Memorial Gathering for Don Harrold
Donald Harrold, a long-time member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, died on Saturday, April 25. All are welcome to an informal celebration of life and time of sharing in the BCMC Fellowship Hall
on Saturday, May 9 from 2-4. This is a come-and-go event but there will be structured sharing at 3. Please come and enjoy this time of fellowship as we grieve Don’s passing and remember and celebrate his life.
Saturday – Concert Choir Europe Tour Send-off Concert, 7 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church
Sunday, May 10, 2026 BCMC hosts the Bethel College Baccalaureate.
Sunday, May 10, 2026–Bethel College Baccalaureate
Livestream Link for the service:
https://www.youtube.com/live/pbBNgNfseTI?si=T1J5NAxuTM94Z9Zj
9:30 a.m. Prelude by Open Road and Woven
10 a.m. Baccalaureate
5:30 p.m. Private Graduation Party in Fellowship Hall
BCMC Announcements
The week ahead at BCMC – May 11 – 17, 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
11 a.m. Poems and Prayers Group—Chapel
Monica Lichti will be on vacation from May 12 to May 20
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6 p.m. Open Table–Fellowship Hall
Thursday, May 14, 2026
12 noon Community Playschool End of the year Appreciation Lunch–Fellowship Hall
4 p.m. Worship Commission–Room 14
Saturday, May 16, 2026
1:30 p.m. Inurnment Service for Merrill Raber–BCMC Columbarium
Sunday, May 17, 2026—Ascension Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Gabby and Jake Robb
BCMC Offering for May 3: Gen. Fund $12,501.61; Library Reserve Fund $15; Kitchen Fund $36; Solar Fund $50; Adult Choir Fund $258.
Joanna will have her final Cafe hours for this semester on Thursday, May 14, from 10:30-12:30. Please reach out if you’d like to schedule a time to meet with her over the summer months!
Sympathy Notice
We offer sympathy to the family of Marles Preheim. Marles died, May 5, 2026, at Kidron Bethel Village. Please remember in prayer his family, daughters Kay (Bradley) Siebert, Terri (Gregory) Gaeddert, and son Brian (Cynthia) Preheim and their extended families. Also remember grandson Joel, Crystal, Collin and Brett Gaeddert, and sister-in-law Mildred Voran. Memorial service plans are pending.
Pastors Nathan and Joanna are leading the faith exploration session May 20, 7 p.m. with the high school youth during Wednesday night youth group. Our church retreat and baptism at Camp Mennoscah has been moved from its usual time in May to Aug. 30.
 Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be Tuesday-Friday evenings May 26-29 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church and May 31 Worship at 10 a.m. (in Athletic Park). Evening VBS is for any and all children who have just completed Preschool (Age 4) through 4th grade. VBS will conclude with a Sunday morning worship on May 31 for ALL ages beginning at 10 a.m. in Athletic Park (700 W 1st St, Newton), immediately followed by games & crafts, fellowship and a potluck lunch. Please register your child/ren online by May 4th using this link (or scan the QR code): https://forms.gle/8A7mo7dBEDuhSQ8a6 VBS is a joint venture of Bethel College Mennonite Church, Faith Mennonite Church, First Mennonite Church, Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania, New Creation Fellowship Church, and Shalom Mennonite Church.Adults can join the fun! VBS volunteer forms are available at the back of the sanctuary. Please contact Jill Robb or Joanna Harader for more information.Community AnnouncementsMennonite Central Committee Relief Sale Celebration: Join us for a special evening of fellowship and gratitude Fri., June 5, 6 p.m., at the Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerksen Farm, 1582 Falcon, Hillsboro, as we celebrate the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale! This celebration is a reflection on a very successful decade for KMRS. An Appreciation Dinner will be provided at no cost for all who volunteered, attended, and supported the Sale. Enjoy an evening of music and a special presentation to MCC. Please bring lawn chairs and RSVP to Barb at 620-543-6863 (call/text) or bj.reeves@live.com by May 18. We look forward to celebrating with you!Bethel College Announcement Bethel College commencement weekend is Fri.-Sun., May 8-10. EVENTS: Friday – Senior Art Exhibit reception for Tre August, Nick Collins and Yuretzi Licea, 7-8 p.m., Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center; Saturday – Nurse Pinning Ceremony, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center; Saturday – Concert Choir Europe Tour Send-off Concert, 7 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church Sunday – Baccalaureate, 10 a.m.,Bethel College Mennonite Church; Commencement, 4 p.m.,Memorial Hall.There are two more weeks to visit Kauffman Museum’s current special exhibit, “Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War.” The exhibit closes Sun., May 24, with a program by Sara Judge Keckeisen, Topeka, speaking on “The Cost of Conscience: One Mennonite Family’s Experience in World War I,” 3 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Keckeisen retired in 2019 after 30 years as a librarian at the Kansas State Historical Society, and remains busy writing family histories.Hesston College AnnouncementsCommencement Weekend 2026 will be celebrated at Hesston College May 15 and 16. Weekend activities include a theatre showcase, student recitals, nursing pinning ceremony, commencement ceremony and much more. For information and full schedule of activities visit hesston.edu/commencement.Music and Memories: A concert celebrating Ken Rodgers’ four decades at Hesston College: Plan to join the Hesston College community Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church for this special celebration. The evening will feature music by Bel Canto Singers, organ and piano selections and congregational singing, along with reflections from Ken on his years at the college. All are welcome to attend this special celebration. For more information, visit hesston.edu/ken-rodgers.Hesston College will host the annual Lark Open golf tournament on Sat., May 30, at Hesston Golf Park. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. for the four-person scramble event with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The tournament features many team and individual prizes, hole-in-one prizes and raffle prizes. For more information visit hesston.edu/lark-open-info. The deadline to register is May 27.Bluestem Communities hosts a summer Jr. Volunteer Program at Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa for youth ages 12 to 17. Spend your summer making intergenerational connections and serving seniors. The program runs from June 1 to July 24 on a flexible schedule that meets volunteer needs. Application is required and must be submitted by May 8. To receive an application, contact Volunteer@bluestem.org or 316-836-4821.On Wednesday, April 29, BCMC hosted a Conscientious Objector Information Night for area high school and college-age youth. By our best count, 29 young people began the process of creating a CO file! Several attendees spent time filling out their Peacemaker Registration Forms and sent copies to MCC and their churches. (BCMC now has four on file.) People came from as far as Salina, and people from Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Brethren churches participated as well. Folders with information from the event are available in the Gathering Place. Feel free to contact Pastor Joanna with any questions or if you would like to receive the material via email.Please join for the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Summer Chamber concert on Sunday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hesston Mennonite Church. Winds and brass take the stage as a flute quartet, woodwind trio, wind sextet, and brass quintet play works by Barber, Mozart, Weber and Castérède. Advance tickets for sale online, and at Faith and Life Bookstore. Tickets will also be available the day of the concert at the door. https://nmkso.org/tickets/Western District Conference Leader Forum: Exploring models of pastoral leadership – Tuesday, June 2, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on zoom. Are you a small congregation that wants to consider possible pastoral leadership models for being church together? Is your congregation imagining creative new ways of organizing for congregational ministry? In this zoom gathering facilitated by Associate Conference Minister Kathy Neufeld Dunn, we’ll explore current trends and alternative models of pastoral leadership, with time for participants to share conversation, questions and ideas with one another. This forum is open to anyone in the congregation who wants to learn more about and discuss this topic, especially those involved in congregational governance (not just pastors!). Register HERE by May 31 Leader Forums are planned periodically in response to themes gathered in the WDC Listening Process, as opportunities to connect with others in WDC to discuss common concerns, share insights and explore resources. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.If you would like a pdf of the above announcements (suitable for printing) press here For Mennonite Women USA “Grapevine” press here For a Paris Mennonite Center Update press here For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here For Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here Just Peace Pilgrimages — Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples Pilgrimage You and your community are invited to engage with contemporary Indigenous realities, explore the histories of Indigenous Peoples, and examine the complexities of Indigenous-settler relations. What might it mean for your community to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and actively contribute to the work of truth telling and repair?Hosted by the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and led by Coalition Executive Director Sarah Augustine. Dates: September 22-26. Registration deadline: July 15 Contact Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net or visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace to learn more! Mennonite Church USA AnnouncementsMennonite Church USA is accepting applications for its annual Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund grants, from now through June 30. The grants assist MC USA congregations committed to renewable energy by defraying the cost of hardware purchases to install solar panels, car charging stations or other renewable energy projects. Learn more and apply here: https://climatejustice.mennoniteusa.org/green-energy-grants/“What is the most important skill of a competent pastor?” That’s the question MC USA’s Michael Danner and Rachel Ringenberg Miller are asking pastors across MC USA in “The Competent Pastor” podcast. All new episodes are released each month. Listen on Apple, Spotify or online here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/the-competent-pastor/ Check out the latest News & Stories from Rocky Mountain via:RMMC Web Page – News & Stories (under “About Us”)RMMC Facebook PageRMMC Instagram PageIt is exciting to see the finishing looks of the Bern Dining Hall renovations and just in time for the summer camping season jus around the corner. Volunteers for Memorial Day Work & Play Retreat will be extra critical in helping us achieve that goal. Donors are equally critical in achieving our financial goal. Please visit the Donate web page for additional information.  Our desire is to offer more timely and bite-sized content reflecting the variety of ways we view our information from the people and places we love. To be removed or have us add someone to this monthly email highlight, simply reply to this message.On behalf of Mary, Sam, Tom, Tonya and the camp board, we appreciate your participation and support of the Rocky Mountain ministry!Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: This Mother’s Day, pray for all those who experience pain or grief due to loss, broken relationships or a yearning to become a parent. Pray that they would find comfort and love in the warm embrace of our heavenly parent. Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for students, families and teachers in WDC congregations as this school year comes to an end, and pray for God’s blessing and guidance in times of transition and new seasons of life.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, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, marital status, or age. |