Supportive Communities Network
Learning Opportunities and Upcoming Survey

 Church board chair and moderator Elizabeth Schmidt announced last week that BCMC is entering a process of learning about and possibly affiliating with the Supportive Communities Network (SCN). SCN is a network of Mennonite and Church of the Brethren communities who are publicly affirming of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual members. The Network’s goals are:

            >to offer support, resources and opportunities for dialogue among congregations which welcome gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual members,

            >to encourage meaningful dialogue at the denominational level,

            >to offer support and resources for individuals who are working toward welcome.

More information about SCN will follow in the next weeks after which we will launch a survey of active BCMC congregants to determine our openness to affiliating with SCN. This survey will take place from March 15 through March 29. Based on the congregation’s consent, the Church Board will then make a decision about BCMC joining the Network.

For this initial learning opportunity you are invited to follow the two SCN links below. The first links to a video titled “One Congregation’s Story”. It is the story of why Assembly Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana chose to affiliate with Supportive Communities Network. The second links to the Supportive Communities Network page of the Brethren and Mennonite Council on LGBTQ interests. This page contains an abundance of information helpful to our exploration of SCN.

“One Congregation’s Story”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF2_yRzylIY&feature=youtu.be

Supportive Communities Network:  https://www.bmclgbt.org/scn

With open and affirming heart. soul and mind,

The Inclusion Task Group
Karen Ediger
Megan Kohlman
John Kliewer
Nathan Koontz
Karen Penner

SAVE THE DATE for the BCMC Youth Group Drive-Thru Soup Fundraiser – Sunday, March 7th from 11:30am-1:00pm. More info on how to sign up coming next week. 

We offer sympathy to Hank, Elaine, and Austin Prouty on the death of their nephew and cousin, Levi Minkevitch, Feb. 18, 2021. 

Thinking about Becoming a Member at BCMC?
If you have been thinking about becoming a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, please contact Pastor Nathan or the church office. We simply want to gage interest and discuss possible timeframes and educational formats for new members.  I hope you will consider this small step towards possible membership.  As our Welcoming Statement says, “Bethel College Mennonite Church welcomes into fellowship and membership all persons who confess faith in Jesus Christ, without regard to their race, ethnic background, gender, age, sexual orientation, education, ability, and other factors which give rise to discrimination and marginalization.“ May you feel welcome here. 

In the Introduction to Lent email Tuesday, February 16, was the following paragraph:
Consider using the Lent at Home Worship Guide, provided by Mennonite Church US (attached).  This interactive guide is designed for people of all ages, including children! 

The link was not attached.  Here it is:  Lent at Home Worship Guide

Our new hymnal, Voices Together, has arrived! 
You can order your own copy through Faith and Life Bookstore (316-283-2210), or through MennoMedia (https://www.mennomedia.org/search-list/?category=MUS).  We will continue to show music on the screen during live-streamed worship so that you are able to sing along!

If you’re interested in Creation Care centered devotional material for Lent, consider the attached Lent Action and Reflection guide from Creation Care Ministries.  Press here for the guide.

The Everence Sharing Fund provided $6000 in matching funds to support special needs in our church last year. Jim Robb serves as the Everence advocate for our congregation. Please contact him for more information.Now on display in the Regier Art Gallery, Luyken Fine Arts Center, at Bethel College: “After the End of the End of the World,” a collaboration between Rachel Epp Buller and Derek Owens. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (Because of the pandemic, there will be no public reception for this exhibit.) Please note that face coverings must be worn and physical distancing practiced on the Bethel campus.

Mennonite Central Committee Comforter Blitz: At Home update
We are half-way through the blitz and have received 193 completed comforters. The goal is to receive 300 completed comforters at MCC in North Newton by the end of March! All the details and information on getting comforter making supplies from MCC are 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. Need batting? Contact Charlotte’s Sew Natural for their special MCC batting price at 316.284.2547. And THANK YOU to everyone working to create beautiful comforters for MCC!

Mennonite Central Committee Webinar:International service worker Are you ready to step out and into service? To gain new skills and experiences while working for relief, development and peace in the name of Christ? Join MCC on February 25, 7:00 p.m. CST / 6:00 p.m. MST for a 30-minute information session to learn about MCC’s long-term service opportunities in relief, development and peace work. This webinar will include a short presentation and time for Q&A. Register today! More information can be found at https://mcc.org/mcc-me-webinar-series-service-opportunities.

