Congregational Announcements
Two deacon positions to fill: The deacons are asking you to submit names of persons whom we could invite into a discernment process to consider serving in the role of deacon for Tabor Church. Send your suggestions to deacon chair Ron Schroeder (nanron), 620-345-8703, or any of the deacons, by August 31.
All Teacher In-Service: All teachers for adults and children on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening will meet on Sunday, August 20, 3:30-5 p.m. Pastor Phil Schmidt will lead the input with others contributing. Faspa will be served.
TMYF: For our final activities as a youth group this year, all youth who are available are invited to come to both a meal at Genova’s at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9 AND a Mystery Meal at Pastor Katherine’s at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 13. These will be times of fellowship, as well as a time to wish our graduating seniors well as they embark on the next stages of their journey.
Tabor Mennonite Women are invited to Bethesda Home on Thursday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m. for a program and visiting with residents. You may also bring some cookies or other snack food for our social time, if you wish.
Karina’s Journey to Ecuador: Karina Brandt will be traveling to Ecuador to do missionary work with Mennonite Mission Network in 2017-2018. Plan to stay for the noon fundraiser meal on Sunday, August 20. Your generous donations to help with expenses for this trip will be greatly appreciated!
Mennograss: Save the date for Mennograss, which will take place on Sunday, August 27. Food will be served beginning at 5:30 pm and live music will begin around 6 pm. We invite everyone who comes to bring lawn chairs and a side dish or dessert to share. Look for more information coming soon!
“Followers Retreat”: Mark your calendars for a church “followers (of Jesus) retreat” on Wednesday, August 30 from 6-9:30 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. Please eat supper before you come. Snack will be provided. Our focus will be group discussion on the theme of “Commitment to the Body of Christ.” Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend!
Church Campout: Plan to join us at Camp Mennoscah on September 16-17 for our church retreat focusing on the theme: “Stories of Hope.” Registration forms are in your church mailbox. Please return to the box in the foyer. We hope that everyone can join us, even if just for Sunday morning.
The Tabor Trading Post will be open August 27 immediately following faith formation. The children are busy at work creating items to sell. Adults are welcome and encouraged to sell their items and services as well that day. There will be some great gift items and possibly some yummy ones! Remember, all proceeds from this event support our building fund. Adults who want table space at the Trading Post should contact Carol Duerksen.
Garden Produce: If you have extra garden produce that you would like to share, please leave it on the table in the foyer. Anyone may take some home. You may leave a donation for the food pantry ministry.
Commodity distribution will be August 18 from 5-6 p.m. at the Goessel Mennonite Church. If you have any questions please contact Jenny Girard @ 620-747-0046. This is a community wide service for those needing help.
Blood donations typically decrease in the summer and Red Cross is offering a $5 Target gift card for each appointment made during the month of August. All donors will also receive a Red Cross drawstring bag. The drive at Goessel Church is August 18 from 2-6 p.m. Please make your lifesaving appointment at 800-RED-CROSS or redcrossblood.org (use sponsor code: Goessel). Or you can volunteer for registration, escort, or canteen by signing up in the lobby. Thanks for helping!
Bethesda Volunteer Opportunity: A volunteer is needed to count the money from the pop machine. This is a weekly duty for approximately ½ hr. Bethesda has been blessed to have a long time, faithful volunteer for this task, but is unable to continue those duties. Please contact Gayle Voth if interested – 620-367-2291 or galev.
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray that the worship, fellowship and discernment that took place at the WDC Annual Assembly this weekend in Arlington, TX, will continue to bear fruit in this 125th anniversary year, as we are rooted and built up in Christ.
« Mennonite Mission Network: MMN requests prayer for the 30 Mennonite Voluntary Service participants who are beginning assignments in nine locations – Alamosa, Colorado; Chicago; Elkhart, Indiana; Manhattan, New York; San Antonio; San Francisco; Seattle; Tucson, Arizona; and Washington, D.C.
Western District Conference
Offerings received at the 2017 Western District Annual Assembly this weekend will support the work of church planting in our conference through the Church Planting Commission. The Commission is dependent on contributions from individuals and congregations to make possible the planting of new churches in our conference. We are in constant contact with possible new church plants across our conference. We are currently exploring new church plants in Liberal, Kansas and Houston, Texas. We anticipate several other possibilities within the next year as we continue to be alert to God’s activity through WDC. We anticipate subsidies for each new church plant to be approximately $30,000 over a three-year period. Thus, we need contributions from individuals and partner congregations to make this ministry of church planting possible. We invite your generous contributions and encouragement of your congregation to become a partner church in Church Planting.
Registration is now open for the Womens/Girls Retreat (3rd grade and up) at Camp Mennoscah September 8-10. Our theme is “Together: Rooted and Reaching” with Barb Krehbiel Gehring as our featured speaker. Retreat schedules and registration forms are on the bulletin board in the foyer or available to print at: http://mennowdc.org/calendar/. We will celebrate 100 years of Mennonite Women organizations through stories and a hymn sing Friday evening. There will be no separate girls programming this year, so girls should register for Saturday morning and afternoon activities and seminars. Hope to see you all at Camp Mennoscah!
