BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCHWORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR
JUNE 23. 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 9:20 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/R23rw9Ey4jE?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
June 23, 2024
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music–Adagio from Chorale No. 3 in A Minor (CésarFranck)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
Welcome & Prayer–Lauren Friesen
*Hymn–What is this Place–VT 22
Kin-dom Report–Brad Kohlman
Worship Music–Allegro Moderator (Luigi Boccherini)–Lucy Burch, flute; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
Children’s Conversation–Glen Ediger
Scripture Reading–John 24:36-49; VT 856 selections from 1 Corinthians 12–Judy Harder
*Hymn–There are Many Gifts–VT 374
Sermon–The Living, Broken, Beautiful Body of Christ–Elizabeth Schmidt
*Hymn of Response–Christ Has No Body Here but Ours–VT 568
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn–Christ Be in Your Senses–VT 721
*Benediction
Postlude–Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (J.S. Bach)
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together Audio visual—Ben Lichti
Saturday June 22: Memorial service for Charlotte Siemens, 11 a.m. with a lunch to follow. Live-stream link: https://www.youtube.com/live/nrsIasteGP8?si=cLVEbHtEyaJ76RPa
The Next Week at BCMC: June 23-30, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024
9:30 a.m. Worship Service—YouTube Link for this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/R23rw9Ey4jE?feature=share
Monday, June 24, 2024
10 a.m. Library Committee meeting in Room 14
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
5:30 pm. Grief Group meeting in BCMC nursery
Thursday, June 27, 2024
6 p.m. Hospitality Commission meeting in Fellowship Hall
Saturday, June 29, 2024
11 a.m. Memorial service for Evelyn Lehman; lunch follows in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, June 30, 2024
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Angelika Donaldson
BCMC Offering for June 16, 2024 General Fund $3,032; Kitchen Fund $20; Library Reserve Fund $2; Solar Fund $7,732.54.
We offer sympathy to the family of Marilyn Stucky. Marilyn died June 20 in Newton. Please remember in your prayers her husband LaVern, and their daughters Janelle Unrau and Cindy Beth and their extended families. The memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Abuse Prevention and Response Committee (APRC) will be hosting an education time to discuss how we can continue the journey of being a survivor centered congregation. This education opportunity will be held during the Sunday School hour July 21 in Fellowship Hall. Chapter discussion of Judith Herman’s book Truth and Repair will be led by members of the APRC committee. The video How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice can be found on YouTube. This is approximately a 40 minute video. Judith Herman’s book Truth and Repair can be found at your favorite local bookstore or local library inter library loan. Please contact Bethany Schrag at bethanyjoyschrag@gmail.com if you have questions. We look forward to continuing learning more of how we can best support trauma survivors in our church with you! — APRC Committee
Future Events at BCMC:
June 29: Memorial service for Evelyn Lehman, 11 a.m. with a lunch to follow. Live-stream link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/X-yJvwA80e0?si=_yaKcJkZNGssl6Hb
Evelyn died June 3. See Evelyn’s obituary.
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 Dept. 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).
Roger will be driving back to Topeka Sunday afternoon, June 23. He will be back in BCMC on Monday, July 1 (a little different pattern than usual), staying in Newton until late Wednesday night, July 3. Roger checks his email and phone regularly. Feel free to contact him via email, text or phone (785-220-1968.)
Orientation for New Board, Commission, and Committee Members—June 30: If you are a new member of the Board or a commission or committee at BCMC, you are invited to an orientation to our work together on Sunday, June 30, at 10:45 in the Fellowship Hall. We’ll talk together about new directions for our work following a brief introduction to the structure and function of committees and the Board. There will also be a chance to get acquainted with others; bring your coffee and come a few minutes early for refreshments.
The BCMC Solar Energy sub-committee of the BCMC Creation Care Committee would like to update the congregation on the progress of the solar project. As many of you have noticed, most of the solar panels are now installed. Some of the last items, such as the squirrel guard, are being installed this week. Ongoing work with Evergy Electric is proceeding as the solar project enters the final phase of its work. We hope that the project will be finished by the middle of July. Our biggest thanks, as always, goes to the BCMC members who have so faithfully sent in their financial pledges to cover the cost of this “once-in-a-lifetime” BCMC Creation Care project. Hugo Boschmann, for the BCMC solar energy subcommittee.
