BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
October 18, 2026
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 for Sunday, October 18:
On Sunday morning, around 9:20 a.m. go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurc
OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/
To donate to BCMC go to the website: bethelcollegemennonitechurch.
Monica Lichti will be on vacation from October 19 to October 30. If you have bulletin announcements, please send them to joanna@
BCMC Offering Oct. 11: Gen. Fund $5,342; MCC Meat Canning $100; Sr Hi Youth $50; Library Reserve Fund $10; Kitchen Fund $13.58
From the Finance Committee — As the 3rd quarter of the financial year of our church ends, we offer gratitude for the generosity shared in donating monetary offerings toward our annual budget. Each gift is important to the process of fulfilling our mission. The BCMC financial report of the general fund: income and expenses as of Sept. 30 (75% of the year)
Income $ 397,554 68% of budget
Expense $ 378,010 65% of budget
Net income $19,544
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
October 18, 2026
Bethel College Fall Fest Sunday
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—Bethel College Chamber Singers—O Quam gloriosum (Tomás Luis de Victoria)
O how glorious is the kingdom, where all the Saints rejoice with Christ!
Dressed in white robes, they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
Alleluia! Revelation 7:9
In This Place (Will Todd)
Welcome & Prayer—Dorothy Nickel Friesen
*Hymn—Holy God We Praise Thy Name—VT 126–(verse 3 choir only, verse 4 unison)
Children and Youth Conversation—Mara Oswald
Worship Music— Selig Sind die Toten (Heinrich Schütz)— Bethel College Concert Choir
Blessed are the faithful, who in the Lord departed.
Yea, the Lord saith: They rest now from all their labors, and all their works do follow after them.
Comfort, Comfort, Now My People (Tom Trenney)
A Quiet Place (Ralph Carmichael (arr. Randy Crenshaw)—Open Road
Go and Tell John (Lloyd Pfautsch)—Woven
Scripture Reading—Romans 12:1-21—Collin Gaeddert
Sermon—Transformation—Wynn Goering
*Hymn—I Sought the Lord—VT 161
Offering Invitation & Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn—Sing a New World Into Being—VT 809
*Spoken Benediction
Benediction—The Lord Bless You and Keep You (VT 846)—Bethel College Concert Choir
Postlude—(please remain seated for the postlude)
*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—David Sprunger
The Week at BCMC: October 18—25, 2026
Sunday, October 18
Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/3Qp-
Tuesday, October 20
11 a.m. Poems & Prayers in the Chapel
7 p.m. Women’s Fellowship in Fellowship Hall. Men are invited.
Program, “Exploring our Amazing Library” presented by members of the Library Committee. Please come prepared to share a favorite book.
Wednesday, October 21
6 p.m. Wednesday Supper in Fellowship Hall– Everyone is invited!
7 p.m. Youth Group
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary
Thursday, October 22
11 a.m. Revelation Study in the Chapel
4 p.m. Witness Commission meeting in Room 14
6 p.m. Chancel Bells rehearsal in Room B7
Saturday, October 24
3 to 7 p.m. P&M Pumpkin Ranch, 311 16th Ave., Moundridge, Willow Campsite – Hot dogs & s’mores at the campsite; Admission covered, just tell them you’re with BCMC!
Sunday, October 25
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Gerald Mast; music by Chancel Choir
10:30 a.m. Congregational meeting in the Sanctuary
Sympathy Notice
LaWanda Wiens, a BCMC member and a Kidron Bethel Village health care resident, died Thursday, October 9. Please keep the family in your prayers. including her husband, Emerson; her children, Mark, Kenton and Renee; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m., at Bethel College Mennonite Church. A luncheon and fellowship time will be held at the church following the service. See LaWanda’s obituary here.
If you would like to explore the book of Revelation beyond Sunday morning worship, check out some of the resources on this web page.
Visit the Church Library and explore our collection of Indigenous fiction and nonfiction, featuring novels, history, culture, religious perspectives, biographies, and more. Discover stories and perspectives—there’s something for every reader!
Wednesday Evening Suppers Announcement
Our Wednesday Suppers will begin on Oct. 21 and continue for five weeks–through Nov. 18. All are invited to come at 6 p.m. for fellowship and a meal provided by Brenda Turner and Ben Lichti. There are no programs planned for after the meals except for the meal on Nov. 11, which will be followed by our Open Table all-age Bible study. There is no charge to attend the Wednesday evening meals. Financial contributions toward meal costs are welcome and appreciated.
