Sunday, June 5, 2022
This Sunday, June 5, worship (followed by a potluck lunch!) will be held at Athletic Park beginning at 10:00am. Come out and join all the Mennonite Newton churches for worship and support our children as they wrap up their week long Vacation Bible School together. Bring your own lawn chair for the worship service. If you plan to eat lunch following the service, please bring a potluck dish to share and your own table service. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
The BCMC church building will not be open on Sunday, June 5th. The live-stream link to this Sunday’s worship service is different than normal. You can use this link to watch from home. 10 am Worship Service at Athletic Park (worship will be approximately 30 minutes) All who attend are welcome to participate in a game and a craft afterwards.
Please pray for the sr high youth group this week as they travel to Colorado to do a week of service at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp June 6th-11th. Renee Reimer will be out of the office joining them on this last adventure together.
The Next Week at BCMC
Monday, June 6
7 pm Facilities Committee Meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, June 7
6-9 pm Private event in Fellowship Hall
Thursday, June 9
9 am Library Committee in the Library
4 pm Staff Congregation Relations Committee Meeting in Room 14
Saturday, June 11
11 am Memorial service for Kenneth Schmidt in the Sanctuary
Library Committee Announcement
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.
Prairie Bronze Handbell Ensemble Concert
The Prairie Bronze Handbell Ensemble will present a concert June 5, 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 900 Columbus, Newton. Guest artist will be Brett Jackson on saxophone and clarinet. The concert is free and open to the public.
Memorial Service for Jim Goering
The memorial service for Theodore James “Jim” Goering will be held Saturday, June 11, 10:45 am, at Grace Community Church, 1600 South Anderson Road, Newton. Visitation will be Friday, June 10, 6-8 pm, also at Grace Community Church. Jim died April 13, 2022 at Kidron Bethel Village. Jim’s wife is Shirley Goering and his siblings are Josephine Schmidt, Homer Goering, Helen Nachtigal, and Vernon Goering. You can view Jim’s obituary at this link: https://www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/obituary/jim-goering
The Celebration of Life service will be streamed and can be found under Grace Community Church’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphjoHNJdI3dX26ItfQzGpw
An Invitation from the Seekers Sunday School Class
June 12 Seekers Sunday school will meet in the Fellowship Hall. Kamala Platt will read from her poetry book: “Gravity Prevails: and so does love”. Anyone is welcome.
To fellow worshipers of Bethel College Mennonite Church:
The screen study committee is grateful for the strong support that our fellowship has given to installing a screen in our sanctuary. We continue to believe that it will enhance worship and provide enhanced experiences for conferences, weddings and other events.
We have been receiving gifts and commitments to cover the requested 1/4th of the total cost of the project prior to beginning installation. To date, we have received a little less than ½ of the required $11,250.00. McClellan Sound has advised us that there will be a significant price increase for the projector and screen in the middle of June. So there is some urgency for us to fulfill the balance of the “tithe” very soon so that we can begin the installation. We request and encourage those able to contribute toward the project to do so very soon. These contributions can be in the form or cash donations or pledges to be completed at a later time.
Thanks, Bill Swartley, Church Board member
Farewell Reception for Pastor Renee Reimer
Join us for a come-and-go Farewell Reception for Renee Reimer on Monday, June 13, from 5 – 7 pm. We’ll be outside on the church lawn, wind and weather permitting.
Chancel Choir Director needed at BCMC
Bethel College Mennonite Church (North Newton, KS) is looking for a Chancel Choir Director. This is a part-time position, August 15-May 15. As part of the team of musicians on the church staff, the director is responsible for music selection, rehearsals, and performances of the Chancel Choir. The choir sings approximately 2 times per month during September-May and participates in a Christmas Eve program. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:30.
Inquiries should be addressed to Barbara Thiesen, Music Coordinator. Email: thiesenjba@gmail.com.
Application forms are available from Monica Lichti, Office/Facilities Manager. Phone: 316-283-3667; email: office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org
Barbara Thiesen
BCMC Music Coordinator
Summer Camp Season is approaching!
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 Mennointe Camp Scholarship in the memo line) and drop it off on Sunday morning or in the church office.
Sat., June 4 – The public is invited to Walk Sand Creek Trail Day, part of National Trails Day®. Water will be available for people and leashed dogs at the trailhead at Memorial Grove on the Bethel College campus, dawn to dusk (6 a.m.-8 p.m.), courtesy of the Sand Creek Trail Committee, with members there to answer any questions about the trail.
Sat., June 4 – Kauffman Museum first-Saturday bird walk, 7 a.m. start time in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets in North Newton. Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail (terrain is mostly wood-chip path and sometimes uneven/sloping).
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!