Pastor Nathan’s Extended Summer Vacation
In the fall of 2023, Staff Congregation Relations Committee (SCRC) and Nathan began discussing Nathan’s sabbatical plans. Nathan was eligible for a sabbatical in the summer of 2024, but with uncertainty around the possibility of pastoral transition during the summer of 2024, Nathan offered to postpone his sabbatical until the summer of 2025, given that he could take a long vacation in the summer of 2024. This plan was approved by SCRC in November and the Church Board in December of 2023. So Nathan will be on vacation this summer from July 8-August 10. He will start back up again on the day that Joanna Harader begins her term.
A number of different preachers are scheduled while Nathan is gone. July 14 worship and Sunday school will be led by the Western District Listening Group. Sara Dick will preach on July 21. Roger Neufeld Smith will preach on July 28 and August 11. August 4 will have guest preacher, Trent Voth, from Bethel College. Pastoral care will be provided under the leadership of Elizabeth Schmidt and Roger Neufeld Smith. If you have questions or concerns regarding Nathan’s extended vacation, please contact Nathan or SCRC.
Western District Conference Annual Assembly: Assembly registration is now open. Register on-line on the WDC webpage. (See below.) Join us at the WDC Annual Assembly, August 2-4, 2024 at First Mennonite Church, rural Beatrice, NE. . Don’t want to drive to Beatrice? Vans will leave from North Newton on August 2 afternoon. When you register, please mark, “Reserve a seat in the van” for $30 a seat. Join us at the WDC Annual Assembly, August 2-4, 2024 at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice, NE.
If you are interested in being a delegate to the Assembly, contact Jeanette Stucky, Roger Neufeld-Smith or Monica Lichti in the BCMC office.
Register HERE
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
Save the Date! Western District Women in Mission’s annual Women’s & Girls’ Retreat will be Sat./Sun. Sept. 7-8 at Camp Mennoscah. The keynote speaker will be Kristine Regehr on the topic of Peaceful Practices. More information and registration info will follow in July. Activities will be available for girls age 5th grade – high school and women of all ages! Come for a time of relaxation, peace, and friendship! Email questions to: westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com.
Summer Story Days are BACK! Stop by the Western District Conference Resource library, 2517 N. Main in North Newton, KS on Saturdays June 29 and July 27 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. for Read Alouds; self-guided, come-and-go activities; and opportunities to learn and grow together! Activities geared for ages 3-8 and their families, but open to all ages. Take advantage of these Saturday hours to tour the library and check out resources.
You’re invited! Support a new Mission Network family, Wed., June 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mennonite Mission Center office in downtown Newton, come hear about the work of a new Mennonite Mission Network family. Later this year, Laurel and Ben Woodward-Breckbill, from Newton, will move to Paris, France to be directors of the Paris Mennonite Center. Come hear about the work of the Center, enjoy snacks, and even offer your financial support. Make a giving pledge and you will be entered to win a pair of Kansas City Chiefs tickets! (Las Vegas at Kansas City, Nov. 29, 2024).
Bluestem Communities will host its annual Dementia Forum at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, July 17, at Kidron Bethel Village’s Kidron Hall, 3001 Ivy Dr., North Newton, Kan. The event is free and open to the public. Amy Siple, APRN, will present “Understanding Dementia and Caring for Those Who Have It.” The forum is designed to be beneficial for anyone providing care for someone living with dementia, both professional caregivers and family or friends. One Continuing Education (CE) hour available for $15. Those wanting the CE must register for it prior to the forum at bluestemks.org/events.
The Live Wire Stringband, a collection of players with decades performing for audiences throughout the Midwest, play old time fiddle tunes, gospel and traditional songs on the fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass, sometimes harmonica. Come and enjoy lively tunes to make your feet want to move at Kidron Hall Fri., July 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Members of the band: Jesse Graber, son of Charles & Diana Graber of Newton and husband of Ruth Harder, former pastor of BCMC and current pastor of Rainbow Mennonite Church. Steve and Gail Goeke live in rural Missouri, just northeast of KC and are current members of Rainbow Mennonite Church. Bob and Melissa Atchinson live in Manhattan, KS, and Melissa is the current pastor of Manhattan Mennonite Church.
