Congregational Meeting – January 31, 2021 – 1 pm
The Congregational Meeting on January 31, 1 pm, will be held via Zoom (and will not be livestreamed). 

Below is the link for the meeting (press the button), along with the agenda and reports.   We encourage as many of you to participate as is possible, since this congregational meeting involves approving the 2021 BCMC budget, which requires a quorum.  In preparation for this meeting, please make sure you have Zoom downloaded on your computer or tablet. Questions or need help? Please call the church office.

You may wish to have the Financial Reports booklet available during the time of the meeting.  If you have any questions about the meeting or the agenda, you can direct them to Elizabeth Schmidt, BCMC Church Board chair/moderator.

Zoom Link for the January 31, 2021 Congregational Meeting

For the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 863 8586 2117
Passcode: 981118

Click here for the Financial Reports Booklet:  

Financial Reports Booklet for 2020 with the 2021 Proposed Budget

Announcements

Give Someone a Call!
During last Sunday’s worship (January 24), Cliff Dick encouraged us to pick up our church directories, leaf through the pages, and remember those whom we have not seen for many months now.  In that spirit, we encourage you to pick one of those people this week and call them on the phone.  Connect with someone just to let them know that you were thinking about them.  See where the conversation goes!    

From the BCMC Library Committee
Good news from the Library Committee: Beginning Feb 2, the BCMC Library will be staffed every Tuesday from 10:00-noon to help you check out or find library books. Of course, the library is still open the rest of the week, but we won’t physically be there to help. You would continue to check out books by writing your name and the name of the book on the checkout sheet. Please come explore the library, we have so many wonderful books for you to enjoy.

Congratulations to Kidron Residents and Staff!
Congratulations to Kidron residents and staff who have received their first COVID-19 vaccination!  They will receive the second vaccination on Saturday, January 30.

BCMC offering for the week of January 17-24
General Fund $10,322; Sr Hi Youth $100; Transfer-General $50; General Fund-2020 $380; Caring Fund $600; Jr Hi Fund $185; Living Stones $5; Women’s Fellowship $100.

Mennonite Central Committee Comforter Blitz: At Home
The annual MCC Comforter Blitz is happening virtually this year from now through March! The Kansas Friends of MCC committee is challenging congregations and individuals to complete 300 comforters for MCC by the end of March! Read all the details and information on getting comforter making supplies from MCC at mcc.org/blitz-at-home. Share pictures of your work on the MCC Comforter Blitz Facebook page. Contact katemast@mcc.org or 316.804.8432 with questions.

From the Western District Conference
1.  WDC announces that Violeta Ajquejay Suastegui will join the WDC staff team as part-time Interim Administrative Assistant on February 1. She will assist in supporting pastors and congregations in Texas, Hispanic ministries, and in church planting. She brings a wide range of church and ministry-related experience.  She currently serves as Associate Director for Hispanic Ministries for Pastoral & Leadership Education, a program of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), where she assists in providing leadership to the work of the Hispanic Ministries office and programs, especially the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (IBA).  Through her work, she enjoys working with and meeting people from different nationalities.  Violeta is a graduate of Bethel College and Hesston College.  In her free time, Violeta serves on the Et Cetera Shop Board (Newton, KS).   Violeta has served with WDC for many years (Executive Board, Home Missions Committee, Church Planting Commission, conference minister search committees, WDC 125th year anniversary taskforce). Her love of serving the people of God and her experience will be a great contribution to WDC’s core tasks and denominational networking. We are excited to welcome Violeta to this new role!

2.  We want to express our appreciation to everyone who has given to WDC over the past year to help our congregations Witness & invite others to faith in Jesus Christ, Dwell in just & loving relationships, and Connect to God’s mission in the world. Your generous gifts are appreciated as we have all navigated ministry in these uncertain times! We continue to invite your contributions as we are looking toward our fiscal year end on January 31! You may make an online contribution HERE or send a check to Western District Conference, PO Box 306, North Newton KS  67117. Thank you for your generosity!   

