News & Media

Congregational Announcements

100 for 100! Throughout Lent, in celebration of 100 years of the work of MCC, our goal is to collect 100 of each item in Relief Kits. The numbers so far:

Soap: 126 Shampoo: 31 Laundry Soap: 26

Toothbrushes: 16 Box Bandages: 4 Pkg. Sanitary Pads: 3

Bath Towels: 13 Combs: 10 Nail Clipper: 2

Please see the shopping lists which were in your mailboxes and continue to bring these items! Celebrate MCC by giving in the name of Christ.

Men’s Bible Study Update: We selected to do a 12 week bible study on Romans. Books are on order and they will be here very soon. The Study is Max Lucado’s Life Lessons from Romans. If you are still interested in attending and didn’t make the first meeting, please let us know and we will order up another group of books. We will still plan on meeting Monday, March 16th at 7 pm. We will start the Romans book study on Monday, March 23rd. Thanks – Nate Ashley & John Unruh

Tabor Church’s week at New Hope Shelter is coming up March 25 through March 31. We are responsible to fill the evening shifts each of those days and the night shifts on March 27 and 28. If you can help, please let Barb Abrahams know. If you have never served before but are interested, there will be a training evening on March 26 at New Hope. If you have questions, please talk to Barb.

Tabor Mennonite Women will be having their annual Salad Supper on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. The speaker is Kate Mast from the MCC Center in N Newton and she will be presenting "The Journey of an MCC Comforter". Please bring a salad to share and bring a guest. We also need two or three ladies who would be willing to work in the kitchen. If you are interested, please contact Sharon Adrian or Barb Banman.

To coincide with the theme for the salad supper, we will be tying comforters Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. both days. Anyone, including men and children, are welcome to come help tie. We also continue to need comforter tops to tie. Fabric kits are available at the MCC Center in N. Newton, or ask Sharon Adrian or Kim Funk for one. Leave finished tops with Sharon or Kim.

Life-Size Foosball! Tabor Church will be hosting the entire Goessel Community Junior High, 6th-8th graders, for this fun interactive game. Come to the Tabor Church Park on March 29 at 3 pm to see what it’s all about.

Share an Easter Lily in honor/memory of a loved one on Easter Sunday. Names of those to be honored along with names of those sharing the lilies need to be turned in to the church office by Wednesday evening, April 8 to be listed in the bulletin. Lilies need to be brought to the church, clearly marked on the bottom with the name of the donor, and left in the foyer by noon on Saturday, April 11.

Coming up: In lieu of an Easter breakfast, the fellowship team has planned a time of food and fellowship on April 19, which will replace faith formation.

Opportunities to learn about the Doctrine of Discovery: Good Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in the Fellowship Hall. The Loss of Turtle Island is a participatory learning experience that depicts the historic relationship between European settlers (including Mennonites) and the Indigenous nations of the land we now call North America. Blankets represent the land and participants represent distinct Indigenous nations who experience colonization, genocide, broken treaties, forced removal, assimilation and termination – in the spirit of the Doctrine of Discovery. We offer this on Good Friday evening as a time to reflect on the suffering of Jesus and how he stood in solidarity with all who have suffered under the weight of occupation and colonization. This experience is profound and thought-provoking and can be done inter-generationally; recommended for Middle School and older. Call Pastor Lois Harder with questions (316) 617.3497

Have you missed a worship service? Sermons can be found on our church website soon after the worship service. The entire service video is kept as an unlisted link. If you would like to watch an entire worship service, simply send an email to Kim Funk (kfunk) and she will email you the link for the service you request. You may also request to be placed on the group email list to receive the worship link weekly.

Support Mennonite Mission Network (MMN): Mission Network is grateful for your financial and prayer support of Dan and Katherine Smith Derksen’s ministry with SADRA during their terms in South Africa. Thank you for helping them to work for peace. God is moving in exciting ways in South Africa. We are grateful to God for the way that Dan and Kathryn have given a lifetime of service to God’s mission in Africa. MMN has received $20,000 for a total of $40,000 after MMN matching dollars, but Mission Network is still short $40,000. MMN will match donations until the end of April, while praying for God to provide the rest of what is needed. Thank you for your past support and for your continued partnership in God’s mission. ~MMN support team

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for WDC congregations in Dallas, TX, as they gather this coming Saturday for a joint worship service and fellowship.

« Mennonite Mission Network: The first professors and administrative personnel to serve Benin Bible Institute when it opened its doors in 1994 are nearing retirement age. MMN requests prayer for the next generation of teachers and administrators to respond to God’s call, and the resources to train them.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Lezha (Albania) Academic Center–Our school has been helping the Roma people who are living in shelters after the November 26 earthquake. Recently, we heard that 29 people from this community, including children and the elderly, are living on the streets. Please pray for our school and community.

