July 10, 2022
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’s worship service: https://youtu.be/SY3GARPNmWA
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
July 10, 2022
Prelude—Holy, Holy, Holy (Burkhardt) and When In Our Music God Is Glorified Hobby)—
Karen Unruh
Christ Candle Lighting—Jill Robb
Welcome and Prayer—Jill Robb
*Hymn—Come We That Love—VT #31
Children’s Conversation—Adam Robb
Scripture Reading—Luke 10:25-37—Dianne Epp
Sermon—Go and do likewise—Todd Schlosser
*Hymn How can we be silent—VT 790
Prayers of God’s People—Jill Robb
*Hymn Lead me forth—VT 837
Benediction—Todd Schlosser
Postlude—O God, Our Help in Ages Past (Ashdown)—Karen Unruh
* You are invited to stand
VT = Voices Together
Audio visual—Francis Toews
Pastors—Nathan Koontz, Todd Schlosser
YouTube link to the service: https://youtu.be/SY3GARPNmWA
This Week at BCMC: July 10—17, 2022
Sunday, July 10
10:15 am Fellowship Time with coffee and water served in the
Gathering Place
10:30 am Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
Adult Classes (If meeting): Agape Class (Rm B8) Bible Study (Rm 14); Catacombs (Rm B5); Fellowship (B7); Fine Arts (Rm 22); Issues and Christianity (Rm 23); Mosaic (Rm 20); Open Circle (Room 21); Seekers (Rm 28);
Sojourners (Chapel)
Monday, July 11—Pastor Todd Schlosser will be on vacation through
July 17.
Monica Lichti will be away from the office Monday. The office will be closed, Monday, July 11, and will reopen Tuesday.
Tuesday, July 12
12:00 noon Mid-Kansas Investment Club meeting in Fellowship Hall
Thursday, July 14
4 pm Witness Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
4 pm Staff Congregation Relations meeting in Room 14
7 pm Finance Committee meeting
Sunday, July 17
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Eric Massanari
10:15 am Fellowship Time with coffee and water served in the
Gathering Place
10:30 am Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
The Abuse Prevention and Response Committee will take the months of July and part of August to read the book, #Church Too. On Sunday August 21 will be spent sharing reactions to the book, and on August 28 guiding questions will be used to help us discuss how we as a congregation can use the information from the book to help us create a healthy culture around sexuality at BCMC that supports survivors, our children/youth and ourselves. The book can be purchased through Amazon, requested through Faith and Life bookstore, or your favorite local independent bookstore of your choice. If demand is high we will pivot and figure out a way to have copies available in the church office for purchase. – Jill Robb, APRC chair
The Library theme for June and July is Caldecott and John Newbery Award Winners. We have many of these award winning books that would be of interest to both adults and children. Come check them out. We are also continuing to accept and sell puzzles. Not only are they on the cart, but also below the new book section on the west wall. Just leave a suggested donation of $5 in the envelope and enjoy. We have a long list of books that we would like to add to our collection and this is a great way to support our efforts.
The Library Committee has processed almost 20 new books, 10 of them purchased and donated by The Abuse Prevention and Response Committee. The APRC books can be found on the Pastor’s Corner shelf which is now located on the west wall with the other recent purchases. Another new purchase is “The Land Is Not Empty” by Sarah Augustine which was recommended by the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery group. Please stop by and see what we have to offer and continue to browse and donate from our puzzle collection. The Library Committee
BCMC July 3 Offering: General Fund $10,447; Library Reserve Fund $10; Living Stones $2,190; Kitchen Fund (Coffee) $12
Western District Conference Assembly, July 29-31
Looking for a dream vacation this summer while serving the church? Camp Copass near Denton, Texas, might be just the ticket for you. It’s the site for the annual WDC Assembly. You’ll find registration information at https://mennowdc.org/2022-wdc-annual-assembly/. If attending the assembly in person, the cost for housing and meals is $168 (there is no registration fee). Transportation is available via vans from North Newton for $25 per person. There is also a virtual option for attending the assembly, although that does involve a $50 registration fee. The Gifts Discernment Committee will
provide at least $150 for any delegates attending in person; $50 dollars for those participating virtually. BCMC qualifies for 16 delegates. Registration deadline is July 15. Contact the church office or a member of the Gifts Discernment Committee if you plan to attend. GDC members: Dale Schrag, Jerry Buller, Elaine Prouty, Jeanette Stucky
Faith Formation Commission recognizes that attending summer camps is not cheap, but that it is an extremely valuable part of faith formation for our young people. We have some scholarship funding available to assist families with covering the cost of registering for the 2022 camping season. We also hope to have funds available after the camping season to provide some amount of reimbursement to all families with campers. Please contact Mary Ellen Hodge or Pastor Todd Schlosser if you’d like assistance with camp registration this summer. These funds are only available to campers who camp at Mennonite camps. We encourage you to get registered early for an awesome summer of camping experiences! If anyone at BCMC would like to support our young people attending camp you can feel free to donate to our Mennonite Camping Scholarship Fund by writing a check made out to BCMC (with Mennonite Camp Scholarship in the memo line) and drop it off on Sunday morning or in the church office.
