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This week at FMC

THIS WEEK @ FMC – July 16-22

MennoCon25 “Follow Jesus” ended this past Saturday morning in Greensboro NC with socks flying through the air.  Each pair has the logo “Follow Jesus” on them … a fitting reminder of a core message of the week – following Jesus is something we do with our lives, our hands, our feet.  As Dr. Leslie Francisco McClendon reminded us in the final sermon of the week, we don’t just recite scripture, we live it. We don’t just read scripture, we embody it.  Magdalena and I were glad to represent FMC in the delegate sessions, and Joanna enjoyed attending the Junior Youth sessions. We all benefited from attending workshops and inspiring and encouraging worship services. I am also really glad I decided to participate in the Women in Leadership event that happened Tuesday during the day, before the convention began Tuesday evening. 

For news about the convention, check out this website for the daily newsletter “Grits and Bits.” https://www.mennoniteusa.org/gritsandbits/

Watch for details about your opportunity to hear more from us about the experience and the delegate sessions. We’re planning for a Wednesday evening in August when we’ll report on MennoCon25 and the delegates to Western District Conference Assembly will also have time to report.

Pastor Tonya                                  

 

**The next update of “This Week” will be posted on July 22 .**

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP at 9:30am 

The link to join is on our website: www.hutchfmc.org  Join 5 minutes early for announcements.  The bulletin can be found under the BULLETINS tab on our home page. 

SUNDAY, July 20, 2025 – More Stories of Seeing God at Work

  • Meditation: Joy Miller
  • Peace Essay: Mya Cook
  • Worship Leader: Tonya Ramer Wenger
  • Pianist: Russell Goering
  • Song Leader: TBD
  • Children’s Time: Julie Goering
  • Scripture Reader: Delon Martens
  • Prayers of the People: Tonya Ramer Wenger (text prayer concerns to 620-513-2828)
  • Ushers: Ken Neufeld & Carol Moore
  • Nursery Attendant: Martha Miller

SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS

During each worship service, you are invited to text your prayer joys and concerns – usually to Pastor Tonya.  You are also invited 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 and after worship.  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 to the church office by Thursday each week. 

OFFERINGS

We welcome, and are grateful for, your financial donations to our ministry here in Hutchinson.  Instead of collecting an offering during worship (except on special occasions), an offering box is placed at the back of the sanctuary for your Sunday morning donations.  You can also now make a donation directly from our website (www.hutchfmc.org) using a credit card or your banking account.  You are also welcome to send a check to 52 Rambler Rd Hutchinson KS 67502.

CALENDAR – LOOKING AHEAD

  • July 21 – M&M’s meet at 6:30pm for mini-golfing
  • July 26 – FMC serves at the Soup Kitchen
  • July 28-August 4 – Pastor Tonya gone for final week of sabbatical time away
  • August 8-9 – Western District Conference, Hesston, KS
  • August 10 – Back to School blessing in worship
  • August 10 – Baptisms @ Camp Mennoscah (during the evening – specific time TBD soon!)
  • August 31 – TENTATIVE date for assembling MCC School kits after worship

DELEGATES FOR WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY

The annual Western District Conference Assembly will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church, August 8-9, with the theme, Anabaptism@500:  Faithfulness Then and Now based on Hebrews 12:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 3:11. FMC will be represented by the following delegates: Adrienne Derstine, Julie Goering, Delon Martens, Joy Miller and Ken Neufeld. More information on the Assembly is available at  2025 Annual Assembly – Western District Conference  

REMINDER:  If you are last one out of the church building, be SURE the doors lock behind you.

DEEPENING in Christ…

PRAYER GROUPS & OPPORTUNITIES

If you would like to join with others at FMC for prayer, please let the church office know.

The Tuesday ecumenical Centering Prayer group is taking a SUMMER BREAK and will resume sometime in August. For more details, contact Pastor Tonya.    

LPC: Listening-Prayer-Conversation Groups (taking a break in June & July!)

These groups meet for an hour once/month in the Common Grounds room and are facilitated by Pastor Tonya.  The format allows for time in prayer by yourself and also with the group.  Any are welcome to join, or to just come and check it out! It’s also possible to join on Zoom if you prefer.