Responding to Coronavirus:

“To WDC congregations and leaders,

As the church responds to concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19), here are some resources to help address the uncertainties and fears that we face:

Christianity Today is offering a free booklet, “A Concise Coronavirus Guide for Churches” with scriptural and theological reflections, as well as practical guidelines for church activities and planning. The booklet can be downloaded at

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/coronavirus-churches-christians-news-advice-covid-19.html.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides up-to-date information on COVID-19:

– English – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

– Factsheet – English: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

In particular, see the CDC’s Resources for Community- and Faith-Based Leaders

at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/index.html ”

-Heidi Regier Kreider, WDC Conference Minister

Please join Mennonite Central Committee Central States in our first Young Adult Immigration Learning Tour. May 25-29th, MCC invites young adults to South Texas to raise awareness about the increasing migrant deaths, militarization, environment degradation, effects on habitat and effects on sister communities near the border wall along the Mexico/U.S. border. Participants will increase their understanding and knowledge of the social, economic, political and biblical/theological significance of migration in border communities, including advocacy tools and capacity building to engage others on borderlands and migration issues. Some grants may be available to interested participants with financial need.

For registration or to inquire about a grant, please contact Abby Endashaw,

720-500-3413, abbyendashaw. Final Registration Deadline April 1, 2020.

Camp Mennoscah:

— Dam installation at Camp Mennoscah! March 22, approximately 2pm, we will be putting the dam back in. You are invited to watch the process or to help. Wear appropriate clothes for how you plan to participate and for whatever weather may occur. Watch the Camp Mennoscah Facebook page for any changes.

—The BETTER youth camp discount ends April 1! Get those registrations completed online for Camp Mennoscah’s summer youth camps and save $10. Our theme this summer is This Is Our Prayer. You’ll explore the different ways Christians have prayed throughout history and have grown into the beloved community of God.

—Refresh and Renew! Camp Mennoscah’s Retirees Retreat is April 20-22. We will hear about experiences with Mennonite Disaster Service, travel to the Mennonite Museum in Khiva, Uzbekistan, and enjoy Bible Study, singing, and fellowship over coffee breaks.

Contact and registration for Camp Mennoscah:

Online at www.campmennoscah.org Telephone: 620-297-3290

Email: office Contact: olivia.bartel.

Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will perform their spring break concert, "Lift Our Voices Together," on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The concert features a cappella and accompanied works from Renaissance through contemporary composers with special music by soloists and small ensembles. The concert is free and open to the public, with an offering to be collected for tour expenses.

Bethel College: Sun., March 15 – Last day to view “City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Kauffman Museum.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale

April 17 & 18, 2020

www.kansas.mccsale.org

—2020 is the 100 year anniversary of the Mennonite Central Committee. The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale would like to celebrate this milestone by gifting MCC ONE MILLION DOLLARS. The Kansas Sale was founded to support the ministry of Relief, Development, and Peace in the name of Christ. This would require 1,000 people to each give $1,000 to get to one million dollars by April 17, the first day of the 2020 Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. Please send your check made payable to KMRS earmarked "centennial gift" to Tim Miller, Relief Sale Treasurer, 4805 S. Broadacres Rd, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501. If you have questions, please ask your church sale contact person(s) or call Jim Robb, Board Chair at 620-747-0186.

—Coins raised for March 1 and 8 totaled $103.16.

—We are still accepting pre-sale expenses. Put your check in the box of one of the contact persons.

—Be sure and look at the quilts displayed in Hospitality Hall. They will be taken to the MCC center on Monday, March 16.

—Bring any items you have made for the sale to the tables so we can see what you have created. There are already many wonderful projects to view.

—There are boxes under the tables for Quilters Corner, the children’s toy auction, cookbooks etc.

—Look online for ways you can sign up to help at the sale.

—Register for the 5K Run for Relief. Forms are under the mail boxes. Start getting donations to support your run.

—The website is up and going. Check it out. www.kansas.mccsale.org

For more information on all of the above, please see our sale contact persons: Jerry and Leann Toews, Archie and Kristin Schmidt and Eric Litwiller.

March 15 annc.pdf

Congregational Announcements

Another 100 for 100! We’re off to a good start: We collected 102 bars of soap last Sunday. This Sunday we are receiving shampoo. Next Sunday plan to bring bars of laundry soap. Throughout Lent, we are continuing Tabor’s practice of collecting items for Mennonite Central Committee Relief Kits. This year we are adding a challenge. In celebration of 100 years of the work of MCC, let’s bring 100 of each item as designated on the shopping lists that were in your mailboxes. (and of course, you may bring these items on any Sunday) Celebrate MCC by giving in the name of Christ.

What: Men’s Bible Study Kick Off. When: Monday March 9th @ 7:00 pm

Where: Tabor Church Conference Room Why: To help men become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. We are here to walk alongside you on your faith journey if you are just starting out or have been traveling it for years.