Sunday, Feb. 7 – The KIPCOR Film Series at Bethel College is serving up a second helping of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which focuses on the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave to illustrate how Black, Indigenous and People of Color and low-income citizens suffer the most negative impact from natural disasters. The film is an indictment of U.S. disaster preparedness, and connects extreme weather, extreme disparity (income and other) and extreme racism. Go to kipcor.org, “Film Series,” for a link to watch Cooked for free and a link to register for the Feb. 7 virtual discussion; advance registration is required to participate in the discussion, which will be held in break-out rooms. Discussion leaders include Dr. Christy Miller-Hesed along with people who experienced the 1995 Chicago heat disaster.

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1.  There are volunteer opportunities for you! Camp Mennoscah continually has year-round work to support the maintenance and upkeep of the campus and facilities. We can accommodate every group size, skill set and length of project you would like to tackle. Check out these ways to Get Involved!  Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer.

2.  Registration is open for the Spring Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats at Camp Mennoscah on March 5-7 and March 19-21!  Once the retreats are full, sign up on the waitlist.  Register at www.campmennoscah.org!

3.  Nothing’s better than a summer at camp! Watch this video created by Mennonite Camping Association about why you should work at camp.  Applications for Camp Mennoscah Summer Staff positions are now being accepted!   

4.  Camp Mennoscah is an amazing space for families and groups to connect!  Facilities for differently sized groups are available with a variety of gathering areas.  Trails and fields are waiting to be hiked and used for fun activities, too!  Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to reserve. 

From Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
VISION 2020 Capital Campaign Celebration, Jan. 31 @ 6:00 p.m. – We want to celebrate and show gratitude to the many Spirit led volunteers and donors for the accomplishments made with our VISION 2020 Campaign over the past decade. Please join us as we recognize what we have successfully completed since 2012 with so many critical Campaign Projects such as our exciting new Pleiades multipurpose facility, critically needed new spring water system, the renovation of the Boys Bathhouse and much more. Hundreds of camp volunteers and donors have invested in our VISION 2020 Campaign. Celebrating our progress to date is a joy we can relish as we begin a new year for and share future VISION goals. Any photos or videos to share are welcomed (info@rmmc.org). Please let us know if you can join us and a Zoom link will be sent 2 hours prior to the Sunday gathering. We hope to see you with us on January 31st.Young Adult Snow Camp, Feb. 5-7 – Join young adults in the Rockies for a great time of fellowship and fun even with masks and appropriate distancing. The retreat is filled with activities that can be done safely indoors and out like ping pong, broom ball, tubing and snow shoeing, while also allowing for free time to rest if you want.

Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network
Mennonite Mission Network praises God for John Fumana of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bruce Yoder of Canada, who have said “yes” to God’s call to work as a team of executive coordinators for Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission. Pray for Bruce and John as they begin their new roles tomorrow.

Prayer Request from Western District Conference
Give thanks for God’s creation, and pray for WDC congregations as they seek ways to practice faithful stewardship of the natural environment.

Sympathy Notices
We offer sympathy to Ada and Wes Schmidt-Tieszen on the death of Ada’s brother, Archie Schmidt, Sunday, January 17, at Newton Medical Center.  You may send sympathy cards to Ada at 209 SE 2nd St., Newton, KS, 67114.  

We offer sympathy to the family of Lorene K. Goering.  Lorene, 90, died January 13, 2021 in Newton, KS.  Lorene married Bob Goering at BCMC on July 31, 1949.  She joined BCMC in October of 1949.  She was a Sunday School Superintendent at BCMC for many years and was involved with the Community Playschool.  Lorene was the aunt of Rachel (and John) Pannabecker.  You can read her obituary here:  https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=lorene-k-goering&pid=197512351&fhid=2435

Congregational Meeting – January 31, 2021
The Congregational Meeting on Jan 31 will be held via Zoom (and will not be livestreamed). A link for the meeting, along with the agenda and reports, will be sent out this week via email (and via post for those not receiving email). We encourage as many of you to participate as is possible, since this congregational meeting involves approving the 2021 BCMC budget, which requires a quorum. In preparation for this meeting, please make sure you have Zoom downloaded on your computer or tablet. Questions or need help? Please call the church office.

This week’s offering at BCMC: General Fund $8,464; Jr Hi Fund $100; Living Stones $193.33.

Junior High Club and Super Bowl Snack Fundraiser
This is the time of year when Jr. High Club sponsors and members start planning for the much-anticipated Super Bowl Snack fundraiser, which is held on Super Bowl Sunday. Given the current circumstances with COVID-19, we believe it is safest to cancel the annual fundraiser this year rather than try to proceed, even in a modified format. However, if you would still like to support the Jr. High Club with a financial gift, you are welcome to do so. We thank you for your continued support and will plan to be back for Super Bowl LVI in 2022!

