Children and Youth Sunday School for January
Due to the rise of COVID cases in our area and the increased percent positivity rate (15.3% as of January 11th) children and youth Sunday School classes will be canceled for the rest of January. We recommend adult Sunday school classes evaluate the safety of meeting in small classrooms in the church building on their own. As a reminder, the church has 2 zoom accounts available for groups to use and groups can also reserve the fellowship hall or sanctuary with the church office.
Pastor’s Schedules
Pastor Renee Reimer will be on vacation from January 14-29.
Pastor Nathan Koontz will be at a “Roots of Justice” Training from Jan. 14-16, but he will be available in case of emergencies.
Pastor Nathan Koontz is increasing his hours up to 3/4 time for the month of January to help cover pastoral staffing until Interim Pastor Todd Schlosser begins on February 1, 2022. Pastor Nathan will be working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with flexible work days on Friday and Saturday as needed.
Remember to fill out the evaluations of Pastors Renee Reimer and Nathan Koontz by January 21, 2022. (The email with these evaluations was sent Wednesday, January 12. If you need to have the evaluations re-sent to you, please contact the office.
The Finance Committee thanks the congregation for their abundant giving for the 2021 Budget. We were able to cover the 2021 expenses plus a little extra for the benevolences. Thank You! II Corinthians 9:7 – “God loves a cheerful giver”!
Committee Chair, Al Peters
BCMC Offering for January 9, 2022: General Fund $12,941.30; Living Stones $740; Women’s Fellowship $100; Rosalind Andreas Memorial $100.
A Thank you to the Deacon Commission from Myron and Mildred Voran
Thank you for remembering us with cards and letters of thoughtful caring and encouragement.
The next week at BCMC Sunday, January 16, 2022
9:30 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary
10:30 am Faith Formation–Youth and Children’s Sunday schools cancelled for the rest of January
Monday, January 17, 2022—Martin Luther King Jr. Day—Office will be closed and church locked
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
9—11 am Community Playschool
7 pm Worship Commission by Zoom
Wednesday, January 19, 2022—No Youth Group or Chancel Choir in January
7 pm Menno Ringers in B7
7 pm Dr. Jennifer Koontz COVID Zoom Call
Thursday, January 20, 2022
9—11 am Community Playschool
2 pm Hospitality Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
4 pm Witness Commission meeting in Room 14
6:15 pm Chancel Bells in Room B7
7 pm Deacon Commission meeting by Zoom
7 pm Bethel College Women’s Association meeting in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, January 23, 2022
9:30 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary
10:30 am Faith Formation
Dr. Jennifer Koontz COVID Zoom Call, Jan. 19, 7pm
Dr. Jennifer Scott Koontz has been a leading expert on COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. She received the 2021 Bethel College Outstanding Alumni Award for her consistent and clear communication of COVID-19 research and guidelines to the general public. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health along with an M.D. from the University of Kansas and has practiced medicine in Newton for 12 years. She is also a member of BCMC. Dr. Koontz will be hosting a Question and Answer Session via Zoom for anyone interested in learning about the current landscape of COVID-19. Please come with your questions and plan to attend this Zoom meeting on Wednesday, January 19 at 7pm. A Zoom link will be sent out as we approach the 19th.
The new Library Theme is focusing on the state of Kansas. Come check out the many books we have that celebrate Kansas. Also, a couple of 2000 piece puzzles in excellent condition have been donated to the library. We are using them as a fundraiser. We are asking for a minimum donation of $5 for one puzzle. Just place your donation in the basket or give it to the committee person on duty. We look forward to seeing you in the library and don’t forget to let us know of any addition you would like us to add to our collection. Library Committee
N95 Masks Available at BCMC
Thanks to a generous donation to BCMC, we have high quality N95 masks available for those who need them. They will be available inside the south entrance of BCMC. These masks are particularly useful if you are at high risk of severe COVID 19 and you need or want to participate in a more high risk activity. While no mask creates absolute safety, wearing a well-fitted N95 mask can reduce your risk and make activities safer. This includes activities such as a trip to the grocery store, watching a basketball game, or going to the doctor’s office. Part of the rationale behind these masks offered at BCMC is to provide N95 masks for those who may not be able to navigate online purchasing options. N95 masks are not readily available in our local stores. If you know of someone who would benefit from an N95 mask, please pass this information on to them, or stop by the church and grab one for them.
As COVID numbers continue to rise in our community we are keeping an eye on the safety of gathering together on Sunday mornings. Mass gatherings for extended periods of time continue to be a high risk activity. Statistics are coming out on the omicron variant that cloth masks do not work as effectively as they did with other variants. Remember to wear your mask over your nose and chin when inside of our church building.