Questions: See Nate Ashley or John Unruh

Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum: The 2020 Heritage Fundraiser Dinner will take place on Friday, March 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. Call the museum 620-367-8200 by Monday, March 9 to reserve your ticket. Ticket price is $50 per person. First time to attend is $25 per person (Ages 12 and under $5)

Tabor Mennonite Women will be having their annual Salad Supper on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. The speaker is Kate Mast from the MCC Center in N Newton and she will be presenting "The Journey of an MCC Comforter". Please bring a salad to share and bring a guest. We also need two or three ladies who would be willing to work in the kitchen. If you are interested, please contact Sharon Adrian or Barb Banman.

To coincide with the theme for the salad supper, we will be tying comforters Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. both days. Anyone, including men and children, are welcome to come help tie. We also continue to need comforter tops to tie. Fabric kits are available at the MCC Center in N. Newton, or ask Sharon Adrian or Kim Funk for one. Leave finished tops with Sharon or Kim.

Life-Size Foosball! Tabor Church will be hosting the entire Goessel Community Junior High, 6th-8th graders, for this fun interactive game. Come to the Tabor Church Park on March 29 at 3 pm to see what it’s all about.

Have you missed a worship service? Sermons can be found on our church website soon after the worship service. The entire service video is kept as an unlisted link. If you would like to watch an entire worship service, simply send an email to Kim Funk (kfunk) and she will email you the link for the service you request. You may also request to be placed on the group email list to receive the worship link weekly.

Last chance for free hymnal: Copies of the old red hymnals are on a table in the Hospitality Hall. Pick one up if you would like one. Any remaining will be taken to MCC for recycling after March 15.

The Second Monday Family History & Genealogy Group will meet on Monday, March 9, 2020, 7:00 p.m., in the Goessel City Building Community Room. Brian Stucky will present the story of the Catlin Cemetery stone and the fascinating account of up to 17 children buried near Peabody. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for special speaker Patty Shelly and women who gather for the Western District Women in Mission Spring supper this Thursday evening at Faith Mennonite Church.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Rebekah York of MMN is serving at Mennonite Biblical Seminary of Colombia. Pray for her as she helps prepare young leaders and provides continuing education opportunities for seasoned church leaders.

Western District Conference: Leadership Launch: Celebrating and Looking Ahead! – All are invited to a free dessert reception recognizing 5 years of joint partnership of Western District Conference and South Central Conference with Kansas Leadership Center (KLC), on Monday, March 30, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at KLC, 325 E Douglas Avenue, Wichita. Refreshments will be served, with a brief program at 7:00 p.m. featuring greetings and stories from KLC, WDC and SCC about how adaptive leadership is strengthening the church and its ministry. This will also be a time to learn about training opportunities through WDC/SCC’s Leadership Transformation Grant from KLC. The 2020 grant covers full registration cost for a selected number of participants to attend one of KLC’s three primary leadership training programs. For more information, see: http://mennowdc.org/grants/. Members of the Core Team for implementing WDC/SCC’s grant are Heidi Regier Kreider, Kathy Neufeld Dunn, Phil Schmidt, Howard Keim and Isaac Landis.

Mennonite Church USA:

—Lent is a time of purposeful turning toward God. Remember God’s faithful, loving presence and connect with the Rock of our salvation using the free, downloadable Lent At-Home 2020 Worship Guide. http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/lent-at-home-2020/

—Wanted: Financial advisor to United Mission to Nepal, an interdenominational organization that exists to serve the poor and marginalized in the name and spirit of Christ. Work alongside Nepali professionals to ensure that sound financial practices are implemented to properly manage funds. Age: 21+; term: 3 months–2 years. Learn more at www.MennoniteMission.net/Serve.

—Earlier this year, Mennonite Creation Care Network held a webinar entitled, Nurturing a Culture of Creation Care in Congregations. In it, Heather Wolfe of Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship, Taftsville, Vt., shared her congregation’s inspiring journey. If you missed it, the one-hour webinar is recorded and available here: https://mennocreationcare.org/nurturing-a-culture-of-creation-care-in-congregations/ Notes are provided to guide you to the sections most relevant to your needs.

— Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF) is seeking a half-time Executive Director to start between May and September 2020 who is committed to Anabaptist values and the mission of MHF, has proven skills in administration, communication, and networking, and has an intergenerationally compelling vision for MHF. Interested persons are invited to send a resume and statement of intent, including the broad strokes of your vision and thoughts about a strategic plan, to president. More information at www.mennohealth.org.

Mennonite Central Committee:

—Please join MCC Central States in our first Young Adult Immigration Learning Tour. May 25-29th, MCC invites young adults to South Texas to raise awareness about the increasing migrant deaths, militarization, environment degradation, effects on habitat and effects on sister communities near the border wall along the Mexico/U.S. border. Participants will increase their understanding and knowledge of the social, economic, political and biblical/theological significance of migration in border communities, including advocacy tools and capacity building to engage others on borderlands and migration issues. Some grants may be available to interested participants with financial need. For registration or to inquire about a grant, please contact Abby Endashaw, 720-500-3413, abbyendashaw. Final Registration Deadline April 1, 2020.

