Category Archives: Worship Services

View the worship service for March 3, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 3, 2024
Third Sunday of Lent
Christ Among Us, Showing Us Justice

 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—There is no Shadow (Brenda Portman)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Call to Worship and Land Acknowledgement–Margaret Toews

One: Come rule makers. Come rule breakers. Come, you who are still finding your way.
Many: We come into God’s house.
One: Come. Whether you speak with wise words or with wisecracks, you are made in the image of God.
Many: We come to hear God’s Word.
One: Some of us like certainty and structure.
Many: Some of us don’t.
One: We come by different roads.
Many: Yet we are here together.
One: Prepare to meet your Maker, and your match. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is greater than human strength.
Many: We come to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
 
*Hymn—What Is This Place—VT 22
 
Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky
 
Anthem—Precious Lord, Take My Hand (arr. Jack Schrader)–Chancel Choir—Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
 Scripture Reading—Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22—Naomi Koontz
 
Sermon—Rule Makers and Rule Breakers–Roger Neufeld Smith
 
*Hymn—O God We Read the Holy Law—VT 571
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
Prayer of Confession
One: We often miss the beauty in your work, God.
Many: Forgive our distracted hearts.
One: When we put our trust in other things
Many: remind us of your love and care.
All: Bring joy to us once again.
One: May the meditations of our hearts
Many: be pleasing on your sight,
All: our Rock and our Redeemer.
 
*Hymn—Sing a New World Into Being—VT 809
 
Benediction
 
Postlude


Audio-visual—Ben Lichti


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.   

View the worship service for February 25, 2024

  BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 25, 2024
Second Sunday of Lent
Christ Among Us, Showing Us Faith

 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Prelude on Psalms (Bach/Leidzen)– Verlene Garber, organ                                                                     
Call to Worship–George Leary
 
One: Come, you who seek God, proclaim God’s glory!
Many: All you descendants of Jacob and Rachel,
One: come.
Many: All who are isolated and feel alone,
One: come.
Many: All who are hungry,
One: come.
Many: All who wander,
One: come.
Many: Come, from all ends of the earth.
All: Come, you who seek God, proclaim God’s glory, and walk in faith.
(based on Psalm 22:23–31)
 
*Hymn–How Many Times We Start Again–VT 553
 
Children’s Conversation–Orlando Gonzalez, Adah Hodge, Adam Oswald
Cast Your Burdens Unto Jesus
 
Anthem– Outburst of Joy (Dobrinski)– Chancel Bells
 
Scripture Reading– Mark 8:34-37; Colossians 3:12-17–Lucy Burch
 
Reflections–Faith Fusion—Adah Hodge, Ani Koontz, Mara Oswald
 
*Hymn–Will You Come and Follow Me–VT 540
 
Prayers of God’s People–Nathan Koontz
    Prayer of Confession
One: Trustworthy God, we want to live with faith, yet we worry there will not be enough. We want to believe in your promises, yet we lose hope. We want to follow you, but sometimes the road is too hard.
Many: We confess before you our unbelief, our worry, our hopelessness.
One: Shape us into a people who will live in faith. Strengthen us so we can deny ourselves, take up your cross, and follow you.
Many: In your grace, Lord, give us faith to believe that you will call into existence the things that do not exist. Amen.
 
*Hymn—Guide My Feet—VT 816
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude– Give Us Peace in Our Time (arr. by Allured)


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

View the worship service from February 18, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 18, 2024
First Sunday of Lent
Christ Among Us: Repent and Believe
 

Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—What Wondrous Love is This (arr. Wood)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 25:1–10)—Ada Schmidt-Tieszen
One: Teach us your pathways, O God—
our eyes and our souls are trained on you.
Many: For you are the greatest guide,
and your map is always good.
One: Other paths have left us lost;
other ways have left us confused.
Many: You guide us along the trail of your mercy,
drawing sinner and saint down this well worn way.
All: All your paths are love, made smooth by your faithful walking.
We are led into your truth by following the tread of your feet.
 
