BETHESDA NEWS April 30, 2017 Congregational Meeting Central Plains Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting VBS is rapidly approaching!

Transcription

1 BETHESDA NEWS A community caring for all God s people, being transformed by Christ's love, serving others as a witness of God s grace and peace. Bethesda Mennonite Church April 30, 2017 Congregational Meeting This morning, a congregational meeting will be held to finalize the layout for sanctuary seating. The Facility Review Task Group will be proposing three options for consideration. Youth will be serving lunch at noon as a fund raiser for the MC USA Convention trip to Orlando, Florida, this summer. The congregational meeting will take place following lunch. Central Plains Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting The CPMC Annual Meeting will be held June 15-18, 2017, at Spirit of Peace UCC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Registrations are available online at centralplainsmc.org or you may pick up a registration on the table outside the church office. Early registration ends TODAY. Please sign up on the east bulletin board if you plan to be a delegate for Bethesda. VBS is rapidly approaching! During the week of June 5-9, our building will transform into the city of Rome, where Paul is under house arrest and the underground church is in need of encouragement. Children preschool through 6th grade, are invited to join us as we explore this ancient city! Registration forms are available in the church office starting today, April 30. To guarantee your child gets the correct size t-shirt, return the forms and $10.00 to the church office by May 11. As preparations are being made to transition to online forms in the future, only paper forms will be available at this time. The VBS committee is also now taking decoration donations (greenery, rugs, clay pots, solid-colored bed sheets.) Donations can be put in the bride s room. If you wish to have your items back at the end of VBS please put your name on the item. If you are interested in volunteering during the week or have other questions contact any member of the committee: Erin Sams, Lisa Tessman, JoAnn Friesen, Elizabeth Goertzen, or Kim Janzen. We are just "Bursting" with excitement to have you join us! -Vacation Bible School Committee

2 WEEK AT A GLANCE SUNDAY, April 30 8:45 a.m. Deacons Prayer Time 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:40 a.m. Sunday School 12:00 p.m. Lunch fundraiser for youth MC USA Convention Congregational Meeting (following lunch) MONDAY, May 1 6:30 p.m. Celebrate Women Banquet. TUESDAY, May 2 8:30 a.m. Staff Meeting WEDNESDAY, May 3 12:00 p.m. Bulletin Announcements Due 7:00 p.m. Powerhouse 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Next SUNDAY, May 7 Graduation Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship Pastor Jim Voth Offering Mennonite Church USA Special Music Powerhouse Pianist Marilyn Kroeker Elective Sunday School Class: The Life and Ministry of Paul Journey to the ancient sites in Greece and Turkey through video lessons to learn more about Paul s call and God s call for you today. This Sunday school class, studying the life of Paul, will run through the month of April. All are invited to attend. Jan Friesen is teaching the class in the Powerhouse room.

3 CHURCH FAMILY Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs. Prayer Requests Kimberly Goossen Marcee VandenBerg University of Nebraska Medical Center Madonna Rehabilitation Center Please keep our catechism students in your prayers: Kate Bergen (Brian and Angie Bergen), Lane Huebert (Phil and Melissa Goertzen), Ben Mestl (Jim and Gina Mestl), Peyton Ott (Justin and Tammy Ott), Bailey Peters (Jeff and Tami Peters) and Sydney Siebert (Leo and Susan Siebert). Baptism will be Sunday, May 14. Sympathy Kermit Peters, age 86, passed away on Sunday, April 23, A memorial service was held at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora, on April 26. Sympathy is extended to his wife, Phyllis; children, Michael (Katheryn) Peters, Charlotte (Michael) Cudmore and Barbara (Randy) Ratashak; grandchildren and sisters Betty Regier, Ardith Epp, Caroline Bergen and Cora Kay Friesen. Pastor Andrea will return from maternity leave on May 1. Pastor Seth and his family will be traveling to Austria, Switzerland and Germany in May and part of June. Pastor Seth will be teaching 15 undergraduate students from Eastern Mennonite University. They will be studying Radical Europe, 16 th Century History and Radical Europe, and 21 st Century History. The teaching of this class was a pre-employment agreement with the Board of Deacons before Pastor Seth was hired as Pastor for Bethesda. Pastor Seth, we give you our blessing on this educational trip. My God be with you. Bethesda Board of Deacons Parent Child Dedication will be held on Sunday, May 28, Please notify the church office at or sign up in the church office if you would like to have your child dedicated.

