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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.   

ADVENT SUNDAY 1
Dare to imagine God’s goodness
Prelude

BCMC Vocal ensemble—VT 210 O Come, O Come, Immanuel

                                        VT 216 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

                                        VT 218 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

                                       VT 269 Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Gathering

Welcome and Call to Worship—John Waltner

Advent Candle Lighting—Simon Hodge

Leader:     We light a candle of hope.

                 And we imagine:

People:    God’s righteousness, God’s steadfast love, God’s justice.

Leader:     We light the candle to see God’s goodness in us, among us.

Hope is a Candle –Verse 1—VT 211

Confession and Assurance

Leader:   Trees grow silently—

               from deep inside—energy is released.

               Branches reach for the light.

               People can grow silently, too.

People:  We confess that all too often we stifle the growth

               God inspires deep inside of us,

               preferring the immediate, the good enough, the comfortable.

Leader:   In Advent—O God—cause us to get up, lean forward, and extend our gaze.

People:  Surely God, who caused the righteous Branch to spring up,

               will enliven our imaginations in this season of hope.

               (silence)

*Hymn—Bless’d be the God of Israel—VT 223

Hearing God’s Word

Children’s Conversation—Carol Flickinger

Scripture—Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21: 25-36—Margaret Goering

Sermon—Hopeful Waiting—Dawn Yoder Harms

Responding

*Hymn of Response—Now the Heavens Start to Whisper—VT 237

Communion

Prayers of God’s People—John Waltner

Sending

Sending Song—Go, My Friends, In Grace—VT 810

Benediction

Postlude (please remain seated)

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BCMC Vocal Ensemble:  Cynthia Linscheid, Virginia Mininger, Susie Swartley,

Barbara Thiesen, Ron Garber, Dave Linscheid, Vern Preheim, Aaron Tschetter.

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.

Audio-Visual—Ken Lamp

Pastors—Dawn Yoder Harms, Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 21, 2021
A Service of Gratitude

Prelude—Cello Concerto in D minor (Lalo)—Caleb Garber cellist, Lisa Schmidt pianist

Christ Candle Lighting—Nathan Koontz

Introit—VT #9 Come Away from Rush and Hurry – vs. 1—Chancel Choir

William Eash, director; Verlene Garber accompanist

Welcome                                                                                                                                            

*Hymn— Now Thank We All Our God—VT 114

Children’s Conversation—Megan Kohlman                                                                                   

Worship Music—Do Not Fear (Fred Gramann)—Chancel Choir

Scripture Reading—Psalm 118:1-9; 22-29—Vern Preheim                                                           

Sermon—Gratitude in the Midst of Grief—Renee Reimer

*Hymn—Praise, I Will Praise You Lord—VT 131

Prayers of God’s people—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—Great Is Thy Faithfulness—VT 419                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Benediction—Renee Reimer

Benediction Response—VT #839 Go Ye Now in Peace— Congregation join the choir on the second singing of the verse

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Nov 14, 2021

GATHERING

Prelude—Now thank we all our God—(Sigfrid Karg-Elert)—Karen Schlabaugh

Lighting the Christ Candle—Duane Friesen

Welcome and Prayer                                                                                                                        

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

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky

Scripture Reading—Matthew 13:33—Gwen Neufeld

Sermon— The Dough is Rising—Dawn Yoder Harms, Ron Guenther, Mennonite Disaster Service

RESPONDING

*Hymn of Response—Jesus Christ is Love Divine—VT 749

Kingdom Report: Gifts Discernment Survey—Dale Schrag

Prayers of God’s people—Duane Friesen

SENDING

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

Benediction—Dawn Yoder Harms

Postlude—Jubliance (Raymond Haan)—Karen Schlabaugh—(please remain seated)                    

VT = Voices Together

AV technician—Ben Lichti

Flowers at the front of the church—Judy Friesen

Thank you Judy Friesen for today’s display on the communion table

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 7, 2021
Stewardship Sunday

Prelude— Come, Great God of All the Ages

                   God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven

                   Now Thank We All Our God

                   (Paul Manz)—Shirley King, organ 

Christ Candle Lighting—Dawn Yoder Harms

Land Acknowledgment

Welcome and Prayer

Hymn—God Whose Giving (stanza 3 sung in unison)—VT 745

Worship Music—Lord God of Abraham from Elijah (Felix Mendelssohn)—Gene Miller

Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz

Scripture Reading— Matthew 13:44-46—Addie Zerger                                                                   

Sermon—What is your pearl? — Nathan Koontz

Hymn—Will You Come and Follow me—VT 540

Kingdom Report:  bcmcXpressI—Al Peters

Prayer of Dedication

L:  Great God, you are the giver of life and all that is good.

