Baptism Worship and call for scripture passages!
Worship this week will take place at Camp Mennoscah beginning at 10:00 am on May 16th. There will be no in-person worship at BCMC and no live-streamed worship. All are welcome to attend worship at Camp Mennoscah as we join in celebrating the baptism of Caleb Koontz!
Pastor Renee would like to invite the congregation to share an important or meaningful Bible passage to them with Caleb as he enters this new adventure of his faith journey. You can send or drop off a card for Caleb at church by May 24th:
BCMC/Caleb Koontz
PO Box 364
North Newton, KS 67117
Sympathy Notice
Please hold Sondra Bandy Koontz and the Koontz family in your prayers as they mourn the death of Phil Koontz. He had a heart attack early morning of May 13. His sudden loss is deeply saddening. Press this link for the obituary on the Petersen Funeral Home website. The memorial service for Phil Koontz will be live-streamed.
Sunday, May 16 Bethel College celebrates its 128th commencement (4 p.m.) with a Baccalaureate worship service at 10 a.m., both in Thresher Stadium, with Memorial Hall as a rain back-up. Because of COVID-19 protocols, admission is by ticket only, with graduates receiving a certain number each. Please keep the Class of 2021 and their families in your prayers.
BCMC has an ongoing commitment to provide volunteer help at New Hope Shelter, a shelter in Newton for the homeless. We provide evening and overnight volunteers and meals for 1 week every 9 weeks. Some of our most faithful volunteers have had to stop serving due to age and/or health problems. We are always in need of replacements. Our next week to serve is June 16-22. There will be a volunteer training on May 18, from 7-8:30 PM. Please consider this important volunteer opportunity to serve the homeless among us. If you have questions or are willing to serve, please contact Valetta Seymour at seymour2314@gmail.com or 620-217-7536.
BCMC Offerings
April 25, 2021: General Fund $2,674; MCC Sale $75; Sr Hi Youth $100; Living Stones $125; Peace Garden $2,000
May 2, 2021: General Fund $10,484; Sr Hi Youth $300; Living Stones $415
| Behind the Hammer is now available in digital format. Now you can choose to read BTH in print, on your phone or tablet, or on your computer. |
| Behind the Hammer is the quarterly publication of Mennonite Disaster Service. Each issue brings you compelling and inspiring stories of volunteers helping to give people hope after disaster strikes. This new digital format offers an environmentally friendly alternative to print. It brings you additional content not found in the print version, offering you a robust and enjoyable reading experience. Click here to view the digital version of Behind the Hammer. Click below and select the version that best meets your needs. You will continue to receive only the print version unless you select one of the options below. |
Western District Conference announcementThe WDC Resource Library is now open to the public – Library capacity will be limited to one household in the library at a time. The self-checkout station & library catalog computer will remain off during this phase of reopening. Please see library staff or WDC staff for assistance in looking up items (or browse the catalog on your smartphone). Please plan to make your visit to the library quick and not linger (couches/chairs will be turned around for the time being). Please stop at the WDC front lobby to check whether there is anyone in the library. Questions? Contact the library at crlib@mennowdc.org As in the rest of the WDC offices, masks are required while you are in the library. The library continues to offer service to any individual or congregation in WDC via the United States Postal Service–check out the online catalog here.
Camp Mennoscah announcements1. Help set up camp! Volunteers are needed to help set up the HUGE tents used for this summer’s youth camps at Camp Mennoscah. Setup will happen May 28 and 29. Sign up by May 15 by contacting 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org. 2. Camp Mennoscah is looking for additional staff to help with extra tasks necessary this summer. The person should be at least 18 years old and will be paid the summer staff stipend. A multiple-week/full summer commitment is preferred, but those with partial summer availability are invited to apply. Complete the Summer Staff application at www.campmennoscah.org 3. Nurses needed for summer youth camps! Camp Mennoscah needs nurses for June 17-19 (First Camp), June 20-26 (Junior I) and July 25-30 (Senior High). Nurses receive a stipend or a discount up to full camp fees for their camper (camper does not have to attend the same camp week). Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for more information. 4. Congratulations! Deborah, Camp Mennoscah’s dedicated and generous office assistant of over 7 years, is retiring! She has reduced her hours and has graciously agreed to stay on for a time while the next assistant is found. Camp Mennoscah is seeking someone to share in office/support operations and guest services in a position with potential growth. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for information.
