News & Media



Congregational Announcements

Directory Updates for the 2020 Tabor Church Directory are due now. Please email the church office at kfunk with changes.

Goessel Community Junior High Movie Night: Due to widespread illness in the surrounding community, we will be cancelling the movie night this Sunday, January 19. More information will be emailed to parents about our next event at a later date.

Tabor Church’s week at New Hope Shelter continues through January 21. If you can help, please let Barb Abrahams know. If you have never served before but are interested or have questions, please talk to Barb.

Decorate and eat cookies! Join us for this fellowship event on Sunday, February 9 at 3:00 pm in the Hospitality Hall. Everyone is welcome! Children need to have an adult with them.

Time to show off Tabor’s amazing baking skills! Camp Mennoscah Hymn Sing and Dessert Auction will be March 1 4pm-6pm in our brand new hospitality hall. Since Tabor gets the opportunity to host the annual fundraiser, we would like to showcase our sweet creations. If you would like to donate a cake, pie or dessert, please contact Jill Litwiller before February 9. And mark your calendars to attend the event, sing a few hymns (including a bluegrass set), and get a great treat for your family and friends.

The Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at the Goessel Mennonite Church. There will be a short business meeting followed by a photo presentation of the tour to Poland taken by D. J. & Marilyn Unruh Flaming, Myron & Ruth Goertzen.

This event is free and the public is invited to attend. A “Faspa” follows the program. Museum memberships will be available or purchase beginning at 2pm.

Coming to Tabor: Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference “Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith” on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. Registration forms can be found on the shelf beneath the mailboxes in the foyer and are due January 17.

First Impressions of Goessel: How do visitors from another community view the Goessel community? Recently a volunteer team from another community of similar size made a visit to Goessel to report their “First Impressions” of the community. The team acted as “secret shoppers” for the day to discover what they could about Goessel and documented their results. These results will be shared at a public meeting on Tues., Jan. 21, 6:00 p.m. at the Goessel City Building. Following the presentation, two or three project areas will be identified and time will be allowed for discussion and initial planning. Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn how a visitor sees your community. “First Impressions” is a program developed by K-State Research and Extension through the Community Vitality program. The focus of the program is to help communities learn about existing strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of visitor. The results from a “First Impressions” visit can serve as the basis for community action. For further information about the meeting on January 21, contact Brian Stucky at 620-367-2610.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for leaders and participants gathering January 24-25 for “Let’s Talk…Women, Money and Faith,” a conference sponsored by Western District Women in Mission in collaboration with Everence.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Thank God for Stanley W. Green’s faithful leadership of MMN since 1993. Pray for guidance and wisdom as a search committee looks for a new executive director to lead, mobilize, and equip the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA in holistic witness to Jesus Christ..

« Mennonite Education Agency: Pray for the Goshen, Bethel, and Hesston College communities as they celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with activities and events.

« Mennonite Church USA: Please pray for Hope for the Future 2020, a MC USA people of color event being held January 24-26. Hope for the Future gathers leaders of color from church and related ministries to explore the ways that power, privilege and racism function in our denomination.

Western District Conference:

—All are invited to a farewell reception for WDC Associate Conference Minister Byron Pellecer on Wednesday, January 22, at 10-11 am (come-and-go, with remarks at 10:30 am) at the WDC conference room, 2517 North Main Street, North Newton, KS. Come and enjoy some refreshments, and join in as we offer our prayers and best wishes for Byron as he concludes his ministry with WDC at the end of January.

—Strangers in Town: WDC Immigration Task Force encourages you and others in your congregation to watch this 33-minute free film about how immigrants in Garden City, KS are shaping that town in positive ways. Find the film at: https://filmfreeway.com/ StrangersinTown. This would be an excellent resource to get a conversation started about immigration and our neighbors who have made this land their home, too.

Camp Mennoscah:

—Retreat registration is open! You are now able to register for 2020 retreats at Camp Mennoscah at www.campmennoscah.org. Summer youth camp registration will open at the beginning of February.

—Recruiting for summer staff continues! Camp Mennoscah continues to search for amazing young adults to be part of our 2020 summer youth camp leadership (nature, music, crafts, lifeguards, office, grounds/maintenance). The summer staff application can be found at campmennoscah.org.

Mennonite Church USA:

—Looking for adventure? Serve, learn and grow with Youth Venture! Locations: Spain, Colombia, Arizona, Peru, Nazareth Village, Benin. Age: 15–22; term: 2–3 weeks.  The application deadline is April 1. Learn more at www.MennoniteMission.net/Serve or email LaurenEH@MennoniteMission.net.

—Join a community. Serve others. Put your faith into action. Apply to serve with Mennonite Voluntary Service in places like Chicago; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; and Alamosa. Age: 20+; term: 1–2 years. For more info, contact LaurenEH@MennoniteMission.net..

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS): Boots, Buckets and Barrows. Ted & Co. TheaterWorks, MDS, and Hesston College are partnering for a unique fundraising opportunity on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. In an event called Boots, Buckets and Barrows that is part theater show/part auction to support the ongoing work of MDS, Ted & Co. will present the original play The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fetuccine, which is interrupted two times to auction off buckets of home-related items. The event will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 at Hesston Mennonite Church (309 S. Main St, Hesston). Proceeds from this event will benefit both MDS and scholarships for Hesston College students in the Disaster Management Program. A second south central Kansas show will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1 at Journey Mennonite Church (808 S. Poplar St., South Hutchinson).

