BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MARCH 3, 2024
Third Sunday of Lent
Christ Among Us, Showing Us Justice
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/PwWQV9lcexY?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 3, 2024
Third Sunday of Lent
Christ Among Us, Showing Us Justice
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—There is no Shadow (Brenda Portman)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
Call to Worship and Land Acknowledgement–Margaret Toews
One: Come rule makers. Come rule breakers. Come, you who are still finding your way.
Many: We come into God’s house.
One: Come. Whether you speak with wise words or with wisecracks, you are made in the image of God.
Many: We come to hear God’s Word.
One: Some of us like certainty and structure.
Many: Some of us don’t.
One: We come by different roads.
Many: Yet we are here together.
One: Prepare to meet your Maker, and your match. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is greater than human strength.
Many: We come to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
*Hymn—What Is This Place—VT 22
Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky
Anthem—Precious Lord, Take My Hand (arr. Jack Schrader)–Chancel Choir—Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
Scripture Reading—Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22—Naomi Koontz
Sermon—Rule Makers and Rule Breakers–Roger Neufeld Smith
*Hymn—O God We Read the Holy Law—VT 571
Prayers of God’s People
Prayer of Confession
One: We often miss the beauty in your work, God.
Many: Forgive our distracted hearts.
One: When we put our trust in other things
Many: remind us of your love and care.
All: Bring joy to us once again.
One: May the meditations of our hearts
Many: be pleasing on your sight,
All: our Rock and our Redeemer.
*Hymn—Sing a New World Into Being—VT 809
Benediction
Postlude
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Audio-visual—Ben Lichti
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.
Lent and Easter Visuals
All are invited to take a close look at the visual arrangement in front of the communion table throughout Lent and on Easter Sunday. Look for changes and additions, and especially take note of BCMC gardeners’ contributions to the garden tool box.
Sunday morning, March 17, our church will have the honor of hosting Mennonite World Conference General Secretary César García and his wife, Sandra Báez, Pastor and Executive Assistant to the General Secretary. César will preach in our worship service. The Seekers and Open Circle Sunday School classes have invited both César and Sandra to share during the Sunday School hour about their work with Mennonite World Conference. Everyone is invited to attend this SS session. César and Sandra will also deliver the Bethel College Hartzler Bible lectures on Sunday evening and Monday morning, March 17 & 18.
BCMC Offering for Feb. 25: General Fund $11,717.46; Wed. Supper $432; Sr Hi Youth $30; Jr Hi Fund $50; Kitchen Fund $3; Women’s Fellowship $75; Solar Fund $20,500; Alice Suderman Memorial $20.
This Week at BCMC: March 3—10, 2024
Sunday, March 3, 2024
9:30 a.m. Worship YouTube Link for this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/PwWQV9lcexY?feature=share
The church nursery is staffed during worship and Sunday School
10:45 am Faith Formation—Intergenerational class meets in Room 26; High School-Room 24 Adult Classes: Agape Class meets in the nursery; Bible Study (Rm 14); Catacombs (Rm B5); Fellowship (B7); Fine Arts (Rm 22); Issues and Christianity (Rm 23); Open Circle (Room 21) Seekers (Rm 28)
Monday, March 4, 2024—BCMC office will be closed
6:30 p.m. Newton Chorale Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
11 a.m. Staff meeting
Wednesday, March 6, 2024—Wednesday meal and program
6 p.m. Wednesday night meal in fellowship hall—Menu: Shepherd’s Pie, Fruit Salad, Lemon Bars; Please sign up at a sign up sheet on bulletin board, on table in south entrance, or on ledge between the mailboxes in gathering place. Please bring your own tableware to facilitate clean-up! You can sign up here also: office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org
6:45 p.m Wednesday program in fellowship hall
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, March 7, 2024
6:00 p.m. Chancel Bells Rehearsal in room B-7
6:30 p.m. Newton Chorale rehearsal in the sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Church Board meeting in room 14
Saturday, March 9, 2024 11 a.m. Memorial for Nancy Hilty in the sanctuary
Sunday, March 10, 2024—Lent 4 9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Rebecca Schloneger 10:45 a.m. Faith Formation
Deacon Commission is providing an opportunity to send greetings to our most distant member, Max Ediger, of Pursat Province, Cambodia. For the next few Sundays we will have a table at the back of the sanctuary with pages for your greetings and messages for Max. For those who are unable to attend worship but can stop by the church during the week, the letters will be available for anyone to write a note before we send them out. Thank you! Deacon Commission
Future Events at BCMC:
· March 9, 11 a.m., memorial service for Nancy Hilty followed by lunch.