Note from the BCMC Board: At the recent congregational meeting we heard general affirmation for an AV project that would improve the sound quality for both in-person and on-line worshippers as well as improve the usability of the Fellowship Hall for various types of gatherings. Some people expressed concerns about the cost of the proposed project. The board considers these proposed improvements an accessibility justice issue and, with cost concerns in mind, is developing a firm proposal to bring to the congregation for a vote at a special congregational meeting on Oct. 25. Please reach out to a board member with your questions and comments as we continue to move forward together: Bill Eash, Dennis Loepp, Carolyn Penner, Elaine Schurr, Kathryn Simmons, Frank Stucky, Marvin Thieszen, Margaret Toews, Tim Voth, John Waltner
The Hospitality Commission is excited to announce a BCMC potluck on November 15 in Fellowship Hall with serving starting around 11:45 a.m. Please bring your favorite food/s to share and your own table service. There will be a separate table of gluten free options provided by Susie Swartley. HC will provide water and coffee. Bethel College students have been invited to join us!
Worship Time at BCMC
Beginning this fall, all BCMC Sunday morning worship services will begin at 9:30 am. Special services–which have sometimes started later–will also begin at the normal start time. The first example of this: Fall Fest Sunday Worship on October 18 will begin at 9:30 am. Please mark your calendars.
Worship Commission hopes a consistent start time will help everyone know when worship begins at BCMC.
Questions? Please contact a Worship Commission member.
Thank you to everyone who gave to support earthquake relief in Colombia! Bethel College Mennonite has sent $6,465 to this project and we look forward to hearing about the progress of the home repairs in Colombia. While the church fundraiser for this project has concluded, you can contact Joanna for the link to make a direct donation.
Medicare One-Time Payment Project
The Seekers Sunday School class has agreed to establish a collection of the Medicare B one-time payments from the Trump administration as an expression of love of neighbor and protest of Executive Office redirection of funds allocated by Congress, especially with the election just a few weeks away. These payments are $90 for each person enrolled in Medicare B, about 293,000 people in Kansas.
The funds collected by the Seekers will be directed toward local humanitarian causes that do not receive government support or will receive reduced support due to federal government budget cuts. Additional contributions beyond $90 are welcomed. The Seekers class invites everyone in the congregation who receives such a payment to consider a contribution to this collection. It will be divided evenly between Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania for those with outstanding medical needs and Health Ministries Clinic for those whose Medicaid funding has been reduced.
Please make checks payable to Bethel College Mennonite Church with “Medicare Project” in the memo line. The deadline for contributions is November 8, 2026.
The small chapel here at BCMC is home to a new piano! Over the last several months, the Worship Commission has been engaged in discussing the poor condition of the chapel’s old piano–which was recently declared “un-tunable” after some 70 years of service–with one that will better accompany the small services that take place in the chapel and be easily transportable to other rooms in the church building. Purchased in “gently used” condition, our new Yamaha piano will serve us well for many decades to come. If you’d like to take it for a spin, feel free to stop by!
Mennonite Central Committee Meat canning is Oct. 27-29 at the MCC Center, 121 E. 30th. Your financial support is needed to make this project successful. Make checks payable to BCMC with “MCC meat canning” on the memo line and place in the offering. Envelopes for donations are in your mailboxes.
BETHEL COLLEGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sun., Oct. 18): Last chance to see the 2026 Fall Fest musical The Spitfire Grill by James Valcq and Fred Alley, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College. Ticket purchase required, online or at the door.
- Tues., Oct. 20: Bethel College Chamber Orchestra concert, “Playfulness and Purpose,” Dr. Kelly Poquette, director, 7 p.m., Ad Building chapel (NOTE CHANGES from some printed calendars), featuring work by the late Miriam Overholt of Wichita, Jean Sibelius and Benjamin Britten (the Simple Symphony).
- Weds., Oct. 21: The staff of KIPCOR, the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution at Bethel College, invites you for coffee, pastries and conversation, 8-10 a.m. at Kaufman House (2515 College Ave., North Newton).
- Life Enrichment, the series at Bethel College for adults age 60 and older, meets most Wednesday mornings during the school year in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. This week’s programs (Oct. 21): 9:30 a.m., “Anabaptist World: 100+ Years of Mennonite Journalism,” Paul Schrag; 10:50 a.m., “The Porcelain Menagerie,” Jillian Forsberg.
