Author Archives: Monica Lichti

WORSHIP SERVICE FOR January 3, 2021 You will have to press READ MORE to see the link

January 3, 2021 Worship Service

Note: The Worship Service starts 10 minutes into the video

Epiphany Sunday Worship
January 3, 2021

Prelude — Erich Boschmann

Welcome and Prayer (from Isaiah 61:1-3) — Matt and Rebecca Schloneger

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem — STS 32

Children’s Conversation — Esther Koontz

Scripture reading — Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon: Revealed — Dawn Yoder Harms

Holy Child within the manger — STS 28

Kingdom Report —

Karen Ediger (Inclusion Task Group) and Elizabeth Schmidt (Church Board)

Prayers of God’s people

Arise, your light has come! — STS 30

Benediction

_______________________________________________________________

Musicians: Sara Dick, Esther Koontz, Rebecca Schloneger,

Matt Schloneger, Erich Boschmann, Doug Harms

Worship Visuals: Carol Buller

Audio Visual: Ken Lamp and Ben Lichti

Pastors: Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

WORSHIP SERVICE FOR DECEMBER 27, 2020 You will have to press READ MORE to see the link

December 27, 2020 Worship Service – click this link

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Dec 27, 2020
10:00 am

Prelude—In Dulce jubilo, Dupre’/Wood— Verlene Garber

Candle Lighting

Welcome and prayer— Renee Reimer

Hymns— HWB 212 O Come all ye faithful (last verse in unison)

HWB 201 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

HWB 191 O Little Town of Bethlehem

Scripture Storytelling— Luke 2:1-21— Dawn Yoder Harms

Carol Sing— Verlene Garber and the Choral Worship Team

HWB 194 Away in a Manger (words found on page 194 – different melody)

Rise Up Shepherd and Follow – Solo – Ron Garber

HWB 181 My soul proclaims with wonder (2 vs)

HWB 199 The First Noel (vs 1& 2)

HWB 211 Lo, How a Rose ‘ere Blooming

Still, Still, Still – organ solo

Nun Ist Sie Erschienen – HWB pocket

STS 32 O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem – (2vs)

HWB 189 To Us a Child of Hope is born (vs 1 and 2)

Prayers of God’s people— Nathan Koontz

Hymn— HWB 318 Joy to the World

Benediction— Renee Reimer

Postlude— Go Tell it on the Mountain— Verlene Garber

HWB = Hymnal A Worship Book
STS = Sing the Story

Musicians: William Eash, Esther Kreider Eash, Renee Reimer
Dawn Yoder Harms, Ron Garber, John Mark Koontz, Barbara Thiesen

Audio visual: Ken Lamp

Pastors: Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR DECEMBER 24, 2020 You will have to press READ MORE to see the link

Click here for the Lessons and Carols Service

In preparing for this service of Lessons and Carols, you may want to gather:

the blue Hymnal Worship Book (HWB) (blue)
the purple Sing the Story (STS) songbook
a Christ candle to light with us, as well as a taper candle to light as we sing Silent Night together at the end of the service

A Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
Bethel College Mennonite Church
December 24, 2020

Prelude— Pat Friesen

Welcome— Dawn Yoder Harms

Lighting the Christ Candle— Renee Reimer
Prayer
Oh, how joyfully— HWB 209

Lesson 1— Isaiah 9:2, 6-7— Dale Schrag
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming— HWB 211

Lesson 2— Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9— Austin Prouty
Come, thou long expected Jesus— HWB 178

Lesson 3— Luke 1:26-38— Carol Flickinger
No wind at the window— STS 11

Lesson 4— Luke 2:1-7— Aaron and Theodore Tschetter
Helpless and hungry— Bethany Schrag and Renee Reimer— STS 26
What child is this— HWB 215

Lesson 5— Luke 2:8-14— Addison Zerger
Angels we have heard on high— HWB 197

Lesson 6— Luke 2:15-20— Andrew Thiesen
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly— HWB 203

Offering our prayers

Lesson 7— John 1:1-5, 9-14— Jeanette Leary

Candle lighting

Please join us in creating a sea of light as you light your candle, wherever you are gathered

Silent night— HWB 193

Benediction

Many thanks to:

Musicians: Verlene Garber, Esther Kreider Eash, Renee Reimer, Barbara Thiesen, Dawn Yoder Harms, Bethany Schrag, Ron Garber, William Eash

Scripture readers: listed in order of worship

AV technicians: Ben Lichti, Ken Lamp, Monica Lichti

Video Editor: Esther Kreider Eash

Service planners: Barbara Thiesen and Dawn Yoder Harms

Banners: Robert Regier, creator; Susie and Bill Swartley, Matt Koontz, display

Other worship visuals: Decorations Committee

See the December 20, 2020 Christmas Enactment by pressing the button below!

Press December 20, 2020 Christmas Enactment

To access the video for December 20, 2020 – Advent 4 you will have to press READ MORE

Press here for the December 20, 2020 Worship Service

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Dec 20, 2020
Advent 4:
Preparing the way

Prelude— Children and Youth

Advent Candle Lighting— Kate Brubacher and Grayson Murphy family

O come, o come, Immanuel—Hymnal a Worship Book #172

Welcome and prayer— Cliff Dick

Call to Worship

Jesus, God sent you in mercy to be Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Teach us the compassion of God.

Jesus, your life took flesh in the mercy of Mary’s womb.

We rejoice in the compassion of Mary.

Jesus, your family took shape in the mercy of Joseph’s welcome.

We give thanks for the compassion of Joseph.

Jesus, your holy family knew the struggle of the poor, when they were refused the mercy of shelter in Bethlehem.

Teach us the compassion of God;

Lead us in the ways of justice and mercy.

Children’s conversation— Cow Christmas Pageant— Farmer Derek Klingenberg

O come, all ye faithful—Hymnal a Worship Book #212

Scripture— Luke 1:26-38— Many Voices

Homily— A Grace Like Mary— Renee Reimer

What Child is this—Hymnal a Worship Book #215

Prayers of God’s people— Marlene Ewert

Silent Night— Bethel College Concert Choir [Hymnal a Worship Book #193]

Musicians: John Mark Koontz and Jonah Schloneger
Scripture Readers: Nathan Koontz, Marlene Ewert, Cliff Dick, Rosie Epp, Amelia Kouame
Pastors: Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

Announcements for December 18-25, 2020

Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve tradition continues at BCMC this year! The service will be pre-recorded and made available for you to watch at your convenience on Christmas Eve. If you would like to have a DVD of the service, contact the church office.

Worship on Sunday December 27 will include ample time for Christmas carols throughout the service (30 minutes to be exact)!

Service of Remembrance, January 3
The Deacons will be hosting our traditional Service of Remembrance on January 3, at 4 pm. This service is a way of remembering those who have passed away in 2020. If you would like to attend the service in order to light a candle for your loved one, or if you have someone you would like us to remember please contact Nathan Koontz at nathan@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, each loved one will only be allowed to have two people in attendance. RSVP to Nathan is necessary so that we can make proper safety arrangements for all who wish to attend. This service will be live-streamed and also available to watch via YouTube at a later time.

As Christmas approaches we are provided an opportunity to be generous and exhibit care to those around us.   One of the ways BCMC provides help for those in need is through the Caring Fund, administered by the Deacon Commission. In the past year we have sent funds to 5 different agencies, and several individuals. This is an opportunity for you to help replenish the Caring Fund as more needs are expected to become apparent to us. Please help us provide funds for those individuals that need food, rent, utilities, and for organizations that provide shelter, assistance and care for those in this community, this country, and around the world. Please contribute by earmarking your contribution for the Caring Fund. Thanks, Jim Robb, Deacon Chair

ADVENT GIFT PROJECTS: Share the joy!
The Witness Commission has chosen two Advent gift projects for our congregation this year, both addressing COVID 19 related needs:
The Covid 19 Congregational Relief Fund provides grants to help Anabaptist-related churches meet their congregational financial needs (such as rent, mortgage, utilities, staff salaries, etc.) or to assist families and individuals in their midst in recovering from COVID-19 hardships. Priority is given to racially and ethnically diverse churches serving in historically under-resourced communities. To contribute to this fund, click here.