*Hymn—Lo, I Am with You (verses 1-4)—VT 284
 
Children’s Conversation—Jill Robb and Bethany Schrag
 
Anthem—O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song  (Peter Aston)–Chancel Choir; William Eash, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
  
Scripture Reading—Genesis 9:8–17; Mark 1:9–15
 
Sermon—With the Wild Beasts and the Angels—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—Spirit of God! Descend—VT 557
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
Prayer of Confession
One: God, on Ash Wednesday, we remembered our humanity,
our fragility, our limits, our sinfulness, our need for repentance.
Today, we come to you with this fresh on our minds as we continue our Lenten journey. Many: Be with us in this wilderness.
One: We so often focus on the difficulty of our walk with Christ.
Many: Forgive our self-focused minds.
One: Forgive us, Lord, when on our journey,
we forget your extensive, covenantal love for the world.
Many: May we partner with you and your church to remember.
All: (looking at one another) You are beloved.
  
*Hymn—Spirit, Open My Heart—VT 636
 
*Benediction
 
 Postlude—Precious Lord, Take My Hand (arr. Schrader)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
* You are invited to stand
 
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

View the worship service from February 11, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 11, 2024
Transfiguration Sunday
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say  (Burkhardt)—Karen Unruh
 
Welcome and Prayer—Tim Hodge
 
*Hymn—Come Away from Rush and Hurry—VT 9
 
Children’s Conversation—William & Esther Kreider Eash
 
*Hymn—I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous—VT 590
 
Scripture Reading—2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9—Doug Penner
 
Sermon—It Is Good For Us to Be Here—Julianna Schrag
 
*Hymn—You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd—VT 432
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Praise to the Living God—VT 204
 
*Benediction
 
Postlude—A Rejoicing (Fedak)—Karen Unruh
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Karen Unruh
Audio visual—Francis Toews
 

Welcome Julianna Schrag as Guest Preacher
We are very happy to have Julianna Schrag as our guest preacher for Sunday, February 11. Julianna graduated from Bethel College in 2023 with a degree in Communications and minors in Management and English. She served as Faith Formation intern at BCMC in 2020 and 2021. Julianna currently works as an admissions counselor at Bethel and is busy planning her July wedding! 

View the Worship Service for Feb. 4, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 4, 2024

Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music— I’m Bound for the Promised Land (arr. Bish)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Land Acknowledgement—Esther Kreider Eash
 
Welcome and Prayer—Esther Kreider Eash
 
*Hymn—You Are Salt for the Earth—VT 297
 
Kin-dom Report—Junior High Youth Report on Snow Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
Children’s Conversation—Junior High Youth
 
Anthem—Give to Our God Immortal Praise (John Ferguson)— Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
Kin-dom Report—Anti-Racism Training—Elizabeth Schmidt and Lil Peters
 
Scripture Reading—Mark 1:29-39—Abby Koontz
 
Sermon—Journey Inward, Journey Outward—Roger Neufeld Smith
 
*Hymn—Lead Me, Guide Me—VT 601
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Come Walk With Us—VT 23
 
Benediction
 
Postlude—March on a Gregorian Theme (A. Guilmant)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ben Lichti 

View the worship service for January 28, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 28, 2024
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Prélude, Op. 18  (Cesar Franck)—Karen Schlabaugh
 
Welcome and Prayer—Dorothy Nickel Friesen
 
*Hymn—All Creatures, Worship God Most High—VT 81
 
Children’s Conversation—Jeanette Stucky
 
Anthem—Somebody’s Knocking at your Door (A. L. Page)—Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director
 
Scripture Reading—Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13—Doug Penner
 
Sermon—Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up— Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—Beloved, God’s Chosen—VT 164
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Go, My Friends, in Grace—VT 810
People with January birthdays come forward for a blessing, please bring a hymnal
 
Birthday Blessing & Benediction
 
Postlude—Psalm 19 – N (Benedetto Marcello)—Karen Schlabaugh
 
* You are invited to stand
VT = Voices Together
Keyboard- Karen Schlabaugh
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

View the February 21, 2024 worship service

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 21, 2024
Third Sunday after Epiphany
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—Adoration (Florence B. Price) –Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Welcome and Prayer—Jon Zerger
 
*Hymn—Could It Be That God Is Singing—VT 42
 
Children’s Conversation—Kevin Neufeld
 
Anthem—Fairest Lord Jesus (Derek Hakes)–Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
  
