Category Archives: Announcements

2025 02 23 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEBRUARY 23, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

To livestream the worship service:
On Sunday morning, around 9:20 a.m. go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org and click the green button labeled LIVE STREAM on the right side of the screen, which will take you to the worship service. If you get a message in the black box that the video is unavailable, click the gray box below that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. Anytime after the service concludes, you can watch a recording of the service at your convenience by clicking the same green LIVE STREAM button. Again, you will probably have to go to the gray box that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. That will transfer you to the BCMC YouTube Channel. You will have to click on the tab “Videos” to see all of the BCMC videos. Click the red button to see the bulletin/order of service.
OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/L3_AXxqqx1c?feature=share

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 23, 2025
Reflections on Snow Camp

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Master Tallis’s Testament (Herbert Howells)— Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer (VT 853)—Margaret Toews

*Hymn—All People That on Earth Do Dwell—VT 5

Children’s Conversation—Youth

Worship Music— Cantique de Jean Racine (Faure)— Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Kin-dom Report— Pastor Nathan Koontz’s Sabbatical Plans— Megan Kohlman

*Hymn—God, Be the Love—VT 43

Scripture Reading—Genesis 45:3-11, 15   I Corinthians 13:12—Youth

Sermon—Who Am I?—Joanna Harader

*Hymn—Solemn Stillness, Weary Streets—VT 276

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Be Thou My Vision—VT 549—(People with February birthdays come forward for a blessing, please bring a hymnal)

*Birthday Blessing and Benediction

Postlude—Voluntary on The Third Tune [VT 326] (arr. Lasky)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ben Lichti

The Week at BCMC: February 23—March 2, 2025
Sunday, February 23, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/L3_AXxqqx1c?feature=share

Tuesday February 25, 2025
4 p.m. Worship Commission meeting
6 p.m. Mid-Kansas Investment Club dinner in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, February 27, 2025
5:15 p.m.   Hospitality Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m.   Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.         Bethel College Women’s Association meets in Fellowship Hall
7 p.m.         Deacon Commission meeting in Room 14
Friday, February 28, 2025
2:30 p.m.   Memorial Service for Helen Pauls’— Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall
Sunday, March 2, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; Music by Chancel Bells
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

BCMC Nursery volunteers (either one or two) are needed for every Sunday in March. Check this link for openings https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Oky1c10fDsuJMa5MKSbPefcw0RE1XjiA3m1YQVxrpG8/edit?usp=sharing or contact Margaret Toews or Barb Voran. Thank you to all who have been helping in the nursery so far this year!

This Lent, Bethel College Mennonite will use Pastor Joanna’s book Prone to Wander: A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness. If you would like to order a personal copy through the church, please email the church office (office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org) no later than today, Feb. 23. Copies cost $15 and will be available for pick up on Sunday, March 2.

In anticipation of the season of Lent, we at MennoMedia are excited to extend a warm invitation to participate in a one-hour conversation with Joanna Harader, author of Prone to Wander: A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness, a new Lenten devotional from Herald Press.

As we enter the wilderness season of the church year, this Lenten devotional explores the stories of thirty biblical women—from Eve to Mary Magdalene—who had their own such experiences. For some, the women inhabited a literal wilderness. For others, their wilderness was metaphorical. All were drawn closer to God, who does not leave us to wander alone.

Join us March 1, 2025 9:00am Central Time as we prepare to enter the Lenten season with a time of prayer, reflection, and conversation centered on Joanna Harader’s new book. Whether you plan to use this book with your congregation, as an individual, or not at all, this will be a time to gain courage and inspiration from biblical women as we head into the wilderness of Lent. Please RSVP to MolleeM@MennoMedia.org. A zoom llink will be sent out before the event.

BCMC Offering for Feb. 16: Gen. Fund $4,637; Kitchen Fund $22; Solar Fund $1,000.

Sunday, February 23, is “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, a way for BCMC folks to get acquainted with other BCMC folks that they might not know very well. Today guests will find, in their mailboxes, their destination for dinner!

The Indigenous Task Force is hosting Trent Voth during the Sunday School hour (following worship) on Sun., March 2, in the sanctuary, to share his presentation on “The Long Road to Tuktoyaktuk.” This is an introduction to the Indigenous Residential Schools (IRS) systems of Canada, seen through the use of the Anglican Church of Canada’s archival documents. The presentation seeks to add nuance to, complicate, but also humanize some of the history and experiences of the Canadian IR School system.

Sunday, Feb. 23, 3 p.m., at First Mennonite Church, 429 E. 1st, Newton, Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania is inviting brothers and sisters from area Mennonite churches to participate in a special service of worship and prayer related to immigration concerns, together with Aposento Alto, the Hispanic Mennonite Church in Wichita. There will be a potluck after the service to celebrate February birthdays. All are invited to bring a dish to share and stay for the meal.

Organist Christopher Shaw will present an organ recital/hymn festival to remember Shirley Sprunger King. Shirley taught at Bethel College for twenty years and was organist at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Christopher Shaw will be joined by Lorraine Miller (flute) and Don Kehrberg (oboe), both former members of the Deknatel Consort with King. In addition to organ pieces and hymns, there will be remembrances of Shirley. The event will take place on Sat., April 5, 7 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church, 2600 College Ave, North Newton.

Announcements from Pastor Joanna Harader
As our state and national political climate becomes increasingly threatening to trans and queer people, you are invited to “the gayest Anabaptist gathering of the year”! Join LGBTQIA+ people and their allies/accomplices for Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred–a weekend of worship, fellowship, learning, and community: May 2-4 in Philadelphia, PA. Please share this invitation with those you think would be interested. Contact Pastor Joanna to learn more and to coordinate travel to the event.

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) provides valuable information about and opportunities for advocacy around some key issues in our state including economic justice, lgbtqia rights, and environmental protection. KIFA’s next monthly online forum will be Thurs., Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. and will focus on protecting public education. You can learn more by going to the KIFA website and click on the tab “Calendar”.

In response to recently proposed legislation, Kansas Interfaith Action is pulling together a working group to focus on immigrant justice. If you are interested in being part of this group, contact Pastor Joanna or be in touch with KIFA directly through their website—https://kansasinterfaithaction.org/

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

Western District Conference Israel Palestine Task Force Update: Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. CT. Esther Koontz will lead a Zoom discussion of the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Special guest, Tareq Abuhamila, will begin the meeting with an update of life on the ground in Gaza based on reports from his family in Gaza.
Participants will have a chance to ask Tareq questions, give their responses to the book, and name their own stories of peace to add to the book’s 1001 powerful vignettes.

Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Programs for February 26:
9:30 a.m. “Working Outside the Classroom with My Students, Ford’s Theater Oratory and Smithsonian Community’s Project,” Monty L. Graber, M.Ed., USD 373 social studies teacher, Newton
10:50 a.m. “Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago,” Rose Nissley, Haven, and Leroy Hershberger, Hutchinson

For Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” press here

In celebration of Mennonite Disaster Service’s 75th anniversary, we are inviting church sewing circles and individuals who enjoy sewing, knitting, crocheting, or weaving to join us by creating wall hangings or prayer shawls for our Housewarmer Project during the month of February! The Housewarmer Project provides quilted wall hangings and prayer shawls to disaster survivors whose homes have been rebuilt or restored by Mennonite Disaster Service. The wall hangings and prayer shawls are presented to the homeowner at the dedication of the home. These handmade gifts are a lasting symbol of compassion and of coming home. Housewarmer Project information, guidelines, and mailing instructions for completed wall hangings and prayer shawls can be found at mds.org/housewarmer-project.

Hundreds of volunteers continue preparations for the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) on April 11 & 12, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
· BCMC Sunday School classes continue to collect contributions to underwrite KMRS costs (Thank you! and please finalize any plans for that contribution by March 12).
· Hold onto your loose change so you can contribute to the My Coins Count drive, launching in March.
· Would you enjoy making people happy with verenike, ham gravy, pie and ice cream, bohne beroggi? Online volunteer signup sheets are already available at https://kansas.mccsale.org/volunteer/
· See the posterboard in the Gathering Place for KMRS information and extra forms, or go to the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/ or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr).

Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW, will be the speaker at the 2025 Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association (SMCHA) annual meeting Sun., March 9, 2:30 p.m., at the Bethel College Mennonite Church. Dorthy is co-founder and co-director of the Family Peace Initiative. She was the executive director of a domestic violence shelter from 1986 to 1996; has worked with those who cause harm and has served as an expert witness in domestic violence cases; taught social work at Pittsburg State University for a decade before becoming the state’s Victim Rights Coordinator and directing the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Her development of a motivation typology for those who batter has opened the door to a more nuanced understanding for domestic violence professionals.

Bethel College Announcements
· Sat., March 1: Kauffman Museum bird walk, 8 a.m. starting in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets. Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail.
· Now in the Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, “Untethered,” ceramics by David Long, through March 14. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
· Tues., Feb. 25: Bethel College Orchestra, directed by Kris Hilding, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
· Thurs., March 6: Bethel College Wind Ensemble, directed by Chris Miertschin, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
· Sun., March 9: Bethel College Choir Tour Send-off Concert, directed by Dr. Henry S. Waters, 4 p.m., Memorial Hall. The theme “Sing You Home” includes performances by the Chamber Singers, Woven and Open Road.
· Sun., March 9, and Mon., March 10: The Hartzler Bible Lecture Series at Bethel College presents Doug Miller, professor emeritus of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College, “The Book of Isaiah”; 7 p.m. Sunday, Ad Building chapel, 11 a.m. Monday, Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) announcements
· The 17th annual Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Comforter Blitz is March 3, 4 and 5 at the Journey Facilities Building behind Charis Community Church, 3605 E. Long View Rd, Haven, near Yoder. Mon. 9-5, Tues. 9-9 (note that these hours are extended) and Wed. 9-4. No sewing skills required. Lunch is available by donation each day, or bring your own sack lunch. Snacks are welcome to share. Event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC. Info at mcc.org/comforter-blitz or email brociamueller@mcc.org, 316-283-2720.
· The Great Winter Warm-up: Spread warmth around the world this winter by helping MCC reach a goal of 7000 comforters by the end of March. You can sponsor, donate comforters, or attend a comforter event to tie in community with others. If you host an event in your home, church or community please let tinaschrag@mcc.org know about it (we’ve got some small gifts for those who host events!). Check mcc.org/great-winter-warm-up for instructions, coloring pages for kids and more!
· The MCC Central States board will hold it’s annual meeting Sat., March 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. at MCC Central States in North Newton. The meeting will feature guest speaker Ken Rodgers. Ken will share about his journey in learning about the Doctrine of Discovery and how he and his family has worked to come to terms with it. Mitch Stutzman from Menno Media will have Anabaptist Bibles available. All are welcome to attend. Please email tinaschrag@mcc.org if you would like the Zoom link to join virtually. All are welcome to attend.
· Please pray for MCC staff and the communities in Kentucky and West Virginia that are experiencing catastrophic flooding. Torrential rain Feb. 15-16 filled creeks and rivers, causing significant flooding. MCC staff report that most residents lost power and water. Appalachia Build staff are working with partner churches at sites in Kimball, WV, and Elkhorn City, KY, that are serving as temporary shelters. Support MCC’s efforts in the region: mcc.org/donate-appalachia Learn more about MCC Appalachia Build: mcc.org/appalachia-build

Volunteers needed at New Hope Shelter: More than 25 volunteers from BCMC currently serve at New Hope Shelter during designated weeks, in coordination with supporting congregations throughout Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Some help provide evening meals and others stay through the evening (5-10 p.m.) to support a paid staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com.

Commemorating 500 Years of Anabaptism & Swiss Alps Tour. May 21-31, 2025. Space remains! Preview tour at www.tourwithweldon.com Contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276 for itinerary, registration and full details.

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For a Mennonite Mission Network “Survey” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “Youth Venture” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements

The Climate Justice Ministry of MC USA has just published “Installing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: A Guide for Congregations” to help congregations of all sizes determine whether they should pursue installing electric vehicle charging stations. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/car-charge View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/EV-charging-guide-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/EV-charging-guide-slide

Menno Snapshots

Beryl Jantzi, Everence’s director of stewardship education, shares why it is important for churches and other organizations to say thank you to their donors. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/thank-you-is-important

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Terrorists continue to attack peaceful populations in Burkina Faso, as the citizens work in their fields and worship in churches, placing the country at the top of the Global Terrorism Index. Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for an end to the violence and for healing for the thousands of people who have been traumatized by seeing loved ones murdered. Pray, also, for the witness of the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso in this time of crisis.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for Church Planting Commission members as they endeavor to foster meaningful relationships between sister churches.
-WDC Church Planting Commission

Bethel College Mennonite Church is an open and affirming congregation
centered in the life and teachings of Jesus. Embracing the divine within each person, we warmly welcome any and all into fellowship without regard to race, ethnic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability,
economic status, marital status, or age.

2025 02 16 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEBRUARY 16, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 16, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music— Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend,’ BWV 655 (J.S. Bach)—
Kevin Vaughn

Welcome & Prayer—Virginia Mininger
Call to Worship VT 851

*Hymn— O Worship Our God, All Glorious Above—VT 74

Children’s Conversation—Glen Ediger

Worship Music— Land of Rest & New Britain (Barbara Harbach)—Kevin Vaughn

*Hymn—Blessed Are You—VT 290

Scripture Reading—Luke 6:17-26—Ron Sawatzky

Sermon—What Power Looks Like—Joanna Harader

*Hymn–My Soul Cries Out—VT 412

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Sing a New World into Being—VT 809

*Benediction

Postlude—Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543b (J.S. Bach)—Kevin Vaughn

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual—Francis Toews

Our guest organist Sunday, February 16, Dr. Kevin Vaughn, is joining us from South Bend, Indiana. Kevin holds a DMA in Organ Performance from the University of Notre Dame, where, along with Goshen College, he has held positions on the instructional faculty. With his husband, Stephen Lancaster, he has produced a number of recordings of sacred song for baritone and organ and has performed at Hesston College. He will present a recital at Bethel College on Tuesday evening (February 18) at 7:00.

The Week at BCMC: February 16—23, 2025
Sunday, February 16, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/5TP47dx3HaM?feature=share

Monday, February 17, 2025
5:15 p.m.   Organ lesson in the sanctuary
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, February 20, 2025
4 p.m.       Witness Commission meeting in Room 14
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.        Bethel College Women’s Association meets in Fellowship Hall
Friday, February 21, 2025
7-9 p.m.    Board Game Night in Fellowship Hall, hosted by the Indigenous Task Force
Sunday, February 23, 2025—Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Chancel Choir
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

Due to a forecast of snow and extreme cold predicted for next week, Women’s Fellowship General Meeting scheduled for Tues., Feb. 18, 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall is cancelled.

Some of our many Anabaptist History books are currently being highlighted in our church library to coincide with the 500 Year Anabaptist Celebration. We have quite a collection in back of our library desk (including two new editions of the Anabaptist Community Bible), but these are by no means all of them. Several more are available, many in the 289.7 section. Please come in and peruse at your leisure.

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· Helen Paul’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
· We offer sympathy to the family of Edie Krehbiel. Edie died Jan. 23 at Paramount Community, Newton. Edie’s memorial service will be March 7, 11 a.m. at BCMC.

This Lent, Bethel College Mennonite will use Pastor Joanna’s book Prone to Wander: A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness. If you would like to order a personal copy through the church, please email the church office (office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org) no later than Sun., Feb. 23.   Copies cost $15 and will be available for pick up on Sunday, March 2.

