VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL SUNDAY AT BCMC – JUNE 4, 2023
VBS met at BCMC this week from 5:30-7:30 p.m.. Our kids learned how they can be change makers as their hearts and lives are changed as they trust in the good news of Jesus.
TONIGHT, Friday June 2 –Please join us at 6 p.m., for a community concert being held at BCMC with a free will donation going towards Camp Mennoscah’s matching grant.
You’re invited to Selah’s Song, Friday, June 2 at 6:00 pm at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, KS. Presented by Theatre of the Beat from Toronto, and hosted by Newton Mennonite VBS. Admission by donation will support Camp Mennoscah.
About the show:
Written by Johnny Wideman, with original music by beloved Mennonite musician Bryan Moyer Suderman, Selah’s Song tells the story of a young girl whose courage inspired a village and whose song became an anthem for peace. Inundated with catchy pro-war propaganda songs, Selah is inspired to share her own music with the village, creating some competition for the King. Selah’s Song is a heartwarming musical that is fun for all ages! We hope to see you there.
SUNDAY JUNE 4 WORSHIP SERVICE AT BCMC
Due to possible inclement weather for Sunday morning, the Vacation Bible School service will be held in the sanctuary at Bethel College Mennonite Church at 10:00 am. We welcome all who would like to attend in person! Following the service, there will be a potluck outside on the lawn (weather permitting) or downstairs in the Fellowship Hall (if it is raining). Please bring a food item to share and table service. Drinks will be provided.
The service on Sunday will be streamed through BCMC on the following link: https://youtube.com/live/IfJd1W4L4po?feature=share
Roger Neufeld Smith’s Whereabouts
Roger will be in Newton until Monday afternoon, June 5.
Judy Friesen would like to invite church members to come share her space in the country with a potluck, today June 11, starting at 6 p.m. Sloppy joes, drink and table service provided. Space to roam and visit as well as eat. 2101 W Dutch Ave. North on Hwy 15 to Hesston Road (Dutch Av), and 3/4 mile west.
Save the Date! There will be an orientation for new commission, board, and committee members on June 18 during the Sunday School hour. Please place this event on your calendars and look for further details coming soon. Continuing members of groups need not attend this orientation, although all those interested are welcome.
We offer sympathy to Robert Carlson and family on the death of Robert’s wife, Phyllis, May 29, 2023 at Overland Park, Kansas. The memorial service for Phyllis will be Saturday, June 10 at 11 a.m. at Rainbow Mennonite Church, 1444 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103.
The service will be livestreamed:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aQzyYF0quBZBz1a-OJksg
We offer sympathy to Dianne Epp and family on the death of her sister-in-law Rebecca (Becky) Janice Epp Bartel on May 27 in Roeland Park, Kansas. The memorial service for Becky will be Saturday, July 29, 11 a.m. at Rainbow Mennonite Church.
For Becky’s obituary press here
BCMC Pride Month Activities
June is Pride month for LGBTQIA persons and our church plans to celebrate and raise awareness for those who identify as LGBTQIA in the following ways.
–Pride banners will be hung outside our church building during the month of June. Thanks to Oscar Gonzalez, Graphic Design Coordinator at Bethel College, for his design!
-Nathan Koontz of BCMC will represent the local Supportive Communities Network (SCN) during worship at Faith Mennonite as they celebrate joining SCN. SCN is part of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. Local SCN congregations include BCMC, Shalom, New Creation, and Lorraine Avenue.
-In early June, the Bethel College Mennonite Church Inclusion Task Group will be sending a letter to the Mennonite Central Committee encouraging them to eliminate their discriminatory policies towards LGBTQIA persons. If you would like to learn more about MCC’s lifestyle policy (HR 152) and our letter, please contact Karen Ediger, John Kliewer, Nathan Koontz, or Karen Penner of the Inclusion Task Group.
-The congregation is invited to join in various Wichita Pride activities throughout the month of June. Go to the wichitapride.org website for more details. Of special note is the Pride Parade on June 25. The route will begin at the Old Courthouse and end at Century II.
Kauffman Museum is offering an intergenerational Uncle Carl’s Camp called “Pottery Possibilities,” July 10-14 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on the Bethel campus. Campers will start with hand-building before throwing on potter’s wheels, and wrap up the week with glazing and an outdoor firing (weather permitting). Completed artwork may be picked up at a later date. No previous experience is required. To sign up or to explore other Uncle Carl’s Camp offerings, stop by Kauffman Museum (27th & North Main, North Newton) to pick up a brochure or visit https://kauffmanmuseum.org/uncle-carls-camp/
Mennonite Central Committee School Kit Challenge: Notebooks and pencils are treasures for families around the world who have been forced to flee their homes or struggle to afford basic school supplies. Without these items, many kids in places like Syria, Ukraine and South Sudan can’t get the education they desperately need. Enter, the School Kit Challenge: 10,000 school kits to help 10,000 kids during the month of August. Plus, we’ve got a fun activity for Sunday School and VBS students! Download our free School Kit Challenge activity resource full of challenges for kids to learn how school supplies help children receive a tangible message of God’s love. To learn more about this challenge and to download this free guide, visit mcc.org/school-kit-challenge.