New Hope Shelter
BCMC and Faith Mennonite churches are responsible for supplying meals and some volunteers for New Hope Shelter from Wednesday January 27 to Tuesday Feb 2. Please pray for these generous volunteers giving of themselves during this difficult time.

A Message from the BCMC Visual Arts Committee
The Tempestry wall hanging, a project of BCMC’s Visual Arts Committee, was originally scheduled to be unveiled in April 2020 in the Gathering Place at BCMC. Due to the interruption of the pandemic, it will be hung at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton for several weeks beginning mid-January 2021, and then displayed at BCMC for a longer period when we gather again. The seven panels feature a row of knitted yarn representing the high temperature for each day in twenty year increments, from1897 (when BCMC began) through 2019. Thanks to skilled knitters Sara Dick, Esther Kreider Eash, Deane Frey, Mary Goering, Marilyn Harrold, Peggy Souder and Lenore Waltner who participated in creating this visual art piece.

Kansas Day at Kauffman Museum
Sat., Jan. 30 – Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Our Stories, Our Foods.” Starting at 11 a.m. – food trucks, local producer booths and take-it-home crafts, museum parking lot and grounds; 11 a.m. via Zoom: Glen Ediger, North Newton: “Mennonite – Ethnic – Food”; 2 p.m. via Zoom: Jenny Masias, Newton: “The Immigrants Who Built Newton: One Spike at a Time”; self-guided walking or biking tour to the eight “Stories Along the Trail” sites in North Newton. Please note that face coverings must be worn and distancing guidelines followed on Kauffman Museum and all Bethel College property. To get Zoom links, go to the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

Camp Mennoscah announcements

1. There are volunteer opportunities for you! Camp Mennoscah continually has year-round work to support the maintenance and upkeep of the campus and facilities. We can accommodate every group size, skill set and length of project you would like to tackle. Check out these ways to Get Involved! Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer.
2. Applications for Camp Mennoscah Summer Staff positions are now being accepted! Although there is a chance positions will change to meet the needs of pandemic-impacted summer youth camps, the current leadership positions are naturalist, crafts leader, lifeguard, grounds/maintenance, music leader, office, and all-round/media. For those 21 years old or older, there is also a Director of Support opening. Find the application and information online at www.campmennoscah.org under Summer Youth Camps!
3. Camp Mennoscah is a wonderful space for families and groups needing space to spread out! Facilities for differently sized groups are available with a variety of gathering areas. Trails and fields are waiting to be hiked and used for fun activities, too! Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to reserve. You are invited to enjoy this sacred space!

Mennonite church announcements
Mennonite Education Agency has initiated a search for an executive director. To learn more and for a complete agency profile and position description, see: https://www.mennoniteeducation.org/Resources/News/Pages/default.aspx.

MC USA’s annual Lent at Home guide is now available for download at: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/resource-portal/resource/lent-at-home/.

Common Read
Join others across WDC to discuss I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World by Michael T. McRay. This Common Read is a partnership between Herald Press, MC Canada, and MC USA. WDC-based Zoom discussions will take place on Jan. 28, 7-8pm. Join for one or both discussions. To borrow a copy of the book (limited number) or to register for the discussion, email crlib@mennowdc.org.

The KIPCOR Film Series at Bethel College is serving up a second helping of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which focuses on the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave to illustrate how Black, Indigenous and People of Color and low-income citizens suffer the most negative impact from natural disasters. The film is an indictment of U.S. disaster preparedness, and connects extreme weather, extreme disparity (income and other) and extreme racism. Go to kipcor.org, “Film Series,” for a link to watch Cooked for free and a link to register for the Feb. 7 virtual discussion; advance registration is required to participate in the discussion, which will be held in break-out rooms, with leaders who include Chicagoans who experienced the 1995 heat disaster.

Opportunities for Volunteers at Camp Mennoscah
Camp Mennoscah continually has year-round work to support the maintenance and upkeep of the campus and facilities. We can accommodate every group size, skill set and length of project you would like to tackle. Check out these ways to Get Involved! Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer.

Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network
Upon completing her first year of service in eastern France with Mennonite Mission Network, Kate Widmer felt God’s call to extend for a second year. Pray for her as she continues to work with immigrant families as part of the outreach of La Prairie Mennonite Church.

Prayer Request from Western District Conference
Pray for the WDC Gifts Discernment Committee, as they listen for the Spirit’s leading in nominating persons to serve on the WDC Executive Board and Commissions.

Newton Community for Racial Justice worked to put together a video for MLK Day of Service. Take a look to hear Newton leaders talk about antiracism and MLK. You may even recognize some BCMC folks! Click here to watch the video.

Junior High Club and Super Bowl Snack Fundraiser
This is the time of year when Jr. High Club sponsors and members start planning for the much-anticipated Super Bowl Snack fundraiser, which is held on Super Bowl Sunday. Given the current circumstances with COVID-19, we believe it is safest to cancel the annual fundraiser this year rather than try to proceed, even in a modified format. However, if you would still like to support the Jr. High Club with a financial gift, you are welcome to do so. We thank you for your continued support and will plan to be back for Super Bowl LVI in 2022!

A Message from the BCMC Visual Arts Committee
The Tempestry wall hanging, a project of BCMC’s Visual Arts Committee, was originally scheduled to be unveiled in April 2020 in the Gathering Place at BCMC.  Due to the interruption of the pandemic, it will be hung at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton for several weeks beginning mid-January 2021, and then displayed at BCMC for a longer period when we gather again.  The seven panels feature a row of knitted yarn representing the high temperature for each day in twenty year increments, from1897 (when BCMC began) through 2019.  Thanks to skilled knitters Sara Dick, Esther Kreider Eash, Deane Frey, Mary Goering, Marilyn Harrold, Peggy Souder and  Lenore Waltner who participated in creating this visual art piece. 

Mon., Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration will feature spoken word artist M’Vyonne Payne and former pro athlete and motivational speaker Chris Singleton. The event will be held in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, with COVID protocols in place, and will also be live-streamed via YouTube at bit.ly/bethelks-mlk2021 Sponsors are the Bethel College Diversity Council, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Student Life Office, with support from the Bethel College Women’s Association. 

COVID Lighting Memorial
The Presidential Inauguration Committee will host a memorial to honor the lives lost to Covid-19 on Tuesday, January 19 at 4:30 p.m. in cities and towns across the U.S.   A Washington D.C. memorial will feature a lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. It will be the first ever lighting memorial to honor lives lost.  The Inauguration Committee is inviting cities and towns across the country to join Washington D.C. in lighting buildings and ringing church bells in a national moment of unity and remembrance. 
You can participate by lighting a candle in your window. 
“In the midst of a pandemic — when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family, friends, and neighbors — it is important that we honor those who have died, reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation’s history, and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation.”

Join Mennonite Central Committee for a free webinar: The Spiritual Cost of Doctrine of Discovery. Mark Charles, a Navajo activist, speaker, and author will be presenting on The Spiritual Cost of Doctrine of Discovery. Along with Soong-Chan Rah, Mark is the author of Unsettling Truths: The ongoing, dehumanizing legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, Intervarsity Press (2019). The free webinar will take place on Thursday, January 21, from 10-11:30 CST. Please register by January 20 at mcc.org/webinar-registration-dod to receive the webinar link. 

Congregational Meeting will be January 31 
Mark your calendars now for the upcoming Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at 1pm.  The meeting will be held via Zoom and agenda includes approval of the proposed 2021 church budget. Agenda and other reports will be made available ahead of time (more details to follow).

Great news from the BCMC Finance Manager
Great news!  2020 is over, and the church ended the year with a surplus!  We were even able to send additional monies to all the organizations supported by the Witness Commission!  I have received some questions regarding the end of year contributions reports.  If you have any questions or concerns about yours, please let me know by email treasurer@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org or telephone (316-283-2660).  ~  Mike Claassen, Finance Manager
BCMC Offerings
December 24:  General Fund $5,284; Sr Hi Youth $25; Gen Fund 2021 $4,025; Caring Fund $350; Living Stones $125; Women’s Fellowship $260; Miscellaneious $252.95
December 31:  General Fund $2,975; Caring Fund $1,175; Living Stones $2,500.
January 7, 2021:  General Fund $15,533.92; Caring Fund $1,550; Living Stones $1,315; Peace Garden $2,000; Carl Thieszen Memorial $50.