- Thurs., Oct. 22: The biennial Senses & Aging Symposium, “Charles Bonnet Syndrome,” with presenters Daniel Kish and Jaymes Squires, 6-7:30 p.m., Kidron Hall at Kidron Bethel Village (3001 Ivy Dr., North Newton)
- Sun., Oct. 25 & Mon., Oct. 26: Annual Menno Simons Lectures, with Dr. Gerald Mast, Bluffton University. The overall theme is “Anabaptist Hermeneutics, Figural Reading and the Gospel of Peace.” First lecture: Sun., Oct. 25, 7 p.m., “The Holiness of War and the Victory of Peace in Anabaptist Figural Bible Reading”; second, Mon., Oct. 26, 11 a.m., “The Violence of the Bible and the Gospel of Peace”; third, Mon., Oct. 26, 7 p.m., “The Bride of Christ and the Unity of the Church in Anabaptist Figural Bible Reading.” All in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, with audience discussion following each lecture. Free and open to the public.
- Sun., Nov. 1: Bethel Sings, a concert featuring all Bethel College vocal groups, Dr. Russell Adrian, director, 4 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church (2600 College Ave., North Newton)
- Mon., Nov. 2: The Bethel College Visiting Writer Series presents Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall in convocation, 11 a.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. Brimhall will lead a discussion of her poetry with the Introduction to Literature class from noon-12:50 to which the public is also invited, with extra packets of poems available.
- Fri., Nov. 6: The Bethel College Visiting Writer Series presents Jennifer Sears (Class of 1991), reading from her award-winning collection of short stories, What Mennonite Girls Are Good For, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel
CAMP MENNOSCAH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dam removal on October 18 at 2:30pm! Spectators and helpers are welcome. This task involves heavy boards and rushing water, so younger ages should plan on watching the process, not helping. Wear appropriate clothing for the task and weather. Watch Facebook for any changes or text/call 316-293-7313.
Camp Mennoscah’s annual meeting will be combined with a Verenike Casserole Fundraiser on November 7, at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton. Starting at 5:30, everyone is welcome to come partake in a verenike casserole meal, and stay for the annual meeting beginning at 6:00! If you would like your meal(s) to go, drive-thru begins at 5:00. The meal consists of verenike casserole, seasoned green beans, zweiback, and fruit crisp. Reservations for meals can be made here (https://forms.gle/
To keep this event running smoothly, volunteer help is greatly appreciated. If you have interest in helping with set-up, serving, or greeting, please reach out to timothy.schrag@
Camp Mennoscah will be recruiting for 2027 summer staff at the beginning of November. On Nov. 9 we will be at Hesston College, the 10th at Tabor, and the 11th at Bethel College. Stop by our table to say hi and grab some information! Table hours are approx. 9am-1pm. If you miss us, you can always contact us at 316-293-7313 by phone or text. Summer staff applications will not be available until approx. October 9.
Hesston College Announcements
- Prints and Mixed Media art exhibit by Susan Fox open at Hesston College. A prints and mixed media exhibit by Newton artist Susan Fox is featured in the Regier-Friesen Gallery located in Hesston College’s Laban Peachey Center (325 S. College Dr., Hesston) from October 1 through 30. A reception with the artist is scheduled for October 14. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and admission is free.
- Larktoberfest: Fall Fun at the Diamond, October 30: Hesston College Softball is excited to announce a new event, Larktoberfest: Fall Fun at the Diamond on Friday, October 30. Come for a softball scrimmage versus Fort Hays Tech Northwest at 5 p.m. and stay for this family-friendly fall festival for the entire community featuring a bounce house, games, food, trunk-or-treat and face painting.
- Request for singers – Masterworks concert: Community singers are invited to join Hesston College for “Let All the People Praise,” an evening of thanksgiving for choir, brass, organ and percussion, featuring John Rutter’s “Gloria.” There will be four rehearsals leading up to the Masterworks concert on November 21 at 7 p.m. Visit hesston.edu/masterworks for more information and details on how to sign up.
Kidron Bethel Village Announcements
Kidron Bethel Village is now accepting vendors for its Holiday Market, which will be Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Kidron Hall, 3001 Ivy Dr., North Newton. The Holiday Market is a chance for Kidron Bethel Village residents and the wider community to shop with local artists and vendors. To reserve a spot as a vendor, please contact Sheri Esau at SheriE@bluestem.org or 316-836-4821.