· March 11-15 is Spring Break. The church office will be closed this week due to staff taking vacation time. There will be staff available for emergencies.
· March 23, 11 a.m., memorial service for Elizabeth Raid followed by lunch.
· March 28, 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday service in the sanctuary
· March 31—Easter Sunday—Sunrise service at 7 a.m. (details later); Easter prelude at 9:45 a.m. followed by Worship service at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary
· April 13, 11 a.m., memorial service for Don Kaufman followed by lunch.
(All lunches after memorial services are in the BCMC fellowship hall.)
Roger will be in Newton most of this week (Sun.—Thurs.), driving back to Topeka after the Church Board meeting Thursday night. He will be biking in Missouri with Cynthia March 10- 13, then return to Newton Thurs., March 14. Other than the time he is biking in Missouri, Roger will be checking his email and phone regularly. So feel free to contact him via email, text or phone (785-220-1968.)
BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: (from the BCMC Task Group for Indigenous Justice)
–Heidi Regier Kreider of WDC and Raylene Hinz-Penner brought blessings and a tribute sermon to Koinonia Indian Mennonite Church, Clinton, OK, at the request of Pastor Susan Hart for Betty Hart’s 90th birthday Feb. 18. If you would like to send birthday greetings or encouragement to Betty as she continues to serve at Koinonia, her address is 22745 E. 1040 Road, Clinton, OK 73601. Doug and Raylene Hinz-Penner will attend the Cheyenne memorial, a gourd dance, to Chief Lawrence Hart at two years after his passing in El Reno on March 3.
–Darlene Dick, Raylene Hinz-Penner, Ada Schmidt-Tieszen, and Dale Schrag will complete a four session book study of So We and Our Children May Live by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler in March offered by the Repair Coalition for Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.
–The last Friday of every month the Repair Coalition offers a Prayer in Action hour led by Indigenous leaders or elders for Repair Congregations and Communities to find ways to serve. February 23 Pastor Jonathan Old Horse of Woyatan Lutheran Church and Fr. Joe Hubbard of St Matthew’s Episcopal Church, both in Rapid City, SD, talked about the persecution of the homeless in Rapid City and the efforts of local churches and communities to offer aid. If you could offer support through prayer or letters, contact Doe Hoyer of the Repair Coalition who is building a support group (doe@dismantlediscovery.org) on behalf of the Rapid City project.
–Next month the Prayer in Action Hour will be Fri., March 29 from 1-2 p.m. PST/4-5 p.m. EST. Contact doe@dismantlediscovery.org to request a link for the ZOOM. This hour is a good way to learn and serve from your own home.
–BCMC Task Group is in dialogue with others in Kansas as we seek to build
repair communities which invite our neighbors and friends to join the work.
–The BCMC Wednesday evening discussion series after supper supports our goals of working to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery within the Christian Church and focusing on new ways we might live with all our relations in
harmony with the earth and all fellow creatures. Please attend.
The Library Theme for March is Lenten/Easter. There is a nice selection of this theme in the Children’s Room. We are missing the book, “Healing Haunted Histories” by Elaine Enns, and have not been able to locate this book for almost a year. Please check your books at home to make sure you haven’t forgotten to return it.
We have many new to us books that are now on the shelves on the west and east side of the library. On the west side we have our usual biography, fiction, nonfiction selections and on the east side is the new Mennonite Poetry Corner with many donated books. A short description of each new book will be coming in the near future, so for now, come on in and browse the shelves!
Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is April 12 & 13, 2024 at the Kansas State Fair Grounds in Hutchinson, KS. This year’s theme is “Sowing seeds of hope, seeds of Love.”
- Enjoy Quilts & More at the rear of the sanctuary today. Each has been made by a member or friend of BCMC and will be in the KMRS quilt auction. Plan your bidding today!