  • The Tuesday group’s next meeting is Tuesday, August 12 at 1:00pm
  • The Wednesday evening group’s next meeting is Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30pm

SUMMER 2025 WORSHP @ FMC – LEARNING TO SEE

“This capacity to recognize and respond to the presence of God in all of life is a spiritual habit and practice that keeps us connected with God’s larger purposes for us and for our world, rather than being consumed by self-interest. As we become practiced at recognizing the presence and activity of God, we are able to align ourselves more completely with what God is doing in any given moment.

— Ruth Haley Barton (Sacred Rhythms)

Our summer worship began June 15 with a story inviting us to explore what it means for us to ‘learn to see.’ The invitation to learn to see God more clearly will continue throughout the summer as we hear stories of how we see God at work in our lives, receive peace essays from our seniors, and take a long look at the story of the man born blind whose sight is restored in John 9. This story is a lesson in some of the obstacles keeping us from seeing God at work. Interspersed throughout the summer will also be 3 opportunities (the last Sundays of June, July and August) to light candles as an expression of our prayers of lament and hope, and to be fed, nourished, and seek transformation as we encounter together the presence of the Risen Christ in Communion. 

  • July 20 – More Stories of Seeing God at Work – sharing from Joy Miller, Peace Essay from Mya Cook
  • July 27 – Prayers of Lament & Hope and Communion: Turning from Hostility to Love – Pastor Tonya (& introducing the John 9 series – John 9:1-7 – The Disciples)
  • August 3 – Obstacles to Seeing God at Work & Joining In: The Neighbors (John 9:8-14)
  • August 10 – Obstacles to Seeing God at Work & Joining In: The Pharisees (John 9:13-17; 24-34)
  • August 17 – Obstacles to Seeing God at Work & Joining In: The Parents (John 9:18-23)
  • August 24 – Obstacles to Seeing God at Work & Joining In: The Healed Man (John 9:24-41)
  • August 31 – Prayers of Lament & Hope and Communion: Turning from Fear to Faith

BAPTISMS SCHEDULED @ CAMP MENNOSCAH ON AUGUST 10!

Mark your calendars for the evening of August 10 for the baptism of Hannah Nisly and Adrianna Peach in the river at Camp Mennoscah.  Stay tuned for more details, including the exact time of the event.

SUMMER Sunday School Classes and Dates

Mark your calendars for Sunday School at 11:00am on these dates:

  • July 20 and 27   (Please note this adjustment in Sunday School dates!)
  • August 10 and 24

Children through junior youth will be together in one class, and will be led in activities and discussion inspired by the book: Let the Children Come to me, Nurturing Anabaptist Faith Within Families

The Adult Class studying the Salt and Light Bible Study will also be meeting in the fellowship hall to study the summer topic of “Exclusion and Embrace” – a study of the Beatitudes “in motion” and Jesus’ “living water”—which is always about more than just water. Written by Timothy J. Geddert.  A Zoom option will be available.

UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines  –  available above the mailboxes

  • UPPER ROOM
  • Rejoice! June-July-August issue now available above the mailboxes

STRENGTHENING Community Connections…

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

  • Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm
  • Wednesday office hours during the summer may be irregular

PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS/SCHEDULE

Office hours:

  • Monday: Day Off
  • Tuesday-Friday: generally working 8:00am-5:30pm 
  • “In Office” Hours:  9-2 Tuesday and Thursday; 10-11:30 Wednesdays during Lent
  • Available other times by appointment.
  • Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)

Pastor Tonya’s Sabbatical dates (spread out between summer 2023-summer 2025)

The 9th and final retreat in “Transforming Community” is complete, but Pastor Tonya will be reading and working on the final paper/project for the program which is due in October.  She also has plans to continue meeting once a quarter remotely with the small group she was a part of in the program.  The more extended sabbatical time she has been taking this summer has been focused on connecting with friends and family, strengthening those relationships, in most cases, across many physical miles. One week of sabbatical time remains, which she is taking at the end of July (July 28-August 4). 

LOST & FOUND BOX

Our Lost & Found Box is overflowing!! If you have left a small item behind, please check the box above the mailboxes. Clothing will be hung on the coat rack by the drinking fountains.

