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 November 13, 2016

Deacon Affirmation Vote October 23, 2016, the congregation nominated Bethesda members to fill the terms of John Huebert and Arlin Hiebner on the Board of Deacons whose terms will expire in February, 2017. The following individuals have consented to continue in the Deacon selection process: Gary Buller and Kathryn Goertzen. Daphne Hall, after much prayer, discernment and extensive conversation, requested to have her name withdrawn. According to the Bethesda Constitution and By-Laws, if there are not enough names to fill the final ballot (four names in the event of two vacancies), then the top vote recipients will be contacted, in order of votes received, and asked if they would reconsider putting their names on the ballot. If this process does not result in a full ballot, then a two-thirds affirmation vote will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2016, with the names of the nominees who agreed to be on the nomination list.

Backpack Program… Eleven families are currently participating in this year’s Backpack Program. Bethesda will be responsible for three backpacks each week. A sign-up sheet is located on the east bulletin board. Backpacks are available to pick up at the school on Wednesdays and should be returned

by Friday (please note any short weeks on the schedule when backpacks should be returned before Friday). When filling backpacks please remember to wipe down the inside of the backpack with a Clorox wipe and insert one set of Henderson Foodmart vouchers per bag. Vouchers are located on the east bulletin board near the sign-up sheet. Donated items can be left at the table in front of the church office or purchased and donated directly at Henderson Foodmart (leave in the blue box at the store). Keep your eyes open for suggested items marked with a purple backpack tag at Foodmart (see logo above).

WEEK AT A GLANCE

SUNDAY, November 13 8:45 a.m. Deacons Prayer Time 9:30 a.m. Worship and Parent/Child Dedication

10:40 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Catechism Class (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

MONDAY, November 14

TUESDAY, November 15 8:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 8:00 p.m. Board of Business Administration 8:00 p.m. Board of Education 8:00 p.m. Board of Service and Outreach

WEDNESDAY, November 16 9:30 a.m. Women’s Bible Study

12:00 p.m. Bulletin Announcements Due 7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Mission:Possible Midweek 7:00 p.m. CORNERSTONE 7:00 p.m. Powerhouse 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, November 17 7:00 p.m. BWM Birthday Party at Adeline Huebert’s Home

Next SUNDAY, November 20 9:30 a.m. Worship Pastor – Jim Voth

Offering – Central Plains Mennonite Conference Special Music – Chancel Choir

Music – Laura Steingard 7:30 p.m. High School Bible Study at Jeff and Tami Peters’ Home

CHURCH FAMILY Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs.

Prayer Requests: Marie Epp Please continue to keep Bryce and Anna Wall’s twins in your prayers. Hudson was able to go home. Sawyer continues to be at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado. His surgery for tracheal stenosis was postponed until he gains additional weight. Please keep our catechism students in prayer as they develop their faith in God through Jesus Christ in preparation for baptism and membership into the church. Thank You: Thank you for all who participated in the 10th annual school kit night. Thank you for supporting our youth as they fundraise to travel to the MC USA Convention in Orlando in the summer of 2017.

Wedding: Donald and Teresa Wall announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Amanda Louise Wall, to Jacob James Clouse, son of Thomas and Sharon Clouse of Friend, on November 19, 2016 at Bethesda. May the Lord bless this marriage. Births: A son, Bowen Elliot, was born November 2 to Lance and Kirsten Peters. Siblings, Carter and Bryn, welcomed him home. Grandparents include Burdon and Carolyn Peters and Al and Connie Hansen. Great-grandmother is Blanche Franz. Blessings to the family. A daughter, Annistyn Jo, was born November 5 to Rory and Cortney van den Berg. Grandparents are Brian and Jerrilyn Janzen and Marinus and Marcee van den Berg. Great-grandparents are Inez Hiebner and Arvid and Darlene Janzen. Blessings to the family.

Death: Clara (Janzen) Ratzlaff, age 93, of Henderson, Nebraska passed away on Friday, November 4, 2016, at the Henderson Care Center. Services were held November 9 at Bethesda. Those surviving are daughter Cheryl Quiring of Colorado Springs, Colorado; son Calvin (Suzanne) Ratzlaff of Henderson; grandchildren Corey Quiring, Bradley (Susan) Mikaelian, Kristen (Evan) Friesen and Emily Ratzlaff; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Jean Janzen and Elva Janzen; and many nieces and nephews. Please keep the family in prayer during these days of remembering and grieving.

