A Catechism Class will take place January-May 2016 for those discerning the possibility of being baptized. Pastors Katherine and Phil will be facilitating this class. Our first session will be this evening, January 17 at church from 6-8pm. Supper will be provided. Please bring your calendars, as we will schedule dates for upcoming sessions. If you are interested in joining this class, please contact Pastor Katherine or Pastor Phil.
A Membership Meal will take place on May 1st in conjunction with the last session of catechism. Please contact Pastor Phil if you are interested in joining Tabor as a member. Baptisms and welcoming new members will take place on Pentecost Sunday (May 15, 2016).
Stories & Stuff: Join us on Thursday, January 21, at 10 a.m. We’re excited to include a time for children too! Adults will meet in the South rooms, and children will have story time in the nursery with Pastor Phil and Kim Funk.
Adults, please bring something that tells a story about you. It can be from your past, present or even something in your future. It can be a picture, a hobby, a painting, a quilt, a project, or anything that gives us a little insight into who your are? It doesn’t have to be a big production, just a few minutes is fine. Let’s see what we can learn from each other. We’re looking forward to a great time! Join us!
Ministry Reporting Sunday will take place during the worship service next Sunday, January 24. Communion will be part of this service. There will be a Vote of Affirmation for Pastor Rosie immediately following. Plan to stay for the potluck fundraiser meal served by the Tabor Mennonite Youth Fellowship. A dessert auction to benefit the youth will follow, so come prepared to bid on your favorite dessert!
January 31 is Tabor Mission Sunday: The Outreach Committee welcomes Wes and Deb Bergen, our Mennonite Mission Network partners, who will be sharing their experiences in Ghana during the Worship Service and Faith Formation time. Following FF, we invite everyone to stay for a potluck noon
meal. A basket will be set out to collect donations for our commitment to our new mission partners, Dan and Kathryn Smith Derksen and family, who will soon begin their service opportunity in Capetown, South Africa. Read more about this partnership which was emailed to you or placed in your mailbox. The information is also posted on the church bulletin board.
College Care Packages: The High School Youth will be assembling care packages for Tabor’s college students on February 3. If you would like to include some goodies for these, please speak with Pastor Katherine. Thanks for your support of our congregation’s young adults!
Potlucks! In addition to the Mission Potluck on January 31st, plan to bring a favorite dish for a Fellowship Potluck after church on Sunday, February 21.
Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series: Nationally known Christian speaker and Author Shane Claiborne will be featured at the Hesston College Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship (AVDS) conference February 19-21. Not Just On Sunday will explore what it’s like to live a vibrant 24/7 faith by discovering spiritual practices that bring transformation. Registrations are due February 12. Please sign up on the bulletin board if you would like to go. Christian Education Commission and Worship Fellowship Commission are each contributing to the cost of this conference, so the total for you will be only $25! Information is posted and brochures can be found on the table in the foyer.
2016 WELLNESS AND FITNESS CHALLENGES!
I would like to introduce two new programs to help keep you motivated for healthy lifestyles in the new year!
MONTHLY WELLNESS CHALLENGES
These will be offered monthly utilizing a variety of different health and wellness related challenge topics. Current challenges will be posted on the display in the foyer with the necessary form and instructions. Some of these will be partner based, completion of the challenge is not mandatory, and they should all be a lot of fun. Challenges will be turned into the new “Wellness” mailbox by the end of each month with prizes being awarded to randomly selected participants. Additional prizes will be awarded for multiple challenge participation at the end of the year.
TO PARTICIPATE: Check the wellness display for monthly challenges, attempt the challenge, return form (complete or incomplete) to the “Wellness” mailbox (located lower right, east facing boxes).
2016 FITNESS CHALLENGE
We will be embarking on another year long fitness specific challenge to accumulate total activity for the year! This year all tracking will be done using the website/app MAPMYFITNESS (www.mapmyfitness.com). I have set up a private group just for Tabor member participants to offer accountability and encouragement for each other. Although we will continue to hold the Wednesday evening Faithful Fitness class ANYONE can participate in this challenge by simply logging their daily activity at any time. Nearly any continuous form of activity will qualify from the literally hundreds of options to choose from on the website (walking, vacuuming, cycling, mowing, etc) as long as you perform at least 15min of continuous activity IT COUNTS!