Everence to hold Medicare webinar: Tuesday, Jan. 19
Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, as a webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the various Medicare plans and what they cover; plans that supplement Medicare; and enrollment details and deadlines. This webinar is free. Please register by contacting our office at 877-467-7294, 316-283-3800 or central.kansas@everence.com.   *Attendance is recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare. 

Western District Conferece Annual Assembly Resolutions
The Assembly will be held July 30-Aug 1, in a hybrid model with the possibility of both virtual and in-person activities. WDC encourages the development of resolutions that facilitate discernment, educate, build unity, and provide an area conference understanding while acknowledging dissenting voices.  Any proposed church statement should be discerned through congregations or WDC commissions and task forces and submitted for consideration to the WDC Resolutions Committee a minimum of 120 days prior to annual conference sessions (April 2, 2021).   

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1.  Applications for Camp Mennoscah Summer Staff positions are now being accepted!  Although there is a chance positions will change to meet the needs of pandemic-impacted summer youth camps, the current leadership positions are naturalist, crafts leader, lifeguard, grounds/maintenance, music leader, office, and all-round/media. For those 21 years old or older, there is also a Director of Support opening.  Find the application and information online at www.campmennoscah.org under Summer Youth Camps!
2.  Celebrate the new year by coming to Camp Mennoscah!  Camp Mennoscah is a wonderful space for families and groups needing space to spread out!  Facilities for differently sized groups are available with a variety of gathering areas.  Trails and fields are waiting to be hiked and used for fun activities, too!  Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to reserve.  You are invited to enjoy this sacred space!
3.  Thank you, Allen and Janet!  After 40 years of dedicated service as program directors at Camp Mennoscah, Allen Jantz and Janet McGillivary are retiring.  We know them in part for their wonderfully caring and carefully planned camp week and for Allen’s lunchtime skits and Janet’s lanyard-making.  We celebrate these years shared with Camp Mennoscah and wish them the best in new adventures!  See you at Camp Mennoscah again soon, Allen and Janet!

Mennonite church announcements
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is offering two new scholarships:

• The Multicultural Church Scholarship is for students who are currently serving in or preparing for ministry assignments in a multicultural context and/or who belong to historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups within the Mennonite Church. Each year, this award will provide a limited number of 100-percent tuition grants to full-time students beginning a master’s program, or a limited number of 75-percent tuition grants to part-time students beginning a master’s program.
• The MDiv Connect Student Scholarship provides a limited number of 75-percent tuition grants to students beginning the Master of Divinity (MDiv) Connect program.

For more information:  ambs.edu/grow

Common Read
Join others across WDC to discuss I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World by Michael T. McRay.  This Common Read is a partnership between Herald Press, MC Canada, and MC USA.  WDC-based Zoom discussions will take place on Jan. 28, 7-8pm. Join for one or both discussions. To borrow a copy of the book (limited number) or to register for the discussion, email crlib@mennowdc.org 

Sat., Jan. 30 – Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Our Stories, Our Foods.” Starting at 11 a.m. – food trucks, local producer booths and take-it-home crafts, museum parking lot and grounds; 11 a.m. via Zoom: Glen Ediger, North Newton: stories about Mennonite ethnic foods; 2 p.m. via Zoom: Jenny Masias, Newton: “The Immigrants Who Built Newton: One Spike at a Time”; walking tour to the eight “Stories Along the Trail” sites in North Newton. Please note that face coverings must be worn and distancing guidelines followed on Kauffman Museum and all Bethel College property. To get Zoom links, go to the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

The KIPCOR Film Series at Bethel College is serving up a second helping of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which focuses on the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave to illustrate how Black, Indigenous and People of Color and low-income citizens suffer the most negative impact from natural disasters. The film is an indictment of U.S. disaster preparedness, and connects extreme weather, extreme disparity (income and other) and extreme racism. Go to kipcor.org, “Film Series,” for a link to watch Cooked for free and a link to register for the Feb. 7 virtual discussion; advance registration is required to participate in the discussion, which will be held in break-out rooms, with leaders who include Chicagoans who experienced the 1995 heat disaster.Letter from Jim Robb, Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale Chair
Please put July 2 and 3, 2021 on your church calendar for this year’s MCC Sale.  We are hoping and praying that COVID-19 will be under control by July so we can hold the MCC Sale this year. Click on this link to read the letter.   https://mcusercontent.com/6c82c57d5882e890a1945358a/files/14e4425a-12b1-40e1-8e27-62a136da1a0a/MCC_Sale_Date_Change.pdf

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request
Mennonite Mission Network praises God for DOOR’s (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) creative adaptation of leadership training programs in the COVID-19 era. Pray for all the young people who have engaged with the Teaching Collective series, which offer a virtual space for discussions centered around race, gender, trauma and healing. DOOR organizes opportunities to experience God in urban settings.

