April 6, 2021

Tangible reminders of our shared Easter worship this past Sunday are bringing joy this week! Roses and tulips from the cross fill our kitchen and dining room with color.  Joanna’s marigold in a teacup smiles up at me.  The sunburn I got I’m not so grateful for, but I was so happy for the sunshine and warmth!  The memory I hold of closing my eyes and turning my face toward the warm sun as Maggie sang the Prayer of Saint Francis brings renewed hope and purpose even now …

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.   Amen.

These tangible reminders I’ve been listing point toward where I experienced Kairos time, as Pastor Jim talked about Sunday in his sermon. Kairos time is God bursting into our Chronos (chronological) time to do something amazing or powerful.  To give much needed glimpses of God at work in our lives and in the world – flashes of recognition, if you will!  Kairos moments pull us into God’s reconciling love. The love at the heart of the mystery of what God is up to through Jesus in his incarnation, life, teaching, death, tomb, resurrection, and ongoing presence with us in the Spirit.  Reconciling love brings together what is separated, repairs what is broken, heals what is misunderstood, works peace in the midst of hostility.  God reconciles humans to himself through Jesus, and makes it possible for humans to be reconciled with each other.  It IS possible, because we cannot be separated from this reconciling love, as Paul writes in Romans 8:  “… neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This love, by its very nature, will not let us be separated from any of God’s children, not even our enemies.  This love IS already alive and active in the world – we don’t have to create it, but we do need to align and orient our lives to join it, be immersed in it, and allow it to flow through us … a channel of God’s peace. 

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.  So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…”         (2 Cor 5:14-20a)

–Pastor Tonya

NOTE:  Information in this issue covers the next two weeks.  THIS WEEK will not be posted on April 13.  The next issue will be posted on Wednesday,  April 21.

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! 

CMT ANNOUNCEMENT LIMITING IN-PERSON GATHERINGS

The 2021 Congregational Ministry Team (Delon Martens-chair, Jennalee Boggs-chair-elect, Julie Esau, Kevin Martin Nisly, Carol Moore, and the pastors) affirms the recommendations of the RE-Opening Task Force – Carol Moore, Dohn Fast, Joretta Martens, Todd Esau, Pastor Tonya).   We continue to lean toward caution, keeping in place the precautions of masks, physical distancing, hand washing and no gathering in the foyer.  Currently, you no longer have to call ahead, but the same precautions are in place which will continue to limit the number in the sanctuary.  Overflow options will be available.  CMT and the Re-Opening Taskforce will continue to monitor data from the Reno County Health Department, and make decisions accordingly. 

SUNDAY, April 11:  Emmaus Road (2^nd Sunday of Easter)

 “Our hearts burned along the road, as he opened to us the Scriptures.”

Luke 24:13-35

• Preacher:  Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger
• Worship Leader:  Eldon Wagler
• Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
• Scripture Reader:  Jean Gaeddert
• Organist:  Pauline Buller
• Music for Meditation:  Arlene Schmidt
• Sound:  Allen Yoder
• Live Stream:  Jonathan Wenger

SUNDAY, April 18:  Jesus Appears to the Disciples (3^rd Sunday of Easter)

“Jesus came [through their locked doors] and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”

John 20:19-31

• Preacher:  Heidi Regier Krieder (Western District Conference Minister, pre-recorded sermon)
• Worship Leader:  Tonya Ramer Wenger
• Children’s Time:  Cathia Krehbiel
• Scripture Reader: 
• Pianist:  Shelley Kauffman
• Sound:  Jasper Nisly
• Live Stream:  Jonathan Wenger

SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS

During each worship service, you are invited to text your prayer joys and concerns – usually to Pastor Tonya, but sometimes it will be someone else, and we’ll give you that info at the time!!  You are also welcome to send prayer joys & concerns during the week.  Since our worship link is now public, when you submit prayer requests be sure to let us know if you’d prefer it NOT be shared on Sunday morning.  We can keep requests more private by only sharing them in the weekly prayer email sent out on Tuesdays. 

