BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
DECEMBER 24, 2025
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.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HERE ARE THE WORSHIP SERVICE LINKS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
Family Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 Today – December 24, 2025
Streaming link: https://youtube.com/live/flGQ_o6hFSc?feature=share
Lessons and Carols Service at 9 p.m. Tonight – December 24, 2025 – NOTE THE EARLIER TIME OF 9 p.m.
Streaming link: https://youtube.com/live/jCkn3hScE_k?feature=share
To livestream the worship services:
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.
Streaming link for Sunday, December 28, 2025: https://youtube.com/live/640qQqdiRg0?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 28, 2025—10 a.m.
Christmas Sunday
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music–Meghann Rogers
Welcome & Prayer–Nathan Koontz
*Hymn–O Come, All Ye Faithful VT 241
(Michael Claassen, trumpet)
Children and Youth Conversation–Tim Hodge
Worship Music–O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam)–Abby Koontz
Reading–One (Luci Shaw)–Dianne Epp
Luke 2:1-7–Dale Schrag
*Hymn–O Little Town of Bethlehem–VT 245
Reading–Descent (Luci Shaw)
Hymn--Infant Holy, Infant Lowly–VT 243
Reading–Luke 2:8-14
*Hymn–Hark! the Herald Angels Sing–VT 247
(Michael Claassen, trumpet)
Reading--Breath (Luci Shaw)
Luke 2:15-19
*Hymn–What Child Is This–VT 267
Helpless and Hungry–VT 268
Reading–Star Song (Luci Shaw)
*Hymn–Angels We Have Heard on High–VT 249
(Abby Koontz & Emma Gering, bells)
Offering Invitation and Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn–Joy to the World–VT 240
(Michael Claassen, trumpet)
(Those with December birthdays please come forward during the hymn)
*Birthday Blessing & Benediction
Postlude–God With Us (Rogers)–Meghann Rogers
*You are invited to stand VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Meghann Rogers Audio visual—Ken Lamp
BCMC Offering for December 21: General $8,860.28; Library Reserve Fund $5; Kitchen Fund $35; Women’s Fellowship $322; Larry Penner Mem. $100.
The Week at BCMC: December 28, 2025—January 4, 2026
Sunday, December 28, 2024—Christmas Sunday–Note the worship starting time of 10 a.m.
Bring snacks and goodies to share after the worship service!
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/640qQqdiRg0?feature=share
Monday, December 29, 2025—January 2, 2026
Holiday office schedule: The BCMC office will be closed Dec. 29-Jan. 2. While pastors and staff will be working some of these days, they will not hold regular office hours. Please be in touch by phone or email if you need to contact the office during this time. Note that Joanna will be on vacation Dec. 28-Jan. 1.
The office will open again as normal on Monday, Jan 5, 2026.
Sunday, January 4, 2026—Epiphany
Worship returns to 9:30 a.m.; sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Marshall & Lindsay Anderson
Service of Remembrance
As this holiday season 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 2025. In order to recognize and mourn the loss of our loved ones from 2025, Bethel College Mennonite Church is hosting a Service of Remembrance on January 4, 2026 at 4 p.m. in the BCMC sanctuary. During the service we will light candles for those from our congregation who have passed in 2025. You are also welcome to light a candle for others in your life whom you are mourning.
Livestream link for the Service of Remembrance: https://youtube.com/live/owcpAKE1GhI?feature=share
Karen Penner and family wish to thank you for your sympathy, support, and prayers during this difficult time following Larry’s passing. Your kindness has brought us comfort, and we are grateful to be part of such a caring community.
Are you new(ish) to Bethel College Mennonite Church? Interested in learning more about the congregation? Curious about membership at BCMC? Pastors Nathan and Joanna will lead two elective Sunday School sessions early next year in the chapel. Anyone is welcome to attend either or both of these classes.
–January 18: Introduction to Bethel College Mennonite–This session will provide a brief history of the congregation and an orientation to the church mission and structure.
–February 1: Membership at BCMC–In this session we will discuss the membership process and answer questions that people bring.
*Contact a pastor for more information.