Western District Conference Prayer Request
Pray for God’s wisdom for WDC church leaders, as they continue to discern how best to guide congregational life during the pandemic.

Sun., Jan. 10, 3 p.m
Retired pastor Florence Schloneger, North Newton, and Pauline Sharp, Wichita, a Kaw tribal member and board member of the Kanza Heritage Society, will give a virtual presentation, sharing their family stories related to land ownership, economics, education and identity. This is in connection with the special exhibit at Bethel College’s Kauffman Museum, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” Schloneger’s ancestors immigrated to Kansas in the 1800s while Sharp’s relatives, members of the Kanza (Kaw) tribe, lived in central Kansas for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Sign up for the Zoom link at https://kauffmanmuseum.org/event/sunday-afternoon-at-the-museum-with-florence-schloneger-and-pauline-sharp/ The event will also be on Facebook Live on the Kauffman Museum Facebook page.

A Message from the BCMC Visual Arts Committee
The Tempestry wall hanging, a project of BCMC’s Visual Arts Committee, was originally scheduled to be unveiled in April 2020 in the Gathering Place at BCMC.  Due to the interruption of the pandemic, it will be hung at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton for several weeks beginning mid-January 2021, and then displayed at BCMC for a longer period when we gather again.  The seven panels feature a row of knitted yarn representing the high temperature for each day in twenty year increments, from1897 (when BCMC began) through 2019.  Thanks to skilled knitters Sara Dick, Esther Kreider Eash, Deane Frey, Mary Goering, Marilyn Harrold, Peggy Souder and  Lenore Waltner who participated in creating this visual art piece. 

Congregational Meeting will be January 31 
Mark your calendars now for the upcoming Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at 1pm.  The meeting will be held via Zoom and agenda includes approval of the proposed 2021 church budget. Agenda and other reports will be made available ahead of time (more details to follow).

Great news from the BCMC Finance Manager
Great news!  2020 is over, and the church ended the year with a surplus!  We were even able to send additional monies to all the organizations supported by the Witness Commission!  I have received some questions regarding the end of year contributions reports.  If you have any questions or concerns about yours, please let me know by email (treasurer@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org) or telephone (316-283-2660).  ~  Mike Claassen, Finance Manager

Everence to hold Medicare webinar: Tuesday, Jan. 19
Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, as a webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the various Medicare plans and what they cover; plans that supplement Medicare; and enrollment details and deadlines. This webinar is free. Please register by contacting our office at 877-467-7294, 316-283-3800 or central.kansas@everence.com.   *Attendance is recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare. 

Western District Conferece Annual Assembly Resolutions
The Assembly will be held July 30-Aug 1, in a hybrid model with the possibility of both virtual and in-person activities. WDC encourages the development of resolutions that facilitate discernment, educate, build unity, and provide an area conference understanding while acknowledging dissenting voices.  Any proposed church statement should be discerned through congregations or WDC commissions and task forces and submitted for consideration to the WDC Resolutions Committee a minimum of 120 days prior to annual conference sessions (April 2, 2021).   

Common Read
Join others across WDC to discuss I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World by Michael T. McRay.  This Common Read is a partnership between Herald Press, MC Canada, and MC USA.  WDC-based Zoom discussions will take place on Jan. 11, 11:30am-12:30pm and Jan. 28, 7-8pm. Join for one or both discussions. To borrow a copy of the book (limited number) or to register for the discussion, email crlib@mennowdc.org. 

