BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 3, 2026
Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit,
to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.
To livestream the worship service for Sunday, May 3:
On Sunday morning, around 9:20 a.m. go to BCMC’s webpage at bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org and click the green button labeled LIVE STREAM on the right side of the screen, which will take you to the worship service. If you get a message in the black box that the video is unavailable, click the gray box below that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. Anytime after the service concludes, you can watch a recording of the service at your convenience by clicking the same green LIVE STREAM button. Again, you will probably have to go to the gray box that says “View Live Stream on YouTube”. That will transfer you to the BCMC YouTube Channel. You will have to click on the tab “Videos” to see all of the BCMC videos. Click the red button to see the bulletin/order of service.
OR – click on this link for this Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/IgkxD2y0ep0?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
May 3, 2026
Prayers for Peace
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—Master Tallis’s Testament (Herbert Howells)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Land Acknowledgement & Welcome—Dorothy Nickel Friesen
*Hymn—God of Grace and God of Glory—VT 716
Children and Youth Conversation
Worship Music—Lucy Burch, flute
Scripture Reading—2 Kings 6:8-23—Jim Robb
*Hymn—This Is My Song—VT 710
Sermon—Fighting and Feasting—Joanna Harader
*Hymn—My Soul Cries Out—VT 412
Senior Recognition—Maisie Brubacher and Emma Gering
Receiving the Offering and Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn—Dona nobis pacem—VT 707–Lucy Burch and Annabelle Francouer, flutes
*Charge and Benediction
Postlude—Let There Be Peace on Earth (arr. Wiebe-Friesen)
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
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.
Going Beyond Land Acknowledgement:
Educate yourself about the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Read Laurie Dove’s MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN. Join Kansas Repair Communities. Next meeting is at Faith Mennonite Church, 5:30 p.m., May 11.
Music Note from Will Wiebe-Friesen
Master Tallis’s Testament was composed in 1940 by English composer Herbert Howells. Inspired by Vaughn Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, it is an homage to the Tudor composer Thomas Tallis. Voices Together contains two hymn tunes by Tallis, which you can find at VT 326 and 505. Master Tallis’s Testament was composed in the eve of World War II, which I think comes through in the sorrowful tone and climactic build in tension. The whisper-quiet closing offers comfort after the roaring full organ climax. This piece is a good introduction to the opening hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory. The tune CWM RHONDDA, which is named for a valley in Wales, was composed by a contemporary of Howells, with the text used today by an America pastor, Harry Emerson Fosdick. Fosdick wrote the text for the dedication of Riverside Church in NYC, and the text reflects the era he lived in–World War I was in the recent past, the Great Depression was brewing, and tensions in Europe were building. Both of these are calls for peace during tumultuous times.
The Week at BCMC: May 3—10, 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Lucy Burch
YouTube Link for the worship service:
https://youtube.com/live/IgkxD2y0ep0?feature=share
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
11 a.m. Poems and Prayers Group—Chapel
1—3:30 p.m. Bethel College choir setup for recording—Sanctuary
3:30—5:30 p.m. Bethel College choir recording—Sanctuary
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Noon—3:30 p.m. Bethel College choir recording—Sanctuary
7 p.m. Church Board—Room 14
7 p.m. Senior High Youth Group Faith Exploration—Room 24
Friday, May 8, 2026
Noon—4:30 p.m. Bethel College choir recording—Sanctuary
Saturday, May 9, 2026
2-4 p.m. Memorial Reception for Don Harrold—Fellowship Hall
7 p.m. Bethel College Concert Choir Europe Tour Send-off Concert—
Sanctuary
Sunday, May 10, 2026—Bethel College Baccalaureate
9:30 a.m. Prelude by Bethel College’s Open Road and Woven
10 a.m. Baccalaureate Service in the Sanctuary
5:30 p.m. Private Graduation Party in Fellowship Hall
On Wednesday, April 29, BCMC hosted a Conscientious Objector Information Night for area high school and college-age youth. By our best count, 29 young people began the process of creating a CO file! Several attendees spent time filling out their Peacemaker Registration Forms and sent copies to MCC and their churches. (BCMC now has four on file.) People came from as far as Salina, and people from Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Brethren churches participated as well. Folders with information from the event are available in the church office. Feel free to contact Pastor Joanna with any questions or if you would like to receive the material via email.
