BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
  May 11, 2025
  Fourth Sunday of Easter

Christ Candle Lighting                                                               

Centering Music–Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer  (Dale Wood) — Karen Schlabaugh                                                                                  

Welcome–Brad Kohlman

*Hymn–God of Grace and God of Glory–VT 716

Children and Youth Conversation–Nathan & Esther Koontz

Scripture Reading–Acts 9:36-43–Karen Ediger

Sermon–From the Mundane to the Miraculous–Joanna Harader

*Hymn–Healer of Our Every Ill–VT 644

Prayers of God’s People–Brad Kohlman

Welcoming New Members–Elizabeth Schmidt
New Members by Baptism (April 27, 2025): Emma Gering, Maisie Brubacher
                                                                                   Abram Wall
                 Baptism Videos
     Introduction to Church Membership–VT 959              
     New Members by Transfer: Lorin and Karen Neufeld
  Membership Covenant Questions
     Welcoming New Members–VT 961

*Hymn–For We Are Strangers No More–VT 409

Sabbatical Blessing for Pastor Nathan–Sondra Koontz and Megan Kohlman

Leader: Nathan, BCMC thanks you for postponing your sabbatical and for calmly guiding us through transitions. We celebrate your leadership, the encouragement and guidance you provide us. And now it is time for a Sabbatical.

Congregation: We acknowledge the unique challenges of pastoral leadership. We send you on this Sabbatical journey, confident that God will bless you, refresh your spirit, and provide you with new vision for our continued ministry. May this Sabbatical be a time of rest and discovery for you.

Leader: We pray that you will enjoy poetry and play, leisurely dreaming and
focused reflection, contemplation and rich conversation at the Holy Wisdom Monastery, and moments of wonder in the Colorado wilderness.

Congregation: We will miss you as we continue our ministry here. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, that we support you, and that we look forward with joy to your return.

Nathan: I will miss you as well and I will pray for you. I too look forward to returning and sharing again in our ministry. Thank you for creating this opportunity for renewal and rest in my ministry.  

*Hymn of Blessing–The Peace of the Earth Be with You–VT 838

*Benediction    

Postlude–Postludium (Flor Peeters)– Karen Schlabaugh

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Lift High the Cross (Weber)—Karen Unruh
Land Acknowledgement—Jim Robb
Welcome & Prayer 
*Hymn—I Know That My Redeemer Lives (verses 1-4)—VT 347
Children and Youth Conversation—Deb Gering 
Worship Music—Do Lord, O Do Lord (Bill Ingram)—Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director 
Scripture Reading—John 21:1-19—Dorothy Nickel Friesen
*Hymn—Seeking Warmth from Charcoal Blazing—VT 344
Sermon—From the Miraculous to the Mundane—Nathan Koontz
*Hymn—Now the Green Blade Rises—VT 353   
Prayers of God’s People 
*Hymn—The Risen Christ—VT 345
(During the hymn those with April birthdays come forward to receive a birthday blessing.) 
*Birthday Blessing and Benediction  
Postlude–“Excerpts from The Best of John Williams” (arr. Wagner)
                                     (“May the Fourth be With You”)–Chancel Bells

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

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
From the Repair Coalition:  
“While the Supreme Court has yet to take any action on the Apache Stronghold case, the federal government on Thursday, April 17, 2025, announced that it plans as early as June 16, 2025 to publish a final environmental impact statement and begin moving forward with the transfer and destruction of Oak Flat.  On Friday, April 18, Becket Law filed a letter with the Supreme Court explaining that this makes it even more urgent for the Court to hear the case. 
Thanks to the federal government’s haste, Apache Stronghold now has legal standing to request an injunction, a legal order for ‘the courts to stop this move in its tracks and ensure justice can be delivered before Oak Flat is permanently destroyed,’ with the District Court as another avenue in case the Supreme Court decides to not hear Apache Stronghold’s case.”
BCMC Task Group will be organizing a prayer vigil and letter writing campaign next week on behalf of the Apache Stronghold and Oak Flat. Watch for a request for your help!  “May we lament all that has been and is destroying life.”

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
April 20, 2025—Easter Sunday!