Angel Tree It’s time again to start thinking about making a difference in the lives of inmate’s children. In the coming weeks the Angel Tree will be set up in the Fellowship Hall with suggestions for children’s needs. Please call Connie Bechtel at 402-723-5250 or 402-366-9973 if you have questions.

Living Water Rescue Mission: The Living Water Rescue Mission in York will be having their annual celebration banquet tomorrow, November 14, at the Holthus Convention Center in York. Come hear the amazing testimonies of lives changed by our Lord Jesus. Enjoy a great meal, and be entertained by this year’s special musicians. Please call the Mission at 402-362-0127 to make your reservation. Seating begins at 6:00 p.m. with the meal being served at 6:30 p.m. The Mission is also preparing to give out Thanksgiving baskets to those in need. As you are shopping, please consider a Thanksgiving basket for another family, either by purchasing items or donating funds to the Mission so they can purchase the items. Items requested for the baskets are listed on the back of the letter from the Mission posted on the bulletin board in the east hallway. Copies of the shopping list are also available on the bulletin board. Please drop your donations off at the Mission.

Central Plains Bible Study Webinar: The third and final Central Plains Bible Study Webinar with Meghan Good is coming up! Join us at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 21. Meghan will address matters of biblical authority and inspiration in Living and Active: Where the Bible Came From and Why It Matters. RSVP on the Bible

Study Webinars page at www.centralplainsmc.org by Thursday, November 17. You can watch videos of the first two webinars on the same page.

Bethesda Men’s Bible Study will resume Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 7:00 a.m. at Perks.

Greenery/Wut-A-Nut Pick-Up: The pick-up date for the greenery and Wut-A-Nut orders is Sunday, November 27, following the worship service. If you have questions, please call Lavonne Braun (402-723-4979) or Tammy (Justin) Ott (402-723-5905). Midweek Service Project: The fall Midweek service project will take place Wednesday, November 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Henderson Care Center. During this time the children will hand out gripper socks (made by the children at Midweek) and do a short activity with the residents. Each family, preschool through sixth grade, will need to fill out a permission form prior to November 30. The permission forms are on the table outside the church office. Parents will need to drop off and pick up their children at the Henderson Care Center for this service project. Mennonite Central Committee Mobile Canner: Every year MCC’s Mobile Meat Canner travels across the United States and Canada meeting volunteers who prepare cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to be sent around the world. The canner will be at Bethesda November 30 through December 2. Donations to cover the costs associated with the canner can be made at any time. Faith and Life Bookstore from Newton, Kansas will be at Bethesda November 29 - December 1. The bookstore will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 29; 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on November 30; and 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on December 1. Preorders are a great way to make sure you get the items you want. You can e-mail your order to info@faithandlifebookstore.com. Orders should be submitted by November 20, 2016. Infant Care Kits: Help mothers give their infants a good start. Infant care kits are given to families displaced by war or disaster and are used in a variety of other settings to help support mothers who lack the supplies they need for a new baby. The

infant care kits will be received and dedicated during worship services on Christmas morning, December 25. Items may be brought and placed in the basket outside the church office.

YOUTH For junior high and high school calendars visit the Bethesda Faith Formation page at www.bmcfaithformation.com. Catechism class will meet today from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will also have class on November 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The December 2016 schedule and the schedule for 2017 are being updated and more information will be coming. POWERHOUSE (high school) will meet on Wednesday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. in small groups. CORNERSTONE (junior high) will meet for a time of worship on Wednesday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Powerhouse room. Mennonite Church USA Convention 2017 is coming up July 4-8, 2017 in Orlando, Florida with the theme “Love Is a Verb.” One way you can show love is to consider donating to the convention scholarship fund or partnering with a congregation that can’t afford to send people on its own. Learn more at http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration/ or find the convention on Facebook or Twitter.

“The Mission of Bethesda Preschool

is to provide a Christian preschool education for young children within an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and guidance.”

Bethesda Preschool has a Facebook Page!

Be sure to “like” us for preschool updates and happenings at

https://www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers.

First Tuesday Meeting

December 6, 2016 @ 7:00 p.m.

“Creativity Continues”

Bethesda Women’s Ministries: All women at Bethesda, who have a birthday in November, are invited to celebrate at the home of Adeline Huebert on Thursday, November 17, at 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP by November 15 on the bulletin board in the east hallway or by calling Adeline at 402-723-4418.

Save the Date…The December Bethesda Women’s Ministries birthday party will be held Sunday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. Please mark this date and time on your calendar. More information will be coming.