ARMS WIDE OPEN – FMC’s history book

The amazing story of First Mennonite Church’s 100 years is told in the history book prepared for our centennial celebration. Copies of the book are available for $25.00 (cash or check). You can also purchase a book online at a price that includes the cost of shipping (click on the “DONATE” button on our website to find this option).   Check with the church office to pick up a book.

STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…

SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR RENO COUNTY FOOD BANK:  

July: Hamburger or Tuna Helper

Personal care/hygiene items such as these are appreciated anytime: toilet paper, laundry detergent, bath soap, Kleenex, deodorant, disposable razors, paper towels, shampoo, dish soap, hand/body lotion, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.

FMC SERVES AT THE SOUP KITCHEN

On Saturday, July 26, we have another opportunity to serve a hot meal to folks in our community. Jean and Cindy will be preparing the entrée and you are invited to sign up to donate applesauce or to help with meal preparation, serving the meal or driving a delivery route. The signup sheets will soon be on the table near the mailboxes.

FMC YOUTH GROUP SUMMER TRIP – Just Peace Pilgrimage with Mennonite Mission Network

Members of the FMC youth group plus their sponsors (Jonathan Wenger, Tanya Martin Nisly) will be traveling to Tucson AZ August 2-9 to participate in a “Christ at the Borders” pilgrimage with Mennonite Mission Network.  During this pilgrimage to the United States-Mexico border, participants seek to better understand the realities and implications of migration, including the reasons causing it and how churches or communities of faith are responding to it.  The experience invites people and communities to see, consider and then explore how to join together in response to such realities. How can we help those who, like us, seek a better life, wholeness and peace?  Please pray for the group as they prepare for and enter into this experience, and as they travel. We look forward to learning from them about their experience after they return. 

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE accepting donations for flooding in Texas.

We are all aware of the death and destruction caused by the recent flooding in the Hill country of Texas.  No doubt many prayers have been lifted up on behalf of the many who are grieving the loss of loved ones.  Here is information from the Mennonite Disaster Service website.

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is monitoring the situation closely, staying in touch with local authorities and partner organizations to assess needs and determine how we might assist in the days and weeks ahead. Our prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy. We are accepting donations for “2025 Texas Floods.” Donations received for a specific disaster that exceed the amount needed for an MDS response will be applied to a similar underfunded effort.

Should you wish to make a contribution to MDS to assist with Texas flood clean up, make your check out to First Mennonite and indicate on the memo line “2025 Texas Floods” and the church will forward those contributions to MDS.   Contributions will be collected on Sunday, July 20, after which FMC’s contributions will be sent to MDS.

Reno County VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) TORNADO RESPONSE

The Reno County VOAD’s mission is to meet the needs for ongoing coordination in Reno County by providing volunteer, financial, spiritual, physical and/or psychological support for people whose lives have been affected by a declared disaster in our community.  They are coordinating direct support for those affected, and are also offering these opportunities for those looking to help those affected by the recent tornado in Plevna and surrounding areas:

  • To volunteer for cleanup efforts: Community members hoping to help clean-up efforts are asked to call the Reno County Volunteer Center and mention the Plevna disaster relief efforts: 620-665-4960.
  • To donate goods: At this moment, the greatest needs are for specific donations of gift cards to Dillons or Wal-Mart for use on basic needs. Other items in need include NEW phone chargers and NEW, unopened hygiene items. These items can be donated to the Salvation Army in Hutchinson (700 N. Walnut).
  • To donate financially– visit: www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/disaster or call the United Way of Reno County: 620-669-9329 and mention the Plevna Disaster Relief Fund.

BETHEL COLLEGE announcements

Sat., July 19 – The first-ever group to win the national talent competition “The Voice” is three Mennonite siblings from Pettisville, Ohio. Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty, Girl Named Tom, will give a free concert at Bethel College, with opening act The Flannelbacks.

  • 4:30 p.m. – Green opens, come set up your blanket and lawn chairs
  • 5:00 p.m. – Food and drink from several food trucks and other vendors
  • 7:00 p.m. – Bethel College alumni group The Flannelbacks opens the show
  • 8:00 p.m. – Girl Named Tom takes the stage

Meet the winners of season 21 of NBC’s The Voice before the concert!

