Table of Contents
“I have no one…” These are the first words uttered by the man who’d been ill for 38 years in response to Jesus’ question: “Do you want to be made well?” As John 5 tells it, Jesus was in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate where there was a pool which had five porticoes. In those lay many invalids – blind, lame and paralyzed. There Jesus saw this man, and knew he’d been there a very long time.
The man’s response explains why he isn’t already well … he has no one to put him into the pool when the water is stirred, and while he is making his way, someone else steps down ahead of him. Jesus doesn’t respond to this, simply says: “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once he was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
While there is a lot in this entire story worthy of note and discussion, I was stopped in my reading by his first words – “I have no one.”
Imagine the loneliness and isolation wrapping around this man’s long 38 years of illness.
And then I started thinking about all the other people in those porticoes, who also needed healing … who perhaps also had ‘no one.’
All this prompted my prayer:
Jesus of Abundant Life,
so many corners, porticoes and rooms today
filled with many who are ‘not well’
crippled by chronic illnesses
and more … injustice, fear, greed, violence …
leaving many with ‘no one.’
Why did you heal just one?
Why not heal them all?
Why not erase pain and suffering from this human existence?
Instead … you entered into it
fully and completely.
… be still and know that I am God …
You came that we might have life, abundant life!
Now and eternally.
And so we wait (sometimes patiently) for you
to lift us up
to set our feet on solid ground
to place in our mouths a new song of praise and trust.
Be pleased, O Lord, to bring deliverance
Make haste to help us. AMEN.
Pastor Tonya
REMINDER: Order your Super Bowl Subs by Thursday, February 10 (support our Sr. Youth)!
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!
REVISED STATEMENT FROM CMT (Congregational Ministry Team) to the congregation regarding COVID precautions.
This statement is based on recommendations from our COVID Response Team (Carol Moore, Joretta Martens, Todd Esau, Dohn Fast).
This virus is unrelenting. The data on hospitalizations and deaths in Reno County and Kansas are alarming. We cannot view these statistics as merely numbers—they represent actual persons who are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents, friends. CMT encourages you to protect yourself and your loved ones by wearing masks, social distancing, and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer in our church building and elsewhere. We particularly want to make this place a safe space for you to come to worship in person. However, if you decide this is the time to stay home, we are glad to have you join us on the live-stream.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13: Bread of Life . . . Bread of Life from heaven
John 6:35-59; (Psalm 34:1-10)
- Preacher: Tonya Ramer Wenger
- Worship Leader: Stephanie Gehring
- Scripture Reader: TBD
- Children’s Time: Julie Goering
- Organist: Pauline Buller
- Ushers: Glenda & Rick Hooper
- Nursery attendant: Anna Crable
- Sound Tech: Earl Ediger & Allen Yoder
- Live Stream Tech: Joel Iwashige
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES MEET @ 10:45am – 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
- February 17 – Congregational Ministry Team meet 4:30pm
- February 20 – Mennonite College Sunday, Open Road Men’s Ensemble from Bethel College
- March 2 – Ash Wednesday and beginning of Lent
- EASTER (April 17) – ALL CHURCH PHOTO 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…
FMC WORSHIP CONTINES TO EXPLORE THE GOSPEL OF JOHN…
- February 13 – Bread of Life (John 6:35-59) Pastor Tonya preaching
- February 20 –MENNONITE EDUCATION Sunday with Open Road from Bethel College and a recorded sermon from Campus Pastor Michael Unruh
- February 27 – The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) Pastor Tonya preaching
- Wednesday March 2 – Ash Wednesday (joint with Community Church of the Brethren)
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 @ 10:45am (NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on 5th SUNDAYS!)
CHILDREN & YOUTH: Meet Jesus, the Messiah (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.
NEW ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY
- What: An additional Adult SS. Class. Salt & Light MennoMedia S.S. material will be used for basis of interaction and discussion.
- When: Meet Feb. 27th to get acquainted and pass out S.S. books.
- How Long: We will meet for one quarter, March – May.
- Where: Prayer Room (right beside elevator in basement)
- Time: 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on first four Sundays each month.
Reminder: No Sunday School on 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.
NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ!
Pastor Tonya has new books from MennoMedia to share with you! They are in the church library directly under the window (along with the rest of her collection). Just sign your name next to the title you are borrowing and return it when you are finished. Be sure to check out these books and others on compelling topics for faith and life today.