4 ACROSS THE STREET AND AROUND THE WORLD Prayer Request from Mennonite Mission Network The Centro de Estudios, a ministry of the Spanish-speaking Mennonite congregations in Uruguay, develops church leaders and strengthens their Anabaptist identity. Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for this mobile study program that travels to bi-vocational leaders locations and permits them to study evenings after work. School Kit Bags There are still many school kit bags that need to be sewn. You may pick them up and return them to the room across from the office. If you need help or instructions on how to sew them, contact Adeline Huebert or Lindy Siebert. Thank you for your help! Backpack Program Sign up on the east bulletin board for the Backpack Program. Food on and under the table outside the office is available for use in the backpacks. Living Water Rescue Mission s 7 th Annual Golf Classic The Living Water Rescue Mission is asking churches to send a golf team to play in their four person golf scramble on June 23 at the York Country Club, York, Nebraska. Please check the east bulletin board for information. Swan Lake Marathon Swan Lake Christian Camp will hold its 15 th annual marathon on June 11 in Viborg, South Dakota. All proceeds benefit Swan Lake Christian Camp s scholarship program. Register online at For more information, see the flier on the east bulletin board. Suicide Prevention Team Development Four Corners Health Department, in partnership with Region V Systems and the Seward Suicide Prevention Coalition is developing a LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Team in the Four Corners District (Seward, York, Butler and Polk Counties). An informative event will take place Thursday, May 4, 2017, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Auditorium, 616 Bradford, Seward, Nebraska. For more information, see the flier on the east bulletin board.

5 FINANCIALS Worship Offering Sunday, April 23, 2017 Worship Attendance 257 Sunday School Attendance 127 Central Plains Mennonite Conference... 2, Mennonite Central Committee Swan Lake Christian Camp Dayspring Ministries Dayspring Thailand Reach Int l Sam/Sherri Benevolent Fund Technology Improvement Fund/Sound Radio/Live Streaming Youth Service Trips Bethesda General Operating Receipts... 3, Worship Offering... $7, Sunday School Offering... $ Total Sunday Offering... $8, YOUTH For junior high and high school calendars visit the Bethesda Faith Formation page at Powerhouse (high school) will meet Wednesday, May 3, at 7:00 p.m. for a time of worship and to prepare to lead worship on Sunday, May 7. WOMEN S MINISTRIES Celebrate Women Banquet Bethesda Women's Ministry will hold the 8th Annual Celebrate Women Banquet in the Fellowship Hall on Monday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. Luann Yutzy, former interim pastor at Bethesda and current interim pastor at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Inman, Kansas, will be speaking on "Traveling Lightly. Her message will incorporate the themes of being aware of our lives as liminal space, traveling as guests in this world, embracing it all, and holding loosely to things while holding people close. Addie Swartzendruber and Brooklyn Epp will bring special music.

6 Swan Lake Christian Camp you are invited to join us at Swan Lake Christian Camp for a fun-filled summer! At Swan Lake, campers will: Grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through devotions, Bible studies, and nightly campfires. Enjoy swimming, canoeing or sailing on Swan Lake. Roast hotdogs and eat marshmallows with friends. Build friendships that model Christ s love within the cabin group while engaging in fun crafts and outdoor games. SCHEDULE Cottontail Day Camp (Pre K & K)... June 12 Chipmunk Day Camp (1 st & 2 nd grade)... June 26 3 rd Grade Camp... July th Grade Camp... June th Grade Camp... June th Grade Camp... July 9-14 Junior High Camp...July 30-August 4 Senior High Camp... July *All grades refer to school year. Registrations are available online. Please register to attend camp at Bethesda s Medical/Tranportation form is also available online at Click the Ministries tab and scroll down to Swan Lake Christian Camp. All campers must fill out this form and pay the transportation fee before departing for camp. Continued on next page

7 SWAN LAKE CAMP CONTINUED.. * NEW THIS YEAR.all drivers must fill out a Driving History/Release Form found in the same section; as well as leave a copy of their driver s license in the church office. Please call the church office with any questions. *Register by May 1 to receive a free t-shirt! Note to Parents: Your child/children are invited to attend Swan Lake Christian Camp at NO CHARGE this summer because of a gift from Bethesda s South Central Fellowship Class. The members of this Sunday school class recognize the impact that SLCC has had on their faith journey, their children s and the children and youth of Bethesda and desire that every youth/child be able to attend SLCC, grow in their relationship with Christ, enjoy the nature God created, and build friendships. *When registering your child for camp, check the appropriate church scholarship amount to pay for the cost of the camp. ******* Hesston College Concert On Sunday evening, May 14, at 7:00 p.m., the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will be giving a concert at Bethesda. See today s insert for more information about the singers and their tour Yearbooks are here! You will find them in the racks as you enter the sanctuary. All Graduates!! Please notify the church office if you have a graduate in the family, whether preschool, high school, college or graduate school. These names will be listed in the next Sunday s bulletin. Thank you! Greetings! Check the east bulletin board for a letter of greeting from Raymond and Akiko Epp, Japan.

8 These booklets are available in the Narthex and on the table outside the church office.