Announcements for October 16-23, 2022 - Bethel College Mennonite Church

LOOK UP EVERYONE!
Our new screen is in place. The projector, monitors, software and switching devices are all in place and working. Only one small problem…we were sent the wrong screen. The screen we ordered will descend much lower than the present one and will be installed when it arrives (in several months). Thanks to everyone for your support and patience.

This Week at BCMC: October 16—October 23, 2022
Sunday, October 16
9:30 am          Worship Service with Credence Consultation Report
Monday, October 17
7 pm                Task Group for Decolonization meeting in Room 14
Tuesday, October 18
9 to 11 am      Community Playschool
7 pm                Women’s Fellowship Meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, October 19—Wednesday Night Suppers
5:30-7 pm   Faith Formation is hosting a community building event at P and M Pumpkin Ranch Come for a hot dog meal by at the Willow campfire site located at P and M. Food and drink will be provided!

There will be Wednesday night supper at the church this week
6 pm    Wednesday Supper serving line starts at 6-6:15 pm and a welcome and blessing will be at 6:20 pm—Menu for tonight is Chicken Cordon Bleu, broccoli; mashed potatoes; and M&M chocolate brownies

7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary Chancel area

Thursday, October 20
9 to 11 am Community Playschool
4 pm       Witness Commission meeting in Room 14
6:30 pm Chancel Bells rehearsal in room B7
6:30 pm Abuse Prevention and Response Committee meeting in Room 14
7 pm       Bethel College Women’s Association meeting in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, October 23
9:30 am         Worship with sermon by Todd Schlosser
10:15 am       Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place
10:30 am       Faith Formation

BCMC Women’s Fellowship meets Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm. Weldon and Florence Schloneger will present a program of poetry accompanied by photos of nature. The South east door will be open.

Staff Absence: Monica Lichti will be on vacation from Oct. 17-21, 2022.

It’s Supper Time at BCMC! Oct. 19, 6 pm, in Fellowship Hall. Serving line starts at 6-6:15 pm and a welcome and blessing will be at 6:20 pm. To make reservations for supper, email office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org by, Oct. 17. Cost is $6/person or $18/family per meal. Please bring your own table service. Menu for Oct. 19 is Chicken Cordon Bleu, broccoli, mashed potatoes, M&M chocolate brownies

Update from the Church Board:
Worship Commission Task Group:
At the end of the last program year (May 2022), the Church Board agreed to put the Worship Commission on hiatus for one year to offer a time for discussion and reflection concerning its purpose and process. The board has appointed a task group to explore possibilities for the future. They are currently gathering information from pastors, former Worship Commission members, and others. If you’d like to offer input, you may contact Dorothy Nickel Friesen, Patty Shelly, Dale Schrag, or Adam Robb.

Interim Pastor Possibility:
Western District Conference has contacted the church board with news that there is someone who is interested in exploring an interim pastor position with our church. Within the next few weeks the church board plans to interview this person and then share more information with the congregation.

Kathy Stucky is offering 20 free tickets to the special exhibit at Botanica in Wichita, “Washed Ashore—Art to Save the Sea.” The exhibit which features “14 oversized amazing sculptures made completely by ocean debris” will be at Botanica until Oct. 23, 2022. The tickets are in Kathy Stucky’s mailbox here at the church. Feel free to help yourself. It’s an exhibit well worth seeing!

Heartfelt thanks go to all who remembered my mother, Anna Grace (Wiens) Flickinger, both for her 100th birthday celebration, and at the time of her death. It was certainly a rich, full month for our family, and the support and encouragement we received is gratefully acknowledged. A special thank you to the Prayer Network for the prayers on our behalf. Carol Flickinger and Roger Juhnke

BCMC Oct. 9 Offering: General Fund $9,714.85; Caring Fund $150; Library Reserve Fund $5; Living Stones $940; Screen Project $1,000

October 23 and October 30: What is Loss of Turtle Island? (Don’t miss it! It hasn’t been offered for three years!). Many Native People called the North American continent “Turtle Island.” In this interactive simulation event created by MCC to be held in Mem Hall at 4 p.m. on Sunday October 23 (no registration! Just show up before 4 p.m.!), you will experience a re-creation of how Native People lost their land. You will feel what it is like to be evicted from your homeland. You will learn about the Doctrine of Discovery, American and Mennonite history. You will be changed by what you learn. . . . And a week later, participants from BCMC have a unique opportunity to share together about what the experience was like on Sunday, October 30 at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at a Sampler of Native foods–wild rice, the Three Sisters (corn, beans, squash) as we talk about what we learned and what we can do today in acts of restorative justice and repair. BCMC Task Group for Decolonization

The Library Theme for October/November is Selected Biographies. The Library Committee chose biographies that we thought you would find interesting in both the adult and children/youth sections. As always, the adult highlighted books are shelved in back of the library desk while the Everybody/Youth books are shelved on the south wall of the children/youth room. Please come in and check these out or to see what new to you puzzles are available for a donation on the west wall of the check out room or on the cart outside of the library. Happy Reading!

