Remember — this Sunday’s service (August 11) begins at 10 a.m.
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2024
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:
On Sunday morning, around 9:45 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/-gAYqNYB6V4?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
August 11, 2024
Welcome Pastor Joanna Harader
and New Students from Bethel College
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—Cynthia Neufeld Smith
Welcome—Brad Kohlman
Opening Prayer—Tobin Wise
*Hymn—Summoned by the God Who Made Us—VT 1
Old Testament Reading—Deuteronomy 6:4-9—Lilith Jackson
Gospel Reading—Matthew 22:37-40—Emma Graber
Children’s Conversation—Roger Neufeld Smith
Worship Music—When the Morning Stars Together—Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells and
Congregation—Joel Garber, Chancel Choir director; Verlene Garber, Chancel Bells director;
Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
New Testament Reading – Corinthians 3:6-11—Taryn Paulino
Sermon – When the Ground is Shifting —Joanna Harader
*Hymn of Response—We Are People of God’s Peace—VT 797
Prayers of God’s People—Brad Kohlman
*Hymn—Guide My Feet— VT 816
Benediction
Blessing—The Lord Lift You—VT 832
Postlude
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio visual— Ben Lichti
Everyone is invited to meet in the Gathering Place after the worship service to say farewell to Pastor Roger Neufeld Smith and to welcome Pastor Joanna
Harader!
Pastor Joanna will have office hours at the 1887 Cafe in the Schultz Student Center every Thursday morning from ten to noon. She would love for you to stop by for a chat!
The Next Week at BCMC: August 11—18, 2024
Sunday, August 11, 2024
10 a.m. Worship
YouTube Link for this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/-gAYqNYB6V4?feature=share
Come to the Gathering Place after the worship service for cake to say farewell to Pastor Roger Neufeld Smith and to welcome Pastor Joanna Harader!
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
5:30 p.m. Faith Formation Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary
Thursday, August 15, 2024
9:30 a.m. Solar Panel Project Group meeting in Room 14
Friday, August 16, 2024
11 a.m. Inurnment Service for Phyllis Carlson in the BCMC Columbarium
Sunday, August 18, 2024—Welcome to Pastor Joanna Harader
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Pastor Joanna Harader; music by the
Chancel Choir
The memorial service for Marilyn Stucky (Marilyn died June 20) will be Sat., Aug. 31, 11 a.m. at BCMC, with a lunch in fellowship hall following the service.
BCMC Offering for Aug. 4, 2024 General Fund $8,981; Mennonite Central Committee $100; Caring Fund $100; Kitchen Fund $27; Mission Quilters $130.80; Solar Fund $1,050.
Save the Date: Peace Witness Event, Sept. 15-16
The BCMC Witness Commission is very pleased to announce plans for a peace witness event around Peace Sunday on September 15-16. Our church along with the Bible and Religion Department of Bethel College and in collaboration with area churches invites you engage with Christianity and Democracy led by well known author, academic, and presenter, David P. Gushee (https://davidpgushee.com).
A new book, THE CHURCH BY THE PLAYGROUND: THE STORY OF THE SHARING COMMUNITY IN ROSEDALE, by Dorothy Nickel Friesen, has been published by Rainbow Mennonite Church. The book will be launched at Rainbow Aug. 10 and 11 and at Kidron Bethel/Kidron Hall on Thurs., Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. (Faith and Life Bookstore will sell books.) The public is invited to hear Dorothy share, sign books, and tell this unique urban ecumenical ministry history.
For those who subscribe to the devotional Rejoice through the BCMC group subscription, the last issue of Rejoice (Sept.-Oct.-Nov.) will be coming soon. Therefore, it is time to renew for the coming year. The bulk subscription price is $35.93. The devotional is mailed to BCMC and your copy will be either placed in your mailbox here at church, or mailed to you. If you wish to subscribe (even if you have not subscribed before) place your check in the offering plate or bring or mail to the office with “Rejoice subscription” in the memo line.