BCMC Offering for Feb. 9: Gen. Fund $9,981; MCC Sale $330; Sr Hi Youth $100; Library Reserve Fund $10; Jr Hi Fund $1,032; Kitchen Fund $17; Edie Krehbiel Mem. $50.

Board Game Night to support the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: Pastor Joanna is currently working with other members of the Coalition to develop a board game that addresses issues connected to Indigenous justice. To raise awareness of and money for this project, the Indigenous Task Force is hosting a board game night on Fri., Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. We will have a prototype of the Coalition game available along with plenty of other game options. There is no charge to attend the event, but we will receive donations for the Coalition from those who would like to contribute.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” is a way for BCMC folks to get acquainted with other BCMC folks that they might not know very well. The Hospitality Commission has matched people who signed up as hosts with people who signed up as guests. Guests: You will receive your food assignment today, Feb. 16. Hosts: you will receive the number of guests you will host. The dinner is Feb. 23.

The Indigenous Task Force is hosting Trent Voth during the Sunday School hour (following worship) on Sun., March 2, to share his presentation on “The Long Road to Tuktoyaktuk.” This is an introduction to the Indigenous Residential Schools (IRS) systems of Canada, seen through the use of the Anglican Church of Canada’s archival documents. The presentation seeks to add nuance to, complicate, but also humanize some of the history and experiences of the Canadian IR School system.

Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m., Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania is inviting brothers and sisters from area Mennonite churches to participate in a special service of worship and prayer related to immigration concerns, together with Aposento Alto, the Hispanic Mennonite Church in Wichita. There will be a potluck after the service to celebrate February birthdays. All are invited to bring a dish to share and stay for the meal. The service will take place in the sanctuary of First Mennonite Church, 429 E. 1st, Newton.

Announcements from Pastor Joanna

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) provides valuable information about and opportunities for advocacy around some key issues in our state including economic justice, lgbtqia rights, and environmental protection. KIFA’s next monthly online forum will be Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m. and will focus on protecting public education. You can learn more and register here.

In response to recently proposed legislation, Kansas Interfaith Action is pulling together a working group to focus on immigrant justice. If you are interested in being part of this group, contact Pastor Joanna or be in touch with KIFA directly through their web site.

As our state and national political climate becomes increasingly threatening to trans and queer people, you are invited to “the gayest Anabaptist gathering of the year”! Join LGBTQIA+ people and their allies/accomplices for Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred–a weekend of worship, fellowship, learning, and community: May 2-4 in Philadelphia, PA. Please share this invitation with those you think would be interested. Contact Pastor Joanna to learn more and to coordinate travel to the event.

Volunteers needed at New Hope Shelter: More than 25 volunteers from BCMC currently serve at New Hope Shelter during designated weeks, in coordination with supporting congregations throughout Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Some help provide evening meals and others stay through the evening (5-10 p.m.) to support a paid staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com.

Western District Conference Israel Palestine Task Force Update: Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. CT, Esther Koontz will lead a Zoom discussion of the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Special guest, Tareq Abuhamila, will begin the meeting with an update of life on the ground in Gaza based on reports from his family in Gaza.
Participants will have a chance to ask Tareq questions, give their responses to the book, and name their own stories of peace to add to the book’s 1001 powerful vignettes. Please register by emailing wdc@mennowdc.org by Mon., Feb. 17.

Western District Women in Mission invites women & girls to our annual potluck salad supper Mon., April 28, 6 p.m. at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton. The theme is “For the Beauty of the Earth” presented by WDWM executive committee member and Kansas City floral designer, Becca Schrag. Bring a salad to share and a small vessel to make a floral design in (a tea cup, bowl, or small vase). This is a free event with an offering taken to help cover expenses. RSVP not required but appreciated by email: westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is April 11 & 12, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Your participation supports MCC’s relief, development, and peace-building work around the world.
· BCMC Sunday School classes are helping to underwrite KMRS costs so that all sale expenses are covered before the sale. BCMC classes have already pledged more than $2000, and several classes are still collecting funds to donate. Thank you!
· A big thank you also goes to those who created the eleven beautiful quilts on display last Sunday; if you missed them, they will be making another appearance as part of the quilt auction at the sale in April.
· Fellowship Meals (March 9 or March 16) are another way to contribute to MCC. Signup forms are available at the KMRS website.
· Do you have an item to donate to the silent auction, children’s auction, or general auction? Check the KMRS website for more information or speak with a BCMC liaison.
· Check out the posterboard in the Gathering Place for KMRS information and extra forms. For more information see the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/, or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr).

The Great Winter Warm-up: Spread warmth around the world this winter by helping Mennonite Central Committee reach a goal of 7000 comforters by the end of March. You can sponsor, donate one (or more) comforters, or attend a comforter event to tie in community with others. If you host an event in your home, church or community please let tinaschrag@mcc.org know about it (we’ve got some small gifts for those who host events!). Check mcc.org/great-winter-warm-up for instructions, coloring pages for kids and more!Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) announcements
· The 17th annual Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Comforter Blitz is March 3, 4 and 5 at the Journey Facilities Building behind Charis Community Church, 3605 E. Long View Rd, Haven, near Yoder. Mon. 9-5, Tues. 9-9 (note that these hours are extended) and Wed. 9-4. No sewing skills required. Lunch is available by donation each day, or bring your own sack lunch. Snacks are welcome to share. This event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC. Info at mcc.org/comforter-blitz or email brociamueller@mcc.org, 316-283-2720.
· The MCC Central States board will hold it’s annual meeting Sat., March 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. at MCC Central States in North Newton. All are welcome to attend.

Bethel College Announcements
· Sun., Feb. 16: KIPCOR Film Series presents The Third Harmony, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium. The 44-minute documentary directed by Michael Nagler is a study of nonviolence in academic and practical terms. Audience talkback follows with Keren Kandel, KIPCOR executive director.
· Tues., Feb. 18: Bethel College Organ Recital Series: Dr. Kevin Vaughn, University of Notre Dame, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel
· Now in the Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, “Untethered,” ceramics by David Long, through March 14. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
· Tues., Feb. 25: Bethel College Orchestra, directed by Kris Hilding, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
· Thurs., March 6: Bethel College Wind Ensemble, directed by Chris Miertschin, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
· SAVE THE DATE: Sun., March 9, 4 p.m.: Bethel College Choir Spring Tour Send-off Concert
· SAVE THE DATE: Sun., March 9, 7 p.m.: Bible Lecture (the book of Isaiah) at Bethel College with Doug Miller

Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Programs for February 19:
9:30 a.m. “The Wonderful World of Ceramics,” Conrad Snider, ceramic artist, North Newton
10:50 a.m. “Artificial Intelligence: Threat or Opportunity?,” David Janzen, Ph.D., president Tabor College, Hillsboro

In celebration of Mennonite Disaster Service’s 75th anniversary, we are inviting church sewing circles and individuals who enjoy sewing, knitting, crocheting, or weaving to join us by creating wall hangings or prayer shawls for our Housewarmer Project during the month of February! The Housewarmer Project provides quilted wall hangings and prayer shawls to disaster survivors whose homes have been rebuilt or restored by Mennonite Disaster Service. The wall hangings and prayer shawls are presented to the homeowner at the dedication of the home. These handmade gifts are a lasting symbol of compassion and of coming home. Housewarmer Project information, guidelines, and mailing instructions for completed wall hangings and prayer shawls can be found at mds.org/housewarmer-project.

For Mennonite Church USA Safe Church Webinar “Listening to the Voice of Survivors and Our Faith Communities” press here
For Mennonite Education Agency “Lent at Home 2025” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “Youth Venture trip for 18-30 years olds” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Mennonite Church USA welcomes Leah Hoffner as the MC USA executive assistant. Hoffner began her new position on Dec. 3. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/hoffner-ea

Menno Snapshots

Joanne Gallardo, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference co-minister, reflects on her time at the Kineo Center for the 2024 conference ministers retreat, during which she learned about the importance of protecting pastors from burnout. Read her reflection here: mennoniteusa.org/pastor-burnout-kineo

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Join Mennonite Mission Network in praising God for the 70 years of ministry of the Fellowship of Mennonite Churches in Taiwan. Pray for the continuing outreach of the church’s agencies in Hualien: the Mennonite Christian Hospital; the New Dawn Educare Center, which serves people with special challenges; and the Good Shepherd Center for abused women, those sold into prostitution, and children from dysfunctional families.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC youth and leaders who will participate in the Know Jesus conference next weekend at Hesston College, as they learn about their Anabaptist roots and grow in their relationship with Jesus through worship, service and activities together.

2025 02 09 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

Be sure to come prepared to purchase some delicious Super Bowl Snacks from the Junior High Youth. Tables will be set up in the Gathering Place. This is a fundraiser for the Junior High Youth to help them with their activities, such as Snow Camp.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 9, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music— My Life Flows On In Endless Song— [VT 605], (R. Haan)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer—John Waltner

*Hymn—Holy, Holy, Holy!— VT 76

Children’s Conversation—Jill Robb

Worship Music—Sanctus (Charles Gounod)
       Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Scripture Reading—Isaiah 6:1-13; Luke 5:1-11—Doris Whillock

*Hymn—Will You Come and Follow Me—VT 540

Sermon—Fishers–Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—I Bind My Heart This Tide— VT 556

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—This is My Song—VT 710

*Benediction

Postlude—Comfort, Comfort, O My People [VT 212] (arr. Will Wiebe-Friesen)

*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

From Will Wiebe-Friesen:
Sunday’s centering music is an arrangement of My Life Flows On in Endless Song [VT 605] by Raymond Haan (b. 1938), a song that has been running through my mind quite a lot lately. This hymn was introduced into the Mennonite vernacular with the 1992 Hymnal: A Worship Book and quickly became a favorite, being sung with fervency in a variety of settings. One memorable instance involved friends of mine from Germantown Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, PA) who loudly and tearfully sang it as they exited the building after learning that their ties with the Mennonite Church were to be severed over issues of LGBT inclusion in 2012. The song has been in use by the Quakers since at least the early twentieth century and was popularized by folk singer Pete Seeger during the McCarthy era with an additional, still-relevant verse written by Doris Plenn:

“When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear their death-knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile,
Our thoughts to them go winging;
When friends by shame are undefiled,
How can I keep from singing?”

The Week at BCMC: February 9—16, 2025
Sunday, February 9, 2025—Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale Quilt
display at the back of the church, under the balcony.

Be sure to come prepared to purchase some delicious Super Bowl Snacks from the Junior High Youth. Tables will be set up in the Gathering Place. This is a fundraiser for the Junior High Youth to help them with their activities, such as Snow Camp.

9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/OOnyjYCxBK0?feature=share

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, February 13, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
Sunday, February 16, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Kevin Vaughn, guest organist.
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

We offer sympathy to Greg Nye and Elizabeth Schmidt and their extended family on the death of Greg’s mother, Kathryn Nye, February 7. Plans for a memorial service are pending.

We offer sympathy to the family of Michael Brubacher. Michael, brother to Jim and Wade Brubacher, passed away peacefully at his home in Scottsdale, AZ, on Jan. 30. He was a longtime member of BCMC. Please remember in your prayers the families of Michael, Jim, and Wade

Some of our many Anabaptist History books are currently being highlighted in our church library to coincide with the 500 Year Anabaptist Celebration. We have quite a collection in back of our library desk (including two new editions of the Anabaptist Community Bible), but these are by no means all of them. Several more are available, many in the 289.7 section. Please come in and peruse at your leisure.

BCMC Offering for Feb. 2: Gen. Fund $6,757; Sr Hi Youth $250.47; Library Reserve Fund $5; Kitchen Fund $25; Solar Fund $50; Dotty Janzen Mem. $235;
Leona Kaufman Mem. $670.

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· Helen Paul’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
· We offer sympathy to the family of Edie Krehbiel. Edie died Jan. 23 at Paramount Community, Newton. Edie’s memorial service will be March 7, 11 a.m. at BCMC.

If you are interested in becoming a member, transferring membership, or learning more about membership at BCMC, please contact Elizabeth Schmidt, Pastor for Congregational Care. She will be happy to visit with you!

Pastor Joanna is attending a retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery near Madison, Wisconsin, February 6-9.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” is a way for BCMC folks to get acquainted with other BCMC folks that they might not know very well. The Hospitality Commission has matched people who signed up as hosts with people who signed up as guests. Guests: You will receive your food assignment Sunday, Feb. 16. Hosts: you will receive the number of guests you will host on Feb. 16. The dinner is Feb. 23.

Board Game Night to support the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: Pastor Joanna is currently working with other members of the Coalition to develop a board game that addresses issues connected to Indigenous justice. To raise awareness of and money for this project, the Indigenous Task Force is hosting a board game night on Fri., Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. We will have a prototype of the Coalition game available along with plenty of other game options. There is no charge to attend the event, but we will receive donations for the Coalition from those who would like to contribute.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is April 11 & 12, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. This year’s theme is “In the name of Christ.”
· BCMC Sunday School Classes help underwrite KMRS costs. All expenses are covered before the sale, so 100% of revenue goes directly to Mennonite Central Committee.
· Start collecting your coins! BCMC’s My Coins Count drive begins in February.
· Run for Relief entry forms are available to sign up to run, walk, jog, or be a sponsor.
· Do you have a quilt to donate, or are you considering bidding on a quilt? This year, the KMRS quilt committee is asking that all quilt auction items be turned in by Feb. 14 — at least two weeks earlier than previous years. This means that the display of quilts at BCMC will be Sun., Feb. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m.
· Donate furniture, quilts, vehicles, or children’s items for the auctions.
· WANTED: Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Campers, Tractors, Farm Machinery and anything of value to be sold at this year’s KMRS. Your donations can be used as a Charitable Tax Donation. More info: call Jerry Toews, 620 367 8257.
· For more information see the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/, the posterboard in the Gathering Place, or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr)

The Great Winter Warm-up: Spread warmth around the world this winter by helping Mennonite Central Committee reach a goal of 7000 comforters by the end of March. You can sponsor, donate one (or more) comforters, or attend a comforter event to tie in community with others. If you host an event in your home, church or community please let tinaschrag@mcc.org know about it (we’ve got some small gifts for those who host events!). Check mcc.org/great-winter-warm-up for instructions, coloring pages for kids and more!

Western District Women in Mission invites women & girls to our annual potluck salad supper Mon., April 28, 6 p.m. at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton. The theme is “For the Beauty of the Earth” presented by WDWM executive committee member and Kansas City floral designer, Becca Schrag. Bring a salad to share and a small vessel to make a floral design in (a tea cup, bowl, or small vase). This is a free event with an offering taken to help cover expenses. RSVP not required but appreciated by email: westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

Western District Conference Israel Palestine Task Force Update: Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. CT, Esther Koontz will lead a Zoom discussion of the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Special guest, Tareq Abuhamila, will begin the meeting with an update of life on the ground in Gaza based on reports from his family in Gaza.
Participants will have a chance to ask Tareq questions, give their responses to the book, and name their own stories of peace to add to the book’s 1001 powerful vignettes. Please register by emailing wdc@mennowdc.org by Mon., Feb. 17.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) announcements

Dear Bethel College Mennonite,On February 12 at 2:00 pm EST, the MCC Immigration Network will host a webinar for individuals and congregations who want to learn how they can support immigrants in their congregations and communities. How can we, in this moment, offer hospitality and love to our immigrant neighbors? Newly elected President Trump and his administration have promised to conduct mass deportations. How should Christians react to increased immigration enforcement, family separation, and racial discrimination?

