Announcements for September 5–September 12, 2021

BCMC Congregational meeting is September 12
MARK YOUR CALENDARS now for the BCMC Congregational meeting, Sept 12, 1pm, via Zoom. The agenda follows and the Zoom link for the meeting is below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82804063690?pwd=cGF5TGViUUFYK2R3MmhnblZPVVIyQT09

Meeting ID: 828 0406 3690
Passcode: 084634

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Congregational Meeting Agenda
Sunday, September 12, 2021, 1 pm, via ZOOM

1.  Call to order and Centering Prayer – Elizabeth Schmidt, Moderator

            God of life, we thank you that whether we meet in person or by zoom,
            we gather in your presence. Come among us and guide our time together. 
            In our reporting, give us honesty; in our listening, give us compassion;
            in our uncertainties, give us direction; in our deciding, give us graciousness. 
            Even amidst rising COVID variants, fill us with the creative contagion of
            your love, a love that calls us, by the power of the Spirit, to follow Jesus in
            doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with all your Beloved creation.
            Amen.  (revised from Voices Together, #952, Prayer before a Meeting)

2.   May 2, 2021 congregational meeting minutes – Elizabeth

3.   Financial report – Michael Claassen, Finance Manager

4.   Officer Election – replace Clerk Pat Friesen, who resigned due to move out of state.            

            Margaret Toews is nominated for Clerk through remainder of term, May 31, 2023.

            Action:  Vote via Zoom poll function, Yes to approve, No to disapprove.

5.   Abuse Prevention and Response Committee report – Jill Robb, Chair

6.   Reopening Task Group update – Dawn Yoder Harms, Pastor

7.   Technology Task Group update – Bill Swartley 

8.   Columbarium Expansion Task Group update – Glen Ediger

9.   Other items?

10. Closing Prayer – Pastor Dawn

Press here for the agenda in pdf form.  

Press here for the minutes from the last congregational meeting – May 2, 2021

Staff Absences for the coming weeks
Pastor Renee Reimer will be gone from September 3 to 7
Pastor Dawn Yoder Harms will be gone from September 6-11
Pastor Nathan Koontz will be gone from September 10-12

This coming Sunday, September 5, is the first Sunday of the month
You are invited to contribute non-perishable food for the local Salvation Army food pantry.  On the first Sunday of the month, (in this case – September 5) bring items to BCMC and place them on the kitchen cart in the south entrance.

REOPENING CHURCH TASK GROUP UPDATE:

Due to quickly rising COVID-19 cases in Harvey County and the stress on our area healthcare systems, the Reopening Task Group has decided to postpone the reconvening of Chancel Choir this fall for two months. This decision will be revisited as the task group continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation in our community.  

We will continue to gather for worship via livestream and in-person (with masks and keeping distance). 

Faith Formation classes will begin on Sept 12, as classes feel comfortable to meet (masked when meeting indoors). Please do not come to in-person gatherings if you are not feeling well.

You can find current BCMC COVID-19 guidelines on BCMC’s website by following this link: BCMC during COVID-19 – Bethel College Mennonite Church.

If you like to bake…..
Pastor Renee is looking for food goodies for college students this semester! There are two opportunities to give: The Red Tenants Bible study on Wednesday evenings or the Koininia Sunday School class on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in baking some goodies for either of these occasions, please reach out to Renee at Renee@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org. 

Safe Sanctuary Training will be offered 2 more times for volunteers working with children and youth (Sunday school teachers, sponsors, club leaders, and mentors): Sunday, September 12th at 10:30am in the fellowship hall or Sunday, September 26th at 7pm on zoom (Please email Renee for a link). While this 1 hour training is required for all people working with children and youth each year, others from BCMC are invited to attend this training as well to learn more about abuse prevention and how to model good boundaries in our relationships with one another. 

Wichita Pride Parade
BCMC will be participating in the Wichita Pride Parade hosted by Wichita Pride on Sunday, September 26 at 1:00.  The Wichita Pride Parade follows an approximate one-mile route on Main Street from the Historic Sedgwick County Courthouse to Douglas Street, right on Douglas Street to Century II.  If you are interested in participating, meet at the BCMC east parking lot at 12:00 for carpooling options, or meet at the Historic Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita at 12:45. This parade is part of a wider weekend of events in Wichita celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.  If you would like more information about the entire schedule of events, go to wichitapride.org.  If you plan on participating in the parade, an email, text, or phone call to Nathan Koontz would be helpful but not necessary.

Support Mennonite Central Committee, get to know the new hymnal and enjoy refreshments in a family-friendly hymn sing fundraiser September 11 at “Voices (and Pints) Together” on the New Creation Fellowship Church lawn in Newton. Locally produced beers, wines and nonalcoholic beverages will be available to sample during a 6:06 p.m. fellowship hour of bluegrass music featuring The Flannelbacks preceding the 7 p.m. outdoor hymn sing. More information is on Facebook here. Song requests can be submitted (with a donation) until September 6th by using this google form link.  

WANT TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE KANZA PEOPLE? 
VOICES OF THE WIND PEOPLE, an outdoor pageant, will be performed on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18, at 8:00 p.m. at the Neosho River amphitheater in Council Grove. There will be pre-performance music and activities starting at 7. For more details see https://voicesofthewindpeople.com) The pageant is written by historian Ronald D. Parks and depicts the relocation of the Kanza people as encroaching white settlers arrive on the Santa Fe Trail.  

