxduHoVk or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/98444357235?pwd=N1MzQlpiQ29HQWZIWUs2NGpNWWtIZz09 Kauffman Museum at Bethel College is hosting the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” through Jan. 17. Accompanying it is a local companion exhibit, “Of Land and People: Our Community at the Crossroads,” created from the museum’s permanent exhibit “Of Land and People.” The museum is open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tues.-Fri; 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sunday; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the “Crossroads” exhibit is free on Saturdays. Sunday, Dec. 13, 3 p.m. – Gene Chávez, Ed.D., Shawnee, Kan., will give a virtual presentation on the rich history of Mexican immigration to Kansas and the journey of the humble but important flour tortilla. This Kauffman Museum “Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum” program is connected to the museum’s current special exhibit, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” Visit the museum website (kauffmanmuseum.org) and/or Facebook page for registration instructions. Everence to hold Social Security and retirement income planning webinar Everence will host a Social Security and retirement income planning webinar, on Monday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about Social Security strategies, risks that can impact retirement savings and strategies to help income last throughout retirement. This online workshop is free. Register soon by contacting our office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com THANK YOU from Mennonite Mission Network Dear Friend,On behalf of everyone at Mennonite Mission Network, thank you for your generosity this Giving Tuesday. Because of your gift, we raised more than $20,000. I thank God for the support we have received from you, particularly during this year, which has been challenging for many. Your support is a beacon of hope to all of us at Mission Network, as we strive to equip the church to “Be the Gospel” in local communities and abroad. Last month, I shared my vision for Mission Network during a virtual interview, hosted by our Marketing and Communications Director Faith Bell. Please enjoy listening to an audio recording of the interview on our website. Thank you again, and may the grace and peace of our Lord accompany you and your family through this holiday season and into the coming year. Sincerely,   |
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