Join us to learn from the expertise of Saulo Padilla, MCC U.S. Migration Education Coordinator, and Rachel Diaz, Immigration Attorney with MCC East Coast. They will highlight what legal rights immigrants have, and what they can do to prepare for the possibility of detention or deportation. The webinar will be centered on the ways all of us can support those at risk of being uprooted. Presenters will share resources and opportunities to become more deeply involved in the work of welcome. We hope you will join us!Warmest regards,Galen Fitzkee
Legislative Associate
MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries

· The 17th annual Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Comforter Blitz is March 3, 4 and 5 at the Journey Facilities Building behind Charis Community Church, 3605 E. Long View Rd, Haven, near Yoder. Mon. 9-5, Tues. 9-9 (note that these hours are extended) and Wed. 9-4. No sewing skills required. Lunch is available by donation each day, or bring your own sack lunch. Snacks are welcome to share. This event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC. Info at mcc.org/comforter-blitz or email brociamueller@mcc.org, 316-283-2720.
· The MCC Central States board will hold it’s annual meeting Sat., March 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. at MCC Central States in North Newton. All are welcome to attend.

Exciting Summer Internship Opportunities with MCC! Mennonite Central Committee is offering exciting 2025 summer internship opportunities designed to provide hands-on experience while making a meaningful impact. Over the course of 10–12 weeks, interns will gain valuable skills, explore their interests, and contribute to meaningful projects in areas like human resources, historical exhibit development, immigration, climate communications, global service learning, and the sewing room. This is a unique opportunity to grow professionally while engaging in work that matters. Don’t miss out—learn more and apply today!  Apply Here

DO YOU KNOW A YOUNG ADULT READY FOR AN ADVENTURE IN SERVICE?  MCC’s SALT program offers a year-long, cross-cultural experience for those aged 18-30, where they can immerse themselves in a new culture, serve in a meaningful way and gain valuable skills. Best of all, there’s no cost to participate! Encourage them to explore this unique opportunity and apply by Feb. 15, 2025. Learn more at mcc.org/SALT.

CANNER JOB OPENING: Do you know a hands-on person looking for a unique opportunity? MCC is seeking two Canner Operators for its mobile meat canner beginning the Fall 2025 Canning season. The Canner operates from October through April by traveling to 30 different locations in the U.S. preserving hundreds of thousands of cans of beef, turkey, chicken and pork for communities in need across the globe. Canner responsibilities including operating steam and pressure vessels, coordinating volunteers, maintaining and communicating USDA regulations, and the maintenance of all machinery in the canning process. MCC is accepting applications until March 3rd by completing an online form here, by contacting marilynpeters@mcc.org, or by calling 1-888-563-4676.

Young adult Peace Camp, Akron, PA March 10-15 “If we are silent, then these stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). Are you a young adult (ages 18-30) concerned about the global threats of climate change and forced migration, and eager to join a collective cry for positive change? Register now for the Stones cry out Peace Camp. MCC covers all costs of travel, lodging and meals beyond the $250 registration fee. Together, participants will delve into alternative visions for a society rooted in hospitality and share these powerful messages in person with members of Congress on a day trip to Washington, D.C.

For the Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here

Volunteers needed at New Hope Shelter: More than 25 volunteers from BCMC currently serve at New Hope Shelter during designated weeks, in coordination with supporting congregations throughout Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Some help provide evening meals and others stay through the evening (5-10 p.m.) to support a paid staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com.

Bethel College Announcements
· Sun., Feb. 9: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum with Carmaletta Williams from the Black Archives of Mid-America, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium. Her program, “Free Did Not Mean Welcome,” is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Speakers Bureau and is in conjunction with Kauffman Museum’s “Unlocking the Past” exhibit on immigration.
· Sun., Feb. 16: KIPCOR Film Series presents The Third Harmony, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium. The 44-minute documentary directed by Michael Nagler is a study of nonviolence in academic and practical terms. Audience talkback follows with Keren Kandel, KIPCOR executive director.
· Tues., Feb. 18: Bethel College Organ Recital Series: Dr. Kevin Vaughn, University of Notre Dame, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel
· Now in the Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, “Untethered,” ceramics by David Long, through March 14. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
· Tues., Feb. 25: Bethel College Orchestra, directed by Kris Hilding, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
· SAVE THE DATE: Sun., March 9, 4 p.m.: Bethel College Choir Spring Tour Send-off Concert
· SAVE THE DATE: Sun., March 9, 7 p.m.: Bible Lecture (the book of Isaiah) at Bethel College with Doug Miller

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) works with people of faith to promote justice-focused public policy in the state of Kansas. Please consider participating in an upcoming lobby day at the Kansas Statehouse to advocate for affordable housing, Medicaid expansion, and KIFA’s legislative priorities of supporting public education, lgbtqia+ rights, economic justice, and climate and clean energy. Let Pastor Joanna know if you’d like to attend any of these events and she will help coordinate transportation.
–Kansas Housing Advocacy Network Capitol Hill Day, February 13
–KIFA Day, March 10

Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Programs for February 12:
9:30 a.m. “Interesting Moons of Our Solar System,” Jim Yoder, professor emeritus of chemistry, Hesston College
10:50 a.m. “Blue Zones: Keys to Living Longer and Better,” Sharolyn Jackson, M.S., extension specialist, family and consumer sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Upcoming webinar from Everence: Changing behaviors around money is never easy, but to reach your goals it’s necessary. In this workshop you will learn strategies to organize your finances, set goals, and improve financial habits. Steve Bustos, Everence Stewardship Consultant, will host this webinar presented by Kim Miller of Financial Choice on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. or 8 p.m. ET. Sign up at everence.com/partners.

Camp Mennoscah Announcements

There are a couple of corrections to the 2025 Camp Mennoscah catalog. Junior camps are for grades 6, 7, and 8 (Fall of 2025), not just 6 and 8. Also, information for the 2025 Women and Girls Retreat will be at westerndistrictwomeninmission.org (but not quite yet).Online registration for the 2025 retreat will be available online after June 1. Our apologies!

Other events and happenings:

The Camp Mennoscah hoodies are expected to arrive approximately mid-February. You will be contacted for payment and for shipping or pick up details. We can’t wait to see everyone in their new hoodies!

The Spring Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat is March 14-16. Online registration is open! All activities will take place at Main Camp in the dining hall and bunkhouses.

Interviews for the 2025 Summer Staff have started! Staff positions are nature, office, music, lifeguards, crafts and grounds/maintenance. Further information and application available on the Camp Mennoscah webpage or contact 620-297-3290.

Registration is open for the 2025 Summer Youth Camps! The theme for the 2025 summer is Another Way, looking at how Jesus invites us to re-imagine who we are and to live in another way. There has been a change in age groups for the camps. There are two Junior Camps for those going into grades 6, 7 and 8 in the fall of 2025. There is one Junior High Camp for grades 8 and 9. Other age groups remain the same.

Two full scholarships are available from the Camp Mennoscah Scholarship Endowment. The endowment was generously gifted to Camp Mennoscah to assist campers who would not otherwise be able to attend camp. Applications need to be received by May 1. Campers of diverse backgrounds will receive higher priority. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for the application form.

For “Join the Mennonite Disaster Service 75th Anniversary” click here
For Mennonites Mission Network Just Peace Pilgrimage and Youth Peace Venture Trips in the Spring press here
For Paris Mennonite Center Update press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
On Feb. 24, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, join Nancy Kauffmann, the interim denominational minister of Church Safety for MC USA, and Laurel Neufeld Weaver, MSW field director and assistant professor of Social Work at Bluffton University, as they discuss how survivors interpret their faith community when trauma occurs within the church. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/webinar/feb25-safe-church

Registration for Mennonite Church USA’s Follow Jesus ’25 convention will open Jan. 6, 2025, for early-bird pricing. The denomination’s biennial faith formation gathering will take place at Koury Convention Center, in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8-12, 2025. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/registration-jan6 Register here: convention.mennoniteusa.org/ View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-slide

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Kate Widmer, who is part of a team that works alongside the residents of a low-income area in eastern France, through the outreach programs of The Prairie Church of Montbéliard. Pray for her and the neighbors she relates to through sewing classes, a bookstore and café, and mentoring young people.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC’s Gifts Discernment Committee as it discerns nominees for elected positions in WDC, and for those who are called by the Spirit to offer their gifts and leadership in our conference’s ministry.

2025 02 02 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEBRUARY 2, 2025
ANABAPTISM AT 500

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

Memorial Service for Willis Harder
A memorial service for Willis Harder will be Saturday, February 1, at 2:30 p.m., at Kidron Hall, Kidron Bethel Village. The service will also be livestreamed on www.youtube.com/@KidronBethelVillage/streams. Willis passed away on January 16. See his obituary.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 2, 2025
Anabaptism 500 Celebration

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music— Meditation (Bartsch)
Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director

Welcome, Prayer, and Land Acknowledgment—Deb Gering & Ani Koontz

*Hymn—Could It Be That God Is Singing?—VT 42

Children’s Conversation—Dorothy Nickel Friesen

Worship Music—The Church’s One Foundation—Chancel Bells

Mission Moment—Border Trip
Ani Koontz and Grace Harader-Ellett

*Hymn—O God, We Read the Holy Law—VT 571

Scripture Reading—Mark 12:28-34—Ben Preheim

Sermon—Crucial Balancing Acts
Dale Schrag

*Hymn—I Sing With Exultation—VT 444

Prayers of God’s People—Deb Gering & Ani Koontz

*Hymn—Go, My Friends, in Grace—VT 810

*Benediction

Postlude— Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
                                            (setting by Michael Burkhardt)
Karen Schlabaugh

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual—Ken Lamp
Keyboard–Karen Schlabaugh

Land Acknowledgement from words by Mark Charles and VT #878
As we do on the first Sunday of each month,
  we acknowledge that we worship
  on the land of the Kanza, Osage, and Wichita.
We thank them for their care and respect for this land
  and acknowledge the injustice of their forced removal.
We ask the Spirit to heal our histories
  and find new paths of right relationships with them
  and all of creation.

GOING BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The Supreme Court has not yet released a decision on whether they will hear Apache Stronghold’s appeal. The Apache Stronghold asks for our continued prayers for Oak Flat, Apache Stronghold, and the Supreme Court.
Together we pray:
God of bones and umbilical cords,
Creator of light and wind,
Source of love,
Giver of food for all creatures,
You care for Oak Flat (Chi’Chil Bildagoteel) and the peoples who call this place home.
Ignite all hearts to beat in unison,
To defend this place of unspeakable sacredness
From devastation and harm.
Whisper to those in power who make decisions
about the fate of this fragile land.
May they know you, God.
May they come to know your sacred places,
and be reminded that they can never be replaced. (Jon Zirkle, COFA team member)

The Week at BCMC: February 2—9, 2025
Sunday, February 2, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/GfAmUE64jZg?feature=share

Tuesday, February 4, 2025
2 p.m. Facilities Committee meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, February 6, 2025
4 p.m.        Staff Congregation Relations Committee meeting in Room 14
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.        Church Board meeting in Room 14
Sunday, February 9, 2025—Quilts for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale will be displayed in the back of the church, under the balcony
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Chancel Choir
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be Sun., Feb. 23, at noon. Sign-up Sunday in the Gathering Place. Indicate whether you would like to be a host or guest. Hosts provide main dish, beverage, and maybe bread. Guests are assigned a side dish (vegetable, salad, dessert), or maybe bread. Experience this event interacting with some of our congregational members, as assigned, on a social level.

Anabaptism at 500 Celebration
· January 21 was the 500th anniversary of what is noted as the beginning of Anabaptism: the baptism of George Blaurock, Conrad Grebel, and a dozen others in Zurich, Switzerland.
· Some of our many Anabaptist History books are currently being highlighted in our church library to coincide with the 500 Year Anabaptist Celebration. We have quite a collection in back of our library desk (including two new editions of the Anabaptist Community Bible), but these are by no means all of them. Several more are available, many in the 289.7 section. Please come in and peruse at your leisure.

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· Helen Paul’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
· We offer sympathy to the family of Edie Krehbiel. Edie died January 23 at Paramount Community, Newton. Edie’s memorial service will be March 7, 11 a.m. at BCMC.

We extend sympathy to Dave and Cynthia Linscheid and family on the death of Dave’s brother-in-law, Ken White, husband of Dave’s twin brother John Linscheid. Ken died on January 4, 2025. Here is a link to Ken’s obituary.

If you are interested in becoming a member, transferring membership, or learning more about membership at BCMC, please contact Elizabeth Schmidt, Pastor for Congregational Care. She will be happy to visit with you!

Pastor Nathan is attending a retreat for Anabaptist worship writing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3.

Pastor Joanna will be attending a retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery near Madison, Wisconsin, February 6-9.

BCMC Offering for Jan. 26: Gen. Fund $12,067; Plant Fund $50; Sr Hi Youth $3,182; Caring Fund $100; Kitchen Fund $22; Solar Fund $1,000; Dotty Janzen Mem. $125.

Announcements from Pastor Joanna Harader

As our state and national political climate becomes increasingly threatening to trans and queer people, you are invited to “the gayest Anabaptist gathering of the year”! Join LGBTQIA+ people and their allies/accomplices for Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred–a weekend of worship, fellowship, learning, and community: May 2-4 in Philadelphia, PA. Please share this invitation with those you think would be interested. You can find more information and register here: https://www.bmclgbt.org/ffs. Contact Pastor Joanna to learn more and to coordinate travel to the event.

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) works with people of faith to promote justice-focused public policy in the state of Kansas. Please consider participating in an upcoming lobby day at the Kansas Statehouse to advocate for affordable housing, Medicaid expansion, and KIFA’s legislative priorities of supporting public education, lgbtqia+ rights, economic justice, and climate and clean energy. Let Pastor Joanna know if you’d like to attend any of these events and she will help coordinate transportation.

Love Your Neighbor Day for Medicaid expansion, February 4
Kansas Housing Advocacy Network Capitol Hill Day, February 13
KIFA Day, March 10

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is April 11 & 12, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. This year’s theme is “In the name of Christ.”
· BCMC Sunday School Classes help underwrite KMRS costs. All expenses are covered before the sale, so 100% of revenue goes directly to Mennonite Central Committee.
· Start collecting your coins! BCMC’s My Coins Count drive begins in February.
· Run for Relief entry forms are available to sign up to run, walk, jog, or be a sponsor.
· Do you have a quilt to donate, or are you considering bidding on a quilt? This year, the KMRS quilt committee is asking that all quilt auction items be turned in by Feb. 14 — at least two weeks earlier than previous years. This means that the display of quilts at BCMC will be Sun., Feb. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m.
· Donate furniture, quilts, vehicles, or children’s items for the auctions.
· WANTED: Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Campers, Tractors, Farm Machinery and anything of value to be sold at this year’s KMRS. Your donations can be used as a Charitable Tax Donation. More info: call Jerry Toews, 620 367 8257.
· For more information see the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/, the posterboard in the Gathering Place, or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr)

The Great Winter Warm-up: Spread warmth around the world this winter by helping Mennonite Central Committee reach a goal of 7000 comforters by the end of March. You can sponsor, donate one (or more) comforters, or attend a comforter event to tie in community with others. If you host an event in your home, church or community please let tinaschrag@mcc.org know about it (we’ve got some small gifts for those who host events!). Check mcc.org/great-winter-warm-up for instructions, coloring pages for kids and more!

Mennonite Central Committee announcements
· The 17th annual Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Comforter Blitz is March 3, 4 and 5 at the Journey Facilities Building behind Charis Community Church, 3605 E. Long View Rd, Haven, near Yoder. Mon. 9-5, Tues. 9-9 (note that these hours are extended) and Wed. 9-4. No sewing skills required. Lunch is available by donation each day, or bring your own sack lunch. Snacks are welcome to share. This event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC. Info at mcc.org/comforter-blitz or email brociamueller@mcc.org, 316-283-2720.
· The MCC Central States board will hold it’s annual meeting Sat., March 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. at MCC Central States in North Newton. All are welcome to attend.

