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An update of the ministry of Hesston Mennonite Church May 18, 2014

Memorial Sunday - May 25, 2014

We will gather next Sunday as a congregation and remember our loved ones who died during the past year from June, 2013 through May, 2014. We invite those of you who have experienced a death of a family member or friend to bring a candle in a candleholder (a tall taper of any color) with you to the worship service. Persons will be invited to bring their candles to the front of the sanctuary. We will light the candle and a pastor will place the candle on the communion table as a symbol of your loved one’s life.

Share Your Gift of Hospitality

Do you remember what it was like for you to be the new person or family at Hesston Mennonite? What were the circumstances that made you feel welcome and connected?

For the past several years, a Hospitality group has intentionally invited persons who are new to our church family into their homes, sometimes along with others from the congregation, to help make meaningful connections.

Would you like to share your gift of Hospitality with persons who are new to our congregation? Join this Hospitality group and share the joy of inviting new persons into your home for a “simple meal” and fellowship. The group coordinates through email to schedule contact information for the visitors and determine the Sundays they will host.

Contact Janet Zook (327-4349) or the church office (327-4885, ext. 100) to learn more and to offer your gift of welcome to those who explore Hesston Mennonite as their church home.

Hesston Mennonite Church A community of God’s people,

seeking and following the way of Christ, experiencing and sharing the good news

of healing and hope.

THANK YOU!!!

Vacation Bible School volunteer staffing is in place for the week of June 2-6!!! Your quick and eager responses filled the positions needed as we host the Kindergartners of Hesston. Now we can focus on other details related to the week.

CASSEROLES STILL NEEDED – We are grateful for the persons who have already signed up to bring 12 of the 28 casseroles that will be offered to the volunteers and their families. If you are able to provide one or more casseroles, contact Danae Kaufman 620-217-9583 or Rachel Yoder 620-951-4778. Casseroles (refrigerated or frozen) should be brought to the Community Center Kitchen by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 2—they will be distributed among the volunteers.

Did you know???

• Another “Guess Who’s Coming” event is scheduled for Sunday evening, June 29. In the next several weeks, watch for a sign-up form. Mark the date on your calendar and plan ahead to be a host or a guest.

New Books in the Library

Search to Belong C. Carol Kauffman Amish Vines & Orchards #4 – Seasons of Tomorrow Cindy Woodsmall Woman of Courage Wanda E. Brunstetter Living Thoughtfully, Dying Well Glen E. Miller Grandpa has Changed Pam Pollack Timeless Treasures Cara Putman Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants Barbara Schnurbush Family Patterns - Patchwork Mysteries #1 Kristin Eckhardt Time to Share - Patchwork Mysteries #2 Jo Ann Brown Muslin Mystery - Patchwork Mysteries #3 Vera Dodge

Remember to Register for

Hesston Community Vacation Bible School!!!

by May 30

in touch is published 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly—items should be in the church office by noon Wednesday prior to publication.

309 S Main.Hesston.KS.67062.Telephone 620-327-4885.E-mail: hesstonmc@hesstonmc.org. Website: www.hesstonmc.org

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Children’s Sunday School Update

Dear Hesston Mennonite parents and church family,

As we announced on Sunday, May 3, we feel very blessed to have a number of our current primary Sunday school teaching staff returning for our 2014-2015 Sunday school year! They are truly using their gifts to enrich the lives of our children here at Hesston Mennonite. However, we still have the following openings that will need to be filled very soon:

Preschool I (2 year olds): 2 teachers and 1 more helper. Preschool II (3 and 4 year olds): 1 helper. Pre-K and Kindergarten: 1 more teacher and a couple helpers. 1st grade: 1 more teacher and helper team. 2nd and 3rd grade: 1 more teacher and helper team. 4th and 5th grade: All teachers in place. Might need another helper.

These are all 6-month commitments that could be shared by an adult Sunday school class or a couple of friends. The FISH class has already agreed to share one 6-month position again this next year.

Curriculum introduction - On Sunday afternoon, June 22, 3:00 p.m. at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita , there will be an introduction to the new Shine curriculum that will prove helpful in acquainting teachers with this new material. If you would like to attend please let one of us know. (See Shine curriculum description below.)