—Attention all MCC Alumni, make plans now to join MCC at an alumni weekend at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, August 7-9! Bring your family for a relaxing weekend at camp, lots more information and a link to the camp registration is now available at jordanpenner or 316-727-6837. We’re already looking forward to a fun weekend together this summer!

Camp Mennoscah:

—Youth Volunteer Weekend is one week away (plus a few days)! Grades 7-12 are invited to come to Camp Mennoscah for Youth Volunteer Weekend on March 13-14 for a time of worship, service, and fellowship. We’ll be singing, serving, and funning! Register online at campmennoscah.org (in the summer youth camp section of registration). Full scholarships are available.

—Kitchen staff for summer youth camps needed! Parents can receive a full camper discount for a full camp week–but you don’t need to be a parent to volunteer!

—Tee shirt contest! Camp Mennoscah is looking for three two-word phrases that represent the important parts of Camp Mennoscah to you. The best combination of phrases will become our camp tee! One (generic) example would be Sing loudly, Play hard, Love God. Send all your amazing phrases to olivia.bartel!

Contact and registration for Camp Mennoscah:

Online at www.campmennoscah.org Telephone: 620-297-3290

Email: office Contact: olivia.bartel.

Bethel College:

—Thurs., March 12, Fri., March 13, Sat., March 14 – Bethel College spring musical: The Theory of Relativity by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, 7:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center; tickets in Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or at the door, subject to availability. Content warning: rated PG-13 for adult themes and language.

—Final week to view “City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit at Kauffman Museum through March 15; hours Tues.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, in North Newton on Tuesday, Mar. 10 and in Hutchinson on Thursday, Mar. 12. 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.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale

April 17 & 18, 2020

www.kansas.mccsale.org

—2020 is the 100 year anniversary of the Mennonite Central Committee. The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale would like to celebrate this milestone by gifting MCC ONE MILLION DOLLARS. The Kansas Sale was founded to support the ministry of Relief, Development, and Peace in the name of Christ. This would require 1,000 people to each give $1,000 to get to one million dollars by April 17, the first day of the 2020 Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. Please send your check made payable to KMRS earmarked "centennial gift" to Tim Miller, Relief Sale Treasurer, 4805 S. Broadacres Rd, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501. If you have questions, please ask your church sale contact person(s) or call Jim Robb, Board Chair at 620-747-0186.

—We want to encourage MANY of you; young and old alike to take part in the 5K for the Centennial. Walking or running are both GREAT for your mind and body. Pick up a green sheet under the mailboxes or sign up on line.

—Tables for the Items you are making for the Centennial MCC Sale this year are set up in the Hospitality Hall. It is not too late to plan to make something special.

—There are boxes under the table to collect good quality items you no longer use. Material scraps bring in $20,000 each year at the sale!!! Cookbooks are always a hot item. Toys are good for the kids. What do you have to contribute?

—You woodworkers; start the sawdust flying and make something creative for the centennial.

—Quilt deadline is March 16. Forms for quilts can be found on the sale website.

—Plan to start bulbs with your children at home. Teach them how to correctly water plants and the value of helping others. Start dividing succulents such as aloevera. Start vegetable seedlings such as tomatoes, cucumbers; etc.

—Service Opportunities at KMRS: The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale invites you to join our family. There is variety of committee openings including an Urgent Need for a Treasurer; Domestic Arts Verenike Booth Committee Members; Feeding the Multitude Sausage Baking Chair on Saturday; Verenike Frying Chair Friday; and New Year’s Cookie committee. See your Relief Sale Liaison for details on these opportunities.

—The website is being added to regularly: www.kansas.mccsale.org

For more information on all of the above, please see our sale contact persons: Jerry and Leann Toews, Archie and Kristin Schmidt and Eric Litwiller.

March 8 annc.pdf

Congregational Announcements

Another 100 for 100! Sunday, March 1, is the first Sunday in Lent. We will continue Tabor’s practice of collecting items for Mennonite Central Committee Relief Kits during the season of Lent again this year. However, this year we are adding a challenge. In celebration of 100 years of the work of MCC, let’s bring 100 of each item as designated on the shopping lists that can be found in your mailboxes this morning. Celebrate MCC by giving in the name of Christ.

Have you ever wondered what really happens when the adult choir gets together to rehearse? You have an opportunity to find out! On March 4 I am hosting an "Open Rehearsal." Anyone is welcome to join us that evening. You might be asked to join us in singing some hymns, but you won’t be asked to sing a solo! Very light refreshments might be served. We hope to see some of you at 7:30 that evening. We will meet in the Hospitality Hall. ~Marcene Entz, adult choir director

What: Men’s Bible Study Kick Off.

When: Monday March 9th @ 7:00 pm

Where: Tabor Church Conference Room

Why: To help men become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. We are here to walk alongside you on your faith journey if you are just starting out or have been traveling it for years.