  • 6:15-6:45 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church
  • Receive an autographed poster
  • Individual picture with the band
  • Sing 606 Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow together

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS for “MEET and GREET” NOW!  ONLY 50 TICKETS AVAILABLE!

NOTE: Alternate venue in the event of bad weather – Memorial Hall. Please note that the Luyken Fine Arts Center and parking lot will be off-limits to concert-goers because of another event (there is plenty of parking in the Thresher Stadium lot). 

The 2025 issue of Mennonite Life, Bethel College’s annual online journal, is now live at ml.bethelks.edu, with articles and reviews by Susan Fish, Ardie Goering, Don Goertzen, Peter Goerzen, Jeff Gundy, Michele Hershberger, Melanie Howard, Melanie Springer Mock, Justina Neufeld, Ken Rodgers, Mary Schertz and John D. Thiesen. 

HELP CHILDREN GET READY FOR SCHOOL!

MCC School Kits – watch here for information in next week’s THIS WEEK!

ADOPT-A-STUDENT . . a project of FIRST CALL FOR HELP. A donation of $67.00 will provide a backpack filled with school supplies for a student right here in our community. Mail contributions to First Call for Help, PO Box 2203, Hutchinson KS 67504-2203, or place in secure Mail Drop box outside of First Call office at 17 West 2nd. A tax deductible receipt will be mailed to you. Deadline is August 10. All monetary donations received will be matched.

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE    🎉

It’s a Party!   Announcing Summer Story Days 2025. Join WDC Resource Library staff for stories and come & go activities for ages 3-8 and their caregivers. New this year: Virtual participation with mailed craft kits available–sign up for virtual participation at forms.gle/8DnWnLs64VkZJoeB6. No sign up for in-person activities in North Newton. Join us August 9. For more information contact Jennie at crlib@mennowdc.org.

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE WOMEN IN MISSION retreat plans

Online registration is open for the Womens & Girls Retreat September 6-7 at Camp Mennoscah sponsored by Western District Women in Mission. Our speakers this year are Pastor Katherine Goerzen (Tabor Mennonite Church) and Pastor Laura Goerzen (First Mennonite, Newton). Go to westerndistrictwomeninmission.org for a detailed schedule, register and pay online, or print out forms to register and pay by mail. Registration is due August 29. Any questions? Email us at westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com. See you there – share the news and bring a friend!

EVERENCE RESOURCES

Everence Youth Savings Celebration August 4-6, 2025: Start your savings adventure at Everence Federal Credit Union, where youth will receive $5 when they deposit at least $15 into a new or existing youth savings account during this special event. Have an EFCU branch nearby? Stop in to enjoy crafts, snacks, and giveaways—plus, pick up a Youth Rewards Program Points Tracker to begin earning points toward exciting prizes! Learn more at everence.com/youth-savings-celebration. Click here: share this flyer.

Financial Choice (LSS) Webinar: Money talk for relationships: We all need to learn to talk about money, whether it’s with ourselves, our partner/spouse, and/or our friends and family. Transparency about money can lead to stronger relationships and a higher level of financial health. Steve Bustos, Everence Stewardship Consultant, will host this webinar presented by Kim Miller of Financial Choice (LSS) on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. or 8 p.m. ET. Register for the time that works best for you at everence.com/partners. Click here: share this flyer.

FreedUp personal finance training: Are you looking for financial training based on Biblical principles? Discover personal finance training with the FreedUp financial program, which helps people develop strong habits for personal finances. Learn more and sign up at GetFreedUp.com Through Everence®, we have access to a discount code: pay $19 instead of $99 when you use code fru24eve.  Click here: share this flyer.

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE PEACE CAMP for YOUNG ADULTS

They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. (Micah 4:3)

How can we live out God’s call for justice and reconciliation through nonviolence in a world that is built on the myth of redemptive violence? If you are a young adult (18-30) concerned about the state of our world and energized to reimagine society built on God’s vision of love and justice for all, come join us for a week of experiential learning rooted in theological reflection, peacebuilding practices, and real-world application.  View and download the flyer.

