BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 27, 2022

Prelude—Adagio in A Minor—(J.S. Bach)—Karen Schlabaugh, organ

Lighting the Christ Candle—Lois Preheim

Welcome and Prayer

Leader: Together we seek the way of God,

People: rejoicing that we are new creations in Christ.

Leader: From a human point of view, we demand what is ours,

People: but through Jesus we learn that all share in God’s inheritance.

Leader: Let us join God’s feast,

People: where all celebrate together.

ALL: Let us live out God’s way of inclusion.

Lenten Prayer of Confession

Leader: Holy One, we seek you while you may be found.

People: We call upon you while you are near.

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, for our thoughts are not your thoughts, and our ways are not your ways.

People: Forgive us for thinking we deserve special treatment. Lead us to radical inclusion.

Leader: As we walk with Christ on this Lenten journey, let us see your way more clearly.

ALL: and follow your way more faithfully.

*Hymn—Far, Far Away/I Will Arise—VT300

Children’s Conversation—Megan Kohlman

Scripture Reading—Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32—Lincoln and Brad Kohlman

Sermon—. . . with open arms—Todd Schlosser

*Hymn—Together—VT 389

Prayers of God’s people—Lois Preheim

 *Hymn—We Are People of God’s Peace—VT797

*Benediction—Todd Schlosser

Postlude—Herzlich tut mich verlangen (Johann Gottfried Walther)—Karen Schlabaugh

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser

  BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 20, 2022
From Earning to Receiving
Seeking God’s Ways

Prelude— Lonesome Valley (arr. Francis Jackson)—Verlene Garber, organ

                  Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen (J.S. Bach)

Introit—Calm Me Lord [VT 680]—Chancel Choir, William Eash, director; Verlene Garber, accompanist

Christ Candle Lighting—Dave Linscheid

Call to Worship

Leader:  Together we seek the way of God,

People:  whose ways are not our ways, whose thoughts are beyond our thoughts.

Leader:  Today we accept God’s invitation to the feast,

People:  where there is water in the desert and delightful food to share.

Leader:  As we worship, we receive the abundant gifts of God

People: without money and without price.

All:  So let us praise God and sing for joy.

Lenten Prayer of Confession

Leader:  Holy One, we seek you while you may be found.

People:  We call upon you while you are near.

Leader:  Have mercy on us, O God, for our thoughts are not your thoughts and our ways are not your ways.

People:  Forgive us for acting as if we must earn your love. Open us to receiving your love as a gift.

Leader:  As we walk with Christ on the Lenten journey, let us see your way more clearly

All:  and follow your way more faithfully.

*Hymn—My Hope is Built—VT 621

Children’s Conversation—Jim Robb

Worship Music—Do Not Be Afraid (Philip W. J. Stopford)—Chancel Choir

Scripture Reading— Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1-9—Jon and Justin Zerger

Sermon— A Year of Grace—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—Precious Lord, Take My Hand—VT 610

Prayers of God’s People—Dave Linscheid

*Hymn—You Shall Go Out with Joy—VT 847

Benediction—Renee Reimer

Benediction Response—We are Tossed and Driven [VT 311]—Chancel Choir

Postlude—Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (arr. Fleischer)—Verlene Garber

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* You are invited to stand         VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Todd Schlosser

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 13, 2022
From Fear to Compassion
Seeking God’s Ways

Prelude—A Suite of Passion (Wilbur Held)—1. Jesus, I Will Ponder Now—2. In the Cross of Christ I Glory—3. O Darkest Woe—Karen Schlabaugh, organ

Introit–What Wondrous Love Is This (arr. Douglas Wagner)—Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director

Christ Candle Lighting—Todd Schlosser

Call to Worship

Leader:  Together we seek the way of God.

People:  As disappointment oppresses and violence threatens,

Leader:  We come to ask: Whom shall we fear?

People:  We come to be reminded of God’s power and to be led more deeply into God’s love.

Leader:  We long to gather under the wings of Christ, as a mother hen,

All:  and to learn the holy way of compassion.

Lenten Prayer of Confession

Leader:  Holy One, we seek you while you may be found.

People:  We call upon you while you are near.

Leader:  Have mercy on us, O God, for our thoughts are not your thoughts and our ways are not your ways.

People:  Forgive us for living out of fear.  Help us to live out of compassion.

Leader:  As we walk with Christ on the Lenten journey, let us see your way more clearly

All:  and follow your way more faithfully.