Volunteers needed at New Hope Shelter: More than 25 volunteers from BCMC currently serve at New Hope Shelter during designated weeks, in coordination with supporting congregations throughout Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Some help provide evening meals and others stay through the evening (5-10 p.m.) to support a paid staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com. You may also attend an orientation session on Mon., Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., at New Hope Shelter, to learn more.

Bethel College Announcements
· Thurs., Feb. 6: Bethel College Faculty Recital: Chris Miertschin, brass (rescheduled from fall 2024), 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium.
· Mon., Feb. 3: “Untethered,” ceramics by David Long, opens in the Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, through March 14 (reception March 6). Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
· Sun., Feb. 9: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum with Carmaletta Williams from the Black Archives of Mid-America, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium. Her program, “Free Did Not Mean Welcome,” is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Speakers Bureau and is in conjunction with Kauffman Museum’s “Unlocking the Past” exhibit on immigration.
· Tues., Feb. 18: Bethel College Organ Recital Series: Dr. Kevin Vaughn, University of Notre Dame, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Registration: $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available. See BCMC emails for registration and payment forms.

Western District Conference Israel Palestine Task Force Update
On Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. CT, Esther Koontz will lead a Zoom discussion of the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Special guest, Tareq Abuhamila, will begin the meeting with an update of life on the ground in Gaza based on reports from his family in Gaza. Participants will have a chance to ask Tareq questions, give their responses to the book, and name their own stories of peace to add to the book’s 1001 powerful vignettes. Please register by emailing wdc@mennowdc.org by Mon., Feb. 17.

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Programs for February 5:
9:30 a.m. “VITA: Volunteers for Income Tax Assistance,” Larry Lee, VITA volunteer, Newton, and Sam Jack, adult services librarian, Newton Public Library.
10:50 a.m. “The Historical Presentation of Mrs. J.T. Smith (‘Henrietta’ as she is known by her friends),” Anna Smith, executive director, Kansas Alliance of Professional Historic Performers, Carbondale.

Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Online registration for the Spring Scrapbook & Crafts Retreat and the Summer Youth Camps will officially open February 1!

Press here for the 2025 Summer Youth Camp catalog. These catalogs will only be distributed by email. Please feel free to print out as many copies as you would like! The online registration forms have not been strenuously tested to save time, so please let us know of any odd or potentially incorrect issues. We will correct them as soon as possible!

Remember for the Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat that all activities will take place in the Main Camp dining hall and lodging will be in the bunk houses.

New age groupings for the summer youth camps! Junior Camps are for those going into grades 6-8 in the fall of 2025. We are so excited to see everyone this spring and summer!

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “Seeds of Peace” press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here

Hesston College Announcements
Martyrs Mirror exhibit continues at Hesston College

An exhibit from Hesston College’s collection of prints from the actual Martyrs Mirror suite by Jan Luyken is featured in the Regier-Friesen Gallery, located in Hesston College’s Laban Peachey Center (325 S College Drive, Hesston), through February 12. Additional exhibit features include religious texts from the college archives and modern interpretations of the stories of the Martyrs Mirror by people from the campus community. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and admission is free.

Prairie Window Concert, February 2
Join Dyck Arboretum Sunday, February 2 at 4 p.m. to hear the duo Moors and McCumber. James Moors and Kort McCumber create that rare chemistry that happens when two gifted singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists perfectly complement each other’s strengths, a modern day version of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Fan favorite, Crust & Crumb, will serve their delicious food items during intermission. For tickets visit dyckarboretum.org/events.

Community Day, February 8
Friends, alumni and the entire community are invited to join us on Saturday, February 8 for our winter Community Day basketball and softball games. Women’s and men’s basketball games take place in Yost Center at 1 and 3 p.m. and the Lark softball team has a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Bess Mullet Field. Admission to all events is free. There will also be free popcorn, free haircuts, a photo booth and the Hesston College dance team will perform at halftime. More information can be found at hesston.edu/community-day. Also, save the date for our spring Community Day on March 8!

Prairie Window Concert, February 23
Join Dyck Arboretum Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m. to hear Alisa Amador. Alisa Amador points folk music toward its future – a future that’s cosmopolitan, multifaceted and multilingual; qualities that have in fact been at the community’s heart all along. Once again, the amazing Crust & Crumb will serve their delicious food items during intermission. For tickets visit dyckarboretum.org/events.

Coming in March! Hesston College Theatre to present “Urinetown” March 5 through 9
This three-time Tony award winning musical is set in a Gotham-like city facing a severe water shortage due to a 20-year drought. The government has imposed a ban on private toilets, forcing citizens to pay a corrupt corporation for access to public restrooms. While this may sound like super serious stuff, Urinetown uses satire, comical characters and even makes fun of the musical genre itself to tell the story of a hero who, fed up with the whole stinking system, plans a revolution to restore freedom to the people. Filled with excellent music, dancing and hilarious dialogue, come spend an evening with us in Urinetown. Tickets can be purchased now at the Hesston College Bookstore or by calling 620-327-8104.

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Registration is open for MC USA’s Hope for the Future conference, Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2025, at Goshen (Indiana) College. This year’s unique event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Damascus Road Anti-racism Process and its pivotal role in the Anabaptist commitment to justice and reconciliation. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/30-damascus Register here: mennoniteusa.org/hftf-2025-register View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/hff-25-registration-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/hff-25-registration-slide

What does it mean to provide sanctuary for undocumented people? This webinar on Feb. 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, will feature several pastors whose congregations have previously served as sanctuaries. Lawyers from the Institute of Constitutional Advocacy and Protection will discuss the legal issues related to sanctuary, specifically focusing on section 1324, and will allow time for participants to ask questions. For churches that are currently working with or are interested in supporting undocumented individuals in their communities, this webinar will provide crucial information on what to expect and what legal assistance is available if your church faces challenges from ICE or immigration agents. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/webinar/jesus-challenging-times View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/immigration-webinar-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/immigration-webinar-slide

Menno Snapshots

Please join MC USA in continuing to pray for God’s deliverance from the wildfires in the Los Angeles region of California and for MC USA congregations from both Mosaic Mennonite Conference and Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference that have been impacted by them. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/menno-shorts/california-wildfires/

In this Follow Jesus-inspired Epiphany blog, Rachel Ringenberg Miller, denominational minister for ministerial leadership for MC USA, shares about an anti-immigration flier that was left around her neighborhood and how it reminded her that Jesus, like many of our ancestors, was an immigrant, who fled danger and persecution. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/jesus-the-immigrant

LET EVERENCE^® HELP MAKE MEDICARE AN EASY STEPMedicare MondaysJoin us for an informal conversation about Medicare. We’ll cover the following:Enrollment details and deadlines.Social Security – when do I start?Prescription drug coverage.Plans that supplement Medicare.The webinars will be presented by Everence professionals, and there will be plenty of time for your questions. All webinars held on the second Monday of the month at 2 and 8 p.m. (Eastern Time):Feb. 10March 10April 14May 12Learn more and registerFor more information, visit everence.com/national. Please email national@everence.com with any questions.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Would you like to help Mennonite youth learn more about their Anabaptist heritage? There are still two weeks to register for Mennonite Mission Network’s Youth Venture “Anabaptism at 500: Looking Back to See the Future” trip this summer. Pray that the next generation of Mennonite leaders will be shaped by the rich diversity of the global Mennonite church during this once-in-a-lifetime encounter in Germany and Switzerland.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC congregations supporting immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, as they seek justice and safety in the face of threat and fear.

Bethel College Mennonite Church is an open and affirming congregation
centered in the life and teachings of Jesus. Embracing the divine within each person, we warmly welcome any and all into fellowship without regard to race, ethnic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability,
economic status, marital status, or age.

2025 01 26 – worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
JANUARY 26, 2025
ANABAPTISM AT 500

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

Congregational Meeting this Sunday, January 26

There is a congregational meeting Sunday, Jan. 26, during the Sunday School hour in the sanctuary. The meeting will be available through streaming options. Financial Report booklets can be found here and there are paper copies in the Gathering Place. Following the congregational meeting, the youth will be hosting a fundraising luncheon and the 2nd annual Fun Facts about the Senior High Youth Group. A fun and interactive way to get to know the youth! Fundraisers like this help our youth to go to events such as MennoCon this coming July in North Carolina.

For the soup luncheon, please bring your own tableware, a bowl for soup, and a plate for other items of food.

Link for the congregational meeting: https://youtube.com/live/fuKZebtEn9k?feature=share

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 26, 2025
Anabaptism at 500

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Great is Thy Faithfulness [VT 419] (arr. Joel Raney) Will Wiebe-Friesen & Brad Vogel

Welcome & Prayer— Joanna Harader

*Hymn—A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodI—VT 421

Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash

Worship Music—O God, Our Help In Ages Past (arr. John Ferguson)–Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
              Congregation is invited to join on verses 1 & 5 in unison      VT 203
Scripture— I Peter 2:4-12 (CEB)—Brad Born

Testimony—John Thiesen

Hymn—We Are People of God’s Peace, v. 1-2 only (seated)—VT 797

Scripture—I Peter 2:4-12 (VT 381)—Brad Born

Testimony—Ardie Goering

Hymn—We Are People of God’s Peace, v. 3-4 only (seated)—VT 797

Prayers of God’s People—Joanna Harader

*Commissioning—VT 928

*Hymn—Move in Our Midst—VT 827

Birthday Blessing and Benediction—VT 1056

Postlude—God of Grace and God of Glory [VT 716] (arr. Joel Raney)–Will Wiebe-Friesen & Brad Vogel

*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
CEB—Common English Bible
Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Today’s centering music and postlude feature two well-known hymns presented as piano and organ duets. Will invited his friend and college music professor, Dr. Brad Vogel, to join him for these duets. The hymn God of Grace and God of Glory (VT 716) is not an Anabaptist hymn per se, but its text seems fitting for a day like this. The tune, CWM RHONDDA (pronounced “coom rawnthuh”) is named for the Rhondda Valley (“cwm” meaning “low valley”) in Wales, where this tune is very much beloved by the region’s famous male choirs. Interestingly, if you were to attend a rugby match in Wales, it is very likely that you would hear this tune sung with great gusto by the fans.

Anabaptism at 500 Celebration

January 21 was the 500th anniversary of what is noted as the beginning of Anabaptism: the baptism of George Blaurock, Conrad Grebel, and a dozen others in Zurich, Switzerland. To celebrate this significant anniversary: Sundays, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 BCMC worship will highlight various aspects of our Anabaptist heritage and identity.

The Week at BCMC: January 26—February 2, 2025
Sunday, January 26, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Congregational meeting in the Sanctuary
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/F1D3DsO6u_Q?feature=share
YouTube Link for the congregational meeting:
https://youtube.com/live/fuKZebtEn9k?feature=share
11:45 a.m.    Fundraiser Soup Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall prepared by the Youth Group—All are invited!
Monday, January 27, 2025
9 a.m.         Women’s Fellowship Executive Board meeting in Fellowship Hall
10 a.m.       Library Committee meets in Room 14 and the Library
7 p.m.         Newton Chorale rehearses in the Sanctuary
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
4 p.m.         Worship Commission meets in Room 14
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, January 30, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.        Newton Chorale rehearses in the Sanctuary
Sunday, February 2, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship        10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

Pastor Nathan is attending a retreat for Anabaptist worship writing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3.

Board Game Night to support the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: Pastor Joanna is currently working with other members of the Coalition to develop a board game that addresses issues connected to Indigenous justice. To raise awareness of and money for this project, the Indigenous Task Force is hosting a board game night on Fri., Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. We will have a prototype of the Coalition game available along with plenty of other game options. There is no charge to attend the event, but we will receive donations for the Coalition from those who would like to contribute.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be Sun., Feb. 23, at noon. Sign-up Sun., Jan. 26, in the Gathering Place. Indicate whether you would like to be a host or guest. Hosts provide main dish, beverage, and maybe bread. Guests are assigned a side dish (vegetable, salad, dessert), or maybe bread. Experience this event interacting with some of our congregational members, as assigned, on a social level.

Announcements from Pastor Joanna Harader

As our state and national political climate becomes increasingly threatening to trans and queer people, you are invited to “the gayest Anabaptist gathering of the year”! Join LGBTQIA+ people and their allies/accomplices for Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred–a weekend of worship, fellowship, learning, and community: May 2-4 in Philadelphia, PA. Please share this invitation with those you think would be interested. You can find more information and register here: Fabulous Fierce & Sacred 2025. Contact Pastor Joanna to learn more and to coordinate travel to the event.

Love Your Neighbor Day for Medicaid expansion, February 4
Kansas Housing Advocacy Network Capitol Hill Day, February 13
KIFA Day, March 10

BCMC Offering for Jan. 19: Gen. Fund $6,002; Solar Fund $50.

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· Willis Harder’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 1 at 2:30 p.m. The service will also be livestreamed on www.youtube.com/@KidronBethelVillage/streams. Willis passed away on January 16. See his obituary.
· Helen Paul’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

Western District Conference Israel Palestine Task Force Update
On February 25 at 7:00 pm CT, Esther Koontz will lead a Zoom discussion of the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Special guest, Tareq Abuhamila, will begin the meeting with an update of life on the ground in Gaza based on reports from his family in Gaza. Participants will have a chance to ask Tareq questions, give their responses to the book, and name their own stories of peace to add to the book’s 1001 powerful vignettes. Please register by emailing wdc@mennowdc.org by Monday, February 17.

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) is April 11 & 12, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. This year’s theme is “In the name of Christ.”
· BCMC Sunday School Classes help underwrite KMRS costs. All expenses are covered before the sale, so 100% of revenue goes directly to Mennonite Central Committee.
· Start collecting your coins! BCMC’s My Coins Count drive begins in February.
· Run for Relief entry forms are available to sign up to run, walk, jog, or be a sponsor.
· Do you have a quilt to donate, or are you considering bidding on a quilt? This year, the KMRS quilt committee is asking that all quilt auction items be turned in by Feb. 14 — at least two weeks earlier than previous years. This means that the display of quilts at BCMC will be Sun., Feb. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m.
· Donate furniture, quilts, vehicles, or children’s items for the auctions.
· WANTED: Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Campers, Tractors, Farm Machinery and anything of value to be sold at this year’s KMRS. Your donations can be used as a Charitable Tax Donation. More info: call Jerry Toews, 620 367 8257.
· For more information see the KMRS website at https://kansas.mccsale.org/, the posterboard in the Gathering Place, or contact a BCMC liaison (Brad and Diane Born, William and Esther Kreider Eash, and Steve and Elaine Schurr)

The Great Winter Warm-up: Spread warmth around the world this winter by helping Mennonite Central Committee reach a goal of 7000 comforters by the end of March. You can sponsor, donate one (or more) comforters, or attend a comforter event to tie in community with others. If you host an event in your home, church or community please let tinaschrag@mcc.org know about it (we’ve got some small gifts for those who host events!). Check mcc.org/great-winter-warm-up for instructions, coloring pages for kids and more!

Volunteers needed at New Hope Shelter: More than 25 volunteers from BCMC currently serve at New Hope Shelter during designated weeks, in coordination with supporting congregations throughout Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Some help provide evening meals and others stay through the evening (5-10 p.m.) to support a paid staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com. You may also attend an orientation session on Mon., Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., at New Hope Shelter, to learn more.

