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

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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.   

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

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Joy

Children’s Christmas Service

Prelude—The First Noel (Tufenkjian)—Abby Koontz

                  What Child is This—Brett and Collin Gaeddert

                  Silent Night—Caleb Koontz

                  French Lullaby—Lincoln Kohlman

                  Away in A Manger—Lucy Burch and Kenna Graber

                  O Holy Night—Naomi Koontz

*Advent Candle Hymn—Hope Is a Candle—verses 1-4—VT 211

Advent Candle Lighting—Lawrence, Lincoln, Megan & Brad Kohlman

*Advent Litany—Joy—VT 916

Welcome and Prayer—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—He Came Down—VT 239—5 verses:  Joy, Hope, Peace, Love, Joy

Children’s Christmas Service—Sing and Tell the Story

*Hymn—With Mary Sing Magnificat—VT 208

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—Angels We Have Heard on High—VT 249

Benediction

Postlude—Hark, the Herald Angels Sing—Lucy Burch and Kenna Graber

* You are invited to stand

VT—Voices Together

Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Audio visual—Ben Lichti

SING AND TELL THE STORY!

SCENES AND SONGS

Scene 1—Mary’s Home in Nazareth

Scene 2—Elizabeth’s Home in Judean Hill Country

                    Song—And My Spirit Sings

Scene 3—Joseph’s Carpenter Shop in Nazareth

Scene 4—On the Road from Nazareth to Bethlehem

                      Song—From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Scene 5—Shepherd’s Campsite near Bethlehem

Scene 6—Bethlehem

Scene 7—Everywhere!

                        Song—Go Tell It On the Mountain—VT  252

STORY TELLERS AND SINGERS

Faith Burch

Lucy Burch

Payne Claassen

Collin Gaeddert

Brett Gaeddert

Emma Gering

Emerson Gering

Adah Hodge

Lawrence Kohlman

Lincoln Kohlman

Abby Koontz

Ani Koontz

Naomi Koontz

Mara Oswald

Gabby Robb

Jake Robb

Lily Schloneger

Abram Wall

Mabel Wall

Addie Zerger

Justin Zerger

THANKS

Leaders:  Judy Harder, Mary Ellen Hodge, Tim Hodge, Jill Robb

Musicians:  Will Wiebe-Friesen, Suzy Burch, Tim Hodge, Susie Swartley

Back Drop Design and Builders:  Lauren Friesen, Ron Peters, Keith Harder

Props:  Judy Harder, Glen Ediger, David Kreider, Rose Haury

Intergenerational Sunday School Activities:  Deb Gering, Janet Friesen, Doug Miller, Maisie and Miles Brubacher

Others:  Ben Lichti, Audio-Visual and Monica Lichti

PARENTS!

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 17, 2023
Third Sunday of Advent: Love

Prelude—Nocturno, Op. 7  (Franz Strauss);  Allegro moderato from Horn Concerto No. 1 in C Minor (Franz Strauss)— Chris Miertschin, horn; Will Wiebe-Friesen, piano 

*Advent Candle Hymn—Hope Is a Candle, verses 1-3—VT 211

Advent Candle Lighting—Coralee Shenk, Jeanette & Steve Stucky

*Advent Litany—Love—VT 916

Welcome and Prayer—Esther Kreider Eash

*Hymn—O Come, O Come Immanuel—VT 210

Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz

Anthem—Christmas is Here (Dale Wood)— Chancel Choir; Riley King, director;  Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Scripture Reading—John 1:1-9

*Hymn—The Light Shines in the Darkness—Bulletin insert

Adah Hodge, Mara Oswald, Lily Schloneger sing verses—Congregation sings chorus

Scripture Reading—I John 4:7-12

Sermon—God’s Love Revealed—Roger Neufeld Smith

*Hymn—Love Came Down at Christmas—VT 255

Prayers of God’s People

(Hymn Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord— VT 219)

*Hymn Love Has Come—VT 258

Benediction

Postlude—Toccata on Joy to the World (Brenda Portman)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

* You are invited to stand

VT—Voices Together

Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Audio visual—Frances Toews

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 10, 2023
Second Sunday of Advent: Peace

 
Prelude—O Come, All Ye Faithful (VT 214); Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Dobrinski);
Coventry Carol (Eithun),  Lucy Burch, Flute; Amen, Amen (Lamb)–Chancel Bell Choir, Verlene Garber, director; Members of the Chancel Bells:  Lucy Burch, Suzanne Burch, Ben Lichti, Marlene Ewert, Jane Schmidt, Janet Lubbers, Brenda Turner, Carol Gebrand, Nathan Garber, Ron Garber, Gyles Garber, Caleb Garber
 
*Advent Candle Hymn— Hope Is a Candle, verses 1-2—VT 211
 
Advent Candle Lighting—Lucy and Faith Burch
 
*Advent Litany—Peace— VT 916
 
Welcome and Prayer—Adam Robb
 
*Hymn—Comfort, Comfort, O My People—VT 212
 
Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz
 
Scripture Reading—Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13—Suzanne, Lucy, and Faith Burch
 
Sermon—A God of Peace—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—Unexpected and Mysterious—VT 229
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming—VT 216
 
Benediction
 
Postlude—Variations on In Dulci Jubilo (Theodore Beck)—Karen Schlabaugh
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Karen Schlabaugh
Audio visual—John Thiesen

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent: Hope
 
Prelude—Cynthia Neufeld Smith
(As the prelude music plays, you are encouraged to keep conversation to a minimum)
 