You can also spend the afternoon hiking at Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park southeast of Council Grove. It is located on part of the last Kaw Reservation and includes a dance arbor, stone ruins,  plus a few interpretive signs.  For more details press here.
 – Florence Schloneger

Prayer for Haiti and Afghanistan
Prayer for Haiti and Afghanistan | Mennonite Church USA (mennoniteusa.org)

Bethel College Announcements
Sunday, Sept. 12 – KIPCOR Film Series resumes live, with The Prison Within, a film by Katherin Hervey, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College. Individuals incarcerated in San Quentin Prison, charged with murder, take a journey of redemption through participation in a restorative justice program. Audience discussion with Hervey, film director, producer and writer, and Leonard Rubio, executive director of Insight Prison Project, live via Zoom. Bethel’s current COVID-19 protocols require mask-wearing indoors, and physical distancing to the extent possible, regardless of vaccination status.

Now in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College: “Doing Good with Wood,” turned wood by Rick McNary, through Sept. 17. Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri., Sun, 2-4 p.m. Bethel’s current COVID-19 protocols require mask-wearing indoors, and physical distancing to the extent possible, regardless of vaccination status.

Mennonites Central Committee Announcements
Mennonite Central Committee has  a variety of service opportunities all around the world and the following opportunities are especially important to fill at this time. Please contact Heidi Huber with questions at heidihuber@mcc.org or 316.283.2720.
Organizational development and Racial Equity Director
This role will lead MCCs in the US (four regional entities and a national team) in racial equity work through organizational development and change management, toward the goal to reflect the full participation of our diverse constituents in every aspect of our mission, programs, policies and practices. This role will inspire, mobilize and coordinate practical and professional equipping to remove barriers and move MCCs in the US forward to more fully reflect God’s desire for God’s people. For more information or to apply, visit:https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/organizational-development-racial-equity-director

MCC Representative for Haiti
Are you interesting in providing leadership and programmatic direction to MCC’s work in Haiti? This role maintains relationships with MCC partners and is responsible for providing team leadership and support for MCC workers in Haiti. For more information or to apply, visit:https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/mcc-representative-haiti

Seed Community Development Worker
MCC’s Seed program has positions available now in Bolivia! The Seed program is perfect for young adults (18-30) who value service, community, and cultural exchange addressing systemic issues like food insecurity and climate change through grassroots, community-based initiatives. For more information or to apply, visit:https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/seed-community-development-worker-bolivia

Canner Operator
Are you a traveler? Do you like to meet new people? Do you like to serve others? Every year MCC’s Mobile Meat Canner travels across the United States and Canada meeting volunteers who prepare cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to be sent around the world. More than 30,000 people a year volunteer to fill, weigh, wash and label every can. Apply to be a canner! For more information or to apply, visit: https://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/canner-operator-4

Thank you for your generous support of the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale! Just recently, the relief sale board gave MCC a check for $500,000 from the sale that took place in July! Thank you for donating your time and energy, making and buying food, donating and bidding on cars, furniture, quilts and art to support the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. In the past 14 months the Kansas sale has donated just under $1 million (all during a pandemic!) to support the worldwide work of MCC. Your support becomes food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, and locally owned projects that address  barriers to human flourishing, thank you.

Western District Conference Announcements
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website at https://mennowdc.org/ to read the latest news, stories and announcements and share them with your congregation!

Updated WDC office hours – https://mennowdc.org/updated-wdc-office-hours/

News and Stories:

Upcoming Events:

Everence to hold Social Security and retirement income planning webinar
Everence will host a Social Security and retirement income planning webinar, on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about Social Security strategies, risks that can impact retirement savings and strategies to help income last throughout retirement. This online workshop is free. Register soon by contacting our office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.   
Advisory services offered through Concourse Financial Group Advisors, a division of Concourse Financial Group Securities, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and 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.

Mennonite Men Announcements
 On Oct. 26, Nov. 6, and Nov. 16, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Mennonite Men are co-sponsoring Knowing Your Narrative: Unpacking Our Stories of Masculinity and Equity. This three-part series of events, facilitated by Ben Tapper with the Kindred Collective, seeks to unpack narratives around masculinity, faith, and equity.
After completing the series, participants will be able to coherently articulate their own personal narratives, identify the ways they’ve been shaped by masculine messaging, and reframe their own masculine identity so it is more inclusive and holistic. For more info and to register visit ambs.edu/narrative.”

We are putting the finishing touches on our new book, Strong, Loving, and Wise: Joining Conversations for Men. This book is a guide for men covering topics such as male formation, sexual wholeness, conflict tools, and life roles, just to name a few. It includes reflection questions and resources that make it an ideal book for men’s groups, Sunday School classes, and other group settings.
Check out the pre-release of Strong, Loving, and Wise at this link.

For Mennonite Creation Care Network Newsletter click here

For Mennonite Mission Network News and Beyond click here

The Rocky Mountain September newsletter is here!Have a look at the latest/greatest happenings here at RMMC. For this and previous newsletters, please visit the camp website and click on the “News” tab under “About Us”.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  This week, Amanda and Tyler Yoder, and their two toddlers, began a year-long SOOP assignment, through Mennonite Mission Network at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Colorado. Pray for them as they work alongside camp staff in hosting, maintenance and wherever else they are needed
Western District Conference Prayer Request:   Give thanks for God’s faithfulness with WDC congregation Buhler (KS) Mennonite Church, as they celebrate their centennial today and look forward to fruitful ministry in the future!