Aren’t we often looking for that perfect gift for our loved one on Valentine’s Day? This year, let New Hope provide you the perfect gift in a romantic venue with the gentle sounds of a string quartet floating through the air. There will be scrumptious Italian cuisine provided by KP Cuisine, Italian sodas and fine coffees, and even chocolate to make the evening even sweeter. This will be the one event of 2020 that you will not want to miss! Celebration of Love: Valentine’s Gala, Friday, February 14, 7pm at The Barn and Grace Hill, 678 S. Grace Hill Rd, Newton, KS. Tickets $60 per person. Details are posted on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Young Adult Snow Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is Feb. 7-9. Join fellow young adults (anyone between ages 18 and 30) as we worship together, play broomball and group games, enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, and much more. During the worship sessions Tory Bonners will share with us on the topic of “Structuring Our Faith” and how we live out faith in the context of our lives. The cost is $100 to cover meals, lodging, and the program. Online registration is available at www.rmmc.org or call 719-687-9506.

Hesston College:

—Hesston College’s Martin Luther King (MLK) Day celebration will provide learning opportunities about diversity, equity and inclusion on-campus and in the community. Public events will take place leading up to and including MLK Day, Mon, Jan. 20.

Sun, Jan. 19, Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA will speak at Hesston Mennonite Church, in the 10:30 a.m. worship service and at a free community building workshop at 7 p.m. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

—Before Rosa Parks. Before Martin Luther King Jr. Before Nelson Mandela. There was Paul Robeson. Hesston College artist-in-residence and peace ambassador Tony Brown gives his MLK Day tribute to the 20th century civil rights activist Paul Robeson at 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19, at Hesston Mennonite Church. I Go On Singing: Paul Robeson’s Life in Word and Song, will be narrated by Victor Hogstrom, President of KPTS Channel 8 in Wichita (PBS). Tickets are $12 for adults, available at the Hesston College Bookstore or at 620-327-8104, as well as at the door. Students college-age and younger are free. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

—Registration is now open for Hesston College’s Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) on February 21 to 23. This year’s conference, in partnership with Everence Financial, is Living More with More: Redefining the Good Life, and will focus on stewardship of finances, resources and hospitality. The weekend’s content will have interest points for all life stages from high school-age youth to retirement, as well as group-focused content relatable to congregations and other organizations. Go to hesston.edu/avds for more information and registration.

Bethel College:

—Mon., Jan. 20 — Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration takes place at a different place and time than previous years (also different from some previously printed calendars); starting at 2 p.m. (or come and go as your schedule allows), informal time of snacks and mingling, followed by special music by the Bethel Worship Center band, and a performance by the Junior People of Color (POC) Step Team from Leavenworth; 3 p.m., Michelle Vann, Ph.D., Wichita, author, teacher, speaker, radio show host, blogger and active church and community member; concluding reception, all in Memorial Hall.

—Centering Prayer will not meet Mon., Jan. 20, but resumes Jan. 27. For more information, contact Nathan Koontz, 2nathankoontz, or Melanie Zuercher, mzuercher.

—Sat., Jan. 25 — Celebrate Kansas Day! at Kauffman Museum: 1-4 p.m., activities, performances and demonstrations for all ages in and around Kauffman Museum.

The Life Enrichment program at Bethel College for the Spring semester 2020 begins on February 5 and ends on April 29. This program is designed especially for persons 60 and above. A brochure with information is posted on the community bulletin board in the foyer next to the elevator.

Do you know theologically minded youth? Through AMBS’s !Explore program, students in grades 10–12 can explore ministry and theology, grow in spiritual practices and listen for God’s call through a summer congregational internship and a Group Experience (June 30 – July 16, 2020). Scholarships are available. Tap a shoulder! ambs.edu/explore

Jan 19 annc.pdf

Congregational Announcements

2019 Tabor Church Annual Reports were emailed or placed in mailboxes (those without email) this week. Additional paper copies can be found on the shelf below the mailboxes in the foyer. Please feel free to take one.

Directory Updates for the 2020 Tabor Church Directory are due now. Please email the church office at kfunk with changes.

Church Council Retreat: All Tabor members and attenders are invited to the Church Council Retreat meeting on Tuesday, January 14 from 6:30-8:30pm. Our focus for the retreat will be on the Ministries of Christ as described in Ephesians 4:11. If you are interested in attending this meeting (and are not on a church commission), please let me know so that we can plan for the right number of people. -Peace, Pastor Phil

The Great Winter Warm-UP is Almost Here! Mennonite Central Committee is celebrating its 100th anniversary by attempting to collect 6500 comforters to break the record for most blankets donated to a charity in 24 hours. Alexanderwohl and Tabor Mennonite Churches will host an MCC Comforter Blitz for everyone in the Goessel Community, at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Saturday, January 18, 2020, 9am – 4pm. Something for everyone—pin, tie, trim, sew. Lunch provided, donations accepted. Bring a scissors, large eye needle (if you have one) and thimble (if you use one), please label your supplies. A donation box can be found in the foyer if you would like to help purchase batting and supplies for the comforters. Contact Ruth Goertzen (620-747-0074; alexmenno), Sharon Adrian (620-877-7239; sladrian49), or Kim Funk (620-747-0408; kfunk) with questions. We look forward to seeing you at this Goessel Community Winter Warm-up!