The Harvest of Love is a support program managed by the Newton Ministerial Alliance (NMA). When the program started, it was originally to provide food assistance to those who were in need. By now the Harvest of Love also provides support for people in need of rent, utility, and other types of financial assistance. The Harvest of Love is run out of the Salvation Army food pantry. During COVID-19, the need for assistance has been on the rise. To help our community, the Harvest of Love has removed restrictions on how often a family can receive food and financial assistance.
You can contribute to the Harvest of Love in two ways. You can drop off material donations at 208 W 6th St, Newton. For monetary donations please make your check payable to Harvest of Love. You can mail your monetary donation to Newton Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 1084, Newton, KS 67114

Financial Update
Great news! December has been a terrific month for contributions, and the church should end the year with a surplus! Thank you to everyone for your contributions during this fiscally difficult year, and to the commissions and committees that curtailed their spending. If you are still planning to send in a contribution intended for 2020, please keep in mind that all contributions received by December 31 will be categorized as being for 2020. Any received after December 31 will go toward 2021 intents. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know by email (treasurer@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org) or telephone (316-283-2660). ~ Mike Claassen, Finance Manager

Church Office Holiday Closings
The church office will be closed in the afternoons from now until December 23 due to staff vacation time. Whether the office is open or not, you can always be in touch with pastors by giving them a call on their cell phones (listed in church directory).
The church office will be closed Dec 25 – Jan 3 for staff vacation. Pastor Dawn will be working from home and available by phone or email.

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 (early close at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 31); 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sunday; and closed Mondays and major holidays (Friday, Dec. 25, Friday, Jan. 1). Admission to the “Crossroads” exhibit is free on Saturdays.

Western District Conference announcement
The WDC office and Resource Library remains closed due to Covid-19 precautions, and staff members are working from their homes. Note that staff will take holiday and vacation time December 24 through January 3, 2021, and will be available beginning January 4.

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1. A Christmas full of light and love to all of you! The Camp Mennoscah staff and Board of Directors prays for you to find Christ’s love and joy during this not-as-usual Christmas season. May you find hope, joy, and peace in your celebrations.
2. 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!

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Join Mennonite Mission Network in praying for the peace witness of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia amid the conflict between the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Northern Tigray region.

Western District Conference Prayer Request: As we celebrate Christmas, give thanks for the gift of multicultural diversity within WDC, and the many different ways congregations embody the presence of Christ.

Merry Christmas from Mennonite Mission Network
View this email in your browser
A Christmas blessingThe Lord bless you and keep you…and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) The blessing that God told Moses to give the Israelites is the same one that we send to you today. May the Lord bless you and keep you in this holiday season, and may God’s peace be with you this coming year. Work on “The Blessing” started when six-year-old Aliyah Wigginton-Bravo in Ecuador, told her parents Peter Wigginton and Delicia Bravo that she thought it would be fun to ask Mission Network people in different countries to make a video together. Peter coordinated the project with Josh Garber in Spain working on the audio. Mission Network workers and partners in six countries participated with their voices and instruments.  The blessing of your prayers and support make it possible for our workers to be the presence of Christ around the world. This music video comes to you today as a Christmas blessing with heartfelt thanks for your partnership with Mennonite Mission Network.”The Blessing” was written by Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe and Steven Furtick.
Merry Christmas!
Joe Sawatzky
Mennonite Mission Network Church Relations Representative

To access the video for December 13, 2020 – Advent 3 you will have to press READ MORE

