Notes of Appreciation
The board and staff of the museum would like to thank everyone for your support and attendance this year at Country Threshing Days in Goessel. We had a great turnout for Greg Claassen’s Friday night ventriloquist performance, as well as for the Low German meal and Prep School lunch on Saturday, and the South Bloomfield School stage curtain unveiling and reunion on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to all those who volunteered at the Low German meal and at the Prep School, plus those who prepared the sausage, verenika, New Year’s Cookies, zwieback, and monster cookies! ~Steve Banman, Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum
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.
TMYF: For our final activity as a youth group this year, all youth who are available are invited to come to a Mystery Meal at Pastor Katherine’s at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 13. This will be a time 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 time to visit with residents. You may also bring some cookies or other snack food for our social time, if you wish.
All Teacher In-Service: All Sunday morning and Wednesday evening teachers for adults and children 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.
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 mission experience will be greatly appreciated!
The Tabor Trading Post will be open August 27 immediately following faith formation. Anyone may make something to sell or may offer a service. Children have already made flower pots, jewelry, artwork and more Proceeds from this event support our building fund. Adults who want table space at the Trading Post should contact Carol Duerksen.
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, table service 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. Snacks 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.
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!
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray for Lynn Schlosser as she is installed today as pastor at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, a WDC congregation near Inman, KS.
« Mennonite Mission Network: Alisha and Josh Garber are beginning an assignment in Spain with MMN. Pray for them as they adapt to a new language and culture and as they serve alongside the leaders of the Barcelona Mennonite Church, focusing on youth outreach and congregational mission.
« Mennonite Disaster Service: Please pray for the folks in New Orleans who experienced flooding late last week. We ask you continue praying that no major hurricanes hit this year. Various reports are suggesting that the next few months could be the busiest since 2010. Also continue praying that the ongoing wildfires in British Columbia and the United States will be contained. Pray that no lives will be lost from these devastating blazes.
Western District Conference
At WDC Delegate Assembly on August 5, the WDC Executive Board presented a statement opposing Texas Senate Bill 4. Set to take effect September 1, SB4 bans local law enforcement agencies from adopting “patterns or practices” that limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The WDC Executive Board statement lists specific reasons for opposing SB4, based on the belief that the Gospel calls for social justice. The statement concludes, “The Executive Board of the Western District Conference of the Mennonite Church USA laments the passage of this law characterized by rejection, discrimination, and racial profiling and urges that this law be rescinded. Furthermore, we urge the Western District Conference, the Mennonite Church USA, and all faith communities to stand in solidarity with our Hispanic-Latino/a brothers and sisters and with other people of color in the rejection of this law and the mindset which has created it.” The full statement is posted on the WDC website at http://mennowdc.org
Registration is now open for the Women/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.
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.
Jordan Penner joins MCC Central States as the new Donor Relations Associate, working from Denver, Colorado! Prior to accepting this position, Jordan, along with his wife Jenny, served with MCC in Bolivia. We are excited to have Jordan join our staff and hope you get to meet him soon!
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.
The Bethel College Alumni Choir concert scheduled for this afternoon (Aug. 13) has been cancelled. Any former Bethel choir members are invited to sing with the group at Fall Festival (Sat., Oct. 14). For more information, contact Andrew Voth, votha, or check out the Bethel College Alumni Choir Facebook page.
Registration now open: Sat., Nov. 18, 4th biennial Worship and the Arts Symposium at Bethel College, “Seasons of the Soul: Enacting the Mystery of Faith,” with special guest presenter and resource person Ted Swartz. Symposium registration includes Swartz’s performance of “Slightly Left of Normal,” Fri., Nov. 17, in Krehbiel Auditorium (admission charge for non-symposium registrants). Registration discount for groups of 3 or more from a single congregation – for a complete schedule and online registration, see bethelks.edu/worshiparts
One-course options with AMBS: Try out a seminary course through Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary without being admitted to a degree or certificate program. You can take up to two courses, and your first class — campus, online or hybrid — is 50 percent off. Sign up now for a fall course!
www.ambs.edu/academics/one-course-options
Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program. Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s distance-friendly non-degree leadership development program focuses on spiritual disciplines, theological and biblical studies, character development, mentoring and gifts development to help participants deepen their faith and strengthen their leadership. The program requires one visit to the Elkhart, Indiana, area each year. Apply by Aug. 25 for the Fall 2017 term. www.ambs.edu/journey
Aug. 13 announcements
