BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
September 7, 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/fhHKVHfRGuw?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 7, 2025
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music–Ave Maria (Coccini)- Caleb Garber, cello; Verlene Garber, accompanist
Welcome & Land Acknowledgment–Esther Kreider Eash
*Hymn–Gathered Here–VT 3
Children and Youth Conversation–Max Ediger
Worship Music–Let Thy Holy Presence (P. Tschesnokoff)
Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
Scripture Reading–Matthew 4:12-25–Brad Born
*Hymn--Tú has vendido a la orilla–VT 283
(v. 1 in English, v. 1 in Spanish, v. 2-4 as desired)
Sermon–Our Place in the Story–Joanna Harader
*Hymn–Healer of Our Every Ill–VT 644
Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn–Heart with Loving Heart United–VT 813
*Benediction
Postlude–Psalm 19 (Benedetto Marcello)
Will Wiebe-Friesen
*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Audio-visual—Ken Lamp
Land Acknowledgement from words by Mark Charles and VT #878
As we do on the first Sunday of each month,
we acknowledge that we worship
on the land of the Kanza, Osage, and Wichita.
We thank them for their care and respect for this land
and acknowledge the injustice of their forced removal.
We ask the Spirit to heal our histories
and find new paths of right relationships with them
and all of creation.
Candle Lighting Ritual to Mark Loss
One of the benefits of my sabbatical was extensive conversation with pastor peers from many different Christian traditions as we attended the clergy renewal program at the Holy Wisdom Monastery in Wisconsin. One pastor friend from the Lutheran tradition told me about a short liturgy they do every time that there is a death in the congregation. This idea became a seed for remembering loved ones here at BCMC. After talking with Pastors Joanna and Elizabeth, Joanna put together the candle lighting ritual that we did on August 31 in remembrance of Doug Penner. We lit three candles as part of the Christ Candle lighting: a light of gratitude, thanking the Creator for the loved one’s life; a light of lament, asking the Holy Comforter to hold all who mourn; and the Christ Candle, grounding ourselves in the Divine promise of deep peace, abundant life, and eternal love. We concluded this time by singing Ubi Caritas in Voices Together, 773. Perhaps the details of this ritual will change over time, but we as a pastoral staff hope that we can continue to have a brief liturgy during worship to grieve those who have recently passed.
Pastor Nathan Koontz
The Week at BCMC: September 7—14, 2025
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Worship 9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Chancel Choir
YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/fhHKVHfRGuw?feature=share
3 p.m. Max Ediger shares about his life and work in Cambodia—Fellowship Hall. Max lives in Pursat Province, Cambodia and is in the U.S. for a visit. Please join us for this time together with our most distant member!
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
2 p.m. Facilities Committee meeting—Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, September 10, 2025—Messy Church
8-10 a.m. Pastor Joanna will be at the 1887 Café on the Bethel College campus. Stop in and visit!
6—7:30 p.m. Messy Church—Fellowship Hall
We will gather at 6 p.m. to share a meal and a time of all-age, interactive worship. The menu for this Wednesday is Indian Tacos and all the fixings and Ice cream. The Faith Formation Commission is excited to offer Christ-centered, all-age worship that values creativity, hospitality, and celebration. You can learn more about the Messy Church USA organization on their website. Contact Joanna Harader or Jill Robb with any questions. (Note that we will not be charging a fee for these Wednesday evening meals. There will be a basket out and donations toward the cost of food are welcome. Please bring your own table service which will help with cleanup.)
Wed., Sept. 10: 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal—Sanctuary
Thursday, September 11, 2025
6:30 p.m. Chancel Bells rehearsal—Room B7
Saturday, September 13, 2025
11 a.m. Memorial Service for Doug Penner in the Sanctuary
YouTube Link for the memorial service is: https://youtube.com/live/Hy5SRxqRopQ?feature=share
Sunday, September 14, 2025
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Chancel Bells
10:45 a.m. Congregational meeting in the Sanctuary followed by lunch in Fellowship Hall served by the Senior High Youth Group
Starting Sunday, September 7! All people aged 16-25 are invited to participate in three Sunday School hour sessions on Creating a Conscientious Objector File. In the event of a draft, a c.o. file is a great support for those who do not wish to participate in armed military service. Sessions will be held after worship today and September 21, and 28 in the chapel. We will go over both theological and practical considerations for creating a file and have time to work on materials for your files. For questions, contact:
Joanna Harader (joanna@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org)
SAVE THE DATE. Women’s Fellowship will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month and the first date is September 16 at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Plan to attend. The program will be the Lichtis/Burchs talking about their trip to Paris last June.
