MC USA Convention Report: Brad Kohlman, Dale Schrag, Renee Reimer and Dawn Yoder Harms participated in the MC USA Convention in Cincinnati, July 6-10 and served as delegates for BCMC. You can hear their reflections about the experience by following this link: https://youtu.be/h8iqcC_xTEM
There will be no worship at BCMC on Aug 1, so that everyone can participate in the Western District Conference Assembly worship at Faith Mennonite Church, 10:30am. You can participate in the worship service in-person or virtually. A link for the livestreamed service will be posted on the WDC Assembly webpage next Wednesday, July 28.
Thanks to those responding to the chancel choir survey! You’ve provided helpful information that allows us to plan for the fall choir season. More details will follow in mid-August.
Play Bells!
Are you interested in participating in Chancel Bell Choir this fall? If so, complete the brief survey here. Both new and experienced players are welcome! Rehearsal time has not yet been set. Please complete the survey by August 8.
Current BCMC Covid guidelines can be accessed on the BCMC website here.
Budget Updates
As of the end of June 2021, expenses exceed contributions by $29,302.48. Contributions received stand at 42% of the amount expected for the year, and expenses are at 47% of the budget. Please keep this information in mind as we begin the second half of the year.
Living Stones II update: Currently the amount contributed to Living Stones II is $13,712.61 short of covering the costs of the kitchen/fellowship hall renovations. Please continue to keep this in mind during the second half of the year.
Upcoming memorials services are being planned to remember these loved ones among us:
Nancy Mueller: Saturday, July 24, 3 pm, BCMC Sanctuary
Hartzel Schmidt: Sunday, July 25, 2 pm, BCMC Sanctuary
Miner Seymour: Wednesday, July 28, 10 am, BCMC Sanctuary
Rosalind Andreas: Saturday, Aug 21, 1:30 pm, BCMC Sanctuary
You are welcome to attend these services in-person. Services will also be recorded and live streamed. You can access the live stream by going to the Bethel College Mennonite Church website and clicking on the green live stream button at the right hand side of the page. Click here to get to the website: BCMC Website
We will send out links to the services on Monday, July 26, for viewing on the BCMC YouTube Channel.
Mennonite Central Committee in North Newton Announces that the Peaches are Coming
Colorado Peaches are coming to MCC in North Newton! Get your Colorado Peaches this summer and support MCC at the same time. Beth-El Mennonite Church in Colorado Springs is organizing a fundraiser to cover expenses related to the annual Rocky Mountain Relief Sale, which is being planned for October 15-16 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Peaches are available in 10-pound boxes for $25 and 18-pound boxes for $35. Deadline for orders/payment is Monday, August 2. Checks or cash are accepted, checks are made payable to Beth-El Mennonite Church with “Peaches” in the memo line. Please contact Patsy Dirksen at MCC Central States Office for orders/payments at patsydirksen@mcc.org. Pick-up date for peaches is tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 23 at the MCC Central States in North Newton.
Western District Conference Annual Assembly
Remember to register for the WDC Annual Assembly at: mennowdc.org/2021. Friday worship, July 30 at 7 pm followed by sno-cones outside at 8 pm. July 31, Saturday 7-8 pm enjoy storytelling under the tent with fresh popcorn. Invite your friends to Faith Mennonite Church, 2100 N Anderson Ave, Newton, KS, for some summer fun. Storytelling also inside and online! See the WDC Assembly flier here.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website at https://mennowdc.org/ to read the latest news, stories and announcements!
Camp Mennoscah Announcement
Summer Youth Camps will end on July 30 and the tents and bunks need to be taken down in preparation for fall groups. Volunteers are needed in abundance for both July 30 and 31 to lower the tents and break down the bunks for storage. On Friday, July 30, work will begin at approx. 1:30pm (after the end of Senior High Camp) and go until 6:30pm. We’ll begin again on Saturday at 8:30am and work until we’re done. A simple noon meal will be offered on Saturday. There is the option of staying overnight between the two work days–make it a service holiday! Let us know you are coming for one or both days so we can plan accordingly! Contact us at 620-297-3290.
Thursday, July 29 – Grand Open House for the new Kauffman Museum exhibit, “Vapes: Marketing an Addiction,” 2-6 p.m. This new exhibit examines what is known about e-cigarettes, and includes selections from a previous Kauffman Museum exhibit, “Better Choose Me: Collecting and Creating with Tobacco Fabric Novelties, 1880-1920.” “Vapes” has been on display at NMC Health in Newton since the beginning of June and moves to Kauffman Museum July 29-Jan. 9, 2022.
The 2021 issue of Mennonite Life, Bethel College’s annual online journal, is now live at ml.bethelks.edu, with articles and reviews by Brad Born, Rachel Epp Buller, Peter Goerzen, Raylene Hinz-Penner, Mark Jantzen, Jim Juhnke, Nate Kroeker, Alec Loganbill, Jacob Miller, Bethany Powls, Rich Preheim, Darrin Snyder-Belousek, Tara Schwartz, Anne Marie Stoner-Eby and Melanie Zuercher.
The August 2021 Mennonite Mission Network PRAYER VINE is now available for download. The PDF is posted in the prayer resources section of our website and can also be downloaded directly by clicking the link below:
Download this month’s Prayer Vine (PDF)
Mennonite Mission Network “News from Around the World” click here
Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” click here
The link to the August issue of Prayers for Mennonite Education is below.
Prayer requests from Mennonite schools – August 2021
For the Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” click here.
| The Kansas Mennonite Disaster Service Unit is sponsoring two Learning and Service Trips to McAllen Texas |
| Dates of two trips: October 30 – November 6 February 19 – 26 Participants will leave Kansas on Saturday morning traveling to San Antonio, TX, staying overnight. Visiting San Antonio Mennonite Church on Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon traveling to McAllen TX for the MDS project. Costs: Lodging and meals on the two traveling weekends. MDS will cover the remainder of the expenses. Reservations: To make your reservations or for more information contact Cleo Koop at cleohkoop@gmail.com or call 316-282-0797. If you are interested in volunteering at McAllen, TX on different weeks than what is in this announcement please call the volunteer coordinator at 800-241-8111. |
Christian Peacemaker Teams invites you to a webinar on Colombia
To Work the Land is to resist: Farmer’s Voices in Defense of the Land – click here for information
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: This month, Mary Raber is bringing closure to her 11 years of ministry with Mennonite Mission Network in Ukraine. Pray that Mary will find ways to maintain relationships, even as she says goodbye to students and colleagues at Odessa Theological Seminary and the churches where she worshiped.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC’s Annual Assembly next weekend, as we share the new experience of a hybrid (in-person and online) gathering!
Mennonite World Conference Prayer Request: Pray for peace and stability of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. We strongly request your prayers for our brothers and sisters in Tigray and Metekel areas. They need our support to heal from the trauma and rehabilitate. Pray for brothers and sisters who are persecuted because of their faith in some parts of the country. Pray for funds to rehabilitate people affected by natural and human-made crisis in different parts of the country.
—Meserete Kristos Church