You are invited to the 2025 Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Annual Celebration Feb. 14 – 15, at the Ridgepoint Church, 8000 W. 21st St., in Wichita. MDS is celebrating 75 years of Responding, Rebuilding, Restoring after disasters. You will hear stories from clients and volunteers, a keynote: MDS in an Upside-Down World – God’s Faithfulness. You can attend workshops on today’s key issues facing the MDS organization. You can enjoy good food and good fellowship. Childcare will be provided on Friday evening and Saturday morning (limited numbers so register early). The event is FREE, including meals. Tours have a fee. For more information about the activities and registration, go to the website
MDS.ORG. Registration deadline is Mon., Jan. 27.

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15, 2025. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15.
Registration: $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV

Bethel College Announcements
· Sun., Jan. 26: Bethel College Music Department Honors Recital, 4 p.m., Administration Building chapel, featuring freshman, sophomore and junior vocal and instrumental students who performed exceptionally during the fall 2024 semester.
· Sat., Feb. 1: Kauffman Museum bird walk, 8 a.m. start time in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets (2801 N. Main St.). Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail
· Thurs., Feb. 6: Bethel College Faculty Recital: Chris Miertschin, brass (rescheduled from fall 2024), 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium.
· Bethel College will offer a new course, Introduction to Hymnology, in Spring 2025, taught by Dr. Henry S. Waters, Director of Choral Music and Associate Professor of Music. The course will survey the history of hymns, mostly from the hymnal Voices Together, and analyze hymns through many lenses including music theory, poetry and theology. The class will meet weekly on Mondays at 6-7 pm, beginning Mon., Jan 27, in the Chapel of the Administration Building. Community members may Audit the course for $100 (or $50 for persons age 65+), or enroll for credit at a higher fee. To request the enrollment form, email registrar@bethelks.edu or visit the Registrar’s Office in the Administration Building between 8 am -12 pm, or 1-5 pm.

Life Enrichment, in the Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, is a series designed especially for adults age 60 and over. Programs for January 29:
9:30 a.m. “On Life and the Legislature,” Logan DeMond, legislative director, House minority, Topeka
10:50 a.m. “Behind the Scenes of One-on-One with Victor Hogstrom,” Victor A.Hogstrom, president and CEO of KPTS public television, Wichita

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp Announcements
Scrapbook Retreat, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 – Creating paper or digital photo books and sharing ideas and conversation is just another day for scrapbook participants. You still have time to register and spend the weekend documenting life memories and fellowshipping with others. Register at rmmc.org!

Save the date! Women’s Retreat is coming March 7-9, 2025. Input for the weekend will be provided by Mariah Martin, pastor and Host of the Called to be Bad podcast. More details to follow!

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the ministry of the Korea Anabaptist Center, in Chuncheon, South Korea. Pray for the staff members as they share Anabaptist-Mennonite resources with those interested in learning about peace theology and restorative justice.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Please pray for members of WDC Church Planting Commission as they express financial needs to match their creative thinking and planning.

January 19, 2025 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
JANUARY 19, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

This Sunday in worship we will consider the story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), so I thought I’d share a picture of Ryan’s and my wedding reception (July 5, 1997). Maybe you can take a bit of time this weekend to look at some pictures and remember some stories from weddings that you have attended over the years. I look forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday! — Joanna Harader

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 19, 2025
Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music–Adoration (Florence Beatrice Price)– Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer–Ada Schmidt-Tieszen

*Hymn–Here in This Place–VT 10

Children’s Conversation–Barb Koontz

Worship Music–Veni Jesu (Luigi Cherbini)–Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Cherubini ‘s choral setting of the Latin text, “Veni Jesu Amor mi” loosely translates “Come to me, O Jesus, my love.”

Scripture Reading–John 2:1-11–David Sprunger

*Hymn– Over My Head–VT 594

Sermon–Prompting Miracles–Joanna Harader

*Hymn– Lift Every Voice and Sing–VT 611

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn–You are Salt for the Earth–VT 297

*Benediction

Postlude–Improvisation on We Shall Overcome–(Carl Haywood)

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Today’s centering music and postlude are both pieces composed by black American composers. Florence Price (1887-1953), composer of Adoration, is noted as the first African American symphonic composer. She composed prolifically, producing chamber music, symphonic works, choral music, art song, and works for piano and organ, the vast majority of which was only published many decades after her death. Carl Haywood, a long-serving professor of organ and choral music at Norfolk State University, a historically black university, composed his Improvisation on We Shall Overcome for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2012. This hymn (VT 803) is a gospel song deeply associated with the U.S. civil rights movement, and it still bears a message important to us today. The limited available organ repertoire composed by African American women and men is expanding, and I look forward to sharing more of it with you in the future.
While the bulk of commonly played organ literature is the work of white male composers, these pieces by two African American composers are both moving and thrilling and have been fun to work up. I look forward to sharing more of their music with you in the future. —Will Wiebe-Friesen

The Week at BCMC: January 19—26, 2025
Sunday, January 19, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/qdk6kumGjJY?feature=share

January 20, 2025
11 a.m.      Memorial service for Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, January 23, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.        Deacon Commission meeting in Room 14
Saturday, January 25, 2025
8:30 a.m. Leadership Retreat at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, 10218 SE 12th St., Whitewater
Sunday, January 26, 2025—500th Anniversary of Anabaptism
9:30 a.m.   Worship with testimonies from BCMC members; music by the Chancel Choir         10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

There will be a congregational meeting on Sun., Jan. 26, during the Sunday School hour in the sanctuary. The meeting will be available through streaming options. For the Financial Report booklet press here. There will be paper copies in the Gathering Place.

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· January 20, 11 a.m.: Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen’s memorial service at BCMC. Live stream link is:
https://youtube.com/live/pVqebh4X4K8?feature=share

· Helen Paul’s memorial service will be at Kidron Bethel Village, Kidron Hall on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

BCMC Offering for Jan. 12: Gen. Fund $8,403.59; Kitchen Fund $8; Leona Kaufman Mem. $240.

From the Finance Committee
As the financial year of our church ends, we offer gratitude for the generosity shared in donating monetary offerings toward our annual budget. Each gift is important to the process of fulfilling our mission. A brief report is listed below.
The following is a BCMC financial report of the general fund income and expenses on December 31, 2024 (100% of the year).
Total income $511,397 95% of budget
Total expense $504,305 94% of budget
Net income $7,092

Greetings!
I am looking for volunteers who would be willing to provide a morning snack for our youth on Sunday mornings. Items could be, but not limited to, cinnamon rolls, fruit, cookies, etc. We generally have 4-7 young persons participate in Sunday School and would be gracious for yummy treats before their lessons starts. If you are able to volunteer, please email me at jill@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org.

If you are interested in becoming a member, or transferring membership, or learning more about membership at BCMC, please contact Elizabeth Schmidt, Pastor for Congregational Care. She will be happy to visit with you!

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be Sunday, February 23, at noon. You are welcome to sign-up Sunday, January 19, or Sunday, January 26, in the Gathering Place. Indicate whether you would like to be a host or guest. Hosts provide main dish, beverage, and maybe bread. Guests are assigned a side dish – vegetable, salad, dessert, or maybe bread. Experience this event interacting with some of our congregational members, as assigned, on a social level.

Board Game Night to support the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: Pastor Joanna is currently working with other members of the Coalition to develop a board game that addresses issues connected to Indigenous justice. To raise awareness of and money for this project, the Indigenous Task Force is hosting a board game night on Friday, February 21, at 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. We will have a prototype of the Coalition game available along with plenty of other game options. There is no charge to attend the event, but we will receive donations for the Coalition from those who would like to contribute.

The Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference notes that several of their churches have been affected by the wildfires that continue to burn in Southern California. They are requesting donations toward the needs of PSMC families who have lost homes and to the needs of the wider community. You can donate through their website. (Be sure to select “Relief for Victims of SoCal Fires” from the donation drop-down menu.)

FROM BETHEL COLLEGE
· Mon., Jan. 20: Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, with local pastor (retired) and community leader Larry Lee.
· Sat., Jan. 25: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “At Home on the Range,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. Featuring food trucks, exhibits and activities indoors and out, and much more. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org
· Sun., Jan. 26: Bethel College Music Department Honors Recital, 4 p.m., Administration Building chapel, featuring freshman, sophomore and junior vocal and instrumental students who performed exceptionally during the fall 2024 semester.

Bethel College will offer a new course, “Introduction to Hymnology”, in Spring 2025, taught by Dr. Henry S. Waters, Director of Choral Music and Associate Professor of Music. The course will survey the history of hymns, mostly from the hymnal Voices Together, and analyze hymns through many lenses including music theory, poetry and theology. The class will meet weekly on Mondays at 6-7 pm, beginning Mon., Jan 27, in the Chapel of the Administration Building. Community members may Audit the course for $100 (or $50 for persons age 65+), or enroll for credit at a higher fee. To request the enrollment form, email registrar@bethelks.edu or visit the Registrar’s Office in the Administration Building between 8 am -12 pm, or 1-5 pm.

The Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus is getting organized for our 2025 season. Those who sang last year should have received information from Aaron Stucky (stuckya2003@yahoo.com). For those who would like to join this year please contact Aaron or myself, Joe Peters, joep67117@gmail.com or 316-288-7031, or join us at our first rehearsal on Jan. 26. We sing so others may live.

Volunteer at New Hope Shelter: BCMC is part of a 24-congregation network providing volunteer support for evening shifts at New Hope Shelter. About five weeks per year, we carry in several meals for 25-30 people and have two volunteers stay through the evening to support a staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you could help occasionally by contributing food for a meal or spending an evening at the shelter, email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com. New Hope Shelter serves homeless men, women, and children from Harvey, Butler, Marion, and McPherson counties. Thanks to all who have volunteered their time and service at New Hope, either recently or in the past!

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is hosting a 75th Anniversary Annual Celebration in Wichita this February 14-15. As part of the celebration, MDS will be hosting a volleyball tournament and cornhole tournament! The tournaments will be held Sat., Feb. 15 at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita. The cornhole tournament is at 1 p.m. and the volleyball tournament is from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. They are looking for local teams or individuals to join the fun! Everyone is invited! If you are interested in registering a team or as an individual, please let Kaelan Swartley at kswartley@mds.org know by Jan. 27. If you are looking to form or join a team with others from Western District Conference, contact the WDC office at wdc@mennowdc.org and we can connect you with others who may be interested. Volunteers are needed to help with meals (meals are free for volunteers), welcome and hospitality, driving shuttle vans between hotels and church, and helping with meeting room preparation. Please contact Ada Schmidt-Tieszen at 316 842-9751 or adast@bethelks.edu for more information.

Peace Connections is hosting a Bridges Out of Poverty Free Training Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. This training is a great way to help individuals understand the impacts of poverty by exploring the root causes of poverty, increase personal understanding and identify ways to reduce barriers between each other. For information or to sign up for the two-part training go to www.peaceconnections.org

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Registration: $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available. REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV

Anabaptism at 500 Celebration
January 21 is the 500th anniversary of what is noted as the beginning of Anabaptism: the baptism of George Blaurock, Conrad Grebel, and a dozen others in Zurich, Switzerland. We have the opportunity to participate in many online and in-person events over the next several weeks to celebrate this significant anniversary:
· Saturday, Jan. 18 at 8 a.m. (Central), the Global Anabaptist Read-a-Thon begins! This will be streamed on the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page for 90+ hours. Tune in to hear 500 voices (including Pastor Joanna’s) from 42 countries read through the entire Bible.
· Sunday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church: Hymn Festival
· Tues., Jan. 21, 6-7:30 p.m. (Central), at College Mennonite Church (Goshen, IN) and online: a worship service celebrating 500 years of the Anabaptist movement. You can find the livestream link the day of the event on the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page.
· Sundays, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2: BCMC worship will highlight various aspects of our Anabaptist heritage and identity.

Anabaptism at 500! This year, Anabaptists around the world are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist baptism on January 21, 1525. As part of this world-wide celebration, MennoMedia has published the Anabaptist Community Bible, which two different BCMC Sunday School classes contributed to. And if you’d like to read through the Bible in 2025, you can find a reading chart here

From Mitch Stutzman at MennoMedia on the Anabaptism at 500 livestream:
How to access the Anabaptism at 500 worship service on January 21 and the video stream of Global Anabaptist Read-a-thon.
Both of these livestream events will be available on the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page. Neither of these events require a registration. Simply visit the Facebook page and you will be able to access the live event. As you share with your friends and faith community about the worship service and the video of folks from around the world reading through the bible together, please direct people to the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page.

The other nuance is related specifically to the Global Anabaptist Read-a-thon. As we prepare the final edit of the video of all of these voices from around the world we are realizing that the recording is much longer than we anticipated (Turns out, it takes a long time to read straight through the whole Bible)! Because of the length of the experience the livestream of the read-a-thon will begin on the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page at about 9:00 am Eastern, Saturday, January 18, and run through Tuesday evening when the worship time starts in Goshen. This read-a-thon has been a massive undertaking with a lot of moving pieces and we are excited to see how it comes together over the next few days.

Long story short, look to the Anabaptism at 500 Facebook page for both events. Make sure to check back frequently starting on Saturday morning to take in the voices reading scripture. Blessings to you as we anticipate a full weekend and the launch of a season of commemoration around this important moment in our collective story.

For Mennonite Disaster Service 75th Anniversary press here
For Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” press here

Dear Intersections readers: Greetings! I am happy to announce the publication online of the winter 2025 issue of Mennonite Central Committee’s publication, Intersections, on the topic of MCC and Mennonite World Conference (MWC). The issue can be found here. The publication of this Intersections issue coincides with MWC marking its centennial of fostering inter-Anabaptist fellowship and with the global Anabaptist movement commemorating the 500-year-old legacy of the global Anabaptist movement. Authors in this issue reflect the global Anabaptist fellowship represented by MWC. MCC, as these articles reflect, has been intertwined with MWC since the latter’s founding in 1925—partnership among MCC, MWC, and Anabaptist churches worldwide remains vibrant and strong today. As always, your thoughts and questions about Intersections are always welcome!
Warm regards, Alain Epp Weaver

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite World Conference “Info” press here

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements

WANTED: Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Campers, Tractors, Farm Machinery and anything of value to be sold at this year’s Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. Your donations can be used as a Charitable Tax Donation. Call Jerry Toews, 620 367 8257 for more information.

Camp Mennoscah Announcements

Only one week left to order Camp Mennoscah Hoodies! Click here to order online (https://forms.gle/QmPwMxrxD8ii9tRH6) or contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org. The camp sign logo will be on the chest. Youth sizes are $40. Adult sizes S – XL are $40 and sizes 2XL – 4XL are $45. Colors can be found in the ordering form. Youth colors do not match adult colors exactly due to color availability. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 with questions. Ordering closes January 20. Available ONLY through this online order. We will NOT have extras on hand later (sorry).

Other events and happenings:

The Spring Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat is March 14-16. Registration will open in February. All activities will take place at Main Camp in the dining hall and bunkhouses.
The application for 2025 Summer Staff is open.Staff positions are needed for nature, office, music, lifeguards, crafts and grounds/maintenance. Further information available on the Camp Mennoscah webpage under Programs/Summer Youth Camps or contact 620-297-3290.
The 2025 Summer Youth Camp Schedule is available. See online at campmennoscah.org for the summer schedule. There has been a change in age groups for the camps. There are two Junior Camps for those going into grades 6, 7 and 8 in the fall of 2025. There is one Junior High Camp for grades 8 and 9. Other age groups remain the same. Registration will open in February 2025. The theme for the 2025 summer is Another Way, looking at how Jesus invites us to re-imagine who we are and to live in another way.

