Table of Contents
Will you pray with and for Mennonite Church USA this weekend as nearly 500 delegates gather in Kansas City? Your delegates are Pauline Buller and myself, and Micah Wenger as our youth delegate. Others attending from our church are Delon Martens and Magdalena Wenger, both representing Western District Conference. We have been learning, discussing and praying since this event was announced last fall. If I’m honest, I’d have to add ‘worrying’ to that list for myself, at least. I’m well aware of the weight of the questions and resolutions coming before delegates and anticipate ample opportunities to work toward listening deeply and communicating well across sometimes vast differences. One of my prayers is that all of us attending will come anticipating an encounter with the Holy Spirit as we engage with each other around issues that matter to all of us.
A prayer guide has been prepared to help support prayers across the church throughout the weekend (beginning the evening of May 27 and ending before noon on Monday May 31) : https://www.mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Delegate-Assembly-Prayer-Guide.pdf
The purpose of the prayer guide, written by Leo Hartshorn, is described like this: Just as Paul prayed for the churches of his time, let us also pray. The purpose of this daily prayer guide is help us pray with and for our delegates and church leaders participating in the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly during the four sessions of the assembly. Spiritual discernment of the church should be undergirded with sincere prayer for guidance regarding the various important decisions to be made. This prayer guide offers a resource for combining and focusing our prayers for guidance.
In addition, we are invited to a dedicated day of prayer and fasting this Friday, May 27. Below is just a portion of what is offered in the Prayer Guide to guide prayers on Friday May 27:
Christ is our peace. Christ has broken down all the walls that divide us. In baptism, we have become one in Christ, literally the body of Christ’s presence to the world. As the delegates gather for worship, discernment and decision-making, may we join them in prayer and may we be united as one church in Christ.
Meditative Prayer: This is a prayer that can serve as a Christian mantra (a repetitive, focusing, meditative phrase) prayed throughout the day: Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3.
Common Prayer: Uniting God, make us one in heart, prayer, love and discernment of your will for the church during this assembly. We come together through prayer with our own individual minds, thoughts, experiences and perspectives and pray that we can celebrate the diversity within your church. Above our individuality, we recognize our common faith, hope and love for you and your church. Grant our delegates the strength to maintain these bonds of unity in the heat of disagreements and the passion of personal perspectives. Our hope is the discernment of your will for the church above our personal desires and to seek in every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace through Jesus Christ. We pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, one God above all, in all and through all. Amen.
Pastor Tonya
SUNDAY MORNING Worship In Person & Live Stream @ 9:30am
The link for Sunday morning worship (as well as archives of past worship services) is found on our website: www.hutchfmc.org! Join at 9:25am to see the announcements!
FELLOWSHIP TIME is back with coffee/tea/juice between Worship and Sunday School!!
A signup sheet is posted for you to sign up to host this social time.
SUNDAY, MAY 29: Terms of Resurrection: Paul in Athens
Acts 17:16-31
- Lectio Leader: Star Gipson
- Worship Leader: Jim Unruh
- Scripture Reader: Jean Gaeddert
- Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
- Pianist: Peggy Stucky
- Ushers: Susan Combs & Joretta Martens
- Nursery attendant: Lona Willems
- Sound Tech: Earl Ediger & Allen Yoder
- Live Stream Tech: Jay Gehring
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
During each worship service, you are invited to text your prayer joys and concerns – usually to Pastor Tonya. You are also welcome to send prayer joys & concerns during the week. The recording of our worship service is public, so let us know if you’d prefer your request to only be shared via email during the week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcements are scrolled Sunday mornings before (beginning around 9:25) and after the worship service. There will be no spoken announcements unless there are pressing announcements that did not make it into the PowerPoint. Please send any announcements you’d like to have included by Thursday each week.
CALENDAR – LOOKING AHEAD
- May 24 – Faith Formation Coordination Team – 4:00pm
- May 25 – Meal @ 5:45, conversation @ 6:30 on MC USA “Repentance and Transformation Resolution”
- May 28 – FMC serves at Soup Kitchen
- May 29 – No Sunday School – stay for an extended Fellowship Time with snacks!