In keeping with our church’s gift discernment process, if you feel this is where your gifts lie we would love hearing from you.

Blessings! Keli and Kathy Wray

New Fall Sunday School Curriculum

This fall, Hesston Mennonite Church will begin using the new children’s “Shine: Living in God’s Light” Sunday school curriculum produced by MennoMedia.

A description of the new curriculum follows from a recent MennoMedia letter:

Shine: Living in God’s Light is a Bible based, dynamic curriculum for children age 3 to grade 8. Shine shares a vibrant message of Jesus with children. It calls children to experience the transforming power of God’s love and explore the meaning of the Bible through hearing the story and pondering it together.

Shine sessions are easy to use and engaging. The curriculum covers four separate age groups, Early Childhood, Primary, Middler, and Junior Youth. In addition there is a Multiage component created with smaller congregations in mind.

South Central Conference Notes

The Annual Meeting of South Central Conference will be held June 13-15, 2014 at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church, Harper, Kansas. Theme for the weekend is Re-membering Jesus in his biblical context (Deuteronomy 26:5-10a; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

Delegates from Hesston Mennonite Church include: John C. Murray Amy Nissley Stauffer – coordinating a worship session Clayton Gladish Pat and Laurel Miller Kent and Carolyn Rychener Gerry and Jean Selzer Mitch Stutzman

Others from our church family with involvements include: Marion Bontrager – speaker/workshop leader Michele Hershberger – speaker/workshop leader Del Hershberger – workshop leader Jim Diller – SCC Treasurer

South Central Conference

Annual Meeting

Women’s Luncheon

Service Project

We would like to invite churches attending the Annual

Meeting on June 13 – 15 to participate in a Service

Project Sponsored by South Central Conference Women,

benefiting the Pleasant Valley Youth Program. This

program serves the Harper Kansas area youth by

providing meals to many students during their

Wednesday evening program as well as time for music,

worship and discussion. The youth will also be

participating in a service trip to Bolivia this summer.

Pam & Annie Gerber will be the speakers for the

luncheon and will talk more about their program.

There are several ways you can assist: Monetary donation

Gift cards to SAMS club

Items for their Bolivia Trip: Small book bags Pencils

Crayons Puzzles

Baby Items for local daycare

Please bring or send your items with your representatives

to the Annual Meeting. They will be collected at the

Women’s Luncheon on Saturday.

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Harvey County Homeless Shelter News

May 9, 2014

Dear Supporter:

Exciting news, please read! -Many of you are aware of the financial struggles in which HCHS is currently in. We are still currently short of covering our expenses in the first four months of the year by over $6,000. As a ministry, board, and staff we have been praying that God would open a door for us to move past this financial instability and into sound financial stewardship. Through a great amount of prayer and discernment, HCHS is happy to announce God has opened that door and HCHS will be relocating our operations to the Monroe Cottage on Youthville-Newton campus at 900 West Broadway on Memorial Weekend (May 24-26).

We thank New Jerusalem Missions and Penny Dugan for their vision in founding HCHS and pray for their continued success in the ministry that God has before them. It was through great obedience and passion that HCHS was founded and the staff, board, and ministry of HCHS will be forever grateful that Penny and those by her side listened to God as they did. This decision to relocate was not taken lightly and through much thought, prayer, and humble obedience we see that God is leading HCHS to mature as a ministry and to be sound financial stewards with the gifts that we receive from our donors, churches, and the community.

This move is a step in our ministries maturation process. We feel as this is an opportunity for this ministry to grow and truly find our purpose in the Kingdom of God. This move will also help us sustain the ministry for the future. It is in that future that we are still holding onto the vision of a new shelter at 300 South Pine and feel this is still the direction that God is ultimately leading us.

In the upcoming weeks your help is still needed. We are still in the red financially and can use all the support that you may be willing to donate. We are also in need of boxes and bodies to help us move non-essential items in the weeks to come. Then, on Memorial Weekend we will be in need of all bodies, trucks, and trailers that we can find. We are hoping to make a quick transition and are praying that God leads those to us that can help. In the next few weeks we will be sharing information about our move on Memorial Weekend and offering the opportunity to sign up to help. This will be a great undertaking and all help would be appreciated. Meanwhile, if you are available to help during the weekdays and would like to help pack, move, clean, or organize please call me at the shelter (283-7711) and I will “put you to work.”

