BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
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: https://youtube.com/live/rg7psBQgKPQ?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 24, 2023
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
Prelude— Sarabande from French Suite No 5 (J. S. Bach)
Adagio from Sonata no. 60, Hob XVI/50 (Franz Joseph Haydn)—Meghann Rogers
Christ Candle Lighting
Call to Worship and Prayer—Jim Robb
*Hymn—Holy Spirit, Come With Power—VT 57
Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Each
Scripture Reading—Jonah 3:10-4:1—Elaine Schurr
*Hymn—God, Give Me Time—VT 144
Scripture Reading—Matthew 20:1-16
Sermon—The First Shall Be Last—Nathan Koontz
*Hymn—Rain Down— VT 703
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn— Sing Praise to God Who Reigns— VT 101
People with September birthdays come forward for a blessing, please bring a hymnal
*Benediction
Postlude—Christ, Be All Around Me (Voices Together No. 848)—Meghann Rogers
* You are invited to stand
VT = Voices Together
Keyboard- Meghann Rogers
Audio visual— John Thiesen
The YouTube Link for Last Sunday’s (September 17, 2023) worship service is: https://youtu.be/Pg-gmOKThmM
This Week at BCMC: September 24—October 1, 2023
Sun., September 24, 2023
9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Solar Panel Project Task Group—Sunday school elective—Fellowship Hall
YouTube Link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/rg7psBQgKPQ?feature=share
The church nursery is staffed during worship and Sunday School
10:45 am Faith Formation—Intergenerational class meets in Fellowship Hall; High School – Room 24 Adult Classes: Agape Class meets in the nursery; Bible Study (Rm 14); Catacombs (Rm B5); Fellowship (B7); Fine Arts (Rm 22); Issues and Christianity (Rm 23); Open Circle (Room 21) Seekers (Rm 28)
Mon., September 25, 2023
10 a.m. Library Committee meeting in the Library and Room 14
Tues., September 26, 2023
11 .m. Staff meeting
6:30 p.m. Pastor Search Committee meeting in Room 14
Wed., September 27, 2023
7 p.m. Youth Group meeting
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary Chancel area
Thurs., September 28, 2023
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m. Deacon Commission meeting in Room 14
7:30 p.m. Hospitality Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
Fri., September 29, 2023
10 a.m.-noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Shirley King practices organ in the Sanctuary
Sat., September 30, 2023
11 a.m. Memorial Service for Patricia Shelly in the Sanctuary
Sun., October 1, 2023—World Communion Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; communion will be
served; music by the Chancel Choir
The Solar Panel Project task group invites input from the congregation about this possible initiative for BCMC. Sept. 24, in Fellowship Hall, during the Sunday School hour will be an opportunity to visit together. Task Group members: Dwight Krehbiel, Lorna Harder, Hugo Boschmann, Margaret Toews
For Your Calendars:
· The memorial service for Patty Shelly will be Saturday, September 30 at 11 a.m. at BCMC. The service will be live-streamed. The link is: https://youtube.com/live/IX0_1OnzWQs?feature=share
· The BCMC Congregation is invited to a Baby Sprinkle for Adam and Jill Robb, October 1, 2-4 p.m., BCMC Fellowship Hall. Registry is: www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/surpriserobb — Kathy Stucky (316-772-2479) & Elaine Prouty (316-772-2572)
We offer sympathy to the family of E. LaVerne Epp of Lawrence, KS.
LaVerne died Sept. 18. The memorial service is Sept. 23 at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence. LaVerne was a wider fellowship member of BCMC. His wife, Marilyn (Crabb), is also a wider fellowship member. Please remember Marilyn and family and LaVerne’s sister, Verlene
Garber and Ron Garber and family in your prayers. For a link to E. LaVerne Epp’s obituary press here
Roger’s Whereabouts : Roger will be back in Newton on Wednesday,
September 27. Roger will be checking his email and phone almost every day. So feel free to email, text or call 785-220-1968.
BCMC Offering for September 17, 2023: General Fund $7,190.33; Plant Fund $228.33; Sr Hi Youth $220; Library Reserve Fund $10; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $100; Kitchen Fund $10.
