The memorial service for Douglas Penner is Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church. The livestream link is: https://youtube.com/live/Hy5SRxqRopQ?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
September 14, 2025
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/9QbkDxGhb74?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 14, 2025
Christ Candle Lighting
& lighting candles of gratitude and lament for the passing
of Florine Eitzen– VT 773
Centering Music–How Can I Keep From Singing (Lowry/Moklebust)–Chancel Bells; Verlene Garber, director
Welcome–VT 884
Margaret Toews
*Hymn–All People That on Earth Do Dwell VT 5
Children and Youth Conversation–Carol Flickinger
Worship Music Selvaggio (Waugh)–Chancel Bells
Scripture Reading Matthew 5:1-2 Joyce Holck
Matthew 5:3-12: VT 295 Congregation reads bold
Matthew 5:13-20 Joyce Holck
*Hymn Balaacoolwe (Blessed Are the Persecuted) VT 578
Sermon It’s Not What You Think Joanna Harader
*Hymn Beloved, God’s Chosen VT 164
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn You Are Salt For the Earth VT 297
*Benediction
Postlude Siyahamba (Behnke) Chancel Bells
*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Verlene Garber Audio-visual—Ken Lamp
The Week at BCMC: September 14—21, 2025
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Worship 9:30 a.m. Worship
Live-stream link: https://youtube.com/live/9QbkDxGhb74?feature=share
10:45 a.m. Congregational meeting in the Sanctuary followed by lunch in Fellowship Hall served by the Senior High Youth Group
Monday, September 15, 2025
11 a.m. Memorial Service for Ilene Schmidt in the Sanctuary
5:30 p.m. Indigenous Justice Task Group meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
6:30 p.m. Gifts Discernment Comm.— Jeanette Stucky’s home
7 p.m. Women’s Fellowship—Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
8-10 a.m. Pastor Joanna will be at the 1887 Café— Bethel College campus 1:30 p.m. Care Connections meeting—Room 14
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal—Sanctuary
Thursday, September 18, 2025
4 p.m. Witness Commission—Room 14
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bells rehearsal—Room B7
7 p.m. Bethel College Women’s Association—Fellowship Hall
Saturday, September 20, 2025
9 a.m. Climate Change Conference Virtual Meeting—Chapel
10 a.m. Memorial Service for Betty Schmidt at Kidron Bethel Village
Sunday, September 21, 2025—Peace Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Nathan Koontz; music by Chancel Choir
Janet and Lauren Friesen are presenting an account with pictures of their recent trip to Poland to the Catacombs class on September 21. Room B5 – below the chapel. Guests are welcome.
Climate Change Conference virtual meeting: The Witness Commission invites you to a virtual seminar on climate change, sponsored by Central Seminary and the Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence in the KC metro area. The virtual meeting is Sat., Sept. 20, 9 to 11:45 a.m., and is free for online guests. The seminar focuses on faith responses to climate change. Join members of the Witness Commission in the chapel, Sept. 20, to hear the keynote speakers at this seminar.
BCMC Offering for September 7: General $6,371; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $1,000; Kitchen Fund $14; Solar Fund $50.
Worship is a central spiritual practice for us at Bethel College Mennonite Church, and we rely on many people within our church community to make it happen! The Worship Commission is hosting a worship participant workshop on Sat., Sept. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church. As a large group, we will briefly talk about BCMC worship and then break into smaller groups to offer input and support in particular areas. This is for everyone interested in worship leading, scripture reading, leading children /youth conversation, or being an usher or greeter–whether you have done it before or not. All are welcome!
All young people aged 16-25 are encouraged to attend the final two sessions on conscientious objection (c.o.). Both sessions will meet at 10:45 in the chapel room. On Sunday, September 21, we will learn about the history of conscientious objection and go on a field trip to see the new exhibit at the Kauffman Museum: “Voices of Conscience”. On September 28, participants will receive resources and support for creating their own c.o. file. Bethel College students can receive convocation credit for the September 28 session. On September 28, participants are invited to a pizza lunch hosted by the Agape Sunday School class.
SAVE THE DATE. Women’s Fellowship (Men & everyone invited) will be Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The program will be by Monica, Marlin, & Ben Lichti, Suzy, Lucy, & Faith Burch about their Anniversary Trip to Paris.
