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 www.bethesdamc.org June 8, 2014 Please keep our baptismal candidates in your prayers this week as they anticipate baptism on Sunday, June 15. Leslie Braun Ellie Steingard Ethan Hall Addie Swartzendruber Jacob Janzen Brooke Weisheit Johnny Johnson The VBS Committee wants to thank the children, parents, teachers and volunteers that helped make VBS a success! Thanks as well to those who brought zwieback for snack time. It was appreciated! The Emmanuel Humanitarian Orphanage in Kinshasa, Congo, wants to thank the Bethesda Bible School for taking on their support. Seeking to serve those orphaned, they are guided by James 1:27 which says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The cost of living in the city is very high and it is a perpetual challenge to find the means to feed, clothe and educate the orphans. When food is tight, they eat only once a day. It takes a food budget of $2 a day for them to receive adequate nourishment. There are now 36 children between the ages of three and 23. Some truly are orphans. Others have been abandoned because their parents or extended families cannot afford their support. Others had been living on the street. Simplice, co-founder of Emmanuel Orphanage, writes, “Being poor and needy, we count on the hand of God who is the Father of widows and orphans, and we bear witness that God never abandons these children and it is always at the appropriate time that He supplies for us in accordance with His grace and favor.” Your financial gifts will make a difference in the lives of a child. For more information on the orphanage, its needs, as well as a few personal histories of the children, take a look at the poster in the Fellowship Hall.
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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 www.bethesdamc.org
June 8, 2014 Please keep our baptismal candidates in your prayers this week as they anticipate baptism on Sunday, June 15. Leslie Braun Ellie Steingard Ethan Hall Addie Swartzendruber Jacob Janzen Brooke Weisheit Johnny Johnson The VBS Committee wants to thank the children, parents, teachers and volunteers that helped make VBS a success! Thanks as well to those who brought zwieback for snack time. It was appreciated! The Emmanuel Humanitarian Orphanage in Kinshasa, Congo, wants to thank the Bethesda Bible School for taking on their support. Seeking to serve those orphaned, they are guided by James 1:27 which says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The cost of living in the city is very high and it is a perpetual challenge to find the means to feed, clothe and educate the orphans. When food is tight, they eat only once a day. It takes a food budget of $2 a day for them to receive adequate nourishment. There are now 36 children between the ages of three and 23. Some truly are orphans. Others have been abandoned because their parents or extended families cannot afford their support. Others had been living on the street. Simplice, co-founder of Emmanuel Orphanage, writes, “Being poor and needy, we count on the hand of God who is the Father of widows and orphans, and we bear witness that God never abandons these children and it is always at the appropriate time that He supplies for us in accordance with His grace and favor.” Your financial gifts will make a difference in the lives of a child. For more information on the orphanage, its needs, as well as a few personal histories of the children, take a look at the poster in the Fellowship Hall.
11:00 A.M. Swimnastics 12:00 P.M. Bulletin Announcements Due 7:00 P.M. Powerhouse 8:00 P.M. Music Committee
THURSDAY, June 12
8:30 A.M. Bethesda Care Team
FRIDAY, June 13 11:00 A.M. Swimnastics
Next Sunday, June 15, 2014
Baptism/Communion/No Sunday School Sermon – Pastor Jim Voth/Testimonies
Offering – Central Plains Mennonite Conference Music – Powerhouse
Organist – Laura Steingard Please Note: Flowers and other arrangements may be left at the cemetery until June 9; after that date, they will be disposed of. Sunday morning worship services are being live-streamed and can be viewed by going to www.bethesdamc.org. Click the ‘Media’ tab, click ‘Launch Media Player,’ then click the service you wish to view. Click the ‘Play’ arrow and enjoy the service.
Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs. Hospitalized: Ruth Epp St. Elizabeth Hospital, Lincoln, Nebraska Change of Address: Elsie Epp 1621 Front Street Henderson Care Center Room 37 Henderson, NE 68371 Gladys (Clarence) Friesen 1621 Front Street Henderson Care Center Room 4 Henderson, NE 68371 Norma (Walter A.) Friesen 1621 Front Street Rosewood Court Apt. 105 Henderson, NE 68371 Pastoral office hours are now posted outside the church office. Since pastor’s schedules include evening meetings, visitation and crisis care during the day, evening and night time hours, this schedule offers the congregation available times when the pastors will be at the church. Thayne will be in the office Monday through Thursday. Greetings from Ashland Christian Fellowship: After much prayer, and certainly some sadness, Doug and Lori Bishop have decided to resign from pastoring the Ashland Christian Fellowship Church in Ashland, Montana. The primary reason for the change is the distance from their children and grandchildren, plus certain health issues for Lori. “We will never forget the people of Bethesda Mennonite Church, our conference ministers, and others in the Central Plains Mennonite Conference for all their love, support and prayers. We were truly blessed while pastoring in Ashland! We are forever grateful.” Bethesda was also blessed by their ministry and it is with sadness that we say goodbye. Pray that God will provide a pastor for the church, that the church will work together through the transition period and that Doug and Lori will feel God’s guidance as they move and seek ways to serve Him. You may read their complete letter on the church office window. Pastoral Search Prayer Support: Gather in the northwest adult classroom, across from the Preschool, at 8:55 a.m. as we seek God’s will for a new pastor. We need your prayer support as we continue our search. ~ Pastoral Search Committee
Please note the letter from Dan and Sylvia Rogers serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Please remember them in your prayers. Their letter is posted on the east bulletin board. Pat and Rad Houmphan have sent greetings from Thailand! Please take time to read their letter about some miracles that are happening!! The Prayer Board, located near the church office, is a place to post prayers that come to the office. If you wish to have a prayer matter posted, please call the church office, Pastor Jim Voth, or email him at [email protected]. These may be prayers of praise, thanksgiving or intercession. If you wish to post a prayer for someone other than yourself, please request their permission. Thank you! Cookies are needed for the months of July and August when we worship in the Fellowship Hall. A sign-up sheet has been placed at the Coffee Spot for you to volunteer your services. Two people are needed to serve coffee and two are needed to place cookies on trays for serving. We need approximately 28 dozen each Sunday. Thank you for being willing to serve in this way! Enole Ditsheko will be visiting the states in mid-June. He is asking for help from Bethesda in donating gently used musical instruments such as trumpets, trombones, cymbals, flutes, steel drums, double bass, violins, mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind, harmonicas, etc. Enole envisions a marching band for the young people in Gaborone as a way to fill their time effectively other than loitering on the streets or participating in destructive behaviors. Instruments may be brought to the church office. If you have questions, please contact Norm Yoder at 402-723-4950. Visitor Editor Needed… Would you be interested in using your writing and editing talents to help with Bethesda’s monthly newsletter The Visitor? We are currently looking for an editor who can help gather information, write articles, take photos, edit, etc. If you would be willing to serve in this way, please contact Margaret Hiebner or the church office. They can help answer any questions you might have as you consider this opportunity. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Coming Events… Are you passionate about being formed by the Bible? Come to the Central Plains Annual Meeting 2014, where Jewel Gingerich Longnecker will speak on the theme, “Joyfully Following Jesus: Formed by God’s Word.” Come to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 19 – 22, to learn, fellowship and discern with your sisters and brothers. Delegates may pick up conference booklets on the table outside the church office. Several Central Plains 14th Annual Meeting booklets are available for reading; one in the church office and one in the church library. The Living Water Rescue Mission is sponsoring the 4th Annual “Master’s Classic,” a four person scramble on June 20, 2014, at the York Country Club. For more information, please see the brochure on the east bulletin board. Shine Sunday School Curriculum Training! Vicki Hinz-Ensz will introduce Shine and its unique features on Saturday, June 28, at Bellwood Mennonite Church in Milford, Nebraska, and Thursday evening, July 10, at Bethesda Mennonite Church. The presentation is the same on both dates; select the date and place that suits you best and mark your calendar. More details to come! What’s coming for summer worship? “Spirit Fruit: Love, Joy, Peace and Kindness.” We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for Sunday worship July 6 through August 31, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Our usual worship will be blended with worship-based activities for children and sermon response opportunities for adults with fellowship following worship. Sunday school will be cancelled during this time. We will host special all-church potluck dinners on July 27 and August 31. Worship in the sanctuary and Sunday school will resume September 7. The summer community worship service in the park will be held August 3. The youth will be hosting a fundraiser for Ashland Christian Fellowship on the evening of June 29. They will be serving an Indian taco meal in the Fellowship Hall. Freewill donations will go towards our sister church located on the Northern Cheyenne reservation. Following the meal the youth will share about their experience serving the three Mennonite churches on the reservation during their May service trip.
MCC school kit bags have been cut. For those of you helping to sew them, they are located in a box in the room across from the office. Thanks again for helping us to get them sewn. ~ Adeline and Lindy The Music Committee is working on the summer worship music schedule. If you would like to share your musical gifts, or know of someone who would, please contact Rod Drews or Mike Wall. All are welcome to offer their talents. Music is an important part of worship at Bethesda; consider sharing your gifts with us!
2014 MCC Golf Tourney, Saturday, August 9, 2014! Save the date! See east bulletin board for more details.
SLCC Cottontail/Chipmunk Camp Update…. There has been some confusion regarding the dates and age groups for the Cottontail and Chipmunk camps at Swan Lake due to a misprint in their brochure. Judy Kroeker confirmed that Cottontail Camp (ages 5-6) will be held July 10 and Chipmunk Camp (grades 1-2) will be held July 11. She also conveyed that it is not necessary to hold strictly to the age suggestions, but to feel free to come on either of the days if you have a child in that age group. Bethesda will have a group of children going on July 10.
