BCMC does a bulk order for Rejoice! the MennoMedia daily devotional magazine for those who pay the $29.50 annual subscription fee. Copies are delivered to the church each quarter and put in church mailboxes. Subscription year is Sept. 2018-Aug. 2019. To place an order for Rejoice!, remit your payment to the church office by Monday, June 10.
Make checks payable to Bethel College Mennonite Church; on check memo line write “Rejoice subscription.”
Vacation Bible School 2018 started May 29 and will conclude June 1 at BCMC from 8:45 am–11:45 am each morning. Once again, BCMC partners with New Creation Fellowship for the week. The theme of VBS 2018 is Peace Lab and is focusing on helping children become practical peacemakers in the way of Jesus.
VBS is a fun-filled week of worship, learning, and play. We’re having a great time together!
The third annual BCMC Retreat at Camp Mennoscah will be May 5 and 6! There will again be all kinds of fun, and this year, Halstead First Mennonite has been invited to join us in the fun. We’ll share worship, meals, and fellowship as we get together at Camp Mennoscah. Registration forms were in your mailbox with extra copies by the mailboxes. Contact Adam Robb with any questions. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Lent 2018
Covenant of Love
The season of Lent invites us into a time of reflection and renewal.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 14) and ending on Easter Sunday (April 1), Lent summons us into the wilderness with Jesus, as he fasts and prays and prepares for the challenges that lie ahead.
In this wilderness space, we will reflect on year B lectionary texts focused on God’s covenant of love, a covenant that draws us into relationship with God and all of God’s creation. As we hear the call to examine that which disrupts our covenant relationships with God and each other, we will also hear the call to renew our commitment to God’s ways of faithful love. May it be a time of renewal for us all.
Here are some ways you can enter the season more deeply:
Utilize the Lenten Devotional, created by SALT and provided by BCMC, centered around scripture and selected poetry by Mary Oliver (available in Gathering Place).
Participate in worship and these special services:
February 18: Lent 1
Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; I Peter 3:18-22;
Mark 1:9-15
Sermon: Dawn Yoder Harms
Music: Chancel Choir
Communion will be served (Because we are in the midst of flu season, juice will be served in individual cups.
February 25: Lent 2
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Sermon: John Tyson
Music: Chancel Choir and Junior Choir
March 4: Lent 3
Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25;
John 2:13-22
Sermon: Dawn Yoder Harms
Music: Chancel Bells
March 11: Lent 4
Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10;
John 3:14-21
Sermon: Dawn Yoder Harms
Music: Cherub Choir; Gabriel’s Trumpets
March 18: Lent 5
Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10;
John 12:20-33
Sermon: John Tyson
Music: Chancel Choir
+ Lent hymn sing in the Sunday School hour
March 25: Palm/Passion Sunday
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; John 12:12-16; Philippians 2:5-11;
Sermon: Dawn Yoder Harms
Music: Chancel Bells
March 29: 7 pm Maundy Thursday and Stations of the Cross service
Location to be determined
April 1: Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;
I Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8
7 am Sunrise Service led by the Senior High School Youth Group at the Prouty Home,
332 N. Hoover Road, Newton
Worship Service will begin at 10 am
Sermon: John Tyson
Music: Chancel Choir, Junior Choir, Cherub Choir
No Sunday School
Join the BCMC community this Wednesday, February 14, for an Ash Wednesday Service, in the sanctuary, at 7:15 pm.
Wednesday night suppers continue this Wednesday, February 14, 6 pm in Fellowship Hall.
Join with others from the BCMC church community for food, fellowship and conversation.
Invite a new friend and meet long-time friends for the meal together in Fellowship Hall.
From 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. the meal serving line will be open for you to get your food, be seated and begin eating. There will be one basket at the food line to receive donations for supper. Suggested donation is $5 per person or $15 per family. (Proceeds above food expenses go to the Kitchen Fund for supplies and future improvements). Please bring your own table service.
At 6:20 p.m. there will a welcome, announcements and a meal blessing.
From 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. there will be time for eating, conversation and fellowship, and clean-up. There are no programs planned for this Spring session of suppers. Come to fellowship and relax. Feel free to bring a board game or card game to play with others afterwards.
