Worship service and announcements for September 8, 2024

BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 8, 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/CdQCidVnixI?feature=share
 


 BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
September 8, 2024
Installation Service for Pastor Joanna Harader
 
Christ Candle Lighting
 
Centering Music—When Morning Gilds the Skies (arr. R. Haan)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
Welcome & Prayer—John Waltner
 
*Hymn—Santo, santo, santo (Holy, Holy, Holy)—VT 102
 
Children’s Conversation—Megan Kohlman
 
Worship Music— Ave Verum (Saint-Seans)—Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will-Wiebe Friesen, accompanist
 
Scripture Reading—Philippians 3:12-16—Cheryl Harader
 
Sermon—Vibrant Guide—Kathy Neufeld Dunn
 
*Hymn—God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian—VT 534 (Please sing the alternate tune: HYFRYDOL VT 218, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus)
 
Installation for Pastor Joanna Harader—Kathy Neufeld Dunn
 Receiving a New Pastor—VT 967
 Prayer Shawl Blessing—Elizabeth Schmidt
 Blessing for Leaders—VT 968
 
Prayers of God’s People
 
*Hymn—The Lord Bless You and Keep You—VT 846 (Please sing the alternate text printed in italics)
 
Sung Benediction—God Be In My Head (Rutter)—Chancel Choir
 
 
Postlude—Prelude in G Maj. BWV 550 (J.S. Bach)—Will Wiebe-Friesen
 
* You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard- Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ken Lamp

Sunday we welcome Joanna Harader as installed co-pastor at Bethel College Mennonite Church, as well as new member!  BCMC accepted Joanna’s membership transfer from Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence on August 29, 2024. 
 


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:  September 8-15, 2024
Sunday, September 8, 2024
9:30 a.m.   Worship    10:30 a.m.  Faith Formation for Junior and Youth
YouTube Link for this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/CdQCidVnixI?feature=share
 
Monday, September 9, 2024—Pastor’s Retreat Day
Tuesday, September 10, 2024—Community Playschool First Day of School
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
7:30 p.m.   Chancel Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary
Sunday, September 15, 2024—Peace Sunday
9:30 a.m.   Worship with sermon by David P. Gushee
10:30 a.m.  Faith Formation—David Gushee will look at some of the key biblical texts on government and Christianity.
Peace Witness Event, Sept. 15-16

The BCMC Witness Commission invites you to the 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 to engage with Christianity and Democracy led by well known author, academic, and presenter, David P. Gushee (https://davidpgushee.com). 

The Schowalter Singers, a resident choir from Schowalter Villa, will present its fall concert, “Our Journey to Heaven,” Sun., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at Whitestone Mennonite Church, 629 Crescent Dr., Hesston. The concert is free and open to the public. Another opportunity to see the concert will be 3 p.m., Wed., Sept. 11, at the Schowalter Villa chapel, 200 W. Hickory, St., Hesston.
  
Hola!  Women’s Fellowship is starting their Fall programs with a trip to Spain.  Plan to join Sarah Turner and her host sister Laura to learn more about this beautiful country.  Tuesday, September 17, at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Check the announcements next week for more details.
 
Save the Date for the Annual Dessert Reception for Bethel College students September 22 at 6 p.m.  This year it will be held ON the Bethel College campus—on a sidewalk going to Haury Hall—just a few feet from the BCMC grounds.  Please bring a dessert to share and be willing to engage with students.  Chairs will be set up in circles.
 
Dorothy Unruh turns 103 on September 12, 2024!  Send birthday messages and blessings to Dorothy at 1407 Hillcrest Road, Newton, KS 67114.
 
BCMC Offering for Sept. 1, 2024:  General Fund $2,562; Plant Fund $50; Library Reserve Fund $4; Solar Fund $50; Monica Gross Mem. $675; Marilyn Stucky Mem. $50.
 
Be aware of spam emails!  It has come to our attention that a spam email with a pastor’s name has been circulating.  The pastors or office of BCMC will never send an email with a “request for you to manage discreetly. I will appreciate a swift correspondence via email.”   A quick check of where the email came from should tell you that it did not come from Bethel College Mennonite Church.   Delete that email!  If you are unsure, please feel free to contact the church office.

Thanks to you for you prayers, food and well wishes that you have offered to us during these recent weeks.  It certainly made our load much lighter and validated for us that Marilyn was truly special. Thanks to the pastors and others for the visits to me and to Marilyn during the hospital/rehab period and also during the post death period. Thank you so much.  LaVern Stucky and family
 
We offer sympathy to the family of Shirley Sprunger King.  Shirley died August 31 in Goshen, IN.  She was a professor of music (organ) at Bethel College 1977-1998, and then was Dean of Enrollment Services and Director of Admissions until 2002.  She was also the organist at Bethel College Mennonite Church for 26 years.  A visitation will be held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN,  Fri., Sept. 13 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.  The Memorial Service will be at Eighth Street Mennonite Church Sat., Sept. 14 at 11 a.m.  Pre-service music will begin at 10:30 a.m. Please remember Shirley’s husband, Vernon, in your prayers.  Memorials in Shirley’s name may be made to Mennonite Central Committee. (Make checks directly to MCC and mail to MCC, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500. Akron, PA 17501– 0500.)  The live-stream link for the memorial service is: 
https://vimeo.com/event/3663844/92b2ec50a8