Kauffman Museum at Bethel College is partnering with Humanities Kansas to host the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” through Jan. 17. Accompanying it is a local companion exhibit, “Of Land and People: Our Community at the Crossroads,” created from the museum’s permanent exhibit “Of Land and People.” The museum is open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tues.-Fri; 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sunday; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the “Crossroads” exhibit is free on Saturdays

Mon., Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration will feature spoken word artist M’Vyonne Payne and former pro athlete and motivational speaker Chris Singleton. The event will be held in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, with COVID protocols in place, and will also be live-streamed via YouTube at bit.ly/bethelks-mlk2021 Sponsors are the Bethel College Diversity Council, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Student Life Office, with support from the Bethel College Women’s Association. 

Letter from Jim Robb, Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale Chair
Please put July 2 and 3, 2021 on your church calendar for this year’s MCC Sale.  We are hoping and praying that COVID-19 will be under control by July so we can hold the MCC Sale this year. Click on this link to read the letter.   https://mcusercontent.com/6c82c57d5882e890a1945358a/files/14e4425a-12b1-40e1-8e27-62a136da1a0a/MCC_Sale_Date_Change.pdf

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1.  Applications for Camp Mennoscah Summer Staff positions are now being accepted!  Although there is a chance positions will change to meet the needs of pandemic-impacted summer youth camps, the current summer staff leadership positions are naturalist, crafts leader, lifeguard, grounds/maintenance, music leader, office, and all-round/media. For those 21 years old or older, there is also a Director of Support opening.  Find the application and information online at www.campmennoscah.org under Summer Youth Camps!
2. Celebrate the new year by coming to Camp Mennoscah!  Camp Mennoscah is a wonderful space for families and groups needing space to spread out!  Facilities for differently sized groups are available with a variety of gathering areas.  Trails and fields are waiting to be hiked and used for fun activities, too!  Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org to reserve.  You are invited to enjoy this sacred space!
3.  A few extra Camp Mennoscah hoodies are available!  (Adult sizes only.)  Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org  Grab yours before they’re gone!
4.  Thank you, Allen and Janet!  After 40 years of dedicated service as program directors at Camp Mennoscah, Allen Jantz and Janet McGillivary are retiring.  We know them in part for their wonderfully caring and carefully planned camp week and for Allen’s lunchtime skits and Janet’s lanyard-making.  We celebrate these years shared with Camp Mennoscah and wish them the best in new adventures!  See you at Camp Mennoscah again soon, Allen and Janet!
5.  The Camp Mennoscah Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Olivia Bartel has accepted the position of Executive Director. Olivia has an undergraduate degree from Bethel College and a Master of Arts from AMBS with a focus in Theological Studies.  She has been with Camp Mennoscah since 2008 and is a familiar face on campgrounds and at camp sponsored events.  Olivia has a tremendous passion for Camp Mennoscah’s mission and building relationships.  She has been instrumental in developing new programming such as the Scrapbooking and Crafts Retreats.  She has also updated and strengthened the staff training program to promote safe boundaries.  Most of what Olivia does, however, has been behind the scenes to ensure everyone feels welcomed and has a good experience.  Olivia will continue to be responsible for camp programming while taking on additional supervisory and executive responsibilities.  Please join us in congratulating Olivia on her promotion and welcoming her to the role of Executive Director.

Mennonite Central Committee Webinars on Service Opportunities
Are you ready to step out and into service? To spend a year serving abroad or the summer serving your church or a local community organization? Check out the webinars happening this winter that will introduce these MCC service opportunities to you! Learn more at mcc.org/mcc-me-webinar-series-service-opportunities.

Everence announcements
1.  Apply now for a 2021-22 scholarship. Our church’s faith-based partner, Everence, wants to help people nurture their talents. If you or your parents are or become Everence members and you will be enrolled in a college or trade school next fall, apply for an Everence College Scholarship of up to $3,000 before March 10. Visit everence.com/scholarships. for guidelines and an application. 
2.  Buying or refinancing a home? Buying is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. Figuring out the financial side of purchasing or refinancing can be hard. Answer the key financial purchase questions from our faith-based partner, Go to the Everence website.  
3.  Read Toolkit to care for your God-given gifts. Learn tips and ideas about how to care for whatever we receive from God. Look at the current issue of Toolkit (in your mailboxes at the church) from our faith-based partner, Everence.

The Rocky Mountain January newsletter is here!  Have a look at the latest/greatest related to camp programs, volunteer and donor news/needs and other happenings at RMMC. All newsletters are posted in the “News” tab under “About Us” on the camp website.  Corbin Graber on behalf of the camp board and staff members