April 9, 2023 – Easter Sunday – Fully Alive in Christ
Based on CDC Guidelines Harvey County is still in green status indicating
low risk for COVID. You are invited to choose whether you wear a mask or social distance. Both are optional.
To livestream the worship service:
On Sunday morning, around 9:20, 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 belows 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/p_vSN5lytUw?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
April 9, 2023
EASTER SUNDAY
Prelude— Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain (arr. Fedak); Were You There? (arr. Bish)
Christ the Lord is Risen Today (arr. Payne)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Anthem—The Lord Is Risen Indeed! (Billings)—Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
Easter Declaration and Response— Leader: Christ is risen!
People: Christ is risen indeed!
Christ Candle Lighting—Nathan Koontz
Anthem—Praise to the Lord, the Almighty—(VT 88) (Congregation sing in unison on verse 4)
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
Easter Prayer—Nathan Koontz
*Hymn—This Joyful Eastertide—VT 352
Easter Morning
Was It a Morning Like This? — Bethany Schrag
“Later that same day….”— Judy Harder and Company
Be Not Afraid (VT 356)
(Congregation join 3rdand 4th time through)
*Hymn—Thine is the Glory—(last verse in unison)—VT 355
Scripture Reading—Matthew 28:1-10—Abby, Naomi and Jennifer Koontz
Sermon—Where We Live—Roger Neufeld Smith
*Hymn—Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing—VT 359
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn—Christ the Lord is Risen Today—VT 346—(Congregation sing parts verses 1-3; unison verse 4)
*Benediction—VT 1052
Postlude— In Thee is Gladness (arr. Portman)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
* You are invited to stand
VT = Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual— Ben Lichti
Was It a Morning Like This?—lyrics and music by Jim Croegaert
This Week at BCMC: April 9—16, 2023
Sun, Apr. 9, 2023—Easter Sunday—Fully Alive in Christ
10 am Worship YouTube Link for this Sunday is: https://youtube.com/live/p_vSN5lytUw?feature=share
The church nursery is staffed during worship and Sunday School—There is no Sunday school this Easter Sunday
Mon., Apr. 10, 2023
9 am Women’s Fellowship Executive Board meeting in Fellowship Hall
11 am Staff meeting in Room 14
7:15 pm Community Playschool Board meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wed., Apr. 12, 2023
6 pm Indigenous Justice Group meeting in Room 14
7 pm Senior High Youth Group
7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
Thurs., Apr. 13, 2023
4 pm Creation Care Committee meeting in Room 21
6:30 pm Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 pm Finance Committee meeting in Room 14
Sun., Apr. 16, 2023
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Chancel Bells
Women’s Fellowship Executive Board meets April 10 at 9:00 am in Fellowship Hall.
The Deacon Commission invites you to donate to our Caring Fund budget, which has been depleted due to needs in our community. A fishbowl will be available for you in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued support. – The Deacon Commission
BCMC Offering for April 2, 2023: General Fund $6,308.34; Wed. Supper $253; Caring Fund $730; Library Reserve Fund $10; Living Stones $183.34; Flower Fund $20.
Roger’s Whereabouts – Roger will be in Newton until Monday at noon (tomorrow). He will return to Newton on Wednesday morning, April 19. Roger checks his phone messages and texts daily while he is in Topeka, so feel free to contact him via phone or email.
The church is having telephone issues. The church’s main number—316-283-3667 will not send or receive calls. We are working to get this issue resolved. In the meantime, you can reach the church by phone by using the number316-283-3668. You can also email the church office.
The Library Theme till the end of May is Women’s History. The Committee has pulled a few of the books available from our collection and is displaying them in back of the library desk or against the south wall in the children’s section. Come check us out and be on the look out for a reading contest arriving in May!!
The annual meeting of the Community Playschool Corporation will be Mon., Apr. 10, 7:15 p.m. in the BCMC Fellowship Hall. Interested members of the congregations supporting Community Playschool are invited to attend. Entrance to the building will be at the south side of the church and make your way to the lower level of the church by stairs or elevator.
The BCMC Camp Mennoscah Retreat is just around the corner! This year’s retreat will be the weekend of April 29 & 30, and will feature many of the favorites of retreats past! We will gather this year again with Halstead First Mennonite for a couple of days playing in the sand, worshipping, and in fellowship at Camp Mennoscah – located on the Ninnescah river near Murdock, KS. People can come out on Saturday (after 1), Sunday (anytime, but worship will likely be around 9:30 AM), or both – and meals will be served! We’ll have a hayrack ride, pop popcorn, and have some great experiences for all ages! If you’re interested in participating, please use the following link to sign up: https://forms.gle/m5wycZsfQ8fmWaqC9 And if you have any questions about the retreat or schedule, please reach out to Adam Robb at adamandjillrobb@gmail.com or via phone at 620-747-0185. No worship will take place in the BCMC Sanctuary on Sunday, April 30, so we hope to see you there!
Singers wanted: Bethel College’s annual Masterworks concert will be Sunday, April 30, with choir and orchestra under the direction of Dr. Henry Waters performing Beethoven “Choral Fantasy” and Mozart “Coronation Mass.” The community is invited to participate. Practices begin Tuesday, April 4, 6-8 p.m. in the choir room in Luyken Fine Arts Center on the Bethel campus, and take place the other Tuesdays in April (11, 18, 25), with a four-hour rehearsal Sat., April 29 (3-7 p.m.; dinner provided), and performance at 4 p.m. on Sunday, with a call time of 3 p.m. Scores and rehearsal tracks will be provided. Sign up using this form: https://forms.gle/rqjK4dgSpYieVTvP8 or come to the first rehearsal on April 4.
Life Enrichment for April 13—Krehbiel Auditorium
9:30 “My Walk Through the Holy Land: Where Jesus Lived While on Earth, Father Andrew Bergkamp, pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Newton
10:50 “Connections Between Mennonites and the Stutthof Concentration Camp,” Mark Jantzen, Ph.D., Bethel College professor of history
Bethel College Announcements:
· Thurs., April 13 – Closing reception for Ian Huebert and “Printing the Plains,” 6-8 p.m., Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College. Exhibit closes Fri., April 14. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
· Sat., Apr. 15 – Joint junior recital by Bethel College students Angelika Donaldson, voice, and Eli Regier, saxophone, 7 p.m., Ad Building Chapel
· Sun., Apr. 16 – KIPCOR Film Series presents Thirst for Justice, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium. Documentary looks at three citizen groups fighting for clean water, in the Navajo Nation, Flint, MI., and Standing Rock. Audience talkback follows the film. Free and open to the public, with freewill offering taken to support KIPCOR and the film series.
· Sun., Apr. 16 – Senior recital by Bethel College student Julianna Schrag, voice, 4 p.m., Administration Building Chapel
· Sun., Apr. 16 – Junior recital by Bethel College student Phillip Balzer, piano, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium.
· Mon., Apr. 17 – Rachel Stroer, president of The Land Institute, Salina, speaks on “Leading a Global Movement for Diverse Perennial Grain Futures,” 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium. Stroer will also speak in convocation at 11 a.m. (Krehbiel Auditorium) and at 2 p.m. in the Conservation Biology class (Krehbiel Science Center #121). Sponsored by the Bethel College Women’s Association and supported by BCWA’s Carolyn Schultz Lecture Endowment.
· Sun., April 30 – Masterworks concert at Bethel College, 4 p.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE), featuring the Bethel College Oratorio Chorus, orchestra and soloists, performing Mozart Krönungsmesse (“Coronation Mass”) and Beethoven Fantasia, Op. 80 (“Choral Fantasy”); Memorial Hall
All Western District Conference women are invited to join a virtual event sponsored by Western District Women in Mission Tues., Apr. 25. Jenny Gehman, spiritual director, retreat speaker, and writer, will present “Holy Host: the Hospitality of God.” Join us in person or virtually. Our in-person gathering will be at First Mennonite Church in Newton, beginning with a salad potluck at 6 p.m., followed by Jenny joining virtually from Pennsylvania at 6:45 p.m. There is no cost to this event, but please register by April 23 by emailing westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com so you can receive a Zoom link if joining virtually. Please email your RSVP if attending in person and bring a salad to share. Church groups can consider gathering together to watch the Zoom. For more information, contact Wendy Schrag at 316-841-5245.
Everence® April workshop: Social Security and retirement income
Everence® will hold an informative Social Security and retirement income workshop on Thursday, April 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. Specifics will include, Social Security strategies, including when to begin taking benefits, risks that can impact your retirement savings plus strategies to help your income last throughout retirement. There will also be plenty of time for questions. The in-person workshop will take place at the Everence office: 3179 N. Main St. Suite 1B, North Newton. Information will be presented by staff from the Everence offices in Central Kansas.
To register contact Everence at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.
Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investments and other products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee.
Products and services offered through Everence Trust Company and other Everence entities are independent of and are not guaranteed or endorsed by Concourse Financial Group Securities, or its affiliates.
An April Dialogue
For Roots of Justice Stolen Land Stolen People Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery press here
For Mennonite Central Committee In Touch press here
Creation Care Network – Oak Flat Decision press here
Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements and share them with your congregation!
For Mennonite Men press here
For Mennonite Education Agency A Journey of Many Steps press here
Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Camp Mennoscah is preparing for summer heat with portable A/C units in the Retreat Center, since the HVAC system is not working. On April 22, beginning at 8:30am, volunteers are needed to help installing the A/C units. There are 26 units that need to be installed, so many hands are needed! Camp will provide lunch. Bring a water bottle and meet at the Retreat Center. If you let us know you are coming, we can be better prepared for lunch. Call or text 316-293-7313.
Other events and happenings:
- Nurses needed for the weeks of June 18-23, Junior I Camp, and July 9-14, Junior High II Camp. As a nurse, you are a vital part of camp life. Your work to keep everyone healthy and well means campers and staff are ready to play and learn during their time at camp. Nurses must be a registered nurse (RN). Head cooks needed for PreJunior I, June 11-15, and PreJunior II, June 25-29. The head cook is in charge of leading kitchen staff in the preparation of meals and snacks that keep campers energetic, smiling, and ready to enjoy the full camp days. Camp Mennoscah can provide a menu, if wanted, and will order groceries and get kitchen staff. Head cooks and nurses receive either a stipend or a camper discount up to full camp fees. Contact us at olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290.
- Do you drink coffee that comes in a large tin can? Camp Mennoscah is looking for lids that fit on a #10 can for a sorting and storage project. We’ll take just the lids or the lids and cans. Contact us at olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290.
- Kitchen helpers and volunteers are needed for the majority of camp weeks. You keep camp running by helping prepare meals in the kitchen and working on maintenance projects or custodial tasks. Your work creates an enjoyable environment for campers to have fun and learn about God. Contact Camp Mennoscah at olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 to sign up!
- Some families have asked how this summer will look. Summer youth camps will be very similar to pre-2020 with cabin use. If we do not have enough counselors, as happened in 2022, we would likely use a tent to allow more campers to attend. A nurse is still working on some of the protocols, but quarantine or close contact groups will not be used. Based on the final protocol/guidelines, general illness may mean the camper would go home sooner than in past years. Camp Mennoscah does not expect to test for COVID. Parents/Guardians would be responsible for any testing.
- Scholarship funds for campers are needed. If Camp Mennoscah gives the same amount in scholarships as last year, the account will be depleted. Donations to the Scholarship Fund are most welcome. Gifts can be made online or sent to Camp Mennoscah, PO Box 65, Murdock, KS, 67111 with “Scholarship Fund” in the memo. Share the gift of faith formation and friends with others!
- Click to register! Summer youth camp registration is open and Camp Mennoscah is receiving registrations. The summer theme is FruitFULL Faith. Get ready to learn and sing about the Fruit of the Spirit this summer–it’s not a coconut!
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board addressed agenda items for the upcoming 2023 Delegate Assembly and affirmed several key relationships during its online Zoom meeting on Jan. 27 and 28, 2023. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/executive-board-prepares
#MennoCon23
Online registration is open for MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s leading faith formation event, in Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center, July 3-6, 2023. Registration is also open for the Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, and the Delegate Assembly, July 7-8. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/registration
Menno Snapshots
Is it time for a retreat? This is a question that Marlene Kropf, spiritual director and retreat leader, asks herself more often these days, especially in a post-COVID-19 world. Read more of her thoughts here: mennoniteusa.org/time-for-retreat
Shannon W. Dycus, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, attended Mennonite Church USA’s Hope for the Future Conference for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) at the beginning of February. Read Shannon’s litany based on her experience: mennoniteusa.org/hope-is-a-practice
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Celebrate Easter by sharing the good news of Jesus’ victory over the grip of evil in our world. Join Mennonite Mission Network’s personnel and partners throughout the United States and in 49 countries around the world in proclaiming this message to those whom you encounter today and every day.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for WDC congregations as they embody the good news of new life in Christ!