Table of Contents
“A journey can become a sacred thing…
… May you travel in an awakened way,
gathered wisely into your inner ground;
that you may not waste the invitations
which wait along the way to transform you.”
(John O’Donohue. To Bless the Space Between Us. Pg 55. Except from “For the Traveler”)
PLEASE NOTE: New posts of THIS WEEK are scheduled for July 16 and July 30.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP at 9:30am
The link to join is on our website: www.hutchfmc.org Join 5 minutes early for announcements. The bulletin can be found under the BULLETINS tab on our home page.
SUNDAY, JULY 14 – INTRODUCTION to QUEST: The Awakened Traveler
A worship series for widening our perspectives and loving our neighbors. Whether you travel far away or see your local surroundings as if for the first time, pilgrimage has long been a spiritual practice, and ‘journey’ a deeply felt metaphor for our spiritual lives. “Quest” comes from the Latin root meaning “ask, seek.” This worship series (adapted from a 4-week series created by Worship Design Studio) will encourage us to open ourselves more fully to the curiosity and wonder, reflection and transformation that travelers – not merely tourists – experience when they choose to immerse themselves in soul-widening adventures.
Psalm 23; Acts 9:1-19
Communion
- Preacher: Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger
- Worship Leader: Calvin Buller
- Song Leader: TBD
- Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
- Scripture Reader: Sadie Pritchett, Heidi Unruh
- Pianist: Peggy Stucky
- Ushers: Cheryl Warkentin & Marlene Thode
- Nursery Attendant: Kris & Joyce Lindenberger
- Sound Tech: Adam Pounds
- Live Stream Tech: Joel Iwashige
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
During each worship service, you are invited to text your prayer joys and concerns – usually to Pastor Tonya. You are also invited 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.
VOLUNTEERS FOR READING SCRIPTURE
If you would be willing to read scripture, please sign up on the bulletin board opposite the mailboxes. We welcome readers of all ages, and we’d be happy to bring a mic to you if you would prefer reading from your seat.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcements are scrolled Sunday mornings before and after worship. 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 to the church office by Thursday each week.
OFFERINGS
We welcome, and are grateful for, your financial donations to our ministry here in Hutchinson. Instead of collecting an offering during worship (except on special occasions), an offering box is placed at the back of the sanctuary for your Sunday morning donations. You can also now make a donation directly from our website (www.hutchfmc.org) using a credit card or your banking account. You are also welcome to send a check to 52 Rambler Rd Hutchinson KS 67502.
CALENDAR – LOOKING AHEAD
- July 27 – FMC serves at the Soup Kitchen – sign up on the bulletin board opposite the mailboxes
- August 11 – FMC leads the 10:00am worship service at Mennonite Friendship Communities
- August 18 – Sr. Youth Kick-off event beginning with lunch
- August 25 – Assemble MCC School Kits after worship in the fellowship hall
REMINDER: If you are last one out of the church building, be SURE the doors lock behind you.
DELEGATES FOR WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
Our congregation is allowed five delegates to the annual assembly. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please speak to Pastor Tonya or let the church office know as soon as possible. This year’s event will be hosted by First Mennonite Church, Beatrice, NE. The theme is, “In Community We Transform” (Romans 12). Dates are August 2-4.
ANABAPTIST WORLD . . . current readers and new subscribers
Our church has a group subscription to the Anabaptist World, a publication that connects us to the wider anabaptist community with thoughtful articles, news from around the world, and stories to keep us informed. The group subscription offers this publication at $39.00 for one year (12 issues) – a greatly reduced price from individual subscriptions of $54.00. Our group subscription expires in November. If you are a current subscriber in our group plan, please let the church office know whether you wish to continue. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber in our group, please let us know that too. Forms are available on the table in the foyer. As a new or renewing subscriber, please make checks payable to First Mennonite Church, (memo: Anabaptist World). Payment due August 20. As a part of our group plan, you would receive each issue at your home address. If you wish to take a look at a current issue, please pick up a copy from the table (under the TV monitor) in the foyer. Join us! It’s a great read!