Questions: See Nate Ashley or John Unruh

Camp Mennoscah: Sign up for Summer Camps. The BEST discount is for registrations received and paid in full by March 1. Go to www.campmennoscah.org and click on Register Online! at the top of the page. Camp scholarships of $50 are available from Tabor Church Christian Education Co. Please sign up on the bulletin board and your scholarship will be sent directly to Camp Mennoscah. Also applies to Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp.

The Newton Community Chorale presents Prelude to Spring, Sunday, March 8 at 7 pm at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Camille Adrian and Emil Schmidt are part of this choir — attend the concert and hear them sing!

To All Women – You are invited to the Western District Women in Mission Spring Supper on Thursday, March 12 at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. The meal starts at 6 pm with the program at 7 pm. Our Special Guest Speaker, Patty Shelly, Professor of Bible and Religion at Bethel College, will present “My Journey through Scripture”. Reservations (due March 5) are required by calling Darlene @ 316-323-9762 or emailing westerndistrictwomen. Cost is $10 and payable at the door.

Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum: 2020 Heritage Fundraiser Dinner, Friday, March 13. Meal catered by Keith’s Foods served at 6:30 p.m. at theTabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. Donna Becker, a certified first person historical performer with the company Historical Echoes, will portray the Suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt. Catt was instrumental in securing the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920, giving women the right to vote. Come celebrate the 100th anniversary of this event. Call the museum 620-367-8200 to reserve your ticket by Monday March 9. Ticket price is $50 per person. First time to attend is $25 per person (Ages 12 and under $5)

Tabor Mennonite Women will be having their annual Salad Supper on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. The speaker is Kate Mast from the MCC Center in North Newton and she will be presenting "The Journey of an MCC Comforter". Please bring a salad to share and bring a guest. To coincide with the theme, we will be tying comforters Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. both days.

We also need two or three ladies who would be willing to work in the kitchen. If you are interested, please contact Sharon Adrian or Barb Banman.

Life-Size Foosball! Tabor Church will be hosting the entire Goessel Community Junior High, 6th-8th graders, for this fun interactive game. Come to the Tabor Church Park on March 29 at 3 pm to see what it’s all about.

LOST SOMETHING? Check the table of lost and found items in the foyer. Unclaimed items will be donated to the Etc Shop after Wednesday, March 4.

Have you missed a worship service? Sermons can be found on our church website soon after the worship service. The entire service video is kept as an unlisted link. If you would like to watch an entire worship service, simply send an email to Kim Funk (kfunk) and she will email you the link for the service you request. You may also request to be placed on the group email list to receive the worship link weekly.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for WDC commissions as they meet in the coming month to nurture ministries of leadership, church planting, congregational resourcing and stewardship in the conference.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Africa Inter-Mennonite MMN, partner agencies, praise God for the success of the Congo Mennonite Literacy Project and the hope it gives to the 3,000 people (mostly women) who have learned to read. Pray that leaders will be given the resources they need to continue this work.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana. Pray for participants in and leaders of “Shaping Faith in a Digital Culture” — a joint conference of Pastors and Leaders 2020 (AMBS) and Deep Faith (Mennonite Church USA) held this week — as they think together biblically and theologically about living, worshiping and playing in digital spaces.

Western District Conference:

—We Own This Now, a Ted and Company play, looks at love of the land, loss of land, and what it means to "own" something. What if the land you love was stolen? This question and many more address how the Doctrine of Discovery justified the theft of land and oppression of Indigenous Peoples and still has harmful implications for today. This show benefits the Kanza Heritage Society. Two performances are available to touch your heart and mind.

–April 19, 7 pm, University United Methodist Church, 2220 N Yale Ave, Wichita – sponsored by Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church of the Servant of Wichita, WDC, and others.

–April 26, 4 pm, Flaming Performing Arts Center, Tabor College, Hillsboro – sponsored by First Mennonite Church and Trinity Mennonite Church and Tabor College, all of Hillsboro, Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, MCC Central States, and WDC.

–Tickets: Adults $20 donation (or pay what you can), Students $10 donation (or pay what you can), Indigenous people attend at no cost. Get tickets electronically at https://protect –us.mimecast.com/s/UFxoCrkBgVt8LJ4Xf7z06J?domain=first-church-of-the-brethren. square.site or scan the attached QR code, or get paper tickets through a sponsoring church or organization. For questions, contact Kathy Neufeld Dunn at 316-283-6300.

—We are sad to share the news that Rainbow Mennonite Church’s Kansas City Mennonite Voluntary Unit closed as of December 2019. We want to celebrate its 40+ year history by throwing a party May 9-10. Have you or someone you know been connected with KC MVS? If so, please contact us so we can share more information about our May celebration. Contact us at office or 913.236.8820.