Tabor Church’s week at New Hope Shelter is coming up soon, January 15 through January 21. We will be responsible to fill the evening shifts each of those days and the night shifts on January 17 and 18. If you can help, please let Barb Abrahams know. If you have never served before but are interested or have questions, please talk to Barb.

Goessel Community Junior High Movie Night: All Junior Highers are welcome to come to the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Sunday, January 19 at 7pm for a movie and time of fellowship. Snacks will be provided. More information to come. Contact Michelle Unruh (michellerunruh) or Laura Unrau (lauraelaine25) with any questions.

The guest speaker for Senior Coffee at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on Fri., Jan. 17 is Pauline Sharp, the granddaughter of Lucy Tayiah Eads, the first female elected chief of the Kanza people in 1922. Pauline will present a first-person performance of her own grandmother, “Chief Lucy of the Kaw Indians.” Come to hear this rich history about the Kanza (Kaw) people who first lived on this land. Coffee and refreshments will be served at 9:00 a.m. with Chief Lucy making her appearance as people are settled in their seats. All are welcome! Please rsvp by Mon., Jan. 13 to the Alexanderwohl Church office at: alexmenno or 620-367-8192.

The Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at the Goessel Mennonite Church. There will be a short business meeting followed by a photo presentation of the tour to Poland taken by D. J. & Marilyn Unruh Flaming, Myron & Ruth Goertzen.

This event is free and the public is invited to attend. A "Faspa" follows the program. Museum memberships will be available or purchase beginning at 2pm.

Coming to Tabor: Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference "Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith" on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. Registration forms can be found on the shelf beneath the mailboxes in the foyer and are due January 17.

First Impressions of Goessel: How do visitors from another community view the Goessel community? Recently a volunteer team from another community of similar size made a visit to Goessel to report their “First Impressions” of the community. The team acted as “secret shoppers” for the day to discover what they could about Goessel and documented their results. These results will be shared at a public meeting on Tues., Jan. 21, 6:00 p.m. at the Goessel City Building. Following the presentation, two or three project areas will be identified and time will be allowed for discussion and initial planning. Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn how a visitor sees your community. “First Impressions” is a program developed by K-State Research and Extension through the Community Vitality program. The focus of the program is to help communities learn about existing strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of visitor. The results from a “First Impressions” visit can serve as the basis for community action. For further information about the meeting on January 21, contact Brian Stucky at 620-367-2610.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for the WDC commissions in their ministries of equipping leaders, resourcing congregations, nurturing church planting, and encouraging generosity and stewardship.

« Mennonite Mission Network: MMN requests prayer for Hong Kong in this sixth month of unrest. Pray for the unity of all churches in the face of increasing repression by the Chinese government. Pray also for reconciliation between the authorities of China and Hong Kong and between the police and protesters.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA. Join us in praying for the church leaders attending School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary this week, as they explore the theme, “Shalom in the Streets.”

« Mennonite Church USA: Please pray for the MC USA Executive Board meeting on January 17-18. The Board will be reviewing the recommendations of the Membership Guidelines Advisory Group, among other agenda items. To learn more about the Membership Guidelines Advisory Group, visit http://mennoniteusa.org/news/mc-usa-membership-guidelines-advisory-group-meeting/

Western District Conference:

—All are invited to a farewell reception for WDC Associate Conference Minister Byron Pellecer on Wednesday, January 22, at 10-11 am (come-and-go, with remarks at 10:30 am) at the WDC conference room, 2517 North Main Street, North Newton, KS. Come and enjoy some refreshments, and join in as we offer our prayers and best wishes for Byron as he concludes his ministry with WDC at the end of January.

—Strangers in Town: WDC Immigration Task Force encourages you and others in your congregation to watch this 33-minute free film about how immigrants in Garden City, KS are shaping that town in positive ways. Find the film at: https://filmfreeway.com/ StrangersinTown. This would be an excellent resource to get a conversation started about immigration and our neighbors who have made this land their home, too.

Camp Mennoscah:

—Retreat registration is open! You are now able to register for 2020 retreats at Camp Mennoscah at www.campmennoscah.org. Summer youth camp registration will open at the beginning of February.

—Recruiting for summer staff continues! Camp Mennoscah continues to search for amazing young adults to be part of our 2020 summer youth camp leadership (nature, music, crafts, lifeguards, office, grounds/maintenance). The summer staff application can be found at campmennoscah.org.

Mennonite Church USA:

—Register now for Hope for the Future 2020, a Mennonite Church USA people of color event. Registration is open through January 15 for this Anabaptist networking and equipping event being held in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 24-26. Hope for the Future gathers leaders of color from church and related ministries to explore the ways that power, privilege and racism function in our denomination. For more information, visit https://cvent.me/lVENAm.