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

• Church office closed April 13 & 14.
• April 15 – CMT (Congregational Ministry Team) meeting

DEEPENING in Christ…

PRAYER GROUP

Meets Thursday mornings from 10-11am in the Prayer Room (with masks and distancing).  All are welcome. 

A small ecumenical Centering Prayer group meets on ZOOM Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm.  If you’d like to learn more and receive the link to participate, contact Pastor Tonya. 

EASTER SEASON WORSHIP

Our Easter Season worship services begins this Sunday with the Emmaus Road story from Luke 24 and will end with Pentecost on May 23.  During this season we’ll experience the surprise of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and will journey with these early disciples and the early church through stories in Acts and Paul’s letter to the Galatians. 

CAMP MENNOSCAH RETREAT/SUNDAY WORSHIP – JUNE 20!!

Mark your calendars for Sunday morning worship at Camp Mennoscah on June 20!!  And watch for more details about Saturday night options and Sunday morning schedule.

UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines

UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! are available above the mailboxes.  Please let us know if you would like a copy mailed to you. 

SPRING SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE – NEW TIME: 10:45-11:30AM!!!!

• Kindergarten – 6^th grade:  IN PERSON beginning April 11 – 10:45-11:30am
• 7^th-8^th grades:  IN PERSON, resuming April 11 @ 10:45-11:30am
• High School youth:  currently meeting online, Sundays @ 1:00pm

Adult Sunday School @ 10:45AM (Meets the first three Sundays of the month)

NOTE THE NEW TIME: 10:45-11:30AM!!!!!   You are invited to join this class on ZOOM or in person in the fellowship hall.  Below is the schedule for this Adult Bible Study using the Salt and Light discussion guide.  This quarter focuses on Living for God, written by Leonard Beechy, retired English teacher and member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen, IN.  (Copies of the study guide available at the church, or can be sent to you):

• APR 11 – Living by New Standards (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), Calvin Buller facilitating
• APR 18 – Becoming a New Person (Ephesians 4:21-32), Jim Unruh facilitating

Check your email for the ZOOM link or contact Pastor Tonya. 

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Over the summer, we’re planning to have Sunday School the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays of the month, with the exception of June which will be the 1^st and 4^th Sundays.  Watch for more details!!

Masks and physical distancing practices will continue for all in-person gatherings at the church.

STRENGTHENING Community Connections…

FMC WOMEN’S RETREAT – SAVE THE FIRST WEEKEND OF MARCH 2022

FMC Women … mark the first weekend in March 2022 for our next Women’s Retreat at Camp Mennoscah!! We regret we were not able to gather this year, but are looking forward to future gatherings.

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/ and check back each Saturday/Sunday to listen to a new conversation.  The most recent is with Jeanne Koontz.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS    

• Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00
• Wednesday 10am-1pm 

NOTE:  Church offices will be closed April 13 and 14.  THIS WEEK will not be posted on April 13 . . . the next issue will be on April 21.

PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS

• Monday:  Sabbath Day
• Tuesday-Friday:  generally working 9am-5:30pm(ish)
• Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)

Pastor Tonya will be away April 12-14 to participate in Ministry Integrity Circles via ZOOM (a clergy wellness/coaching program offered by AMBS).  This is the third retreat out of four; the last will be June 21-22 and if all goes well, Tonya will be traveling to Camp Friedenswald for the final retreat. 

SUNDAY MORNING SCRIPTURE READERS NEEDED

Let the church office or Pastor Tonya know if you are willing.  We’d especially like to have more male voices!

STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…

OUR SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR FIRST CALL FOR HELP

Personal care/hygiene items such as these are appreciated: toilet paper, laundry detergent, bath soap, Kleenex, deodorant, disposable razors, paper towels, shampoo, dish soap, hand/body lotion.  Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.  Food bank donations may be brought to the Salvation Army.  At this time the Food Bank is particularly in need of the following:  tomato soup, cream of mushroom soup and green beans.

KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE (KMRS)

PLANTS AND THINGS Sale to support the great work of Mennonite Central Committee

• Saturday, April 10, starting at 9:00 AM and running through the day, closing at 6:00 PM. 
• MCC Building and parking lot in North Newton
• Credit Cards will be accepted. 