Quilter’s Corner is gladly accepting donations for the Mennonite Central Committee sale which is April 14 and 15, 2023. Bring your fabric, notions, quilts and quilting supplies to the MCC Center in North Newton clearly labeled for Quilter’s Corner. If questions, contact Ann Yoder Smith at 919-604-3282.

After two years of not meeting, we are excited to announce plans for the Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association Fall banquet. It will be held at the Eden Mennonite Church near Moundridge on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Brian Stucky, a 1971 graduate of Moundridge High School and currently living in Goessel.. As a descendant of the family who operated the Alta Mill near Moundridge, he will give a program about “Mennonite Mills in Central Kansas”. Knackie’s will cater the meal. The cost to attend is $25 per person payable at the door. RSVP by texting or calling Nancy Stucky, 620-532-5693 by October 24.

The Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra presents “The Magic Flute in Concert” with Opera Kansas, today, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Newton High School Auditorium. Chris David Westover-Muñoz leads orchestra and vocal soloists on a concert adaptation of Mozart’s classic opera. Tickets are Adults $18 at the door/$15 advance; Students $7; twelve and under are free with an adult. Purchase at Faith & Life Bookstore, or online at www.nmkso.org.

The Intergenerational Sunday School class which meets in the Fellowship Hall, is in need of old or unused crayons. If you have crayons to donate, please put them in the box by the mailboxes. We will be collecting crayons until October 23.

Abuse Prevention and Response Committee (APRC) is looking for persons to volunteer as a Care Team member. If you would like more information or feel a call to serve in this roll, email Jill Robb at adamandjillrobb@gmail.com

Mennonite Central Committee Buckets of Thanks: This Thanksgiving season, show your gratitude and provide hope to those in need by collecting relief supplies for MCC. The supplies you donate will fill a Bucket of Thanks (aka an MCC relief kit) for people affected by conflict or disaster around the world. For more information, including supply lists and a ready-to-use curriculum for children, visit: mccbuckets.org.

Bethel College Announcements
TODAY (Sun., Oct. 16) & Mon., Oct. 17 – Annual Menno Simons Lectures with Brad Gregory, Reformation scholar from the University of Notre Dame, 7 p.m. both evenings, Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College; overall topic is “The Radical Reformation and Religious Freedom: A Historical Retrospective.”

Thurs., Oct. 20 – The inaugural Senses & Aging Symposium, 6-8:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, with Karen Kendrick speaking on “Hearing Loss and Fall Prevention” and Angela Loucks Alexander presenting from Australia on “Auditory Processing Disorder in Adults.” The symposium is free but registration is requested at www.bethelks.edu/academics/convocation-lectures/senses-aging-symposium

Last week to see “Environmental Exposure,” sculpture by Glen Ediger, in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, through Fri., Oct. 21. The gallery is closed Oct. 16-18 for Bethel’s fall break, and open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Sun., Oct. 23 – Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program with oral historian Ina Navazelskis from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 4 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College (note change from usual time and location). Followed by the museum’s annual Living Endowment Dinner, featuring Justina Neufeld and Janine Wedel, for which reservations are required by Oct. 18; e-mail kauffman@bethelks.eduor call 316-283-1612.

Fri.-Sat., Nov. 4-5 – “Old Books Made New – The Surprising Wisdom of Erasmus for Today,” an intercollegiate symposium honoring the Mennonite Library & Archives at Bethel College and libraries everywhere. Keynote address by Greta Kroeker, Ph.D., Friday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. Saturday events in Krehbiel Auditorium and via technology at Conrad Grebel University College, Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen College. See marpeck-fund.bethelks.edu/events/old-books-made-new/

Everence^® to hold Social Security and retirement income workshop in October

Everence will hold the popular Social Security and retirement income workshop at its office in North Newton on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

The workshop will cover, Social Security strategies including when to begin taking benefits, strategies to help your retirement income last, and risks that can impact your retirement savings.

The in-person workshop will be held at the Everence office: 3179 N. Main St. Suite 1B, North Newton. Those interested in attending should contact the Everence office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.

Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investments and other products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee.
Products and services offered through Everence Trust Company and other Everence entities are independent of and are not guaranteed or endorsed by Concourse Financial Group Securities, or its affiliates.

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements and share them with your congregation!

Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, 43 13^th Avenue, Inman, will hold its annual Sausage Mission Supper on Saturday, October 22, 5:00 – 6:30. This will be a curbside pick up meal featuring our traditional menu of German sausage, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed peas, zwiebach, applesauce and pie. Cost will be a free will offering with all proceeds going to support The Mary Magdalene House, Hutchinson. This is a ministry to taste the goodness of God and specializes in pastoral counseling with families dealing with mental illness, working through addiction, adoption issues, marital problems, etc. Check out their website at www.marymagdalenehouse.com Call or text Barb (620-543-6863) or Teresa (620-242-2357) NOW to order meals.