FINANCIALS Worship Offering Sunday, June 1, 2014 Worship Attendance – 289 Sunday School Attendance – 132 Mennonite Church – USA........................................................... $3,469.00 Menno Media – Shine ........................................................................ 25.00 Central Plains Mennonite Conference ............................................. $75.00 CPMC – “Gift for Cesar & Patricia Moya” .................................. 1,000.00 Mennonite Central Committee ........................................................... 50.00 Swan Lake Christian Camp.............................................................. 100.00 Dayspring – Congo .......................................................................... 185.00 Dayspring – Menno Village – Japan ................................................ 150.00 Dayspring – Thailand ....................................................................... 150.00 Reach Int’l – Sam & Sherri Evans ................................................... 650.00 Ashland Fellowship ......................................................................... 150.00 Radio Broadcast ............................................................................... 100.00 Sunday School Offering ................................................................... 159.25 Vacation Bible School Project ........................................................... 50.00 General Operating Receipts .......................................................... 2,505.00 Total Worship Offering ............................................................ $8,818.25 Susie Buller – Memorial Mennonite Central Committee ................................................. $160.00 Bethesda Radio Broadcast .......................................................... 195.00 Bethesda General Operating Fund .............................................. 180.00 Total $535.00 Susie Buller – Estate Building Maintenance $11,668.02 Mennonite Central Committee 10,296.00 Bethesda Women’s Ministry 9,609.00 Mennonite Mission Network 15,100.00 Mennonite Disaster Service 5,491.00 Mennonite Cemetery (Buller/Siebert) 5,491.00 Canner Project 5,491.00 Youth Ministry Special Projects 5,491.00 Total $68,637.02
YOUTH Ashland Youth will be meeting on Wednesday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m. to prepare for sharing on the night of Sunday, June 29. Catechism youth will meet today at 11:30 am in the Crossroads Coffee House following the Bible School social to review the baptism service for next Sunday, June 15. We will be finished by noon. Prayer:
• Megan Boardman, who has attended Wednesday night youth group, will be serving with Mennonite Mission Network’s Youth Venture Program in Quito, Ecuador, on June 11 – July 2. She will be working with the Quito Mennonite Church, a part of Central Plains Mennonite Conference Ecuador Partnership.
New Devozines are available in the Crossroads Coffee House book racks.
Bethesda Preschool has a Facebook Page! Be sure to “like” us for preschool updates and happenings at https://www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers. Several weeks ago, a "Friends of the Preschool" insert invited the congregation to participate in the preschool ministry. A "Friend" helps the mission of Bethesda Preschool through various ways. For example, by sharing your talents, your financial gifts or prayer support. Please take time to read this over and fill it out. In this way, we know who we can call for various preschool projects in the future. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you are committing to anything long-term or that you will receive constant phone calls from us! However, help from the congregation is needed to continue the Bethesda Preschool's positive impact in our community. Extra forms are available on the table outside the church office and may be returned to the office. Thank you! ~ Bethesda Preschool Committee Kori Lewis, Carrie Epp, Larry Roberts & Tara Swartzendruber
Peace Garden: If you like gardening and would be able to help, the Bethesda Preschool needs volunteers to help take care of the Peace Garden over the summer. This includes weeding, making sure the area is tidy, and watering the plants and flowers. We have placed a calendar on the preschool bulletin board for you to pick a date that works best for your schedule. We are asking that you sign up for a week at a time but appreciate any days you can give us. Please leave your name and phone number or email address so Mrs. Kori can send you a reminder message at the start of your week/days. Thank you! Bethesda Preschool recently added new materials to the Peace Garden to create an outdoor classroom environment for the children. New materials were acquired from generous donations from church members and families at the preschool. The children were able to utilize the materials on our last day of school. They had an absolute blast! Thank you to everyone who donated materials, money, items, and time to complete this project. Playground Update: The playground is almost at completion. The Preschool Committee is currently working on a shade structure that will stand over the top of the play structure. We are also working on completing a patio area and possibly adding some play items to finish out the area. We will post pictures of the project when completed.
Bethesda
Women’s Ministries 2014 Swimnastics: Began June 2 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. All women welcome! $2.00 per session (if not a season ticket holder) Led by Kathy Friesen 402-723-4245 Next up for BWM: June 10 (second Tuesday due to Bible School) at 7:00 p.m. Bible Study: "Sustaining Hope: Naomi, Orpha, & Ruth" Feature Speaker: Sue Sullivan The June Birthday Celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Crossroads Coffee House. Wendy Janzen will serve as hostess for the evening. Please sign up on the east bulletin board.