- June 5 – Outdoor Worship @ 9:30am at FMC (weather permitting) – also livestreamed
- June 5 – Mennonite Friendship Communities Community Worship Service – 6:30pm (outdoors)
FMC CENTENNIAL . . . LightHouse Giving Opportunity
The good news that we have to share with you is that we have reached our LightHouse fundraising goal of $22,000! To date, the total raised is $24,200. (As of 5/3/22 the total is $26,350). The Centennial Committee really believes that this speaks to the tremendous generosity of you all and we would like to thank you for your gifts. The $22,000 will be used for construction costs and furnishings for the apartments. But we are not finished! More dollars are needed for ongoing maintenance needs, so your donations are still very much appreciated from now until October and beyond.
Here is a brief construction update that we received from Interfaith Housing Services in mid-April. Exterior siding has been installed, a concrete parking lot has been poured and the ramp addition for the ADA apartment has been completed on the south side. Currently, plumbers are installing pipes and fire blocking and floor underlayment are being installed. In the coming weeks, the sprinkler system, the electrical rough-in and the HVAC system will be installed. After that comes the drywall installation, along with taping, mudding and texturing. In the final stages, they will be looking for volunteers for painting, trim work, cabinet installation, floor work, etc. Hopefully we can help with some of that work at some point in the future. Interfaith’s goal is to have the building finished by sometime this fall or winter.
As for the furnishings, Interfaith is looking to secure special pricing to purchase new items so that the apartments can be more or less identical with each other. These furnishings will include beds, side tables, dressers, sofas, tables, chairs, microwaves, stoves and refrigerators. There will be two shared laundry rooms for the eight apartments. Welcome baskets for the residents will include a variety of kitchen utensils, towels, sheets, bathroom and laundry cleaning supplies.
The LightHouse tenant leases, the residents’ handbook and case management procedures are all in the process of being drafted.
LightHouse aims to provide young people with safe, stable, temporary housing, with supportive connections and with access to resources for long-term success. Thank you again for your support in empowering young people in our community!
REMINDER: If you are last one out of the church building, be SURE the doors lock behind you when you leave. Go out, watch the doors latch, give both door handles a tug, and make sure they are locked! Thank you.
DEEPENING in Christ…
EASTER SEASON WORSHIP – TERMS OF RESURRECTION
Our Easter Season worship will once again draw on worship resources provided by Worship-Well on the theme “Terms of Resurrection.” The authors write: “… In Jesus’ rising, death was unseated as the end of existence, the owner of the last word, and the hardest wall of absolute certainty. The empty tomb bears witness to a new truth. Now we live in a different world with different rules. Now we stand up. No longer bound by the limited laws dictated by death, we can live according to the terms of resurrection. We speak and sing and see the world with the language and lenses of this deep and destabilizing power that God has revealed in the risen Jesus.”
Upcoming Worship:
MAY 29 – Terms of Resurrection: PAUL IN ATHENS (Acts 17:16-31)
JUNE 5 – Terms of Resurrection: PENTECOST (Acts 2:1-11; Philippians 4:4-7) – tentatively outside on the church parking lot. Pastor Tonya preaching.
SUMMER 2022 WORSHIP – FACES OF OUR FAITH
Created by A Sanctified Art, our summer worship series will explore ordinary people of faith – those doing what they can with what they have to make a difference. The worship series invited us into stories of those often overlooked in our Biblical narratives. Using visual art and prompts for reflection (study journal pages are available for each character explored), we hope to dig deep into the worlds of these characters, entering their stories with curiosity and openness to what they might teach us. As we journey with these characters, may they remind us that we all play a role in shaping God’s story of redemption and grace. May they awaken us to the faces of our faith in our world today. And may they encourage us to know that no action is ever too small to make a difference.
As part of the series, we will invite you to think about and name the faces of your own faith and how they have impacted you. You might wish to name friends, family members, mentors, pastors, public figures, strangers, authors, musicians, or artists … anyone and everyone who has made a lasting impact on your faith.
JUNE WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
June 12 – The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) Pastor Tonya preaching
June 19 – Lydia (Acts 16:11-15, 40) @ Camp Mennoscah 10:00am
June 26 – Shiprah and Puah (Exodus 1:8-22) Anita Kehr preaching
PRAYER GROUPS
- A Prayer group meets Thursday mornings from 10-11am in the Prayer Room. All are welcome.
- A small ecumenical Centering Prayer group meets on Thursdays (in person @ FMC) from 12:30-1:30pm. If you’d like to learn more, contact Pastor Tonya.
SUNDAY SCHOOL @ 11:00am (TWO SUNDAYS A MONTH – SEE DATES BELOW)
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Sunday School will be offered for children (preschool-6th grade) on the SECOND and FOURTH Sundays during the summer from 11:00-Noon. The Younger Adults Class will meet at the same time as the children.
- June 12 and 26
- July 10 and 24
- August 14 and 28
The children’s group will gather in the fellowship hall from 11-Noon on the dates listed above. Plans for Jr/Sr Youth are TBD – stay tuned!!
The two Adult Bible Study groups will take a break during the summer and begin again in the fall when weekly Sunday School for all ages will also resume.
UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines
REJOICE! and UPPER ROOM . . . new issues are available above the mailboxes. Please let us know if you would like a copy mailed to you.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
MAY 25 –MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT the MC USA ‘REPENTANCE & TRANSFORMATION’ RESOLUTION to be considered at the delegate assembly May 27-30.
As requested at our April 20 dinner and discussion, we are scheduling another Wednesday evening to spend more time considering the Resolution for Repentance and Transformation coming to MC USA delegates at a special delegate session the end of May. Links are below for the resolution and accompanying webinar (which is well worth watching and considering).
A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation
Watch webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWN8iSrD54s
Join us on May 25 for the meal at 5:45 and the conversation at 6:30pm.
CAMP MENNOSCAH YOUTH CAMP registration is open!!!
Check out the website and register online here! FMC offers half tuition for each child attending camp. https://www.campmennoscah.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Programs%7CSummer%20Youth%20Camps The adventure of the unknown is before us! We do not know exactly what to expect for the 2022 summer, but once again we will build on the Rock and play in the sand. While we continue to hope for a summer with minimal restrictions, the pandemic may change by June and camp guidelines will change with it. Campers and staff may be asked to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test and/or wear masks when indoors.
FMC WEEKEND @ CAMP MENNOSCAH (June 19)
Thanks for your donations to help pay for our church’s weekend at camp the third weekend in June!
The SIGN UP SHEET to attend our weekend at camp is now available on the table in the foyer. Those interested in staying overnight on Saturday June 18 in cabins are welcome to do so (will need to plan/provide your own food for Saturday evening and breakfast Sunday morning – there is a kitchen available).
Sunday morning will include worship and lunch at Camp Mennoscah (there is NO worship in the church building in Hutchinson and there will be NO livestream):
- 10:00am WORSHIP
- 11:00-Noon SWIMMING
- 12:15 LUNCH – bring a side dish or dessert to share (main dish provided)
The cost for this event is not covered by our general budget, but is instead funded by donations from the congregation each year. Additional contributions are appreciated – checks in the offering designated for FMC Sunday at Camp. We appreciate your generosity in supporting Camp Mennoscah through our ongoing rental commitment, and in supporting the opportunity for those who wish to spend time together at Camp that weekend!
FMC YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN MISSION NETWORK SERVICE PROGRAMS (FALL 2022)
This fall both Michaela Esau and Micah Wenger are participating in Mennonite Mission Network voluntary service programs. Michaela will be with Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) in Tucson AZ. Micah will be with Service Adventure in Colorado Springs, CO. We are asked as a congregation to provide various kinds of support for Michaela and Micah, including prayer and financial support. Each are asked to raise $4000 to help cover the costs of participation. If you would like to donate to either Michaela or Micah (or both!), you can:
- send a check to the church (note in the memo line who the donation is for),
- send a check to Mennonite Mission Network (718 N Main Street, Newton, KS 67114 … for Michaela put MVS and her name in the memo line; for Micah put SA and his name)
- or donate on their personal fundraising pages:
Micah https://igfn.us/vf/SAColorado/MicahWenger
Michaela https://igfn.us/vf/MVSTucson/MichaelaEsau
NEW!!! 2022 FMC DIRECTORIES . . . pick up your copy in the foyer.
If you would like an electronic version, please let the church office know.
NEW VIDEO BLOG (VLOG) FROM PASTOR JIM
Check out Pastor Jim’s new Video Blog (also known as a Vlog) on our church website: https://hutchfmc.org/ (scroll all the way down to the bottom of the home page!).
You’ll also find past episodes of “Beautiful Salt City Podcast” in which Pastor Jim talks with people in our community to learn their life stories and to dream together for a future story for our beautiful salt city.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
- Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday 10am-1pm
PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS/SCHEDULE
- Monday: Sabbath Day
- Tuesday-Friday: generally working 9:00am-5:30pm
- Office Hours: 9-2 Tuesday and Thursday; 10-1 on Wednesday
- Available other times by appointment.
- Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)
Pastor Tonya’s upcoming travel schedule:
- May 27-31 @ MC USA Special Delegate Session in Kansas City
- June 15-29 visiting Kallyne (Kelly) Silva in Brazil (our former MCC IVEP’er)
- June 30-July 11 in Indonesia at Mennonite World Conference
STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…
SOUP KITCHEN MINISTRY – MAY 28
Sign up at church or contact the church office if you are able to help with our turn to serve at the Soup Kitchen. We have enough applesauce but could use lettuce salad donations. Volunteers are needed to help cook (2:00-3:30pm), cover the delivery routes (4:00pm-done), and serve (4:45-6:00pm). Thank you!!
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES . . . annual Community Worship Service June 5
Mennonite Friendship Communities welcomes you to our annual Community Worship Service. Join us Sunday evening, June 5 at 6:30 pm for a worship service followed by an ice cream social. We will gather in the parking lot between health care and independent living on the East side of the buildings. Bring your lawn chair and the whole family and come enjoy the evening with us.
“EARTH MATTERS” ECUMENICAL WORKING GROUP
Pastor Tonya has been part of the formation of a new ecumenical working group in Hutchinson growing out of a shared concern for God’s earth and a desire to do what we can to help preserve and care for the little section of the earth we’ve been gifted with here in Reno County. The group has settled on the name “Earth Matters” and this mission statement: “To inspire, educate, and network with neighboring congregations and community organizations to respectfully and responsibly care for God’s gift of Creation.”
Still in formation stage the group is working on their own education alongside deciding on an action to promote to inspire and care for creation in Reno County. The desire is to have at least two representatives from each group and so the invitation is open to any of you out there who might want to join this group in its work moving forward. Meetings, right now, are Tuesday afternoons from 1:30-3:00pm. Please talk to Pastor Tonya if interested or you just want to learn more.
SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR RENO COUNTY FOOD BANK – ITEM OF THE MONTH FOR MAY
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY we invite your donations of pancake mix and syrup!! (June donation will be crackers.)
Personal care/hygiene items such as these are appreciated anytime: toilet paper, laundry detergent, bath soap, Kleenex, deodorant, disposable razors, paper towels, shampoo, dish soap, hand/body lotion, tooth paste and tooth brushes. Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.
ANABAPTIST DISABILITIES NETWORK offers webinar
“Dementia and Congregational Care” – Thursday, June 16, 1 pm ET, noon CT, 10 am PT
Dementia affects individuals, their family members and the congregation. Many times, we want to offer support but we do not know where to start. We often back off because we don’t want to do the wrong thing. This webinar will help you understand basics of dementia and learn how to reach out. We will offer communication tips and practical ways to stay connected.
This webinar will be led by Heddie Sumner, RN, BSN, and co-hosted by Church of the Brethren Discipleship Ministries and Anabaptist Disabilities Network. Visit our website to register and learn more at this link:
https://www.anabaptistdisabilitiesnetwork.org/Resources/Webinars/Pages/Dementia-and-Congregational-Care.aspx
WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE announcements
WDC annual assembly will be July 29-31! We invite WDC delegates, friends, and their families to gather with us at Camp Copass, Denton, TX. There will be lots of time for recreation for all ages, as well as sharing around tables about faith issues in our conference, congregations, and in our lives. Join us! More details coming soon.
Building a Lasting Connection Relationship Retreat – Communication is key for a healthy and long-lasting relationship. During this 2-day retreat, couples will learn and practice skills together that promote healthy communication with one another in order to promote ways of effectively expressing hope, validating feelings, and navigating concerns together. While these skills are helpful for all people, this retreat will be geared toward couples who have been together for 10 years or under (married, engaged, or dating are all welcome). This retreat will be held at Camp Mennoscah and led by Katie Dyck (LCMFT) and Renee Reimer (WDC ordained pastor). For more info click here: https://mennowdc.org/building-a-lasting-connection-relationship-retreat/ A flier with more information is available on the table in the foyer.
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
New Camper Discount from May 18 to June 1! Camp Mennoscah is offering a $22 discount to anyone who hasn’t registered for summer youth camp yet. Already registered? Get someone else to register and we’ll apply the discount to your account, too. Register here! See the attached letter for details! Summer Youth Camp scholarships are also available. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or fill out the request form. Camp is for everyone!
Camp is looking for people willing to provide a “main course” for meals during the week of staff orientation, June 5-11. Contact Olivia at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for details.
‘Tis the Season for Mowers and String Trimmers! Camp Mennoscah is looking for people to help us keep the campgrounds trimmed and looking neat. Let us know when you would be able to mow or string trim! Call 620-297-3290 or email office@campmennoscah.org –we’ll get you scheduled!
EVERENCE retirement income workshop
The retirement income workshop (Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.) will cover, Social Security strategies including when to begin taking benefits, strategies to help your income last throughout retirement, and risks that can impact your retirement savings. The in-person workshop will be held at the Everence office: 3179 N. Main St. Suite 1B, North Newton. Those interested in attending should contact the Everence office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC) announcements
MCC in need of material resources – MCC is resuming shipments of material resources to Ukraine. Five containers of emergency supplies are being shipped to Ukraine in the next few months with more planned for later in the year. With this increase in demand for supplies for Ukraine and other countries around the world, MCC’s inventory of material resources is getting low. We need comforters, soap and towels as well as dignity, hygiene, infant care, relief, school and sewing kits. Your donations will provide relief and a tangible sign of hope to people in Ukraine and other difficult situations around the world. Go to mcc.org/kits for information on needed supplies and drop-off locations.
MCC ACTION ALERT! Since March 2020, using a Centers for Disease Control Title 42 order, the U.S. government has blocked and expelled people seeking protection at the southern border without allowing them to apply for asylum, as U.S. and international law requires. The Biden administration recently announced the termination of the Title 42 border closure order, effective May 23. However, a federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the Biden administration from lifting that public health order, and the matter is being contested in the courts. Stay in touch with MCC advocacy information at this link: https://mcc.org/safe-refuge
Take action today! Around the world, MCC partners are experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, including natural disasters and unpredictable seasonal rainfall which contribute to food insecurity, increased migration and conflict. Countries that have historically contributed the least to climate change often suffer its worst impacts. Ask Congress to invest in global resilience to climate change.
MCC U.S. NATIONAL PEACE & JUSTICE MINISTRIES is hiring
NPJM is hiring a legislative associate. This full-time position will lead MCC’s advocacy efforts on U.S. policy with regard to the Middle East and immigration, including policies relating to uprootedness, militarization, criminalization, racism, antisemitism and the unethical detention of adults and children. The position is based out of our Washington, D.C., office. More information Legislative Associate | Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (mcc.org)
Gardening for good: Creation care tips for your backyard and stories from Bolivia, May 26 at 7 pm CDT, 6 pm MDT. In this virtual visit, we’ll explore what it looks like to care for the planet––from our own backyards to remote Bolivian communities. Join us to learn gardening and conservation tips in your own garden, then travel south to hear incredible stories from MCC’s projects in Bolivia. Learn more and register at mcc.org/virtual-visits.
MCC Central States Offices in North Newton is hiring an Human Resources Coordinator, a Young Adult Program Coordinator and a Material Resources Center Volunteer Coordinator. Find out more about each position and apply today at mcc.org/serve/openings.
BETHEL COLLEGE announcements
Bethel’s Summer Camps – Register is now! Summer Science Institute; Kauffman Museum” Uncle Carl’s Camps.
MENNONITE WORLD CONFERENCE (MWC) ASSEMBLY – JULY 5-10, 2022
Pastor Tonya and her family will be attending MWC in Indonesia in person. But did you know that an online program is also available? Check this link to register and connect from home: https://mwc-cmm.org/stories/join-mwc-assembly-together-online
Whether or not you register for the Assembly, consider making a financial gift to help underwrite this global gathering of Anabaptists. To donate, go to go to https://mwc-cmm.org/donate-now or send a check to Mennonite World Conference, PO Box 5364, Lancaster, PA 17606-5364, and designate “Global Assembly: Indonesia 2022.” MWC represents the majority of the global family of Christian churches rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation in Europe. MWC includes 109 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 58 countries, with around 1.47 million baptized believers in close to 10,000 congregations. More than 80% of baptized believers in MWC member churches are African, Asian or Latin American. MWC is a place for mutual sharing and learning among member churches and their members, and a way to strengthen our witness as a faith community in the world. The MWC Assembly is a reunion of the world-wide Anabaptist-Mennonite family that normally takes place every six years. After a pandemic delay, MWC members from around the world look forward to this gathering!