Congregational Announcements
Just a reminder to all youth to return your service trip forms by Wednesday, April 13. Thanks!
Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus:
This year KMMC will celebrate our 48th year of singing. In the early years we sang music drawn from chorales, hymns and gospel songs. Audiences packed the house for the unique experience of hearing a 500-voice men’s chorus.
Now recently our audiences have become smaller in size. Our programming, however, has become more varied and interesting. Recent concerts have included selections in which a harmonica soloist improvised blues to “Amazing Grace,” a brass ensemble accompanied anthems sung by the chorus, a vocal soloist improvised in a Black Gospel selection, and a piano duo playing one piano accompanied the chorus. Flutes, strings and a bell choir have also been used.
Today our concerts include new compositions of jazz, contemporary Christian, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel, folk hymns, and standard anthems of the church.
We are reaching out to our congregations to generate a new and larger group of listeners. We need your help so we may continue to . . .
Sing So Others May Live.
Sunday, April 17, 7:00 p.m.– Presser Hall, Lindsborg
Sunday, April 24, 7:00 p.m.-Central Community Church, Wichita
Progressive Dinner! Plan to join this fun Fellowship Event on April 24. Meet at Tabor Church at 4:30 p.m. to form groups and carpool to the first course of your meal. Please sign up on the bulletin if you plan to attend.
What do Five Mennonites and a Greek have in common? Come to the salad supper on April 25th at 6 p.m. and listen to stories from a group of women who have been strung together on a string, supporting each other and laughing together, while learning how to draw faith from God and move forward. Please bring a salad to share. Sign up is posted on the bulletin board .
Spring Work Day: Plan to participate in our annual work day on April 30 beginning at 8am. More information will be coming.
Camp Mennoscah wants as many kids and youth as possible to have a summer youth camp experience. It’s a great way to help faith grow and to find God in creation and in friends. The summer youth camp theme is Fearless Faith: Courage in Community. Scholarships from Camp Mennoscah are available. Tabor’s Christian Ed team offers a $50 scholarship to Tabor campers. Please sign up on the bulletin board if you are attending camp.
For information on Pastor Phil’s upcoming sabbatical please see Ron Schroeder’s article in the April newsletter.
Community Announcements
April Commodities: Do you or someone you know need a little help making ends meet? If so Commodities will be distributed at the Goessel Mennonite Church on Friday April 22 from 5-6pm. Income guidelines are as follows: Household Size 1 Monthly gross income $1,287; 2 – $2736; 3 – $2184; 5 – $3082; 6 – $3530; for additional family add 450 for each one.
Bloodmobile: Finding time to give blood or work at the blood drive isn’t always easy, but it is a way to change a life and give someone a chance to share more laughter, joy, and time with family and friends. The next bloodmobile at Goessel Church is Tuesday, April 26 from 2:00-6:00. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to schedule your appointment. Or watch for the volunteer sign-up sheet to work for an hour as receptionist, donor escort, or in the canteen. YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFE!
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray for members of the WDC Ministerial Leadership Commission as they meet this week to continue their work of sustaining transformational pastors in WDC.
« Mennonite Mission Network: MMN’s all-staff gathering begins tomorrow through Thursday. Pray for safe travel to and from Wichita, an openness to the leading of God’s Spirit – for wise discernment in discussions and decisions – and for an atmosphere of collaboration.
« Mennonite Education Agency: During this week, National Library Week, we thank God for the wonderful librarians at Mennonite schools and the integral part they play in the education of our students.
Harvey County Homeless Shelter: Volunteer training at The Shelter, 900 W. Broadway, building #7. Monday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. Gain knowledge of available volunteer opportunities, meet the volunteer coordinator, learn about the shelter and the residents that are served. No RSVP required.
