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This week at FMC

April 6-12, 2022

Table of Contents

“So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? …” (Mt 26:40).  These were the words breaking through the fog of sleep covering the disciples who simply could not stay awake while Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his death.   We all know how hard it is to fight sleep when we are tired.  How hard it is to stay awake to what is before us when the temptation is strong to shut it out and escape elsewhere.

For many years now, we have been setting up Stations of the Cross during Holy Week as an invitation to stay awake and keep vigil with Jesus – to really see and enter into the path he walked.  It IS a difficult journey and one we may be quick to bypass.  Yet … this is a journey teaching us about the ways life shines even in the presence of death, of possibilities and hope sprouting up even where despair overshadows … lessons we very much need in these days when so much threatens to convince us there is no hope.

Consider this your invitation, and an invitation to share with local family and friends, to come and ‘stay awake’ with Jesus for an hour (more or less!) as you journey through the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week – allowing yourself to receive and feel the pain and suffering of Jesus on the way to the tomb.

The Stations will be open Wednesday-Friday of Holy Week (April 13-15) from Noon-7:00pm.  You can come and go as you wish – this is a self-guided prayer walk.  A packet with scriptures, quotes, and questions for each station will be available to help guide your praying.  You can linger as long as you wish at each station (there will be chairs where you can sit if desired). 

To get you started … here are some questions you might consider (these are also found at the beginning of the meditation packet that will be available to you…):

  • Do you notice any resistance within you to accompanying Jesus in his suffering?  If so, how would you describe your resistance?
  • What makes you want to just go back to sleep and stay asleep?
  • What prayers are rising up in you right now, as you anticipate journeying through the Stations of the Cross with Jesus?

Servant Christ,

Help us to follow you unto the cross

To recognize the true way of life in your death

To see our hope in your self-spending love

To die to all within us not born of your love.

Servant Christ, help us to follow you.  (India: Litany of the Disciples of Christ the Servant)

      —-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!!

SUNDAY, APRIL 10:  Palm Sunday 

Hosanna Turns to Crucify:  The Crucified Messiah

John 19:16b-22

Prayer of the Day:  O God, as we enter into this holiest of weeks, turn our hearts toward you that in your suffering, we might understand the consequences of injustice; In your dying, we might know the depths of your love; and in your rising, the earth-turning promise you share with all of creation. Amen.

  • Preacher: Tonya Ramer Wenger
  • Worship Leader:  Delon Martens
  • Children’s Time:  Ama Reimer
  • Scripture Reader: DeAnna Goering
  • Pianist: Peggy Stucky
  • Worship Music Quartet:  Jonathan Wenger, Esther Regier, Nick Krehbiel, Pauline Buller
  • Ushers: Susan Combs & Joretta Martens
  • Nursery attendant: TBA
  • Sound Tech: Earl Ediger & Allen Yoder
  • Live Stream Tech: Joel Iwashige

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES MEET @ 11:00am – EXCEPT ON 5TH SUNDAYS when there is no Sunday School!!

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

  • April 10 – Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week
  • April 13-15 (Wed-Fri) Stations of the Cross open NOON-7:00pm in FMC foyer/sanctuary for prayer
  • April 14 – 6:00pm Maundy Thursday meal & worship service (with communion)
  • April 15 – Noon Community Good Friday Service @ Trinity UMC (hosted by area Women Clergy)
  • April 17 – EASTER Breakfast (9am), WORSHIP (10am) & ALL CHURCH GROUP PHOTO (after worship) taken for the 100th anniversary … plan to attend!!

FMC CENTENNIAL . . . LightHouse Giving Opportunity

The LightHouse addresses the growing need of transitional housing for youths ages 18 to 21 in Hutchinson. The property at 1005 N. Washington Street is currently being renovated into eight one-bedroom apartments. 

Interfaith Housing & Community Services is leading this community project.  Progress is underway thanks to the help of volunteers renovating this building, which was built in 1887.  The Centennial Committee would like for FMC to raise $22,000 by October 2022 to help with these expenses. These dollars will help with construction costs, furnishings for the apartments and ongoing maintenance expenses. 