Mennonite Church USA:

—Interested in partnering with others who care about restorative justice? Join a Mennonite Voluntary Service unit in places like Chicago; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; and Alamosa. Age: 20+; term: 1–2 years. Learn more at www.MennoniteMission.net/Serve.

—Lent is a time of purposeful turning toward God. Remember God’s faithful, loving presence and connect with the Rock of our salvation using the free, downloadable Lent At-Home 2020 Worship Guide. http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/lent-at-home-2020/

Mennonite Central Committee:

—Gain work experience with world experience through MCC’s SALT (Serving and Learning Together) program! SALT is a year-long, cross cultural service experience for Christian young adults. The deadline for registration is fast approaching, take a look at the program descriptions available at abbyendashaw.

—You are invited to join the fun at the 13th annual MCC Comforter Blitz on

March 2, 3 and 4 at Journey Mennonite Church at the Yoder Campus, one mile north of Yoder. Monday and Tuesday, 9am – 5pm, and Wednesday, 9am – 4pm.

This event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC, an organization that supports the work of MCC. For more information check out mcc.org/comforter-blitz.

Camp Mennoscah:

—Youth Volunteer Weekend is March 13-14! Registration is through our summer youth camp registration which opened the beginning of February. This retreat is for grades 7-graduating seniors.

—Kitchen staff for summer youth camps needed! Parents can receive a full camper discount for a full camp week–but you don’t need to be a parent to volunteer!

—Pre Junior II needs a nurse! July 5-9. We are thrilled with the number of people who volunteer or work for a stipend during the summer. Thank you!

Contact and registration for Camp Mennoscah:

Online at www.campmennoscah.org Telephone: 620-297-3290

Email: office Contact: olivia.bartel.

Bethel College: Thurs., March 12, Fri., March 13, Sat., March 14 – Bethel College spring musical: The Theory of Relativity by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, 7:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center; tickets in Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or at the door, subject to availability. Content warning: rated PG-13 for adult themes and language.

Hesston College Music and Theatre will present six performances of the musical, Tuck Everlasting, in the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Show times are 7 p.m. March 4 to 7, with extra 2 p.m. showings on March 7 and 8. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students. Seating is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is encouraged at hesston.edu/bookstore or by calling 620-327-8105. Tuck Everlasting is family-friendly and rated G, but due to length is recommended for ages 7 and up.

Kidron Bethel Parkinson’s Support Group will meet March 3 at 2:00 p.m. Shana Gatschet, an occupational therapist who is dedicated to those with Parkinson’s Disease and their families, will present the program. All are invited.

Everence will host its popular workshop, Make Medicare an easy step, in North Newton on Tuesday, Mar. 10 and in Hutchinson on Thursday, Mar. 12. 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.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale

April 17 & 18, 2020

www.kansas.mccsale.org

—CHILDRENS COIN OFFERING – $72.38. We are having OUTSTANDING totals here. THANKS to all of you who are collecting your coins during the week. And THANKS to you CHILDREN who are helping pass the Cans for the KS MCC Sale. Great teamwork.

—We want to encourage MANY of you; young and old alike to take part in the 5K for the Centennial. Walking or running are both GREAT for your mind and body. Pick up a green sheet under the mailboxes or sign up on line.

—Tables for the Items you are making for the Centennial MCC Sale this year will be set up March 8. It is not too late to plan to make something special.

—We will have boxes under the table to collect good quality items you no longer use. We can sell almost ANYTHING. Material scraps bring in $20,000 each year at the sale!!! What do you have to contribute?

—You woodworkers; start the sawdust flying and make something creative for the centennial.

—Quilt deadline is March 16

—Plan to start bulbs with your children at home. Teach them how to correctly water plants and the value of helping others. Start dividing succulents such as aloevera. Start vegetable seedlings such as tomatoes, cucumbers; etc.

The website is being added to regularly: www.kansas.mccsale.org

For more information on all of the above, please see our sale contact persons: Jerry and Leann Toews, Archie and Kristin Schmidt and Eric Litwiller.

March 1 annc.pdf

Congregational Announcements

Another 100 for 100! Sunday, March 1, is the first Sunday in Lent. We will continue Tabor’s practice of collecting items for Mennonite Central Committee Relief Kits during the season of Lent again this year. However, this year we are adding a challenge. In celebration of 100 years of the work of MCC, let’s bring 100 of each item as designated on the shopping lists that can be found in your mailboxes this morning. Celebrate MCC by giving in the name of Christ.

Pastor Phil will be on sabbatical April 20-July 20. This is a slight adjustment in dates from the earlier schedule. More details about his sabbatical plans will be in the March newsletter.

Have you ever wondered what really happens when the adult choir gets together to rehearse? You have an opportunity to find out! On March 4 I am hosting an "Open Rehearsal." Anyone is welcome to join us that evening. You might be asked to join us in singing some hymns, but you won’t be asked to sing a solo! Very light refreshments might be served. We hope to see some of you at 7:30 that evening. We will meet in the Hospitality Hall. ~Marcene Entz, adult choir director

Support our Mission Partners Dan and Kathryn Smith Derksen. We have received $1,505 toward our $1,500 commitment. We will continue to receive special offerings throughout February. A donation box is in the foyer.

