Drive-Thru Soup FundraiserThe sr high youth drive-thru soup fundraiser has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 11th from 11:30am-1:00pm. Orders are still recorded from earlier RSVP’s. If you would like to order soup and had not done so previously, you can using this link. Please contact Renee at renee@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org if you have any questions. All proceeds for this fundraiser will help support the sr high youth going on a Civil Rights Learning Tour in Alabama this summer. Thank you for your support!
Holy Hilarity Sunday is April 11
A Holy Hilarity Sunday is scheduled for April 11th and we are looking for some good church jokes to include throughout Sunday’s service! Many Christian churches celebrate Holy Hilarity Sunday the Sunday after Easter as a way to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. This year we will again celebrate a day of joy and laughter together, remembering the great joy that comes with the risen Christ. Send your jokes to renee@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org by Easter Monday (April 5th) for a chance for them to be incorporated in a service of joy and laughter on April 11th.
Spring Congregational Meeting: This year, due to the Leonard Pitts lecture scheduled by Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) on April 25 at 2 pm, the BCMC Congregational Meeting will be held on May 2, at 1 pm, via zoom. Mark your calendars now!
The MC USA biennial convention will take place in July 6-10, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. While a limited number of persons will be allowed to participate in-person, any registrant can participate virtually from home–joining in worship, participating in seminars and exploring the exhibition hall. You can register here, after April 6: https://convention.mennoniteusa.org/
The MC USA delegate session will be held virtually on Saturday, July 10, from 1-3:30pm EDT. BCMC is looking for 5 people to represent our congregation at this delegate session. Since the session will be held virtually, there will be no need to travel. If you are interested in being a delegate, please contact Pastor Dawn (dawn@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org).
A Conversation About Justice & Peace for Palestine & Israel: The Western District Conference Israel – Palestine Task Force is hosting an informal Conversation About Justice & Peace for Palestine & Israel. The one-hour Zoom meeting will occur on April 13 from 7 – 8 pm CDT. The purpose of the meeting is to create a safe space where informal dialogue can occur with WDC Mennonite Churches. Esther Koontz will provide a welcome & overview, Bob Atchison, reflections on Manhattan Mennonite Church’s Gaza Twinning project, and Jonathan Kuttab a report on current conditions in Gaza and the West Bank. Participants will be divided into breakout groups where discussions will take place facilitated by Joe Roos, Lydia Brenneman, Kathy Neufeld Dunn and the other presenters. There is no cost to participate. To register for the meeting please e-mail to wdc@mennowdc.org. A Zoom link will be provided. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kathy Nuefeld Dunn at kathynd@mennowdc.org.
Hesston College Event
Spring Play: Superior Donuts – Presented in the Black Box Theater in Keim Center at Hesston College – April 14-17, 7:00pm and April 18, 2:00pm – Tickets are $10 per adults/seniors and $5 for students and can be purchased at: www.hesston.edu/theatre
Western District Conference Announcements
1. Due to Covid-19 concerns, the WDC staff has worked from their homes for the last several months. Now, with lower positivity rates and vaccine availability, the WDC office plans to again be open beginning Tuesday, April 6 at 8 am. Visitor protocols will include wearing a mask and social distancing from others. Hand sanitizers will also be available. At this time, Resource Library materials will be available by lobby pick up only, but it is hoped that patrons will be able to enter the library again soon.
2. Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, KS, is pleased to host the Service of Ordination for Lead Pastor Caleb Yoder on Sunday, April 11, at 4:00 pm. COVID precautions will be followed, including social distancing, required masks, and no congregational singing. A quartet will sing from the stage. Guests are welcome to join by livestream; email alexmenno@mtelco.net for the Zoom link.
