Congregational Meeting – January 31, 2021 – 1 pm
The Congregational Meeting on January 31, 1 pm, will be held via Zoom (and will not be livestreamed).
Below is the link for the meeting (press the button), along with the agenda and reports. We encourage as many of you to participate as is possible, since this congregational meeting involves approving the 2021 BCMC budget, which requires a quorum. In preparation for this meeting, please make sure you have Zoom downloaded on your computer or tablet. Questions or need help? Please call the church office.
You may wish to have the Financial Reports booklet available during the time of the meeting. If you have any questions about the meeting or the agenda, you can direct them to Elizabeth Schmidt, BCMC Church Board chair/moderator.
Zoom Link for the January 31, 2021 Congregational Meeting
For the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 863 8586 2117
Passcode: 981118
Click here for the Financial Reports Booklet:
Financial Reports Booklet for 2020 with the 2021 Proposed Budget
Announcements
Give Someone a Call!
During last Sunday’s worship (January 24), Cliff Dick encouraged us to pick up our church directories, leaf through the pages, and remember those whom we have not seen for many months now. In that spirit, we encourage you to pick one of those people this week and call them on the phone. Connect with someone just to let them know that you were thinking about them. See where the conversation goes!
From the BCMC Library Committee
Good news from the Library Committee: Beginning Feb 2, the BCMC Library will be staffed every Tuesday from 10:00-noon to help you check out or find library books. Of course, the library is still open the rest of the week, but we won’t physically be there to help. You would continue to check out books by writing your name and the name of the book on the checkout sheet. Please come explore the library, we have so many wonderful books for you to enjoy.
Congratulations to Kidron Residents and Staff!
Congratulations to Kidron residents and staff who have received their first COVID-19 vaccination! They will receive the second vaccination on Saturday, January 30.
BCMC offering for the week of January 17-24
General Fund $10,322; Sr Hi Youth $100; Transfer-General $50; General Fund-2020 $380; Caring Fund $600; Jr Hi Fund $185; Living Stones $5; Women’s Fellowship $100.
Mennonite Central Committee Comforter Blitz: At Home
The annual MCC Comforter Blitz is happening virtually this year from now through March! The Kansas Friends of MCC committee is challenging congregations and individuals to complete 300 comforters for MCC by the end of March! Read all the details and information on getting comforter making supplies from MCC at mcc.org/blitz-at-home. Share pictures of your work on the MCC Comforter Blitz Facebook page. Contact katemast@mcc.org or 316.804.8432 with questions.
From the Western District Conference
1. WDC announces that Violeta Ajquejay Suastegui will join the WDC staff team as part-time Interim Administrative Assistant on February 1. She will assist in supporting pastors and congregations in Texas, Hispanic ministries, and in church planting. She brings a wide range of church and ministry-related experience. She currently serves as Associate Director for Hispanic Ministries for Pastoral & Leadership Education, a program of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), where she assists in providing leadership to the work of the Hispanic Ministries office and programs, especially the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (IBA). Through her work, she enjoys working with and meeting people from different nationalities. Violeta is a graduate of Bethel College and Hesston College. In her free time, Violeta serves on the Et Cetera Shop Board (Newton, KS). Violeta has served with WDC for many years (Executive Board, Home Missions Committee, Church Planting Commission, conference minister search committees, WDC 125th year anniversary taskforce). Her love of serving the people of God and her experience will be a great contribution to WDC’s core tasks and denominational networking. We are excited to welcome Violeta to this new role!
2. We want to express our appreciation to everyone who has given to WDC over the past year to help our congregations Witness & invite others to faith in Jesus Christ, Dwell in just & loving relationships, and Connect to God’s mission in the world. Your generous gifts are appreciated as we have all navigated ministry in these uncertain times! We continue to invite your contributions as we are looking toward our fiscal year end on January 31! You may make an online contribution HERE or send a check to Western District Conference, PO Box 306, North Newton KS 67117. Thank you for your generosity!
Sunday, Feb. 7 – The KIPCOR Film Series at Bethel College is serving up a second helping of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which focuses on the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave to illustrate how Black, Indigenous and People of Color and low-income citizens suffer the most negative impact from natural disasters. The film is an indictment of U.S. disaster preparedness, and connects extreme weather, extreme disparity (income and other) and extreme racism. Go to kipcor.org, “Film Series,” for a link to watch Cooked for free and a link to register for the Feb. 7 virtual discussion; advance registration is required to participate in the discussion, which will be held in break-out rooms. Discussion leaders include Dr. Christy Miller-Hesed along with people who experienced the 1995 Chicago heat disaster.
Camp Mennoscah announcements
1. There are volunteer opportunities for you! Camp Mennoscah continually has year-round work to support the maintenance and upkeep of the campus and facilities. We can accommodate every group size, skill set and length of project you would like to tackle. Check out these ways to Get Involved! Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer.
2. Registration is open for the Spring Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats at Camp Mennoscah on March 5-7 and March 19-21! Once the retreats are full, sign up on the waitlist. Register at www.campmennoscah.org!
3. Nothing’s better than a summer at camp! Watch this video created by Mennonite Camping Association about why you should work at camp. Applications for Camp Mennoscah Summer Staff positions are now being accepted!
4. Camp Mennoscah is an amazing space for families and groups to connect! Facilities for differently sized groups are available with a variety of gathering areas. Trails and fields are waiting to be hiked and used for fun activities, too! Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to reserve.
From Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
VISION 2020 Capital Campaign Celebration, Jan. 31 @ 6:00 p.m. – We want to celebrate and show gratitude to the many Spirit led volunteers and donors for the accomplishments made with our VISION 2020 Campaign over the past decade. Please join us as we recognize what we have successfully completed since 2012 with so many critical Campaign Projects such as our exciting new Pleiades multipurpose facility, critically needed new spring water system, the renovation of the Boys Bathhouse and much more. Hundreds of camp volunteers and donors have invested in our VISION 2020 Campaign. Celebrating our progress to date is a joy we can relish as we begin a new year for and share future VISION goals. Any photos or videos to share are welcomed (info@rmmc.org). Please let us know if you can join us and a Zoom link will be sent 2 hours prior to the Sunday gathering. We hope to see you with us on January 31st.Young Adult Snow Camp, Feb. 5-7 – Join young adults in the Rockies for a great time of fellowship and fun even with masks and appropriate distancing. The retreat is filled with activities that can be done safely indoors and out like ping pong, broom ball, tubing and snow shoeing, while also allowing for free time to rest if you want.
Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network
Mennonite Mission Network praises God for John Fumana of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bruce Yoder of Canada, who have said “yes” to God’s call to work as a team of executive coordinators for Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission. Pray for Bruce and John as they begin their new roles tomorrow.
Prayer Request from Western District Conference
Give thanks for God’s creation, and pray for WDC congregations as they seek ways to practice faithful stewardship of the natural environment.