From Mennonite Church USA
At its meeting on Nov. 14-16, 2024, in Destin, Florida, the MC USA Executive Board affirmed a call from the denomination’s Racial Ethnic Council (REC) to increase awareness of the historical record of BIPOC Mennonites and to fund BIPOC contributions to the MC USA Archives. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/eb-rec

Sometimes, a congregation may have a known sex offender in attendance or an individual displaying characteristics typical of a sex offender. Join Nancy Kauffmann, MC USA’s interim denominational minister of Church Safety, Paul Unruh, a retired social worker, and Yolanda Kauffman, licensed master social worker, on January 28, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT for a webinar that will focus on understanding the behaviors of those who commit sexual offenses and what appropriate accountability looks like to ensure that the congregation remains a safe space for everyone, including the sex offender. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/register-jan-safe-church

Word&Note at Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita (Jan 31-Feb 2)
Plymouth Congregational Church’s annual Word&Note weekend conference is soon approaching. It will have two guest presenters: Sarah McCammon (NPR Politics) and Mark Miller (Lecturer in Sacred Music). Sarah will give presentations on her recent book The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church and there will be an entire concert of Mark Miller’s moving and forward-thinking music Saturday evening entitled “Songs of Justice & Joy.” He will also give a presentation on Saturday afternoon on “Worship & Music in a Time of Crisis.” There is a a discounted rate of $100 for the entire weekend ($135 value). See the Plymouth Congregational Church website for more information.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the South American celebration of Anabaptism at 500, taking place in Cusco, Peru. Pray that during these five days of worship, learning and fellowship, Anabaptists will experience renewed inspiration to carry their rich spiritual legacy into current contexts.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for WDC congregations observing Anabaptism at 500 (the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Anabaptist movement in 1525) through special events and celebrations during the coming year, and pray for faithfulness in our commitments to follow Jesus as Anabaptist / Mennonite Christians now and in the future.

January 12, 2025 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
JANUARY 12, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

You are encouraged to stay at home again this Sunday. We will be streaming the service in the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m., and we recommend you watch from home. If you come to the church, parking and the entryways will still be icy and snowy, you put yourself at a high risk of falling. Parking will especially be limited as snow drifts impede access to the church from the south, west, and north. The east parking lot, though still slick, will have some drop-off access to the northeast and southeast entryways.

The Service of Remembrance will be held and live streamed at 4:00 in the afternoon. Exercise the same caution with that service.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter,
[not so] long, long ago.
  Christina Rossetti
–
Nathan Koontz (he, him)
Co-Pastor
Bethel College Mennonite Church

A note from Monica Lichti – Thank you to Kevin Neufeld for working really hard to remove lots of snow and ice from the east parking lot and church sidewalks. Also thanks to Marlin Lichti for shoveling entrances and throwing down ice melt!

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 12, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music– Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer–John Sheriff

*Hymn–Be Thou My Vision– VT 549

Children’s Conversation– Kathy Stucky

Worship Music–Country Dance (C.M. von Weber)– Rebecca Schloneger and Will Wiebe-Friesen

Scripture Reading–John 1:1-5; Proverbs 8:22-36– Richard Friesen

*Hymn–In the Beginning–VT 270

Sermon–Sophia Christ–Nathan Koontz

*Hymn–Praise to the Living God–VT 204

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn–O God, Our Help in Ages Past–VT 203

*Benediction

Postlude

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual—Francis Toews

The Week at BCMC: January 12—19, 2025
Sunday, January 12, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/_uUj8rcts7Y?feature=share

4 p.m. Service of Remembrance in the Sanctuary
YouTube Link for Service of Remembrance:
https://youtube.com/live/5-CgsEfm7BY?feature=share
For the Service of Remembrance bulletin press here

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, January 16, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
Sunday, January 19, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

The congregation is invited to enjoy a piece of cake in the Gathering Space during fellowship time today, January 12, to help Glen and Karen Ediger celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, which was December 28th.

BCMC Offering for Dec. 29: Gen. Fund $10,567.74; Plant Fund $50; Gen Fund 2025 $2000; Flower Fund $20; Kitchen Fund $14.01; Solar Fund $2,000; Dotty Janzen Mem. $103; Women’s Fellowship $581.

We offer sympathy to Nathan Kaufman and family on the death of Nathan’s wife, Jill Kaufman. Jill died Dec. 27 at Kidron Bethel Village. The memorial service was held on January 2 at Kidron Hall, Kidron Bethel Village, and may be viewed at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/@KidronBethelVillage/streams

Greetings!
I am looking for volunteers who would be willing to provide a morning snack for our youth on Sunday mornings. Items could be, but not limited to, cinnamon rolls, fruit, cookies, etc. We generally have 4-7 young persons participate in Sunday School and would be gracious for yummy treats before their lessons starts. If you are able to volunteer, please email me at jill@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org.

There will be a congregational meeting on Sun., Jan. 26, during the Sunday School hour in the sanctuary. The meeting will be available through streaming options. An agenda will be available in the near future. The following items will be included on the agenda: The Church Board recommends the approval of Melanie Mueller to the Witness Commission and approval of the 2025 BCMC Budget.

Changes for your BCMC Directory
· Al and Sue Penner no longer have a land-line. Add Sue’s cell phone: 620-727-0941
· Omar Voran’s new address in Wichita: Cedarhurst Senior Living, 11820 W. 29th Street N, #14, Wichita, KS 67205

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· January 13, 10:30 a.m.: Leona Kaufman’s memorial service at Eden
Mennonite Church, 401 18th Ave., Moundridge. Zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88103194061?
pwd=pMzTgraQS8KPtIOZldMYMtX6iqZ6Go.1
Meeting ID: 881 0319 4061
Passcode: 576696
January 20, 11 a.m.: Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen’s memorial service at BCMC
· Helen Paul’s memorial service is pending (Helen died Dec. 25, 2024)

If you are interested in becoming a member, or transferring membership, or learning more about membership at BCMC, please contact Elizabeth Schmidt, Pastor for Congregational Care. She will be happy to visit with you!

The Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus is getting organized for our 2025 season. Those who sang last year should have received information from Aaron Stucky (stuckya2003@yahoo.com). For those who would like to join this year please contact Aaron or myself, Joe Peters 316-288-7031 or joep67117@gmail.com or join us at our first rehearsal on January 26. We sing so others may live.

Volunteer at New Hope Shelter: BCMC is part of a 24-congregation network providing volunteer support for evening shifts at New Hope Shelter. About five weeks per year, we carry in several meals for 25-30 people and have two volunteers stay through the evening to support a staff person. As volunteers come and go, we can always use more help to cover this commitment. If you could help occasionally by contributing food for a meal or spending an evening at the shelter, please email Cynthia Linscheid at cdlin319@gmail.com. New Hope Shelter serves homeless men, women, and children from Harvey, Butler, Marion, and McPherson counties. Thanks to all who have volunteered their time and service at New Hope, either recently or in the past!

Volunteers needed at Rocky Mountain! Camp needs assistance with Foodservice/Housekeeping for Jr and Sr High Snow Camps, Jan. 24-26 and Feb. 14-16. Please visit the camp website at rmmc.org and follow the link to the volunteer information and sign up to join us.

Register now for the 500 Years of Anabaptism & Swiss Alps Tour, May 21-31, 2025. Sites: The Swiss Alps, Swiss Mennonite sites, & the 500 Year Celebration in Zurich on May 29. Preview the tour at www.tourwithweldon.com. For information & registration details contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com or 402-202-9276

Peace Connections is hosting a Bridges Out of Poverty Training Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. This training experience is a great way to invest in your community and expand resources, to help individuals understand the impacts of poverty. This FREE training will explore the root causes of poverty, increase personal understanding and identify ways to reduce barriers between each other. For more information or to sign up for this two-part training, please visit www.peaceconnections.org

Bethel College Announcements
· Sun., Jan. 12: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program, “A Mennonite Sojourn in Central Asia, 1880-1935,” with historian John Sharp, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium.
· Mon., Jan. 20: Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, with local pastor (retired) and community leader Larry Lee.
· Sat., Jan. 25: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “At Home on the Range,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. Featuring food trucks, exhibits and activities indoors and out, and much more. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

New Bluestem U lifelong learning courses for winter and spring 2025 are now open for registration. Courses are available for individuals age 55 and better. This semester’s offerings include STEAM, theatre, astronomy, bird watching and a free author’s series. See more information and registration at bluestemu.org. Bluestem U is a lifelong learning program of Bluestem Communities in partnership with Bethel College and Hesston College.

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is hosting a 75th Anniversary Annual Celebration in Wichita this February 14-15. As part of the celebration, MDS will be hosting a volleyball tournament and cornhole tournament! The tournaments will be held Sat., Feb. 15 at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita. The cornhole tournament is at 1 p.m. and the volleyball tournament is from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. They are looking for local teams or individuals to join the fun! Everyone is invited! If you are interested in registering a team or as an individual, please let Kaelan Swartley at kswartley@mds.org know by January 27. If you are looking to form or join a team with others from Western District Conference, contact the WDC office at wdc@mennowdc.org and we can connect you with others who may be interested.
Volunteers are needed to help with meals (meals are free for volunteers), welcome and hospitality, driving shuttle vans between hotels and church, and helping with meeting room preparation. Please contact Ada Schmidt-Tieszen at 316 842-9751 or adast@bethelks.edu for more information or sign up at the back of the sanctuary on Sunday, January 12. Thanks!

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Registration: $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available. REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV

Hesston College Music Department will host a program called Anabaptism at Five Hundred: Hymn Festival Sun., Jan. 19, 3 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church. The Hymn Festival coincides with the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist adult baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. This event will also celebrate the release of the Anabaptist Community Bible. The public is invited to this community wide celebration that involves singers from surrounding churches, as well as audience participation in the singing of hymns, led by Russell Adrian and Karen Unruh. The core of the program will be historical narrative by Ken Rodgers tracing important hymns and texts throughout the past five centuries.

Anabaptism at 500! This year, Anabaptists around the world are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist baptism on January 21, 1525. As part of this world-wide celebration, MennoMedia has published the Anabaptist Community Bible, which two different BCMC Sunday School classes contributed to. You can find a copy in our church library. And if you’d like to read through the Bible in 2025, you can find a reading chart in a BCMC email. Our primary time for congregational celebration will be our worship service on January 26. BCMC will sing 16th century/Anabaptist hymns, hear reflections by two members, see a banner, and pray for wisdom as we observe this anniversary. On February 2, Dale Schrag will preach as we continue to mark Anabaptism 500.

MC USA Climate Justice | Zoom book study
Join MC USA in imagining a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our planet by participating in an online book study of the compelling and timely book, “So We and Our Children May Live” by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler. In five sessions (Jan. 16 through Feb.13, 2025), we will engage in discussions in both large and small groups, interact with the authors, and explore how we – and our communities – are called to contribute to creating a more just and vibrant world. Register on-line today!

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements

Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Camp Mennoscah Hoodies available for ordering! Click here to order online (https://forms.gle/QmPwMxrxD8ii9tRH6) or contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org. The camp sign logo will be on the chest. Youth sizes are $40. Adult sizes S – XL are $40 and sizes 2XL – 4XL are $45. Colors can be found in the ordering form. Youth colors do not match adult colors exactly due to color availability. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 with questions. Ordering closes January 20. We need a minimum of 15 hoodies ordered to proceed. Available ONLY through this online order.

Other events and happenings:

Thank you for your generosity over the holiday season! Your gifts, prayers, and service to support Camp Mennoscah’s ministry are much appreciated. We’re a bit behind on getting receipts and thank yous sent, but you are not forgotten. Thank you oh so muchly!
The application for 2025 Summer Staff is open.Staff positions are needed for nature, office, music, lifeguards, crafts and grounds/maintenance. Further information available on the Camp Mennoscah webpage under Programs/Summer Youth Camps or contact 620-297-3290.
The 2025 Summer Youth Camp Schedule is available. See online at campmennoscah.org or attached for the (corrected) schedule. There has been a change in age groups for the camps. There are two Junior Camps for those going into grades 6, 7 and 8 in the fall of 2025. There is one Junior High Camp for grades 8 and 9. Other age groups remain the same. Registration will open in February 2025. The theme for the 2025 summer is Another Way, looking at how Jesus invites us to re-imagine who we are and to live in another way.For Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here

For Mennonite Central Committee “The Great Winter Warm-Up” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Registration is open for MC USA’s Hope for the Future conference, Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2025, at Goshen (Indiana) College. This year’s unique event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Damascus Road Anti-racism Process and its pivotal role in the Anabaptist commitment to justice and reconciliation. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/30-damascus Register here: mennoniteusa.org/hftf-2025-register View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/hff-25-registration-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/hff-25-registration-slide

On January 14, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, join Sarah Bixler, associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and host, Michael Danner, associate executive director for Church Vitality at MC USA, for a presentational webinar titled, “Mindsight: Compassionate Pastoral Attention to Self and Others.” Learn more and register here: mennoniteusa.org/webinar/mindsight-ems

Beginning on January 18, 2025 the Anabaptism at 500 Read-a-thon will be available to stream online and will conclude on January 21, 2025, with a live-streamed worship/celebration in Goshen, Indiana (USA) as we read together the final passage from Revelations and celebrate the launch of the Anabaptist Community Bible. Tune in to the MennoMedia (https://www.facebook.com/MennoMedia) and Anabaptism at 500 (https://www.facebook.com/Anabaptismat500) Facebook pages to watch the livestream!

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network praises God for the 29 SOOP volunteers serving in Arizona and Florida this month. Pray that these SOOPers will be a blessing to vulnerable populations, as they serve between two weeks and four months.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for congregations that are hosting visits from listening teams during the coming months as part of the WDC Listening Process, that they would be blessed through sharing and conversation together about how God is at work in their community and how WDC can support their congregational ministry.

January 5, 2025 worship service and announcements

Weather Watch for this Sunday – January 5
We in the church office, and our Church Board Moderator/Chair, Brad Kohlman, are watching the weather reports for this coming Sunday. Be sure to check your email Saturday afternoon to see if there are any decisions regarding the Sunday morning service and the Sunday afternoon service of remembrance.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
JANUARY 5, 2025

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 5, 2025
Epiphany

Land Acknowledgement—John Waltner

Centering Music—We Three Kings (arr. Diane Bish)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Christ Candle Lighting

Welcome & Prayer—John Waltner

*Hymn—Arise Your Light Is Come! —VT 273

Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky

*Hymn—The First Noel, the Angel Did Say—VT 250

Scripture Reading—Matthew 2:1-15—Ron Sawatsky

Sermon—Small Steps—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—Hark! the Herald Angels Sing—VT 247

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Joy to the World—VT 240

*Benediction

Postlude— Nun ist sie erschienen (arr. Steve Vincent)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Land Acknowledgement compiled from words by Mark Charles and VT #878
As we do on the first Sunday of each month,
  we acknowledge that we worship
  on the land of the Kanza, Osage, and Wichita.
We thank them for their care and respect for this land
  and acknowledge the injustice of their forced removal.
We ask the Spirit to heal our histories
  and find new paths of right relationships with them
  and all of creation.

GOING BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Last month the Repair Coalition launched their Rematriation project: the Landback Fund. You can watch the recording of the introductory webinar on YouTube Channel here. During the webinar Coalition leaders told the story of how this fund came to be, how you can participate, and invited audience questions.