QUILTER’S CORNER –  July 2-3, 2021. Quilter’s Corner welcomes your donated QUILT-RELATED ITEMS throughout the year. These used/unused/unfinished items no longer needed in your quilt/sewing/linen closets will be sold to generate funds for MCC relief work around the world. The Fall 2020 Quilter’s Corner brought in over $23,000 for MCC. SUGGESTED ITEMS: • finished/unfinished quilt tops • finished/unfinished quilt blocks • old and damaged quilts • quilt supplies and tools • linens • cloth sacks • quilt books • quilt magazines (2011 – current) • quilt patterns • notions • fabric – cotton.  Items may be dropped off at the MCC Center in North Newton throughout the year. Boxes and bags should be labeled Quilter’s Corner. One of the baskets in the church foyer is designated for Quilter’s Corner donations.  Questions??  Rose Wiebe Haury 316-288-0079,  haury@juno.com

Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale will be held July 2 and 3, 2021, at the Kansas State Fair grounds. 

CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements

• Summer Youth Camp registration is open!   Register online here!
• Please call or email the church office when your children sign up so we can offer a camp scholarship.

Men and Boys Retreat, April 16-18, at Camp Mennoscah! Come to Camp Mennoscah for this long-standing, guys-only retreat! Spend time fishing, canoeing, worshiping, sitting by the fire, or visiting with friends in fellowship.  The official beginning to the weekend is Saturday morning, but many arrive on Friday. Meals can be purchased for Saturday night, Sunday morning and lunch.  People are welcome Friday, but no meals or entertainment will be provided.  Meals available for an additional cost. No pre-registration. Registration and payment will take place upon arrival. For more information contact Kevin Neufeld at 316-322-5515.

Finish the Campfire Amphitheater!  Work days are currently scheduled for the following days: April 9-10, April 24, May 15. Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer for this project. 

BETHEL COLLEGE announcements

• Sun., April 25: KIPCOR Peace Lecture with Leonard Pitts (virtual). Registration is now open at kipcor.org
• Fri.-Sat., April 30-May 1 (including Saturday matinee): spring play, I and You by Lauren Gunderson (in person)
• Sun., May 2: Outdoor choral concert

ALEXANDERWOHL MENNONITE CHURCH (Goessel)

Alexanderwohl is pleased to host the Service of Ordination for Lead Pastor Caleb Yoder on Sunday, April 11, at 4:00 pm.  COVID precautions will be followed, including social distancing, required masks, and no congregational singing. A quartet will sing from the stage. Guests are welcome to join by livestream; email alexmenno@mtelco.net for the Zoom link.  

EVERENCE WEBINARS DURING APRIL – TUESDAYS @ 6:30 p.m.

*Attendance is recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare.

Register soon for these free, online events by contacting our office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.

MENNONITE CHURCH USA . . . WORSHIP, STUDY, PRAYER RESOURCES

Learn about the Potawatomi Trail of Death with Youth Venture. On this nine-day trip, participants will camp along the trail and acknowledge markers while discussing the history and present-day realities for Indigenous peoples in the U.S. Visit MennoniteMission.net/YouthVenture to learn more. Deadline is May 1!

MennoCon21

Mennonite Church USA has announced the registration rates for MennoCon21, its first hybrid convention, to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and online on July 6-10. 2021. In-person attendance is $325 per person for the five-day event and online attendance is $99. For more details, visit mennoniteusa.org/news/registration-rates-mennocon21/
Interested in serving as a DELEGATE (virtually or in-person) for First Mennonite Church?  Contact Pastor Tonya!! 

GLOBAL ORPHAN FUNDRAISER CONCERT

The Ball Brothers will be in concert on Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 6:00pm, in Hutchinson’s Memorial Hall.  Limited tickets are available at https://globalorphanfundraiser.weebly.com/tickets.html   Funds raised will support an orphanage in India.  This four-some offers an uplifting Christian music experience for the whole family.  Care Portal, through which we can support children and families locally, is also a part of this organization.