Camp Mennoscah Announcements
There are two opportunities to get your Camp Mennoscah fix this weekend! Come out on Saturday, spend some time volunteering and then take one last kayak ride this year. Sunday is river-focused. Watch or help take out the dam. The weather looks great! See below for details.

Other events and happenings:

Work and Play Day on October 15! Share a few hours of your time for the satisfaction of improving camp grounds and enjoy some free time wandering the trails, fishing, or whatever your favorite camp activity is. The day starts at 8:30am at the maintenance shed. If you are coming from a distance, ask about an overnight stay. Let us know you’re coming, so we can plan for you and your friends. Bring a lunch and water bottle. Call 620-297-3290 or email olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org!
We’re taking out the dam on October 16 at approx. 2:30pm! Everyone is welcome to join in or to watch. Gather at the shelter. (The actual removal of the boards is not for young ages.) The event will go forward, whatever the weather, unless deemed unsafe. Call Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290, if uncertain.
There are a great many things for volunteers to do–come be one! Any of the following are great options for groups of one or more: cutting firewood, cleaning after groups, weekend hosting, being a committee member, mowing or other maintenance/grounds tasks, making a meal for a volunteer group, or recruiting people to volunteer at camp. These are just some of the possibilities! Call us at 620-297-3290 for more information.
Camp Mennoscah will be recruiting at Mennonite colleges in November! We’ll have a booth at Goshen on Nov. 4, and Hesston, Tabor, and Bethel on November 7, 8, and 9 respectively. Stop by in the morning and say howdy. Booths are located in the Connector (Goshen), the Larks Nest (Hesston) and by the cafeteria (Tabor and Bethel). Summer staff applications will be available when recruiting starts. See you there!
Camp Mennoscah is considering moving camps to a Sunday to Friday schedule. We’d be interested in hearing your thoughts–parents, campers, weekend groups, everyone! Please reply to olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290.

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp News
See The RMMC News & Stories From September

Take a look at the latest/greatest happenings here at RMMC. This month marks the official transition from our traditional monthly newsletter to individual posts over the course of the month which are shared on the following platforms:

RMMC Web Page – News & Stories (under “About Us”)
RMMC Facebook Page
RMMC Instagram Page

For Anabaptist Disabilities Network press here

For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond press here

Dear Bethel College Mennonite,

If you’re connected to the world of welcoming refugees, asylum seekers or other newcomers, you have probably heard the word “empowerment” tossed around. But what does empowerment look like in practice?

Join us for this month’s virtual Newcomer Hospitality Network meeting where we will discuss how to welcome in a way that promotes growth, confidence and self-agency. This will be an interactive time for us to learn about some practical adult learning principles, share experiences and brainstorm about tricky situations that may come up as we welcome!

What is the Newcomer Hospitality Network?
The Newcomer Hospitality Network is a virtual meetup for those welcoming newcomers to connect with one another in a small group setting where they can share their experiences and discuss topics relevant to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers in their communities.

When?
To accommodate welcomers with different work schedules, we offer the same meeting twice – once in the morning and once in the evening:

If you’d like to join us, register for the day and time that works best for you!

Peace,
Charity Stowell
Newcomer Connections Coordinator
MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries

Mennonite Mission Network Announcements
MennoMedia is working on creating the first Anabaptist Bible in time for the 500^th anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025. The project’s advisory group gathered for a retreat in August to kick off the project. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/anabaptism-at-500-project

#BeTransformed
While gearing up for the creation of the Anabaptist Bible, John D. Roth, the project director for MennoMedia’s “Anabaptist at 500” initiative, wrote the blog, “The transformative Anabaptist hermeneutic.” In this blog, he reflects on how he became acquainted with the difficulty of biblical interpretation and how it affected the trajectory of his faith. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/anabaptist-hermeneutic

Menno Snapshots
Seattle (Washington) Mennonite Church had a dream of creating sustainable and affordable housing for their community, and that dream is finally coming to fruition. Read Pastor Amy Epp’s blog, “Seattle Mennonite Church partners to create affordable housing,” to learn more. mennoniteusa.org/snapshots/affordable-housing

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Deb Byler has concluded her Mennonite Mission Network ministry with the Kekchi Mennonite Church in Guatemala, where she worked since 2018. (Previously, she served with Eastern Mennonite Missions from 1984-1996.) Praise God for Deb’s ministry of walking alongside the women leaders of the church. Ask God to strengthen the Kekchi women, and pray for Deb as she retires at Greencroft Communities, a retirement community in Goshen, Indiana.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for the WDC Resource Library, and pray for congregations, members and leaders to experience growth in faith and ministry through use of library materials.