Press here for the December 13, 2020 Worship Service

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Dec 13, 2020
Advent 3:
Preparing for Restoration

Prelude—Andrew Thiesen

Advent Candle Lighting—Lucy and Faith Burch

O come, o come, Immanuel— verses 1 and 5 HWB 172

Welcome and prayer

Rejoice, rejoice, the Savior comes—Sing the Story # 4

Children’s conversation

Scripture—Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Luke 1:46b-55

Sermon—Preparing for restoration—Dawn Yoder Harms

My soul proclaims with wonder—Hymnal a Worship Book #181

Prayers of God’s people

My soul cries out—Sing the Story # 124

My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

REFRAIN:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.

REFRAIN

From the hall of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for you justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.

REFRAIN

Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
‘til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.

REFRAIN

Benediction

Worship leaders: Cynthia and Dave Linscheid

Musicians: Bethany and Tim Schrag, Ben Lichti, Renee Reimer, Suzy Burch, Verlene Garber

Audio visual: Francis Toews

Pastors: Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

Worship visuals Carol Buller, Judy Friesen, Sharon Koehn, Kathy Stucky, Brenda Turner

Announcements for December 11-18, 2020

Renee is looking for pictures of your advent wreath to use in our worship service on December 20th. Please send a picture of your advent wreath to her by December 15th at renee@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org to be included!

Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve tradition continues at BCMC this year! The service will be pre-recorded and made available for you to watch at your convenience on Christmas Eve.

December 27 worship will be a service centered around Christmas carols. Send Verlene Garber the Christmas carol(s) you’d like to hear! The service will begin at 10 am. Verlene’s email is: verleneg@cox.net. Phone is listed in church directory.

Technology Update
You can now livestream BCMC worship services easily by going to the homepage of the BCMC website https://bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org/ and clicking on the green LIVE button to the right of the screen. Thank you to Ken Lamp, Ben Lichti, Francis Toews, Bill Swartley, and Monica Lichti for their extra time, energy and effort to bring BCMC worship to us in our homes!

BCMC COVID-19 Update
The Reopen Task Group has been hard at work creating guidelines for safe gatherings at BCMC. You can be up to date with their work on the COVID-19 tab on the BCMC website. Currently, Harvey County is at a percent positivity rate of 11.66% as of December 8th, 2020. According to our guidelines this means that we will not have in-person worship or small group gatherings indoors (faith formation activities or committee/commission meetings).

Staff Update
The church office will be closed in the afternoons from now until December 23 due to staff vacation time. Whether the office is open or not, you can always be in touch with pastors by giving them a call on their cell phones (listed in church directory).

Financial Update
According to the latest numbers, enough contributions have been received to cover the elevator repair! Based on the estimate from Regier Construction, we need $32,421 to cover the kitchen/fellowship hall renovation. General fund contributions from January 1 through November 30 were $417,199 and expenses were $421,887, leaving a shortfall of $4,688. ~ Mike Claassen, BCMC Finance Manager
BCMC for December 6-13: General Fund $10,687; Plant Fund $50; Caring Fund $1,350; Living Stones $385; Lynn Louck’s Memorial $20.

This Advent we are once again enjoying banners created by Bob Regier forty years ago. Thank you, Bob, for your artwork that keeps on giving! This year we are seeing the banners from a different angle as they are displayed in the choir loft (within view of the camera). Thanks to Bill and Susie Swartley for the creation of the banner stands! As you view the banners during worship, what do you see? Consider writing a poem or brief reflection about what the banners help you see and experience throughout the season.

ADVENT GIFT PROJECTS: Share the joy!
The Witness Commission has chosen two Advent gift projects for our congregation this year, both addressing COVID 19 related needs:
The Covid 19 Congregational Relief Fund provides grants to help Anabaptist-related churches meet their congregational financial needs (such as rent, mortgage, utilities, staff salaries, etc.) or to assist families and individuals in their midst in recovering from COVID-19 hardships. Priority is given to racially and ethnically diverse churches serving in historically under-resourced communities. To contribute to this fund, click here.