Camp Mennoscah’s Hymn Sing and Dessert Auction is March 1! Everyone is invited to join us for an afternoon of hymns, fellowship and desserts at Tabor Mennonite Church on March 1 from 4-6pm. Amazing desserts made by camp supporters will be auctioned off to raise funds to renovate our beloved amphitheater used for evening campfires. Bring your singing voices and open wallets!

Camp Mennoscah: We’re up and running! Our 2020 catalog is out and our online registration is open. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing everyone this summer! The BEST discount is for the summer camp registrations received and paid in full by March 1. Go to www.campmennoscah.org and click on Register Online! at the top of the page. Camp scholarships of $50 are available from Tabor Church Christian Education Co. Please sign up on the bulletin board and your scholarship will be sent directly to Camp Mennoscah. Also applies to Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp.

The Newton Community Chorale presents Prelude to Spring, Sunday, March 8 at 7 pm at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Camille Adrian and Emil Schmidt are part of this choir — attend the concert and hear them sing!

To All Women – You are invited to the Western District Women in Mission Spring Supper on Thursday, March 12 at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. The meal starts at 6 pm with the program at 7 pm. Our Special Guest Speaker, Patty Shelly, Professor of Bible and Religion at Bethel College, will present “My Journey through Scripture”. Reservations (due March 5) are required by calling Darlene @ 316-323-9762 or emailing westerndistrictwomen. Cost is $10 and payable at the door.

MDS Opportunity: Cleo Koop is organizing an MDS trip for Hesston College students. The dates are March 14-21. Cleo is needing someone willing to help with driving a 15 passenger van. Other volunteers would be welcome to join the group for this week. We will be serving in Wharton Tx., the same location the Tabor group will be going to in April. Contact Cleo if you have any questions at cleo.koop or 316-282-0797. Thanks for your help.

Tabor Mennonite Women will be having their annual Salad Supper on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tabor Mennonite Church Hospitality Hall. The speaker is Kate Mast from the MCC Center in North Newton and she will be presenting "The Journey of an MCC Comforter". Please bring a salad to share and bring a guest. To coincide with the theme, we will be tying comforters Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. both days.

We also need two or three ladies who would be willing to work in the kitchen. If you are interested, please contact Sharon Adrian or Barb Banman.

Life-Size Foosball! Tabor Church will be hosting the entire Goessel Community Junior High, 6th-8th graders, for this fun interactive game. Come to the Tabor Church Park on March 29 at 3 pm to see what it’s all about.

LOST SOMETHING? Check the table of lost and found items in the foyer. Unclaimed items will be donated to the Etc Shop after March 1.

Opportunities to Help:

—Jerry and Leann Toews granddaughter, Emerson, who was born to Katrina and Aaron Aeschliman in September, has made amazing progress, but continues to receive medical care. While the family is working with their insurance company and the health providers to get as much financial assistance and relief as possible, bills to assist with her birth, care and follow-up treatment continue to mount and have totaled two million dollars. To view the GoFundMe campaign and contribute,

please visit the website listed here. Thank you for your compassion and generosity. https://fundrazr.com/d1cMU9?ref=ab_2a6ZwAbAHGn2a6ZwAbAHGn

If persons would prefer to give money directly to Katrina and Aaron for Emerson instead of giving on line, that would be wonderful. Make the check out to Katrina Toews and put it in Jerry and Leann’s box. They will see that the family receives the gift. Thanks for all the support.

—Braxton Church, preschool son of Kelcey and Amanda Church, is receiving on-going care for his medical conditions. The family will be traveling regularly to Boston Children’s Hospital for his medical treatment. Your prayers for Braxton and his family would be greatly appreciated! You can offer financial assistance to the family for their travel expenses. A fund for the Church Family has been set up at the Citizen’s State Bank in Goessel. Checks can be written out to the “Church Family Medical Travel Fund” and received at the bank. A paint party fundraiser is being planned on Sat. Feb. 29 at Asbury Park in Newton. See the “The Art of Giving: Paint Party Fundraiser” flier located on bulletin board. For more information, check out the Braxton’s Warrior Club Facebook page at fb.me/BraxtonMChurch or contact Susan Nafziger at 620-367-4623.

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale

April 17 & 18, 2020

www.kansas.mccsale.org

—Coins for last Sunday: $88.37 Fantastic!

—Fellowship meals brought in $1915.00. We served about 80 persons. Many people gave more than the $20 donation. Thanks so much.

—Don’t forget to put your PRE SALE expense checks in the mailbox of a contact person.

—Quilt deadline is March 16. Get your forms on-line.

—5K race forms are on the internet or you can get one from a contact person here at Tabor.

For more information on all of the above, please see our sale contact persons: Jerry and Leann Toews, Archie and Kristin Schmidt and Eric Litwiller.

