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BETHESDA NEWS
“A community caring for all God’s people,
being transformed by Christ's love,
serving others as a witness of God’s grace and peace.”
Bethesda Mennonite Church
www.bethesdamc.org
May 25, 2014 Dr. Sam and Sherri Evans and Flora Mae Manuel will be giving a report
of their work in the Philippines today after the potluck meal at noon in the
Fellowship Hall. A short video will be included in the report. Please help us welcome Thayne and Janene Sparke! Thayne is one of
the sponsors leaving for Ashland Fellowship today and will help with
pastoral duties this summer. Janene will arrive after she finishes with her
teaching schedule. Pastor Andrea Ordination
Pastor Andrea met with the Pastoral Leadership Committee of the Central
Plains Mennonite Conference at the Benedictine Retreat Center in
Schuyler, Nebraska, for the purpose of an interview toward ordination.
Based upon affirmation by Bethesda and an interview and blessing of the
Pastoral Leadership Committee, an ordination service for Pastor Andrea
will be planned for the future. The ordination service for Pastor Andrea
symbolizes God's call for her to ministry, dedication to that call, and our
congregation’s affirmation. This is a wonderful event to celebrate, for
Pastor Andrea and Mike, and for Bethesda! We give our blessings to
Andrea and Mike as she moves forward in her calling to minister. Memorial Day services will be held at the following cemeteries Monday,
May 26, 2014:
Friesen (West) Cemetery @ 9:00 a.m. – Blaine Friesen
Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery @ 10:00 a.m. – John Huebert
Mennonite Cemetery @ 11:00 a.m. – David Quiring
In the event of rain, a joint service will take place in the Bethesda
sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. Please Note: No glass containers or gravel.
Flowers and other arrangements may be left at the cemetery for 10 days
following Memorial Day. Any items left after June 5 will be disposed of. The building housing the Cemetery Directory has now been completed.
~Bethesda Historical Committee
WEEK AT A GLANCE SUNDAY, May 25
Youth and sponsors left for Ashland Fellowship in Montana.
8:30 A.M. Deacons
8:55-9:15 A.M. Prayer Time
9:30 A.M. Worship Service
10:40 A.M. Sunday School/Catechism
12:00 P.M. Potluck/Dr. Sam & Sherri Evans Report
MONDAY, May 26
Memorial Day Services/Offices Closed
TUESDAY, May 27
8:30 A.M. Staff Meeting
8:00 P.M. Church Council
WEDNESDAY, May 28
12:00 P.M. Bulletin Announcements Due
Next Sunday, June 1, 2014
Sermon – Pastor Jim Voth
Offering – Mennonite Church USA
Pianist – Marilyn Janzen
Ashland Fellowship Youth Group Returns
Sunday, June 1, children, preschool through grade 6 will be invited to a
special Children’s Church. Following the children’s focus, preschoolers
and kindergarteners are invited to an activity and lesson time upstairs, and
grades 1 – 6 are invited to view the “Prince of Egypt” in preparation for the
VBS Wilderness Escape happening June 2 – June 6.
~ Sunday School Committee
Sunday morning worship services are being live-streamed and can be
viewed by going to www.bethesdamc.org and clicking on the ‘Media’ tab.
Pastoral office hours are now posted outside the church office. Since
pastor’s schedules include evening meetings, visitation and crisis care
during the day, evening and night time hours, this schedule offers the
congregation times when the pastors will be available at the church.
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs.
Hospitalized:
Gladys Friesen Henderson Hospital, Henderson, Nebraska Dismissed:
Dorothy Balaban Wedding:
Brian and Jerrilyn Janzen announce the approaching marriage of their
daughter, Taylor, to Chase Chrisman of McCool Junction, Nebraska, on
Saturday, May 31, 2014, at Bethesda Mennonite Church. Pastoral Search Prayer Support:
Gather in the northwest adult classroom, across from the Preschool, at 8:55
a.m. as we seek God’s will for a new pastor. We need your prayer support
as we continue our search. ~ Pastoral Search Committee The Prayer Board, located near the church office, is a place to post prayers
that come to the office. If you wish to have a prayer matter posted, please
call the church office, Pastor Jim Voth, or email him at
[email protected]. These may be prayers of praise, thanksgiving or
intercession. If you wish to post a prayer for someone other than yourself,
please request their permission. Thank you! Enole Ditsheko will be visiting the states in mid-June. He is asking for
help from Bethesda in donating gently used musical instruments such as
trumpets, trombones, cymbals, flutes, steel drums, double bass, violins,
mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind, harmonicas, etc. Enole
envisions a marching band for the young people in Gaborone as a way to
fill their time effectively other than loitering on the streets or participating
in destructive behaviors. Instruments may be brought to the church office.
If you have questions, please contact Norm Yoder at 402-723-4950. Prayer in the Park: A prayer group began meeting in the city park at the
shelter on Monday (Easter Monday), April 21, 2014 and will continue
through Pentecost, Sunday June 8, 2014. Everyone is invited to participate
as we anticipate the Holy Spirit and His wonders in Henderson and around
the world. Meeting times are Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m., 12:00
p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.; and Sundays at
5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!! For questions, call Erin Sams or Carrie
Bergen.