Camp Mennoscah announcements
1. Camp Mennoscah is seeking a full-time Director of Development, Marketing & Communications to lead our ongoing operational and advancement needs. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors while taking directive from the Executive Director when related to operational considerations. As a member of a small, very hands-on staff, the role is expected to be highly collaborative. This professional must embrace the mission of Camp Mennoscah, have an established background in coordinating nonprofit donation strategies, possess strong written, interpersonal, leadership and relationship building skills, and work as an independent contributor with good organization and follow-through. Most of the work will commence off campus, however some in-person time at camp is required.This role involves organizing broad-based fundraising initiatives, advocating for Camp Mennoscah through speaking engagements, promotional materials, and social media, as well as recruiting volunteers, and building relationships with board members, donors and staff.
Our ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of five years of fund development experience, or equivalent experience in church relations, and a passion for Camp Mennoscah. They should also be familiar with office related applications, and other technology used for communication and social media. Experience with CampBrain and the associated donor database is a plus.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and early submission is encouraged. Please send application materials (resume, cover letter, references and salary requirements) to campmennojobs@att.net.
2. Men and Boys Retreat, April 16-18, at Camp Mennoscah! Come to Camp Mennoscah for this long-standing, guys-only retreat! Spend time fishing, canoeing, worshiping, sitting by the fire, or visiting with friends in fellowship. The official beginning to the weekend is Saturday morning, but many arrive on Friday. Meals can be purchased for Saturday night, Sunday morning and lunch. People are welcome Friday, but no meals or entertainment will be provided. Meals available for an additional cost. No pre-registration. Registration and payment will take place upon arrival. For more information contact Kevin Neufeld at 316-322-5515.
3. 2021 Summer Staff! Camp Mennoscah’s summer staffers are Anna Lubbers, Beth Balzer, Karina Brandt, Emily Brandt, Schyler Entz, Ethan Entz, Seth Rudeen, Ben Rudeen, and John Koontz. We are excited to have them be part of the summer camp staff and they are ready for an absolutely rootin’, tootin’ summer! Start your prayers now for these staffers and for all who are part of the summer youth program!
4. Looking for HUGE tents! Camp Mennoscah is looking for at least 2 more tents that hold approx. 8-10 bunk beds for summer youth camps (18′ X 36′). These would be (similar) to the ones used for Senior High Camp (military tents repurposed for peace). The cost to purchase one is approximately $2600. If you have one stored away and are willing to lend it to Camp Mennoscah for the summer, please contact us at 620-297-3290.
5. It’s time to finish the Campfire Amphitheater at Camp Mennoscah! We’d like to have this ready for the summer youth camps. Work days are scheduled for the following days: April 2-3, April 9 to 10, April 24, May 15. Come out for one or both days and part or all-day. Ask about lodging if you would like to stay overnight. A team of five volunteers will work from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day installing the new stone benches. There will be stone to cut, move, clean and set along with a whole lot of mortar to mix up. Bring a lunch and water bottle with you when you come, and plan to arrive at the North cabin area to check in around 9:00 am. Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer for this project. Let us know by the Tuesday before!
6. Looking for kitchen staff and nurses! Camp Mennoscah is filling volunteer and stipend positions for kitchen staff and nurses for the upcoming 2021 summer. Contact Camp Mennoscah at office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 for available weeks and details. Kitchen staff can receive a scholarship up to full camp fees for their camper.
Mennonite church announcements
1. Join Michael Danner, Mennonite Church USA’s associate executive director of Church Vitality, in a webinar April 8 at 7 p.m. ET, as he interviews Elain Enns and Ched Myers, authors of “Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization.” Register here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/registration-decolonization
2. SeongHan Kim, in his blog, “Walk out from the military base nation,” recounts how the construction of a Republic of Korea naval base on Jeju Island, Korea — and its connection to the U.S. military — has affected the lives of those Koreans who live in that region. Read his take on the Cost of War here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/base-walk-out
3. Allegheny Mennonite Conference (AMC) is offering a matching grant of up to $15,000 for donations made to Mennonite Church USA’s Justice Fund, a mutual aid fund that supports MC USA congregations’ work toward social justice. Find out more about AMC’s contribution and how your congregation can get involved at https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/justice-fund-match/.