5. Camp Mennoscah has volunteer opportunities available both now and throughout the summer!
- Amphitheater renovations (May 14-15)
- Work Day (May 22)
- Tent assembly (May 28-29)
- Trail bridge (concrete work)
- Mowing (weekly)
- Cleaning/custodial (weekly)
…and so much more! Check out this list of great ways to be involved! Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to make arrangements.
Mennonite church announcements1. Mennonite Mission Network, Elkhart, IN is seeking to fill two senior level positions:
Senior Executive of Ventures – Help create, foster, and deliver collaborative programs and services to our constituents and partners.
Senior Executive of Operations – Oversee administrative and operational functions of the organization.
Detailed position descriptions are here. Letters of interest and resumes should be emailed to StaffRecruitment@MennoniteMIssion.net.
2. Have you been wondering whose faces you will see on stage at MennoCon21, Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention on July 6-10? Read about who the worship speakers are and what topics they will be covering at this first hybrid (in-person and online) convention: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/mennocon21-worship/.
3. For a variety of reasons, regularly attending Sunday morning church services is just not feasible for many people. Beryl Jantzi, in his blog, “Revisioning Church: Sabbath Diaspora and Christian Synagogues,” addresses this issue by offering several ways that churches can accommodate a non-traditional Sabbath. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/diaspora-synagogues
4. Jonathan Brenneman reflects on how the militarized state of Israel causes children to suffer and how our taxpayer dollars aid in causing that suffering. Read his blog, “Investing in Justice Rather Than Militarism at Home and Abroad,” here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/justice-over-militarism
5. In response to increased violence and hate crimes against Asian American Pacific Islander people, the Mennonite Church USA Women in Leadership Steering Committee made a statement urging the church to work together to call out anti-Asian rhetoric and abuse. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/aapi-statement/. Also, consider attending the Christian Faith & Anti-Asian Violence Workshop sponsored by Mennonite Church USA, Roots of Justice, and ReconciliAsian on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 6:30 CDT. To register, click HERE, or go to http://reconciliasian.org/new-events.
Mennonite Central Committee announcements
1. MCC Central States COVID-19 update: We look forward to re-opening the MCC office in North Newton on July 6. Please keep us in your prayers as we consider our protocols, processes and capacity. Material resources donations continue to be accepted in the 24-hour donation room. Financial donations can be made at mcc.org, mailed to the office (MCC Central States PO BOX 235 North Newton, KS 67117) or dropped off by appointment. Please call the MCC office at 316-283-2720 with any questions. Thank you for continuing to support the work of Mennonite Central Committee.—
2. SWAP summer staff needed! MCC’s Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program is in need of Job Site Coordinators and Meals Coordinators to support home repair projects in Kimball, West Virginia or Harlan, Kentucky. Applicants should be at least 19 years old, but these paid roles are not limited to young adults. For more information and to apply, visit mcc.org/swap-summer-staff or contact the MCC Appalachia SWAP office at (606) 634-4418 or AppalachiaAdmin@mcc.org.—
3. HR Generalist: MCC is looking for someone with excellent relational skills, intercultural competency and HR experience in recruitment/selection, benefits administration, onboarding or policy work to join our team as a full time HR Generalist. This position is open for someone to be based in the U.S. headquarters in Akron, PA or any regional office including North Newton, KS. The deadline to express interest is May 31. For more information and to apply click here: HR Generalist application.
Mennonite Creation Care Network E-News – click here
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Join Mennonite Mission Network in praising God for Robin Gingerich’s 20 years of ministry at LCC International University in Lithuania. Pray for students from around the world, who persevere in learning despite the many difficulties caused by COVID-19 restrictions, which compound other trauma they may have experienced in their lives.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC’s Stewardship Commission, meeting this week to discern faithful use of resources, and give thanks for generous contributions that support conference ministry.