A big thank you to those of you who have already donated! You can see the progress that has already been made on our LightHouse thermometer in the foyer. Checks may be made out to FMC, with “LightHouse” on the memo line.  Thank you for your support!

DEEPENING in Christ…

LENT 2022 – TURNING (Gospel of John)

John’s Gospel invites us into a season of intentional turning. Our hearts turn with compassion for those who grieve. Our lives turn toward our neighbor in acts of solidarity and service. Our eyes turn toward the cross and we see Jesus turning the world upside down with love.”  (Worship Well Lent Worship Resources)

HOLY WEEK 2022

  • April 13-15 (Wed-Friday) NOON-7:00pm each day:  Stations of the Cross will be open in the FMC foyer/sanctuary for your praying.  Invite your friends, too!
  • April 14 @ 6:00pm Maundy Thursday worship service including communion and a meal.
  • On April 15, Good Friday, plan to attend the Noon Good Friday Service at Trinity UMC.  Pastor Tonya is helping to host this event with other area women clergy. 

EASTER (APRIL 17) SCHEDULE

  • 9:00am – Potluck Breakfast/Brunch.  Bring food to share and your own table service!
  • 10:00am – EASTER WORSHIP  (as you enter worship, pick up a flower to adorn the cross – and after the group photo, be sure to take a flower or two home with you!)
  • All Church GROUP Photo following the worship service

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 Tuesdays (ZOOM) and Thursdays (in person @ FMC) from 12:30-1:30pm.  If you’d like to learn more, contact Pastor Tonya. 

WINTER 2021 SUNDAY SCHOOL @ 11:00am (NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on Easter Sunday & 5th SUNDAYS!)

CHILDREN & YOUTH: Becoming Disciples (SHINE Curriculum from MennoMedia)

  • PreK-Kindergarten (basement, room 3 – or outside)
  • 1st-5th grade (basement, rooms 1-2 – or outside)
  • 6th– 7th grade (all the way upstairs in the Jr Youth room – or outside)
  • 8th -12th grade (all the way upstairs in the Sr Youth room)

ADULTS:

Younger Adults Class – meeting in the basement adult Sunday School Room

Adult Bible Study/Discussion – meeting in the basement fellowship hall.  This group is using The Bible Project’s Reflections Bible Study to guide study and conversation, which includes a short video on a Biblical theme, topic, or book.  Check it out here: https://bibleproject.com/bible-studies/reflections/ and feel free to watch the videos during the week if you choose in preparation for shared discussion. 

Adult Bible Study using Salt & Light – meets from 11:00-11:45am in the Prayer Room (right beside the elevator in the basement). 

Reminder: No Sunday School on EASTER SUNDAY & the 5th Sundays of the month!!

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…

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT FIRST (WNAF) IS BACK!!

               APRIL 6: Meal served at 5:45pm & Discussion at 6:30PM … MC USA RESOLUTIONS DISCUSSION (1 of 2)

Pastor Tonya and Pauline Buller will give some overall context and background about the upcoming special delegate session of Mennonite Church USA at the end of May.  We’ll also discuss 2 of the 4 resolutions: (1) Accessibility and (2) Justice in the U.S. Criminal Legal Systems (a study resolution, not for a vote).  Click on the links below to read the resolutions or request a hard copy from the church office.  You are also encouraged to listen to the webinar provided by MC USA to learn more about each of the resolutions.  Click on the webinar link below for each resolution.

MC-USA Accessibility Resolution        

Watch webinar here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Q4GAhszxo

The purpose of this resolution is to help all members of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), including congregations, area conferences, agencies and constituency groups recognize and seek to remove the barriers to belonging in architecture, communications and attitudes that prevent individuals with disabilities from participating in church life; and to bring wholeness to the Body of Christ as those barriers are removed, and all people are fully integrated into the community of faith.

MC-USA For Justice Resolution

Watch webinar here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXe79fO5V9A

As a STUDY RESOLUTION, this resolution states the following:  We as a church body commit to confronting the injustice within the current U.S. criminal legal system. There are many ways individual congregations, conferences, institutions and agencies of the denomination can participate. We will call on them to report back to the delegate body at the next biennial convention.”  The resolution then goes on to offer a substantial list of possible actions as “a starting place to begin this work together.”

