BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
DECEMBER 29, 2024
The worship service begins this Sunday at 10 a.m. Bring Christmas goodies to share after the service. No Sunday School this Sunday.
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 9:45 a.m., (worship on December 29 begins at 10 a.m. — No Sunday school this Sunday), 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/WUCNfHyHJmE?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 29, 2024
First Sunday After Christmas
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—Verlene Garber
Welcome & Prayer—Darlene Dick
*Hymn—O Come, All Ye Faithful—VT 241
Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash
*Hymn—Good Christian Friends, Rejoice—VT 261
Scripture Reading—Luke 2:1-7—Brad and Lincoln Kohlman
*Hymn—Still, Still, Still—VT 264
Scripture Reading—Luke 2:8-20—Brad and Lincoln Kohlman
*Hymn—Angels, from the Realms of Glory—VT 265
Reflection—Birth Plan—Joanna Harader
*Hymn—Love Came Down at Christmas—VT 255
Prayers of God’s People—Darlene Dick
*Hymn—Go Tell It on the Mountain—VT 252
*Benediction
Postlude—Verlene Garber
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Verlene Garber
Audio visual—Francis Toews
The Week at BCMC: December 29, 2024—January 5, 2025
Sunday, December 29, 2024—First Sunday After Christmas
10 a.m. Worship followed by Christmas goodies, treats, and snacks in the
Gathering Place—No Sunday School
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/WUCNfHyHJmE?feature=share
The church office will also be closed December 30 and 31.
9:30 a.m. January 5, 2025—Epiphany Sunday — Sermon by Nathan Koontz
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
Service of Remembrance
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 2024. In order to recognize and mourn the loss of our loved ones from 2024, Bethel College Mennonite Church is hosting a Service of Remembrance on January 5, 2025 at 4 p.m., in the BCMC sanctuary.
Pastor Joanna Harader will be on vacation from December 30, 2024 to January 13, 2025.
We offer sympathy to the family of Leona Kaufman. Leona died Dec. 24 at Pine Village, Moundridge. Services are pending.
We offer sympathy to the family of Helen Pauls. Helen died Dec. 25 at Kidron Bethel Village.
The memorial service for Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen will be Jan. 20, 2025, 11 a.m. at BCMC.
BCMC Offering for Dec. 22: Gen. Fund $13,947; Caring Fund $200; Kitchen Fund $5; Solar Fund $1,000; Kurt Friesen Memorial (for Organ Fund) $5,000.
There will be a congregational meeting on Sun., Jan. 26, during the Sunday School hour in the sanctuary. The meeting will be available through streaming options. An agenda will be available in the near future. The following items will be included on the agenda: The Church Board recommends the approval of Melanie Mueller to the Witness Commission and approval of the 2025 BCMC Budget.
Mark your Calendars! “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be Feb. 23 for the noon meal with sign-up for hosts and guests on Jan. 19 and 26. Sponsored by Hospitality Commission.
Mennonite Mission Network invites you to join a Just Peace Pilgrimage this spring. Embark on one of these life-changing learning experiences:
· United States Civil Rights Pilgrimage — Explore the history, significance, and ongoing implications of the civil rights movement in the United States.
Young adults are invited to join Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director, for an enlightening journey. To foster dialog and understanding you are invited to join this pilgrimage with a partner of a different race.
· Christ at the Borders (Calais, France) — Thousands of people migrate to Calais in hopes of crossing the English Channel and entering the United Kingdom to find a better life. Meet those walking alongside the vulnerable who search for a peaceful home and the travelers themselves.
· Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Yakima, Washington) — Led by Sarah Augustine. Become better acquainted with Indigenous Peoples, their connection to the land upon which we live, and the consequences of settler colonial history.
· For more information and to sign up, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace
or contact Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net.
Western District Conference seeks a half-time Program Director for WDC’s Kids Meet Christ (KMC) worship and faith formation initiative, beginning Feb. 1, 2025. This program is made possible through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, designed to help congregations more fully and intentionally engage children in intergenerational corporate worship and prayer practices. The KMC Program Director will serve as a member of the WDC staff, collaborating with other staff and the Resource Commission to implement the KMC initiative over the 5-year grant period. For position description and application form, see https://mennowdc.org/employment/. Interested applicants please submit application form and letter of interest to the Conference Minister at heidirk@mennowdc.org.
Kauffman Museum invites you to visit during the holidays. The museum is closed Mondays, New Year’s Day; open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. New Year’s Eve; open regular hours Thurs.-Sun. (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. weekends). The current special exhibit is “Unlocking the Past: Immigrant Artifacts and the Stories They Tell.” Permanent exhibits “Of Land and People,” “Mirror of the Martyrs” and “Mennonite Immigrant Furniture.” The museum store is also open during those hours, with books, games, art and other gift items (including from Ten Thousand Villages) for sale; see https://www.kauffmanmuseum.org/museum-store
New Bluestem U lifelong learning courses for winter and spring 2025 are now open for registration. Courses are available for individuals age 55 and better. This semester’s offerings include STEAM, theatre, astronomy, bird watching and a free author’s series. See more information and registration at bluestemu.org. Bluestem U is a lifelong learning program of Bluestem Communities in partnership with Bethel College and Hesston College.
Volunteers needed at Rocky Mountain! Camp needs your help to assist with Foodservice/Housekeeping for our upcoming Jr and Sr High Snow Camps, January 24-26 and February 14-16. Please visit the camp website at rmmc.org and follow the link to the volunteer information and sign up to join us.
Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is host to Colorado Roots Music Camp I (June 1-7, 2025) and Camp II (August 10-16, 2025). We are happy to announce the instructors and classes for the 2025 camps have been selected and are listed on the website. Our instructors are some of the top players in the nation, but they were chosen because they’re known by peers and students as great instructors for all levels. For more information and registration, visit the camp website at rmmc.org.
Western District Conference (MC USA) Israel-Palestine Task Force invites you to a book discussion group Feb. 25, 7 p.m. CST held on Zoom. We will be reading Apeirogon by Colum McCann, an award winning author who writes a book of tiny chapters, each one a breath, a feeling, a story. An apeirogon is a polygon with an observably infinite number of sides. The book is based on the real life experiences of two friends, an Israeli who opposes the occupation and a Palestinian who studies the Holocaust. They meet in a parent grief support group, as both have tragically lost their daughters. Their stories and their peace work buoy the heart as the book goes on a journey through love, loss, reflection, and hope.
As you read, note the connections between the stories and the theme of ending the occupation in Palestine. To register, email wdc@mennowdc.org, and a Zoom link will be sent out.
Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15, 2025. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Early Bird registration (until Jan. 3): $300 per participant.
Regular registration (after Jan. 3): $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV
Hesston College Music Department will host a program called Anabaptism at Five Hundred: Hymn Festival Sun., Jan. 19, 2025, 3 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church. The Hymn Festival coincides with the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist adult baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. This event will also celebrate the release of the Anabaptist Community Bible. The public is invited to this community wide celebration that involves singers from surrounding churches, as well as audience participation in the singing of hymns, led by Russell Adrian and Karen Unruh. The core of the program will be historical narrative by Ken Rodgers tracing important hymns and texts throughout the past five centuries.
MC USA Climate Justice | Zoom book study
Join MC USA in imagining a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our planet by participating in an online book study of the compelling and timely book, “So We and Our Children May Live” by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler. In five sessions (Jan. 16 through Feb.13, 2025), we will engage in discussions in both large and small groups, interact with the authors, and explore how we – and our communities – are called to contribute to creating a more just and vibrant world. Register on-line today!
Bethel College Announcements
Sat., Jan. 4 : Kauffman Museum bird walk, 8 a.m. start time in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets (2801 N. Main St., North Newton 67117). Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail.
Sun., Jan. 12: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program, “A Mennonite Sojourn in Central Asia, 1880-1935,” with historian John Sharp, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium.
Mon., Jan. 20: Bethel College’s annual celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, 7 p.m., with local pastor (retired) and community leader Larry Lee; Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
Sat., Jan. 25: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “At Home on the Range,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org
From the Mennonite World Conference press here
Merry Christmas from Mennonite Church USA press here
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
From Mennonite Mission Network “News from around the World” press here
| Dear Bethel College Mennonite,“If we are silent, then these stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). Are you a young adult concerned about the global threats of climate change and forced migration, the groanings of Creation and the shouting out of stones, and eager to join a collective cry for positive change? The Stones cry out Peace Camp from March 10-15, 2025, may be for you! MCC Peace Camps are one-week, hands-on learning experiences for young adults to build community together, experience personal transformation and apply Anabaptist foundations of peace and justice to real world issues. As climate change and other environmental pressures create difficult living conditions, more and more people are forced to leave their homes. The Stones cry out Peace Camp will grapple with ways to address the two intersecting issues of climate and migration. Together, participants will delve into alternative visions for a society rooted in hospitality and share these powerful messages in person with members of Congress. The Stones cry out Peace Camp will take place at the MCC Welcoming Place in Akron, Pennsylvania, a beautiful and restful area that intentionally emphasizes ecological restoration. Activities will include: Group exercises and discussionsNature-based experiences and “church in the wild”Visits with local organizationsA mini-advocacy training, drawing from Biblical stories of speaking truth in love to powerA day trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate to members of Congress! |
| MCC Peace Camps are one way to encourage and support the next generation of the Church to live out an active faith as peacemakers. Young adults ages 18-30 are invited to apply. MCC covers all costs of travel, lodging and meals beyond the $250 registration fee. We encourage churches, schools, families and friends to support participants in the registration fee where possible. This is an opportunity not to be missed, so tap someone on the shoulder or come join yourself! In peace, Nathan Toews Peace Education Coordinator MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries |
Announcements from Mennonite Church USA
Save the Date for Follow Jesus 25! See you July 8-12, 2025 in North Carolina. Watch the video here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-25-video
Menno Snapshots
While reflecting on her job description as the conference minister for Mountain States Mennonite Conference, Amy Zimbelman came up with a song about some of her favorite things to answer the question “So what do you … do?” Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-msmc
Lynette McIntosh-Madrigal, a member of Mennonite Church USA’s Women in Leadership Steering Committee, shares how she has experienced conflict transformation among inner-city youth in Fresno, California. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/conflict-in-youth-ministry
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Alfonsina and José Oyanguren, who are engaged in multiple ministries, including teaching and accompanying Toba-Qom communities in Argentina’s Chaco region. Pray that the Oyangurens will continue to be God’s agents for transformation and that our Toba-Qom brothers and sisters will be able to live ever more fully into God’s abundant life.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: As we enter the New Year, we pray for peace and joy for our loved ones and neighbors. May Christ’s presence guide their lives with love and hope. We also remember our brothers and sisters around the world, trusting in God’s love to unite us as we step into a new season of grace and renewal. -WDC Church Planting Commission
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.