Table of Contents
“Lead us in the way of surrender” was our prayer this past Sunday in response to Jesus’ beatitude: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mark Scandrette (https://ninefoldpath.org/ ) is the author I’ve been resourcing for these prayers and accompanying body postures. The posture accompanying this one is to extend your arms/hands and lower them with wrists crossed, as if being arrested.
I have to admit I found this posture pretty uncomfortable and wondered how you all were feeling! As I thought about it more, however, I realized it captures well those moment when we feel like our ‘hands are tied’ … the impossible situations where we don’t know what to do or where to turn, or we know what the right thing to do is and struggle to have the courage to step out.
Scandrette, in a “Learning Lab” resource I have, offers concrete practices for each beatitude to deepen our learning. This week I’m sharing those practices to help us lean into this beatitude a bit deeper. (And wanted to note, in case some of you might be interested, Scandrette has a new book on the beatitudes that will be released soon. You can find it on Amazon: The Ninefold Path of Jesus: Hidden Wisdom of the Beatitudes).
JOURNAL: YOUR RESPONSE TO SUFFERING
We can’t control whether or not we experience suffering, but we often have a choice about how to respond. We can transmit our pain by choosing resentment, retaliation and self-blame. Or, we can choose to transform our pain by bearing it in our bodies, and finding meaning in it as part of a larger cosmic struggle between evil and the good that will ultimately prevail. Take time this week to reflect on how you have responded to suffering in the past.
What in life has been difficult for you? Think of a specific time or situation when you have faced suffering or struggle. How did you respond? What was helpful? Is there any different way to see the situation? What would you do differently now? How might what you experienced be part of a larger story of good and evil in the world? You may find it helpful to share what you’ve written with a friend.
DAILY HABIT: BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU
Make a list of people you might consider to be your ‘enemies’: people you find difficult to love, people who have demonstrated hostility or prejudice towards you personally; or public figures and groups who have expressed disdain and opposition to people like you, or those you love. Make a commitment to pray for the people on your list each day. For each person speak this blessing: “May you find peace, embrace goodness and love, and experience what is most real and true.” If you want to take it a step further, look at a picture of that person while you say your prayer.
EXPERIMENT: RISK DOING GOOD
What is the good that you have hesitated to do because of what it might cost you? Is there any issue, cause, or situation of injustice that you don’t speak up about because you fear a loss of reputation, or opposition from people who are important to you? Think about a tangible step you can take this week, to speak up or to do good. Then take the risk.
-Pastor Tonya
PLEASE NOTE: This post covers two weeks. Our next THIS WEEK will be posted on June 29.
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 REGARDING SAFETY GUIDELINES
The 2021 Congregational Ministry Team (Delon Martens-chair, Jennalee Boggs-chair-elect, Julie Esau, Kevin Martin Nisly, Carol Moore, and the pastors) and the RE-Opening Task Force – Carol Moore, Dohn Fast, Joretta Martens, Todd Esau, Pastor Tonya) offer the following update: Beginning Sunday May 30, masks and distancing are now optional in the church building for those who have been fully vaccinated and are 2 weeks past their last shot. In keeping with CDC guidelines, we ask that unvaccinated people continue to wear masks. In addition, we ask any adults working with children to also wear masks while in the building. Recognizing that not everyone is eligible to receive the vaccine, including children, and that there are some with immune-compromised people in their lives, we ask that we work together to be sensitive to the needs, decisions, and well-being of all.
SUNDAY, JUNE 20: 10am WORSHIP @ CAMP MENNOSCAH with BAPTISMS
- Preachers & Worship Leaders: Jim Unruh and Tonya Ramer Wenger
- Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
- Music: Adam and Maggie Pounds
SUNDAY, JUNE 27: Cultivating Life with God for the World: St. Francis Peace Prayer & Jesus’ Beatitudes – Sowing Seeds of Pardon amid Injury (Matthew 5:7)
- Preacher: Anita Yoder Kehr, Guest Preacher
- Worship Leader: Delon Martens
- Children’s Time: Russell Goering
- Scripture Reader: TBD
- Pianist: Peggy Stucky
- Ushers: Don Wiens & Russell Goering
- Sound: Murray Reimer
- 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
- June 20 – FMC Retreat at Camp Mennoscah (no services @ 52 Rambler Rd & no livestream)
- June 21-25 – Pastor Tonya attending Ministry Integrity Circles in Indiana (plus a couple days vacation)
- July 6-10 – MCUSA Convention (FMC participants attending virtually)
- July 13-16 – Pastor Tonya on family vacation
- July 19-23 – Pastor Tonya at Women Touched by Grace Retreat in Indiana
- July 31-August 1 – Western District Conference Annual Assembly – hybrid event (virtual & in-person)
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.
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.
FMC RETREAT WEEKEND ( JUNE 19-20) with BAPTISMAL SERVICE on SUNDAY
. . . . . Sign up by June 15 if you will be joining us for the Sunday lunch at Camp Mennoscah on June 20. . . . . The signup sheet is in the foyer or call the church office. If you would be interested in coming out to camp Saturday evening and staying overnight in cabins (or you could bring a tent), please let the church office know, and then we’ll plan accordingly depending on how many are interested.
After a year’s absence due to Covid, we look forward to gathering at Camp Mennoscah on June 19 & 20 for a weekend of visiting, game playing, worship, canoeing, swimming, and eating. We are excited to share, too, that Micah Wenger and Jacob Unruh will be baptized in the river during worship on Sunday. Everyone is invited to come out either on Saturday for the night (cabins and tents only) or on Sunday morning for our worship service. The Sunday schedule has worship at 10:00; swimming at 11:00 and lunch at 12:15.
THANK YOU for all your contributions thus far to help pay for our use of the camp and all the activities we will enjoy while there. If you still wish to contribute, you can designate your contributions for FMC Camp Mennoscah Retreat.
SUMMER WORSHIP SERIES – CULTIVATING LIFE WITH GOD FOR THE WORLD (MAY 30-AUG 1)
Guided by the Peace Prayer of St. Francis and Jesus’ Beatitudes we’ll dig deeper in our life with God, discovering how such a life is not just for us, but for the sake of this world God loves. We’ll explore what it might look like to allow God to make us into ‘instruments’ of God’s peace, love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy.
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.
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE/MEETING DATES
All groups except Senior High meet from 10:45-11:30 (Sr High meets at 11:45am)
- June 27
- July 4
- July 18
- August 1
- August 15
Adult Sunday School Bible Study @ 10:45AM (See summer schedule below)
You are invited to join this class on ZOOM or in person in the Common Grounds room. Below is the schedule for this Adult Bible Study using the Salt and Light discussion guide. Copies of the summer study guide are available on the table in the foyer. Please call the office if you would like a copy sent to you. The summer theme is, Facing Life’s Challenges, written by Wilma Ann Bailey.
- June 27 – “Forgiveness Has Depths” – Calvin Buller, facilitator
- July 4 – “How to Be a Neighbor” – Jim Unruh, facilitator
- July 18 – “Who Is Your Neighbor? – Calvin Buller, facilitator
Check your email for the ZOOM link or contact Pastor Tonya.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
AFTER WORSHIP FELLOWSHIP TIME 2ND SUNDAYS IN JULY AND AUGUST
Plan to stay after worship for a more extended fellowship time with coffee/tea (and maybe treats!) on the second Sundays of the month through the summer. We’ll plan to gather outside in the columbarium area for this time of fellowship, weather permitting.
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.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS – may vary from this schedule during the summer
- Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00
- Wednesday 10am-1pm (No Wednesday hours on June 23)
PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS & UPCOMING VACATION SCHEDULE
- Monday: Sabbath Day
- Tuesday-Friday: generally working 9am-5:30pm(ish)
- Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)
- Sunday afternoon June 20-Friday evening June 25 – Ministry Integrity Circles (Mon-Tues); vacation (Wed-Friday)
- Tuesday July 13-Friday July 16 – vacation
- Monday July 19-Friday July 23 – Women Touched by Grace 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.
FIRST CALL FOR HELP
School supplies (new items only) needed . . . in order of most urgent:
- LARGE-sized back packs appropriate for middle/high school students
- Spiral notebooks
- Notebook paper
- Colored pencils
- Colored markers
- Crayons
- Glue sticks
- Erasers (large & toppers)
- Paper face masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Facial tissues
- #2 lead pencils
We have a basket in FMC’s foyer to collect school supplies, or you may drop them off at 12 West 2nd Ave. (Tue or Thu 10am-3:30pm; or Wed 9am-noon). First Call was not able to meet the need last year and is beginning their campaign earlier this year.
Cash donations are appreciated and a philanthropic donor has offered to match all financial donations. Checks payable to First Call for Help (memo – School Supplies), mailed to PO Box 2203, Hutchinson KS 67504.
KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE (KMRS)
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES at the KMRS is looking for volunteers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (July 1-3). Tasks include setting up on Thursday, staffing the booth during the sale and packing up on Saturday afternoon. Sign up on the sheet in the foyer or call the church office for more information.
Watch your email for further announcements about serving at the KMRS!!
KS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE GEAR is here! Get your gear online at https://wearatomic.com/product-category/mcc/ The proceeds from the sale of these products go to support MCC.
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
Family Weekend at Camp Mennoscah on July 17-18! If you are looking for a weekend to escape, Family Weekend offers a smorgasbord of camp activities for you to choose from and plenty of time to roam the river and be with your family and friends. Register at campmennoscah.org and contact 620-297-3290 with questions!
Extra help and hands needed for summer youth camps! Camp Mennoscah has paid and volunteer positions for grounds, maintenance and custodial positions. For those of college age, there is a weekly stipend position that could be a lifeguard, grounds, or custodial position. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for details. You will make camp an amazing experience for everyone!
WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE announcements
Western District Conference Annual Assembly 2021, July 30-August 1, 2021 will be a hybrid event. Some parts of it will be only virtual, other parts will be only on-site at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, KS. Much of it will be hybrid with people on-site and virtual sharing together. Michele Hershberger, Bible and Ministry Professor, Hesston College, will be our keynote speaker and storyteller. We look forward to other storytellers throughout the weekend, as well.
If you are interested in being a delegate representing FMC, please talk to Pastor Tonya or call the church office. Cost of attendance will be by donation. We invite you to give as you are able. More details will be posted at https://mennowdc.org/2021-wdc-annual-assembly/
WDC Women’s Retreat . . . September 11-12 (in-person) – mark your calendar
Staff position opening: WDC seeks a full time Administrative Assistant to work out of its North Newton, KS office, beginning August 25. Responsibilities include office management, communications, records management, scheduling, and administrative support for staff. Qualifications include strong organizational, computer and communication skills, ability to collaborate as part of a team, and willingness to promote WDC’s mission and priorities. For more information, position description and application materials, contact Heidi Regier Kreider, Conference Minister, at heidirk@mennowdc.org or 316-283-6300.
BETHEL COLLEGE & TABOR COLLEGE JERUSALEM SEMINAR this winter!
Bethel College and Tabor College are again sponsoring a trip to Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, from December 26, 2021, to January 15, 2022. The four emphases of the trip are to (1) understand the Bible in its context, (2) learn about the three major religions of the area (Judaism, Islam, Eastern Christianity), (3) understand the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and (4) take time for reflection, worship, and prayer together. There is currently room for additional persons to participate. If interested, contact Peter Goerzen (pgoerzen@bethelks.edu) immediately. Cost is estimated at $4700-$4900 per person.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE announcements
June 22 at 7 p.m. CDT join James Wheeler & Linda Herr, Area Directors for Europe & Middle East, to hear The Gift of Love: Doing our part for healing and wholeness in the world. Register for the webinar at mcc.org/mcc-webinar-series.
The MCC Alumni Gathering is July 9-11 and all MCC alumni and their families are invited to join us at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. Please sign up by June 25!
Current openings at MCC can be found at mcc.org. Current open positions include Canning & Trucking Manager, Multimedia Producer, Meat Canner and many international service opportunities.