Beginning in March, BCMC will begin inviting small groups of people for in-person worship. Live streaming will continue to take place as is.
Below is a schedule that includes an option to attend in-person worship for all people during March or April. We ask that if your Sunday School group or age bracket is signed up for a specific date, that you also RSVP to the church office by noon on Friday. Email office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org or call 316-283-3667.  Entire households are invited to attend even if only one person fits into the listed small group. While the small groups designated for each Sunday will hopefully keep numbers to a safe capacity that our sanctuary can seat everyone socially distantly, we want to be able to monitor that initially and be able to contact trace if necessary.

March 7:   Agape and Mosaic
March 14: Bible Study and Seekers
March 21: Fellowship and Catacombs
March 28: Fine Arts and Sojourners
April 4: to be determined
April 11:     Issues in Christianity and Open Circle
April 18: 70 and younger not associated with a Sunday School Class
April 25: 71 + not associated with a Sunday School Class

Please RSVP by noon on Friday of the week you plan to attend. 

In addition: those attending in-person worship are expected to observe the Participant Commitments below:  

PARTICIPANT COMMITMENTS:

Stay home if you are unwell and/or when in doubt.
Prioritize south entrance for those with accessibility/proximity needs. 
Prioritize front (west) entrance for those able to walk farther. 
Please do not arrive earlier than 9:20 am.
Wear masks on church grounds.Keep 6 feet of space between households – indoors and out.
Sit in the main sanctuary.
There will be no balcony seating.
Sit where there are blue pieces of tape on the pews, in order to maintain 6 feet of distance from other worship participants. 
Family groupings: please sit together in the same pew.
Keep coats/hats/gloves/scarves together with you, and dress warmly, as sanctuary windows will be partially open for ventilation.
Refrain from congregational singing.
Refrain from gathering in Gathering Place and around mailboxes. (coffee will not be served).
Plan to use restrooms at home to minimize coming together with others in enclosed spaces. (Restrooms will be open for urgent need).
Exit the building promptly after the service ends, using the same door you entered. 
Visit with others outside, wearing masks, 6 feet apart. 
The nursery will be closed. Children may stay with family during worship service (including Children’s Conversation) and may exit to Gathering Place during service if needed.
Please stay clear of church office, balcony, basement.
Notify church office if you test positive for COVID 19 within 48 hours of attending worship. 

We look forward to being together again for worship, even in this modified way!

Plants and Things
     Planning is now underway for the 2021 Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) to be held July 2 and 3 at the fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

     One of the most popular booths at the KMRS is “Plants and Things”.  As many of you know, this is the place to purchase a variety of things for your gardens. You traditionally have been able to buy flowers, shrubs, and garden plants.  Many people have counted on being able to get their tomato plants, cabbage starts, melon seedlings, annual flowers, bulbs, etc. at the KMRS.  Because July 2 and 3 is a bit late to be thinking about purchasing plants and starting or adding to a garden, the “Plants and Things” booth will be open on April 10,  the time our sale is regularly scheduled.  “Plants and Things” will be set up at the Mennonite Central Committee Building in North Newton utilizing the parking lot and the warehouse facilities.  Some things are yet to be decided such as opening and closing times, drop off hours, flat pick up, etc., but we wanted you to know that we will be accepting the plants that you wish to bring to the sale. So please start the seeds that will become a part of your contribution to MCC and the sale event.  More information will follow, but we want to encourage you to start those plants to donate to the KMRS Early Plants and Things Sale.
     For more information and answers to questions, please contact Kristi Unruh at 620-3456867or by email at kdunruh97@gmail.com or you can contact Jim Robb at 620-747-0186 or by email at   jimandbeatyrobb@gmail.com. 

Sign up to attend Ash Wednesday Services on February 17, 2021 – (LINK NOW WORKING)
BCMC will offer several small Ash Wednesday services on February 17th. In order to ensure we have enough room to properly social distance, please sign up for only one time slot with this link. Time slots will disappear if they become full, so only sign up for the time that you will attend. The service will be less than 20 minutes in length and will include silence, music, scripture, and a time to receive ashes. 

Voices Together
The hymnal, Voices Together, is here!  We will begin using it in our BCMC worship services soon.  If you would like to have your own copy for home use, you can order it here:  http://voicestogetherhymnal.org/products/ordering-and-discounts/. We look forward to how this blend of old, familiar, and new will enrich our worship together!

Offerings at BCMC:  January 29, 2021  General Fund $3,454; Caring Fund $25; Jr Hi Fund $150; Living Stones $3,550; Women’s Fellowship $100
February 5, 2021  General Fund $14,997; Sr Hi Youth $50; Caring Fund $100; Jr Hi Fund $75; Living Stones $565; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $150

Read the letter from Church Board chair/moderator Elizabeth Schmidt on “A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation.” by clicking on this link:  A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation

A Note to Commissions and Committees
Given that Harvey County’s COVID-19 two week percent positivity rate is below 10% (currently 6.06%), commissions and commissions may meet at church, in the Gathering Space or front of the sanctuary, with masks, windows open for ventilation, and with members 6 feet apart. If you would like to have a meeting at the church, please be in touch with Monica for scheduling purposes. In the meantime, Zoom continues to be a great option for meeting safely!    If you would like to keep track of Harvey County’s positivity rate for future planning, you can access that information here:  https://www.harveycounty.com/covid19stats

Now on display in the Regier Art Gallery, Luyken Fine Arts Center, at Bethel College: “After the End of the End of the World,” a collaboration between Rachel Epp Buller and Derek Owens. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (Because of the pandemic, there will be no public reception for this exhibit.) Please note that face coverings must be worn and physical distancing practiced on the Bethel campus.

Western District Conference announcements
1.  WDC  Gifts Discernment Committee seeks nominees:  Do you know persons who can contribute to the ministry of WDC?  The Gifts Discernment Committee invites suggestions of names to consider for positions on the Executive Board and Commissions.  All suggestions are recorded for consideration in this or future years.  For more information about the work and current members of these groups, see http://mennowdc.org/executive-board-commissions/.  Nominees will be presented for affirmation by delegates at the WDC Annual Assembly, July 30-Aug. 1, 2021.  Please contact WDC at wdc@mennowdc.org or 316-283-6300 to offer suggestions.  Thank you!
2.  Brad Roth, pastor at West Zion in Moundridge, Kansas, will be the featured speaker at the Ohio Mennonite Conference Annual Assembly, March 4-5.  Brad will speak on the context and mission of the rural church.  He’s the author of God’s Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural Church and is working on a new book on the rural church for the Lexham Ministry Guides series.  You can register to join the conference online.

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1.  Camp Mennoscah is seeking names of persons interested in being program directors for a Junior week of summer youth camp.  This camp week is for 6-7th grades.  Program directors should strongly believe in the mission of Camp Mennoscah, have a good understanding of camping ministry, and be dedicated to creating an environment for youth to grow in Christian faith, leadership, and community.  Please contact Camp Mennoscah by February 13. Names received after the 13th will be considered for future years.
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.
Mennonite church announcements1.  Mennonite Church USA’s first Learn, Pray, Join initiative of 2021 will focus on the “Cost of War” to highlight a core peace church value: resistance to war, both in our neighborhoods and overseas. In a webinar on Thursday, February 25 at 6:30-7:30 pm Central Time / 7:30-8:30 pm Eastern Time, panelists will bring awareness to the economics of war and share the various ways they have resisted paying for war.  For more information and to register, go tohttps://www.mennoniteusa.org/ministry/peacebuilding/learn-pray-join/cost-of-war/webinar/2.  Join the Youth Venture Civil Rights Tour! Visit places of historical significance, hear stories and learn why our faith calls us to stand against injustice and with the oppressed. Visit MennoniteMission.net/YouthVenture for more information on this summer trip. 

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request
Praise God that travel restrictions were lifted, permitting Pablo Sanchez, from Argentina, to finally join the Service Adventure unit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Pray for him as he adapts to the household which is comprised of Lexie Coburn, Luisa Dutchersmith, leaders, Eric and Julie Yoder and their family.

Western District Conference Prayer Request
Pray for health care workers and chaplains in WDC congregations and communities, as they care compassionately for those in need.

We extend our sympathies to Elaine and Steve Schurr upon the death of Elaine’s brother, Jerry Andersen, who died on January 31 in Beatrice, Nebraska. from complications from Parkinsonism. Your prayers are welcomed for Elaine and Steve, and Jerry’s family during this time of loss. 

Voices Together
The hymnal, Voices Together, is here!  We will begin using it in our BCMC worship services soon.  If you would like to have your own copy for home use, you can order it here:  http://voicestogetherhymnal.org/products/ordering-and-discounts/. We look forward to how this blend of old, familiar, and new will enrich our worship together!