Paula Brunk Kuhns, owner of Just Cause, a fair trade store based in Portland, OR, will be setting up her store at Hesston Mennonite Church for a 2-day event, October 23 & 24 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Find beautifully crafted baskets, jewelry, home decor, kitchenware, metal art, cards, Christmas nativities and ornaments, and so much more from over 30 countries around the world. When you shop Fair Trade, you’re not just buying a beautifully crafted item. You’re partnering with artisans around the world as they preserve their craft, support their families, and build a sustainable future. Each piece holds a story, and you become part of it. In addition to supporting Fair Trade artists, this is also a fundraiser for the Hesston Mennonite Youth Groups, who will host a coffee shop while the store is open. Come join us!
Announcement from Willmar T. Harder, KCADP Board Secretary
I serve as the secretary of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Each year we host an annual Abolition Meeting. This year the annual meeting will be entirely virtual. I would love it if you would share this information and invitation with your congregation.Often when people think about the death penalty and the “toll” it takes, their minds go to the person who is executed. In reality, executions harm many more people than just the one who is killed.
Join us at 1 p.m. on Saturday November 21st to hear from persons with first hand experience of the death penalty. This is a virtual event so persons all over Kansas or elsewhere are welcome to join us! There is no charge to attend. We hope you can join us!
Panelists will be:
· Celeste Dixon is a murder victim family member. The man who murdered her mother was executed in Texas.
· Dale Baich is a death penalty attorney. He witnessed 16 executions.
· Gary Mohr is a corrections professional. He supervised 15 executions.
Time: 1 p.m. conference, 2:30 annual meeting. Location: Zoom
Registration: https://forms.gle/
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Announcement
Register today for MEDA Convention 2026 in Tampa, Florida, November 5-8. Join us as we explore this year’s theme, “Lead with Light,” and grow as servant leaders in our businesses, churches, and communities. Connect with entrepreneurs, professionals, and others who see business as a calling. Explore how we can serve others through business solutions to poverty. First-time attendees may qualify for free registration and hotel stay. View the schedule, learn more, and register at MEDAconvention.org. Email inquiries can be sent to convention@meda.org.
The Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association (SMCHA) annual banquet will be held at Eden Mennonite Church in Moundridge on November 12 at 6 pm. Our guest speaker will be Kate Brubacher. The cost of the meal is $25, payable at the door or on our website, swissmennonite.org . RSVP by email to Dave Stucky at bigdstucky@gmail.com .
For September Schweitzer Salt press here
The Immigrant House Plowing Festival at 520 W. Cole, Moundridge, is scheduled for Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A button ($10, 12 years and under free) gets you admission to all the activities: plowing with horse drawn equipment, vintage tractors, Flatlander’s T’s-Model T Car Club, live music, pumpkin decorating, petting zoo, and more. This is a fundraiser for The Moundridge Immigrant House Cultural Center & Museum.
Hoffnungsau Church, 43 13th Ave, Inman, invites you to our annual Mission Supper on Saturday, October 24, 5:00 – 6:30. It will be curbside pick up with tables outside and inside available if you want to stay and eat. Please text or call Barb at 620-543-6863 to order a meal of German sausage, mashed potatoes, creamed peas, zwiebach and pie. Payment is by donation with all proceeds going towards Safe Hope in Harvey, McPherson and Marion Counties.
Looking for a way to help counter what is being done to immigrants in our country? Love in Action is a group in Cottonwood Falls which supports the immigrant detainees in our midst at the Chase County Detention Center located there. This group has been working with the center for over a year and providing support in numerous ways – stamps, phone cards, stationery, food for holidays, etc. Currently they are working to collect supplies for “Go Bags” – backpacks with basic supplies (toiletries, undergarments, socks, blanket, chargers, pencil/paper, etc.) designed to send along with a detainee when they get deported, as many have little or no personal items. The goal is to have 100 complete Go Bags by Dec. 1. Currently needed to complete the kits are t-shirts, sweatshirts, and leggings/sweatpants. Would Shalom be willing to collect these items over the next month?
Specifics follow:
- Size M or XL only (women or men)
- New items – can buy at Walmart, Amazon, etc.
- Items must be plain w/ no writing
- Crewneck sweatshirts or hoodies w/ no string or string loop (can’t just remove string)
- Leggings for women
- Sweatpants for men with no string or string loop (can’t just remove string)
- T-shirts for both
- Remove purchase tags/plastic and wash please
Items need to be at the church by Wed., Oct. 21 for delivery the next day and can be placed on the table in the Gathering Space. Also needed are volunteers to join the head of LIA in unwrapping/washing donations in Oct. – if you have interest in helping in this way, please contact Amy Schmidt, Maureen Entz or Vanessa Bergman for more details or with questions.