Mini Blitz at Mennonite Central Committee! Come tie, trim, or bind comforters at the MCC Material Resource Center in North Newton Fri., July 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat., July 13 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring a snack to share and a sack lunch/supper. Drinks will be provided. Beginners are welcome!
The MCC Sale Quilter’s Corner is looking for donations of quilts, quilt tops, fabric, books, magazines and vintage linens for our next sale. We hope to have an October sale if we receive enough donations. Donations can be dropped off at the MCC Center in North Newton labeled for Quilter’s Corner or at Stitches Quilt Shop in McPherson. If you have questions, please contact Ann Yoder Smith at 919-604-3282.
Mennonite Central Committee Material Resources Center in North Newton critically low on inventory: An MCC kit cannot be distributed until each item for the kit is assembled, but some supplies in the Material Resources Center are so low that kits cannot be processed for shipping. You can help by filling the following needs: new infant sleepers (6-12 month sizes); hand towels (dark colored); bar soap; bath towels (dark colored, light to medium weight); wide toothed combs (6-8 inches long); laundry soap (such as Fels Naptha or Zote brands); and shampoo (20 oz min). Buy online and ship it to MCC or bring items to MCC in North Newton (121 E. 30th St, North Newton, KS 67117). Questions are always welcome: phone 316-836-5045 or email brociamueller@mcc.org A full list of MCC kit contents can be found at mcc.org/kits.
Commemorating 500 Years of Anabaptism + Swiss Alps Tour. Sites: Lake Geneva, cliffside Murren, Mennonites near Bern, & 500 Year Celebration in Zurich. 9-day tour in late May 2025. Details and registration coming soon. Preview tour at www.tourwithweldon.com Interested? Contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276. Persons registering interest will receive early notification when registration opens.
Stories for 150th Swiss Volhynian Mennonite Celebration August 23-25, at Eden Mennonite Church. There is still time to send a story of your grandfolks to Brian Adams (smolts123@yahoo.com) or his daughter Casey (cpadams992@gmail.com) for their collection to be available at celebration.
Don Kaufman and Larry Stucky are collecting old photos to display at the 150th. Please send copies or scans to donbon@mtelco.net or cstucky@mtelco.net with identification.
For Mennonite Disaster Service “On the Level” click here
For KIPCOR Newsletter press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Representatives of Native Mennonite Ministries, a Mennonite Church USA Indigenous assembly composed of three congregations in Montana and Oklahoma, recently gathered for their biannual business meeting in Billings, Montana. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/native-menno-ministries
Menno Snapshots
Chris Meyer, stewardship investing advocacy and research manager at Everence, reflects on his passion for creation care, on behalf of Everence and his own family, reminding us how much we all have invested in caring for creation — and how rarely we stop to bask in its glory. Read his reflections here: mennoniteusa.org/guided-by-wonder
After years of avoiding pastoral ministry, Jen Shenk, campus pastor at Goshen College, felt a calling that she needed to say “yes” to. Her position as campus pastor officially began on Aug. 1, 2023, after she served as interim pastor in April and May 2023. Read about her calling here: mennoniteusa.org/vocation-spiritual-lens
Despite feeling some discomfort with the Letter to the Hebrews and the idea of writing a commentary, Debra Bucher just released her Believers Church Bible Commentary on Hebrews. She shares her principles and how she worked through the discomfort here: mennoniteusa.org/discomfort-way-forward
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Martine Audéoud works in administrative and teaching roles for several international theology and global leadership formation doctoral programs. Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for her and her family as they move from France to Côte d’Ivoire, where the family previously lived and where her son, 16-year-old, Samuel, feels at home. Samuel experienced bullying in his school in France.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for the WDC Gifts Discernment Committee, as they discern nominees for new leadership positions to be elected at WDC annual assembly.
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.