- The My Coins Count jug is now 44 pounds of bills and coins! Your generosity helps provide clean, accessible water around the world. The jug is in the Gathering Place on Sunday mornings between now and April 7. Add your coins and bills today!
- Auction Items! BCMC members have donated many items to be sold at one of 4 different KMRS auctions. You can see pictures and descriptions of some of these offerings on the KMRS website under “Auction Item Listings.” Take a look! What would you like to bid on?
- Volunteers needed! The volunteer page at https://kansas.mccsale.org/ lists opportunities for April 6 (make Bohne Beroggi in Moundridge or Verenike in Hillsboro) or for April 12-13 to serve or sell food, fry verenike, help with auctions, and more. If you have trouble signing up online, ask for help from one of the BCMC liaisons.
- Upcoming Dates:
- March 4-6: MCC Comforter Blitz at Journey, north of Yoder. Come help create comforters to distribute a bit of warmth and beauty around the world. Mon: 9am-5pm; Tues: 9am-9pm; Wed: 9am-4pm. https://mcc.org/events/mcc-comforter-blitz
- March 13: The last day for SS classes to submit funds for the final bidding round on March 14. Thanks to donors, all sale expenses are covered before the sale so proceeds go directly to MCC programs. Many thanks to BCMC SS classes who are helping to underwrite costs. We will share the BCMC total contribution once it’s available.
- March 17: First day to sign up to bake pie or zwieback. Look for tins, bags, and sign up sheets.
- More Information:
- KMRS posterboard & table in the Gathering Place for information and forms … My Coins Count jug.
- KMRS website: https://kansas.mccsale.org/
- BCMC liaisons: Steve & Elaine Schurr, William & Esther Kreider Eash, and Brad & Diane Born.
Creation Care: Thank you very much for supporting our plastic bag recycling project. With your help we have collected 900 pounds and hope to reach our goal of 1,000 pounds in March. With this goal met BCMC will receive a composite bench from the Trex Corporation. Vernon and Jane Goering
Bethel College Announcements
Sun., March 3 – Bethel College Choir Tour Send-off Concert, directed by Dr. Henry S. Waters, 4 p.m., Memorial Hall. The concert has the theme “Music Exploring American Identity” and includes performances by the Chamber Singers, Woven and Open Road. Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggUFeT-XG7s See the choir’s itinerary to Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee at https://www.bethelks.edu/fine-arts/choral-ensembles/concert-choir/
Tues., March 5 – Bethel College Jazz, directed by Joel Boettger, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
Thurs., March 7 – Bethel College Wind Ensemble, directed by Chris Miertschin, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
Fri., March 8 – Bethel College’s Faculty Lecture Series continues with Christine Crouse-Dick, professor of communication arts, and Peter Goerzen, assistant professor of Bible and religion, “Walking Toward Racial Healing: The Transformative Potential of Shared Stories, Empathy and Listening ,” 11 a.m., Kidron Hall at Kidron Bethel Village
Sun., March 17 & Mon., March 18 – Hartzler Bible Lectures at Bethel College with César Garcia, general secretary of Mennonite World Conference, and Sandra Baez, pastor and executive assistant to the general secretary; Sunday: 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel; Monday: 11 a.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
NOTE DATE CHANGE: Fri., March 22, Sat., March 23, Sun., March 24 – Spring play at Bethel College, Rancho Mirage by Steven Dietz, Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. matinee, Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. Friday evening performance interpreted for the d/Deaf community. Ticket purchase required (buy on campus weekdays at Thresher Shop; online at https://www.bethelks.edu/fine-arts/theater/theater-department-presents/; or at the door). NOTE: Adult content, not suitable for children.
Now in the Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College – “Transmutation Speculation: Fluid Nature,” works by Marguerite Perret, through March 22. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m. (closed for spring break, March 10-17).