                APRIL 20: Meal served at 5:45pm & Discussion at 6:30PM … MC USA RESOLUTIONS DISCUSSION (2 of 2)

Pastor Tonya and Pauline Buller will lead a conversation about remaining 2 resolutions coming to delegates at the special MC USA Delegate Session at the end of May: (1) Clarification on MC USA Polity and Role of Membership Guidelines in MC USA and (2) A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation regarding violence done against LGBTQI+ persons.  The first one is a resolution coming for a vote.  The second will first come to the delegates for a vote to determine if this resolution will be discussed and voted on at the special delegate session.

EB Resolution Membership Guidelines 2021

Watch webinar here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0i-infwXac

This resolution provides a detailed background and history of the Membership Guidelines of MC USA formed in 2001 and concludes with this short resolution: 

     Therefore, we retire the Membership Guidelines as the active polity in Mennonite Church USA.

A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation

Watch webinar here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWN8iSrD54s

This resolution (which again, will first be voted on whether to actually consider it for discussion) begins with this opening paragraph:  Current policies of Mennonite Church USA do violence to LGBTQIA people by failing to affirm their full, God-given identities and by restricting their full participation in the life, ministries and rituals of the broader church. The rejection of LGBTQIA people by MC USA has silenced and denied ministry callings, torn apart families, forced parents to choose between their church and their child, and caused many LGBTQIA people to leave the church. In some cases, rejection by their faith community is a factor in LGBTQIA people self-harming or even dying by suicide.

ALL CHURCH PHOTO WILL BE TAKEN EASTER 2022

Plan to attend our Easter worship service on Sunday April 17, which will include taking an all-church group photo.  We plan to have a photographer join us to take this ‘snapshot’ of history in our 100th year!  Everyone present is welcome to participate!!

PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR MICAH WENGER’S UPCOMING SERVICE ADVENTURE YEAR

Part of our support as a congregation for Micah’s term is to contribute $400/month (of a total of $4000) toward the cost of participation in the program.  If you would like to contribute you can make a donation to the church with “Micah Wenger – SA” in the memo line, or donate at Micah’s personal fundraising page online: https://igfn.us/vf/SAColorado/MicahWenger  Thank you!!!

BEAUTIFUL SALT CITY PODCAST                                      

A future story tells us what we want (vision), why we want it (values), and how we will create it (resources). Our own Pastor Jim Unruh talks with people in our community to learn their life stories and to dream together for a future story for our beautiful salt city.  Find it here: https://hutchfmc.org/beautiful-salt-city-podcast/.  While new episodes are not being added right now, this is your chance to catch up on previous conversations!

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)

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.

STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…

RENO COUNTY COTTONWOOD COMPLEX . . . community response

The most tangible way to help the fire victims in our community is through financial gifts.  Checks and/or cash need to be directed to United Way of Reno County, note VOAD Fire Fund in the memo.  Funds and/or gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to: United Way of Reno County, 924 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501
Donations can also be made online at:  United Way of Reno County |

KANSAS MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE (MDS) RESPONSE . . Cottonwood Complex Fire

The Kansas Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has been responding to the Cottonwood Complex Fire in Reno County Kansas. We have completed 17 jobs of clearing debris from homes that were a total loss in the fire and have 5 more sites we are working on. We will be concluding the clean up phase of the disaster response soon. Thanks to all of the volunteers who responded with equipment and labor in this project  Please contact Cleo Koop at cleohkoop@gmail.com or 316-282-0797 if you are able to help. 

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE . . . building cabinets in Goessel

The MDS Kansas Unit has purchased a Cabinet Facility in Goessel, KS. The goal of this purchase is to increase the number of volunteers helping MDS while we build the cabinets for MDS construction projects. Contact Cleo for details on how you can volunteer there.  Contact: Cleo Koop – (316) 282-0797 – cleohkoop@gmail.com

KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE (KMRS) . . .April 8 & 9 at Kansas State Fairgrounds

Volunteers still needed!!!! . . . if you need help signing up, call the church office!