When: September 21-27, 2025 
Where: Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Divide, Colorado  
Who: Young adults ages 18-30 
How: Register here by August 31
Registration Fee: $250.00 guarantees your spot at the camp

MENNONITE MISSION NETWORK (MMN) newsletter

Just Peace Pilgrimages

  • South Africa Racial Justice Pilgrimage — This pilgrimage will explore the long history and legacy of settler colonialism and apartheid, and will focus on the social constructs created around race, land dispossession and how they so thoroughly defined, and continue to define, South African society.
  • Underground Railroad Racial Justice Pilgrimage — Explore the role of faith and faith communities that helped enslaved people escape their bonds. This chapter of the Racial Justice pilgrimage series delves deeper into the struggle for freedom, exploring the ways — both literal and figurative — people took in search of their emancipation. 

For more information on the Just Peace Pilgrimages, to sign up, or to inquire about scheduling a trip for you and your group, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace or contact Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net.

Check out this link to hear stories about some of the many who have served in a variety of MMN programs. Might their amazing adventures inspire you to experience one of their service / learning opportunities?  https://mailchi.mp/mennonitemission.net/alumni-connections-16446729

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE newsletter

Our June edition of On the Level is now available. In this edition, Executive Director Kevin King shares about the power of listening in disaster response, a children’s choir lifts the spirits of hurricane survivors, and MDS responds to victims of Manitoba wildfires. Click on this link to read more: https://conta.cc/4jSUZ8x

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC) announcements

Transport of MCC school kits and hygiene kits from Kansas to South Texas needed! MCC is looking for anyone traveling between North Newton and Dallas or (even better) all the way to South Texas between now and mid-August. We have kits in Kansas that need to get to Texas, and we’d love to utilize vehicles that are already going that direction to save resources. If you might be able to help MCC out, please contact Brocia Mueller at brociamueller@mcc.org or call Brocia at 316.836.5054.

MCC Peace Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Sept. 21-27, Divide, CO – How can we live out God’s call for justice and reconciliation through nonviolence in a world that is built on the myth of redemptive violence? If you are a young adult (age 18-30) concerned about the state of our world and energized to reimagine society built on God’s vision of love and justice for all, come join us for a week of experiential learning rooted in theological reflection, peacebuilding practices, and real-world application. Register by August 31 at mcc.org/events/rocky-mountain-peace-camp. Pass this opportunity on to young adults in your life!

MCC Just Peace Pilgrimages

  • Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples — Engage with contemporary Indigenous realities, explore the histories of Indigenous Peoples, and examine the complexities of Indigenous-settler relations. What might it mean for your community to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and actively contribute to the work of truth telling and repair? Date: October 7-11, 2025; register by August 1. 
  • Civil Rights Pilgrimage — Led by MC USA Executive Director Glen Guyton, this young-adult focused, multiracial pilgrimage through the southern United States fosters shared learning and deep understanding of the racial divides that our society perpetuates. Date: October 28-November 2, 2025; register by September 15. 

To register for these pilgrimages or to inquire about scheduling a group trip, email Stephanie Weaver at StephanieW@MennoniteMission.net. 

To learn more about these and six more pilgrimages, visit MennoniteMission.net/JustPeace 

Register today for the MCC Immigration Learning Tour in South Texas, October 4-9. This immigration-focused learning tour presents a unique opportunity to engage directly with organizations making a positive impact on our neighbors. Find out more at mcc.org/learning-tour-texas.

Volunteer with MCC Appalachia Build: We have had some spots open in our volunteer schedule for the summer. Consider bringing your group for a life-changing week of serving and learning with MCC Appalachia Build (formerly SWAP), a home repair ministry in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Volunteers help families make their homes safe, warm and dry, while building relationships and learning about Appalachia. Learn more and register your group at mcc.org/appalachia-build.

In conflict or disaster, MCC is there – providing funds for emergency food, shelter and supplies. From hurricanes and flooding to conflict and drought, MCC is actively responding to disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Learn more about the work of MCC around the world. 

https://mcc.org/what-we-do

Find your place in Service Adventure!

Openings remain for the 2025-26 service term. Mission Network’s program for ages 17-20 offers young adults a chance to live in community with people your age and a unit leader, serve with a local nonprofit, and grow in faith formation and leadership. Visit MennoniteMission.net/ServiceAdventure to learn more and to apply.