Also from the Immigration Support Network in Wichita:The Finney County United Way has partnered with our local nonprofits to create the Immigrant Family Emergency Support Fund. This fund provides urgent financial relief to households in Finney County who are directly impacted by ICE detention or enforcement actions, helping cover critical needs like housing, legal support, and basic necessities. During this time of uncertainty, the fund helps families maintain stability as they navigate unexpected financial hardship. Your contribution provides practical, immediate support to our neighbors when they need it most. Donate Today.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
WDC Leader Forum: Exploring Financial Tools for Congregations – Thursday, Nov 5, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Financial software tools for bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and generating financial reports are commonly expensive and tailored to professional accountants, creating barriers for congregations needing to find something they can afford and that is also user-friendly for a typical administrative assistant or lay leader to learn. Accounting gets even more complicated for religious nonprofits. Unique from businesses, donations are the primary income and other income from fundraisers, etc, must be handled differently. There are also multiple unique tax rules specific to religious nonprofits and ministers. In this Zoom gathering facilitated by WDC Business Manager, Shari Scheffler, we’ll explore some of the various financial tools currently being used by member congregations, and the pros and cons of each. A couple of financial leaders from local congregations will suggest/share/demonstrate what specific church-related financial tools are working well for them, and attendees will have an opportunity to share their own tips, recommendations, and helpful resources also. Join us for the opportunity to make connections that might just lead to some extremely helpful resources as all of us navigate the complexities of accounting practices as church congregations. This forum is available without cost to anyone in the congregation who wants to learn more about and discuss this topic. Register HERE by November 2. WDC 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 available upon request as indicated on the registration form.
To register for Everence Financial Planning Webinar on Oct. 21 press here
To register for Everence Stewardship Ministry Webinar “When Generosity gets complicated” on November 21 press here
For MC USA Quarterly Newsletter “Equipping” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “Seeds of Peace” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
Looking for a meaningful way to use your gifts while building new friendships?
Want a truly different kind of family vacation? Mennonite Mission Network’s SOOP program is for you! Service Opportunities with Our Partners (SOOP) offers flexible service terms at 60 locations for individuals ages 25+ and families of all ages. Housing and meals are sometimes provided. Discover the joy of working together, growing in faith, and creating lasting memories!
Visit MennoniteMission.net/SOOP to learn more.
For Mennonite Women USA “Women’s Voices” press here
For Anabaptist Disabilities “Opening Doors Blog” press here
October 11
Just Peace Pilgrimages
Book your Just Peace Pilgrimage for 2027 and step into stories that still shape the world today. Together we’ll walk in solidarity, open our eyes to the beauty and struggle of life, and come home changed.
Choose your adventure:
- Civil Rights Pilgrimage
- Christ at the Borders (Arizona)
- Underground Railroad
Embark on one of these life-changing journeys with your congregation, Sunday school class, youth group, or other group.
Visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace to learn more about the pilgrimages or start booking your experience today.
| Dear Bethel College Mennonite,On October 20, organizations and individuals across the U.S. will gather at their nearest congressional office, 30 minutes before the office opens for the day, and ask their members of Congress to take action to stop the U.S. war against Iran. |
| If a peace deal isn’t reached ahead of the U.S. midterm election, we are at risk of the war against Iran becoming a forever war. We need decisive action by our members of Congress to stop the war.In this key moment, you can call on your members of Congress to:Pledge to oppose any defense appropriation or authorization spending that fails to end the war against Iran.Release a statement affirming the legally binding nature of the Iran War Powers Resolutions and support future war powers resolutions.Publicly push for the full release of the Department of Defense’s investigation into the U.S. bombing of the Minab Elementary School.Publicly call for and support a peace agreement, which will require lifting sanctions and unfreezing assetsFind events near you and sign up here.In peace,Zachary Murray Legislative Associate MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries |
| MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries 920 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Washington, D.C. 20003Visit our homepage.Email us.Make a donation. |
For Mennonite Church USA Announcements press here
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for the WDC Resource Library and the many ways that it enriches discipleship, children’s and youth formation, preaching and teaching, spiritual growth and congregational vitality.
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Praise God with Kate Widmer, who serves at La Prairie Church of Montbéliard, France, for a season of rest, as her life and ministry slowed down over the summer. Now that the school year has begun again, pray for stamina to keep up with the increased demands she encounters.
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.