Register for the WDC Annual Assembly! – Whether you are an adult (delegate or non-delegate), youth, or child, you are invited to Camp Copass! Please register now at: https://mennowdc.org/2022-annual-assembly-registration/. For more information, go to the Assembly website: https://mennowdc.org/2022-wdc-annual-assembly/
Summer Reading Challenge – Everyone across WDC is invited to join the Summer 2022 God Rocks! Reading Challenge. Sign up on the Resource Library’s Beanstack page at https://mennowdc.beanstack.com/reader365. This challenge is for readers of all ages to explore just how amazing God is! Read to earn tickets for prize drawings (gift certificates for coffee and books) as well as free books and other fun prizes. Registration is open now and the challenge runs June 1 through July 31
Invitation to support Mennonite World Conference – As WDC prepares to participate in the upcoming MC USA delegate assembly May 27-30, and our own annual assembly July 29-31, we remember that we are also part of a global Anabaptist fellowship! Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assembly will take place July 5-10, 2022, with an in-person gathering in Indonesia, as well as an online program. See the WDC website for more information.
Berlin Exodus Presentation – Sun., June 26—7:00 pm—Come hear the story of how MCC worker, Peter Dyck, moved 1,200 Ukrainian Mennonite refugees located in Berlin to a waiting ship in West Germany to travel to Paraguay in 1947 (75 years ago). The Berlin Exodus (also known as the Great Escape) is the theme of an evening presentation at Trinity Mennonite Church (211 Elm Street, Hillsboro, KS) led by Calvin Buller.
Mennonite Central Committee Webinar
Dear Bethel College Mennonite,
I invite you to join us for our third webinar in a series on welcoming newcomers. Register today for Welcoming asylum seekerson June 21, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Asylum seekers, like refugees, are migrants who flee their homes due to a fear of violence or persecution. Join MCC and partners from across the U.S. to learn more about who asylum seekers are and the many ways the faith community can walk alongside them in their journey to find safe refuge.
During this webinar, Katherine Smith, West Coast MCC’s Border and Migration Coordinator will share about what families experience at the U.S.-Mexico border. Cecilia Valenzuela from Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Center will share about the need for accompaniment for asylum seekers currently in detention. Jessica Sapalio, program coordinator for Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s Congregational Accompaniment Program for Asylum Seekers, and Rev. Chris McNabb, Neighbor to Neighbor Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries, will share about programs to help churches sponsor asylum seekers in their own community.
Register here.
You can view the previous Welcoming refugees webinar here and Addressing the trauma of migration webinar here.
We hope to see you on June 21! If you have questions, please reach out to me at welcome@mcc.org.
Kind regards,Charity Stowell
Newcomer Connections Coordinator
MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries
For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here
For Anabaptist Disabilities Network press here
MENNONITE CHURCH USA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), in partnership with Anabaptist Disabilities Network, has launched “Learn, Pray, Join: Welcoming EveryBODY,” an initiative that celebrates the many gifts that people with disabilities bring to our church communities. In June, MC USA will seek to engage people in this initiative by offering resources, prayers and ways to care for one another and to address issues of accessibility in the church. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/welcoming-everybody
Mennonites Against Militarism – a collaboration of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee, U.S. – is seeking to launch an initiative to counter military recruitment of U.S. youth, called Alternatives to Military Enlistment Network (AMEN). AMEN invites interested volunteers to complete a brief survey that identifies areas in which they may engage with AMEN, including administration, web and graphic design, publicity, budgeting, fundraising and guidance/career counseling. Learn more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/mennonites-against-militarism-seeks-volunteers/ Take the survey here: https://rb.gy/gbehlm
Bryan Miller from Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, Col., and RAWtools, Inc. are auctioning Miller’s sculpture, “Never Forgets Peace,” to benefit Mennonite Church USA’s Justice Fund. The sculpture is made from gun parts and is being auctioned from June 1-30, 2022, during Gun Violence Prevention Month. Learn more at rawtools.org/rawshop
Menno Snapshots
Mennonite Church USA invited members from across the denomination to share their hopes, thoughts and spiritual reflections ahead of the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly (May 27-30). Read through their blogs here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/tag/delegate-assembly/
The Poor People’s Campaign “follows the spirit and analysis of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in identifying and combatting the ‘evil triplets’ of systemic racism, poverty and the war economy, along with attendant ecological devastation and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism.” Rod Hollinger-Janzen, administrative assistant for Church Vitality in Mennonite Church USA, walks through the reasons why he is an avid supporter of the campaign. Read more, including how you can be involved in the Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls, on Saturday, June 18: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/meet-peoples-needs/
Prayer Request for Mennonite Mission Network: Martine Audéoud, serving with Mennonite Mission Network, vacated her office apartment in France to make space for people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but God sent her a Nigerian family with three children instead. Pray that this family will find support and be able to start a new life. Pray also for Martine as she prepares lectures and counsels doctoral students from her kitchen table.
Prayer Request for Western District Conference: Pray for WDC congregations hosting Vacation Bible School this summer, as they share God’s love and good news with children in the church and the surrounding neighborhoods.