Camp Mennoscah Announcements
A nurse isneeded for First Camp, June 15-17. A nurse is a safety requirement for our summer youth camps. Do you know anyone who can help out? The camp runs from Thursday late afternoon to Saturday morning. As a nurse, 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). 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.
Other events and happenings:
- Registration for the Fall Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats is open. The retreats are scheduled for Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 10-12. All retreat activities will happen at the Main Camp facilities with cropping and crafts in the dining hall and lodging in the bunkhouses. (The Retreat Center will be undergoing HVAC renovations.) Single rooms are not available. Contact us at 620-297-3290 with questions or issues. We’ll see you in the fall!
- Click to register! Summer youth camps start June 4. Registrations are still being accepted. 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!
- Just want to let you know that things will look different! The landscaping around the Retreat Center will be removed in preparation for the replacement of the HVAC system at the Retreat Center and to meet code. There is not a firm timeline when this will start. New landscaping will be determined at a later time.
- Some scholarship funds are still available. These scholarship funds are to assist campers who might not otherwise be able to attend a week of camp. To request scholarship funds, complete the online form. Questions can be directed to olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Staff position opening: Western District Conference seeks a half-time Business Manager beginning July 10, at WDC’s North Newton, KS, office (some remote work possible). Responsibilities include financial management, bookkeeping, reporting and payroll. Qualifications include organizational, computer and communication skills, bookkeeping or accounting experience, and willingness to support WDC’s mission and priorities. For position description and application form, see https://mennowdc.org/wdc-staff-position-opening/. Interested applicants please submit application form and letter of interest to the Conference Minister at heidirk@mennowdc.org.
2023 WDC Annual Assembly – Let’s grow in faith together! Ever considered multigenerational faith formation in your congregation? Come experience faith formation for all ages. Nursery available for 3 and under. WDC Annual Assembly registration for your whole family or youth group opening soon!
A Gift for You–The WDC Resource Library summer reading program for all ages includes a gift for you. Stop by the library from May 30-August 10 to pick out a wrapped package and a response sheet or request one be mailed to you. The book/DVD/resource inside is yours to keep. Fill out a response sheet and return to the library for a ticket into the prize drawing (gift cards for teens/adults and a prize bag for kids). The WDC Resource Library is located at 2517 N Main in North Newton. For questions and mailing requests, email crlib@mennowdc.org
For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here
For Anabaptist Disabilities Network press here
For Mennonite World Conference press here
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Join us for “Delegate Assembly 2023: Know Before You Go, Part II,” an informational Zoom webinar on Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Leaders from MC USA, Everence and MHS Association will discuss the proposed organizational resolutions for the upcoming Delegate Assembly in Kansas City. Delegates and nondelegates are welcome to attend. Register and submit your questions here: mennoniteusa.org/da23-webinar
Mennonite Church USA strives to live into its Accessibility Resolution at MennoCon23 by removing barriers to make people of all abilities and needs feel welcome. MennoCon23, the denomination’s leading faith formation event, will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, July 3-6. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/mennocon23-accessible
#BeTransformed
“Pastoral transitions are a natural part of congregational life. At some point, your pastor will leave. They will leave for all sorts of reasons, and the majority of reasons have nothing to do with the congregation,” writes Rachel Ringenberg Miller, denominational minister for ministerial leadership for Mennonite Church USA, in her helpful blog about next steps: mennoniteusa.org/pastoral-transition-beauty
#MennoCon23
Hugo Saucedo, a longtime MennoCon volunteer, attended his first convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1993. “I was 16 years old, when my youth group drove from Brownsville, Texas, to Philadelphia. In spite of the long drive, the memories I made have stayed with me to this day.” Read more about Hugo’s experience here: mennoniteusa.org/mennocon23-mennonite-reunion
There is still time to register online for MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s leading faith formation event, in Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center, July 3-6, 2023. Registration is also still open for the Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, and the Delegate Assembly, July 7-8. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/registration
Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayers for all participants in Mennonite Voluntary Service and Service Adventure, as they bring closure to their assignments in the coming weeks. Pray for these young adults as they discern God’s leadings and as they integrate what they have learned and experienced into the next seasons of their lives.
Prayer Request from Western District Conference: Give thanks for WDC congregations hosting vacation Bible school and other summer programs for children and youth in their communities.