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS):

—Work continues in Avant, OK repairing homes that were flooded in the spring of 2019 and the Oklahoma Unit is asking for volunteers. Please consider helping our neighbors in Oklahoma and bring additional helpers. The work will be repairing flood damaged homes and finishing a new home. The materials for the new home are sitting on the ground waiting on volunteers. This response can also use daily volunteers. There are accommodations to house volunteers or hookup for campers. Please call Jay Blough (405) 412-4414 or Bill Mast (405) 590-7747 for more information.

—Boots, Buckets and Barrows: Ted & Co. TheaterWorks, MDS, and Hesston College are partnering for a unique fundraising opportunity on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. In an event called Boots, Buckets and Barrows that is part theater show/part auction to support the ongoing work of MDS, Ted & Co. will present the original play The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fetuccine, which is interrupted two times to auction off buckets of home-related items. The event will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 at Hesston Mennonite Church (309 S. Main St, Hesston). Proceeds from this event will benefit both MDS and scholarships for Hesston College students in the Disaster Management Program. A second south central Kansas show will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1 at Journey Mennonite Church (808 S. Poplar St., South Hutchinson).

Offender/Victim Ministries will hold its Annual Meeting on Sun., Jan. 12, 2-5 pm, at the MCC Center, info.

Young Adult Snow Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is Feb. 7-9. Join fellow young adults (anyone between ages 18 and 30) as we worship together, play broomball and group games, enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, and much more. During the worship sessions Tory Bonners will share with us on the topic of “Structuring Our Faith” and how we live out faith in the context of our lives. The cost is $100 to cover meals, lodging, and the program. Online registration is available at www.rmmc.org or call 719-687-9506.

Hesston College:

—Hesston College’s Martin Luther King (MLK) Day celebration will provide learning opportunities about diversity, equity and inclusion on-campus and in the community. Public events will take place leading up to and including MLK Day, Mon, Jan. 20.

Sun, Jan. 19, Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA will speak at Hesston Mennonite Church, in the 10:30 a.m. worship service and at a free community building workshop at 7 p.m. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

—Before Rosa Parks. Before Martin Luther King Jr. Before Nelson Mandela. There was Paul Robeson. Hesston College artist-in-residence and peace ambassador Tony Brown gives his MLK Day tribute to the 20th century civil rights activist Paul Robeson at 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19, at Hesston Mennonite Church. I Go On Singing: Paul Robeson’s Life in Word and Song, will be narrated by Victor Hogstrom, President of KPTS Channel 8 in Wichita (PBS). Tickets are $12 for adults, available at the Hesston College Bookstore or at 620-327-8104, as well as at the door. Students college-age and younger are free. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

—Registration is now open for Hesston College’s Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) on February 21 to 23. This year’s conference, in partnership with Everence Financial, is Living More with More: Redefining the Good Life, and will focus on stewardship of finances, resources and hospitality. The weekend’s content will have interest points for all life stages from high school-age youth to retirement, as well as group-focused content relatable to congregations and other organizations. Go to hesston.edu/avds for more information and registration.

Bethel College:

—Mon., Jan. 20 — Bethel College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration takes place at a different place and time than previous years (also different from some previously printed calendars); starting at 2 p.m. (or come and go as your schedule allows), informal time of snacks and mingling, followed by special music by the Bethel Worship Center band, and a performance by the Junior People of Color (POC) Step Team from Leavenworth; 3 p.m., Michelle Vann, Ph.D., Wichita, author, teacher, speaker, radio show host, blogger and active church and community member; concluding reception, all in Memorial Hall.

—Sat., Jan. 25 — Celebrate Kansas Day! at Kauffman Museum: 1-4 p.m., activities, performances and demonstrations for all ages in and around Kauffman Museum.

Jan 12 annc.pdf

 Congregational Announcements

Ministry Storytelling Sunday will take place on January 12. Come to reflect on how the ministries of Tabor Church were carried out in the past year and the ways in which we envision ministries to evolve in the coming year.

Church Council Retreat: All Tabor members and attenders are invited to the Church Council Retreat meeting on Tuesday, January 14 from 6:30-8:30pm. Our focus for the retreat will be on the Ministries of Christ as described in Ephesians 4:11. If you are interested in attending this meeting (and are not on a church commission), please let me know so that we can plan for the right number of people. -Peace, Pastor Phil

Tabor Church’s week at New Hope Shelter is coming up soon, January 15 through January 21. We will be responsible to fill the evening shifts each of those days and the night shifts on January 17 and 18. If you can help, please let Barb Abrahams know. If you have never served before but are interested or have questions, please talk to Barb.

The Great Winter Warm-UP is Almost Here! Mennonite Central Committee is celebrating its 100th anniversary by attempting to collect 6500 comforters to break the record for most blankets donated to a charity in 24 hours. Alexanderwohl and Tabor Mennonite Churches will host an MCC Comforter Blitz for everyone in the Goessel Community, at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Saturday, January 18, 2020, 9am – 4pm. Something for everyone—pin, tie, trim, sew, or help in the kitchen with snacks and the noon meal. If you have a top to donate, please turn those in by January 1. A donation box can be found in the foyer if you would like to help purchase batting and supplies for the comforters. Contact Ruth Goertzen (alexmenno; 620-747-0074), Sharon Adrian (sladrian49; 620-877-7239), or Kim Funk (kfunk; 620-747-0408) with questions. We look forward to seeing many of you at this Goessel Community Winter Warm-up!

