This week at BCMC
Monday, December 27—Office will be closed; church locked
Tuesday, December 28—Friday, December 31—Office will be closed
January 2, 2022 – Epiphany Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms
3-5 p.m. Farewell for Dawn Yoder Harms
A come and go farewell reception for Pastor Dawn Yoder Harms will be held Sunday, January 2, from 3-5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Masks will be required. Cards may be placed in the box provided near the mailboxes, brought to the reception, or mailed to the church.
January 3, 2022 The church office and building will be closed to provide the holiday (since January 1, 2022 is a Saturday) for the church staff.
BCMC Offering for December 19, 2021 General Fund $13,971; General Fund for 2022 $1,000; Caring Fund $1000; Living Stones $93.33; Flower Fund $30; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $500; Women’s Fellowship $80
Covid Creativity
This era of Covid impacted everyone in different ways. The negative effects are obvious. But for some, it sparked introspection and a new kind of creative energy.
The Visual Arts Committee would like to showcase examples of your creativity in The Gathering Place. A small exhibit with artwork or photos and brief text about your motivation for creating during this challenging time.
What might you share? Whatever you were inspired to create! Did you paint something? Build something? Sew something? Write something? Learn new recipes or revisit old ones?
Pastor Nathan will be the primary contact and would love to connect with you. If you’re willing to share a photo or two (or the artwork itself!) and a brief statement about what prompted this expression, please get in touch with him!
The Visual Arts Committee will begin working on this project shortly after the holidays so the sooner you can share your ideas with Nathan the better!
Menno Ringers (bells for youth in grades 3rd-8th) will take place on Wednesdays from 7-7:45 pm beginning January 5th and going through February 23rd. Interested youth can join in on their first rehearsal in room B7 on January 5th!
Service of Remembrance
January 9, 2021
Bethel College Mennonite Church
4:00 pm
As we are in the holiday season that brings joy with the promise of new life and love birthed into our world, there is also grief as we miss those who have passed from this world in 2021. In order to recognize and mourn the loss of our loved ones from 2021, Bethel College Mennonite Church is hosting a service of Remembrance on January 9 at 4 pm. There will be singing, praying, scripture reading,and a reading of each person who has passed, followed by the lighting of a candle in their memory. In addition to wearing a mask and social distancing, windows inside the sanctuary will be open. Please keep your coat and warm clothes with you as you find your place in the sanctuary. You will likely need them!
If you have someone you would like to remember who is
not directly connected to Bethel College Mennonite Church, please contact Pastor Nathan Koontz before the service with their name and connection to you, or write their name and connection on a piece of paper and give it to Pastor Nathan before the service begins. Their names will be read once all the names in order of service have been read. You are also welcome to watch the service live streamed through our Bethel College Mennonite Church homepage (click the green LIVE STREAM button). If you have any questions about this service or COVID 19 precautions, please contact Pastor Nathan at nathan@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org
Below is a list of those connected with BCMC that have died during 2021. If there is someone else that you think should be added to this list, please contact Pastor Nathan or Monica in the church office. If there are family andfriends that you know who are connected to those who have passed and may like to attend this service, please pass on the details of this service to them.
Lorene Katherine Penner Goering, Helen Ruth Jantzen Unruh, Rosalind Haury Enns Andreas, Laura Ann (Miller) Schrag, Phil Koontz, Elsie Mae Wicke Flaming, Allen Gaeddert, Hartzel Wayne Schmidt, Miner Seymour, Clark Eugene Wiebe, Louise Irene Duerksen Koehn, Ethel Elizabeth Dick Kaufman, Martha Friesen Graber, Mary Ann Unruh Gertsen, Carol Kaufman, Kenneth Kaufman.
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Linda Beachy, who is in the middle of her year-long SOOP assignment at the Navajo Brethren in Christ Mission in Bloomfield, New Mexico.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for pastors, chaplains and other ministers in WDC, that they would experience God’s renewed strength and hope for ministry in the New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year