BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
May 31, 2026
BCMC Announcements
The Week at BCMC: May 31—June 7, 2026
Sunday, May 31, 2026—Vacation Bible School Sunday
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. There will be no worship service in the BCMC building this Sunday, unless there is rain. The service and potluck will then move to BCMC.
We are having a great week at Vacation Bible School learning about our connections to God and to each other! What a gift to play and worship with people from other Mennonite churches! A special thanks goes out to the Bethel College Mennonite Church volunteers helping with crafts and science, recreation, nursery, first aid, and meals. This is truly a team effort. And YOU can be part of this community-building, and faith-growing experience by joining us for our VBS worship this Sunday, 10 a.m., at Athletic Park. Bring a chair and something for the potluck lunch afterwards! This year’s offering is going to support Peace Connections summer SEAK program.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Pastor Joanna will be on vacation from June 3 to June 16.
7 p.m. Senior High Youth Group Activity
Thursday, June 4, 2026
4 p.m. Staff Congregation Relations Committee–Room 14
Saturday, June 6, 2026
10 a.m. Memorial Service for Dorlan Bales
Sunday, June 7, 2026
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; Welcoming new board/commission/committee members
BCMC Offering for May 24: Gen. Fund $3,425.34; Caring Fund $1,000; Library Reserve Fund $10; Kitchen Fund $25; Women’s Fellowship $215.
Upcoming Memorial Services:
· June 6, 10 a.m.: Memorial Service for Dorlan Bales. Dorlan died March 31.
· June 19, 3 p.m.: Memorial Service for Marles Preheim. Marles died May 5.
· June 20, 11 a.m.: Memorial Service for Lavern Stucky. Lavern died September 29, 2025.
The Worship Commission is planning for a hymn sing service on July 26. If you have a hymn request, you can send it to Pastor Joanna by July 13. Please include a sentence or two about why you appreciate the requested hymn.
The Worship Commission still has some summer openings for worship leading scripture reading, and children’s conversation volunteers. Please contact a pastor or Adam Robb if you would like to volunteer.
BCMC Prayer Network: The Prayer Network is an email-based prayer network comprised of Deacon Commission members and BCMC congregants. Participants make a one-year commitment to this prayer ministry which is coordinated by Pastors and the Office and Facilities Manager. Pastors respond to prayer requests and determine when and how these requests are distributed. Specific prayer requests are shared only with the permission of the person(s) involved. If you would like to join the BCMC prayer network, please email your interest to office@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org. Thanks to all who serve BCMC in the Prayer Network.
Dear BCMC congregation,
A note of thanks to you for your generosity when called to “donate to the BCMC Fishbowl Caring Fund” a few times a year. This Caring Fund is an above budget fundraiser to assist those in our local and extended community with financial assistance. During our last Caring Fund drive, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday a total of $1640 were donated. Over Thanksgiving is another “Fishbowl Caring fund opportunity”. (Donations are accepted all year long). The following agencies and organizations have benefitted in the past: New Hope Shelter; Community Playschool; Harvest of Love; Peace Connections; Newton Community (Accessible playground project) Foundation; USD 373 School Lunch Program; USD 373 Social Workers and Counselors; Individuals and Families in our congregation. (From the Deacons Commission)
Parents of BCMC Youth! Camping season is coming up soon! If your child will be attending camp this summer, Faith Formation would like to support them in two ways. As a congregation we would like to know when your child is at camp so mail can be sent to them at camp. We would also like to know in regards to providing a church scholarship to help offset some of the cost of the camping week. Happy Summer! Email Jill Robb at jill@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org
BCMC has two church benches (pews) available. You may have one for your very own. These benches are located in the chapel. One bench is 6 ft.6 in. and the other is 3 ft.11 inches. You will have to make arrangements to remove the benches. Come take a look.
The Pastoral Search Committee continues to review Ministerial Information Forms as they are made available through Western District Conference as we continue to search for a third pastor to join Nathan and Joanna. Please hold committee members and our future associate pastor in prayer during this time. Contact committee chair Megan Leary with questions or suggestions.
Community Announcements
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!
Bethel College Announcements
| Karin Kaufman Wall has recently become the coordinator for Bethel College’s Host Family program. She currently has several students seeking host families for the fall and would love to pair these students with BCMC people! You do not need to be a Bethel College alumni to participate, you just need to be willing to offer a helping hand–and maybe a few meals–to young adults who are far from home. See the program web site for more information and to sign up. |
Sat., June 6: Kauffman Museum monthly bird walk, 7 a.m. start time in the museum parking lot at the corner of Main and 27th streets (2801 N. Main St., North Newton 67117). Experienced birders lead a walk of 1-1.5 hours in Chisholm Park and on Sand Creek Trail (terrain is mostly wood-chip path and sometimes uneven/sloping).
Sat., June 6: The public is invited to Walk Sand Creek Trail Day, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., as part of National Trails Day®. Water will be available for people and leashed dogs at the trailhead at Memorial Grove on the Bethel College campus, courtesy of the Sand Creek Trail Committee, with members there to answer any questions about the trail.