DEEPENING in Christ…
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.
LPC: Listening-Prayer-Conversation Groups
These groups meet for an hour once/month in the Common Grounds room and are facilitated by Pastor Tonya. The format allows for time in prayer by yourself and also with the group. Any are welcome to join, or to just come and check it out! It’s also possible to join on Zoom if you prefer.
- The Tuesday group next meeting Tuesday July 9 at 1:00pm
- The Wednesday evening group next meeting is at 6:30 on Wednesday, July 10
SUMMER 2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL
Summer Sunday School will be offered twice a month during the summer months, following this schedule: classes will be offered for preschool-3rd grade, 4th-7th grade, 8th-12th grade. The younger groups will be
using the Shine curriculum that follows the Peace With Creation Peace Path in The Peace Table (Bible Story book). Additionally, Circle of Grace curriculum will be covered with each class, led by Tanya Martin Nisly and Jonathan Wenger.
- Preschool-3rd grade – meet in the basement classrooms
- 4th-7th grade – meet upstairs in Jr Youth room
- 8th-12th grade meet upstairs in Sr Youth room
Both the Adult Discussion Class and the Adult Salt & Light study class will be taking a hiatus during the summer.
CALL FOR TRAVELING STORIES AS PART OF ‘QUEST’ WORSHIP SERIES
Our summer “Quest: The Awakened Traveler” worship series, beginning July 14, explores the following movements present in most journeys: leaving home, the encounter, the reflection, and returning home.
- “Leaving Home” : when we need to leave the familiar in order to grow and thrive (7/21 and 7/28)
- “The Encounter” : the experience of being open to new people, relationships, ideas and cultures (8/4 and 8/11)
- “The Reflection” … the inner work we do when we bump up against disorienting differences (8/18)
- “Returning Home” … when we travel far away from the familiar, we return changed, and find the familiar holds more than we had noticed before. (8/25 and 9/2)
Do you have a short story (5 minutes or less!) you’d like to share with the congregation about some aspect of a journey you have undertaken in your life? It could be a trip to a new place, a new job, a change in your thinking, etc. Please let Pastor Tonya know ASAP so she can get you on the calendar to share your story during a worship service.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE at MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES (mfc)
FMC leads the 10:00 service at mfc on the second Sunday of the even numbered months. We welcome your participation in reading scripture, sharing worship music, accompanying hymns, greeting residents, and more. Please talk with Pastor Jim if you would be willing to participate in this ministry.
UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines
UPPER ROOM – We hope to have copies of the July-August issue by Sunday, July 14.
Rejoice! – new issues for August-September will be available soon above the mailboxes.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
- Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm
PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS/SCHEDULE
Office hours:
- Monday: Day Off
- Tuesday-Friday: generally working 8:00am-5:30pm
- “In 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)
Please note: Pastor Tonya will be out of town Sunday afternoon through Wednesday (July 14-17), visiting Micah, who is on staff at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp.
Upcoming “Day Apart with God” dates (for silence, reading, prayer & journaling – will NOT be checking email or responding to texts/calls (except for emergencies). Watch here for her next day apart.
Pastor Tonya’s Sabbatical dates (spread out between summer 2023-summer 2025)
Pastor Tonya has joined a study program called, “Transforming Community.” Retreats take place in Chicago. Her next scheduled retreat is September 15-18.
She will also be taking an extended sabbatical time away July 23-August 9.
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES car show . . . July 13
Mennonite Friendship Communities is having a Pride & Joy, Shine & Show (car show) on Saturday, July 13 from 5:30-8 pm. The event will take place on the east side of the main building and will include cars, motorcycles, bicycles and more! FaceStuffers Food Truck will be there too. For more information, contact Susan Nisly at SNisly@MennoFriend.com or 620-663-7175.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE FUND DONATIONS REQUESTED
The fund we use to provide internal congregational support to individuals or families during times of crisis has been depleted. If you are able to make a donation to this fund, please designate your donation as “Congregational Care Fund.” Thank you!!
SUMMER BOOK STUDY – Second session JULY 10
We are reading and discussing: Love Without Limits: Jesus’ Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions by Jacqueline A. Bussie. Come early for finger-food snacks (bring a snack to share!) at 12:30pm, or join us for the book study at 1:00pm. We meet in the Common Grounds room. All are welcome to participate. If you need help getting a book, let Pastor Tonya know. A Zoom option is available with advance planning! We’ll conclude our summer season on August 14.
ARMS WIDE OPEN – FMC’s history book
The amazing story of First Mennonite Church’s 100 years is told in the history book prepared for our centennial celebration. Copies of the book are available for $25.00 (cash or check). You can also purchase a book online at a price that includes the cost of shipping (click on the “DONATE” button on our website to find this option). Check with the church office to pick up a book.
STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…
SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR RENO COUNTY FOOD BANK:
July: Hamburger or Tuna Helper
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, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE announcements
Colorado Peaches are coming! Orders for Palisade peaches will be taken July 1-31, by contacting MCC Central States Office at patsydirksen@mcc.org or by calling 316-283-2720.
Two sizes: 9 lbs. for $30 OR 18 lbs. for $41. Payment by cash or checks is due by August 1 at MCC.
Checks payable to Beth-El Mennonite Church with “peaches” in the memo line. Peaches will be available for pickup from the MCC Office, 121 East 30th, North Newton, on Monday, August 19 (tentative). This is a fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Relief Sale held in Castle Rock, Colorado, October 18-19.
School Kits! Fabric is cut and ready for you on the table in the foyer. If you would like to sew a few bags, you’ll find the fabric and sewing instruction on the table in the foyer. The list of school supplies to assemble the school kits is also available on the table. Please bring all items by August 4, placing them in the purple bin provided. Our goal is to collect enough donations to fill 40 kits!
Mini Blitz at MCC! Come tie, trim, or bind comforters at the MCC Material Resource Center in North Newton on Friday, July 12 from 9-5 and Saturday, July 13 from 8-2. Bring a snack to share and a sack lunch/supper. Drinks will be provided. Beginners are welcome!
MCC Material Resources Center in North Newton critically low on inventory: An MCC kit cannot be distributed until each item for the kit is assembled, but some supplies in the Material Resources Center are so low that kits cannot be processed for shipping. You can help by filling the following needs: new infant sleepers (6-12 month sizes); hand towels (dark colored); bar soap; bath towels (dark colored, light to medium weight); wide toothed combs (6-8 inches long); laundry soap (such as Fels Naptha or Zote brands); and shampoo (20 oz min). Buy online and ship it to MCC or bring items to MCC in North Newton (121 E. 30th St, North Newton, KS 67117). Questions are always welcome, please contact brociamueller@mcc.org or 316.836.5045. A full list of MCC kit contents can be found at mcc.org/kits.
Soft Plastic Recycling is now available at MCC! We invite you to start a new habit of recycling all soft plastics (plastic bags, bread bags, any plastic packaging that you can stretch) at MCC Central States in North Newton! This is a NEW and ONGOING recycling project. Plastics must be clean, dry and free of food waste. A basket under the table in the foyer is designated to receive your recyclables. You may also bring your soft plastic recycling to MCC any time, placing them in the marked bin outside the warehouse. Once at MCC, the plastic is baled into 1000 pound bales. These bales are then sold to the TREX company. They melt down the plastic and use it in making their deck boards. Questions, please contact duaneunruh@mcc.org.
KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE . . . QUILTER’S CORNER seeks donations
The MCC Sale Quilter’s Corner is looking for donations of quilts, quilt tops, fabric, books, magazines and vintage linens for our next sale. We hope to have an October sale if we receive enough donations. Donations can be dropped off at the MCC Center in North Newton labeled for Quilter’s Corner or at Stitches Quilt Shop in McPherson. If you have questions, please contact Ann Yoder Smith at 919-604-3282.
ANABAPTIST COMMUNITY BIBLE now available for preorders!
Celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism with the Anabaptist Community Bible. This study Bible features commentary from 60 Anabaptist scholars, biblical insights from 16th-century Anabaptists, and marginal notes from nearly 600 study groups from Anabaptists around the globe. Perhaps you will remember that FMC participants in WNAF in spring 2023 engaged with assigned scripture passages and responded to the challenge to provide insights for this new volume. The Anabaptist Community Bible uses the Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The volume is available in leather, soft touch or hard cover binding. Click here and scroll down to view the options and to place an order… https://rb.gy/gacw7p
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
Camp Sing! On Saturday, August 3rd, at 3:00 PM at Faith Mennonite Church (Newton, KS) we will be holding our annual Camp Sing event. All are welcome to join us for a gathering of the Camp Mennoscah community to sing camp songs led by the Summer Staff, enjoy a recap of the summer, and hear testimony to the great work camp is doing. Following the singing we will have popcorn and generic pop together! We would love to see you all there.
Scholarship funds are needed for summer youth camps. Just as facilities are an important part of Camp Mennoscah’s ministry, so are campers. There are campers who are unable to come to camp without assistance. Give to the Scholarship Fund or Scholarship Endowment to help more campers learn about Christ while in God’s creation. Mark your donation with the fund/endowment you prefer. The Scholarship Endowment will give up to two full scholarships a year, depending on earnings. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 for more information.
MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE (MDS)
The June edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service. In our current issue: The MDS Cabinet Shop celebrates a new warehouse, the Peace Academic Center gets an unexpected boost and a bridge opens access to more than 25 families. Sign up to volunteer this summer and fall. Click on this link to read more: https://conta.cc/3RuHArK
EVERENCE© resources
Teaching children faith and finance: Teaching lessons of stewardship can start young and in the home! Everence and Financial Choice are here to provide resources and encouragement on your parenting journey. Read more here.
WDC WOMEN IN MISSION . . . ANNUAL WOMEN’S & GIRLS’ RETREAT
Save the Date! Western District Women in Mission’s annual Women’s & Girls’ Retreat will be Saturday/Sunday September 7-8 at Camp Mennoscah. The keynote speaker will be Kristine Regehr on the topic of Peaceful Practices. More information and registration info will follow in July. Activities will be available for girls age 5th grade – high school and women of all ages! Come for a time of relaxation, peace, and friendship! Questions? Email westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com.
MENNONITE IMMIGRATION TO CENTRAL KANSAS 150th ANNIVERSARY . . . events
The Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum in Goessel and the 150th Anniversary Committee will present, “Heritage Talk – Two Stories.” Speakers will be Pauline Sharp, Kaw People and Annette Voth, Alexanderwohl People. Their stories told side by side present a unique perspective of the history of the Kaw and Alexanderwohl people. The event will be held Sunday, July 14, at 7:00pm, at the Tabor Mennonite Church (891 Chisholm Trail Road, Newton, Ks.).
150th Swiss Volhynian Celebration August 23-25, 2024 . . . Registration is open on the swissmennonite.org website for the August 23-25, 2024 Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of our ancestors coming to the U.S. in 1874. On the site, click on Registration and Celebration Information and then on Step 1 to register and on “See available seminars” there to see that list. After indicating choice of seminars is an invitation to join the mass choir and a request to indicate which part you sing. On Step 2 you can reserve and/or purchase your ethnic meal on Saturday evening 5:00 provided by Bread Basket in Newton. You can pay here or reserve and pay at the door. If you have difficulty with reservations on the website, you may call Kathy Goering at 316-371-6189 for assistance. Hopefield Church will be open for visitation 9:00-2:00 on Saturday, even serving coffee, lemonade, and cookies. The Moundridge Museum will be open for visitors 1:30-4:30 Saturday afternoon if you want to check that out.
Commemorating 500 Years of Anabaptism + Swiss Alps Tour. Sites: Lake Geneva, cliffside Murren, Mennonites near Bern, & 500 Year Celebration in Zurich.9-day tour in late May 2025. Details and registration coming soon. Preview tour at www.tourwithweldon.com Interested? Contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276. Persons registering interest will receive early notification when registration opens.