Camp Mennoscah:
—We hope you can come to the Annual Camp Sing on August 13 at 6:30pm! Everyone is invited to join us at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton for a rousing Camp Mennoscah celebration for another great summer of youth camps. We’ll sing camp songs and hymns, have popcorn and generic pop, and time to talk and chat and share stories about your summer. It’s going to be a blast! Donations will go towards upgrading the sound system at the dining hall. See you there!
—Most certainly! Join us for the Mental Health Spiritual Retreat at Camp Mennoscah, September 3-4. Friends, family, and anyone affected by mental illness are welcome. Our retreat is a time to support each other, have fun, and enjoy worship, fellowship, and music. A variety of activities will be offered. Transportation from Newton, KS, may be available.
—THANK YOU!!! Camp Mennoscah sends a huge thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, repaired something, prayed, and washed laundry for someone who went to camp. You are an important part of our ministry. We can’t wait to have all of you at camp for a retreat, family gathering, or other fun activity.
Information for Camp Mennoscah or to register:
Online at www.campmennoscah.org
Telephone: 620-297-3290.
Email: office.
Contact: olivia.bartel.
Searching for an exciting way to serve? MCC is urgently searching for a Canner Operator, with CDL truck driving experience, to travel with the mobile cannery before the season begins in October. Canner Operators travel to 30 different locations in the United States and Canada, canning meat, which is then sent around the world to hungry people. Come serve in this exciting way! Meet new people, and take advantage of experiences you’ll never forget. For more information please contact John Hillegass at johnhillegass or (717) 859-1151.
The annual MCC Flatlander Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, September 16, originating at the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) offices, 121 East 30th, N. Newton. This year’s ride will raise funds for a MCC water development project in India. Rides of approximately 35, 45, and 65 miles, as well as a shorter family ride, are planned. Informational brochures are available through the church office. The brochure is also available on the MCC website: mcc.org/get-involved/events/mcc-flatlander-bicycle-ride. Or, you can register on-line at that website. Both bikers and contributors are needed! Contributions for this MCC project from non-bikers should be made payable to MCC; “Flatlander Bike Ride” written on the memo line; and sent to: MCC, PO Box 235, N. Newton, KS 67117. A brochure is posted on the bulletin board. Additional brochures available upon request from the church office.
The Newton Et Cetera Shop is hiring a bilingual sorter/receiver for 20-30 hours/week. The sorter/clerk receives and sorts donations, focusing on clothing; assists Spanish-speaking customers and donors; and helps to translate written documents. The full job description and applications are available at the store (619 N. Main in Newton) or via e-mail at generalmanager. Applications are due Monday, August 14, 2017, and can be submitted in person to the general manager or by e-mail.
Save the Date – IBA Benefit Dinner: The annual Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (IBA) benefit dinner will take place Friday, September 15 at 6:30 pm at First Mennonite Church in Newton. A smothered pork burrito dinner will be prepared and served by Chef Carlos Lujano. A short program will follow, featuring testimony from IBA students Vicky Velazquez and Jose Suastegui, a dance performance by the children of Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania and some words and greetings from our new director, Marco Güete. Dinner is by donation. This is a great opportunity for a Sunday School class, small group or individuals to come and hear how IBA is equipping Hispanic leaders in Mennonite Church USA for ministry. IBA is a program of Mennonite Education Agency’s Hispanic Ministries for Leadership Development and Pastoral Education. For any inquires contact Violeta Ajquejay at: VioletaA or call 316-281-4342.
Opera and Orneriness, a Music and Storytelling program featuring Marie Engle, Mezzo Soprano, and Stanley Epp, storyteller, will be held at First Mennonite Church in Newton on Sunday, August 6th at 7pm. Marie recently began her Opera career in Vienna, Austria with the Arnold Schonberg Choir and has sung at several international venues. Stanley writes and tells stories about the unusual events of his Low German Mennonite upbringing in South Dakota. A freewill offering will be taken.
What do adults need to know about the show “Thirteen Reasons Why”? Youth pastors, parents and educators are encouraged to attend a program sponsored by Prairie View Mental Health Center on August 7, 6:30-7:30 pm, at Shalom Mennonite Church, 800 E. First Street, Newton. Three therapists from Prairie View will share information about the controversial Netflix show “Thirteen Reasons Why,” and talk about bullying and teen suicide.
The Bethel College Alumni Choir is looking for more singers interested in getting together for music, fun and fellowship. The next concert will be Sunday, Aug. 13, 3 p.m., at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton, with one rehearsal, Sat., Aug. 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you are a Bethel choir alumnus who wants to be involved, contact Andrew Voth, votha, or check out the Bethel College Alumni Choir Facebook page for more information.
Aug. 6 announcements
