BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
January 11, 2026
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 for Sunday, January 11:
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/WVv0HZcMRhA?feature=share
BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
January 11, 2025
Christ Candle Lighting
Centering Music—A Trumpet Rondo (A. Fedak)–Will Wiebe-Friesen
Welcome & Prayer—Dale Horst
*Hymn— Jesus Entered Egypt—VT 279
Children and Youth Conversation—Esther Koontz
Worship Music—Chancel Choir; Joel Garber, director; Will Wiebe-Friesen, accompanist
Scripture Reading—Isaiah 42:1-9—Peggy Souder
*Hymn—New Earth, Heavens New— VT 377
Scripture Reading—Acts 10:34-43—Peggy Souder
Sermon—Nathan Koontz
*Hymn—From North and South, from East and West—VT 460
Offering Invitation & Prayers of God’s People
*Hymn—Beloved, God’s Chosen—VT 164
*Benediction
Postlude–Sonata 6: Our Father Which Art in Heaven, Fugue (Mendelssohn)
*You are invited to stand
VT—Voices Together
Keyboard—Will Wiebe-Friesen
Audio visual—Ben Lichti
The Week at BCMC: January 11—18, 2026
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Worship 9:30 a.m.
YouTube Link for the worship service this Sunday:
https://youtube.com/live/WVv0HZcMRhA?feature=share
Monday, January 12, 2026
10 a.m. Library Committee—Rm 14
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
4 p.m. Facilities Committee–Fellowship Hall
4:15 p.m. Staff Congregation Relations Committee—Rm 14
7 p.m. Immigration Task Group—Chapel
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal—Sanctuary Chancel
Thursday, January 15, 2026
4 p.m. Witness Commission—Rm 14
2-4 p.m. Book Reviews Reception—Fellowship Hall
6 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal—Rm B7
Sunday, January 18, 2026—Worthy Worship
9:30 a.m. Worship with sermon by Joanna Harader; music by Chancel Bells
Monday, January 19, 2026—Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Church office will be closed
On January 4, we celebrated Epiphany by selecting “star words” to help guide us through the new year. If you have not received a word and would like one, please email Pastor Joanna. For those of you who wish to engage your word as a spiritual practice this year, look for occasional prompts in your weekly church emails. (If you want to sign up for the emails, please contact the office.)
Sunday’s centering music comes from a larger work, Triptych for Organ, by organist Alfred Fedak. This movement, a rondo for the trumpet stop on the organ, quotes the Lutheran hyman Werde munter, meine gemüte (Become cheerful, my mind). As with many Lutheran hymns, singing all twelve stanzas is more of a marathon than a sprint! Despite its length, it was a much-loved hymn during Bach’s era, and, with slightly altered rhythms and a different text, is the tune used in his beloved chorale prelude “Jesu Joy of Our Desiring” (text on VT 639). The other two movements in Fedak’s Triptych will likely pop up in worship services over the next few months, so keep an ear out for them!
If you missed reading Pastor Joanna Harader’s pastoral letter (January 8, 2026) press here.
BCMC Offering for January 4: General $17,218.19; Bequests $20,150; Kitchen Fund $20; Solar Fund $50; Larry Penner Mem. $125.
Joanna’s 1887 Cafe office hours this semester will be on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. You are welcome to stop by for a chat!
The January congregational meeting will be on Sunday, January 25 during the Sunday School hour in the sanctuary. Agenda items will include: Church Board recommendations on proposals from the Finance Committee and from Witness Commission, and the approval of the annual church budget. Details of the budget and proposals will be included in the agenda which will be available soon. Live streaming of the meeting will be available. The youth will provide a meal after the meeting.
You are invited to Pastor Joanna’s house for a church board game night on Sat., Jan. 31, starting at 6:30. Bring games and/or snacks to share if you’d like–we’ll have plenty on hand. (Contact Joanna if you need her address: joanna@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org.)
The Bethel College Mennonite Church Faith Formation Commission has been experimenting with a new format for our Wednesday night gatherings this semester. We welcome your feedback! Please complete this brief survey online or fill out a paper copy at church.
Are you new(ish) to Bethel College Mennonite Church? Interested in learning more about the congregation? Curious about membership at BCMC? Pastors Nathan and Joanna will lead two elective Sunday School sessions early next year in the chapel. Anyone is welcome to attend either or both of these classes.
–January 18: Introduction to Bethel College Mennonite–This session will provide a brief history of the congregation and an orientation to the church mission and structure.
–February 1: Membership at BCMC–In this session we will discuss the membership process and answer questions that people bring. *Contact a pastor for more information.
Current status on the search for an associate pastor: All our paperwork has been sent to Western District Conference and the job description is posted. The search committee will continue to work with conference minister Kathy Neufeld Dunn, who will share information with us about potential candidates. If you have names of people who may be interested in the position, you can send them to search committee chair Megan Leary at megleary28@gmail.com
Looking for Singers for the upcoming 2026 Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus. We have six rehearsals in Hesston Mennonite Church starting on Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m. The rehearsals last for 2 hrs. KMMC has been singing since 1969 in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska and even Europe!!! If interested in singing or more information please reach out to Membership Chair Aaron Stucky via email stuckya2003@yahoo.com. You can also find us on Facebook at Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus. Thank you, Aaron Stucky
Hesston College will host the annual Melva Kauffman Lecture Series January 25 and 26, welcoming internationally recognized peace studies scholar and Hesston College alumna Dr. Angela Lederach ՚04 for a three-part series titled “Slow Peace: Lessons from Grassroots Peacebuilders in Colombia.” Dr. Lederach will speak Jan. 25, 7 p.m. and Jan. 26, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public and held at Hesston Mennonite Church. For more information visit hesston.edu/melva.