Pastors Nathan and Joanna are leading the faith exploration session May 20, 7 p.m. with the high school youth during Wednesday night youth group . Our church retreat and baptism at Camp Mennoscah has been moved from its usual time in May to Aug. 30.
Memorial Gathering for Don Harrold
Donald Harrold, a long-time member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, died on Saturday, April 25. All are welcome to an informal celebration of life and time of sharing in the BCMC fellowship hall on Saturday, May 9 from 2-4. This is a come-and-go event but there will be structured sharing at 3. Please come and enjoy this time of fellowship as we grieve Don’s passing and remember and celebrate his life.
The Sprunger family thanks everyone who participated in Aldine’s card shower. We had hoped she would receive 90 cards, but thanks to everyone’s support, she ended up with well over 100. The electronic greetings and cards were a welcome surprise for her 90th birthday. There will be a public reception for Aldine on June 28, to which you are all invited.
From the Finance committee
As the 1st quarter of the financial year of our church ends, we offer gratitude for the generosity shared in donating monetary offerings toward our annual budget. Each gift is important to the process of fulfilling our mission. A brief BCMC financial report of the general fund income and expenses on March 31, 2026 (25% of the year) is listed below.
Total income $ 103,161 18% of budget
Total expense $ 131,979 23% of budget
Net income/expense -$ 28,817
BCMC Offering for Apr. 26: Gen. Fund $17,315.34; MCC Meat Canning $500; Plant Fund $50; Kitchen Fund $15; Women’s Fellowship $658; Al Penner Mem. $50; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $25.
The Bethel College Board of Directors invites you to a reception honoring Dr. Jon and Deborah Gering for their dedicated service to the College. As Bethel’s 15th president, Dr. Gering has led with vision and purpose, achieving an impressive array of accomplishments that have positioned the College for continued growth and success. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and tireless commitment he and Deborah have shared with the Bethel community. Please join us as we celebrate their legacy and leadership, Wednesday, May 6, 3–6 p.m. (Remarks at 4:30 p.m.) in the 1887 Café in the Schultz Student Center.
If you wish to send a personal note of appreciation and/or well wishes to Jon and Deborah, please submit your message to Rosa Barrera, Assistant to the President, by May 1. Submission options include: Email: rbarrera@bethelks.edu
Mail: Office of the President, Bethel College, 300 East 27th Street, North Newton, KS 67117
In person: Administration Building, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be Tuesday-Friday evenings May 26-29 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church and May 31 Worship at 10 a.m. (in Athletic Park). Evening VBS is for any and all children who have just completed Preschool (Age 4) through 4th grade. VBS will conclude with a Sunday morning worship on May 31 for ALL ages beginning at 10 a.m. in Athletic Park (700 W 1st St, Newton), immediately followed by games & crafts, fellowship and a potluck lunch. Please register your child/ren online by May 4th using this link (or scan the QR code): https://forms.gle/8A7mo7dBEDuhSQ8a6 VBS is a joint venture of Bethel College Mennonite Church, Faith Mennonite Church, First Mennonite Church, Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania, New Creation Fellowship Church, and Shalom Mennonite Church.
Adults can join the fun! VBS volunteer forms are available at the back of the sanctuary. Please contact Jill Robb or Joanna Harader for more information.
Bethel College Announcements: (Krehbiel Auditorium and the Regier Art Gallery are in the Luyken Fine Arts Center)
Sun., May 3: Bethel College Masterworks Concert, 4 p.m.: Haydn’s The Creation, with mass choir, orchestra and soloists, and including presentation of the Erwin C. and Verna Kaufman Goering Music Award to Dr. Barbara Fast.; Memorial Hall
· Fri., May 8: Artist reception for Tre August, Nick Collins, Yuretzi Licea and Senior Art Exhibit II, 7-8 p.m., Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m. This week is the last chance to see the exhibit.
· Bethel College commencement weekend is Fri.-Sun., May 8-10.
EVENTS: Friday – Senior Art Exhibit reception, 7-8 p.m., Regier Gallery;
Saturday – Nurse Pinning Ceremony, 2 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center;
Saturday: Concert Choir Europe Tour Send-off Concert, 7 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church;
Sunday: Baccalaureate, 10 a.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church;
Commencement, 4 p.m., Memorial Hall.
Hesston College Announcements
· Commencement Weekend 2026 will be celebrated at Hesston College May 15 and 16. Weekend activities include a theatre showcase, student recitals, nursing pinning ceremony, commencement ceremony and much more. For information and full schedule of activities visit hesston.edu/commencement.
· Music and Memories: A concert celebrating Ken Rodgers’ four decades at Hesston College: Plan to join the Hesston College community Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church for this special celebration. The evening will feature music by Bel Canto Singers, organ and piano selections and congregational singing, along with reflections from Ken on his years at the college. All are welcome to attend this special celebration. For more information, visit hesston.edu/ken-rodgers.
· Hesston College will host the annual Lark Open golf tournament on Sat., May 30, at Hesston Golf Park. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. for the four-person scramble event with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The tournament features many team and individual prizes, hole-in-one prizes and raffle prizes. For more information visit hesston.edu/lark-open-info. The deadline to register is May 27.
Bluestem Communities hosts a summer Jr. Volunteer Program at Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa for youth ages 12 to 17. Spend your summer making intergenerational connections and serving seniors. The program runs from June 1 to July 24 on a flexible schedule that meets volunteer needs. Application is required and must be submitted by May 8. To receive an application, contact Volunteer@bluestem.org or 316-836-4821.
Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale Celebration: Join us for a special evening of fellowship and gratitude Fri., June 5, 6 p.m., at the Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerksen Farm, 1582 Falcon, Hillsboro, as we celebrate the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale! This celebration is a reflection on a very successful decade for KMRS. An Appreciation Dinner will be provided at no cost for all who volunteered, attended, and supported the Sale. Enjoy an evening of music and a special presentation to MCC. Please bring lawn chairs and RSVP to Barb at 620-543-6863 (call/text) or bj.reeves@live.com by May 18. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Camp Mennoscah, 9458 SE 40th St, Murdock, KS, 67111, is seeking a bookkeeper/reservation specialist. Experience with accounting/bookkeeping and general office duties is preferred. Must have good phone, people and email skills, along with strong organization. This position has potential to be part-or full-time. Candidate will also need to be able to pass a background check and have transportation to camp property. Some remote work could be available. If interested, send inquiries and resume to Olivia Bartel, olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Anabaptist Disabilities Network press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here
For Mennonite World Conference “Info” press here
Mennonite Voluntary Service Live out your faith through service! Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 term. This one-year volunteer experience is open to individuals age 20+, with the option to extend placements for an additional one to two years.Serve with organizations addressing critical community needs, such as health, education, immigration and more. You won’t do it alone, though! By living with peers in a unit house and growing with a local faith community, MVSers join in the global movement to work for peace and a more just world. Ready to jump in? Go to MennoniteMission.net/MVS to learn more and apply.Placements are available in the following locations: Alamosa, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; San Francisco, California; and Tucson, Arizona.
From Mennonite Church USA
“If the church can learn to stand in solidarity with communities in their most vulnerable places, not as saviors, but as siblings, then there is hope,” wrote Pedro A. Ramos-Goycolea, pastor of Shalom Mennonite Fellowship in Tucson, Arizona, reflecting on his experience at MC USA’s 2026 Hope for the Future gathering. Read his Menno Snapshots blog, “Faith that multiplies,” here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/faith-that-multiplies/
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Austin Roberts has successfully completed his final revision to his dissertation and has returned to work at Youth With A Mission in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland. Pray for him as he discerns what this new phase of life will look like. Pray also that his application for British citizenship will be approved.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for the WDC Annual Assembly planning team, as it prepares creative ways for us to join in “Becoming God’s People,” the theme of our conference gathering August 7-9 hosted by Iglesia Luz del Evangelio in Dallas, TX
Bethel College Mennonite Church is an open and affirming
congregation centered in the life and teachings of Jesus. Embracing the divine within each person, we warmly welcome any and all into fellowship without regard to race, ethnic background, immigration status, gender identity,
sexual orientation, ability, economic status, marital status, or age.