Community Playschool is gearing up for the start of another school year on September 10. We have 15 children and 8 volunteers lined up to participate in two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are offering a HUGE thank you to the youth group and their sponsors for clearing out debris from the perimeter of the playground. This happened on July 6 during their service/learning week. It was brutally hot that day, and they worked tirelessly to clear out several years of leaf clutter that gathers at the fence. We are so grateful to them for this effort! We hope you all can venture down the north hall in the lower level often after September 10 to see signs of our program at work right here at BCMC!
— Jeanette Leary and Kasey Newell, co-directors
 



Join Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes for the Dismukes Project Learning Tour Oct. 9-13: ​​This tour provides an experience to learn more about Black history and experiences in the coalfields of Appalachia, while also learning the story of Dr. Henry Dodford Dismukes, an African American physician in the early 1900’s. Participants will visit various sites connected with Dr. Dismukes, hear from local speakers, learn about MCC’s work to preserve Black history in the area and attend the Dismukes Gala featuring John Ellison. Learn more and register at mcc.org/dismukes-learning-tour. Tickets are also available separately for the Dismukes Gala on Oct. 12 at mcc.org/dismukes-gala. Learn more about Dr. Dismukes and the project, including a video and podcast, at mcc.org/dismukes.
 
A Mennonite Central Committee immigration-focused learning tour in South Texas will be Oct. 6-11, a unique opportunity to engage directly with the work done by MCC and partner organizations. It will give participants the chance to meet with law enforcement officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), gain insights into the complexity of immigration enforcement, including deportation and apprehensions, visiting migrant response shelters, and shed light on the challenges faced by migrants on their journey and raise awareness about the asylum process, and conditions faced by displaced and uprooted individuals. Register for the trip by Sept. 20.  Questions: contact Becky Teiwes, MCC Central States Borderlands Program Coordinator at beckyteiwes@mcc.org.
 


Everence will hold an informative Medicare webinar Tues., Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. Topics to include, when and where to sign up for Medicare, what Medicare does (and doesn’t) cover, Medicare Parts A, B, C and D in clear, understandable language plus budgeting for health care costs in retirement. There will also be time for your questions.  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.  Attendance recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare.
 
September and October Webinars from EVERENCE®
Finances and You with topics that integrate your faith and finances!  This is a free, four-part webinar series where you’ll hear how Everence® can help you make important financial decisions that reflect your faith values.  The webinars will be presented by Everence professionals and there will be time for your questions.  All webinars held on Wednesdays at 2 and 8 p.m. (Eastern Time)  For more information, visit everence.com/national.  Or Email:
national@everence.com with any questions.
· Sept. 11 Seminar:  Why give now? 12 strategies to maximize your generosity in 2024. No matter income or age, explore how you can make a difference in the world by stretching the impact of your giving to the missions, ministries and organizations you care about.  Presented by: Lyle Miller, Stewardship Consultant & Phil Pratt, Charitable Consultant
· Sept. 18 Seminar:  Getting our lives together, Giving our lives away, and Giving our deaths away.  For those of us interested in integrating our faith with our finances, we often find ourselves focusing on different concerns throughout our lives. Intentionally embracing these unique periods of our lives can encourage growth in our stewardship journey and help form us into the image of Christ.  Presented by: Colin Saxton, Stewardship Theologian and Director of Church Relations 
· Sept. 25 Seminar:  Social Security: Understanding your benefits.  Come and learn the ins and outs of social security that will provide you clarity as you consider your social security future.  Presented by: Steve Lane, AWMA®, CFP®, Financial Consultant
· Oct. 2 Seminar:  Investing 202.   Mutual funds, pensions, stocks, bonds, IRA’s, Roth IRA’s, 401k’s, Real estate. The list seems to go on and on for investment options. This presentation will help you sort through your investment options and other considerations as you explore what investments make sense for you.  Presented by: Michael Burton, CFP®, CEPA®, Financial Consultant
 
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 sessions.  The upcoming option for participants is Mondays at 8 p.m. ET beginning Oct. 7; ending Nov. 18.  Register at everence.com/partners.