Peace Connections is hosting a Bridges Out of Poverty Training Jan. 23 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This training experience is a way to invest in your community and expand resources, to help individuals understand the impacts of poverty. This free training will explore the root causes of
poverty, increase personal understanding and identify ways to reduce barriers for all members of our community. For more information or to sign up for this training experience, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/768743612864907?active_tab=about or call Peace Connections at 316-284-0000.
Bethel College/Kauffman Museum Announcements
· Mon., Jan. 12: Special one-evening show by local high school artists, 6-7 p.m., Regier Art Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center. You’re invited to meet students from Augusta, Goessel, Hesston, Moundridge and Newton high schools and view their art at this come-and-go event.
· Sun., Jan. 18-Mon., Jan. 19: Bethel College and Hesston College, with Newton Community for Racial Justice and the Newton Public Library, will collaborate to celebrate the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Jan. 18, 3 p.m., Hesston Mennonite Church: concert featuring Bethel College Concert Choir, Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, Central Kansas Master Chorale, and Roz McCommon and her band; Jan. 19, 8 a.m., Bontrager Student Center at Hesston College, prayer breakfast with local clergy; Jan. 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., escape room with clues based on Dr. King’s life and work, sponsored by NCRJ at the Newton Public Library; Jan. 19, 6 p.m., Memorial Hall at Bethel College, listening event for Dr. King’s 1960 speech at Bethel; Jan. 19, 7 p.m., program in Memorial Hall with Roz McCommon, Bethel choirs, HC Bel Canto Singers and Bethel orchestra.
· Thurs., Jan. 22: Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, Bethel College associate professor of music, presents “Songs of Protest: A Sampling of Music that Defies and Dissents,” 7 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium. This program is connected to the museum’s current special exhibit, “Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War.” [NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME from some earlier announcements.]
· SAVE THE DATE: Sat., Jan. 31: Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Flavor of Kansas,” noon-4 p.m., museum parking lot and grounds. For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org
· SAVE THE DATE: Sat., Jan. 31: Bethel College Academy of Performing Arts (BCAPA) 30th-anniversary event featuring collaborative pianist Mory Ortman, emeritus professor of music Don Kehrberg and more, 6:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
WANTED—Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RV’s, Campers, Tractors, Modern Farm Equipment, etc. for the KS Mennonite Central Committee Sale. Items you no longer need 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. Be a part of the growing number of folks donating vehicles to the Mennonite Relief Sale.
To read a letter from the Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale chair, Jim Robb, press here
Bluestem U, the lifelong learning program of Bluestem Communities for individuals age 55 and better, will begin Jan. 8, with “Life Upon the Wicked Stage: Classics of Western Theatre” taught by Lauren Friesen. Classes will be Thursdays, Jan. 8 through Feb. 12. There is still time to sign up! Other classes being offered for the winter/spring semester are “Health, the Human Face of Climate Change” taught by Dwight Krehbiel, and “Biblical Literature (Bib Lit) Crash Course” taught by Kevin Wilder. Courses are $50 a piece. See bluestemu.org for more information and to register for classes.
The Outreach Team of Hesston Mennonite Church invites your participation at a March 7, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m., Spring Symposium on the Future of Water in Kansas. We are co-sponsoring this event to be held at Dyck Arboretum (177 W Hickory St), Hesston. Experts and water managers from state, local and municipal agencies will address critical issues that affect our state’s water resources and demands. Brad Guhr, Education Coordinator, urges “Let’s educate ourselves and work together on solutions now, while water is plentiful, so we never have to face the fight (referring to Mark Twain’s quote that ‘Whisky’s for drinking and water’s for fighting.’) To register go to https://dyckarboretum.org/ and check Events.
Following another work day earlier this week, Camp Mennoscah is thrilled to see the retreat center far enough along that individual bedrooms are starting to be cleaned as a final step toward occupancy! On Monday, the basement ceiling grid and acoustic tiles were installed and the lights all connected. While on the main floor, the common area and bedrooms were painted and the process of cleaning the rooms and building was begun! This is a huge step toward our anticipated completion date of March 31, and would not be possible were it not for the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that our partner churches and individual stakeholders offer, and we thank you for your investment from the bottom of our hearts. To learn how you can help – including joining the many churches involved in congregation-specific matching challenges right now – text “Camp” to 620.755.2583
For Mennonite Women USA “Grapevine” press here
For Mennonite Mission Network “News and Beyond” press here
Service Adventure Can a gap year change your life? Only if you’re up for adventure! Service Adventure applications are now open for the 2026-27 term. Service Adventure is a 10-month volunteer experience for young adults ages 17-20. Live in community with peers and unit leaders, serve with local nonprofit agencies, and grow in your faith with a supporting church congregation! Learn more and apply at MennoniteMission.net/ServiceAdventure.
For an Urgent Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network press here
For Anabaptist Disabilities Network press here
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
Mennonite Church USA Announcements
Menno Snapshots
Spiritual director Wendy Janzen offers five simple, embodied spiritual “pocket practices” to use anytime to feel more grounded, connected and spiritually supported. Read her Menno Snapshots blog here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/pocket-practices/
If you are a Mennonite working or teaching in a public-school setting, you are invited to join the upcoming Mennonite Public Educators Zoom meeting on Monday, Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. Our topic will be student behavior, discipline and restorative justice within your classroom and your school as a whole. Register here: https://forms.gle/CdbeMF1kKfroTfft8
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Service Adventure unit leaders are meeting this week for their midyear retreat in Colorado Springs, CO. Pray that these leaders experience refreshment, rejuvenation and good discussions as they meet together.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for WDC commissions meeting this month, as they guide WDC’s priorities to support pastors and leaders, resource congregations, and nurture church planting partnerships.
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.