Visitor Editor Needed…
Would you be interested in using your writing and editing talents to help
with Bethesda’s monthly newsletter The Visitor? We are currently looking
for an editor who can help gather information, write articles, take photos,
edit, etc. If you would be willing to serve in this way, please contact
Margaret Hiebner or the church office. They can help answer any
questions you might have as you consider this opportunity. Thank you for
your prayerful consideration. Coming Events… The blood drive will be in Henderson on Thursday, May 29, at the Faith
Evangelical Bible Church from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The need for blood
increases with Memorial Day weekend and as the summer approaches.
Donors are strongly encouraged to give at this time to help maintain a stable
blood supply. Appointments are encouraged to avoid a long wait and can
be made through Amy Jansen at 402-723-5756. Be sure to drink plenty of
fluids and remember a photo ID.
~The American Red Cross
Wilderness Escape is coming to Bethesda June 2 –6!!
CD’s are available for $10.00 Join us for Bible School this year to experience... “Wilderness Escape,
Where God Guides & Provides.” In small groups (tribes) kids will travel
through stations and experience what happened after Moses led the
Israelites out of Egypt. You'll learn straight
from a well-known Bible hero - Moses!
You'll discover firsthand what it was like to
live in the Israelite camp. Join one of the 12
tribes of Israel for games, music, crafts, and
manna. Registration fee is $15.00 per child
and needs to be dropped off at the church
office. Registration forms are available outside the church office or online
at www.bethesdamc.org. Click the ‘Ministries’ tab, then the ‘Children’s’
tab. There is only one week until Vacation Bible School! Thank you to all
who have volunteered to be teachers. To complete the decorating of our
Israelite camp sites, we are looking for 8 pop-up tents, (like used at track
meets), lots of solid color sheets (no holes will be put in them), woven rugs,
wooden or terracotta pots and vases, as well as ferns or decorative plants
(no flowers please).We would like to return all items at the end of VBS, so
please help us by putting your name on them. Items without labels will not
be returned and can be dropped off in the bride’s room between now and
May 31. ~Midweek Committee SWAN LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMP SCHEDULE:
Cottontail Day Camp – July 10
Chipmunk Day Camp – July 11
Third Grade Camp – June 9 – 11
Fourth Grade Camp – June 11 – 14
Fifth Grade Camp – June 15 – 20
Sixth Grade Camp – June 22 – 27
Junior High Camp – July 27 – August 1
Senior High Camp – July 13 – 18
Registration forms are located on the east bulletin board along with all
other information. KMMC (once called The 500 Mennonite Men’s Chorus) will present a
concert Sunday, June 8, at 4:30 p.m. at Presser Hall, Bethany College in
Lindsborg, Kansas. Director is Greg Bontrager and pianist is Ken Rogers.
The Menno Brass and the Bethel Church Bell Choir will also be featured.
Freewill offerings are taken with proceeds going to the work of Mennonite
Central Committee. Are you passionate about being formed by the Bible? Come to the Central
Plains Annual Meeting 2014, where Jewel Gingerich Longnecker will
speak on the theme, “Joyfully Following Jesus: Formed by God’s Word.”
Come to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 19 – 22, to learn, fellowship and discern
with your sisters and brothers. The Living Water Rescue Mission is sponsoring the 4th Annual
“Master’s Classic,” a four person scramble on June 20, 2014. A meal will
be served at 11:00 a.m. and golfing begins at 12:00 p.m. at the York
Country Club. For more information, please see the brochure on the east
bulletin board.
Shine Sunday School Curriculum Training!
Vicki Hinz-Ensz will introduce Shine and its unique features on Saturday,
June 28, and Thursday evening, July 10, at Bethesda Mennonite Church.
The presentation is the same on both dates; select the date that suits you
best and mark your calendar. More details to come! What’s coming for summer worship? “Spirit Fruit: Love, Joy, Peace and
Kindness.” We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for Sunday worship July
6 through August 31, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Our usual worship will be blended
with worship-based activities for children and sermon response
opportunities for adults with fellowship following worship. Sunday school
will be cancelled during this time. We will host special all-church potluck
dinners on July 27 and August 31. Worship in the sanctuary and Sunday
school will resume September 6. The summer community worship service
in the park will be held August 3.
MCC school kit bags have been cut. For those of you helping to sew them,
they are located in a box in the room across from the office. Thanks again
for helping us to get them sewn.
~ Adeline and Lindy The Music Committee is working on the summer worship music
schedule. If you would like to share your musical gifts, or know of
someone who would, please contact Rod Drews or Mike Wall. All are
welcome to offer their talents. Music is an important part of worship at
Bethesda; consider sharing your gifts with us!
Rod Drews- 402-723-5201 or [email protected]
Mike Wall- 402-723-4526 or [email protected] 2014 MCC Golf Tourney, Saturday, August 9, 2014! Save the date!