It’s School Kit Challenge Time!
Lincoln and Lawrence Kohlman and Gabby and Jake Robb are participating in the Mennonite Central Committee School Kit Challenge again this year. Last year we packed 311 school kits. We will pack school kits on Sun., Aug. 11, after Fellowship Time. Please join us!
If you’ve been a nursery volunteer in the past or would like to become a new nursery volunteer, please notify Sara Dick, new nursery schedule coordinator, at saradick1@gmail.com. The schedule is posted in the nursery and will be updated as folks volunteer. Please notify Sara rather than sign yourself up for shifts directly on the schedule, so she knows where we need helpers and where we’re all set. Thank you for caring for our youngest attenders and their families!
Volunteer opportunity: The next volunteer training session for New Hope Shelter is on Monday, August 19th at 7:30 pm. BCMC is one of 24 area congregations regularly providing volunteers to New Hope, and about five times a year we fill a week’s worth of evening slots in coordination with Faith Mennonite Church. Volunteers provide food for an evening meal or spend time at the shelter with the residents, along with an on-site staff supervisor. More help is always welcomed, and can be regular or occasional. If you’d like to learn about the work of New Hope or consider volunteering, please plan to attend the August 19 session at 308 South Meridian Road, Newton, KS. New Hope serves homeless men, women, and children from Harvey, Butler, Marion, and McPherson counties. -Cynthia Linscheid
A reminder that the next Women’s Fellowship Executive Board meeting will be Wednesday, August 21, at 9 a.m. in Room 14 for a planning meeting.
FreedUp: Everence® is offering a new stewardship training program. The FreedUp program is a way for everyone to get their finances in order – and gain a deeper faith perspective on your money. Everence facilitators will lead the group sessions, including the first get-acquainted session. There are two upcoming options for participants to choose from:
· Tuesdays at 2 p.m. ET beginning Aug. 20; ending Oct. 1 or
· Mondays at 8 p.m. ET beginning Oct. 7; ending Nov. 18.
Register at everence.com/partners.
Bethel College Announcements:
· Sun., Aug. 18 – Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum, 3 p.m., with Lorna Harder, professor emeritus of biology at Hesston College and former curator of natural history at Kauffman Museum, on the 40th anniversary of the museum’s tallgrass prairie reconstruction; museum auditorium (corner of Main & 27th streets, North Newton).
· The 2024 issue of Bethel College’s online journal Mennonite Life can now be viewed at ml.bethelks.edu The issue includes articles by Rod Ratzlaff, Mark Jantzen and Rachel Pannabecker related to the 150th anniversary of Mennonite immigration to North America from the Russian Empire, as well as the text from last spring’s Bible Lectures by César García and Sandra Báez, several other articles, and book reviews.
· SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, Sept. 15, Forum on Democracy and Christianity with David Gushee, Bethel College Mennonite Church and Bethel campus
We’re just a few weeks away from the Western District Women in Mission Women’s & Girls’ Retreat on September 7-8 at Camp Mennoscah with our theme of Peaceful Practices. Registrations are due by August 30. The retreat brochure and registration form are on our website at this link:
https://www.westerndistrictwomeninmission.org/events
If you plan to come Saturday morning to tie comforters, please remember that lunch is not provided, so bring a sack lunch. Questions? Send an e-mail to westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Thanks to all who participated in our WDC Annual Assembly this past weekend in Beatrice, NE!