Fri., June 12: The Bethel College alumni office is sponsoring a World Cup soccer-watching party, U.S. vs. Paraguay, on the campus Green (rain location: 1887 Café in Schultz Student Center). Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase starting at 7 p.m.; kickoff is at 8 p.m. Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs.
Please join for the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Summer Chamber concert on Sunday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hesston Mennonite Church. Winds and brass take the stage as a flute quartet, woodwind trio, wind sextet, and brass quintet play works by Barber, Mozart, Weber and Castérède. Advance tickets for sale online, and at Faith and Life Bookstore. Tickets will also be available the day of the concert at the door. https://nmkso.org/tickets/
Mennonite Central Committee Mini Blitz, Fri., June 26 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat., June 27 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at MCC Central States, 121 E. 30th Street, North Newton. You’re invited to bring a friend, grandkids or come and meet new friends, all are welcome! If you can tie a knot, you can help complete comforters at MCC, no sewing required. Bring a snack to share and your own sack lunch for Friday. Questions? Please contact brociamueller@mcc.org or find out more at mcc.org/mini-blitz.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Announcement
Be part of something special at the first-ever NAMIWalks Mid-Kansas Event on Saturday, June 13 in Hesston! This event brings our community together to raise awareness, support mental health, and remind others they are not alone. Proceeds help fund free, local programs through NAMI Kansas. Registration and check-in opens at 9 am at Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main, Hesston. The 1.4 mile walk around the Hesston College Campus will begin at 10 am. –Register, walk, or support the cause at namiwalks.org/midkansas; Questions? Contact Deb Penner, NAMIWalks Mid-Kansas Walk Manager, at 316-288-0354 or 620-869-1143.
Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Only one month before Youth Camps begin! Most needed are a head cook for PreJunior 1, June 21-25, and a nurse for Junior 2, July 19-24. Kitchen staff is needed for June 21-25 and July 5-9 (both PreJunior camps). Other weeks are filled–thank you to everyone who is volunteering! Support staff will stay in the Retreat Center, unless a group reserves the building during the week. Please contact Camp Mennoscah at olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 to volunteer. If Olivia has to cook, it will be three meals of crackers and cheese. (She’s not serious about the crackers and cheese, but please tap some shoulders.)
Items needed for the Retreat Center are shower curtains (opaque white preferred), queen mattress pads, queen comforters and queen fitted & flat sheets. Three queen beds were added for a total of 4 rooms with queen beds and camp does not have enough queen-sized bedding. Camp Mennoscah has also relied on a summer staffer with a good camera (digital SLR with interchangeable lenses) and camp needs its own camera for both summer and year-round use. A simple “point and shoot” camera no longer fits camp’s needs. Donations can be either funds or the items themselves.
Volunteer needs include poison ivy control, pest control (bugs), and removal of some dead trees. Please contact Camp Mennoscah at olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290. We would be extra-happy to have some help with these tasks.
Scholarship funds are needed! First time campers are reaping the benefits of the first time camper scholarship, but there are limited funds for returning campers. Camp is an important part of faith development and building a community of faith. This is an easy and amazing way to support youth in their faith journey. Contact camp at 620-297-3290, write a check or donate online at https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/278483 with “scholarship fund” in the memo. (See camp address below.)
Plenty of room at the inn! Summer youth camps are not yet filled to overflowing, which would fill this sacred space called Camp Mennoscah with abounding joy. Full camps increase the energy and joy exponentially. The theme for the summer is “In the Wilderness.” Through the new, strange and unknown of “wilderness,” we will discover the sacred within each person and all creation and meet God there. Summer Youth Camps are for youth in grades 3-12 (Fall 2026). Register at https://campmennoscah.campbrainregistration.com/
Copies of the announcements are in the Gathering Place.
For a printable pdf of these announcements press here.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News from Around the World” press here
Mobilize for peace with us
Mennonite Mission Network places volunteers in 177 placements — from local communities across the street to countries around the world — to share the peace of Christ with all people.
Now we need your help.
By donating to the Mennonite Mission Network Fund, you can help equip more workers, strengthen more communities, and expand the reach of Christ’s peace. Will you join us?
Visit MennoniteMission.net/Mobilize today and help us reach our goal of $350,000.
For Mennonite World Conference press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here
From Mennonite Church USA
One of the ways that Mennonite Church USA creates and nurtures missional peace churches is through church planting. MC USA helps support church plants through the Thrive: Church Planting Grant, a renewable $5,000 annual grant. Learn more and apply by July 31 here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/thrivegrant
Ten Hispanic students, all active pastors, were the first cohort to graduate from the new Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies program offered by Hispanic Ministries of Mennonite Church USA and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Read more here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/first-cohort-graduates/
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Menno Village is an 80-acre farm near Sapporo, Japan, that emphasizes sustainable agriculture and provides food for their neighbors via a community supported agriculture program. Pray that this ministry is able to challenge the systems that exploit people and land by caring for all creation.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for new church plants across WDC, that God would guide leaders with wisdom, courage, and discernment as they serve their communities. -WDC Church Planting Commission
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.