Upcoming Memorial Services:
· September 15, 11 a.m. Ilene Schmidt Memorial—BCMC
Live-stream link is:
https://youtube.com/live/knpaufWv81s?feature=share
· September 20, 10 a.m. Betty Schmidt Memorial—Kidron Hall
The Central Kansas Master Chorale, directed by Joel Garber, will present a Madrigal Festival, today, Sept. 14, 3 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main St., Hesston, with pianist Karen Unruh. Admission is free, donations encouraged. For more information, visit the chorale website at www.centralkansasmasterchorale.org.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our first Messy Church this past Wednesday! And a special thanks to those who helped with the meal. We talked about how God is mighty and powerful while also caring for us intimately and tenderly. The paper fish races were a highlight of the night. Congratulations to Rachel on her victory and to Mara as a close runner-up! Remember to pray for your prayer partners this month. Messy Church is the second Wednesday of each month from 6-7:30. We hope you can join us on October 8.
In February, Pastor Elizabeth let us know of her plans to retire this fall. Sept. 28 will be her final Sunday on the pastoral staff here at Bethel College Mennonite Church. We are deeply grateful for her ministry here and pray for God’s guidance and blessing as she enters a new season of life. A farewell reception for Elizabeth will be held in the Fellowship Hall Sept. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.
· A pastoral search committee has been formed to fill an opening created by Elizabeth’s upcoming retirement. Megan Leary will chair, Karen Ediger, Mary Ellen Hodge, Mara Oswald, and Francis Toews are additional committee members. They are working alongside Western District Conference, our staff, and the board. Brad Kohlman will serve as a liaison between the committee and the board/congregation. Please keep the committee members in your prayers.
The staged-reading for Erasmus Among the Luminaries by Lauren Friesen will be on Sept. 16, Tuesday, 7 p.m., in Kidron Bethel Village’s Kidron Hall. The readers will have area mics but no lapel mics. The play is a fantasy about Erasmus meeting some of the great historical figures. The dialogue is serious although peppered with humor. Free admission.
Bethel College Announcements
· Tues., Sept. 16: Bethel College Chamber Orchestra concert, Kris Hilding, director, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall
· Now in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College – “Decororator,” works by Jordan Buschur, through Sept. 25. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m.
· Bethel College’s Fall Festival is Oct. 2-5, with most activities taking place Sat., Oct. 4, on campus. Features include music, food, class reunions, football (Bethel vs. Southwestern), the play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, and a ribbon cutting for the new Wellness Center. See https://www.bethelks.edu/fallfest/ for the complete schedule.
· Sat., Oct. 4: Miroslav Volf, “Striving for Superiority and Striving for Excellence,” 10 a.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church. Volf, a Croatian Protestant theologian, is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale University. His latest book, The Cost of Ambition, examines why ambition is at odds with the Christian faith.
· Sun., Oct. 19, and Mon., Oct. 20: Dr. Kat Hill, a religious and cultural historian from Scotland, will give the annual Menno Simons Lectures
[these dates are different from some previously printed material]
· Sun.-Tues., Nov. 2-4: The biennial Worship and the Arts Symposium will focus on homiletics (preaching) with special guest Dr. Luke Powery from Duke Divinity School at Duke University. The symposium will also feature an art exhibition by Merrill Krabill and the fall choral concert “Bethel Sings.”
All events are free and open to the public.
Camp Mennoscah Announcements
· Registration for the Fall Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat, Oct. 10-12, is open. Activities and lodging will be in the dining hall and bunkhouses. Register at https://campmennoscah.campbrainregistration.com
· Camp Mennoscah’s Annual Meeting is at Hope Mennonite Church, 868 N. Maize Rd., Wichita, Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. A silent auction for a few items will take place.
· The next tee shirt comforter will be (silent) auctioned off at Bethel College’s Fall Fest on Oct. 4. Also, tee shirts and souvenirs will be available.
· Volunteers are needed for grounds work like mowing, trail maintenance, string trimming, poison ivy and sticker plant control, or any number of other things. Contact us at 620-297-3290 to discuss opportunities!