Goessel Community Junior High Movie Night: All Junior Highers are welcome to come to the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Sunday, January 19 at 7pm for a movie and time of fellowship. Snacks will be provided. More information to come. Contact Michelle Unruh (michellerunruh) or Laura Unrau (lauraelaine25) with any questions.

There will be a change for the Community Junior High group next summer. Rock Springs 4-H Camp has made the decision to shut down Camp WaShunGa due to expensive upkeep of aging buildings and low registration to stay at this part of their facilities. We spent the fall researching and looking into other summer camp options for our youth. We have booked Camp Tawakoni for Summer 2020. This is a camp that is associated with the Disciples of Christ Christian Church located between Andover and Augusta. We will continue to host our camp on Memorial Day Weekend. It is bittersweet to think that we will not be returning to Camp WaShunGa after almost fifty years, but we are looking forward to continuing old traditions and creating new memories at Camp Tawakoni.

The guest speaker for Senior Coffee at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on Friday, January 17 is Pauline Sharp. Pauline is the granddaughter of Lucy Tayiah Eads, the first female elected chief of the Kanza people in 1922. Pauline will present a first-person performance of her own grandmother, “Chief Lucy of the Kaw Indians.” Come to hear this rich history about the Kanza (Kaw) people who first lived on this land. Coffee and refreshments will be served at 9:00 a.m. with Chief Lucy making her appearance as people are settled in their seats. All are welcome! Please rsvp by Monday, January 13 to the Alexanderwohl Church office at: alexmenno or 620-367-8192.

The Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at the Goessel Mennonite Church. There will be a short business meeting followed by a photo presentation of the tour to Poland taken by D. J. & Marilyn Unruh Flaming, Myron & Ruth Goertzen.

This event is free and the public is invited to attend. A “Faspa” follows the program.

Directory Updates for the 2020 Tabor Church Directory are due now. Please email the church office at kfunk with changes.

Tabor Deacons have approved a sabbatical for Pastor Phil from May 1 to July 31, 2020.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for youth in WDC congregations, and the leaders who mentor, teach and accompany them in their faith journey.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Deb Byler of MMN has just returned to Guatemala after three months on North American Assignment. Pray for her as she continues to work with Mennonite women in Bible studies, trauma healing, and leadership training.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Lezha Academic Center, Albania–Please pray for healing for all who lost their loved ones and homes during the major earthquake that struck Albania in November. Approximately 51 people died and 3,000 were injured.

Western District Conference:

—The Youth Ministry Committee of Western District and South Central conferences presents… Youth Lead Now, a one-day workshop designed for high school youth to enrich their leadership skills and deepen faith. Using the adaptive leadership framework from the Kansas Leadership Center and well known spiritual practices, we will equip youth with skills to be leaders among their peers, in their churches, and in their communities. Our hope is that congregations would partner with us by sending youth who have been affirmed for their leadership gifts or potential. Date: January 11, 2020. Time: 9am to 4pm. Location: Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. Registration Fee: $50 (scholarships available upon request). High School Youth can register through the link: https://forms.gle/fWQ2BVjybMVtzKsC8

—Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference “Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith” on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. Registration forms can be found on the shelf beneath the mailboxes in the foyer and are due January 17.

Mennonite Church USA:

—Register now for Hope for the Future 2020, a Mennonite Church USA people of color event. Registration is open through January 15 for this Anabaptist networking and equipping event being held in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 24-26. Hope for the Future gathers leaders of color from church and related ministries to explore the ways that power, privilege and racism function in our denomination. For more information, visit https://cvent.me/lVENAm.

—Mennonite Church USA has announced several staff transitions, welcoming Caleb Allen of Kansas and Camille Dager of Pennsylvania to its Communications team and Roberta Yoder of Indiana to the Archives. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/36eK3Ns.

Boots, Buckets and Barrows: In partnership with Mennonite Disaster Service, Ted & Co. presents the original play “The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fettuccine”, in conjunction with a unique auction of buckets filled with baked goods and home items, along with ‘flash auctions’ to fund the tools and volunteers MDS needs to help restore communities and rebuild homes ravaged by natural disaster. All proceeds benefit the continued work of MDS. Admission is free! Please come prepared to bid! Friday, January 31, 7 pm at Hesston Mennonite Church and Saturday, February 1, 7 pm at Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson. Sponsored by Kansas MDS Unit, Hesston College Disaster Management Program, and Journey Mennonite S. Hutchinson.

The Neuf Memorial Run: The Neuf 9K and 2 mile run returns to the campus of Bethel College on Jan. 11, 2020 to honor the memory of Russ Neufeld, a former MC USA and and Hesston College employee. The race will start at 10 a.m. outside of Mojo’s Coffee Shop on the campus of Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. The Neuf will raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Russ Neufeld memorial scholarship at Hesston College. Register & read other details about the race at www.runtheneuf.neuf.ca. We would love to have you join us for this fun community event!