Visit the sale website and click on VOLUNTEER: https://kansas.mccsale.org/     

KANSAS MENNONITE MEN’S CHORUS . . . mark your calendar for these concerts

  • April 24 @ 7:00pm – Bethel College Memorial Hall, North Newton
  • May 1 @7:00pm – Bethany College Presser Hall, Lindsborg

Contribute generously in the freewill offerings to support MCC!

WESTERN DISTRICT WOMEN IN MISSION

All women are invited to a virtual “Meet-up” on Tuesday, April 26th, 7:00-8:30p.m.  Please join us as we hear from Barbara Gingrich, Cheryl Kaufman, and Cindy Thompson from Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita about their Knit4Peace project.  Then, Sarah Augustine will discuss her personal life journey and book she authored called, The Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery, (Herald Press, 2021).  Sarah is a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant and founder and co-chair of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition and Executive Director of a dispute resolution center in central Washington State.  Click here to learn more about this event and information on signing up – deadline Monday, April 25. https://mennowdc.org/western-district-women-in-mission-upcoming-event/

BETHEL COLLEGE announcements

Sun., April 10 – Bethel College Women’s Chorus concert, 4 p.m., Administration Building chapel (may be different from some previously printed calendars)

CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements

Camp needs to prepare for groups using the dining hall and other main camp buildings this spring. Help is needed to make these spaces welcoming and ready for fellowship. We can work with your schedule, including evening and weekend hours. Tasks include basic cleaning, washing cookware and dishes and moving tables. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Camp Mennoscah is having a Verenike Casserole Fundraiser on April 30!  

Meal:  verenike casserole, seasoned green beans, zweiback, and fruit crisp.

Summer youth camps and retreats are a vital and living part of faith formation for youth and young adults.  Your meal donation will support Camp Mennoscah’s mission to love one another, build relationships and follow Jesus Christ. 

Other events and happenings at Camp Mennoscah: 

  • Kitchen helpers needed for Summer Youth Camps!  Your time and skill give campers a week of growing in Christian fellowship and experiencing God’s great creation.  Cooks need only willing hands and the ability to follow directions.  Kitchen staff is needed for June 19-23, July 3-9 and July 17-23.  Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org.
  • Getting ready for outside fun!  Camp Mennoscah needs to replace some outdoor sports equipment, including inner tubes, 4-square/Gaga balls, frisbees for ultimate, and inner tubes.  Check out the Camp Mennoscah Wish List on amazon.com or the Wish List.  Challenge your Sunday School class or youth group to help meet camp needs!  We’ve got many more ideas. Contact us by replying to this email.

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC) announcements

Join the MCC Thrifty 50 Challenge! 50 years ago the first MCC thrift shop opened and now there are 85 shops that provide millions of dollars each year for MCC’s work at home and around the world.To celebrate, we’re inviting you to sign up for the Thrifty 50 Challenge to get one practical challenge sent to your inbox and have a chance to win a $25 MCC Thrift gift card every week. Visit thrift.mcc.org to find a shop near you and learn more about MCC Thrift!

MCC response in Ukraine: MCC continues to be in communication with our program partners, many of whom have reduced capacity because of the conflict. Currently, partners are responding in some regions as they are able with supplies they can secure. This includes distributing food, blankets, medications and fuel as well as other emergency supplies. The changing situations in the various cities and regions in Ukraine where there is conflict makes this work difficult and at times dangerous. MCC will continue to determine how it can support short-term needs. However, MCC’s strength continues to be mid and long-term disaster response and we are working to formulate these plans for Ukraine. MCC has been working in Ukraine for 100 years and we will continue to serve in Ukraine long after the crisis disappears from the news cycle. Donate today to support these efforts at mcc.org/ukraine

Make your voice heard! Join MCC in urging President Biden to pursue peaceful solutions in Ukraine. MCC asks the United States government to continue considering approaches that do not rely on military intervention or military support. Engage with your elected officials on this topic and many others through MCC today!

EVERENCE announcement

Everence® will hold an informative Social Security and retirement incomewebinar on Tuesday, April 12, starting at 6:30 p.m. Specifics will include, Social Security strategies, including when to begin taking benefits, risks that can impact your retirement savings plus strategies to help your income last throughout retirement. There will also be plenty of time for questions.  Information will be presented by staff from the Everence offices in Central Kansas.  To register contact Everence at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.