If you have specific questions about the fund, what to contribute, or about rematriation in your context, we invite you to attend a Landback Coffee Hour!Join us by Zoom on the first Monday of each month at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.Register for Landback Coffee Hour

The Week at BCMC: January 5—12, 2025
Sunday, January 5, 2025—Epiphany
9:30 a.m. Worship — 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/zJfCtRmpoOI?feature=share

4 p.m. Service of Remembrance in the Sanctuary
YouTube Link for Service of Remembrance:
https://youtube.com/live/5-CgsEfm7BY?feature=share

Wednesday, January 8, 2025
6:30 p.m.   Gifts Discernment Committee meeting in Room 14
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, January 9, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell rehearsal in Room B7
7 p.m.        Church Board meeting in Room 14
Sunday, January 12, 2025
9:30 a.m.   Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; 10:30 a.m. Faith Formation

The congregation is invited to enjoy a piece of cake in the Gathering Space
during fellowship time next Sunday, January 12, to help Glen and Karen Ediger celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, which was December 28th.

BCMC Offering for Dec. 29: Gen. Fund $10,567.74; Plant Fund $50; Gen Fund 2025 $2000; Flower Fund $20; Kitchen Fund $14.01; Solar Fund $2,000; Dotty Janzen Mem. $103; Women’s Fellowship $581.

We offer sympathy to Nathan Kaufman and family on the death of Nathan’s wife, Jill Kaufman. Jill died Dec. 27 at Kidron Bethel Village. The memorial service was held on January 2 at Kidron Hall, Kidron Bethel Village, and may be viewed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@KidronBethelVillage/streams

Upcoming Memorial Services:
· January 13, 10:30 a.m.: Leona Kaufman’s memorial service at Eden
Mennonite Church, 401 18th Ave., Moundridge
· January 20, 11 a.m.: Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen’s memorial service at BCMC
· Helen Paul’s memorial service is pending (Helen died Dec. 25, 2024)

Changes for your BCMC Directory
· Al and Sue Penner no longer have a land-line. Add Sue’s cell phone: 620-727-0941
· Omar Voran’s new address in Wichita: Cedarhurst Senior Living, 11820 W. 29th Street N, #14, Wichita, KS 67205

Bethel College Announcements
· Sun., Jan. 12: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program, “A Mennonite Sojourn in Central Asia, 1880-1935,” with historian John Sharp, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium.
· Mon., Jan. 20: Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center, with local pastor (retired) and community leader Larry Lee.
· Sat., Jan. 25: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “At Home on the Range,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. Featuring food trucks, exhibits and activities indoors and out, and much more. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

Save the Date! The 2025 WDC Annual Assembly will be Aug 8-9, 2025 at Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, KS. This means the Assembly Resolutions due date is April 10, 2025. Along with others around the globe, next year at Assembly we plan to celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism. Please add this to your calendar and plan to join us!

Volunteers needed at Rocky Mountain! Camp needs your help to assist with Foodservice/Housekeeping for our upcoming Jr and Sr High Snow Camps, January 24-26 and February 14-16. Please visit the camp website at rmmc.org and follow the link to the volunteer information and sign up to join us.

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is host to Colorado Roots Music Camp I (June 1-7, 2025) and Camp II (August 10-16, 2025). We are happy to announce the instructors and classes for the 2025 camps have been selected and are listed on the website. Our instructors are some of the top players in the nation, but they were chosen because they’re known by peers and students as great instructors for all levels. For more information and registration, visit the camp website at rmmc.org.

Mennonite Mission Network invites you to join a Just Peace Pilgrimage this spring. Embark on one of these life-changing learning experiences:
· United States Civil Rights Pilgrimage — Explore the history, significance, and ongoing implications of the civil rights movement in the United States. Young adults are invited to join Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director, for an enlightening journey. To foster dialog and understanding you are invited to join this pilgrimage with a partner of a different race.
· Christ at the Borders (Calais, France) — Thousands of people migrate to Calais in hopes of crossing the English Channel and entering the United Kingdom to find a better life. Meet those walking alongside the vulnerable who search for a peaceful home and the travelers themselves.
· Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Yakima, Washington) — Led by Sarah Augustine. Become better acquainted with Indigenous Peoples, their connection to the land upon which we live, and the consequences of settler colonial history.
· For more information and to sign up, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace or contact Stephanie Weaver: stephaniew@mennonitemission.net

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15, 2025. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Early Bird registration (until Jan. 3): $300 per participant.
Regular registration (after Jan. 3): $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV

Hesston College Music Department will host a program called Anabaptism at Five Hundred: Hymn Festival Sun., Jan. 19, 2025, 3 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church. The Hymn Festival coincides with the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist adult baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. This event will also celebrate the release of the Anabaptist Community Bible. The public is invited to this community wide celebration that involves singers from surrounding churches, as well as audience participation in the singing of hymns, led by Russell Adrian and Karen Unruh. The core of the program will be historical narrative by Ken Rodgers tracing important hymns and texts throughout the past five centuries.

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

For Mennonite World Conference “Courier” press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Registration for Mennonite Church USA’s Follow Jesus ’25 convention will open Jan. 6, 2025, for early-bird pricing. The denomination’s biennial faith formation gathering will take place at Koury Convention Center, in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8-12, 2025. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/registration-jan6 Register here: convention.mennoniteusa.org/ View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-slide

Join MC USA’s Climate Justice Coordinator Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler in imagining a sustainable future for ourselves, our children, and our planet by participating in an online book study of the compelling and timely book, “So We and Our Children May Live” by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler. Drawing from Scripture, science, Indigenous wisdom, and personal stories, the authors invite us to open our hearts and our culture to deep, Spirit-led transformation. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/climate-justice-book-study

Menno Snapshots

In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, Michael Danner considers what it means to live and interact with the government as Anabaptist followers of Jesus. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/every-4-years

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Nigeria Mennonite Church and the Nigeria Anabaptist Peace Center, as they work for peaceful communities in their multi-cultural context, where Muslim-Christian relations are often challenging.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for the faithful prayers, financial gifts and participation of WDC members in supporting conference and congregational ministries this past year, and pray for generous contributions to WDC as the conference completes its fiscal year in January.

December 29, 2024 worship service and announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
DECEMBER 29, 2024
The worship service begins this Sunday at 10 a.m. Bring Christmas goodies to share after the service. No Sunday School this Sunday.

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

To livestream the worship service:
On Sunday morning, around 9:45 a.m., (worship on December 29 begins at 10 a.m. — No Sunday school this Sunday), go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org and click the green button labeled LIVE STREAM on the right side of the screen, which will take you to the worship service. If you get a message in the black box that the video is unavailable, click the gray box below that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. Anytime after the service concludes, you can watch a recording of the service at your convenience by clicking the same green LIVE STREAM button. Again, you will probably have to go to the gray box that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. That will transfer you to the BCMC YouTube Channel. You will have to click on the tab “Videos” to see all of the BCMC videos. Click the red button to see the bulletin/order of service.
OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/WUCNfHyHJmE?feature=share

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 29, 2024
First Sunday After Christmas

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Verlene Garber

Welcome & Prayer—Darlene Dick

*Hymn—O Come, All Ye Faithful—VT 241

Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash

*Hymn—Good Christian Friends, Rejoice—VT 261

Scripture Reading—Luke 2:1-7—Brad and Lincoln Kohlman

*Hymn—Still, Still, Still—VT 264

Scripture Reading—Luke 2:8-20—Brad and Lincoln Kohlman

*Hymn—Angels, from the Realms of Glory—VT 265

Reflection—Birth Plan—Joanna Harader

*Hymn—Love Came Down at Christmas—VT 255

Prayers of God’s People—Darlene Dick

*Hymn—Go Tell It on the Mountain—VT 252

*Benediction

Postlude—Verlene Garber

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Verlene Garber
Audio visual—Francis Toews

The Week at BCMC: December 29, 2024—January 5, 2025
Sunday, December 29, 2024—First Sunday After Christmas
10 a.m. Worship followed by Christmas goodies, treats, and snacks in the
Gathering Place—No Sunday School
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/WUCNfHyHJmE?feature=share

The church office will also be closed December 30 and 31.
9:30 a.m. January 5, 2025—Epiphany Sunday — Sermon by Nathan Koontz
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
Service of Remembrance
As we are in the holiday season that brings joy with the promise of new life and love birthed into our world, there is also grief as we miss those who have passed from this world in 2024. In order to recognize and mourn the loss of our loved ones from 2024, Bethel College Mennonite Church is hosting a Service of Remembrance on January 5, 2025 at 4 p.m., in the BCMC sanctuary.

Pastor Joanna Harader will be on vacation from December 30, 2024 to January 13, 2025.

We offer sympathy to the family of Leona Kaufman. Leona died Dec. 24 at Pine Village, Moundridge. Services are pending.

We offer sympathy to the family of Helen Pauls. Helen died Dec. 25 at Kidron Bethel Village.

The memorial service for Dorothea (Dotty) Janzen will be Jan. 20, 2025, 11 a.m. at BCMC.

BCMC Offering for Dec. 22: Gen. Fund $13,947; Caring Fund $200; Kitchen Fund $5; Solar Fund $1,000; Kurt Friesen Memorial (for Organ Fund) $5,000.

Mark your Calendars! “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be Feb. 23 for the noon meal with sign-up for hosts and guests on Jan. 19 and 26. Sponsored by Hospitality Commission.

Mennonite Mission Network invites you to join a Just Peace Pilgrimage this spring. Embark on one of these life-changing learning experiences:
· United States Civil Rights Pilgrimage — Explore the history, significance, and ongoing implications of the civil rights movement in the United States.
Young adults are invited to join Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director, for an enlightening journey. To foster dialog and understanding you are invited to join this pilgrimage with a partner of a different race.
· Christ at the Borders (Calais, France) — Thousands of people migrate to Calais in hopes of crossing the English Channel and entering the United Kingdom to find a better life. Meet those walking alongside the vulnerable who search for a peaceful home and the travelers themselves.
· Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Yakima, Washington) — Led by Sarah Augustine. Become better acquainted with Indigenous Peoples, their connection to the land upon which we live, and the consequences of settler colonial history.
· For more information and to sign up, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace
or contact Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net.

Western District Conference seeks a half-time Program Director for WDC’s Kids Meet Christ (KMC) worship and faith formation initiative, beginning Feb. 1, 2025. This program is made possible through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, designed to help congregations more fully and intentionally engage children in intergenerational corporate worship and prayer practices. The KMC Program Director will serve as a member of the WDC staff, collaborating with other staff and the Resource Commission to implement the KMC initiative over the 5-year grant period. For position description and application form, see https://mennowdc.org/employment/. Interested applicants please submit application form and letter of interest to the Conference Minister at heidirk@mennowdc.org.

Kauffman Museum invites you to visit during the holidays. The museum is closed Mondays, New Year’s Day; open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. New Year’s Eve; open regular hours Thurs.-Sun. (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. weekends). The current special exhibit is “Unlocking the Past: Immigrant Artifacts and the Stories They Tell.” Permanent exhibits “Of Land and People,” “Mirror of the Martyrs” and “Mennonite Immigrant Furniture.” The museum store is also open during those hours, with books, games, art and other gift items (including from Ten Thousand Villages) for sale; see https://www.kauffmanmuseum.org/museum-store

New Bluestem U lifelong learning courses for winter and spring 2025 are now open for registration. Courses are available for individuals age 55 and better. This semester’s offerings include STEAM, theatre, astronomy, bird watching and a free author’s series. See more information and registration at bluestemu.org. Bluestem U is a lifelong learning program of Bluestem Communities in partnership with Bethel College and Hesston College.

Volunteers needed at Rocky Mountain! Camp needs your help to assist with Foodservice/Housekeeping for our upcoming Jr and Sr High Snow Camps, January 24-26 and February 14-16. Please visit the camp website at rmmc.org and follow the link to the volunteer information and sign up to join us.

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is host to Colorado Roots Music Camp I (June 1-7, 2025) and Camp II (August 10-16, 2025). We are happy to announce the instructors and classes for the 2025 camps have been selected and are listed on the website. Our instructors are some of the top players in the nation, but they were chosen because they’re known by peers and students as great instructors for all levels. For more information and registration, visit the camp website at rmmc.org.

Western District Conference (MC USA) Israel-Palestine Task Force invites you to a book discussion group Feb. 25, 7 p.m. CST held on Zoom. We will be reading Apeirogon by Colum McCann, an award winning author who writes a book of tiny chapters, each one a breath, a feeling, a story. An apeirogon is a polygon with an observably infinite number of sides. The book is based on the real life experiences of two friends, an Israeli who opposes the occupation and a Palestinian who studies the Holocaust. They meet in a parent grief support group, as both have tragically lost their daughters. Their stories and their peace work buoy the heart as the book goes on a journey through love, loss, reflection, and hope.
As you read, note the connections between the stories and the theme of ending the occupation in Palestine. To register, email wdc@mennowdc.org, and a Zoom link will be sent out.

Hesston College Music Department will host a program called Anabaptism at Five Hundred: Hymn Festival Sun., Jan. 19, 2025, 3 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church. The Hymn Festival coincides with the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist adult baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. This event will also celebrate the release of the Anabaptist Community Bible. The public is invited to this community wide celebration that involves singers from surrounding churches, as well as audience participation in the singing of hymns, led by Russell Adrian and Karen Unruh. The core of the program will be historical narrative by Ken Rodgers tracing important hymns and texts throughout the past five centuries.

Bethel College Announcements
Sat., Jan. 4 : Kauffman Museum bird walk, 8 a.m. start time in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets (2801 N. Main St., North Newton 67117). Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail.
Sun., Jan. 12: Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program, “A Mennonite Sojourn in Central Asia, 1880-1935,” with historian John Sharp, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium.
Mon., Jan. 20: Bethel College’s annual celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, 7 p.m., with local pastor (retired) and community leader Larry Lee; Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
Sat., Jan. 25: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “At Home on the Range,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

From the Mennonite World Conference press here
Merry Christmas from Mennonite Church USA press here
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
From Mennonite Mission Network “News from around the World” press here

Dear Bethel College Mennonite,“If we are silent, then these stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). Are you a young adult concerned about the global threats of climate change and forced migration, the groanings of Creation and the shouting out of stones, and eager to join a collective cry for positive change? The Stones cry out Peace Camp from March 10-15, 2025, may be for you! MCC Peace Camps are one-week, hands-on learning experiences for young adults to build community together, experience personal transformation and apply Anabaptist foundations of peace and justice to real world issues. As climate change and other environmental pressures create difficult living conditions, more and more people are forced to leave their homes. The Stones cry out Peace Camp will grapple with ways to address the two intersecting issues of climate and migration. Together, participants will delve into alternative visions for a society rooted in hospitality and share these powerful messages in person with members of Congress. The Stones cry out Peace Camp will take place at the MCC Welcoming Place in Akron, Pennsylvania, a beautiful and restful area that intentionally emphasizes ecological restoration. Activities will include: Group exercises and discussionsNature-based experiences and “church in the wild”Visits with local organizationsA mini-advocacy training, drawing from Biblical stories of speaking truth in love to powerA day trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate to members of Congress!