4. Registration for MennoCon21 opens April 6 for in-person and online attendance. Learn more here: https://convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration/
5 . Want to be an integral part of a young adult’s life? Become a unit leader for Service Adventure, a gap-year program for ages 17-20 from Mennonite Mission Network. Unit leaders, who are at least 24 years of age, serve as mentors to the young adults in the Service Adventure household. Leaders are needed in Colorado Springs, CO and Johnstown, PA. Learn more by contacting SusanN@MennoniteMission.net.
Newton Et Cetera Shop is grateful for your donated items, your volunteer time, and your shopping enthusiasm! We have three requests for you this spring:
1. Please let your friends and neighbors know we’re hiring a full-time Home Goods Manager! The job description and applications are available on our website (newtonetceterashop.com) and at our shop; applications are due April 19, 2021.
2. We are in need of high-quality furniture, toys and home goods at this time. Our current donation schedule is the first and third Wednesday of each month, 9:30-6:00, and we hope to add Wednesdays in April and May.
3. We welcome new volunteers! Amazingly, we welcomed the same number of new volunteers (40!) in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, as we did in 2019! If you’re interested in learning more, please visit our website or facebook page, send us an email expressing interest to manager@newtonetceterashop.com, or call us at 316-283-9461. Thank you for supporting your local MCC Thrift Shop!
The link to the April issue of Prayers for Mennonite Education is below. This is a monthly prayer resource prepared by Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), the education agency of Mennonite Church USA. These prayer requests were gathered from across Mennonite education, from early childhood – grade 12, undergraduate schools, graduate schools and seminaries, and MEA’s Hispanic Ministries’ seminary and Bible institute. By partnering with these schools and helping them flourish, MEA works to strengthen the church through education. Thank you for supporting our schools through prayer.
Prayers for Mennonite Education – April 2021
Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp Announcements
The Rocky Mountain April newsletter is here! Have a look at the latest/greatest happenings here at RMMC. For this and previous newsletters, please visit the camp website and click on the “News” tab under “About Us”.
SPRUCE BEETLE PACKET WORKDAY APRIL 17TH – Since 2015, camp has continued the effort to minimize the impact of the spruce beetle’s desire to make a home and reproduce in the mature Engelmann spruce trees here at RMMC. Pheromone packets disbursed around camp facilities are intended to “communicate” to the beetles that camp’s part of the forest has a “no vacancy” sign and they should move on elsewhere. Please signup to come help with this year’s distribution by visiting our Volunteer page and select “Signup for Maintenance“. Friday night accommodations are offered by request and breakfast will be served Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. and lunch at 12:30 p.m. Hope to have you join us!
SPRING MENNONITE QUILTERS RETREAT – Camp’s first quilters retreat for 2021 coming April 22-25. These retreats are a great opportunity to get away and get those projects done that have been waiting. While there will be some short, fun breaks, the main focus of this weekend will be giving participants plenty of time to sew. Bring lots of projects, or that one big project you’ve been waiting to start. Sharing ideas, tips and techniques are part of the weekend along with bringing any show and tell items to share with the group. To register, please visit the camp website at www.rmmc.org.
Mennonite Central Committee Announcement
There is still time to register for this year’s virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days taking place from April 18-21! Register by April 7th to receive the early bird discount on the registration fee. If the cost of attending is prohibitive, there is a student and limited income registration option.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days is a space where people of all denominations gather to worship, engage in fellowship, and advocate to their members of Congress. First-time advocates are welcome! This year, the theme is “Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored.” The conference will center around climate justice and our role as Christians in advocating for equitable access to a safe and healthy planet.
Throughout the conference, you can join a variety of engaging workshops, including two facilitated by MCC U.S. Washington Office staff:
- Climate change as a driver of forced migration from Central America
- The impact of border walls on endangered species and sacred lands
Finally, during Ecumenical Advocacy Days’ time for denominational gatherings, we hope you’ll join a gathering of Anabaptists to share stories and inspiration and hear what others are doing.