The Harvest of Love is a support program managed by the Newton Ministerial Alliance (NMA). When the program started, it was originally to provide food assistance to those who were in need. By now the Harvest of Love also provides support for people in need of rent, utility, and other types of financial assistance. The Harvest of Love is run out of the Salvation Army food pantry. During COVID-19, the need for assistance has been on the rise. To help our community, the Harvest of Love has removed restrictions on how often a family can receive food and financial assistance.
You can contribute to the Harvest of Love in two ways. You can drop off material donations at 208 W 6th St, Newton. For monetary donations please make your check payable to Harvest of Love. You can mail your monetary donation to Newton Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 1084, Newton, KS 67114

Most of the Advent Books from the BCMC Library have been pulled and are on display in the checkout room, including most of the Everybody Books. Please feel free to come by and check out our eclectic offerings.

TODAY (Sunday, Dec. 13), 8 p.m. – All are invited to take part in Bethel College’s annual Lighting of the Green, from wherever you are. This long-standing Bethel Advent tradition celebrates the Light that shines in the darkness, the life and light of Christ who came into the world giving light to all humankind. Normally held on the Green in the center of campus, the gathering will take place virtually this year, live online (links follow) with some parts pre-recorded.YouTube: https://youtu.be/LZeLxduHoVk or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/98444357235?pwd=N1MzQlpiQ29HQWZIWUs2NGpNWWtIZz09
Alternate instructions: Go to https://www.bethelks.edu/article/lighting-green-be-virtual-year, the URL for the Lighting of the Green press release, which contains both links. Or
Go to bethelks.edu, scroll to FEATURED NEWS, and click the Lighting of the Green article, where you will find both links.

MCC Comforter Blitz update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Kansas Friends of MCC Comforter Blitz in Yoder, KS has been canceled. However, the Blitz committee still has a goal of collecting at least 300 comforters between February and April. We need your help to meet this goal! Fabric kits and comforter sets to tie (top, back, and batting) are available to check out from MCC in North Newton. For contactless drop-off of completed comforters the 24-hour donation room is always available. To arrange drop-off or checkout materials, contact Kate at katemast@mcc.org, or 316.804.8432.

KIPCOR’s 2020 Fall Newsletter
You can read the entire newsletter in a convenient “Flipsnack” format here:
https://www.flipsnack.com/KIPCOR/kipcor-fall-2020-newsletter.html
Or find it on KIPCOR’s website here:
https://kipcor.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Fall-2020-Newsletter-Individual-pages-final.pdf

To access the video for December 6, 2020 – Advent 2 you will have to press READ MORE

Click here for the December 6, 2020 Worship Service

Bethel College Mennonite Church
December 6, 2020
Advent 2:
Preparing the way through repentance

Prelude—the Garber Family

Advent Candle Lighting—Brad and Megan Kohlman and family

O come, o come, Immanuel— verses 1 and 3 Hymnal A Worship Book # 172

Welcome and prayer—Nathan Koontz

Comfort, comfort, O my people— Hymnal A Worship Book #176

Children’s conversation—Doug and Dawn Yoder Harms

Scripture—Isaiah 40:1-11—Gwen Neufeld
Mark 1:1-8—Erich Boschmann

Sermon—Dawn Yoder Harms

Bless’d be the God of Israel— Hymnal A Worship Book #174

Kingdom Report from the Inclusion Task Group—Megan Kohlman

Prayers of God’s people—Nathan Koontz

Go, my friends, in grace—Sing the Story #57

Benediction— Dawn Yoder Harms

Musicians:       Sara Dick, Esther Koontz, Rebecca Schloneger
Matt Schloneger, Erich Boschmann, Nathan Koontz, Doug Harms

Audio visual:   Ken Lamp

Pastors:           Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

Announcements for December 4-11, 2020