A Note to Commissions and Committees
Given that Harvey County’s COVID-19 two week percent positivity rate is below 10% (currently 6.06%), commissions and commissions may meet at church, in the Gathering Space or front of the sanctuary, with masks, windows open for ventilation, and with members 6 feet apart. If you would like to have a meeting at the church, please be in touch with Monica for scheduling purposes. In the meantime, Zoom continues to be a great option for meeting safely!    If you would like to keep track of Harvey County’s positivity rate for future planning, you can access that information here:  https://www.harveycounty.com/covid19stats

Sign up to attend Ash Wednesday Services on February 17, 2021 – (LINK NOW WORKING)
BCMC will offer several small Ash Wednesday services on February 17th. In order to ensure we have enough room to properly social distance, please sign up for only one time slot with this link. Time slots will disappear if they become full, so only sign up for the time that you will attend. The service will be less than 20 minutes in length and will include silence, music, scripture, and a time to receive ashes. 

Announcements

Final Call for the 3rd film in KIPCOR’s 2020-2021 Film Series

KIPCOR is offering a second helping of “Cooked”,  originally screened in November 2020.  It was such a multi-layered, complex production that the audience discussion could have lasted for hours. They are bringing back the audience discussion leader, Dr. Christy Miller Hesed, who will be joined by other topic experts, including Chicagoans who lived through the deadly 1995 heat wave that serves as the film’s focal point, for our post-film discussion  on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, AT 2:00 P.M.

The audience discussion on February 7 will once again be on Zoom, but KIPCOR is trying something new this time; you will be placed in small groups with one of our topic experts for a more intimate, in-depth discussion.  This is a chance to peel back the layers and dive deeper into what the film has to say about our nation’s response to natural disasters and the impact on our poorest and most-vulnerable citizens.
You need to view the film in advance, which you can do for FREE through Amazon Prime or at this website:  https://www.pbs.org/video/cooked-survival-by-zip-code-tilbr2/  So watch the film before Sunday afternoon, and register for the February 7 audience discussion by clicking on this link: 

Go HERE to register for the Talkback session.  

You can also find the links, including the link for the talkback session, on KIPCOR’s website at KIPCOR.ORG. 
 
Since the talkback session is on Zoom, and we need to send you the link, advance registration for the talkback session is required.

Now on display in the Regier Art Gallery, Luyken Fine Arts Center, at Bethel College: “After the End of the End of the World,” a collaboration between Rachel Epp Buller and Derek Owens. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (Because of the pandemic, there will be no public reception for this exhibit.) Please note that face coverings must be worn and physical distancing observed on the Bethel campus.

FOR SALE:  The Kansas MCC Sale has 2 Steel Shipping Containers for sale.  These make excellent storage Buildings that can be moved to your farm or property.  They are rodent and moisture proof.   They are ALL steel construction with a heavy oak floor capable of handling a fork lift.  Size is: 40 fee long by 8 ft wide by 8 1/2 ft tall.   Donation of $2,500 requested which is below current value.  They come with heavy timbers to set on.  FREE Delivery close to Inman; additional mileage charged outside Inman area.  ONLY 2 AVAILABLE.  Call Jerry Toews at 620-367-8257

WDC announcements
1.  Now What?!  Post Pandemic Faith Formation:  Do you want to talk with other people who care about faith formation?  What have we learned about new ways of sharing the Jesus story in the past year?  What will we lay aside?  What questions remain unanswered?  Join Kathy Neufeld Dunn and Resource Library Director Jennie Wintermote for a virtual dialogue Saturday, February 27, 9 am CST.  To register, please email wdc@mennowdc.org for the Zoom link.
2.  WDC Fourth Thursday Book Discussion Continues:  Join us on Thursday, February 25 from 7:00-8:00pm to discuss Invited : The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness by Leslie Verner.  Contact Jennie at the WDC Resource Library to borrow a copy of the book or to register for the Zoom discussion.   crlib@mennowdc.org
3.  Let your stimulus check do justice!  If you need the $600 you recently received, we ask God to bless you.  If your stimulus check went into savings, the WDC Immigration Task Force encourages you to consider sharing part or all of it.  $600 is the approximate cost of one DACA application.  Here are two nonprofits assisting young people with their applications: United We Dream (unitedwedream.org) in Texas and Kansas Missouri Dream Alliance (www.ksmoda.org).  If you have questions, please contact Task Force Convener, Raylene Hinz-Penner at rhpenner@sbcglobal.net.
4.  First Mennonite Church, 427 W. 4th, Halstead, KS will have a drive-through verenike supper on February 20 from 4-7 pm.   This year they will offer a reduced menu of verenike, ham gravy and sausage.  The cost is by donation and proceeds will go to local Covid-19 relief.  (Poster attached.)

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. Mennonite church announcements1.  Mennonite World Conference is seeking a new Chief Operations Officer, starting in April 2021.  The COO must have competencies in accounting and financial reporting, maintaining corporate status in Canada and the USA, developing administrative policies for the North American offices, managing human resources and information technology for staff and participating in senior leadership. The COO participates in the senior leadership team, develops budgets in collaboration with other staff, and makes presentations to the Executive committee and General Council.   The position is based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.  The application closing date is 26 February 2021 with a 19 April 2021 start date.  Send resume and cover letter to jobs@mwc-cmm.org.  For more information about MWC, visit mwc-cmm.org.  See longer job description at mwc-cmm.org/coo. 2.   Youth Venture is accepting applications for summer 2021! Discover and experience the work that God is doing in the world with a team of other young people, as you serve, learn, worship, and build relationships. Visit MennoniteMission.net/YouthVenture to learn more! 3.  Looking for a non-traditional pastoral role? Become a unit leader for Service Adventure, a gap-year program for ages 17-20 from Mennonite Mission Network. Unit leaders, who are at least 24 years of age, serve as mentors to the young adults in the Service Adventure household. Leaders are needed in Johnstown, PA and Colorado Springs, CO. Learn more by contacting SusanN@MennoniteMission.net.

Everence to hold Social Security and retirement income planning webinar
Everence will host a Social Security and retirement income planning webinar, on Tuesday, Feb. 16 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 Investment Advisors, a division of ProEquities Inc., Registered Investment Advisors. Securities offered through ProEquities Inc., a registered broker-dealer, member 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 ProEquities, Inc., or its affiliates.

Mennonite Central Committee announcements
1.  You are invited to join the virtual MCC Central States annual meeting on Saturday, February 27 at 9 a.m. CST The meeting will include a reflection on MCC in pandemic times, details about what COVID-19 has meant for MCC thrift shops and a look at our financial statements. To join the meeting please email centralstates@mcc.org and then Zoom meeting information will be sent directly to you. 
2.  Use your skills or try something new! Join the summer staff of MCC’s Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program to support home repair projects in Kimball, West Virginia or Harlan, Kentucky. Positions for Job Site Coordinators and Meals Coordinators are now open. Applicants should be at least 19 years old, but the roles are not limited to young adults. For more information and to apply, visit mcc.org/swap-summer-staff or contact the MCC Appalachia SWAP office at (606) 633-4008 or AppalachiaAdmin@mcc.org.

Mennonite Mission Network announcement
What: Webinar hosted by Ann Jacobs of Mission Network, with Pastors Kevin Himes and Vikki
Pruitte-Sorrells.
When:  Thursday, February 18, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. EST | 6 p.m. CST | 5 p.m. MST | 4 p.m. PST
Where: Zoom Meeting
How: Visit the registration page to sign up! 

In honor of Black History Month and in response to the Mennonite Church USA denominational mandate to support, build and cultivate peace across our denomination, Mennonite Mission Network is excited to host the Speak the truth in love webinar on February 18.
We desire to speak the truth in love, while celebrating relationships, to mend divides that caused primarily by fear and racial stereotyping. The leaders of this webinar claim this desire because of their commitment to the Gospel of peace.
In May 2020, shortly after the killing of George Floyd, Kevin Himes — a European-American pastor at Salem Mennonite Church, in Kidron, Ohio — called Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells. Pruitte-Sorrells is an African American pastor at Lee Heights Mennonite Church, in Cleveland, Ohio. Himes wanted to better understand the racial tension in United States. During the Speak the truth in love webinar, Himes and Pruitte-Sorrells will discuss the dialogue that ensued over the course of the following eight months, with regards to such racial tensions. They were guided by Latasha Morrison’s book, Be the Bridge and Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (KJV).
Join us as we witness God’s peace that surpasses all understanding by working to bridge communities of faith.

Sign up today!

The Rocky Mountain February 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”. THANKS!
Corbin Graber on behalf of the camp board and staff members

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.