*Hymn—I Sought the Lord—VT 161

Children’s Conversation—Glen Ediger

Worship Music—When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (arr. Kastner & McChesney)—Chancel Bells

Kin-dom Report—Elizabeth Schmidt

Scripture Reading—Luke 13:31-35—Bill Swartley 

Sermon—Looking Into Fear, Seeing Compassion—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth—VT 426

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—The Lord Is My Light—VT 437

Benediction—Nathan Koontz

Postlude—What Wondrous Love Is This (Manz)—Karen Schlabaugh

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* You are invited to stand

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Todd Schlosser

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
March 6, 2022
Lent 1: From security to generosity

Prelude—Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word  (Manz and Rhosymedre – Vaughn Williams)—Verlene Garber, organ

Introit—Calm me Lord [VT 680]—Chancel Choir; director William Eash; accompanist Verlene Garber

Lighting the Christ Candle—Raylene Hinz-Penner

Land Acknowledgement   

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. 
and find new paths of right relationships with them
and all of creation.

Welcome and Prayer    

                                                                                                                                                            
*Hymn—Holy Spirit, Come with Power— VT 57

Kin-dom Report—Janeen Bertsche Johnson

Children’s Conversation—Bethany Schrag, Jill Robb, Yolanda Kauffman                                                               

Worship Music—God so Loved the World (Stainer)—Chancel Choir

Scripture Reading—Luke 4:1-13—Carol Flickinger

Sermon—Found in the Wilderness—Janeen Bertsche Johnson

*Hymn—Fill Us with Your Feast—VT 309

Communion—Renee Reimer and Todd Schlosser

Prayers of God’s people—Raylene Hinz-Penner

*Hymn—We, Your People, Sing Your Praises—VT 849                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

*Benediction—Janeen Bertsche Johnson

Benediction Response—We are Often Tossed and Driven [VT 311]—Chancel Choir

Postlude—Trumpet Tune (Johnson)—Verlene Garber

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VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp
Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser

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Janeen Bertsche Johnson from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) joins BCMC for worship this Sunday.  Janeen will share about AMBS during the kinship time and offers the morning sermon on this upcoming first Sunday of Lent.  The following is from her short biography on the AMBS website.

“Janeen brings to her ministry a passion for worship, music, community, and encouraging the gifts of others. She graduated from Bluffton College (now University), then entered seminary at AMBS, graduating with the MDiv in 1989.

After serving six years on the pastoral team of Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita, KS., she returned to AMBS as campus pastor. She also has roles in admissions, alumni relations, and teaching. Janeen has been a member of the Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA from 2003 to 2011, and has served on many other conference and denominational committees and boards.”

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BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 27, 2022

Prelude—O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross (J.S. Bach)—Karen Schlabaugh, organ

Christ Candle Lighting—Darlene Dick

Welcome and Prayer

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

Children’s Conversation—Bethany Schrag, Jill Robb, Yolanda Kauffman

Worship Music—Holy Manna and Promised Land (arr. by Martha Lynn Thompson)—

Menno Ringers

Scripture Reading—Mark 5:1-21—Addison and Justin Zerger

Sermon—The Other Side—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—We Worship God the Rock—VT 424

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore—VT 283

Benediction—Nathan Koontz

Postlude—Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit (J.S. Bach)—Karen Schlabaugh

* All who are able are invited to stand

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Todd Schlosser

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 20, 2022

Prelude—All Depends On Our Possessing (Flor Peeters)—Verlene Garber, organ

Lighting of the Christ Candle—Dianne Epp

Welcome and prayer—Dianne Epp

Children’s Conversation—Adam Robb

*Hymn–O Worship our God, All Glorious Above—VT 74

Scripture reading—Mark 4:35-41—Raylene Hinz-Penner

Sermon—Todd Schlosser

Hymn—Calm me, Lord—VT 680 

Prayers for God’s people—Dianne Epp

Hymn—Longing for Light—VT 715

Benediction—Todd Schlosser

Postlude—This Is My Song [VT 710]—Verlene Garber

VT= Voices Together

Audio Visual—Ken Lamp  

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 13, 2022

Prelude—Here I am, Lord; Lord of the Dance (arr. Douglas Wagner)— Will Wiebe-Friesen, organ

Lighting the Christ Candle—Lois Preheim

Welcome and Prayer

*Hymn—Brethren, We Have Met to Worship—VT 25

Kin-dom Report—Doris Whillock

Children’s Conversation—Tim Hodge

Scripture Reading—Luke 6:17-26—Karen Penner

Sermon—Called to join the Jesus community—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—Jesus Christ Is Waiting—VT 287

Prayers of God’s people—Lois Preheim

*Hymn—Beauty for Brokenness—VT 712

*Benediction—Renee Reimer

Postlude— Little Fugue in B-flat, (J.S. Bach)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser

Music Ensemble—William Eash, Esther Eash, Barbara Thiesen, and Matt Schloneger

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

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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.

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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

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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

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VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz