BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
October 19, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting  

Centering Music—I Come With Joy [VT 478] (arr. D. Wagner)               
Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—God of the Bible—VT 420

Children and Youth Conversation—3rd Grade Bible Presentation— Joanna Harader and Jill Robb 

Worship Music— Followers of the Lamb (arr. Dietterich)—Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Scripture Reading—Matthew 18:15-22

*Hymn—Spirit of the Living God—VT 740

Sermon—Tax-Collectors and ‘Will-Have-Beens’—Trent Voth

*Hymn—Could It Be That God is Singing—VT 42  

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Go, My Friends, in Grace—VT 810 

*Benediction

Postlude–The Morning Trumpet (arr. D. Hustad)

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

 BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
  October 12, 2025
  World Communion & Immigration Sabbath
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Fairest Lord Jesus (Kinyon)—Chancel Bell Choir; Verlene Garber, director
 
Welcome—Dianne Epp
                                   
*Hymn—Here in This Place—VT 10
           
Children and Youth Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash
 
Worship Music—I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Dobrinski)—Chancel Bells
 
Scripture Reading—Matthew 14:13-21; 15:29-38—Bill Swartley
 
*Hymn—In Christ There Is No East or West—VT 390
                       
Sermon—The Hungry Crowds and the Compassion of Christ—Joanna Harader      
 
Communion— Nathan Koontz and Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—Seed, Scattered and Sown—VT 477
 
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Divine Parent who creates diversity,
People: Forgive us when we lack curiosity about the world beyond us and the people around us.
 
Leader: Migrant Christ who crosses borders,
People: Forgive us when we honor the boundaries you would have us transgress.
 
Leader: Holy Spirit, ever expanding and uniting,
People: Forgive us when we limit our love and compassion.
 
Leader: As we follow your path of peace, O God,
May we listen to diverse stories,
Be open to unexpected relationships,
And meet the world’s fear of the stranger with sacred compassion.
 
All: Holy One, forgive our sins and lead us in love. Amen.
 
Assurance of Pardon
Invitation to the Table
Sharing the Meal
 
Prayers of God’s People                     
 
*Hymn—Go, My Children—VT 830
 
*Benediction    
                                                  
Postlude—Mary Jo Preheim              

---

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Mary Jo Preheim
Audio visual—Ken Lamp 

  BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH

  October 5, 2025

Prelude—Symphony of Spirituals (arr. Joel Raney)—Christina Liu, piano; Will Wiebe-Friesen, organ

Christ Candle Lighting

Welcome and Land Acknowledgment— Dale Schrag

Centering Music—Cantate Domino (Monteverdi)—Chamber Singers; director Russell Adrian

Sing to the Lord a new song.

Sing and give praise to the name of the Lord.

For the Lord has done marvelous deeds

Sing and exult and praise with the harp and voice.

Call to Worship—Psalm 96—Dale Schrag

Leader: O sing to the LORD a new song;
     sing to the LORD, all the earth.
People: Sing to the LORD; bless the holy name;
     tell of God’s salvation from day to day.
Leader: Declare God’s glory among the nations
   and marvelous works among all the peoples.
People: For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
     The Holy One is to be revered above all gods.
All: Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
     tremble before God, all the earth.

*Hymn Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing— VT 7

Children and Youth Conversation—Naomi Krause and Barb Koontz

Worship Music—When the Morning Stars Together (Ferguson)—Bethel College Concert Choir

Congregation joins for verses 2 and 4

Sing Me UP to Heaven (arr. Christopher)—Woven

Scripture Reading— Matthew 13:31-33, 44-48—William Eash

*Hymn Be Thou My Vision—VT 549

(Melody only on last verse)

Sermon The Kin(g)dom of God is Like . . . What!?—Joanna Harader           

Worship  Music—Spirit (Harbor—Concert Choir

It Is Well With My Soul (arr. Harrington) Open Road

Prayers of God’s People—Dale Schrag

*Hymn—Praise God—VT 70

*Benediction

Postlude–Prelude in G Maj (BWV 550)  (JS Bach)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

---

* You are invited to stand

VT—Voices Together

Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 28, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome—Mary Ellen Hodge

*Hymn—Summoned by the God Who Made Us—VT 1

Children and Youth Conversation—Elizabeth Schmidt

Worship Music—Holly Swartzendruber and Lucy Burch

Scripture Reading—Matthew 9:16-26—Darlene Dick

*Hymn—Healer of Our Every Ill—VT 644

Sermon—Joanna Harader

Prayers of God’s People—Mary Ellen Hodge

Special Music—God, Be the Love—BCMC Ensemble

Litany of Release and Blessing for Elizabeth Schmidt—Kathy Neufeld Dunn
with BCMC leaders

*Hymn—The Lord Lift You Up—VT 832         
Those with September birthdays are welcome to come forward during this hymn to receive a birthday blessing.