Newton Et Cetera Shop thanks you for your generous support in 2019! We invited you to SHOP, DONATE and VOLUNTEER, and YOU DID! With the help of 260 volunteers, we’ve sold over 500,000 items this year! If you’d like to join our volunteers, please attend an upcoming new volunteer orientation on Thursday, January 9, 6-7 PM or Tuesday, February 11, 6-7 PM. We’re currently seeking volunteers to help with costumes, greeting cards, holiday items and clerking. Blessings for the new year to you from Newton Et Cetera Shop board of directors, volunteers and employees!

Kidron Bethel Parkinson’s Support Group will meet January 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Menno Hall. Emily Schultze, dance instructor for Rhythm Connections for Parkinson’s Disease, will present the program. Everyone is invited.

Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, in North Newton on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and in Hutchinson on Thursday, Jan. 9. Both will begin at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the various Medicare plans and what they cover; plans that supplement Medicare; and enrollment details and deadlines. The workshop is free, but space is limited! Reserve your spot by contacting Michelle Ramer at 316-283-3800 or michelle.ramer. *Attendance is recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare.

Hesston College:

—Hesston College’s Martin Luther King (MLK) Day celebration will provide learning opportunities about diversity, equity and inclusion on-campus and in the community. Public events will take place leading up to and including MLK Day, Monday, January 20. Sunday, Jan. 19, Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA will speak at Hesston Mennonite Church, both in the 10:30 a.m. worship service and at a free community building workshop at 7 p.m. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

—Before Rosa Parks. Before Martin Luther King Jr. Before Nelson Mandela. There was Paul Robeson. Hesston College artist-in-residence and peace ambassador Tony Brown gives his MLK Day tribute to the 20th century civil rights activist Paul Robeson at 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19, at Hesston Mennonite Church. I Go On Singing: Paul Robeson’s Life in Word and Song, will be narrated by Victor Hogstrom, President of KPTS Channel 8 in Wichita (PBS). Tickets are $12 for all adults, available at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall or at 620-327-8104, as well as at the door. Students college-age and younger are free. Visit www.hesston.edu/MLK for more information.

Bethel College: Centering Prayer resumes tomorrow, Mon., Jan. 6, after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Centering Prayer meets most Mondays from noon-1 p.m. in Agape Center in Richert House on the Bethel College campus. Try it once, come occasionally or join us regularly – all are welcome, with no previous experience with Centering Prayer required. For more information, contact Nathan Koontz, 2nathankoontz, or Melanie Zuercher, mzuercher. (For help locating Agape Center in Richert House, see www.bethelks.edu/why-bethel/location/campus-map/)

Jan 5.pdf

Jan 5 annc.pdf

Congregational Announcements

You are invited! Tabor Wellness will be hosting a Christmas light walk Monday, December 30th beginning at the King Park shelter house in Hesston at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided following the walk and 2019 Wellness awards announced. Feel free to bring a friend, hope to see you there!

Ministry Storytelling Sunday will take place on January 12. Come to reflect on how the ministries of Tabor Church were carried out in the past year and the ways in which we envision ministries to evolve in the coming year.

Mennonite Disaster Service: Opportunity to help! April 5-11, 2020 is an option for Tabor to participate in a service trip. If you are interested in going please contact Dale Alderfer soon.

The Great Winter Warm-UP! Mennonite Central Committee is celebrating its 100th anniversary by attempting to collect 6500 comforters to break the record for most blankets donated to a charity in 24 hours. Alexanderwohl and Tabor Mennonite Churches will host an MCC Comforter Blitz for everyone in the Goessel Community, at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Saturday, January 18, 2020, 9am – 4pm. Something for everyone—pin, tie, trim, sew, or help in the kitchen with snacks and the noon meal. If you have a top to donate, please turn those in by January 1. A donation box can be found in the foyer if you would like to help purchase batting and supplies for the comforters. Contact Ruth Goertzen (alexmenno; 620-747-0074), Sharon Adrian (sladrian49; 620-877-7239), or Kim Funk (kfunk; 620-747-0408) with questions. We look forward to seeing many of you at this Goessel Community Winter Warm-up!

Directory Updates for the 2020 Tabor Church Directory are due now. Please email the church office at kfunk with changes.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for God’s joy and vision for WDC congregations, leaders, and staff as the New Year begins.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Praise God that the government in Mongolia has renewed JCS International’s registration for another two years. JCS is the consortium of mission agencies through which MMN ministers in this country. Pray for God’s light to brighten people’s lives in this season of extreme cold and short days.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Give thanks for !Explore, a summer program of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in which high school students explore ministry and theology, grow in spiritual practices and develop their leadership skills. Pray that leaders would encourage youth to apply for 2020.

Western District Conference:

—The Youth Ministry Committee of Western District and South Central conferences presents… Youth Lead Now, a one-day workshop designed for high school youth to enrich their leadership skills and deepen faith. Using the adaptive leadership framework from the Kansas Leadership Center and well known spiritual practices, we will equip youth with skills to be leaders among their peers, in their churches, and in their communities. Our hope is that congregations would partner with us by sending youth who have been affirmed for their leadership gifts or potential. Date: January 11, 2020. Time: 9am to 4pm. Location: Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. Registration Fee: $50 (scholarships available upon request). High School Youth can register through the link: https://forms.gle/fWQ2BVjybMVtzKsC8

—Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference “Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith” on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. More information and registration coming soon.

Summer is only 6 months away! Camp Mennoscah is looking for amazing people to be our summer staff for 2020. We need lifeguards, office assistants, music and crafts leaders, a naturalist and grounds/maintenance. Further information is available online or contact us at olivia.bartel or 620-297-3290. Apply for a position online at campmennoscah.org under Summer Youth Camps!

Boots, Buckets and Barrows: In partnership with Mennonite Disaster Service, Ted & Co. presents the original play “The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fettuccine”, in conjunction with a unique auction of buckets filled with baked goods and home items, along with ‘flash auctions’ to fund the tools and volunteers MDS needs to help restore communities and rebuild homes ravaged by natural disaster. All proceeds benefit the continued work of MDS. Admission is free! Please come prepared to bid! Friday, January 31, 7 pm at Hesston Mennonite Church and Saturday, February 1, 7 pm at Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson. Sponsored by Kansas MDS Unit, Hesston College Disaster Management Program, and Journey Mennonite S. Hutchinson.

Thank you for your generous giving to MCC in 2019. Your gifts help MCC continue work in 53 countries working on 648 projects and impacting countless people. If you’re looking for a year end gift, keep MCC giving projects in mind or collect school kit supplies with your family (mcc.org/kits)! Check out mcc.org/christmas for online giving options. Contact our office in North Newton, KS for giving in-person, 316.283.2720.

2020 is your year to go on an MCC Learning Tour! Travel to Haiti March 21-28 to learn about root causes of Haiti’s reality and see MCC projects in person. Join MCC Bolivia in celebrating 60 years with two learning tours, May 2-9 will focus on Eastern Bolivia and Oct. 10-17 will focus on Western Bolivia. Finally, you’re welcome to travel to Nicaragua, July 20-30, to celebrate the centennial of MCC, focusing on past and present MCC work in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Contact jordanpenner and check mcc.org/events for more details.

Newton Et Cetera Shop thanks you for your generous support in 2019! We invited you to SHOP, DONATE and VOLUNTEER, and YOU DID! With the help of 260 volunteers, we’ve sold over 500,000 items this year! If you’d like to join our volunteers, please attend an upcoming new volunteer orientation on Thursday, January 9, 6-7 PM or Tuesday, February 11, 6-7 PM. We’re currently seeking volunteers to help with costumes, greeting cards, holiday items and clerking. Blessings for the new year to you from Newton Et Cetera Shop board of directors, volunteers and employees!

Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, in North Newton on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and in Hutchinson on Thursday, Jan. 9. Both will begin at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the various Medicare plans and what they cover; plans that supplement Medicare; and enrollment details and deadlines. The workshop is free, but space is limited! Reserve your spot by contacting Michelle Ramer at 316-283-3800 or michelle.ramer. *Attendance is recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare.

The Neuf Memorial Run: The Neuf 9K and 2 mile run returns to the campus of Bethel College on Jan. 11, 2020 to honor the memory of Russ Neufeld, a former MC USA and and Hesston College employee. The race will start at 10 a.m. outside of Mojo’s Coffee Shop on the campus of Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas.The Neuf will raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Russ Neufeld memorial scholarship at Hesston College. Register & read other details about the race at www.runtheneuf.neuf.ca. We would love to have you join us for this fun community event!

Bethel College:

—Kauffman Museum is open through the holidays (closed Mondays New Year’s Day): weekdays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 1:30-4:30 p.m. Visit the current special exhibit “K is for Kansas: exploring Kansas from A to Z.”

—Centering Prayer will not meet Mon., Dec. 30, but resumes Jan. 6. Centering Prayer meets most Mondays from noon-1 p.m. in Agape Center in Richert House on the Bethel College campus. Try it once, come occasionally or join us regularly – all are welcome, with no previous experience with Centering Prayer required. For more information, contact Nathan Koontz, 2nathankoontz, or Melanie Zuercher, mzuercher.

—Sat., Jan. 4 – Kauffman Museum First-Saturday Bird Walk. Meet at 8:15 a.m. in the museum parking lot, corner of Main and 27th streets, N Newton – experienced birders will lead a walk of 1 to 1.5 hours. Please be aware this is mostly on an unpaved trail and the terrain is sometimes sloping or steep.

Dec. 29 annc.pdf

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Congregational Announcements

Night in the Barn: Everyone is invited to come to Night in the Barn at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch (372 70th, Newton) on December 21 and/or 22 from 5 until 7pm (come and go). Come interact with the characters, sounds, lights, and animals of this timeless tale and enjoy this walking tour with family and friends. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, which includes a hot drink and a snack. This is presented by Tabor Mennonite Church Youth, with part of the proceeds going to the Tabor Mennonite Youth Fellowship. Call 620-367-2721 with questions.

You are invited! Tabor Wellness will be hosting a Christmas light walk Monday, December 30th beginning at the King Park shelter house in Hesston at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided following the walk and 2019 Wellness awards announced. Feel free to bring a friend, hope to see you there!

Mennonite Disaster Service: Opportunity to help! April 5-11, 2020 is an option for Tabor to participate in a service trip. If you are interested in going please contact Dale Alderfer soon.

The Great Winter Warm-UP is a month away! Mennonite Central Committee is celebrating its 100th anniversary by attempting to collect 6500 comforters to break the record for most blankets donated to a charity in 24 hours. Alexanderwohl and Tabor Mennonite Churches will host an MCC Comforter Blitz for everyone in the Goessel Community, at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall on Saturday, January 18, 2020, 9am – 4pm. Something for everyone—pin, tie, trim, sew, or help in the kitchen with snacks and the noon meal. If you have a top to donate, please turn those in by January 1. A donation box can be found in the foyer if you would like to help purchase batting and supplies for the comforters. Contact Ruth Goertzen (alexmenno; 620-747-0074), Sharon Adrian (sladrian49; 620-877-7239), or Kim Funk (kfunk; 620-747-0408) with questions. We look forward to seeing many of you at this Goessel Community Winter Warm-up!

Directory Updates for the 2020 Tabor Church Directory are due now. Please email the church office at kfunk with changes.

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 and 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 if you have questions.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, give thanks for the many ways WDC congregations embody the presence of Christ through ministries of hospitality, worship, compassion and justice.

« Mennonite Mission Network: MMN requests prayer for peace in Burkina Faso. When armed protest groups ambush symbols of Western opulence and colonialism, like hotels and gold mines, civilians get caught in the crossfire. May the Mennonite Church in Burkina Faso live the way of the Prince of Peace through word and deed.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Let us join Hesston College in giving thanks for host families who welcome international students into their homes for Christmas break.

« Mennonite Church USA: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10. The Mennonite Church USA staff wishes you joy this Christmas, as we work together to continue sharing the good news of Jesus every day.

Western District Conference:

—Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Western District Conference! The WDC office and the Resource Library will be closed December 23 through January 1.

—The Youth Ministry Committee of Western District and South Central conferences presents… Youth Lead Now, a one-day workshop designed for high school youth to enrich their leadership skills and deepen faith. Using the adaptive leadership framework from the Kansas Leadership Center and well known spiritual practices, we will equip youth with skills to be leaders among their peers, in their churches, and in their communities. Our hope is that congregations would partner with us by sending youth who have been affirmed for their leadership gifts or potential. Date: January 11, 2020. Time: 9am to 4pm. Location: Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. Registration Fee: $50 (scholarships available upon request). High School Youth can register through the link: https://forms.gle/fWQ2BVjybMVtzKsC8

—Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference “Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith” on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. More information and registration coming soon.

The family band Five Times Harder will present a Christmas concert at 4 p.m. on December 22 at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro (102 S. Ash). Their concerts feature an entertaining blend of voices and instruments, in bluegrass, folk, jazz, and classical styles. There is no admission fee; a free will offering will be collected to benefit the ongoing work of MCC.

Camp Mennoscah:

—Summer is only 6 months away! Camp Mennoscah is looking for amazing people to be our summer staff for 2020. We need lifeguards, office assistants, music and crafts leaders, a naturalist and grounds/maintenance. Further information is available online or contact us at olivia.bartel or 620-297-3290. Apply for a position online at campmennoscah.org under Summer Youth Camps!

—New Windows! Camp Mennoscah’s dining hall has new windows thanks to the generous work of volunteers. The windows have already proven to make a big difference in heating the dining hall. Our Volunteer Christmas was warm and cozy –the only thing “missing” was the cold drafts of air! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, given gifts, and supported the continuing improvements to the kitchen and dining hall!

Boots, Buckets and Barrows: In partnership with Mennonite Disaster Service, Ted & Co. presents the original play “The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fettuccine”, in conjunction with a unique auction of buckets filled with baked goods and home items, along with ‘flash auctions’ to fund the tools and volunteers MDS needs to help restore communities and rebuild homes ravaged by natural disaster. All proceeds benefit the continued work of MDS. Admission is free! Please come prepared to bid! Friday, January 31, 7 pm at Hesston Mennonite Church and Saturday, February 1, 7 pm at Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson. Sponsored by Kansas MDS Unit, Hesston College Disaster Management Program, and Journey Mennonite S. Hutchinson.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC):

Thank you for your generous giving to MCC in 2019. Your gifts help MCC continue work in 53 countries working on 648 projects and impacting countless people. If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas gift keep MCC Christmas giving projects in mind or collect school kit supplies with your family (mcc.org/kits)! Check out mcc.org/christmas for online giving options. Contact our office in North Newton, KS for giving in-person, 316.283.2720.

2020 is your year to go on an MCC Learning Tour! Travel to Haiti March 21-28 to learn about root causes of Haiti’s reality and see MCC projects in person. Join MCC Bolivia in celebrating 60 years with two learning tours, May 2-9 will focus on Eastern Bolivia and Oct. 10-17 will focus on Western Bolivia. Finally, you’re welcome to travel to Nicaragua, July 20-30, to celebrate the centennial of MCC, focusing on past and present MCC work in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Contact jordanpenner and check mcc.org/events for more details.

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary: Do you know youth with gifts for leadership and ministry? Through AMBS’s !Explore program, students in grades 10–12 can explore ministry and theology, grow in spiritual practices and listen for God’s call through a summer congregational internship and a Group Experience (June 30 – July 16, 2020). Scholarships are available. Tap a shoulder! ambs.edu/explore

Dec. 22 annc.pdf