In This Issue…

Announcements…...pg 2-3

Prayer Requests………pg 3

Looking Back…...…….pg 4

Calendar…………..…..pg 5

News and Views First Mennonite Church, McPherson

February 2017

Pastoral Ponderings:

Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. If you

are planning to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost, to see if you have

enough to finish the job. If you don’t, you will be unable to finish the tower after laying the foundation,

and all who see what happened will make fun of you.”

Also Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying your heavy loads, and I will give

you rest.”

How do these two teachings go together? Exploring this connection during the interim guides our

way forward in preparing for the next chapter and the next pastor. More on that in just a bit. First,

let’s review, one more time, what we have done and are doing with this interim time. If what follows

here sounds familiar – great! Then I have communicated well and you have been paying attention. If

it sounds new, well then, I will take responsibility for failing to communicate.

We began the interim with history - telling our story. While creating an FMC timeline we talked

together, shared memories, and wove together the FMC story. It’s good to be aware that we didn’t

experience, or remember, everything the same way. Interesting to note that there have been so

many pastors. And note that even having good pastors did not reverse the attendance decline since

1990.

Then we moved on to four healthy practices for healthy congregations. The first was meaningful

worship.

Worship is the most important thing we do. All ministries and their vitality flow from the primacy and

vitality of our worship life. Meaningful worship recognizes that God is the audience, we are the

performers on stage. The evaluative question: Was God worshiped by what we did? What elements

and qualities make FMC worship services meaningful?

Second – gifts discernment. God gives shape to our ministries and priorities through the gifting God

has placed in this congregation, so it is good to know our gifting, and also what our gifting is not.

Remember to start with people, not with the structure and slots to fill. Ministry through our gifting gives

energy and life.

Outreaching hospitality is the third and current study. Outreaching hospitality makes time and builds

relationships to people beyond ourselves. Hospitality is sensitive to others and seeks to make a place

of comfort and belonging for them with us. That means we start where they are at, not where we are

at and then wondering why they don’t come to our church. Hospitality is evangelism in the form of

love and relationship. What might outreaching hospitality look like at First Mennonite?

In February during the Sunday school hours we come to the fourth healthy practice - leadership with

vision. And that brings us back to these teachings of Jesus.

The first statement is clear. Jesus didn’t just come to earth so we could go to heaven. Jesus also

came to give us an assignment – a mission and a vision – and it seems he expects us to take this

seriously and to do it. But first count the cost and assess yourself. First Mennonite Church is looking for

a pastor. Why? To help lead us in doing our assignment for the next chapter. So it is important we

have clarity on just what that vision is. What should be our priorities and goals for the next 3-5 years? If

we don’t know this, how can we competently search and interview for the next pastor? And how

can we count the cost?

News & Views Schedule: Items for the March newsletter must be given to Laura by Feb 7

At the same time, Jesus does not want his church to become weary, discouraged, worn-out and

burned-out. That’s the second statement. Our vision and priorities for the next chapter need to fit

who we are. Not taxing and wearisome work, but a natural expression of who we are (think gifting).

Life-giving and energy-giving good news to others and ourselves. Both of his teachings go together.

Leadership with vision means clearly and concisely stating the priorities for the next 3-5 years,

empowering trusted leaders in the congregation to lead us, and seeking the leading of a pastor who

shares in being and becoming that too. And that is the conversation we want to have during the

month of February. I hope you will be part of this conversation.

Randy

AnnouncementsAnnouncementsAnnouncementsAnnouncements

Prayer Time: Each Sunday at 9:10am, a group meets in the overflow room to pray

for the congregation as we go through this transition. Please join us!

Fellowship Meal: Join us each month for food & fellowship on the first Wednesday,

5:00 p.m. Donations received for General Fund. This month’s meal is Feb 1. The next

one will be March 1.

Annual Congregational Meeting: Feb 5, 1pm. We will have a noon meal, then

move into the annual meeting when most of us are done eating.

Meal and Study: Wednesdays beginning Feb 8, and going thru March 15, Randy

will be leading a study of 1 Corinthians. There will be a meal at 5pm and move

into the study approximately 6:15pm. Plan to attend!

Bell Choir will meet following the study, at 7:30pm, to allow choir members to also

attend the study.

FMC Women’s meeting: “Conversation Peace” meets the 2nd Mon each month.

Next meeting is Feb 13, 6:30pm. Plan to join us!

MCC News:

� MCC's Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program is seeking volunteer groups and

summer staff. Summer will be here before we know it, so make your summer plans now to join

SWAP in Kentucky. Don't miss out on your chance to serve with this home repair ministry while

learning about life in Appalachia. Groups or individuals can volunteer to serve as week-long

volunteers. SWAP is also looking for summer staff to serve as job site coordinators and meals

coordinators/cooks for three month assignments. Summer staff are a critical component of

SWAP's successful ministry, as they help facilitate the weekly SWAP service groups working on

housing repair for low-income persons. Summer staff vary in age from 19 to 70+, and they

receive meals, lodging and a weekly stipend for their service. For more information about

bringing a group to SWAP or serving as summer staff, visit swap.mcc.org or contact Angela

Maggard at AppalachiaAdmin@mcc.org or 606-633-5065.

� Come to the MCC Make It Day! Feb 10, 9 AM - Noon, MCC Material Resource Center, North

Newton. Come and learn how to sew an infant gown for the infant care kits at MCC. These

simple, sweet gowns provide warmth and comfort to infants around the world, and we would

love to find more people to sew them! Join in the fun and make a gown or two, yourself.

Materials and instructions will be provided. MCC has a few sewing machines, but you are

encouraged to bring your own if possible. Please contact Kate Mast if you are planning to

attend or have any questions: katemast@mcc.org, 316-283-2720.

Prayer Requests • Pray for the vision of the church; that we will look to God for how to be

mission oriented in our ministries.

• Pray for friends & neighbors to know the love of Jesus.

• Pray for our shut-ins and those struggling with chronic illness, grief or

loneliness to experience God’s love.

• Thank God for continued blessing of the ReUse it Center, so this ministry is

able to bless others.

• Pray for our congregation in our time of transition.

Looking Back…

2017 MCC Quilt: Finished Jan 2017. The ladies are now starting on next

year’s quilt, consisting of 20 blocks from Donna Zerger’s sister in KY.

They were part of a state-wide contest she entered.

2017 Quilt

2018 Quilt