The Kidron Bethel Village Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Group will host Brad Richards for a special presentation on civil rights at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 7, in Kidron Hall, 3001 Ivy Dr., North Newton. The presentation is free and open to the public. Richards is Education Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator at The Kansas African American Museum in Wichita. His presentation, “March Toward Civil Rights,” correlates with the 59th anniversary of Martin Luther King Junior’s historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
Mennonite Central Committee Material Resources Center in North Newton critically low on inventory: An MCC kit cannot be distributed until each item for the kit is assembled, but some supplies in the Material Resources Center are so low that kits cannot be processed for shipping. You can help by filling the following needs: new infant sleepers (6-12 month sizes); bath towels (dark colored, light to medium weight); laundry soap (such as Fels Naptha or Zote brands); shampoo (20 oz min) and spiral notebooks (70 sheets). Buy online and ship it to MCC or bring items to MCC in North Newton (121 E. 30th St, North Newton, KS 67117). Questions are always welcome, please contact brociamueller@mcc.org or 316.283.2720. A full list of MCC kit contents can be found at mcc.org/kits.
COMING! Commemorating 500 Years of Anabaptism in Zurich + Swiss Alps 9-Day Tour in May 2025. Tour sites: Lake Geneva, Murren – the Swiss mountain village accessed by cable car, and Mennonite heritage in Bern and the Emmental Valley. On May 29 we will join Anabaptists from around the world in Zurich in worship and celebration of the 500 Year beginning of Anabaptism. Details and registration coming soon. Preview the tour at www.tourwithweldon.com To join the “Interested List” contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276.
REMINDER: Spring Cleaning at Camp Mennoscah sponsored by Western District Women in Mission (WDWM) will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 10 am – 4 p.m. Come for part or all of the time. Women, men, kids, youth groups, Sunday school groups are all invited. If children younger than high school attend, they need to be supervised by their parents (no child care or children’s activities will be provided). Projects will include cleaning staff houses, shower houses, cabins, t-shirt inventory, and other jobs. Dress warm, bring a full water bottle, $5 to cover the cost of lunch (pizza), and the following cleaning supplies if you have them: rakes, long handled brooms for cobweb reaching. Other cleaning supplies will be provided. To register send an e-mail by March 18 to westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com. Space is capped at this event to manage the jobs, so don’t delay in registering. Thanks!
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Announcement from Offender Victim Ministries
Want to visit someone in prison? OVM (Offender/Victim Ministries) has been visiting inmates at Hutchinson Correctional Facility for 50 years, and we are looking for new volunteers. M-2 is a visitation program for inmates with few outside visits; volunteers are paired with an inmate and visit one evening a month for conversation and encouragement. Apply for M-2 at www.ovmks.org/m2 and mark your calendar for one of the upcoming volunteer trainings: March 18, May 20, or July 15, 12:30-4pm. Contact Kenzie Brister to learn more (prison@ovmks.org or 316-281-4721).
For Mennonite Mission Network “News from around the world” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite World Conference “Info” press here
Mennonite Church USA Webinar – “The Hope-Filled Persistence of Women in Ministry” – March 11, 2024
press here
Hesston College Announcements
Friends, alumni and the local community are invited to join us for a family fun day. There will be Lark softball and flag football, free popcorn, musical theatre and FREE admission to sporting events! Learn more at hesston.edu/community-day.
February 28 to March 3 – Spring Musical Production of “Little Shop of Horrors”
Hesston College Theatre will demonstrate why you should be careful what you wish for with their spring musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show is suggested for ages 10 and up. Ticket prices are $5 for students and $12 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore or by phone at 620-327-8105.
March 17 – Prairie Window Concert: The Arcadian Wild
Join Dyck Arboretum March 17 at 4 p.m. to hear The Arcadian Wild. With roots in formal vocal music and influences from progressive bluegrass and folk, The Arcadian Wild offer up songs of invitation; calls to come and see, to find refuge and rest, or to journey and wonder. Crust & Crumb will be serving during intermission. Learn more at dyckarboretum.org/events.
March 19 – Bel Canto Singers Final Spring Break Tour Concert
Bel Canto Singers’ final concert of the spring break tour will be Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m., Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kan. The 19-voice mixed chamber choir, under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian and accompanied by Ken Rodgers, will present a program titled “Common Ground.” The program is inspired by the composition “On the Common Ground” written by Alice Parker out of concern for the many walls that have appeared to separate society. Audience members may also join via livestream at hesston.edu/livestream.
Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Registration for the Spring Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat, April 19-21 is open. Lodging will be in the bunkhouses and activities will be in the Dining Hall. Bunkhouses are heated and space heaters will be available for the Dining Hall, if the weather is cool. This retreat is later than usual, so we’re hoping for balmy spring weather for good walks and beautiful nature. Register here!