BCMC Offering for August 31: General $4,913; Plant Fund $50; Gen. Fund 2026 $1,222; Bethel College Scholarship Fund $200; Kitchen Fund $14.
Upcoming Memorial Services:
· September 15, 11 a.m. Ilene Schmidt Memorial—BCMC
YouTube Link for Ilene’s memorial service: https://youtube.com/live/knpaufWv81s?feature=share
· September 20, 10 a.m. Betty Schmidt Memorial—Kidron Hall
It’s that time of year for our Sunday School year to begin and our youth need your help to teach Sunday School! Faith Formation is looking for teachers and helpers for the 2025-2026 school year. If you feel the nudge to spend an hour with our amazing elementary or middle/high school youth please email Jill Robb at jill@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org.
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!
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.
In February of this year, Pastor Elizabeth let us know of her plans to retire this fall. Sept. 28, 2025, 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 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 will soon begin their work 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 as their work begins.
Bethel College Announcements
· Fri., Sept. 12: Bethel College music faculty recital, 7 p.m., with Christina Liu, piano, Holly Swartzendruber, voice, Kris Hilding, viola, Chris Miertschin, brass, and Russell Adrian, piano, with special guest Will Wiebe-Friesen, organ; Administration Building chapel with a reception to follow.
· 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.
· Sat., Oct. 4: (during Fall Festival): Internationally renowned theologian Miroslav Volf, Yale University, will speak at Bethel College Mennonite Church, 10 a.m.
· 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.
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.
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. Tee shirts and other souvenirs will be available too.
· 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 10
9:30 a.m. “Discovering the Blue Zones: Keys to Living Longer and Better,” Sharolyn Jackson, M.S., extension specialist., Family and Consumer Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan
10:50 a.m. “Chance Rides: Engineering the Design of Movement,” Kyle Penner, VP of engineering, Chance Rides LLC, Wichita
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.
Western District Conference invites you to visit our website to read the latest news, stories and announcements.
For Mennonite Disaster Service Volunteer Update press here
From Mennonite Central Committee
| Dear Bethel College Mennonite, Across the nation and within our communities, immigrant families and allies are contending with aggressive immigration raids, addressing fear and uncertainty, and responding to the impacts of family separation with care and compassion. Please join the Interfaith Immigration Coalition for a webinar to hear updates on federal government actions, understand how immigrant families are navigating these incredibly difficult circumstances, and learn how people of faith are mobilizing boldly to stand for welcome. |
| When: Wednesday, September 10, 6-7pm RSVP link: https://bit.ly/IICsteadfastseptember Spanish interpreter: YESMCC is a member of the IIC and a cosponsor of this webinar. MCC Guatemala partner Pop Noj will speak briefly on the call about the context in Central America. Warmest regards, Galen Fitzkee Legislative Associate MCC U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries |
From Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
From Prairie View
| Double the Difference This September! |
| Since January 1, 2010, the Justina D. Neufeld Scholarship Fund has put enhancing academic education at the center of our mission: supporting Prairie View para-professional employees with scholarships for continued academic education.All month long, the Central Kansas Community Foundation will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, doubling the support we can provide.Your gift:Covers tuition, books, and required fees.Reduces financial stress so staff can focus on learning.Strengthens the care we deliver across our community. |
Mennonite Church USA Announcement
MC USA’s 2025 convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8–12, set records for attendance and racial diversity. Of the 1,640 registrants — the highest turnout in three conventions — a record 17.2 percent (282 attendees) identified as Black, Indigenous or people of color. More importantly, BIPOC voices filled prominent leadership roles at the national convention. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/intentionality-drives-belonging
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Bokgoni Sporting Club, in Francistown, Botswana, which offers young people an alternative to life on the streets by providing a healthy environment, training in life-skills and an opportunity to play sports. The women’s netball team is planning a community day this month to strength relationships between neighbors.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC congregation members serving on our conference Executive Board, Commissions and other committees and task forces, as they discern vision and offer counsel for WDC ministries.
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