TO PARTICIPATE: Create an account at kevinnickel).
I look forward to building healthier lifestyles in the new year! -Kevin Nickel
Community Announcements
Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum Annual Meeting: Rachel Pannabecker will be our special speaker at the annual meeting of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum, January 17, at Goessel Mennonite Church. The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a short business meeting. Rachel, the Collections & Special Projects Manager at Kaufman Museum, will speak on “Three Vital Secrets of Small Museums” following the meeting. Faspa will be served after Rachel’s presentation. Museum memberships will be available upon your arrival.
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray for God’s wisdom and energy for interim pastors who serve WDC congregations in the midst of transition.
« Mennonite Mission Network: Janet Stucky of MMN and her colleague, Rigobert Sossa, are working with a nutrition program in Benin. Pray for safety in their travels to train 400 community leaders in 100 villages about food health and hygiene.
Camp Mennoscah:
Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats: We’re starting another camping season with our great and wonderful Scrapbooking Retreats–now Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats is designed to include all you nifty crafters. Retreats are March 4-6 and 11-13. Sign up online or find a registration form (under Retreats) at campmennoscah.org! Grab a friend for double the fun and a Bring a Friend discount!
For all you Youth folks! We’re having a Youth Volunteer Weekend at Camp Mennoscah on March 11-12 for those in grades 7-12. Patrick and Rachel will lead the group in worship, music, and all those fun projects that help keep Camp looking snazzy. Register online at campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 for more information. Grab your friends and join us for a hootin’ good time!
Looking for all you super staffers! Camp Mennoscah will be recruiting for summer staff at at Hesston, Tabor, and Bethel Colleges on Feb. 8, 9, and 10 respectively. There will be a pizza meal/gathering on Feb. 10 at 6:15pm at Papa John’s in Newton for those interested in being on summer staff and all former summer staff. Questions? Contact us at 620-297-3290
or olivia.bartel! We think summer staffers are a hoot!
WDC Women in Mission will sponsor a Sister Care Weekend at Bethel College Mennonite Church on January 29 and 30. Friday evening (7-9 pm) and Saturday (9 am-4:30 pm) What is Sister Care? Sister Care provides women with tools for ongoing personal healing and for responding more effectively and confidently to the needs of others. The seminar has four units: I Am God’s Beloved Daughter, Caring for Self and Others, Compassionate Listening, and Transforming Loss and Grief. Register now!
Life Stories Workshops: Your life story is an unrepeated journey that only YOU can tell! First Mennonite Church in Newton is sponsoring two life stories workshops this year called “Story Matters” led by Laurie Oswald Robinson which will provide tools to help people write their own stories or the stories of a loved one. The workshops will be held February 19-20 (6:30 – 9 pm Friday and 8:30 – 3:30 Saturday) and April 1-2. Choose the one that best fits your schedule. The cost is $60 per person which includes workshop materials, snacks and lunch. The workshops are partially funded by a Loaves & Fishes Grant from Western District Conference. To register, send an e-mail to Wendy Funk Schrag at pwschrag. Registration is due February 1 for the February workshop.
Serve Mennonite Central Committee and your local community by volunteering at Newton Et Cetera Shop! Currently needed: volunteer clerks (especially 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday); volunteers to check electronics, tag clothing, shoes, housewares, other. Times are flexible. For more information call 316-283-9461.
Informative webinar: Everence Financial will present an informative webinar, Understanding long-term care insurance, on Monday, Jan. 25, at 12 noon and 7 p.m. (CDT). Financial Advisor Scott Luty will discuss how you can cover the high cost of long-term care – without wiping out your life savings. He’ll also talk about ensuring quality of care and maintaining your independence. You’ll get the information you need to make informed decisions. There will be time for your questions. To participate, contact Sandy Popp at (620) 662-7900, (877) 893-8647 or sandy.popp. Or visit everence.com/kansas.