BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 6th, 2022

Prelude—Verlene Garber, organ

Land Acknowledgement—Florence Schloneger

Lighting the Christ Candle—Renee Reimer

Welcome and Prayer

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

Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky

Scripture Reading—Psalm 27—Darlene Dick

Sermon—Thin Places—Kathy Neufeld Dunn

*Hymn—The Lord is My Light—VT 437

Service of Installation for Todd Schlosser, Interim Pastor—Kathy Neufeld Dunn, WDC Associate Conference Minister

*Hymn—Nothing is Lost on the Breath of God—VT 653

Prayers of God’s people—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—The Lord Lift You Up—VT 832

*Benediction—Kathy Neufeld Dunn

Postlude—Verlene Garber

---

Installation of Interim Minister
Todd Schlosser

Conference Minister: Introductory words.

Moderator:  We are the Body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We worship, nurture faith, care for one another, welcome and serve others, and proclaim God’s good news in the world.  We call pastors to guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus who become the hands and feet of Christ in the world.  We are grateful that Todd has heard the call to serve in an interim pastor role during this transitional time.

Conference Minister:  Todd, seeing that the grace of God has called you into pastoral leadership in this church, I now ask you: Do you promise, to the best of your ability, to carry out your role and responsibilities on the Bethel College Mennonite Church pastoral team?

Todd:  I do.

Conference Minister:  Will you seek to be faithful in prayer, in setting forth the scriptures and in seeking the good of this congregation?  And will you seek to live honestly, openly and justly with your brothers and sisters in this congregation?

Todd:  I will.

Conference Minister:  Will you exercise the authority that has been entrusted to you in the loving spirit of Christ; and will you build up and equip members and seekers for a deeper walk with Jesus, a stronger relationship with God, a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit and a deeper love for all people?

Todd:  I will.

Conference Minister (to Todd):  Renee and Nathan, do you welcome Todd as a co-worker in Christ?  Will you support him with your prayers and encouragement as you seek to lead this congregation together?

Renee and Nathan:  I do and I will.

Conference Minister (to congregation):  Christian friends, you have heard the commitments that Todd has made in accepting the call to serve as Interim Pastor here with Bethel College Mennonite Church.   Do you receive him as sent by God to provide pastoral leadership in this congregation, and do you offer your support and prayers for his ministry among you?   If so, please respond, “We do.”

Congregation:  We do.

Todd: [Brief words of response]

Conference Minister: Now let us join in a spirit of prayer as we ask God’s blessing on Todd.  Lord of creation and of the church, we bless you for the gifts you give and call forth through your Spirit for the sake of the kingdom.   Bless the covenant made this day between these pastors and this congregation.   Grant Todd a  discerning heart, confidence in your call, strength and joy in the tasks of ministry now set before him. Make us each partners in ministry with Todd, Renee, and Nathan –constant in support, gentle in criticism, prayerful in all things.  And now, O God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, make us complete in everything good, so that we may do your will, working among us that which is pleasing in your sight. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

---

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser

Choral Group—William Eash, Esther Eash, Ron Garber, Barbara Thiesen, and Carol Flickinger

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 30, 2022

Prelude—Partita on Christ Is Our Cornerstone (Charles Callahan)—Karen Unruh

Christ Candle Lighting—Sara Dick

Welcome and Prayer

Hymn—Holy Spirit, Come with Power—VT 57

Children’s Conversation—Barb Koontz

Scripture Reading—John 13:34-35—Al Peters

Sermon—God Does Not Leave Us Abandoned—Nathan Koontz

Hymn—Now, on Land and Sea Descending—VT 503

Kin-dom Report—Elizabeth Schmidt

Prayers of God’s People

Hymn—Go, My Children—VT 830

Benediction—Nathan Koontz

Postlude—Karen Unruh

---

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz

 BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Jan 23, 2022
Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday

Prelude—Novelette No. 1 (Francis Poulenc)—Karen Schlabaugh, piano

Christ Candle Lighting—Nathan Koontz

Welcome and Prayer

Hymn—We Are People of God’s Peace—VT 797

Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz

Scripture Reading—John 20:19-23—Lotti Boschmann

Sermon—New Breath— Peter Goerzen

Hymn—Breathe on Me, Breath of God— VT 737

Prayers of God’s People

Hymn—Come and Fill Our Hearts—VT 52

Benediction—Nathan Koontz

Postlude —Carillon (Francis Poulenc)—Karen Schlabaugh

---

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 16, 2022

Prelude—Joy To The Night (Jim Brickman); Pie Jesu, from Requiem, (Andrew Lloyd Weber)—Erich Boschman, piano

Lighting the Christ Candle—Dorothy Nickel Friesen

Welcome and Prayer

*Hymn—Arise, Your Light— VT 273

Children’s Conversation—Mary Ellen Hodge

Scripture Reading—Isaiah 58:6-12—Richard Friesen

Sermon—We Cannot Rest—Rosie Epp

*Hymn­— Lift Every Voice and Sing—VT 611

Prayers of God’s people—Dorothy Nickel Friesen

*Hymn—For the Healing of the Nations—VT 705

*Benediction—Dorothy Nickel Friesen

Postlude—Verlene Garber

---

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Pastors—Renee Reimer and Nathan Koontz

This Sunday we welcome our guest preacher, Rosie Epp. Rosie is a retired pastor, most recently at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing, KS. She has been an ordained minister for over 40 years and was the second ordained woman in Western District Conference. We are grateful for Rosie (also Renee’s mom!) to be leading us in worship this week.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 9, 2022

Prelude—The Ninety and Nine (arr. N. Johnson) and Praise Ye the Triune God (arr. N. Johnson) — Will Wiebe-Friesen, organ

Introit — Holy, Holy, Holy (arr. Hopson)—Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director

Welcome—Jill Robb

*Hymn—Here in This Place—VT 10

Children’s Conversation—Jill Robb

Worship Music—All Creatures of Our God and King (Sandra Eithun)—Chancel Bells

Scripture Reading—Luke 2:41-52—Barbara Koontz

Sermon—A Space for Pondering—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—God, Give Me Faith like a Child—VT 519

Prayers of God’s people—Jill Robb

*Hymn—Go, My Children—VT 830

Benediction—Renee Reimer

Postlude—Nun ist sie ershienen (arr. S. Vincent)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

VT = Voices Together

---

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer and Nathan Koontz

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Epiphany Sunday, January 2, 2022

GATHERING

Prelude—People Look East (Wold)—Rise Up, Shepherd (Osterland)—Verlene Garber, organ

Introit—Come Away from Rush and Hurry [VT 9]–Chancel Choir; William Eash, director; Verlene Garber, accompanist

Land Acknowledgment—Dale Schrag

Welcome and Prayer                                                                                                                      

*Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise—VT 98—(Verse 4 in unison)

HEARING

Scripture reading—Isaiah 60:1-3—Dale Schrag

*Arise, Your Light is Come!—VT 273

Children’s Conversation— Matthew 2:1-12—Doug and Dawn Yoder Harms and others

Reflection—Seeking the Light—Dawn Yoder Harms

*Beautiful Star of Bethlehem—VT 275

RESPONDING

Litany of Blessing and Release—Elizabeth Schmidt, Ada Schmidt-Tieszen, BCMC Church Board

Kathy Neufeld Dunn, Western District Conference

Dawn Yoder Harms, Pastor

This Day We Say Grateful (Jan Richardson)—Ada Schmidt-Tieszen

Prayers of God’s people—Dale Schrag

SENDING

Go, My Friends, in Grace—VT 810

Blessing—Dawn Yoder Harms

Choral Blessing— Gaelic Blessing (John Rutter)—Chancel Choir                                                   

Postlude—God of Grace (Manz)—Verlene Garber

VT = Voices Together

Worship visuals—Worship Visuals Committee

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

---

Litany of Release and Blessing

Congregational Moderator:  As the family of faith at Bethel College Mennonite Church, today we give thanks, Dawn, for your five years of ministry among us.  We bid you farewell, and we ask God to bless our journeys ahead – yours and this congregation’s work to move forward.

Congregation:  All praise be to our God.  In God there is one Body, one Spirit.  There is one hope in God’s call to us all.

Dawn:  We have shared worship and work, laughter and learning through both difficult and joy-filled times. We have met over coffee, at the hospital, over Zoom, and under the oak tree on the BCMC lawn. We have shared many sacred life moments together.

Incoming Congregational Moderator:  This is a time of mixed emotions:   sadness, joy, loss, and thankfulness.  As we say goodbyes, we acknowledge with gratitude that we have accomplished much during our years together.  We give God thanks and praise for you and your fruitful ministry.

Dawn:  I leave as your pastor with cherished memories of our times together. You have helped me see and seek God’s presence in our lives and in the world around us. Our experiences together have helped reshape my faith. Thank you for your care, your creativity, your encouragement, and your hope along the way.

Congregation:  God has blessed us richly through your ministry.  We now bless you as you begin a new chapter in your life and ministry journey.

Conference Minister:  As you, the people of Bethel College Mennonite Church, bless Dawn as she leaves this congregation, do you now release her from her pastoral responsibilities and relationships?

Congregation:  With the help of God, we do.  We give thanks for Dawn’s faithful leadership and now acknowledge this transition in the life of our congregation.  We will pray for God’s continued guidance in her life.

Conference Minister:  Dawn, do you release the congregation from its loyalty to you as their pastor?  Do you release the members from turning to you and depending on you to provide the pastoral ministries they seek?  

Dawn:  With the help of God, I do.  When we meet in the future, we will be neighbors, not pastor and church members.  I will hold this congregation and its ministries in my prayers.

Conference Minister:  Dawn, may God bless and guide you on the next steps of your journey. May you ultimately form new, caring relationships in a new and beloved community, wherever that may be.  May God bless the rest that you seek and the work you will undertake next. May God bless and guide this congregation into a hopeful future as it continues kingdom work and seeks new leadership.  May God bless and guide each of us in the new relationship that we now will share.  Amen.

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 26, 2021
Christmas 1: Dare to Imagine

Prelude—Mark Kreider

Gathering

*Hymn—O Come, All Ye Faithful—VT 241

Welcome and Call to Worship—Renee Reimer

Worship Music—Sonata in F Major (Arcangelo Corelli)—Mark Kreider and Andrew Thiesen

Advent Candle Lighting—Ani Koontz

Leader: We light the Christ candle and we welcome new life.

People: Hurry, hurry, sing the glory! Imagine that…we are God’s wonders, blessed wonders.

Hymn—Hope is a Candle— verses 1-5—VT 211

Confessions and Assurance—Renee Reimer

Hearing God’s Word

*Hymn—Hark! The Herald Angels Sing—VT 247

Children’s Conversation—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—Infant Holy, Infant Lowly—VT 243

Scripture Reading—Psalm 148—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—Joy to the World—VT 240

Scripture Reading—Colossians 3:12-17—Bill Swartley

*Hymn—Good Christian Friends, Rejoice—VT 261

Scripture Reading—Luke 2:21-40—Dawn Yoder Harms

Responding

*Hymn—Love Has Come—VT 258

Kingdom Report—Elizabeth Schmidt

Prayers of God’s People—Dawn Yoder Harms

*Hymn—Go Tell it on the Mountain—VT 252

Benediction—Dawn Yoder Harms

Postlude—Mark Kreider

---

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

December 19, 2021
ADVENT SUNDAY 4
Dare to Imagine God’s Face!

Advent Prelude—Doxology

Gathering

Welcome and Call to Worship—Ada Schmidt-Tieszen

Call to Worship

Introit—Come Away From Rush and Worry (VT 9) — Chancel Choir; William Eash, director; Verlene Garber, accompanist

Advent Candle Lighting — Lily Schloneger

Leader:                        We light a candle of love, and imagine

People:           the lowly lifted, fear met with love.

Leader:                        We light the candle and pray for God’s face to shine on us, to save us, restore us.

Hope is a Candle –Verses 1, 2, 3, 4—VT 211

Prayer of Confession

Leader:                        We notice, O God, that when you feed people, everyone has enough.

People:           We notice that in our world, when we feed people, some have more than enough, and many are still hungry.

Leader:                        Teach us to love.

People:           We notice, O God, that in your social, economic, racial, and gender orders, no one is greater, and no one is left behind.

Leader:                        We notice that in our world there are many ladders, and many are

climbing.

People:           Reorientate us to your vision of equality.

Leader:            God of mercy, lower us, raise us, empty us, and fill us. Like an empty manger, we want to be ready to receive Emmanuel.

Words of Assurance—(adapted from Luke 1:46-49)

All:  Our souls magnify the Lord, our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

        God has looked with favor on our lowliness.

        The Mighty One has done great things for us, and holy is God’s name.

Hymn of assurance—My Soul Proclaims with Wonder—VT 222

Hearing God’s Word

Children’s Conversation—Esther Kreider Eash

Scripture—Micah 5:2-5a—Omer Galle

                    Luke 1:39-55—Abigail Koontz

Special Music—The Glory of the Father (Egil Hovland) — Chancel Choir

Sermon—Improvisation on a Song—Dawn Yoder Harms

Responding

Hymn of Response—With Mary Sing Magnificat — VT 208

Prayers of God’s People—Ada Schmidt-Tieszen

Sending Song—My Soul Cries Out—VT 412

Benediction—Dawn Yoder Harms

AV—Ken Lamp

The Advent Prelude this morning is by the group “Doxology”, a 12-voice choral ensemble from Hutchinson.  They will present classic and modern acapella arrangements of songs celebrating the glory of Emmanuel “God with Us.”  Members are:  (Tenor 1) John Miller, Nathan Miller, Kristen Miller;  (Tenor 2)  Jared Shelter, Harry Shenk, Tim Shenk; (Baritone)  Nelson Martin, Gene Miller, Tony Shelter; (Bass)  Cliff Nisly, Shane Iwashige, Willard Mast

Their next performances: 

· December 20, 7 pm at Pleasantview Activity Center, 4823-5307 S Dean Rd,   Hutchinson

Press the button to access the worship service:

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 12, 2021
Advent 3: Dare to Imagine

Prelude—Jude Oswald, flute               

Miles Brubacher, piano

                Emerson Gering, piano

                Naomi Koontz, piano

                Emma Gering and Maisie Brubacher, violins

                Lucy Burch, flute

                Abby Koontz, piano               

                Menno Singers

Gathering

Creche—Preschool Sunday School

Welcome and Call to Worship– Brett Gaeddert and Lincoln Kohlman

Advent Candle Lighting— Lincoln Kohlman and Brett Gaeddert                                                                                                                                                     

Leader: We light a candle of joy. And we imagine:

People: Jubilation! Rejoicing! Do not fear!

Leader: We light a candle and join in God’s song, singing loudly, singing fiercely, singing together.

*Hymn—Hope is a Candle (Verses 1, 2, and 4)—VT 211

(Menno Singers Verses 1 and 2; Congregation join on Verse 4)

Worship Music—Obey my Voice—

What Does the Lord Require of You—Menno Singers, Virginia Mininger, director;

Mary Ann Boschmann, accompanist

 Hearing God’s Word

Scripture Reading—Zephaniah 3:14-20—Maisie Brubacher

Children’s Conversation—Esther Eash

*Hymn—Oh, How Joyfully—VT 254

Scripture Reading—Isaiah 12:4-6—Brett Gaeddert

                                Luke 3:7-18—Collin Gaeddert and Addison Zerger

Skit—The Most Important Person at the Nativity—Sr High Sunday School

Responding

*Hymn—Joy to the World—VT 240

Prayers of God’s People—Renee Reimer

Benediction—Collin Gaeddert

*Benediction Sung Response—You Shall Go Out with Joy—VT 847

VT = Voices Together

Worship leader—Middler Sunday School Class

Keyboardist—Mary Ann Boschmann

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

Menno Singers Director—Virginia Mininger

Menno Singer Accompanists—Mary Ann Boschmann, piano; Esther Koontz, cello; Rebecca Schloneger, violin

Skit Participants In Order of Appearance: Lucy Burch, Justin Zerger, Simon Koontz, Adah Hodge, Payne Claassen, Simon Hodge

ADVENT SUNDAY 2

Dare to imagine God’s Peace and Embrace

Prelude

Comfort, comfort Ye My People (arr. Robert J. Powell)

Cold December Flies Away (Busarow) —Verlene Garber, organ

In Dulci Jubilo (Rucker)

Ding, Dong, Merrily on High (DeWitt)— Chancel Bells, Verlene Garber, director

*Hymn—O Come, O Come, Immanuel— Verses 1, 4, 6, 7—VT 210

Gathering

Land Acknowledgement— Ada Schmidt-Tieszen

Welcome and Call to Worship

Introit—Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord—Matthew Schloneger

Advent Candle Lighting— Adah Hodge

       Leader:         We light a candle of peace.

                              And we imagine:

       People:         God’s tender mercy, God’s compassion.

        Leader:        We light the candle of peace and know God’s embrace of peace.

*Hymn— Hope is a Candle (verses 1,2)—VT 211

Confession and Assurance

*Hymn—Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus—VT 218

Hearing God’s Word

Children’s Conversation—Carol Flickinger

Scripture—Luke 3:1-6; Philippians 1:3-11

Special Music—Comfort Ye (The Messiah)—Handel—Matthew Schloneger

Sermon—Embraced as a Child—Nathan Koontz

Responding

*Hymn of Response—Come and Fill Our Hearts—VT 52

Prayers of God’s People

*Sending Song—For the Healing of the Nations—VT 705

Benediction

Postlude—O Come, O Come Immanuel (arr. Robert Ivy)—Chancel Bells

Thank you to the Worship Decoration Committee:  Judy Friesen, Kathy Stucky, Susie Swartley, and Brenda Turner

The Advent Candle Lighting reading and the Confession and Assurance is from Leader Magazine, Mennonite Church USA

The bulletin cover is from SALT Project Inc.  SALT is a not-for-profit production company dedicated to the craft of visual storytelling.

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.