Current status on the search for an associate pastor: All our paperwork has been sent to Western District Conference and the job description is posted. The search committee will continue to work with conference minister Kathy Neufeld Dunn, who will share information with us about potential candidates. If you have names of people who may be interested in the position, you can send them to search committee chair Megan Leary at megleary28@gmail.com
The Education and Service Scholarship Committee (ESSC) has updated its application for young adult service grants. For a copy of the application please send a request to essc@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org, preferably at least 4 weeks before the event. Thank you, ESSC (Karen Ediger, Brad Kohlman and Margaret Toews)
Bethel College/Kauffman Museum Announcements
· Kauffman Museum at Bethel College invites you to visit during the holidays, with two items of special interest available to view for a limited time: a 17th-century Bible from the family of the late Jake T. Friesen of North Newton and a medallion made by John P. Klassen to commemorate Mennonite Central Committee’s war and famine relief in Ukraine in the early 1920s. Both have been at the Ford Conservation Center at the Nebraska State Historical Society in Omaha for restoration and preservation. The Bible is normally at the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel and is seldom on public display. Holiday hours: closed Mondays and New Year’s Eve, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; New Year’s Day, closed; non-holiday weekdays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; weekends, 1:30-4:30 p.m. The two artifacts can be seen (until the first of the year) just inside the museum’s front entrance with no admission charge. There is a small fee for non-museum members to see the current special exhibit, “Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War,” and permanent exhibits “Of Land and People,” “Mirror of the Martyrs” and “Mennonite Immigrant Furniture.” The museum store is also open during those hours. For more information, visit kauffmanmuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page.
· Sat., Jan. 3 – 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 (terrain is mostly wood-chip path and sometimes uneven/sloping).
· SAVE THE DATE: Sun.-Mon., Jan. 18-19 – Bethel College and Hesston College collaboration for the annual celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, including historic listening event, Jan. 19, 6 p.m., with program at 7 p.m.; see bethelks.edu/MLK
The Newton Chorale invites new members to participate in its 50th anniversary concert. Rehearsals begin in January, culminating in a performance March 1. Interested singers should contact the Chorale at:
newtonchorale@gmail.com
From Camp Mennoscah
Merry Christmas! The Camp Mennoscah board and staff send you prayers and rejoice with you as preparations for the celebration of the birth of Jesus reach an end. We are grateful that you walked with us this year as part of Camp Mennoscah’s camping ministry. May Christ’s community be with you in the coming days and into the new year.
Work on the Retreat Center continues! Please contact Tom Gaeddert at 316-288-7766 or email tmgaeddert@gmail.com if you would like to help with the next work day.
Summer staff applications for the 2026 Summer Camps are open. The application and further information can be found here or at the link at the end of this announcement. Summer staff need to be 18 or older, preferably with one year of college, work or volunteering. Contact Olivia at 316-293-7313 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org with questions. https://www.campmennoscah.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Programs%7CSummer%20Youth%20Camps%3E%3ESummer%20Youth%20Camp%20Staff%20Application
Thank you to everyone who has gifted us wish list items! We would be happy to receive a colander/strainer (~11″ diameter) with handles, a deep pan (~5″x12″x17″), kitchen knives, “restaurant style” hot pads (example: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/choice-10-x-11-terry-cloth-pan-grabber-bakers-pad/160TPH1011WH.html), replacement ping pong table net with clamps, and plastic cutting boards (no smaller than 12″X18″, larger is fine). Office-related items include copier paper, postage stamps, and sticky notes. Toilet paper and kitchen/white paper towels are always welcome! Contact office@campmennoscah.org with questions.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Christmas Greetings from Mennonite Church USA press here
From Mennonite World Conference press here
From Mennonite Mission Network “News from around the world” press here
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Although 2025 is ending with much suffering and violence in our communities and around the world, join Mennonite Mission Network in praying that we will not tire of proclaiming our hope in Jesus, who has overcome evil and injustice. May we continue to “be the Gospel” wherever we find ourselves.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray that during this Christmas season the emerging congregations in WDC experience Christ’s light and hope as they welcome neighbors and share God’s love. – 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.