Worship Service and Announcements for January 14, 2024

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE TODAY
JOIN US ON-LINE!

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JANUARY 14, 2024

To livestream the worship service:
On Sunday morning, around 9:45, 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/IGzMYP8srXw?feature=share

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
January 14, 2024

Prelude—Give Me Jesus– (Traditional Spiritual; Setting by Bethany Smith)–Karen Unruh

Christ Candle Lighting

Welcome and Prayer—Raylene Hinz-Penner

Hymn—Guide My Feet—VT 816

Children’s Conversation—Glen Ediger

Special Music—In the Rifted Rock I’m Resting (arr. Moyer)–Garber Quartet

Scripture Reading—Matthew 5:38-45;James 2:1-4,8-9,12-17—Justin Zerger

Sermon—Lessons from Ordinary Heroes—Roger Neufeld Smith

Hymn—Precious Lord—VT 610

Prayers of God’s People

Hymn—Lift Every Voice–VT 611

Benediction

Postlude–Soon and Very Soon–(arr. Schrader)–Karen Unruh

Audio-visual—Francis Toews

Thank you to members of the Garber Quartet who are participating in worship Sunday morning.

This Week at BCMC: January 14—21, 2024

Sunday, January 14, 2024—Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
9:30 a.m.    Worship   Worship YouTube Link for this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/IGzMYP8srXw?feature=share

Due to inclement weather with very cold temperatures, there will be no in-person worship service today; the service will be streamed on-line.

Monday, January 15, 2024—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Church building will be locked; church office will be closed

Tuesday, January 16, 2024
5:30 p.m. Faith Formation Commission meeting in fellowship hall
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
7-9 p.m.    Task Group on Indigenous Justice meeting in Room 14
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Thursday, January 18, 2024
6:30 p.m.   Chancel Bells Rehearsal in Room B-7
Sunday, January 21, 2024
9:30 a.m.   Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by the Chancel Choir; dedication of Elizabeth Mae Robb
10:45 a.m. Faith Formation

BCMC Women’s Fellowship has been canceled for the month of January. Therefore, there will be no meeting on January 16.

Interested in becoming a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church?
If you are interested in becoming a member, or transferring membership, or learning more about membership at BCMC, please contact Elizabeth Schmidt, Pastor of Congregational Care. She will be happy to visit with you

The church building and office will be closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 15. We will reopen on January 16.

Roger’s Whereabouts : Roger will be driving back to Topeka this Sunday afternoon. He will be back in Newton on Wednesday, January 24. Whether he’s in Newton or Topeka, Roger checks his email and phone regularly, so feel free to contact him via email, text or phone call (785-220-1968).

BCMC Offering for January 7, 2024: General $12,556; Living Stones $50; Kitchen Fund $17; Patty Shelly Memorial $500; Solar Fund $50; Gladys Niles Memorial $25.

Results of the Solar Panel Project Phase 1 Survey:
Good news for the future of solar at BCMC! We received 79 responses to the Phase I Solar questionnaire submitted on behalf of 114 people. Of the 79 responses, 78 (98.7%) were in favor of the project and 1 (1.3%) was not in favor of the project. A total of $180,990 was pledged over 3 years, of which $127,990 was pledged by the 6/30/24 installation date. Recall, the total project cost was quoted at $192,000. Up to $96,000 had been designated as available from the bequest fund. Additional grants or subsidies may be awarded. More detailed information and a chance for final approval of the contract will be provided at the annual meeting. We are grateful to the Creation Care solar subcommittee of Dwight Krehbiel, Lorna Harder, and Hugo Boschmann as well as Jon Zerger and Margaret Toews from the Board and the Finance Committee, chaired by LaVern Stucky, for all their careful homework, collaborative deliberations, and clear communications. We of course are also thankful for the many people from our congregation who are supporting the project. — Ada Schmidt-Tieszen, Church Board Chair/Moderator

Congregational Meeting Set for January 28:
The next congregational meeting will take place on Sunday, January 28, at 12:45 following a soup lunch prepared by the Youth Group. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary and made available live on YouTube only while the meeting is in progress; it will not be recorded. Votes from remote viewers can be texted to a number available in Sunday’s bulletin and announced at the beginning of the meeting. Agenda items will include a finance report from 2023 as well as approval of the budget for 2024, action on the revised Welcoming Statement, action on the proposal to change the church’s moderator model, report and proposal concerning the solar panel project, and an update on the Search Committee process.

Welcome Statement:
The BCMC board has approved a recommendation from the Inclusion Task Group to revise our congregation’s welcome statement which is in the church’s constitution. The revised version follows:
“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 and age.”

Change in Moderator Model:
The Board has proposed a bylaws change to shift church officer positions from Moderator Elect and Moderator, each serving two-year terms with a total commitment of four years, to Moderator Elect, Moderator, and Past Moderator. In the new model, each position would be held for one year with the Moderator Elect moving on to Moderator and Past Moderator in the following years, thus serving a three-year commitment. In summary, the new model shortens the term of commitment by one year and establishes a three-person leadership team.

WANTED—Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RV’s, Campers, Tractors, Modern Farm Equipment, etc. for the Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Sale. Items you no longer need can help feed and clothe thousands in desperate living conditions. ALL donations are Tax Deductible. Call Jerry Toews for info: 620 367 8257. Help make a difference.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Call for Prayer and Action for Peace and Justice in Israel and Palestine. Witness Commission
On Dec. 19 Mennonite Action brought together nearly 2000 Mennonites and interfaith allies across North America to call for an immediate cease fire. Some of our members joined other Kansas Mennonites at the offices of Senators Moran and Marshall in Wichita and Topeka. Members can read Bob Atchison’s article in the Jan. 2 issue of the Newton Kansan. Atchison chairs the Mennonite Palestine Israel Network and the Western District Task Force. On Jan. 16, Mennonite Action, see online, is organizing action in Washington D.C. The Witness Commission urges: 1. Support for the MCC humanitarian relief effort in Gaza; 2. Prayer for President Biden and other political leaders to support an immediate and permanent cease fire in Gaza; 3. Phone calls to the Wichita offices of Senators Moran and Marshall.

