January 7, 2018—Epiphany: Yes! Let it be declared
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson; music by Rebecca Schloneger, violin
4 pm Candle-lighting in memory of BCMC members and friends who died in 2017 — BCMC Sanctuary
9:00 a.m. Advent Prelude: Jonah Schloneger, Alahna Wheat, Katherine Lamp, Vada Snider & Karen Loucks, William Eash & Verlene Garber
9:30 a.m. Children’s Christmas Program—Yes! Let it be now
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
No Junior Sunday school this Sunday; Adult Sunday schools can decide if they wish to have Sunday school
11:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols—Sanctuary
9:00 a.m. Advent Prelude: Chris Shaw, organ
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; music by Chancel Bells
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
9:00 a.m. Advent Prelude: Pat Friesen, Ron Garber, Weston Gesell; Women’s Trio with Cherie Wedel, Colleen White, Dawn Yoder Harms
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by John Tyson; music by Chancel Choir
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
Yes! Let it Be!
Advent 2017 – Epiphany 2018
Bethel College Mennonite Church
This year our Advent worship will draw from Mennonite Church USA Advent resources, focused on the theme: Yes! Let it be! With Mary, we voice our desire to pursue God’s peace-making, justice-seeking, life-giving work around us. With Mary, we commit ourselves to be bearers of God’s radical love to the world.
Here’s what you can anticipate in the weeks ahead:
December 3, 2017—Advent 1: Let it be
Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
9:00 am Prelude by Hesston College Chamber Orchestra
9:30 am Worship with Communion, Sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; music by Chancel Choir
6:30 pm Hymn Sing to introduce the new hymnal with Bradley Kauffman,
project director and general editor for the new hymnal—BCMC Sanctuary
December 10, 2017—Advent 2: Let it be so
Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
9:00 am Prelude by Joel Boettger, Bethel College Instructor of Music
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson; music by Chancel Choir
December 17, 2017—Advent 3: Yes, let it be whole
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
9:00 am Prelude by Christopher Shaw, organ
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; music by Chancel Bells
4:00 pm Amahl and the Night Visitors presented by Music On Site, a production company of which Matthew Schloneger is a member
Free with a free-will offering taken—BCMC Sanctuary
December 24, 2017—Advent 4: Yes! Let it be now
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
9:00 am Prelude
9:30 am Children’s Christmas Program; music by Menno Ringers,
Junior Choir, and Cherub Choir
10:45 am Gathering for children during the Sunday school hour
No Sunday school
11:00 pm Candlelight service of Lessons and Carols with anthems by
Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells and congregational singing—BCMC Sanctuary
No Sunday School
*Fellowship Time on Sundays is at 10:30 am and Faith Formation at 10:50 am unless otherwise stated
December 31, 2017—Christmas: Yes, let it be new
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; Christmas
Carol Singing
10:30 am Fellowship and coffee—bring goodies to share
No Sunday School
January 7, 2018—Epiphany: Yes! Let it be declared
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson
4 pm Candle-lighting in memory of BCMC members and friends who died in 2017 — BCMC Sanctuary
Pastor John Tyson will be facilitating a conversation on the book,
Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism by Drew G. I. Hart. Working at the intersections of Black and Anabaptist theology, Drew Hart is Professor of Theology at Messiah College (PA) and is a frequent speaker at Mennonite institutions. In Trouble I’ve Seen, Hart places everyday acts of racism within the larger framework of white supremacy, while offering concrete practices for churches that seek solidarity with the oppressed and are committed to racial justice. The book conversation will take place Thursdays, Dec. 7, 14, & 21 (9-10 am). Trouble I’ve Seen is available on Amazon at the price of $13.59 ($6.99 Kindle). If you want to join the conversation, please contact John Tyson!
Special events at BCMC and Bethel College:
9:00 a.m. Advent Prelude: Hesston College Chamber Orchestra
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; Communion will be served; music by Chancel Choir
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome! Infants & Toddlers—Nursery at back of the sanctuary
6:30 p.m. Hymn Sing to introduce the new hymnal with Bradley Kauffman, project director and general editor for the new hymnal
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Pastor John Tyson, “Imago Christi”
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
9:30 a.m. Worship led by Ted Swartz—Laughter as a spiritual discipline; music by Chancel Choir;
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by John Tyson – Presence—not perfection and sharing by Ben Lichti The joys and challenges of being a youth sponsor; music by Chancel Bells
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms – Basketfuls left over
10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Gathering Place with coffee/water/tea
10:50 a.m. Faith Formation—Visitors welcome!
3:00 p.m. Bethel Sings—Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Service Adventure Event in Fellowship Hall