You did it again, congratulations! August giving resulted in a surplus of income over expenses. Four out of five months ‘ain’t bad’! Thank you so much for your efforts to keep the church financially solvent.
—Finance Committee
The September Library theme is called “What’s For Dinner?” Come check out one of the library’s books on food: either to find a new dish to prepare or sit back and enjoy a new read in the comfort of your own home. We’d love to help you find your next read.
Creation Care Challenge
Most of us are aware of the dangers that plastic bags are doing to our environment. So, let’s take a challenge to address that issue. Beginning Oct. 1 we are encouraging everyone to participate in collecting clean plastic bags for recycling. These bags can be delivered to BCMC and placed in a receptacle in the south entrance. Our goal is to collect 1,000 pounds in one year with a reward of a composite bench made from plastic.
Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale QUILTER’S CORNER FALL SALE – October 13-14, 2023, Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-3, at MCC, 121 E. 30th Street, North Newton. There will be lots of great quilt-related items available for purchase with all the proceeds going to the work of Mennonite Central Committee. Questions? Contact Rose at 316-288-0079 or Ann at 919-604-3282
BETHEL COLLEGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tues., Sept. 26 – “Sing My Soul” high school choral festival at Bethel College, Dr. Henry Waters, director, with a short public concert at 1:30 p.m., Memorial Hall
Thurs., Sept. 28 – Bethel College Wind Ensemble, directed by Chris Miertschin, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, featuring work by Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, Jaime Texidor, Grace Baugher (who will be present at the concert) and Leonard Bernstein.
Fri., Sept. 29 – “Bold Color,” acrylic paintings by Virgil Penner, opens in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College (reception Oct. 13). Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 7 – “Wild Words: Poetry & Prairie,” with Aubrey Streit Krug, 9:30 a.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium at Bethel College. Streit Krug lives in Lindsborg and works at The Land Institute in Salina. Wild Words is a chapbook published by Humanities Kansas, and free copies will be available at the reading.
Bethel College’s Fall Festival is Oct. 12-15, with most activities taking place Saturday, Oct. 14, on campus. Features include music, food, class reunions, football, the musical The Addams Family and two different organ performances. See https://www.bethelks.edu/alumni/events/fall-festival for the complete schedule.
Fri., Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m., Sun., Oct. 15, 2 p.m. – Bethel College music and theater present the musical The Addams Family during Fall Festival, Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. Ticket purchase required, in Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., online (https://bethelks.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?depts=3) or at the door.
Sat., Oct. 14, 2:30 p.m. – Bethel College’s Organ Recital Series presents an Alumni Recital, Ad Building chapel, featuring works by J.S. Bach, Brahms, Burkhardt, Buxtehude, Cherwien, Clerambault and Howells. Former Bethel organ instructor Shirley Sprunger King will play a duet with Donna Hetrick. Many of the organists play regularly in local congregations and venues, including Greta Hiebert (Shalom Mennonite Church), Karen Unruh (varied), Chris Shaw (Plymouth Congregational Church, Wichita), Rosi Penner Kaufman (Rainbow Mennonite Church, Kansas City) and Chelsea Vaught (Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson, Neb.).
Call for volunteers – The Bethel College Alumni Association is looking for volunteers to help with Taste of Newton and Fall Festival. Shifts are 1.5-2 hours long and need to be filled on Thursday, Oct. 12, 5-9 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Brad Schmidt at 316-285-5252 or bschmidt@bethelks.edu, or use the following online forms: verenike booth, Taste of Newton: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AFAF22A1FDCF8-verenike3; burger booth, Fall Fest: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AFAF22A1FDCF8-burger1; verenike booth, Fall Fest: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AFAF22A1FDCF8-verenike2
Life Enrichment, Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, September 27:
9:30 a.m. “Drawing Poetry and Writing Pictures: An Artistic Collaboration.” Duane Johnson, Topeka, and Lila Bartel, Topeka
10:50 a.m. “Expanding Social-Emotional Competence and Compassion through Social Work,” Jennifer Chappell Deckert, Ph.D., chair, Bethel College Department of Social Work, and associate professor of social work
Open to new participants: Healing & Hope, a confidential group of women supporting each other after experiencing betrayal trauma (a spouse or partner’s use of pornography, affair, or sexual addiction). Bimonthly meetings are held via Zoom and will begin again in mid-October. This group is hosted by First Mennonite Church of Newton and facilitated by Audrey Ratzlaff, M.Div. Contact Audrey at aaratzlaff@yahoo.com or 316-619-4580 for more information.
