Congregational Announcements
Calling all Tabor Women and Girls: You are invited to a Christmas Breakfast on Saturday, December 14 at 9 a.m. in the Hospitality Hall. Please sign up on the bulletin board across from the church office. After a delicious breakfast, Donna Becker will present the program. In her presentation titled “Did You Know?”, she will give a historical view of how our Christmas traditions have developed from the 1800s to the present. Donna will use story and interaction to connect the traditions of Christmases past with the way we honor the message of Jesus’ birth today. She invites you to think about Christmas traditions you observe and why you cherish them.
The Mennonite Subscriptions: It is that time of the year to renew or subscribe to The Mennonite. We can get a special subscription rate by renewing/subscribing as a group from Tabor Church. The cost for a one year subscription is $37. Please let Barb Abrahams know if you want a subscription and put a $37 check made payable to Tabor Church Deacon Fund in her mail box by December 5.
2020 Giving Project for Adult Faith Formation: Beginning December 1, Adult Faith Formation offerings will help fund the Wednesday evening fellowship meals. Meals are currently (and will continue to be) funded by a suggested donation from attendees. Christian Ed has assisted with funds from their budget when needed. While funds continue to fall short to cover meal expenses, we still feel that this fellowship time is an important part of our Wednesday evening ministry for all who attend. We encourage all adults to joyfully give to the weekly offering in fiscal 2020 for this outreach opportunity right here in our own community.
The Tabor Trading Post: Remember, this is where Tabor folks bring creative wonderful items and then Tabor folks buy them, and the proceeds go to a very good cause! In the past, the money went for our Tabor Building Fund. This year, the money will go to the Melody Hall Housing Fund, so someone from our Tabor family has a safe, warm place to spend the winter. So prepare to enjoy the Trading Post after Faith Formation, in the Hospitality Hall, on Dec. 1 and 8. See Carol Duerksen if you have questions.
The Goessel Ministerial Alliance Christmas Giving Tree project is happening again this year. The tags will be available on the tree at the Crossroads Credit
Union on Tuesday, December 3. All the gifts will need to be brought back to the Credit Union by Friday, December 13. The gifts should be wrapped and the credit union personnel will assist with the “checking in” process. The gifts will then be delivered by the Ministerial Alliance.
Christmas Brass: The 17-piece McPherson Community Brass Choir under the direction of Jerry Toews will be performing great Brass Christmas Music in the Historic Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on Sunday, Dec 8 at 7 pm. Also performing will be the Goessel High School Elbiata Singers under the direction of Braden Unruh. During the service, a free will offering for the Goessel Ministerial Alliance will be received with proceeds to help local needs. Everyone is invited for this Festive Event!
The Second Monday Family History & Genealogy Group will meet Mon., Dec. 9, 7pm, in the Goessel City Building Community Room, 101 So. Cedar St., Goessel. Marcia (Nickel) Zuercher, a middle school teacher in Newton, will share a unique idea she has developed to tell family stories, which may be used for Christmas gift-giving!
This Christmas give the gift of life between 1:00-6:00 on Dec. 16 by donating blood or donating time to volunteer, at the blood drive at Goessel Church. Have questions? Call Rosi (367-2418)
The Alexanderwohl coffee group invites anyone age 60 and over to join them for Senior Coffee and Conversation on Fri., Dec. 20, at 9 am in the Alexanderwohl Church Fellowship Hall. The entertainment will be the Goessel HS Elbiata Singers under the direction of Braden Unruh, followed by a time of food and fellowship. Donations are welcome.
Please call the Alexanderwohl Church office by Mon, Dec. 16, if you would like to join us.
KMMC 2020 We sing that others may live: Please consider joining Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus (KMMC) for their upcoming season. This is your opportunity to make a joyful noise while praising God with 200+ of your brothers. It is also a way to make a difference in the world through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as all of the concert proceeds go to MCC. We have been singing in the states and across Europe for more than fifty years. We have raised over $700,000 for MCC that has helped many people around the world. Contact Donavon Schmidt to join of if you have questions. Please see article in the upcoming December Tabor Church Newsletter for more information.
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray for God’s care and strength for members of WDC congregations and communities who struggle with grief, trauma or mental health concerns, especially during the winter and holiday season.
« Mennonite Mission Network: MMN requests prayer for the Argentina Mennonite Church as it enters its second century. May its vibrant ministries of preaching, teaching, planting churches, and running businesses to support missions flourish. Pray specifically for a brick-making enterprise in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, that combines income-generating work with church planting.
« Mennonite Education Agency: Join Mennonite Early Childhood Network (MECN) schools in prayer that God will help adults engage children in the joy, hope, peace and wonder of God’s extravagant love, as together they share with others the gift of music, freshly baked cookies, a warm hug, a carefully selected book, game, original story or more this Christmas season.