See east bulletin board for more details.
FINANCIALS
Worship Offering Sunday, May 18, 2014
Worship Attendance – 274
Sunday School Attendance – 130 Temporary Holding Accounts Central Plains Mennonite Conference ........................................ $3,467.00
Dayspring – Menno Village – Japan ................................................ 175.00
Grace Children’s Home ..................................................................... 30.00
Reach Int’l – Sam & Sherri Evans ................................................... 450.00
Benevolent Fund ................................................................................ 25.00
Facility Renovation Fund ................................................................. 100.00
Bethesda Preschool Support ............................................................... 10.00
Sunday School Offering ................................................................... 166.04
General Operating Receipts .......................................................... 2,500.00
Total Worship Offering ............................................................ $6,923.04
Ed Peters Memorial
Technology Improvement Fund ............................................. $1,280.00
Grace Children’s Home ................................................................ 25.00
Total ...................................................................................... $1,305.00
Bethesda Preschool has a Facebook Page! Be sure to "like" us for
preschool updates and happenings at
https://www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers.
Preschool Graduation: On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, Bethesda
Preschool graduated 12 children from the Pre-K program. The children
performed a short program for parents and family members then walked
across the stage to accept a certificate. It was a fun evening of fellowship
with families that I will miss so much. I pray the Pre-K children have joy
and peace as they move into their next role as kindergarteners. I will miss
them greatly.
Pictured from left to right: Mrs. Kori, Madalyn Janzen, Nevada Gloystein,
Brayden Holbein, Emma Ott, Pieper Epp, Meggan Friesen, Hayden
Powers, Maddox Regier, Kaleb Siebert, Miles Kliewer, Zaine
Swartzendruber, and VaNessa Vap.
Peace Garden: Bethesda Preschool recently added new materials to the Peace Garden to
create an outdoor classroom environment for the children. New materials
were acquired from generous donations from church members and families
at the preschool. The children were able to utilize the materials on our last
day of school. They had an absolute blast! Thank you to everyone who
donated materials, money, items, and time to complete this project.
If you like gardening and would be able to help, the Bethesda Preschool
needs volunteers to help take care of the peace garden over the summer.
This includes weeding, making sure the area is tidy, and watering the plants
and flowers. We have placed a calendar on the preschool bulletin board for
you to pick a date that works best for your schedule. We are asking that you
sign up for a week at a time but appreciate any days you can give us. Please
leave your name and phone number or email address so Mrs. Kori can send
you a reminder message at the start of your week/days. Thank you!
Playground Update:
The playground is almost at completion. The Preschool Committee is
currently working on a shade structure that will stand over the top of the
play structure. We are also working on completing a patio area and possibly
adding some play items to finish out the area. We will post pictures of the
project when completed.
The preschool has officially completed our last day of class for the 2013-
2014 school year! I had a wonderful time getting to know all the children
and families at the preschool and look forward to the new school year.
There are currently still spots available for the 2014-2015 school year so if
you have a child that is at least 3 years of age (and potty trained), please
consider sending them to Bethesda Preschool. You can contact Kori Lewis
for more information at [email protected] or at 402-723-
4603.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for supporting me through my
first year at the preschool! I am so blessed to have such a great church
family beside me through this journey. You have such generous hearts and
they shine so brightly. I look forward to continuing God’s work through the
preschool for many years to come. Thanks again!
~Kori Lewis, Bethesda Preschool Teacher & Director
Bethesda
Women’s Ministries 2014 Next up for BWM: June 10 (second Tuesday due to Bible School) at 7:00 p.m. Bible Study: "Sustaining Hope: Naomi, Orpha, & Ruth" Feature Speaker: Sue Sullivan The June Birthday Celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cornerstone Coffee House. Wendy Janzen will serve as hostess for the evening. Please sign up on the east bulletin board.
YOUTH
Prayer for Ashland Service Trip Please keep the following youth and sponsors in your prayers as they travel
today to Ashland, Montana to spend the week with our sister church,
Ashland Christian Fellowship on the northern Cheyenne Indian
Reservation. The youth will be helping with work projects at the Ashland
Church and the Everything is Beautiful thrift store in Lame Deer,
Montana. They will be spending time at all three of the Mennonite
churches on the reservation, building relationships with the pastors, the
youth and other congregation members. The youth will return this
Saturday, May 31, in the evening. They will tentatively be sharing about
their trip on Sunday, June 29, during worship.
Youth: Brandon Boardman
Megan Boardman
Allison Braun
Leslie Braun
Matthew Buller
Camryn Dick
Sidney Dick
Solomon Doxtator-Morenberg
Leah Friesen
Trevor Friesen
Parker Goertzen
Katelyn Janzen
Lisa Koslowski
Katelyn Siebert
Coby Steingard
Ellie Steingard
Addie Swartzendruber
Brooke Weisheit
Adults: Phil Goertzen
Wendy Janzen
Jay Dee Janzen
Thayne Sparke
Larry Swartzendruber
Rozella Swartzendruber
Barb Voth
SERMON NOTES
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