Other events and happenings:
We hear Spring Break will be a popular time to volunteer. Space is limited–schedule now! Work continues on the Retreat Center project, which includes replacing the heating/cooling system and fixing other deficiencies. Volunteers are needed every week day (M-F). Work will start at 9am and end at 5pm. Half days are fine. Bring your own lunch and water bottle, please, and meet at the Retreat Center. Park off the edge of the road to the south of the building. Camp Mennoscah will provide tools needed. Space heaters will be used, but temperatures inside may be around 50 degrees. Camp can provide overnight housing and a kitchen in most situations, if you want to volunteer more than one day. Please let us know you are coming so we can be prepared. Contact us at 620-297-3290, 316-293-7313 (text) or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org. Thank you to the many volunteers who have already helped!
- Registration for 2024 Summer Youth Camps is open! The theme for the summer is Linked By Love and looks at how God’s love teaches us about faith and commitment. Register online!
- Scholarship funds are needed for summer youth camps. Just as facilities are an important part of Camp Mennoscah’s ministry, so are campers. There are campers who are unable to come to camp without assistance. Give to the Scholarship Fund or Scholarship Endowment to help more campers learn about Christ while in God’s creation. Mark your donation with the fund/endowment you prefer. The Scholarship Endowment will give up to two full scholarships a year, depending on earnings. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 for more information.
- Summer Youth Camps take many hands to make them run. Nurses, head cooks, kitchen staff and maintenance volunteers are needed for every week of camp. The summer camps range from 3 to 6 days and begin June 9. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org if you are interested.
SMCHA Announcement
“An insiders view of the 100 year celebration of the coming of the Swiss Mennonites to America” is the focus of the presentation given by Frank Stucky at the annual meeting of the Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association. Frank is a lifelong resident of Newton, Kansas. He is the middle son of Harley J Stucky and Ruby Stucky, formally of North Newton. Frank graduated from Newton high school and Bethel College where he played football and basketball and had double majors in history and English and a minor in political science. He spent time with MCC in the Congo before going to graduate school at the University of Kansas. He has been an active real estate broker for over 46 years. Frank enjoys golf, watching Bethel College sports, travel, and spending time with his six grandchildren. He is married to Kathy (Jackson) and has two sons and a daughter.
The annual meeting will be held March 10, 2024, at 2:30 at the Wellness Center at Pine Village in Moundridge, Kansas. Refreshments will follow the meeting.
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
It is with sadness that MC USA announces the passing of Anthonia Chibuzo Onye (May 18, 1971 to Jan. 12, 2024), regional minister for Southern California for Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, recently appointed member of the Mennonite Mission Network board of directors, and associate pastor at Wholicare Community Missionary Church in Los Angeles. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/celebrating-chibuzo-onye
Rev. Amy Zimbelman, conference minister of Mountain States Mennonite Conference, and Elizabeth Johnson, PhD candidate at Duke University, will share major findings from their national study of women in MC USA ministry during an MC USA webinar on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/registraiton-wil-march11 View the slide here: mennoniteusa.org/WIL-webinar-register
Menno Snapshots
Energized by a Super Bowl commercial, MC USA Executive Director Glen Guyton calls us to reclaim foot washing as a tangible expression of our Anabaptist faith. Read his reflections here: mennoniteusa.org/act-of-foot-washing
Talashia Keim Yoder, a pastor at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana, and author of Mennonite Education Agency’s “Lent at Home 2024” downloadable worship guide for families, reframes Lenten confession and penitence with the life-giving ways we can find God in the desert. Read her Menno Snapshots blog here: mennoniteusa.org/lent24-jesus-desert
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Tomorrow, members of the Central Plains Mennonite Conference will begin a week-long Just Peace Pilgrimage, organized by MMN. Pray for open minds and hearts as participants focus on the struggle for civil rights in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and how Jesus is calling his followers to respond.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for those who serve on WDC’s four commissions, and pray for the commissions as they each meet this week to nurture church planting, sustain healthy ministerial leadership, resource congregations, and guide stewardship of the financial, staff and office resources that support these conference ministries.
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.