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

James A. Wilson Director, Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc.

Hesston Mennonite Church will provide meals and staffing

for the Harvey County Homeless Shelter

June 4-7

Many thanks to the Individuals and Sunday school classes who have committed to provide meals for the Shelter.

June 4 – Jan Diller and friends June 5 – Vessels Sunday school class June 6 – New Beginnings Sunday school class June 7 – Genesis Sunday school class

Plan ahead to help provide a meal one of these future dates and contact Jean Selzer (327-2430) or Christy Brenneman (620-217-4943) to reserve your date.

Future Dates for HCHS Meals and Staffing Sept 3-6 Nov 26-29 (note: Thanksgiving 27th)

MDS Service Opportunity

What: Mennonite Disaster Service’s Partnership Home Program

When June 16-24, 2014 – frame house in First Mennonite Church parking lot (Newton)

Where June 30-August 2, 2014 – build house on-site in Jamestown, CO

Why Provide a home and transform lives in the Name of Christ.

Who First Mennonite Church (Newton) and two local congregations

Interested in participating, contact the church office.

Hesston College Preschool – enrolling now!

Hesston College Preschool provides: • Balance of child and teacher directed topic-focused

activities • Emphasis on math and literacy skills through hands-on

learning • Opportunities to develop social skills • Excellent teacher to child ration that promotes positive

interactions • Morning and afternoon sessions • Scholarships available for qualifying families

Contact: Larissa Lawrence Hesston College 325 S College Dr Hesston, KS 67062 larisam@hesston.edu 620-327-8161

in touch is published 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly—items should be in the church office by noon Wednesday prior to publication.

309 S Main.Hesston.KS.67062.Telephone 620-327-4885.E-mail: hesstonmc@hesstonmc.org. Website: www.hesstonmc.org

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2014 Upcoming Area Events

May 29 Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 6:30 p.m. at Ebenfeld MB Church, 1498 Kanza Road, Hillsboro. The meal is $15 a plate. Please RVSP to your sale contact person.

May 31 First Annual Strawberries & Art 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. One mile North of K-2 on

Murdock Rd., 309 NE 120 Rd, Harper, KS • Pick Fresh Strawberries • Support Local Artists • Homemade Bierocks and Strawberry Shortcake

Brought to you by Sweet BERRIES &

BRAMBLES & isart. Jun 8 .Kansas Mennonite Men’s Concert 4:30 p.m., Bethany College Presser Hall,

Lindsborg, a joint concert with the Kansas City Metro Men’s Chorus

Jun 8 MCC Song on the Lawn 5-8:00 p.m. at WillowSpring Downs (Carol

Duerksen and Maynard Knepp's farm). This year's mini-music festival will feature: Book of JEBB, The Bethesda Band, Five Times Harder, Country Jamboree and the Cottonwood River Band! Burgers, hot dogs and the works, and Kettle Corn will be available for a donation all evening long. The Salted Creamery will be selling their amazing homemade ice cream for dessert! Bring table service, lawn chairs, blankets, friends and family for a great evening of music to support the work of MCC.

Jun 15 Hesston College alumni and friends are

invited to Explore Kansas! with the renowned Kansas City Symphony in the Flint Hills on Sat., June 14 at the Rosalia Ranch in Butler County. Faculty member John Sharp will also share Flint Hills stories. May 31 deadline tickets are available either as part of the tour or to attend on your own. For costs and more, go to www.hesston.edu or call alumni at 620-327-8109.

Nov 8-17 MCC Learning Tour to Haiti This 10 day tour will give you a first-hand look

at the social- economical issues Haiti continues to face. The estimate cost for this learning tour is $700 per person, which includes food, lodging, and in-country transportation. Airfare needs to be purchased separately. Space is very limited. For more information contact Anna Yoder by Monday June 2, 2014 at annayoder@mcc.org or 316.283.2720.