Supper Menus:
Feb. 7 Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn,
cake with ice cream
Served by Mosaic Class
Feb. 14 Baked ziti, salad, decadent chocolate
cheesecake
Served by Sojourners & Catacombs Classes
Feb. 21 Sweet and sour chicken, rice, stir fry vegetables,
Rice Krispie bars
Served by Open Circle & Issues & Christianity
Feb. 28 Chili, carrots and celery, cinnamon rolls
Served by Agape Class
March 7 Bacon and Swiss quiche, spinach and strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing, cookies
Served by the Senior High Youth Group
March 14 Homemade noodles and chicken, peas, dessert buckle
Served by Bible Study and Fine Arts Classes
March 21 Ham balls, au gratin potatoes, green beans,
apple crisp
Served by Seekers & Fellowship Classes
February 25 has been designated as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” Sunday! Please consider signing up as either a host or guest to participate in a fun event to become better acquainted w
ith fellow church attendees. Everyone contributes to the meal, but the goal is to get to know each other a little better—not a color coordinated meal. Sign up will begin Feb. 4 at the back of the sanctuary and continue on Feb. 11. Food assignments will be in your church box on Feb. 18. February 25 will be “reveal day” and you will finally find out where you are going for Sunday noon dinner. Let’s all step outside the box and sign up for a new adventure!
~ The Hospitality Commission
Attend the congregational meeting on Jan 28 at 12:45 pm in the sanctuary. There are two important motions on the agenda: 2018 budget and The Peace Garden. The annual budget booklet with these motions will be in church boxes Jan 21. There will be a fundraising soup lunch before the meeting at 11:45 am in Fellowship Hall, prepared and served by the Senior High Youth Group.
Also on January 28, Pastor John Tyson will be ordained for congregational ministry during the Sunday morning worship service.
January 7, 2018—Epiphany: Yes! Let it be declared
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson; music by Rebecca Schloneger, violin
4 pm Candle-lighting in memory of BCMC members and friends who died in 2017 — BCMC Sanctuary
Yes! Let it Be!
Advent 2017 – Epiphany 2018
Bethel College Mennonite Church
This year our Advent worship will draw from Mennonite Church USA Advent resources, focused on the theme: Yes! Let it be! With Mary, we voice our desire to pursue God’s peace-making, justice-seeking, life-giving work around us. With Mary, we commit ourselves to be bearers of God’s radical love to the world.
Here’s what you can anticipate in the weeks ahead:
December 3, 2017—Advent 1: Let it be
Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
9:00 am Prelude by Hesston College Chamber Orchestra
9:30 am Worship with Communion, Sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; music by Chancel Choir
6:30 pm Hymn Sing to introduce the new hymnal with Bradley Kauffman,
project director and general editor for the new hymnal—BCMC Sanctuary
December 10, 2017—Advent 2: Let it be so
Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
9:00 am Prelude by Joel Boettger, Bethel College Instructor of Music
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson; music by Chancel Choir
December 17, 2017—Advent 3: Yes, let it be whole
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
9:00 am Prelude by Christopher Shaw, organ
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; music by Chancel Bells
4:00 pm Amahl and the Night Visitors presented by Music On Site, a production company of which Matthew Schloneger is a member
Free with a free-will offering taken—BCMC Sanctuary
December 24, 2017—Advent 4: Yes! Let it be now
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
9:00 am Prelude
9:30 am Children’s Christmas Program; music by Menno Ringers,
Junior Choir, and Cherub Choir
10:45 am Gathering for children during the Sunday school hour
No Sunday school
11:00 pm Candlelight service of Lessons and Carols with anthems by
Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells and congregational singing—BCMC Sanctuary
No Sunday School
*Fellowship Time on Sundays is at 10:30 am and Faith Formation at 10:50 am unless otherwise stated
December 31, 2017—Christmas: Yes, let it be new
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
9:30 am Worship with sermon by Dawn Yoder Harms; Christmas
Carol Singing
10:30 am Fellowship and coffee—bring goodies to share
No Sunday School
January 7, 2018—Epiphany: Yes! Let it be declared
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
9:30 am Worship with sermon by John Tyson
4 pm Candle-lighting in memory of BCMC members and friends who died in 2017 — BCMC Sanctuary
Pastor John Tyson will be facilitating a conversation on the book,
Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism by Drew G. I. Hart. Working at the intersections of Black and Anabaptist theology, Drew Hart is Professor of Theology at Messiah College (PA) and is a frequent speaker at Mennonite institutions. In Trouble I’ve Seen, Hart places everyday acts of racism within the larger framework of white supremacy, while offering concrete practices for churches that seek solidarity with the oppressed and are committed to racial justice. The book conversation will take place Thursdays, Dec. 7, 14, & 21 (9-10 am). Trouble I’ve Seen is available on Amazon at the price of $13.59 ($6.99 Kindle). If you want to join the conversation, please contact John Tyson!
Special events at BCMC and Bethel College: