Table of Contents
A prayer for the week, adapted from John 8:12 (and found on the Lectio 365 Prayer App):
“Jesus, light of the world,
as I follow You today
would You illuminate
the darkness within me
and around me.
Show me Your presence
and Your path
as I welcome the light of life.”
—Lectio 365 Prayer App
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 (12/12/21) 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).
It is disheartening to witness the disregard seen in our community about protecting each other from this virus. So we encourage you to protect yourself and your loved ones by wearing masks, social distancing, and diligently washing your hands or using hand sanitizer. We will continue to make this place a safe space for you to come to worship in person. Or if you decide this is the time to stay home, we are glad to have you join us on the live-stream.
SUNDAY, January 30: WOMAN AT THE WELL . . . Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well, speaks of living water and true worship.
John 4:1-42; Psalm 42:1-3
- Preacher: Heidi Unruh
- Worship Leader: Delon Martens
- Scripture Reader: TBD
- Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
- Organist: Pauline Buller
- Ushers: Russ Wedel & Diane Ziemer
- Nursery attendant: Kris & Joyce Lindenberger
- Sound Tech: Earl Ediger & Allen Yoder
- Live Stream Tech: Jonathan Wenger
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES MEET @ 10:45am – EXCEPT ON 5TH SUNDAYS when there is no Sunday School!!
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL ON JANUARY 30!!
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
- January 27 – 4:00pm Faith Formation Coordination Team
- January 28-31 – Pastor Tonya in Silent Prayer Retreat in Atchison KS (Delon Martens or Sara Blodgett can be called with pastoral care crises, except for Saturday afternoon)
- February 6 – CMT & CT’s meet Noon-2:00pm
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…
January 30 – The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-41) Heidi Unruh preaching
February 6 – Healing Stories (John 4:46-54 [5:1-18]) Pastor Tonya preaching
February 13 – Bread of Life (John 6:35-59) Pastor Tonya preaching
February 20 – TENTATIVELY MENNONITE EDUCATION Sunday with Bethel College,
OR: Living Water (John 7:37-52) Pastor Tonya preaching
February 27 – The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) Pastor Tonya preaching
Wednesday March 2 – Ash Wednesday
THANK YOU!! ONE LUNCH OFFERING
Thank you for your donations to Mennonite World Conference this past Sunday!!
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.
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.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
MEMBERS OF OUR 4 COORDINATION TEAMS & CONGREGATIONAL MINSITRY TEAM!!
We will meet Sunday February 6 at the church from NOON-2:00pm. Please let Delon Martens know if the noon time does NOT work for you!! Please bring your own lunch. Drinks will be provided.
NEW BOOK STUDY STARTING WEDNESDAY FEB 2 @ 1:00PM
A new book study is beginning Wednesday, Feb 2 at 1:00pm, and you are invited to join! If you are interested, and the time or day doesn’t work for you, please let me know. If there is enough interest in a different time (maybe an evening?) we can start a second group. The book we’ll be discussing together is The Space Between Us: Conversations About Transforming Conflict by Betty Pries. Check out this article from the most recent Anabaptist World Review that gives a review of the book: https://anabaptistworld.org/conflict-gateway-to-positive-change/
In a time when conflict abounds, it has felt pressing to continue learning and practicing better ways of understanding and entering into conflict, especially as followers of Jesus. My hope is this book will help us continue that journey!! Books are $13.00 each. Let Pastor Tonya know if you’d like to participate so we know how many more books to order.
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.
LAST CALL FOR STORIES FOR FMC HISTORY BOOK – EXTENDED THRU JANUARY 28!!
With work on our church’s history book beginning, here’s one final reminder to submit any stories, reflections, memories, etc. that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the book by Friday, January 28. Contact Bonnie Swenson or Delon Martens if you have any questions about your submissions. And, thanks to all who have contributed their stories already for the book.
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 on Sundays January 30 and 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.
SPECIAL MC USA DELEGATE SESSION MAY 27-30, 2022
A special delegate session of Mennonite Church USA has been called for May 27-30, 2022 in Kansas City
Due to pandemic-related travel concerns in 2021, the regular Delegate Assembly connected with MennoCon 21 was reduced to a short, online session. The agenda was limited to items that did not require table-group processing. Some leaders expressed that the challenges of the pandemic did not allow them time to process resolutions. Leaders also expressed that the church statements on the agenda require face-to-face processing.
The agenda for the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly will focus on the resolutions with some scheduled for a vote and others for study:
- a resolution dealing with “clarification on Mennonite Church USA Polity and the Role of the Membership Guidelines of Mennonite Church USA” (for vote)
- a resolution on MC USA Accessibility (for vote)
- MC USA for Justice Resolution (for study)
- A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation (delegates will vote whether to consider this resolution)
In order to deal with these resolutions, the Delegate Assembly will be structured to
- Allow time for worship
- Focus on our vision and purpose and the Renewed Commitments
- Build community within which discernment can happen
- Provide a setting in which we are open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Read more here on the MC USA website.
We, at First Mennonite, are allowed to send 2 delegates. Delegates who will attend will need to commit to study time. MC USA will provide a variety of webinars and resources to help delegates prepare for the Special Session and Western District Conference will be scheduling a study session for WDC church delegates in March. If you are interested in being a delegate to this special session, let Tonya know, as delegates need to be participating in the webinars and becoming aware of the resources available for study.
It is also our intent to inform you of the content of the resolutions so that we, as a congregation, know what is happening within our denomination. All of us are invited to commit ourselves to a time of prayer for those who are engaged in preparing the agenda, providing leadership at the Assembly, and for the delegates entrusted with listening to the conversations and listening for the Holy Spirit as decisions are made.
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)
Pastor Tonya will be gone Fri Jan 28-Monday Jan 31 on a Silent Retreat in Atchison KS.
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…
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, tooth paste and tooth brushes. 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)
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
Sat., Jan. 29 – Kauffman Museum annual Kansas Day event, “Famous Kansans,” noon-4 p.m. (with food trucks in the museum parking lot starting at 11:30 a.m.), museum and grounds. Along with activities inside and outside the museum, there will be presentations on Gordon Parks (Kirk Sharp, director of the Gordon Parks Museum), Blackbear Bosin (Erin Raux, director of the Mid-America All-Indian Center) and William Allen White (Bev Buller, author and retired educator). For more information, see the Kauffman Museum Facebook page or kauffmanmuseum.org. Current Bethel COVID protocols require masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Sat., Jan. 29 – Guest recital with Gjergji Gaqi, piano, from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, 7 p.m., Administration Building chapel at Bethel College. Current Bethel COVID protocols require masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Fri., Feb. 11, guest recital with Bethel College Professor Emeritus of Music Don Kehrberg, oboe.
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES
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.
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
- Summer staff positions are being filled, but more staff is needed! 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! The wish list is full of both items and 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 volunteer. See the Wish List for other ways to support Camp Mennoscah!