*Benediction

Postlude

---

* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
                 September 21, 2025
              Peace Sunday

 
Christ Candle Lighting 
 
Centering Music–Thou True Vine That Heals the Nations–(arr. Raymond Haan)
Will Wiebe-Friesen                                            
 
Welcome & Prayer–Heather Esau Zerger
 
*Hymn–Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing–VT 359

Children and Youth Conversation– Esther Kreider Eash
 
Worship Music– Children of the Heavenly Father (arr. Robert Scholz)
Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
Scripture Reading–Matthew 5:33-48–Lauren Friesen
                        
*Hymn–How Can We Worship Caesar’s Cross–VT 308
                       
Sermon–Concerning Coercion–Nathan Koontz

*Hymn–Rain Down–VT 703
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn–For the Healing of the Nations–VT 705

*Benediction
 
Postlude–Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing (arr. J. Wayne Kerr)
 
 
*You are invited to stand   
VT—Voices Together
Audio-visual—Ben Lichti  

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
  September 14, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting 
     & lighting candles of gratitude and lament for the passing
     of Florine Eitzen– VT 773                                                                                                    

Centering Music–How Can I Keep From Singing  (Lowry/Moklebust)–Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director

Welcome–VT 884         
           Margaret Toews

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

Children and Youth Conversation–Carol Flickinger
Worship Music Selvaggio (Waugh)–Chancel Bells

Scripture Reading                            Matthew 5:1-2                     Joyce Holck
                      Matthew 5:3-12: VT 295 Congregation reads bold
                      Matthew 5:13-20 Joyce Holck

*Hymn                             Balaacoolwe (Blessed Are the Persecuted) VT 578

Sermon                           It’s Not What You Think             Joanna Harader

*Hymn                                        Beloved, God’s Chosen                            VT 164

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn                                       You Are Salt For the Earth               VT 297

*Benediction

Postlude                                     Siyahamba (Behnke)                       Verlene Garber


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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 7, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting                                                               

Centering Music–Ave Maria (Coccini)- Caleb Garber, cello; Verlene Garber, accompanist   

Welcome & Land Acknowledgment–Esther Kreider Eash

*Hymn–Gathered Here–VT 3

Children and Youth Conversation–Max Ediger

Worship Music–Let Thy Holy Presence (P. Tschesnokoff)
             Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Scripture Reading–Matthew 4:12-25–Brad Born

*Hymn--Tú has vendido a la orilla–VT 283
                      (v. 1 in English, v. 1 in Spanish, v. 2-4 as desired)

Sermon–Our Place in the Story–Joanna Harader

*Hymn–Healer of Our Every Ill–VT 644

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn–Heart with Loving Heart United–VT 813

*Benediction    

Postlude–Psalm 19 (Benedetto Marcello)         
      Will Wiebe-Friesen 

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

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.    

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
August 31, 2025

 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music–Savior of the Nations, Come, BWV 659 [VT 214] (J.S. Bach)–Will Wiebe-Friesen                                                                                            
 
Welcome–Wynn Goering
 
*Hymn–As I Went Down to the River to Pray–VT 453
 
Children and Youth Conversation–Judy Harder
 
Worship Music–Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043–(Johann Sebastian Bach, I. Vivace)        
Violinists: Daniel Colwell & Angel Garcia
Pianist: Ken Rodgers
  
Scripture Reading with hymn–Matthew 3–David Kreider
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord–VT 219–[Please sing as prompted]             
 
Sermon–Fruit Worthy of Repentance–Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn–Crashing Waters at Creation–VT 441
 
Welcoming New Members–Elizabeth Schmidt
     Introduction to Church Membership–VT 959
     New Members:  David Mathis and Jay Newton
     Membership Covenant Questions
     Welcoming New Members–VT 961
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn–Comfort, Comfort, O My People–VT 212
Those with August birthdays are welcome to come forward during this hymn to receive a birthday blessing.
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude–Prelude in G Major, BWV 550 (J.S. Bach)
 
*You are invited to stand    VT—Voices Together     Audio visual— Ken Lamp

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
August 24, 2025
Backpack Sunday

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music–Semplice (Robert Schumann)–Mary Jo Preheim

Welcome & Prayer–Adam Robb

*Hymn–Just As I Am, without One Plea–VT 560 

Children and Youth Conversation-Backpack Blessing–Jill Robb

Scripture Reading–Matthew 2:13-23–Dianne Epp

*Hymn–Jesus Entered Egypt–VT 279

Sermon–Hosting Jesus–Nathan Koontz 

*Hymn–Will You Let Me Be Your Servant–VT 778

Prayers of God’s People 

*Hymn–Go, My Friends, in Grace–VT 810

*Benediction 

Postlude– Andante (Franz Schubert)–Mary Jo Preheim

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
August 17, 2025
Bethel College New Student Sunday

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music–My Soul Cries Out [VT 412] (arr. Wiebe-Friesen)–Will Wiebe-Friesen                                                          

Welcome Brad Kohlman

*Hymn–Come, Thou Fount–VT 563

Children and Youth Conversation–Esther Koontz

Worship Music–Waitin’ for the Light to Shine (Roger Miller)                                                                           
Ben Lichti, trumpet; Suzanne Burch, guitar

Kin-dom Report–Ani Koontz

Scripture Reading–Matthew 1:18-25–Adah Hodge

*Hymn–Helpless and Hungry–VT 268

Sermon–God-With-Us–Joanna Harader

*Hymn–Joy to the World–VT 240

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn–The Lord Lift You Up–VT 832

*Benediction

Postlude–Toccata on Joy to the World (Brenda Portman) 

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

Waitin’ for the Light to Shine is from the musical Big River, based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Born to an abusive father and then taken in by seemingly pious people whom he watches mistreat enslaved persons, Huck has decided to run away and help his friend Jim escape enslavement. He laments that he has “lived in the darkness for so long,” not realizing that he himself is a bearer of the light that he seeks. — Ben Lichti

Hymn Requests this Sunday
· The Lord Lift You Up is a blessing hymn which fills my soul. I miss her very much–but love her gift of music! —Dorothy Nickel Friesen

· “I sat with a good friend while she was in a coma and dying from brain cancer. I held her hand and sang this song to her several times over four days as she passed away. Patty Shelly gave us this beautiful gift.”
   –Pam Epp

· Come Thou Fount–Jake Robb’s favorite hymn