Faith Formation would like for everyone to fill out a short survey regarding interest in attending an intergenerational Sunday School class this coming school year with our children and youth. We are looking for adults who are interested in joining the class for one month out of the year. Please take a look at the survey and see if any of the areas of opportunity to help will interest you.
https://forms.gle/v5q4uWeY4XE8w6vX7
Update from the Church Board:
BCMC is in a time of transition, an “in-between” time of waiting and working in the boundary between what was and what will be. These times are rich with possibility for new understanding of our past and current status and for re-envisioning and planning our future. The following are updates on Church Board work during these transitional times:
Screen Project:
It is with gratitude and excitement that we announce that we achieved the requested $12,200 commitment by the congregation to move ahead with the new screen for the front of the sanctuary. The church will also make a tithing donation to the International Rescue Committee as a part of this project. Thanks to the screen study task group for all their fine work over the last two years! And thanks to so many in our congregation who made an early donation to the project! Additional donations will be needed in the coming months to complete the project.
Expanded Pastoral Time for Nathan Koontz:
The Church Board has approved a proposal to expand Nathan’s time from ½ time to ¾ time beginning June 13. The MOU is through November 27; Nathan and the Church Board will review the arrangement together in October or November to determine continuation. His additional work will focus on preaching (one additional Sunday each month) and performing the role of worship coordinator. Worship coordination includes making arrangements for worship leaders, scripture readers, and children’s storytellers; liaison work with musicians; work with guest pastors; and other planning and tasks as appropriate. Thank you, Nathan!
New Hope Shelter be hosting a Volunteer Training Session on Thursday, July 21 at 7 pm.
New Hope’s volunteer shift hours are 5 pm to 11 pm daily.
Anyone who signs up to be a volunteer must be trained by a staff member beforehand. Even if you have volunteered before COVID, you may want to come back in for a refresher course.
If anyone who is interested in signing up for volunteer training, please contact Valetta Seymour no later than Tuesday, July 19. seymour2314@gmail.com, 620-217-7536.
Bethel College Announcements
Life Enrichment returns to Bethel College with the start of the fall 2022 semester – but It will be on a different day. Life Enrichment resumes Thursday, Aug. 25, and will be on Thursdays thereafter. Place and time remain the same: Krehbiel Auditorium, 9:30 a.m. See https://www.bethelks.edu/academics/convocation-lectures/life-enrichment for more information, and look for a brochure coming soon.
The 2022 issue of Mennonite Life, Bethel College’s annual online journal, is now live at ml.bethelks.edu, with articles and reviews by Daniel Shank Cruz, Chris Dick, June Mears Driedger, Susan Kennel Harrison, Raylene Hinz-Penner, Gordon Houser, Reinhild K. Janzen, Gayle Gerber Koontz, Steve Nolt, Rachel Pannabecker, Karen Reimer, Ben Woodward-Breckbill and Melanie Zuercher.
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!
Easy way to give! Do you want an easy way to donate to help cover WDC Annual Assembly expenses? Simply text 316-320-0787, then click the “Fund” dropdown menu and choose “Assembly Contributions.” We are grateful for any gifts toward this important annual gathering. Thank you for your support!
WDC Annual Assembly non-delegate fun: Not going to be a delegate, but plan to join us at Camp Copass, Denton, TX? There will be lots to do! We will have creative quiet recreational options, as well as active ones such as basketball, fishing, swimming, horse shoes, gaga ball, human foosball, and more. In addition to recreation, there will be service projects—tying MCC comforters, and collecting and bagging hygiene items for MCC, as well as for the immigration ministry of San Antonio Mennonite Church. There will be workshops to enjoy, as well. Join us! Register here https://mennowdc.org/2022-annual-assembly-registration/.