The Bethesda Women’s Ministries first Tuesday meeting, “Creativity Continues,” will be held December 6 at 7:00 p.m in Fellowship Hall. Barb Voth will present the lesson and the feature will be time lapse drawing on the birth of Christ by Carrie Bergen. Refreshments will be served following the program.

Sanctuary Unavailable July through October 2017 PLEASE NOTE: The sanctuary will be unavailable from July 1, 2017 through October 31, 2017 due to Board of Business projects. They will be painting the ceiling beams, rearranging pews to allow more space between benches, and replacing lights and carpet. Please keep

this in mind as you plan weddings and other events.

FINANCIALS Worship Offering Sunday, November 6, 2016 Attendance - 342 Sunday School Attendance – 146 Mennonite Church – USA ................................................................... 2,602.00

Mennonite Central Committee – Infant Care Kits ................................. 100.00 Dayspring – Menno Village - Japan ....................................................... 100.00

Reach International – Sam and Sherri ................................................... 100.00 MCC Canner ........................................................................................... 570.00

Benevolent Fund ..................................................................................... 20.00

Technology Improvement Fund/Sound ................................................... 40.00 MCC School Kits ....................................................................................... 25.00

Bethesda General Operating Receipts ............................................... 6,185.00 Worship Offering ....................................................................... $9,742.00

Sunday School Offering .................................................................. 369.00

Sunday School Projects ................................................................1,481.00 Total Sunday Offering .............................................................. $11,592.00 Don Peters Memorials ............................................................... $5,705.00

Chancel Choir $ 5,630 Radio 50

Grace Children’s Home 25

Thanksgiving Day Offering Reminder: Any undesignated offering will be divided as follows: 40% Mennonite Church USA (*see further information below) 30% Central Plains Mennonite Conference 30% MCC Meat Canner Project at Bethesda *MC-USA offerings are divided as follows: -Bethesda keeps funds as needed to support Bethesda members in Voluntary Service and Bethesda members working as staff and counselors at Mennonite summer camps. -Bethesda keeps funds to cover subscription costs for The Mennonite which is sent directly to members. -The balance is then sent to MC USA and is divided by them, according to their budget, as follows: 66% Mennonite Mission Network 15% MC USA Administrative Agency Costs 14% Mennonite Education Agency 3% Menno Media 2% Racial/Ethnic Constituency Groups

Shared Ministry Team Model: As Bethesda has moved to a Shared Ministry Team Model, the Board of Deacons with the help of the pastors, have written job descriptions. The Shared Ministry Team titles are: Pastor Andrea Wall, Pastor of Faith Formation, Pastor Seth Miller, Pastor of Preaching and Congregational/Community Life, and Pastor Jim Voth, Pastor of Worship and Pastoral Care. All Pastors are responsible to the congregation of Bethesda Mennonite Church through the Board of Deacons. Job descriptions are available for viewing in the church office. We will continue to develop our Shared Ministry Team Model at Bethesda. Pastor Jim, Pastor Andrea and Pastor Seth participated in a training retreat with Lee Schmucker of Schmucker Training and Consulting, on November 1 and 2 at the York College Campus. Lee provides Values-Based Ministry Team resourcing and is also presenting the training in Laurelville, Pennsylvania, for MC USA Pastors. Board of Deacons Pastoral Reviews: Reflecting on Pastor Andrea’s ministry at Bethesda over the past year, she has felt especially effective, engaged and energized in the Catechism class and in pre-marital counseling. She values the relationships with the congregation and in shaping the Christ-centered faith of our youth. Over the next several years, Pastor Andrea's goals are to focus on:

• The congregation reading the Bible together • Building our Shared Ministry Team Model • High school/junior high youth and families • Young adults in coordination with the other Pastors

Reflecting on Pastor Jim’s ministry at Bethesda over the past year he shared the importance of growth in spending more time in reading and Bible study. He is energized by preaching and congregational biblical study. Pastor Jim is gifted with an authentic care for people and enjoys conversation and learning more about their life, their interests, and their families. Devotions at the Care Center and Rosewood Court are enjoyable times of interaction.

Pastor Seth's review will be held just before the anniversary date of his employment at Bethesda.

The Board of Deacons affirm the ministry of our pastors at Bethesda, and shared with them that Bethesda members have expressed their appreciation for Pastor Jim, Pastor Andrea and Pastor Seth. Their authentic care and grace, sermons, counseling, hospital visits, and bereavement care at memorial services are appreciated.

SERMON NOTES

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