Been in the Struggle – Pursuing an Antiracist Spirituality. Regina Shands Stoltzfus + Tobin Miller Shearer
Been in the Struggle nurtures, challenges, and fosters the work and witness of dismantling racism for the long haul. Filled with wisdom and insight from nearly three decades of partnering across racial lines in this work, authors Regina Shands Stoltzfus and Tobin Miller Shearer offer a powerful mix of practical direction and poignant reflection to empower and sustain those working to dismantle racism, regardless of their stage on the journey. (from the book summary on Amazon)
Not Quite Fine: Mental Health, Faith, and Showing Up for One Another. Carlene Hill Byron
In Not Quite Fine, author Carlene Hill Byron tackles the mounting dilemmas that pastors and churches face around mental health. Medicines and therapies have their roles in supporting those who live with mental health problems or mental illness. But God’s own body as the church is intended to be our greatest support in this world. How can the church step up for such a time as this? How can the body of Christ become a healing community for its members in pain—a place where the weary find strength for the journey, a place where those who mourn are raised up as rebuilders of the cities left in ruins? Drawing on her own history of mental health problems and her experience as a teacher and lay counselor, Byron offers words of hope for those who struggle as well as practical insights to equip congregations to better support those who are suffering in their midst. (from the book summary on Amazon)
Disarmed – The Radical Life and Legacy of Michael “MJ” Sharp. Marshall V. King
At 34 years old, Michael “MJ” Sharp was working for the United Nations Group of Experts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—urging rebels to lay down their weapons—when he was murdered, likely assassinated alongside his colleague Zaida Catalán by those with government ties. This compelling account of MJ’s life, death, and legacy from longtime journalist Marshall V. King explores what compelled Sharp to travel the world working for peace and the ongoing impact of his life and death in the ongoing story of Christian peacemaking in a war-torn world. (from the book summary on Amazon)
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL, BIRTHS and DEATHS . . . the church office needs updates for you and for your children!!
Please send us changes as soon as possible. A new directory will be printed soon.
SUPER BOWL SUB FUNDRAISER!!
The Senior Youth will once again be preparing Super Bowl Sub sandwiches for Super Bowl Sunday (February 13). Sign up by Thursday, February 10, for your choice of Turkey OR Ham and Salami. As usual, we will not go cheap on the fixings (veggies for your sandwich are also provided).
Cost: $8 each. Online sign up is here: https://tinyurl.com/FMC-super
The youth will also be available to take your orders at church this Sunday, February 6.
Pick up your subs after church on Feb 13. Let Jonathan Wenger know if you have questions! As always, the youth very much appreciate your support! The hope is to participate in a mission service trip this summer as a group.
DELEGATES from FMC to SPECIAL MC USA DELEGATE SESSION MAY 27-30, 2022
FMC is allotted two adult delegates to the Mennonite Church USA special delegate session called for May 27-30, 2022. If you are interested in being a delegate, please speak to Pastor Tonya in the next week.
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP @ FMC?
Contact Pastor Tonya anytime to learn more! A membership class will be offered if there is enough interest.
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…
DRIVE-THRU VERENIKE SUPPER – First Mennonite, Halstead – February 26
Drive thru and pick up your meal(s) 4:00-7:00pm on February 26, at First Mennonite Church in Halstead (427 West 4th). The menu is verenike, ham gravy, sausage, pickle and cookie. Cost is by donation – proceeds benefit Harvey County domestic violence services and homeless shelters and the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale.
LOCAL GIVING OPPORTUNITY (BY FEB 13)
Recently Heidi Unruh shared about a family with nine children in Hutchinson – friends of theirs – who recently experienced the death of their husband/father. Your prayers for this family are much appreciated, and if you would like to contribute to a more tangible gift of support from our congregation, we are gathering Wal-Mart gift cards (of any size) for the family. Please deliver your gift card to Pastor Tonya by Sunday Feb 13.
OUR SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR THE FOOD BANK
The Food Bank is particularly in need of the following: tomato soup, cream of mushroom soup and green beans.
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, tooth paste and tooth brushes. Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.
KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE (KMRS)
WANTED for the Kansas MCC Sale General Auction: Cars, Trucks, Tractors, Motorcycles, Campers, etc. Call Jerry Toews, 620-367-8257, for details and pickup NOW so we have time to get them cleaned up and ready for the sale in April. ALL proceeds go to MCC. We usually get GOOD prices for your donations. Help make a difference in the lives of those struggling around the world through MCC. Thank you!
BETHEL COLLEGE announcements
Now in the Regier Gallery in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College – Ernest Vincent Wood III, “Redefining,” through Feb. 24 (closing reception Feb. 24). Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 8 – Bethel College Organ Recital Series with Dr. David Pickering of Kansas State University, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel. Current Bethel COVID protocols require masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Sunday, Feb. 20 – Trae Gehring, senior tuba recital; Ad Building chapel
Sat., Feb. 19 – Grand opening of Kauffman Museum’s 125th-anniversary exhibit, “The Magic of Things.” Come-and-go, 2:30-4:30 p.m., with remarks by lead curator Reinhild K. Janzen at 3 p.m. Current Bethel COVID protocols require masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Other Bethel Fine Arts Events:
- Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Ad Building chapel — Organ Recital Series: Dr. David Pickering
- Fri., Feb. 11, guest recital with Bethel College Professor Emeritus of Music Don Kehrberg, oboe.
- Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, Jolliff Auditorium — Orchestra concert
- Sunday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m., Ad Building chapel — Junior recital: Julianna Schrag, soprano
- Monday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center — Wind Ensemble concert
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES (mfc)
Mennonite Friendship Communities is looking for friendly persons to serve as a concierge. This very part-time, fill-in position is in the evenings from 5-10 pm and on weekends. The concierge greets people as they enter the front doors and assists them through the screening process and helps direct them where they need to go. There’s even time to work on homework, watch Netflix or read a book. If you are willing to be flexible and are interested in making a little extra money, contact Stacey Frager – Stacey@MennoFriend.com or apply online – https://www.mennofriend.com/employment.html.
Other volunteer opportunities at mfc include the following:
- Spa Day (independent living opportunity to engage with the women and polish nails – perhaps once a quarter)
- Direct Chime Choir (independent living opportunity with practices perhaps once a week and a few concerts)
- Ceramics coordinator who knows how to operate the kiln (greenware is purchased, prepared, painted, fired)
- More information by contacting Susan Nisly at 620-663-7175
WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE announcements
HAVE A HEART FOR REFUGEES! . . . WDC Immigration Task Force giving opportunity – by FEB 13!!
Offer a “love gift” of cleaning supplies (see list below). International Rescue Committee Wichita resettled 350 families last month alone! Let’s remember our own immigrant history and be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing good news to our neighbors. Drop off donations at the WDC office (2517 N Main, N. Newton; 8am-4:30-m Mon-Fri) or bring them to our foyer and place them in the basket under the table. Deadline to bring items to the church is Feb 13. Online financial donations: rescue.org/united-states/wichita-ks
Dish soap*; All purpose cleaner*
Sponges, cleaning rags, paper towels*
Laundry detergent*
Kitchen trash can; Bathroom wastebasket
Mop*
Broom & dustpan*
Trashbags*
Cleaning bucket*
*must be new
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
Online Registration for the March 18-20 Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat is open! There is only one retreat in spring and only one in fall. Cropping and crafting will happen in the Dining Hall and lodging will be in the Retreat Center. As of Feb. 1, masks are recommended inside per CDC guidelines; guidelines will depend on the state of the pandemic in March. Call 620-297-3290 with questions. Register at www.campmennoscah.org!
Summer staff positions! We will continue to accept applications until all positions are filled, however, summer staff positions will be offered beginning no later than February 5. Now is the time to complete your application, if you have not yet! Applicants should be 18 years old or older and in agreement with the Camp Mennoscah mission statement. See website for details. Information and the online application can be found here! Call or email with questions.
Volunteering opportunities continue through the winter months! There are volunteer projects for every group size, skill set and length of project. These items and projects help with the faith formation that happens at Camp Mennoscah. The list has more wishes and there are more projects to do. Email office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to vol
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC) announcements
Please join MCC in praying for peace and safety for everyone in Burkina Faso and Ukraine. MCC staff and partners are safe in both countries and are following security protocols. In Ukraine, there are two SALT participants from Kansas Micah Epp from North Newton and Aaron Ensz from Buhler, please keep them and their families in your prayers as well.
Take Action with MCC: Urge the Biden Administration to reverse the expansion of harmful “Remain in Mexico” policy. Information here:
https://mcc.org/get-involved/advocacy/washington?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f90721%2frespond
Central States (MCC) Annual Meeting will take place virtually on Saturday, February 26 from 1-2:30 CST. Please email tinaschrag@mcc.org for a link to the Zoom meeting.
EVERENCE® announcements
The Everence® Sharing Fund provided $1,998.66 in matching funds to support special needs in our church and community last year. As individuals and families at FMC, our use of Everence financial services/products directly determines the amount of money available to us from the sharing fund program to help with these needs. Susan Combs serves as the Everence advocate for our congregation. Please contact her for more information about the wide range of services Everence provides.
Everence® will hold an informative Social Security and retirement incomewebinar on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 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.
MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE (MDS)
Wildfire survivors in Okanogan, Washington and Paradise, California—some of them living in sheds, some in cars—need homes. Can Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers finish the homes they’ve started? Some of these survivors have been waiting for more than three years. In Okanogan, MDS, working with the Okanogan Long Term Recovery Group, committed to building four homes, and would like to start another four, said MDS Project Coordinator Kevin Dorsing. The project is scheduled to run from January through March—and many of those weeks don’t have a single volunteer signed up. Learn more https://mds.org/