 
Prelude–Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing [VT 359] (arr. J. Wayne Kerr)
Were You There? [VT 329] (arr. Diane Bish)
Christ ist erstanden, BWV 627 [VT 358] (J.S. Bach)
Christ the Lord is Risen Today [VT 346] (arr. Jason Payne)
Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Resurrection Proclamation– Elizabeth Schmidt
One:  Christ is risen!            
All:  Christ is risen indeed!
One:  Christ is risen!!          
All:  Christ is risen indeed!!
One:  Christ is risen!!!        
 All:  Christ is risen indeed!!!

Christ Candle Lighting                                              
 
*Hymn–Low in the Grave He Lay–VT 333
 
Welcome
*Hymn–Lift Your Glad Voices– VT 340
(Children are invited to go to the chapel as hymn is sung.)
 
Introduction to Gloria–Joel Garber
 
                             Gloria in D Major RV 589 (Antonio Vivaldi)
     Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
I.   Gloria (Glory to God in the highest)    
II.   Et in terra pax (And on Earth, good will to all.)     
III.  Laudamus te (We praise you, we bless you
      We worship you, we glorify you.) 
       [Virginia Mininger, soprano; Ron Garber, tenor]
 
Scripture Reading–Luke 24:1-12–Mary Ellen Hodge
 
IV. Gratias agimus tibi (We give thanks to you)
V. Propter magnum gloriam (For your great glory!)
VI. Domine Deus (Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty)
     [Virginia Mininger, soprano]
 
Scripture Reading–Luke 2:8-14–Mary Ellen Hodge
 
VII.  Domine fili unigenite (Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.)
VIII. Domine Deus (Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father
                            Heavenly King, only begotten Son,
                            Who takes away the sins of the world,
                             have mercy on us.)
                            [Allie Soeken, Mezzo soprano]
 
IX. Qui tollis peccata mundi (Who takes away the sins of the world.)
X.  Qui sedes ad dexteram patris (You who sits at the right hand of the father, Have mercy on us.
     [Allie Soeken, Mezzo Soprano]
 
 Meditation– Messy Glory–Joanna Harader
 
XI.  Quoniam to solus sanctus (For you alone are holy,
       you alone are the Lord 
       you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ.)
XII. Cum sancto spiritu (With the holy spirit,
        in the Glory of God, the Father,  Amen)
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn–The Lord is Risen Indeed!–VT 357
(Children return during hymn.)
 
Children Share Resurrection Gardens
 
*Hymn–Christ the Lord is Risen Today–VT 346
 
*Benediction    
                             
Postlude–Toccata from Symphony 5 (Widor)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
*You are invited to stand     VT—Voices Together     Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Welcome and thank you to the orchestra members Sunday:  Violin 1: Joan Griffing 
Violin 2: Marta Prugar; Viola: Joey Menninga; Cello: Caleb Garber 
Bass: Derek Jesse; Oboe: Aaron Robinson; Trumpet: Greg Bergman 
And of course, thank you to the BCMC Chancel Choir, director Joel Garber, accompanist Will Wiebe-Friesen, and the soloists, Virginia Mininger, Ron Garber, and
Allie Soeken.  Happy Easter to everyone!
 
     Sunday’s service contains quite a variety of music! Some highlights—in addition to the Gloria—include some of the prelude and postlude music as well as congregational hymns. Christ ist erstanden is a chorale prelude—that’s music talk for a spiced-up setting of a hymn—from Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book), in which he composed a chorale prelude for every Sunday of the Church Year. It is meant as a teaching tool, where the student can study different musical techniques in challenging, bite-sized pieces that are useful for worship. This hymn, which translates as “Christ is Arisen” and is found in VT 358, is interesting as it includes a joyful text paired with a minor tune, the oldest known German liturgical song, dating to around 1100.
     Despite its somber tone, listen for the empathic alleluias in the third verse. The congregational hymn “The Lord is Risen Indeed” was composed by William Billings, regarded as the first American choral composer. His music has a distinct, primitive, folk-like sound and helped to shape the blossoming American Sacred Harp style of song. A tanner by trade, Billings was gifted in his art despite financial struggles, missing an eye, and being short in one leg. Ending the service is a portion of the famous toccata from Charles Marie Widor’s Fifth Organ Symphony. The toccata, a musical form named for the Italian “to touch,” is the final movement in the symphony and is his most well-known work. Imagine hearing it in the sonorous acoustics of the Parisian Church of St. Sulpice where Widor was organist for over 60 years. 