Conference Announcements

Prayer Requests:

« Western District Conference: Pray for church planters and emerging congregations in WDC, that God would bring growth to the seeds of faithful witness in their communities.

« Mennonite Mission Network: Jae Young Lee and Karen Spicher and their family have served with Mennonite Mission Network in South Korea since 2007. Pray for them as they work for God’s peace through organizations such as Korea Peacebuilding Institute and Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute.

« Mennonite Education Agency: Tonight, the Bethel College and Hesston College choirs team up in a collaborative concert at a local church. Give thanks for strong relationships and partnerships between neighboring sister schools and that students can use their gifts to bless others.

Western District Conference:

—We Own This Now, a Ted and Company play, looks at love of the land, loss of land, and what it means to "own" something. What if the land you love was stolen? This question and many more address how the Doctrine of Discovery justified the theft of land and oppression of Indigenous Peoples and still has harmful implications for today. This show benefits the Kanza Heritage Society. Two performances are available to touch your heart and mind.

–April 19, 7 pm, University United Methodist Church, 2220 N Yale Ave, Wichita – sponsored by Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church of the Servant of Wichita, WDC, and others.

–April 26, 4 pm, Flaming Performing Arts Center, Tabor College, Hillsboro – sponsored by First Mennonite Church and Trinity Mennonite Church and Tabor College, all of Hillsboro, Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, MCC Central States, and WDC.

–Tickets: Adults $20 donation (or pay what you can), Students $10 donation (or pay what you can), Indigenous people attend at no cost. Get tickets electronically at https://protect –us.mimecast.com/s/UFxoCrkBgVt8LJ4Xf7z06J?domain=first-church-of-the-brethren. square.site or scan the attached QR code, or get paper tickets through a sponsoring church or organization. For questions, contact Kathy Neufeld Dunn at 316-283-6300.

Mennonite Central Committee:

—MCC Centennial Celebration, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Join MCC for an evening of centennial celebration and giving, We’ve Come This Far by Faith, at the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts at Tabor College in Hillsboro. Bid on silent auction items and join us for a program celebrating MCC’s past 100 years, present and future! Find out more at mcc.org/events.

—Gain work experience with world experience through MCC’s SALT (Serving and Learning Together) program! SALT is a year-long, cross cultural service experience for Christian young adults. The deadline for registration is fast approaching, take a look at the program descriptions available at abbyendashaw.

—You are invited to join the fun at the 13th annual MCC Comforter Blitz on

March 2, 3 and 4 at Journey Mennonite Church at the Yoder Campus, one mile north of Yoder. Monday and Tuesday, 9am – 5pm, and Wednesday, 9am – 4pm.

This event is hosted by Kansas Friends of MCC, an organization that supports the work of MCC. For more information check out mcc.org/comforter-blitz.

Camp Mennoscah:

—Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats Feb. 28-March 1 and March 6-8. Join in the cropping and crafting!

—Youth Volunteer Weekend is March 13-14! Registration is through our summer youth camp registration which opened the beginning of February. This retreat is for grades 7-graduating seniors.

—Kitchen staff for summer youth camps needed! Parents can receive a full camper discount for a full camp week–but you don’t need to be a parent to volunteer!

—Pre Junior II needs a nurse! July 5-9. We are thrilled with the number of people who volunteer or work for a stipend during the summer. Thank you!

Contact and registration for Camp Mennoscah:

Online at www.campmennoscah.org Telephone: 620-297-3290

Email: office Contact: olivia.bartel.

Hesston College:

Seeing Each Other’s Light, a program of story and song that provides understanding of diverse people, cultures and faith traditions of the Wichita community, will be held at Emanu-El Congregation Reform Synagogue, 7011 E. Central Ave., Wichita, 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. The event is part of Hesston College’s Peacing It Together Foundation and is also sponsored by Wichita’s Global Faith in Action. The program features Hesston College students and internationally-acclaimed baritone Tony Brown, as well as other members of the Wichita community, including the Emanu-El Klezmer band and congregation choir. The concert is free and open to the public.

Hesston College Music and Theatre will present six performances of the musical, Tuck Everlasting, in the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Show times are 7 p.m. March 4 to 7, with extra 2 p.m. showings on March 7 and 8. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students. Seating is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is encouraged at hesston.edu/bookstore or by calling 620-327-8105. Tuck Everlasting is family-friendly and rated G, but due to length is recommended for ages 7 and up.

Dr. James Juhnke will be the speaker for the annual meeting of the Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association on March 8, 2:30 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church. “Mennonite Museum in Uzbekistan” will tell about the history of the Mennonite community that lived for fifty years near the city of Khiva, and how that community is now celebrated in a new museum in Khiva. The Handbell Choir of the Bethel College Mennonite Church will provide music. Election of SMCHA officers for 2020 will be held. Refreshments will be served.

Feb. 23 annc.pdf