Scripture Reading—Psalm 62:5-12; Mark 1:14-20—Carol & Jerry Buller
 
Sermon—Image of God, Activity of God—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—O God, Great Womb—VT 176
 
Child Blessing for Elizabeth Robb—VT 970
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Will You Come and Follow Me—VT 540
 
Benediction
 
Postlude—Fugue from Sonata 6 (Mendelssohn)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
 
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ken Lamp 

View the worship service for January 14, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
January 14, 2024

Prelude—Karen Unruh

Christ Candle Lighting 

Welcome and Prayer—Raylene Hinz-Penner

Hymn—Guide My Feet—VT 816

Children’s Conversation—Glen Ediger

Special Music—Garber Quartet

Scripture Reading—James 2:1-4,8-9,12-17—Justin Zerger

Sermon—Lessons from Ordinary Heroes—Roger Neufeld Smith

Hymn—Precious Lord—VT 610

Prayers of God’s People

Hymn—Lift Every Voice–VT 611

Benediction

Postlude


Audio-visual—Francis Toews

YouTube Link:  https://youtube.com/live/IGzMYP8srXw?feature=share

View the worship service for January 7, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 7, 2024
Epiphany
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—We Three Kings (D. Bish)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Land Acknowledgement
 
Welcome and Prayer—Dale Schrag
 
*Hymn—Arise, Your Light Is Come!—VT 273
 
Children’s Conversation—Trent Voth
 
Anthem—See Whose Glory Fills the Skies (George Elderkin)–Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
  
Scripture Reading—Malachi 4:1-5; Mark 1:1-11—Addie Zerger
 
Sermon— Epiphanies with David, Mark, and Jesus—Trent Voth
 
*Hymn—Spirit of the Living God—VT 740
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem—VT 275
 
Benediction
 
Postlude—Nun ist sie erschienen (S. Vincent)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
* You are invited to stand
 
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—John Thiesen


Welcome Guest Speaker Trent Voth
We extend a warm welcome to Trent Voth as he preaches and facilitates the children’s conversation on January 7. Trent just completed his first semester as professor of Bible and Religion at Bethel College. He grew up in the Halstead area but he and his wife, Stephanie, and two sons, Devereaux (De-Ver-Row) and Darien moved back to the area from Toronto, Ontario, where Trent completed his PhD at the University of Toronto. Trent has a particular interest in The Gospel of Mark, anabaptist theologies, vocational discernment, and indigenous justice.

Preparing for Worship
As we gather for worship each Sunday in the sanctuary, the Worship Commission invites and encourages us to become quiet as we light the Christ Candle.  Prelude music has now been changed to Centering Music.  The Worship Commission invites your feedback as we experiment with a new order of worship.

Land Acknowledgement compiled by Florence Schloneger 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.   

View the worship service for December 31, 2023

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 31, 2023
First Sunday After Christmas

Prelude—Go Tell it on the Mountain—Verlene Garber & Ben Lichti

Welcome and Prayer Christ Candle—Roger Neufeld Smith

Hymn—Come Away from Rush and Hurry—VT 9

*Advent Candle Hymn—Hope Is a Candle, verses 1-5 VT 211

Advent Candle Lighting—Elizabeth, Gabby, Jake, Jill & Adam Robb

*Advent Litany—Christ—VT 916

*Hymns—O Come, All Ye Faithful (Verses 1, 3, 4)—VT 241

                  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing—VT 247

Scripture Reading—Isaiah 11:1-6—Roger Neufeld Smith

Hymns—What Child is This—VT 267 and Helpless and Hungry—VT 268

                 Holy Night, Blessed Night—VT 262

Scripture Reading—Luke 2:22-40

Children’s Conversation based on Luke 2:22-40—The Robb Family

*Hymn—Come, Join in Mary’s Prophet-Song—VT 246

Meditation—Roger Neufeld Smith

*Hymn—Joy to the World—VT 240

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light—VT 269

Benediction—VT 1064  

Postlude— In Dulci Jubilo  (VT 261)–Verlene Garber and Ben Lichti

*You are invited to stand

Audio-Visual—Francis Toews

Keyboard—Verlene Garber

Trumpet—Ben Lichti