CAMP MENNOSCAH ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Camp Mennoscah 75th Anniversary Kick-Off event will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at Camp Mennoscah! Come join us for a day of celebration and activities as we initiate our extended season of remembering Camp’s past and anticipating Camp’s future. The day’s schedule is below. Go to www.campmennoscah.org for more information and to register. You are invited!
1:00-5:00 PM Opening Event & Fun Family Activities
4:00 PM Music
5:00 PM Dinner – Burgers, Brats, Hot Dogs on the grill
6:00 PM Annual Meeting
7:00 PM Talent/No Talent Show
Other events and happenings:
- Preparations for the HVAC project at the Retreat Center are slowly moving along. We’re waiting on the architectural plans to move to the next step and create a more formal timeline. When we have a timeline, we’ll need people to be Camp Mennoscah’s hands and feet for this project. Watch Facebook for details.
- The dam will be taken out on Sunday, October 8, at 2:30pm, whatever the weather may be, unless deemed dangerous. Meet down by the shelter. Helpers and spectators are welcome. Helping is not for the youngest ages due to the heavy planks and rushing water, but all are welcome to watch the activities. Planks will need to be scraped and pressure-washed once removed. Many hands are welcome!
- Camp Mennoscah will be at Bethel College’s Fall Fest on October 14! Put it on your calendar and come say hi!
- 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. You are welcome to bring a camper/RV and use a gas generator (no hookups available). 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!
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Footsteps of Paul in Greece + 3-Night Cruise May 27 – June 6, 2024. Led by Pastor Weldon Martens, Grace Hill Mennonite Church; Whitewater, KS. This is a 11-Day Tour & Cruise to Athens, Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth, Crete, Patmos, Ephesus, Mykonos & Santorini. Cost: $3,219 + flights. Registration: Due by January 18, 2024. Contact Pastor Weldon Martens at:
weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276. Complete tour information & registration at www.tourwithweldon.com
Everence® will hold an informative Social Security and retirement income
workshop Thurs., Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. Topics will include, Social Security strategies, including when to begin taking benefits, risks that can impact your retirement savings plus strategies to help your income last throughout retirement. The in-person workshop will be at the Everence office: 3179 N. Main St. Suite 1B, North Newton. Information will be presented by staff from the Everence offices in Central Kansas. To register contact Everence at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.
For Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” click here
For Mennonite Creation Care Network press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News From Around the World” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite World Conference Info press here
MENNONITE CHURCH USA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mennonite Church USA installed a sculpture at its Elkhart, Indiana, offices that was designed and built by Emma Zuercher, a 2023 graduate of Goshen College from Apple Creek, Ohio. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/unveil-sculpture/
Engage with the MC USA Archives and meet the new archives coordinator, Olivia Krall. View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/slide-archives-engage
Menno Snapshots
In the wake of the U.S. sending cluster bombs to Ukraine, Titus Peachey, who currently serves on the steering committee for the Cluster Munition Coalition, reflects on his experiences dealing with cluster bombs in Laos and calls Mennonites to witness against war makings. Read more of his experiences here: mennoniteusa.org/cluster-bombs-witness
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for a couple who has spent decades ministering in the Middle East, where they are part of a media team that works at “transforming lives with unstoppable hope.” Pray for them and the 16 full-time animators; multiple trainers, who help people share the good news with their neighbors; and a social media team of three Arabic women, who address issues like human trafficking and child brides.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: We are called as Jesus’s followers to share our experience as God’s people and the transformative work of the gospel of Jesus in our lives. We pray for church plants and congregations exploring partnerships to do missions together in Wester District Conference.
—WDC Church Planting Commission