Come to the Grace Hill Mennonite Church 150th Homecoming Celebration, August 31 – September 1. The celebration will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday with coffee and donuts, while you reminisce and browse through historical displays. The afternoon includes a light lunch, self-guided tours of the past/present Grace Hill community and faspa. Enjoy an organ concert by Pastor Chelsea Vaught from 4:00-4:30 pm. A German dinner will be held from 5:00-6:30pm, followed by “Celebrating Our History” program at 7:00 pm. On Sunday, participate in Worship at 9:30 am, followed by a potluck lunch and more time for self-guided tours, reunions and browsing displays. Contact Virgil Penner at (316) 283-6738 or gracehill1874@gmail.com for information and meal registration
Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church is celebrating their 150th anniversary and invites you to join us Aug 31 for Community Fun Night and Sept 1 for the worship service. Saturday will be fun for the family with inflatables, cornhole tourney with cash prizes, yard games, food trucks, music entertainment and the outdoor movie “If” at dark! Sunday worship begins at 10:00am. Following Worship, we will have a catered meal at the cost of $15. Please RSVP for the meal by August 25 by calling/texting Barb at 620-543-6863 or email HoffSecretary@gmail.com with payment by Venmo @BJ-Reeves-55 or check to Hoffnungsau, 43 13th Ave, Inman 67546. Watch Hoffnungsau Facebook for other info.
Schweitzers & Friends 150th celebration Announcements
August 23-25 is not far ahead. So much happening. If Ethnic meal suits you, make reservation on swissmennonite.org. Bohne beroggi included. Don’t forget 3:00-5:00 Saturday Threshing and Milling Turkey Red Wheat at the field west of the Moundridge Museum. Flour for sale too.
Bo Howard sent this note: There’s still time to sign up for the Schweitzers and Friends mass choir that will participate in morning worship on Sunday, August 25. The choir will sing 3 pieces: 2 from the “Goodly Heritage” musical presented in March and 1 commissioned for the 125th celebration. A brass ensemble will join the choir for 2 of the pieces. An additional rehearsal has been scheduled for Sunday, August 18, 1:30 pm, at Eden Mennonite Church, along with the previously scheduled 3:00 pm rehearsal August 24 and a rehearsal prior to worship August 25. Join even if you are unable to make both of the August 18th and 24th rehearsals. To sign up, go to the www.swissmennonite.org website or contact Bonita Howard at 620-386-4388. Music will be available at rehearsal or you may let Bonita know if you would like the music ahead of time.
Saturday, Aug. 24, will be the final Schweitzers & Friends 150th celebration Pioneer Event with a demonstration of threshing and milling of Turkey Red Hard Winter Wheat which was raised using horse drawn and vintage equipment, just west of the Moundridge Museum complex. We will be using a McCormick-Deering threshing machine powered by an antique tractor to thresh the bundles of Turkey Red we bound and shocked back on June first. There will also be an 1874 grist mill, milling demonstration providing a unique opportunity to have Turkey Red wheat flour available for purchase. Along with the threshing and milling events, Vintage Farm Equipment, with some of the great machines of the past, will be on display all day. These events will start with the farm equipment display beginning at 9 a.m., just west of the Moundridge Museum Complex. We will be setting up the threshing and milling demonstration all morning with our official start at 3 p.m. There will be limited bleacher seating and concessions (including K3 Creamery) available to help you enjoy these unique pioneer events and celebrate the 150th Schweitzers & Friends anniversary celebration. The whole community is invited to join us! –Glen Goering
Sat. Aug. 24, in conjunction with the Schweitzers & Friends 150th celebration, there will be a Vintage Farm Equipment Show. It will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm in the field West of the Moundridge Museum Complex. If you have an antique tractor, truck, implement or any equipment you would like to display, please call Glen Goering 620-242-3100.
For Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Menno Snapshots
Rachel Ringenberg Miller denominational minister for ministerial leadership for MC USA, explains how pastors fill their work week with various activities that congregants may or may not be aware of, answering the question, “What does my pastor do all day?” Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/pastor-all-day
Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive MC USA’s blogs, news and resources in one weekly email. Subscribe to PeaceMail here: mennoniteusa.org/peacemail
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Join Mennonite Mission Network in praising God for the surge of interest in Christian service programs that has led to all openings for the coming year being filled. Pray for the new participants in Mennonite Voluntary Service and Service Adventure units as they begin their time together.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for God’s joy and energy to be with students, teachers and their families in WDC congregations, as they anticipate the beginning of a new school year.
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, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability,
economic status, marital status, or age.