Life Enrichment is a series designed for adults age 60 and over. Sessions are in the Bethel College Fine Arts Center, Krehbiel Auditorium, on Wednesdays, 9:30—11:50 a.m. Next session: September 17
9:30 a.m. “Mechanical Restorations Benefit Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Sale,” Jerry Toews, retired band director and collector of early gas and steam engines, Goessel
10:50 a.m. “Mask of the Deer Woman,” Laurie L. Dove, Native American researcher, writer and novelist, Valley Center
QUILTERS CORNER IS HAVING A FALL SALE Fri., Oct. 3, from 4 – 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 4, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mennonite Central Committee Central States Warehouse, 121 E. 30th St., North Newton. Come and shop ALL things quilting! SPECIAL ITEM FOR SALE: Husqvarna-Viking Designer Epic 1 sewing and embroidery machine with many, many accessories – $4,500. Contact person for this item is Charlotte Wenger: wengercd@gmail.com All proceeds support MCC work around the world for relief, development, and peace.
The Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association annual banquet will be Oct. 18, 5 p.m. at the Burrton City Auditorium (203 N. Burrton Ave., Burrton). Peter Buller, recent Bethel College graduate, will speak about his experience this summer at Reba Place in Chicago, connecting with bigger themes about our role as Mennonites in the world. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Schwisters. RSVP by Oct. 11 to Dave Stucky at bigdstucky@gmail.com or text or call 620-532-4408. The cost of the
banquet is $25 and can be paid at the door or online at www.swissmennonite.org.
BETHEL COLLEGE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION is looking forward to Fall Festival, our biggest money-raising event. We will have our usual New Year’s cookies, borscht and zwiebach and pie by the slice all outside Luyken Fine Arts Center and Market-in-the-Round inside. We again welcome your donations of homemade peppernuts, whole fruit pies, poppyseed rolls, zwiebach, cinnamon rolls, cookies, jams and jellies and other goodies. We’d love to have you donate your craft items as well! Please bring baked goods and craft donations to the Luyken Fine Arts Center Music Library between 1-5 p.m. Fri., Oct. 3, or 7-9 a.m. Sat., Oct. 4. If you have questions, contact us at bcwa@bethelks.edu. Volunteers are needed as well to staff the booths. To sign up, click on the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4CA8A72FA3F58-50920044-fall
October 7-11: Mennonite Disaster Service and Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp continue their critical fire mitigation partnership to preserve and protect the RMMC facilities and grounds for current and future generations. This work has become a critical part of camp’s property insurance. Because of location, the camp property insurance was dropped and seeking new coverage is $200k premiums for $750k of coverage. Financially, while we are self-funding any response to loss, physically we are addressing the following needs: Forest thinning, removing hazard trees, removing logs, and more. Ten or more volunteers are needed each day. Volunteers for foodservice are also needed to help in support of the week’s efforts. Join us as we practice stewardship in caring for the gifts that have been entrusted to this ministry.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0849a8a729a7ff2-volunteers1#/
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Women USA “Grapevine” press here
For Mennonite Central Committee Christmas Giving press here
For Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
For Paris Mennonite Center Update press here
For Mennonite Men “Engage” press here
Dear Intersections readers:
Greetings! The fall 2025 issue of Intersections, organized around the theme of “Conflict and Health,” is now on the Mennonite Central Committee website. See here. Authors reflect on the impact of conflict on health and on how MCC and its partners in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, Zambia, and DR Congo work to promote health amidst conflict.
As always, please do reach out to me with any thoughts or questions you might have about Intersections!
Warm regards,
Alain Epp Weaver
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Kate Widmer, who serves with Mennonite Mission Network, is in the middle of her two-month North American Ministry. Pray for her as she shares with supporting congregations and individuals about her work alongside members of a French Mennonite congregation that reaches out to women and children in low-income neighborhoods. May she also find rest and renewal during this time in the United States.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC staff, congregational leaders and members who will gather in Texas this Saturday, September 20, for Preparing the Way for Children in Worship, a day of fellowship, worship and learning hosted by Kids Meet Christ, WDC’s program to support congregations reimagining worship to better engage children (https://mennowdc.org/kids-meet-christ-kmc/).
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.