Summer Story Hour–God Rocks! – All children ages 3-8 in the central Kansas area are invited to God Rocks! Summer Story Hour at the WDC Conference Resource Library 2517 N. Main in North Newton. Fun Stories and Activities with Leader, Marjie Warkentine and Resource Library Director, Jennie Wintermote. Mondays at 10:00am on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1 & 8. Register for Story Hour here.
Mennonite Central Committee Announcements
Colorado peaches are back! Place your order for fresh Colorado peaches, just $27 for 10 lb. box and $38 for 18 lb. box by calling Mennonite Central Committee at 316-283-2720 or emailing patsydirksen@mcc.org. Peaches must be ordered and paid for by July 25. The peaches are offered as a fundraiser for the Colorado MCC Relief Sale, please make payment by check to Beth-El Mennonite Church with “peaches” in the memo line. Generous volunteers Jerry and Leann Toews will bring the peaches from Colorado to MCC in North Newton for you to pick-up around August 22.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States welcomes 3 new people to their staff. Brocia Mueller, volunteer coordinator in the MCC Workroom in North Newton; Wesley Wilder, human resources coordinator and Mahlet Mamo, young adult program coordinator.
MCC School Kit season is right around the corner! MCC is working to fulfil requests for school kits from partner organizations in Jordan, Ukraine, Malawi, Syria, Iraq, and Haiti.
Things to keep in mind when making school kits this year:
-Sewn school kit bags may be requested from the MCC Material
Resources Center.
-MCC North Newton has a large supply of pink erasers, so you can skip erasers and they’ll be added when the kit is checked at MCC.
-The pencil sharpeners need to be metal, not plastic.
-You can find the directions for school kits at mcc.org, or contact Kate at katemast@mcc.org or 316.283.2720 with any questions.
Excuse our mess! The work of making necessary repairs and reconfiguring spaces at the MCC building in North Newton continues to move forward. Donors and volunteers continue to graciously adapt to the mess. We ask for your prayers and patience during this construction process so the important work of MCC can continue without undue interruption.
Conflict is a normal part of life, but learning how to work through it is key. MCC has a resource to help you work through divisive issues, a new adult Sunday school curriculum, Peaceful Practices: A guide to healthy communication in conflict. It invites churchgoers to follow Jesus’ call to peacemaking through dialogue with each other. To follow up on the Peaceful Practices curriculum, MCC has two conversation guides, to help congregations dialogue on sensitive topics. #BlackLivesMatter: Can we have a conversation? and Critical Race Theory: How should race education be taught in schools? are available for download here.
For Mennonite Central Committee In Touch press here
Bluestem Communities will host its annual Innovations in Living with Dementia community forum through an online webinar at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20. The evening’s presentation is “The Most Common Dementia Under 60,” which addresses frontotemporal degeneration. Registration and participation are free. One CEU approved by the State of Kansas is available for $15 for those who desire it. Pre-registration is required at bluestemks.org/dementiaforum.
For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here
For Mennonite World Conference Assembly Day One press here
For Mennonite World Conference Assembly Indonesia Streaming press here
For Mennonite World Conference Assembly Day Two press here
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Delegate Assembly
Now that the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly is over, and the resolutions have passed, you may have questions about what it all means. Join Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and staff members for the “Special Session of the Delegate Assembly: What now?” webinar, July 18 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, to explore these questions. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/webinar-whats-next
This week, please pray for Virginia Mennonite Conference congregations as they gather for their summer delegate assembly on July 14-16.
Menno Snapshots
Father’s Day has passed, but the advice that Steve Thomas of Mennonite Men shares in his blog, “Fathers” continues to encourage fathers to build loving relationships with their children. Read his advice here: mennoniteusa.org/fathers
Menno Snapshots
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gwen Gustafson-Zook walked into a yarn shop and came to the realization that knitting would be the key to getting her through this difficult season. See how she uses knitting as a spiritual practice in her Menno Snapshots blog, “Stitch by stitch: Knitting as a spiritual practice.” mennoniteusa.org/knitting-spiritual-practice
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Indonesian Mennonite churches that are hosting Mennonite World Conference Assembly. Pray that the bonds of God’s love and shalom, which participants are sharing at this global gathering, will be extended around the world, as people return to their home communities. Pray, also, for safety in travel and protection from COVID-19.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for children attending WDC’s summer story hour at the Conference Resource Library, that this would be a nurturing time of learning and fun together.