Associate Conference Minister (KS-based): Western District Conference is pleased to announce that Kathy Neufeld Dunn has accepted an invitation to serve as Associate Conference Minister (KS-based) beginning July 1, 2016. In this 3/4 time position she will serve as staff liaison to WDC Resource Commission and work with the Resource Library Director to equip congregations in ministries such as faith formation, worship, witness, peace & justice, healthy community and prevention of sexual abuse. She will also assist the Conference Minister in relating to pastors and congregations in NE, KS and OK; and coordinate planning of annual assembly when it takes place in the north section of WDC. Kathy will serve as Interim 2016 Assembly Planning Director beginning in April, until she begins her new position in July. Kathy has been pastor at First Mennonite Church in McPherson since 2006, and is concluding a term as chair of the WDC Ministerial Leadership Commission. She was previously intentional interim pastor at Peace Mennonite Church (Lawrence, KS), and pastor at Shalom Community Church (Ann Arbor, MI), has served as a pastor-review consultant in WDC, and done training in mediation and conflict transformation. Please pray for Kathy as she prepares for this transition to new ministry.
Camp Mennoscah Retreats and Opportunities:
—Men and Boys retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 15-17. All ages are welcome at camp on Friday with registration beginning at 9am on Saturday. Come out and stay in a cabin, staff house, tent, RV, or sleep under the stars. You can bring your own food, and/or meals (Saturday supper through Sunday lunch) are available for purchase. John Tyson will be our speaker for the weekend. No preregistration needed. If you have questions you can contact Kevin Neufeld at 316-322-5515 or kevinneufeld2. This guys-only retreat is a hootin’ good time!—Hi, retirees of all ages! Our rollicking good-time Retirees Relaxation Retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 25-27 and is on the theme of Mennonites in Early Kansas. There will be times for Bible Study, music, presentations, and most definitely coffee breaks throughout the day. It’s a chance to join with others and to relax and revel in creation. Invite a friend to share in the fun!
—The Camp Mennoscah Board of Directors invites you to a fundraising meal for the Kitchen/Dining Hall Renovation on April 23 at 5:30pm in the Camp Mennoscah dining hall. There will be music by Book of JEBB and a meal of favorite camp foods served by the Board. Renovation plans will be available to preview and you can meet Jerry Kroeker, the new executive director. Please RSVP by April 15.
For all of the above: Online at www.campmennoscah.org
Telephone: 620-297-3290.
Email: office.
For more information contact olivia.bartel.
Everyone is invited! The Western District Conference Reference Council will be on April 23 from 9 am-3 pm at the First Mennonite Church in Beatrice, NE. Panel discussion, story telling, table conversations and more – how can rural and urban congregations learn from one another as partners in God’s mission? Refreshments and lunch provided. Please RSVP by April 14 to: 316-283-6300 or wdc. Let us know if you want to carpool.
Bethel College:
– “Hymns of Spring,” concert by Donna Hetrick on Kauffman Museum’s historic Teschemacher-Deknatel-van der Smissen cabinet organ, Sunday, April 10, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium.
– Braden Unruh senior trumpet recital, Sunday, April 10, 4 p.m., Administration Building chapel at Bethel College.
– Bethel College Women’s Chorus spring concert, Sunday, April 17, 4 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church.
The FloraKansas Spring Plant Sale will be held April 22-25 at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston. Kansas’ largest native plant sale offering many species of wildflowers and grasses many of which are rare in cultivation. A large selection of adaptable perennials is also available. Memberships can be purchased on the day of the sale. Arboretum members receive a 10% discount at all arboretum plant sales and may participate in the members only pre-sale on Thursday, April 21 from 1 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 620-327-8127 or visit www.dyckarboretum.org.
Job Opportunities:
-MCC Central States has an opening for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director promotes and encourages support of MCC. The Director works hand-in-hand with a management team which includes the Program Director and the Director of Donor Relations to provide vision and leadership to MCC program in the region and to develop and maintain strong relationships between MCC and its constituents in the region. This full-time position, based in North Newton, Kan., requires considerable cooperation and coordination with MCC US and the other regional MCCs and considerable travel in the region and beyond. The full job description is available at http://mcc.org/get-involved/serve/openings/executive-director-cs.
April 10 announcements