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—with Palm Parade—Hosanna, Loud Hosanna—VT 313—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Welcome—Jill Robb
 
Leader: Shout hosanna!
Congregation: Jesus comes in the name of God.
Leader: Sing songs of praise!
Congregation: Glory in the highest heaven.
Leader: We enter into this Holy Week together
Congregation: With joy and gratitude; in fear and trembling.
Leader: Let us hear the story–
Congregation: The whole story.
Leader: Let us worship in faith,
All: Confident of God’s loving presence.
                               
*Hymn—Jesus Is Coming—VT 312
 
Children and Youth Conversation—Megan Kohlman & Michelle Burkholder
 
*Hymn—All Glory, Laud, and Honor—VT 315
 
Worship Music— Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (arr. Mark Hayes)–Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist/Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director
 
One-Minute Meditation
 
Scripture Reading—Mark 11:1-10—David Kreider
 
Reflection—Save Us, We Pray!–Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—With Astonishment, Fear, and Wonder—VT 579—Joel Garber, Leader
 
Scripture Reading—Luke 23:44-56—David Kreider
 
Reflection—What Kind of Salvation is This?–Joanna Harader
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Ride On, Ride On in Majesty—VT 316   
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude– Trumpet Tune (by David German)
 

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
April 6, 2025
Fifth Sunday of Lent

Christ Candle Lighting  

Centering Music—Secreto from “impressions Intimas” by (Mompou)–Meghann Rogers

Land Acknowledgement–Dale Schrag

Welcome & Prayer
Leader: We come in search of healing for ourselves and for those we love.
Congregation: We come in hope and in faith, reaching out to Jesus.
Leader: Let this be a place where our names are known and our stories honored.
Congregation: Let this be a time when our suffering is met with compassion.
Leader: Let this be a space for us to experience wholeness and peace.
All: Let this be a moment when our fingertips graze the hem of the holy.

*Hymn—There’s a Wild Hope in the Wind—VT 828

Children and Youth Conversation—Esther Koontz 

Recognition of Nursery, Children, and Youth Volunteers-Jill Robb

*Hymn—God of Grace and God of Glory—VT 716

One-Minute Meditation

Scripture Reading—Mark 5:21-34—John Waltner

Sermon—Immediately–Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—Healer of Our Every Ill—VT 644

Prayers of God’s People

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

*Benediction

Postlude–Have Thine Own Way Lord (arr. Wilhelmi)–Meghann Rogers

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 30, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Lent
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—In the Garden (Dobrinski)—Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director   
 
Welcome—Tim Hodge  
 
Leader: You are welcome in this space with all of who you are:
Your body, with its pain and its pleasure;
Your heart, with its passion and its longing;
Your feelings of relief and grief, anger and elation.
 
Congregation: We bring into this space all of who we are:
Committing to love ourselves,
Endeavoring to love each other,
Trusting in the fierce and eternal love of God.
 
All: We offer our full selves in this time of worship.
 
*Hymn—We Sing to You, O God—VT 80
               
Children and Youth Conversation—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Worship Music—And He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word (Gross)—Chancel Bells                                   
 
One-Minute Meditation
 
*Hymn—Will You Let Me Be Your Servant—VT 778
 
Scripture Reading—1 Kings 17:8-24—Ani Koontz
 
Sermon—God Saves Us as We Save Each Other—Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn –Christ Has No Body Here but Ours–VT 568
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Great Is Thy Faithfulness—VT 419
Those with March birthdays are welcome to come forward as we sing this hymn. Please bring a hymnal.
 
*Birthday Blessing & Benediction
 
Postlude—Trumpet Concerto in D (Giuseppe Tartini) Allegro–Karen Schlabaugh, organ;  Evan Koch, trumpet                                                                                                                                        

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 23, 2025
Third Sunday of Lent
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Summoned by the God Who Made Us [VT 1], (arr. Robert Lau)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Welcome-Raylene Hinz Penner
Leader: We come to listen
Congregation: So that we can go out and speak.
Leader: We praise God’s power
Congregation: So that we might rightly use our own.
Leader: We pause and pray
Congregation: So that we might plan faithfully.
Leader: We consider the ancient Scriptures
Congregation: So that we might better understand our present reality.
Leader: We continue this wilderness journey
Congregation: Following God’s way together.
 