*Advent Candle Hymn—Hope Is a Candle— VT 211— Congregation sing verse 1 only; Susie Swartley, flute
 
Advent Candle Lighting—Judy Harder
 
*Advent Litany—Hope VT 916
 
Welcome—(Land Acknowledgement) and Prayer—Adam Robb
 
*Hymn—Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus—VT 218
 
Children’s Conversation—Christmas Tree Ornaments—Jill Robb
 
Anthem—Chancel Choir
 
Scripture Reading—1 Corinthians 1:3-9—Judy Harder
 
Sermon—The Gift of Hope—Nathan Koontz
 
*Hymn—Oh How Shall I Receive Thee—VT 215
 
Communion—Come to the Table of Grace—VT 461
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Hark! the Glad Sound!—VT 217
 
Benediction
 
Postlude—Cynthia Neufeld Smith
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 26, 2023

Prelude—Cello Suite No. 4  (J.S. Bach) and  Bourrée  (Transcribed by Alamiro Giampieri) and Justin Mathis, clarinet

Christ Candle Lighting

Welcome and Prayer—Margaret Toews

*Hymn—Sing to the Lord of Harvest—VT 122

Children’s Conversation—Jim Robb

Special Music—Romance from Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and Piano  (by Gerald Finzi)

Justin Mathis, clarinet; Karen Schlabaugh, piano

Scripture Reading – Psalm 103:1-8,13-18; Philippians 1:1-7, 4:4-7 Richard Friesen and Dorothy Nickel Friesen

Sermon—Radical Gratitude—Roger Neufeld Smith

*Hymn—Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah—VT 606

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—God, Whose Giving—VT 745

People with November birthdays come forward for a blessing, please bring a hymnal

Benediction

Postlude—Postlude on Beata nobis gaudia (Robert Powell)—Karen Schlabaugh

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*You are invited to stand    VT—Voices Together    Audio visual— Francis Toews

Keyboard—Karen Schlabaugh

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 19, 2023
Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

 
Prelude—Little Prelude and Fugue in C (JS Bach); Now Thank We All Our God (Bach/Fox)—
Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Welcome and Prayer—Elizabeth Schmidt
 
*Hymn—Guide My Feet—VT 816
 
Children’s Conversation—Jeanette Leary
 
Anthem—A Song of Thanksgiving (John Ferguson)—Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
 
Scripture Reading—Psalm 105:4-13; Luke 3:4-9; Deut. 26:1-5—Emma Gering
 
Sermon—Fugitives in the Family Tree—Lauren Friesen
 
*Hymn—Lift Every Voice and Sing—VT 611
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—Praise to the Living God—VT 204
 
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— Ben Lichti

Welcome to Lauren Friesen
We welcome Lauren to deliver the sermon at BCMC today.  Lauren and his partner Janet joined BCMC last May.  Previously they had been active at Chicago Community Mennonite Church where Lauren often preached.  Prior to their time in Chicago, Lauren was a professor at the University of Michigan. We are glad that he and Janet have wandered their way into this community!

This Sunday there were technical difficulties and the service was not live-streamed and it was not possible to record the service. The service was recorded with a cell phone. Ben Lichti, BCMC P.A. operator said: “The video I made with my phone finally finished uploading and processing. The first few minutes are fuzzy and the picture is reversed because it was using my front-facing camera, but then I realized it and reversed it. So the rest is pretty good, and the sound quality is decent.”

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
November 12, 2023
Twenty Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Prelude—Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Miller);  O God, Beyond All Praising (Callahan)–Karen Unruh

Christ Candle Lighting

Welcome and Prayer—Mary Ellen Hodge

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

Children’s Conversation—Esther Koontz

Anthem—God Loves Me Dearly  (Behnke)—Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director; Lucy Burch, flute

Scripture Reading—Amos 5:18-24—Ani Koontz

*Hymn—Darkness Is Not Dark to You, God—VT 200

Scripture Reading—Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16

Sermon—Righteousness, Justice, and Wisdom—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—O Holy Spirit, Root of Life—VT 376

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn Take My Life, and Let It Be—VT 759

Benediction

Postlude—Toccata in Seven (Rutter)—Karen Unruh

* You are invited to stand

VT—Voices Together

Audio visual—Francis Toews

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH

November 5, 2023

Twenty Third Sunday After Pentecost

Prelude— A Mighty Fortress is Our God (arr. Jason Payne)—Will Wiebe-Friesen

Christ Candle Lighting

Land Acknowledgement—Raylene Hinz-Penner

Call to Worship and Prayer—Heather Zerger

*Hymn—Open Lord, My Inward Ear—VT 548

Children’s Conversation—Adah and Tim Hodge

Anthem— God Be in My Head  (John Rutter)—Chancel Choir; Riley King, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist

Scripture Reading—Micah 3:5-12; Matthew 23:1-12—Juliana Schrag

Sermon— Close to the Ground—Nathan Koontz

*Hymn—I Bind My Heart This Tide—VT 556

Welcoming New Members—VT 961

*Hymn—Will You Let Me Be Your Servant—VT 778—All sing verses 1,6; Chancel Choir verses 2,4; Congregation verses 3,5

Prayers of God’s People

*Hymn—My Life Flows On—VT 605

*Benediction—Elizabeth Schmidt

Postlude—Sonata No. 6 “Vater unser” – Allegro molto—(Mendelssohn)— Will Wiebe-Friesen

* You are invited to stand

VT—Voices Together

Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen

Audio visual— Ken Lamp