P: Accept our gifts and multiply them.

    Accept our hearts and mold them.

    Accept our lives and transform them,

           that we might live in the power of the resurrection,

           willing to risk all for your kingdom.

L:  In the name of Jesus we offer our gifts,

     and in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Adapted from Words for Worship 2, edited by Dianne Zaerr Brenneman, ©2009 by Herald Press, Scottdale, PA.

Prayers of God’s people

Hymn—Sent Forth by God’s Blessing—VT 812

Benediction—Nathan Koontz

Postlude—We Believe in One True God (J. S. Bach)—Shirley King

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VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Flowers at the front of the church—Brenda Turner

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

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.   

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
October 31, 2021

GATHERING

Prelude—Concerto for Cello in D Minor by Lalo—Caleb Garber and Verlene Garber

Lighting the Christ Candle—Ben Lichti

Welcome

Prayer

*Hymn of Praise—Could it be that God is Singing—VT 42

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Children’s Conversation—3^rd Grade Bible Presentation—Renee Reimer

Worship Music—I waited for the Lord (Mendelssohn)— Ron Garber and Virginia Mininger

Scripture Reading—Psalm 146; Luke 16:19-31—Norma Johnson

Sermon—Faithful Economics—Dawn Yoder Harms

RESPONDING

*Hymn of Response—God of the Bible—VT 420

Prayers of God’s people

SENDING

*Sending Hymn—Sing a New World Into Being—VT 809

Benediction—Dawn Yoder Harms

Postlude—Lobe den Herren (Micheelsen—Verlene Garber

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Francis Toews

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
October 24, 2021

Prelude—Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier  (Johann Gottfried Walther)—Karen Schlabaugh, organ

Christ Candle Lighting—Adam Robb

Welcome and Prayer

Hymn—Together—VT 389

Children’s Conversation—Jim Robb

Worship Music—Moto perpetuo by Karl Bohm—Lily Schloneger, violin

Scripture Reading—Luke 15:11-32—Lois Brubacher

Sermon—The Found Son(s)—Renee Reimer

Hymn—Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling—VT 544

Prayers of God’s people—Adam Robb

Hymn—God Be with You Till We Meet Again—VT 840

Benediction—Renee Reimer

Postlude—Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen Koenig Der Ehren  (Johann Gottfried Walther)—

Karen Schlabaugh, organ

VT = Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 26, 2021
GATHERING

Prelude—Come, Christians, Join to Sing (arr. Hamlin)—Will Friesen, organ

Lighting the Christ Candle—Nathan Koontz

Welcome

Prayer

*Hymn of Praise—All People That on Earth Do Dwell—VT 5

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Children’s Conversation—Renee Reimer

Hymn—Because the Words We wait to Hear—VT 406

Scripture Reading—Mark 4:1-12, 33-34

Sermon—Dawn Yoder Harms

RESPONDING

*Hymn of Response—Open My Eyes—VT 732—Verses 1, 2, 3, 5

Kingdom Report—Elizabeth Schmidt and Dawn Yoder Harms

Prayers of God’s people—Nathan Koontz

*Sending Hymn—Go, My Friends, in Grace—VT 810

Benediction—Dawn Yoder Harms

Postlude (please remain seated)— Rigaudon (by A. Campra)—Will Friesen                

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VT—Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Flowers in Church—Kathy Stucky

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms

Mel Lehman was the guest speaker for Peace Sunday.   Mel is a long time peace activist and director of Common Humanity which focuses on peacemaking through understanding, respect, and friendship with the Middle East and Muslim world.  Mel lives part-time in Hesston and the remainder of the time in New York City where he is a deacon at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship.  For more information about Common Humanity, go to commonhumanity.org.  

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 19, 2021
Peace Sunday

Prelude—Sonata #6 [Chorale, Andante Sostenuto, Andante]— (Mendelssohn)

Verlene Garber, organ

Christ Candle Lighting—Jake Friesen

Call to Worship and Prayer

*Hymn—What Is This Place—VT 22

Children’s Conversation—Nathan Koontz

Scripture Reading—Luke 10: 25-37—Elaine Schurr

Sermon—The Vastness of God’s Love—Mel Lehman

*Hymn—In Christ There is no East or West—VT 390

Prayers of God’s people

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

Benediction—Mel Lehman

Postlude—Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer (J. Bert Carlson)—Verlene Garber

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VT—Voices Together

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

Flowers in Church—Kathy Stucky

Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, Dawn Yoder Harms