As a reminder, we offer live streaming options each Sunday. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers these past 2 years, that technology and experience has greatly improved. January might be a good time to enjoy your worship experience with a hot cup of coffee from the comfort of your own home. If you do decide to come to worship in person please be cautious. Wear your mask properly, social distance, use hand sanitizer upon arrival and leaving, and do not come if you feel sick in any way or if you have been exposed to COVID in the last 10 days. If you test positive with COVID within 2 days after attending an in person gathering at BCMC, please let the church office know as we may need to take other safety precautions.
May we all pray for everyone in our community as we navigate safety precautions together and for those who are currently experiencing COVID in our homes.
Congregational Meeting will be January 30
The Jan. 30, 2022 congregational meeting will start at 1 p.m. and will be held by Zoom. It will not be a hybrid meeting. An agenda and Zoom link will be sent in a later email.
Safe Sanctuary Training
Save the date for the next Safe Sanctuary training on Sunday, February 6th from 10:30am-11:30am. This training will take place in the fellowship hall but will be available over zoom too. Please email Renee for a link if you’d like to join via zoom. Please plan to attend if you are a mentor, youth/child Sunday School teacher, sponsor, or Wednesday night club leader and did not attend a training this past fall.
Bethel College Announcements
Life Enrichment at Bethel College has been canceled for spring 2022, due to ongoing health and safety concerns. Organizers hope to resume Life Enrichment in fall 2022.
Mon., Jan. 17 and Tues., Jan. 18 – Bethel College hosts two activities for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday that are free and open to the public, both in Memorial Hall: Jan. 17, 7 p.m., program with Restorative Justice practitioner and activist Jasmyn Elise Story as the featured speaker; Jan. 18, 2 p.m., screening of the Kellogg Foundation’s 2022 National Day of Racial Healing event. Sponsors are Bethel College Student Life, the Bethel College Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center and the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR). Current Bethel COVID protocols require masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Save the date: Sat., Jan. 29 – Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Famous Kansans,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lotand grounds. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org
New Hope Shelter Announcement
There will be a Volunteer Training Day at New Hope Shelter on Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.
New Hope’s volunteer shift hours are 5 pm to 11 pm daily
If you or anyone you know is interested in signing up for volunteer training, please contact Valetta Seymour. seymour2314@gmail.com, 620-217-7536 no later than Tuesday, January 25.
New Hope Shelter is currently looking for a Part Time person who can work at least 2 weekends a month; that is 2 Saturdays and 2 Sundays per month from 8AM to 5 PM. If you know of anyone who would be interested, please have them contact New Hope Shelter
Shonda M Suddeth
Shelter/Volunteer Coordinator
(316) 283-7711
shonda@newhope-shelter.org
Western District Conference Announcements
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements and share them with your congregation!
Everyone is invited to the WDC Final Thursday Book Discussion on January 27, 2022 at 7:00pm via Zoom. We will discuss This is God’s Table: Finding Church Beyond the Walls by Anna Woofender and explore what it means to explore “raw, honest, gritty way[s] of doing church.” Contact the library at crlib@mennowdc.org to register or borrow a copy of the book.
The Kansas Mennonite Disaster Service Unit invites you to attend the annual meeting on Sunday, January 16, 2 p.m. at Tabor Mennonite church, rural Newton, KS. No need to register. We will be sharing and celebrating the work of MDS and voting on Unit Bylaw revisions. For a copy of the Bylaw revisions and zoom info contact Cleo Koop at cleohkoop@gmail.com . This will be a hybrid event, in person as well as virtual on Zoom.
Tabor Mennonite Church is located at 891 Chisholm Trail Rd, Newton, KS.
For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here
For Mennonite Church USA Special Session of the Delegate Assembly click here
The Rocky Mountain January newsletter is here!Have a look at the latest/greatest happenings here at RMMC at the beginning of another new year! For this and previous newsletters, please visit the camp website and click on the “News” tab under “About Us”.
Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale Announcement
WANTED for the Kansas MCC Sale General Auction: Cars, Trucks, Tractors, Motorcycles, Campers, etc. Call Jerry Toews, 620-367-8257, for details and pickup NOW so we have time to get them cleaned up and ready for the sale in April. ALL proceeds go to MCC. We usually get GOOD prices for your donations. Help make a difference in the lives of those struggling around the world through MCC. Thank you!
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: This weekend, as we remember Martin Luther King Jr., who followed Jesus’ way of nonviolent civil disobedience to bring hope to people who have been marginalized by society, pray for Mennonite Mission Network’s ministry of dismantling racism in the United States and around the world.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC congregations joining God’s work of economic justice, racial equity and peace-building in our communities and world.