Bethel College Announcements:
· Sat., Sept. 14:  Duo piano recital: Dr. Christina Liu (Bethel College) and Dr. Brett Janssen (Central Christian College), 4 p.m., Ad Building chapel  
· Sun., Sept. 15:  Forum on Democracy and Christianity with David Gushee, 3 p.m., Memorial Hall at Bethel College; sponsored by Bethel College Mennonite Church and the Bethel Department of Bible and Religion. The afternoon’s events will include a keynote by Dr. Gushee and discussion around tables. Gushee will also speak in convocation Mon., Sept. 16, 11 a.m., in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. 
· Tues., Sept. 17:  Bethel College Orchestra, directed by Kris Hilding, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall 
· Thurs., Sept. 19: Guest piano recital: Dr. Brian Hsu, 7 p.m., Bethel College Ad Building chapel
· Now in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College: “The Rose Aesthetic,” works by Gwen and Victor Rose, through Sept. 19. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 2-4 p.m. 
· Sat., Oct. 5: Sarah Augustine will give a keynote address for the 50th anniversary of Bethel College social work, 2 p.m., Kidron Hall at Kidron Bethel Village. She will also speak Sun., Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m., at Bethel College Mennonite Church, and Mon., Oct. 7, for convocation in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center. The public is invited to any and all events. Augustine is the founder and co-chair of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, author of The Land is Not Empty (2021) and co-author of So We and Our Children May Live (2023).
· Life Enrichment program at Bethel College for Wednesday, Sept. 11. Life Enrichment is for people age 60 and above and is an excellent way to continue learning and meet people from the surrounding area in a relaxed setting. 
   Sept. 11—9:30 a.m.  “Thrifting for the Community and the World,” James
   Wilson, general manager, Newton Et Cetera Shop
   Sept. 11—10:50 a.m.
  “Exploring the Changing Distribution of Kansas
   Mammals,” Matt Peek, wildlife research biologist, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia
 
Bethel College Women’s Association needs your donations of baked goods and craft items! Home-made pies, poppyseed rolls, zwieback, cinnamon rolls, other baked goods and treats for Market-in-the-Round at Fall Festival are welcome. In addition, home-made jams/jellies and craft items are needed. All of these items can be delivered to the Music Library in Luyken Fine Arts Center from 1 – 5 p.m., Fri., Oct. 4.  All proceeds will benefit Bethel College. If questions email:
bcwa@belthelks.edu  Volunteers are needed as well to staff the booths. To sign up, use this link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4CA8A72FA3F58-50920044-fall/102465998#/
 


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


For Mennonite Central Committee “In Touch” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here 
For Submitting your Health and Wellbeing Stories for the 15th Year of The Corinthian Plan press here 
For Mennonite Church USA Webinar “How to Recognize and Interrupt Possible Signs of Grooming”  press here 
From Mennonite Mission Network “Choosing To Do Justice” press here 
For Mennonite World Conference “Courier” press here 


Step in the footsteps of the early Mennonite immigrants on the Immigrant House Pilgrimage Tour September 22, 2024, 3:00-5:00pm
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, 1304 K-15 Hwy, Goessel, Ks.

The tour to the site of the Immigrant Houses will be offered 2 times, at 3:00 pm & at 4:00 pm. Meet at the church and carpool to the site following a pilot car.
Brian Stucky will present information about the immigrant houses and there will be time to explore.

Other activities will take place on the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church Campus View an outline of the SS Cimbria. Experience food eaten on the ships, explore the church cemetery.
Tours of the Church will also be given and will include an exhibit of the church record books from Przechowko, West Prussia, Russia, and Kansas.
Church Tours will take place at 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30 pm
Register to attend by Sept. 15 to goesselmuseum@gmail.com or call the Mennonite Heritage Museum at 620-367-8200
Registration appreciated but not required
(Inclement Weather Date – September 29, 2024)
Check Facebook or museum web site for more info www.goesselmuseum.com
 


Mennonite Church USA Announcements

Virginia Mennonite Conference reaffirmed its relationship with Mennonite Church USA at its 2024 Summer Delegate Assembly. Read the full story by June Miller here: mennoniteusa.org/virginia-to-remain

On September 16, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, join presenter Ross Erb, associate director of the Collins Center, and host Nancy Kauffmann, interim denominational minister of Church Safety, for an informational webinar on the vital importance of recognizing possible signs of grooming that lead to abuse. Grooming often goes undetected until abuse has caused significant harm and damage. With years of experience in dealing with this issue, Ross will help us better understand what grooming is, how to identify it, and how to prevent it. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/safe-church-sept-registration View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/safe-church-sept-webinar-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org//safe-church-sept-webinar-slide

Menno Snapshots

Doug Luginbill reflects on a Mennonite Mission Network Civil Rights learning tour that he took with Central District Conference earlier this year. During this tour, he learned the broader meaning of “potlikker,” a word he and his siblings used during their youth. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/potlikker
 


Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Andi Santoso, Mennonite Mission Network’s regional director for Asia and the Middle East, and Joe Sawatzky, Mission Network’s mission education specialist, along with David Boshart, president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, began two weeks of teaching in Indonesia yesterday. Pray that God’s love, truth and light may be revealed through this time of learning together.
Western District Conference Prayer Request:  Pray for youth sponsors in WDC congregations, and for meaningful conversation and fellowship at this afternoon’s youth worker resourcing and appreciation event sponsored by WDC on the theme of Building Community.
 


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.