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 & 6 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.

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

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

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 15, 2024
Third Sunday of Advent
 
Prelude Music— O Come, O Come, Emmanuel  (Dobrinski)
                                                       Carol of the Bells (Morris)
                                                       Mary Did You Know (Wagner)                         
                                                              Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director
 
Advent Candle Lighting—Marlin & Monica Lichti, Faith & Lucy Burch
 
    Scripture Reading—I John 4:7-9
 
    Litany:
Beloved, we gather in love for God and love for each other.
We gather to experience God’s love for us.
God’s love is revealed in the stories we hear,
In the songs we sing, in the prayers we offer,
In the Spirit we feel moving within and among us.
 
God’s love is revealed most deeply through Jesus,
Whose coming we anticipate and celebrate,
Who was sent by God so that we might have life.
Beloved, we gather together for worship.
 
  Lighting the candle of Love
 
Welcome & Prayer—Nathan Koontz                                     
 
*Hymn—Hark! The Glad Sound—VT 217
                       
Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz
 
Worship Music— Glad Tidings of Joy  (Larson)         
Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director
 
Scripture Reading—Ruth 1:1-18—Esther Kreider Eash, Raylene Hinz Penner, Brad Kohlman, Kevin Neufeld
 
*Hymn—Bless the Arms that Comfort—VT 527
 
Sermon—Ruth: A Journey of Love—Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—Bless’d Be the God of Israel—VT 223
 
Prayers of God’s People—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—My Soul Cries Out—VT 412—Grace Harader-Ellett, violin; Lucy Burch, piccolo
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude— Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (Paul Manz) 
Karen Schlabaugh
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Karen Schlabaugh
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Thank you to the Chancel Bells for bringing us the prelude and worship music Sunday morning!  Members are: Suzy Burch, Ben Lichti, Carol Gerbrand,Marlene Ewert, Marlene Faul, Virginia Mininger, Brenda Turner, Janet Lubbers, Nathan Garber, Caleb Garber and director Verlene Garber.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent
 

Prelude Music—Gesù Bambino (Yon; arr. Walters) Ben Lichti-Trumpet    
Holy Night/Silent Night    Angelika Donaldson
Hark the Herald Angels Sing—William Eash, Ron Garber, Joe Peters, Weldon Schloneger, Tim Hodge, Verlene Garber, Rebecca Schloneger, violin
The People That Walked in Darkness (Handel)— Doyle and Mary Jo Preheim
 
Advent Candle Lighting—Beaty and Jim Robb, Gabby and Jake Robb
 
Scripture Reading—Hebrews 11:29-31
 
    Litany:
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea.
By faith we come with open hearts.
 
By faith the walls of Jericho fell.
By faith we offer praise and prayers.
 
By faith Rahab received the spies in peace.
By faith we gather together for worship.    
 
Lighting the candle of Faith
 
Welcome & Prayer—Adam Robb                                          
 
*Hymn—With Mary Sing Magnificat—VT 208
 
Kin-dom Report—Jill Robb
           
Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz
 
Worship Music—Sing We Now of Christmas (arr. Fred Prentice)–Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
Scripture Reading—Joshua 2:1-9, 12-15—Raylene Hinz-Penner, Esther Kreider Eash, Kevin Neufeld, Brad Kohlman         
 
*Hymn—Unexpected and Mysterious—VT 229
 
Sermon—Rahab: On the Margins—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—Comfort, Comfort, O My People—VT 212
 
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn–Great is Thy Faithfulness—VT 419     
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude—Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme [VT 226], (J.S. Bach)  
Will Wiebe-Friesen

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Advent 
 
Prelude Music—What Child Is This [VT 267]; Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming [VT 216]
In Lonely Mountain Ways [VT589]; Hark, I Hear The Harps Eternal (arr. Alice Parker)    
Open Road
 
Advent Candle Lighting— Dale & Margo Schrag; Mara & Adam Oswald
 
Scripture Reading—Isaiah 40:27-31
 
Litany:
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Holy One is the everlasting God,
Creator of heaven and earth.
 
God’s energy flows through the world
even when we are bone-tired.
God’s power gives strength
to the vulnerable and weak.
 
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
When we wait on the Holy One,
God will renew our strength.
We shall run! We shall fly!
We shall walk boldly together
toward the promises of God.
 
Lighting the candle of Hope
 
Land Acknowledgement, Welcome & Prayer—Adam Robb
 
*Hymn—Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus—VT 218
 
Children’s Conversation—Jill Robb
 
Worship Music— Nearer, My God, To Thee (arr. James L. Stevens)—
Open Road
 
Scripture Reading—Genesis 38:1-27—Esther Kreider Eash, Raylene Hinz Penner, Brad Kohlman, Kevin Neufeld
  
*Hymn—There is a Line of Women—VT 546
 
Sermon—Tamar: Advent Waiting—Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—Poor of the Earth—VT 213
 
Communion—Nathan Koontz, Joanna Harader
 
Prayers of God’s People—Adam Robb
 
*Hymn—My Soul Proclaims with Wonder—VT 222
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude— O Come, O Come Emmanuel  (Held)—Verlene Garber

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 24, 2024
Thanksgiving

Christ Candle Lighting

Centering Music—Morning Has Broken [VT 495] (arr. R. Lau)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Welcome & Prayer—VT 864—Megan Kohlman, Addison Zerger

*Hymn—Come Away from Rush and Hurry— VT 9

Children’s Conversation—George Leary & BCMC Youth Group

Worship Music—Cum Sancto Spiritu (Antonio Vivaldi)         
       Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist Chancel Choir

Scripture Reading— Joel 2:21-27; Matthew 6:25-33—Lee Suderman

*Hymn—Sometimes a Light Surprises— VT 618—Rebecca Schloneger, violin

Sermon—Thanksgiving, Poetry & the Sun—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—Nothing Is Lost on the Breath of GodI—VT 653

Prayers of God’s People—Heather Zerger, Lily Schloneger

*Hymn—For the Fruit of All Creation—VT 124—(People with November birthdays come forward for a blessing, please bring a hymnal) 

*Birthday Blessing & Benediction

Postlude—Now Thank We All Our God (J.S. Bach/Virgil Fox)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

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

Today’s choir anthem is the final movement from Vivaldi’s Gloria, a setting of the fourth century hymn text Gloria in excelsis Deo. This movement’s text, Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris, amen, is translated: With the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, amen. The postlude is derived from Bach’s cantata Nun danket alle Gott (Now Thank We All Our God, VT 114). This setting of the hymn, arranged by the American organist Virgil Fox (1912-1980), was made popular through Fox’s flamboyant organ, smoke, and light shows of the 1970’s. Perhaps not the most authentic Bach, it remains an enthusiastic presentation of this hymn of thanksgiving. 

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
  November 17, 2024
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—We Gather Together (Raney)—Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director            
 
Welcome & Prayer—Karen Ediger
                                   
*Hymn—”Could It Be That God Is Singing”—VT 42
           
Children’s Conversation—Jeanette Leary
 
Worship Music—Acclamation of Praise (Raney)—Chancel Bells
 
*Hymn—God of the Fertile Fields—VT 750
 
Scripture Reading—Luke 16:1-13—Judy Kliewer and Naomi Koontz
 
Sermon—Serving God, Not the Economy”—Joanna Harader
 
*Hymn—”God Whose Giving—VT 745
 
Prayers of God’s People—Karen Ediger
 
*Hymn—”People That on Earth Do Dwell”—VT 5    
 
*Benediction    
                                                  
Postlude—Allegro (J.S. Bach)—Karen Schlabaugh                

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