MCC Peace Camps are one way to encourage and support the next generation of the Church to live out an active faith as peacemakers. Young adults ages 18-30 are invited to apply. MCC covers all costs of travel, lodging and meals beyond the $250 registration fee. We encourage churches, schools, families and friends to support participants in the registration fee where possible. This is an opportunity not to be missed, so tap someone on the shoulder or come join yourself! In peace, Nathan Toews
Peace Education Coordinator
MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries

Announcements from Mennonite Church USA
Save the Date for Follow Jesus 25! See you July 8-12, 2025 in North Carolina. Watch the video here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-25-video

Menno Snapshots

While reflecting on her job description as the conference minister for Mountain States Mennonite Conference, Amy Zimbelman came up with a song about some of her favorite things to answer the question “So what do you … do?” Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-msmc

Lynette McIntosh-Madrigal, a member of Mennonite Church USA’s Women in Leadership Steering Committee, shares how she has experienced conflict transformation among inner-city youth in Fresno, California. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/conflict-in-youth-ministry

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Alfonsina and José Oyanguren, who are engaged in multiple ministries, including teaching and accompanying Toba-Qom communities in Argentina’s Chaco region. Pray that the Oyangurens will continue to be God’s agents for transformation and that our Toba-Qom brothers and sisters will be able to live ever more fully into God’s abundant life.

Western District Conference Prayer Request: As we enter the New Year, we pray for peace and joy for our loved ones and neighbors. May Christ’s presence guide their lives with love and hope. We also remember our brothers and sisters around the world, trusting in God’s love to unite us as we step into a new season of grace and renewal. -WDC Church Planting Commission

December 22, 2024 Worship Service & Announcements

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
DECEMBER 22, 2024 — FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.

To livestream the worship service:
On Sunday morning, around 9:00 a.m., (preludes during Advent begin at 9:15 a.m.) go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org and click the green button labeled LIVE STREAM on the right side of the screen, which will take you to the worship service. If you get a message in the black box that the video is unavailable, click the gray box below that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. Anytime after the service concludes, you can watch a recording of the service at your convenience by clicking the same green LIVE STREAM button. Again, you will probably have to go to the gray box that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. That will transfer you to the BCMC YouTube Channel. You will have to click on the tab “Videos” to see all of the BCMC videos. Click the red button to see the bulletin/order of service.
OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/HP6Jtv8dOLI?feature=share

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 22, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Prelude Music—The First Noel–Abby and Caleb Koontz
The Avalanche–Emerson Gering
O Little Town of Bethlehem, White Christmas, Somewhere in My Memory– Lincoln Kohlman, saxophone
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy–Olivia and Verlene Garber
We Three Kings–Miles Brubacher

Advent Candle Lighting—Dick and Barb Koontz and grandchildren

Scripture Reading—Luke 1:30-35
    Litany:
We gather in holy space to hear holy words:
Do not be afraid.

We gather in holy time to hear a holy promise:
Mary’s son will reign forever.

We gather in this holy moment to sense the holy in our midst:
Let the Holy Spirit come upon us.
Let the power of the Most High overshadow us.

Let us worship the Holy One with anticipation and joy

Lighting the candle of Power

Welcome & Prayer—Joanna Harader

*Hymn—Joy to the World—VT 240

Worship Music—Der Friedenfurst (CE Leslie)
Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Prayers of God’s People—Joanna Harader

*Hymn–There is a Line of Women—VT 546

Intergenerational Story-Telling
Scene 1–Mary’s Home
*Hymn—To Us a Child of Hope Is Born—VT 259

Scene 2–Elizabeth’s Home
Hymn—Magnificat— VT 97–Lucy Burch, flute
Remain seated. Children will sing through once.
Congregation joins on Canon I in a round as directed.

Scene 3–Shepherd’s Camp
Hymn—Angels We Have Heard on High—VT 249
Handbells: Faith Burch, Olivia Garber, Ethan Garber, Lincoln Kohlman,
Brett Gaeddert and Miles Brubacher

Scene 4
Hymn—Solemn Stillness, Weary Street—VT 276
Bethany Schrag, Suzanne Burch, John Mark Koontz, Simon Koontz
(The congregation is invited to join on the chorus after verses 2 & 3)

Litany Benediction
Congregational response: “We are wonders, blessed wonders.”

Postlude—Toccata on Joy to the World (Brenda Portman)
Will Wiebe-Friesen

* You are invited to stand
VT = Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Sunday’s anthem, “Der Friedensfürst,” is a favorite of many German-speaking Mennonite congregations, particularly those in Latin America and Canada. It was composed by an American in English (“The Prince of Peace”) and subsequently translated into German in the 1890’s. It was written in the popular style of the day and is dearly loved by those who grew up with it. The paraphrased text contains these words: Listen, the angel choirs are singing, to you oh mighty Prince of Peace! To us a child is born today, and his glory fills the wide world. And he is called wonderful, the Prince of peace. Glory to God in the highest, and peace—God’s peace—on earth. Sing Hosanna! Amen.

Thank you to all the participants in the Story-Telling!
Maisie Brubacher, Miles Brubacher, Faith Burch, Lucy Burch, Suzanne Burch, Payne Claassen, El-jah Coffer, Brett Gaeddert, Collin Gaeddert, Ethan Garber, Olivia Garber, Emma Gering, Emerson Gering, Adah Hodge, Tim Hodge,
Brad Kohlman, Lawrence Kohlman, Lincoln Kohlman, Ani Koontz, John Koontz, Naomi Koontz, Simon Koontz, Marlin Lichti, Kevin Neufeld, Adam Oswald,
Mara Oswald, Adam Robb, Gabby Robb, Jake Robb, Florence Schloneger,
Lily Schloneger, Dale Schrag, Bethany Schrag, Tim Schrag, Jeanette Stucky,
Steve Stucky, Addie Zerger

Thanks to others assisting: Verlene Garber, Deb Gering, Mary Ellen Hodge,
Jill Robb.

And a special thank you to Judy Harder, our producer and director!!

The Week at BCMC: December 22—29, 2024
Sunday, December 22, 2024—Advent 4
9:15 a.m. Prelude     9:30 a.m. Worship
10:30 a.m. Faith Formation
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/HP6Jtv8dOLI?feature=share

Activity bags are available for our littles during the church service! The 10 bags are filled with a coloring book/page, crayons, and a library book. After using the activity bag, please make sure all the supplies are in the bag and hang on the hook at the back of the sanctuary. Library books will be switched out on a monthly basis.   Jill, Faith Formation Coordinator

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2024—CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
4:30 p.m.    Christmas Eve Community Worship in the Sanctuary
11 p.m.       Lessons and Carols Worship in the Sanctuary

Wednesday, December 25, 2024—Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 29, 2024—Christmas Sunday
10 a.m. Worship (note the later beginning time for the worship service)—No Sunday school—Please bring Christmas goodies or snacks to share after the worship service!

The Church office and building will be closed on Christmas Day. The church office and building will also be closed December 26, 27, 30, and 31.

BCMC Offering for Dec. 15: Gen. Fund $23,735.46; Gen. Fund 2025 $10,000; Caring Fund $225; Library Reserve Fund $17; Kitchen Fund $17.

The following is a BCMC financial report of the general fund income and expenses on November 30, 2024 (91.7% of the year).
Total income $427,969 80% of budget
Total expense $454,305 85% of budget
Net income -$26,336          From BCMC Finance Committee

Join Fine Arts Class in the Chapel for Advent sessions following Pastor Joanna’s book, Expecting Emmanuel.

Service of Remembrance
As we are in the holiday season that brings joy with the promise of new life and love birthed into our world, there is also grief as we miss those who have passed from this world in 2024. In order to recognize and mourn the loss of our loved ones from 2024, Bethel College Mennonite Church is hosting a Service of Remembrance on January 5, 2025 at 4 p.m., in the BCMC sanctuary.

The Witness Commission has donated money from the excess funds we were given to use for projects beyond our walls to Max Ediger’s School for Peace in Myanmar. Max joined our church several years ago and was instrumental in the foundation of this school.

The current Library Theme is Advent/Christmas. Come on in and find ideas for Christmas activities, devotions, even fiction books set around the holidays. And, if you’re looking for a unique Christmas gift, our committee always has a Wish List. Why not consider giving a book in their honor/memory or purchase one of our puzzles for a suggested donation of $5? As always, Happy Reading/Puzzling!

Night in the Barn December 22: All are welcome to come and experience the wonder of the Christmas story through its characters, animals, lights, and sounds in an interactive walking tour and live nativity. Come and go from 5-7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 22 at PatchWork Farms (373 E. 70th, Newton). Call 620-345-6867 for more information.

Kauffman Museum invites you to visit during the holidays. The museum is closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve; open regular hours Thurs.-Sun. (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. weekends). The current special exhibit is “Unlocking the Past: Immigrant Artifacts and the Stories They Tell.” Permanent exhibits “Of Land and People,” “Mirror of the Martyrs” and “Mennonite Immigrant Furniture.” The museum store is also open during those hours, with books, games, art and other gift items (including from Ten Thousand Villages) for sale; see https://www.kauffmanmuseum.org/museum-store

Music On Site presents Amahl and the Night Visitors, a classic Christmas opera, performed live with singers from around the country. This is a story of a young boy who gives everything to the promised Child. Free admission, ticket required.
Sun., Dec. 22, 2 p.m. Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 W Maple St., Wichita
See the church bulletin board for ticket information. Or go to: https://www.musiconsite.org/2024-season (Music On Site, Inc. is a Kansas-based 501(c)(3) music production company that works to close opera’s opportunity gap across socioeconomic divisions by cultivating opera education and appreciation in K-12 students in rural communities, and advancing and promoting the careers of those pursuing a career in opera.)

Newton Community for Racial Justice will hold its annual anti-racism training Feb. 13-15, 2025. This is a date change from previous years. Training will be held at the Newton Recreation Center from Thurs. evening, Feb. 13 through Sat. afternoon, Feb. 15. Early Bird registration (until Jan. 3): $300 per participant.
Regular registration (after Jan. 3): $350 per participant. Some scholarships are available. REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/pXViB4fzH8y3u7WM7
Payment can be made online: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=%2Bd%2Fr1xrRRCaZybUyv2z%2FeAAAAZON0fyjV

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” press here
Merry Christmas greeting from Mennonite Mission Network press here
For Mennonite World Conference “Info” press here

Prairie View’s 71st Anniversary

Buy Tickets Here!

Camp Mennoscah Announcements

There has been a change in age groups for the camps. There are two Junior Camps for those going into grades 6, 7and 8 in the fall of 2025. There is one Junior High Camp for grades 8 and 9. Other age groups remain the same. Registration will open in February 2025. The theme for the 2025 summer is Another Way, looking at how Jesus invites us to re-imagine who we are and to live in another way.

Other events and happenings:

We are overwhelmed with the support given at the Verenike Casserole meal this past Saturday! Thank you to everyone who attended and gave so generously, the people who helped with preparations and planning, and those who were unable to attend but held Camp Mennoscah in their thoughts and prayers!
If you missed the first camper story from the summer staff this past summer, you can find it on the Camp Mennoscah website. These stories tell of the faith formation and relationship building–and fun!–that happens. Keep your eyes out for the next story! (Feeling led to give a gift or volunteer? Give online or contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for assistance.)
Not-here-for-Christmas hoodies! Camp Mennoscah will be selling hoodies available early 2025 by order only. An online order form will be available soon.
Still projects left to do on the HVAC renovation at the Retreat Center! Work groups can be of any size (within reason). Contact Isaac at 316-217-5626 or Olivia at 316-293-7313 to set up a time for you or your group. If you are interested in working on a weekend, advance notice of two weeks is needed. A lack of construction skills should not keep you from helping. Willing hands and the ability to follow directions are the only requirements. (Activities for those under 18 are limited and likely not at the Retreat Center.)

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp Announcements

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is host to Colorado Roots Music Camp I (June 1-7, 2025) and Camp II (August 10-16, 2025). We are happy to announce the instructors and classes for the 2025 camps have been selected and are listed on the website. Our instructors are some of the top players in the nation, but they were chosen because they’re known by peers and students as great instructors for all levels. For more information and registration, visit the camp website at rmmc.org

From the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale
In the busyness of the next few days as we prepare for all our Christmas celebrations, let’s remember the Christmas season is a time to celebrate love, joy, and generosity by honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the light that comes into the world amidst darkness because of the birth of a tiny, special baby, God’s Son. As we celebrate, let’s also remember those that are struggling due to loss of loved one, health, and other personal matters. May we all find peace as Jesus came for all of us!

Merry Christmas, my friends! May your celebrations be joyous!
For the KMRS Christmas Letter from Jim Robb press here

Camp Mennoscah Announcements
There has been a change in age groups for the camps. There are two Junior Camps for those going into grades 6, 7and 8 in the fall of 2025. There is one Junior High Camp for grades 8 and 9. Other age groups remain the same. Registration will open in February 2025. The theme for the 2025 summer is Another Way, looking at how Jesus invites us to re-imagine who we are and to live in another way.

Other events and happenings:

We are overwhelmed with the support given at the Verenike Casserole meal this past Saturday! Thank you to everyone who attended and gave so generously, the people who helped with preparations and planning, and those who were unable to attend but held Camp Mennoscah in their thoughts and prayers!
If you missed the first camper story from the summer staff this past summer, you can find it on the Camp Mennoscah website. These stories tell of the faith formation and relationship building–and fun!–that happens. Keep your eyes out for the next story! (Feeling led to give a gift or volunteer? Give online or contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for assistance.)
Not-here-for-Christmas hoodies! Camp Mennoscah will be selling hoodies available early 2025 by order only. An online order form will be available soon.
Still projects left to do on the HVAC renovation at the Retreat Center! Work groups can be of any size (within reason). Contact Isaac at 316-217-5626 or Olivia at 316-293-7313 to set up a time for you or your group. If you are interested in working on a weekend, advance notice of two weeks is needed. A lack of construction skills should not keep you from helping. Willing hands and the ability to follow directions are the only requirements. (Activities for those under 18 are limited and likely not at the Retreat Center.)

From the Mennonite Mission Network

Greetings from Mennonite Mission Network,There are openings still available for our Just Peace Pilgrimage trips this spring and registration deadlines are approaching. Please consider using this in your bulletins.Blessings to you all this holiday season!

Mennonite Mission Network invites you to join a Just Peace Pilgrimage this spring. Embark on one of these life-changing learning experiences:United States Civil Rights Pilgrimage — Explore the history, significance, and ongoing implications of the civil rights movement in the United States.Unique opportunity: Young adults are invited to join Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director, for an enlightening journey. To foster dialog and understanding you are invited to join this pilgrimage with a partner of a different race. Christ at the Borders(Calais, France) — Thousands of people migrate to Calais in hopes of crossing the English Channel and entering the United Kingdom to find a better life. Meet those walking alongside the vulnerable who search for a peaceful home and the travelers themselves.Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples(Yakima, Washington) — Led by Sarah Augustine. Become better acquainted with Indigenous Peoples, their connection to the land upon which we live, and the consequences of settler colonial history.For more information and to sign up, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace
or contact Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net.

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive MC USA’s blogs, news and resources in one weekly email. Subscribe to PeaceMail here: mennoniteusa.org/peacemail

Menno Snapshots

A few weeks ago, Matt Pritchard, associate conference minister of emerging communities for MC USA’s Central District Conference, read “A Confession of Evangelical Conviction,” a non-partisan statement endorsed by more than 300 evangelical pastors, leaders and organizations. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/polarized-times

Olivia Krall, archives coordinator for the MC USA Archives, provides helpful archival tips for those interested in preserving their family history. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/archival-tips

Pastor Katerina Gea, a member of MC USA’s Women in Leadership Steering Committee, shares about the Community Care and Trauma Healing gatherings her church has been hosting to support Palestinian solidarity. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/healing-and-community-care

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: As we enter the week of Christmas and remember Jesus’ birth, millennia ago, in a land crushed by oppression, join Mennonite Mission Network in looking for the surprising ways that the Prince of Peace is being born in our own fractured communities today. Let us continue to pray and act in ways that build peace.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Give thanks for all WDC congregations as they celebrate the birth of Jesus and share the good news of God’s will for peace on earth.