*Hymn—Brethren, We Have Met to Worship—VT 25
 
Children’s Conversation–Jerry Buller
 
Worship Music—Come Ye Disconsolate (Terre Johnson)—Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
One-Minute Meditation
 
Scripture Reading—Numbers 27:1-11–Margaret Toews
 
Sermon—Advocacy 101—Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—Lord Jesus, Come and Overturn—VT 146
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—God of the Bible—VT 420
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude—Joys are Flowing Like a River [VT 375], (arr. Will Wiebe-Friesen)–
Will Wiebe-Friesen

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 16, 2025
Second Sunday of Lent
 
Christ Candle Lighting  
 
Centering Music—As the Deer Runs to the River (Uehlein)–Karen Unruh
 
Call to Worship—Mary Ann Boschmann
 
 Leader: In the wilderness we gather
Congregation: with friends and strangers,
      All: forming a community of support.
 Leader: In the wilderness we struggle
Congregation: against forces of violence,
      All: conspiring together for life.
 Leader: In the wilderness we wander
Congregation: through unfamiliar landscapes,
      All: seeking a faithful path.
 Leader: In the wilderness we worship
Congregation: our God of love and life,
      All: opening ourselves to the power of the Spirit.
 
*Hymn—Spirit of God! Descend—VT 557
 
Children’s Conversation— Brad Kohlman
 
*Hymn—With Mary Sing Magnificat–VT 208
  
One-Minute Meditation
 
Scripture Reading—Exodus 1:22-2:10; Acts 7:17-22—Jim Robb
 
Sermon—Ground-level God—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—O Healing River—VT 706
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song—VT 581
 
*Benediction
  
Postlude–He Comes to Us as One Unknown (Weber)–Karen Unruh
 
*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio-Visual–Ken Lamp

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 9, 2025
First Sunday of Lent
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Thou True Vine That Heals the Nations (arr. R. Haan)
—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Welcome & Prayer
Leader:  Welcome, all wandering hearts.
 
All:         We come greeting friends and meeting strangers,
               Wearing our joy and bearing our grief,
               Sighing our questions and trying our faith
 
Leader: Welcome to the wilderness of Lent–
 
All:         where pretense is laid down;
               Where grace abounds;
               Where home is found.
 
Leader: Welcome, all wandering hearts, to worship.
                                               
*Hymn—The Glory of These Forty Days—VT 305
           
Children’s Conversation—Joanna Harader
 
Worship Music—Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Faure)—Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
Scripture Reading—Genesis 16:1-15—Al Peters
 
*Hymn—The God of Sarah Praise—VT 190
 
One-Minute Meditation
 
Sermon—Streams of Mercy—Joanna Harader         
 
*Hymn—Fill Us with Your Feast—VT 309
 
Communion— Pastors
 
Prayer of Confession
Leader: For the violence we enact and the violence we allow,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: For the ways we limit the freedom of others,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: For our failure to fully live out the freedom you give us,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: In the moments we run away,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: In the moments we settle in,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: When we cannot bear to watch others suffer,
All: God have mercy.
Leader: And in you mercy, God, let us find our home in you,
All: Wherever we may wander.
 
Assurance of Pardon
Sharing the Meal
Prayer of Thanksgiving
 
Prayers of God’s People         
 
*Hymn—Come, Thou Fount—VT 563
 
*Benediction    
                                                  
Postlude—Come, Thou Fount (arr. J.R. Martin)—Will Wiebe-Friesen          

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Transfiguration Sunday
March 2, 2025

Christ Candle Lighting  

Centering Music—Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (Eithun)—Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome & Prayer—Dorothy Nickel Friesen

*Hymn—All Creatures, Worship God Most High—VT 81

Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash

Worship Music—Dodi Li—(Austin)—Chancel Bells  

Scripture Reading—Luke 9:28-36—Steve Stucky

Sermon—From Monument to Movement—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound—VT 392  

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—The Lord Lift You Up—VT 832

*Benediction

Postlude–Going Home Medley (arr. Labenske)– Meghann Rogers

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

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.