Everence® will hold an informative Social Security and retirement income workshop Thur., Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m. Topics will be Social Security strategies, including when to begin taking benefits, risks that can impact your retirement savings plus strategies to help your income last throughout retirement. There will also be plenty of time for questions.
In-person workshop will be at the Everence office: 3179 N. Main St. Suite 1B, North Newton. Information will be presented by staff from the Everence offices in Central Kansas. To register contact Everence at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.

Come hear a short concert of choral music presented by the Occasional Singers, a chamber ensemble of talented musicians who don’t have a lot of time on their hands! Led by Andrew Voth, they will be singing choral standards as well as more contemporary pieces. The concert will occur at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 21 at First Mennonite Church in Newton and will be free to attend.

Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.

February 10, Saturday Library Book Sale & Open House: Stop by the Western District Conference Resource Library on Saturday, February 10 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Browse the book sale, check out what’s new for individuals, families, children and more for home and congregational use. Enjoy a hot drink and stories with Bethel College Students.

Bethel College Announcements
· Mon., Jan. 15 – Bethel College Martin Luther King Jr. Day program, 6 p.m., Memorial Hall. The keynote speaker is historian, activist and servant leader Pamela D.C. Junior; also featuring the Bethel College Concert Choir.
·  Fri. Jan. 19 – “Forest Listening,” works by Liz K. Miller, opens in the Regier Art Gallery in Lukyen Fine Arts Center at Bethel College (no reception). Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
·  Sun., Jan. 21 – Bethel College Music Department Honors Recital, 4 p.m., Administration Building chapel, featuring freshman, sophomore and junior vocal and instrumental students who performed exceptionally during the fall 2023 semester.
·  Fri., Jan. 26 – First event in the Bethel College Faculty Lecture Series, “Walking the Talk: Listening in Our Disciplines,” at Kidron Bethel Village, 11 a.m., Kidron Hall. Dr. Rachel Epp Buller, Bethel professor of visual arts and design and series organizer, will introduce the series and speak on “Walking and Listening in/as Artistic Practice.”
·  Sat., Jan. 27 – Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Kansas Critters,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. Featuring food trucks, exhibits and activities indoors and out, and much more. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org

Hesston College Announcement—Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
This year the Melva Kauffman Lecture Series hosts Mark Charles who will present on the topic of Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. Charles is the son of an American woman of Dutch heritage and a Navajo man. He teaches with insight into the complexities of American history regarding race, culture and faith in order to help forge a path of healing and conciliation for the nation. The public is invited to hear his presentation at Hesston Mennonite Church Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 7 p.m.

Camp Mennoscah Announcements
Work Days on the Camp Mennoscah Retreat Center HVAC Project are Jan. 20 and 27. The first day will focus on removing furniture and other items from the building and the second will be the start of “demolition.” Work will start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Bring your own lunch and water bottle, please, and meet at the Retreat Center. Camp Mennoscah will provide tools needed. Space heaters will be used, but temperatures inside may be around 50 degrees. Please let us know you are coming so we can be prepared.
Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290, 316-293-7313 (text).

Other events and happenings:

Staff hours will be changing and offices will be moving from the Retreat Center around the 15th of January. These changes are happening with the start of the Retreat Center HVAC Project. There may be delays as the offices and staff are resettled in their new (temporary) locations.
Interviews for the 2024 Summer Staff are underway! Summer staff must be 18 years old or older. The staff leadership positions receiving stipends are naturalist, crafts leader, lifeguard, grounds/maintenance, music leader, and office/media. Get your application in soon, but applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. The 2024 summer camp season begins with orientation for summer-long positions on June 2 and ends August 4. The application for 2024 Summer Staff at Camp Mennoscah can be found here.

For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network Urgent Prayer Request press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “We Are Called To Work Together” press here

For Mennonite Church USA January 22 Webinar “Engaging MC USA’s Safe Church” press here

For Mennonite World Conference press here

For Mennonite Disaster Service Feb. 23-24 Annual Celebration press here

Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Join Mennonite Church USA’s Nancy Kauffmann, Michael Danner and Glen Guyton for a webinar on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST, in which they will discuss the vision and direction of the new Safe Church ministry, share resources for congregations and conferences, and answer questions about the future vision for Safe Church advocacy in our denomination. View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/slide/safe-webinar-jan
Register here: mennoniteusa.org/registration-safechurch-jan22

Menno Snapshots

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rage on, Chris Hoover Seidel, who is part of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network, reflects on how she has learned to handle her own grief, while also holding space for those grieving around her. Read her Menno Snapshots blog here: mennoniteusa.org/grief-work

Equipping, Mennonite Church USA’s quarterly email newsletter for pastors and leaders features resources submitted by MC USA conferences, congregations, agencies, entities/ministry partners, constituency groups and affiliated schools and colleges. Subscribe to Equipping here: mennoniteusa.org/mc-usa-subscribe

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Tomorrow, we remember Martin Luther King Jr., who followed Jesus’ way of nonviolent civil disobedience by bringing hope to people who have been denied justice. Pray for Mennonite Mission Network’s ministries of dismantling racism in the United States and around the world.

Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for the WDC Executive Board and Commissions as they meet this month to provide guidance, leadership and vision for our conference.