« Mennonite Church USA: Please pray for the Conference Ministers Gathering, a meeting of conference ministers from Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada, on Dec. 4-7 in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Western District Conference:
—Giving Tuesday is December 3 – Western District Conference invites you to join this global giving initiative! Share a gift with WDC during this season, to help our congregations Witness & invite others to faith in Jesus Christ, Dwell in just & loving relationships, and Connect to God’s mission in the world. Current projections suggest that WDC income will fall short of expenses for the current year, so your generous gifts are invited to help close the gap towards WDC’s 2019 budget goal! You may send a check to Western District Conference, PO Box 306, N Newton KS 67117. Thank you for your generosity!
—The WDC office and Resource Library will be closed November 28-29 for Thanksgiving, and December 23-January 1, 2020 for Christmas and New Years break.
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA):
—”Waiting and Wondering,” this year’s Advent At Home booklet for families and people of all ages, is available now at mennoniteusa.org/resource/advent-at-home.
—Mennonite Church USA relies on your support as we seek to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and help our communities experience transformation. Consider making a year-end, tax-deductible donation on or before #GivingTuesday, December 3, to support the ministries of MC USA at mennoniteusa.org/give.
—You are invited to join MC USA staff for “Coffee and Conversation” in the Newton offices (718 N Main, Newton) to hear from Mennonite Mission Network International Service Worker, Deb Byler, on Monday, December 16 at 11am. She will share about the ministries in which she is involved with Kekchi Mennonite women in Guatemala. A recent article on Deb’s ministry is available on-line: https://www.
mennonitemission.net/news/Spiritual-direction-in-Kekchi-context-brings-mutual-growth
Camp Mennoscah:
—Christmas for Volunteers! Camp Mennoscah is hosting a gathering for all who have volunteered–this year, last year, or many years ago–on December 14 at 2:30pm. We’ll have cookies and snacky items, hot drinks, games, and whatever reasonable activity you can think of–it’s a time to enjoy camp and other camp folks.
—Giving Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday, December 3, and on that day ONLY, if you give a new donation to Camp Mennoscah of at least $20 or $20 more than last year, you’ll receive a jar of sandplum jelly, from sandplums harvested at Camp Mennoscah! If you make that new donation at least $100 or $100 more than last year, you’ll receive a jar of sandplum jelly AND a dozen zwieback. There are only 30 jars and only 10 dozen zwieback, so give to camp on Tues., Dec. 3! Send a check to Camp Mennoscah with “Giving Tuesday” in a note, or give online at campmennoscah.org.
Ten Thousand Village Christmas: We will NOT be selling Ten Thousand Village items at Prairie Harvest this fall, but will have a booth at the Kidron Holiday Marketplace on Saturday, December 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to stock up on Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate and small nativities and Christmas ornaments. Place Saturday, December 7 from 9 to 1 at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton on your Holiday shopping schedule.
All MCC volunteers and alumni are invited to our annual come-and-go MCC Christmas Soiree on Thursday, December 12 from 5-7 p.m. at MCC in North Newton (121 E. 30th). We will have food, Christmas cheer and plenty of time for fellowship. At 6 p.m. we’ll pause for a short program about Christmas around the world from our International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) participants. You don’t want to miss this annual event!
Hesston College:
—Hesston College Music and Theatre will present a Christmas performance, “Still, Small Voice,” on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in Hesston Mennonite Church. The concert is free and open to the public.
Bethel College:
—Weds., Dec. 4 – Annual sing-along to Christmas portions of Handel’s Messiah, with Bethel College instrumentalists, soloists and student conductors, 11 a.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church; scores provided
—Weds., Dec. 4 – Bethel College Steel Drum Band Christmas concert, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall (NOTE: different date from some printed calendars)
—Fri., Dec. 6 – Christmas Gala jazz concert with Bethel College Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Combo, 8 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center
—Sat., Dec. 7 – Five Places of Christmas, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Kauffman Museum offers free admission, refreshments, and sale items in the museum store. Bethel College Women’s Association will have holiday food and gift items for sale in Luyken Fine Arts Center.
Retirement Workshop: Everence® will hold an all-inclusive retirement planning workshop on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 to 11:30 am. Topics will include Medicare, Social Security and retirement income planning. The workshop will be presented by Everence staff and will take place at Everence Financial, 3179 N. Main, N Newton. Reserve your spot soon by contacting Michelle Ramer at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or michelle.ramer.
Kidron Bethel Parkinson’s Support Group will meet December 3 at 2 pm. in Menno Hall. Dr. Sam Claassen, a retired internal medicine physician, and Dennis Schmidt will present “How to Have a Successful Doctor Appointment.” All are welcome.
Mennonite Mission Network is seeking a full-time finance assistant and a half time recruiter. You can see the positions descriptions at StaffRecruitment or call Linda Krueger, HR Coordinator (574-523-3009) for more information.
Dec. 1 announcements
