This Week @ FMC March 24-30, 2021

“I want to see again!”  These the words erupted out of the blind man when he drew near to Jesus, to the heart of God (Luke 18).  There are so many stories in the gospels of Jesus healing the blind, breathing new life into the impossible.  John 9 holds what is probably my favorite story of blindness healed.  Jesus takes ordinary dirt and (disgusting?) spit, combining them to make a healing salve.  Today, as we are in the last week of Lent, I want to share a blessing capturing this scene, written by the wildly creative poet and artist Jan Richardson (www.janrichardson.com).  This blessing hearkens back to the dust of Ash Wednesday, speaks into the daily mess and grime in our lives, and beckons us to see and trust the blessing and wonder of God in all things.     — Pastor Tonya

 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.  Beginning THIS SUNDAY, March 28, 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, March 28:  Triumphal Entry

Palm/Passion Sunday  (Luke 19:29-44)

• Preacher:  Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger
• Worship Leader:  Star Gipson
• Children’s Time:  Diane Ziemer
• Scripture Reader:  TBD
• Pianist:  Shelley Kauffman
• 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

• March 27 – FMC serves at the Soup Kitchen . . . volunteers needed
• March 31 – Faith Formation Coordination Team @ 4:00pm
• April 1 – Maundy Thursday Love Feast with Community Church of the Brethren (ZOOM) @ 6:30pm
• April 2 – Good Friday Tenebrae Service @ 7:00pm (in person & live streamed at FMC)
• April 4 – Easter Sunday (Worship @ 10:30am!!!)

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. 

HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2021

STATIONS OF THE CROSS 2021 OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDITATION

Journey with Jesus to the cross through a PDF electronic version of the STATIONS OF THE CROSS created in 2010 by LaVerle Schrag and Miles Reimer.  This PDF was distributed last year during Holy Week when we were in the midst of the shut-down due to the pandemic.  A separate email will be sent this week with the PDF to download.

Also sent in a separate email will be an at-home devotional , HOLY WEEK TENEBRAE, along with information about gathering on ZOOM for a brief time of evening prayer with Pastor Tonya starting on Monday (Palm Sunday) and following the schedule above. 

THE WAY OF THE CROSS – artwork by DeGrazia.  Come to the church to spend time viewing and praying with DeGrazia’s paintings, also taking us on Jesus’ journey to the cross.  Come during any of these times during Holy Week:  Tuesday 9am-5pm, Wednesday 6pm-8pm, Thursday 9am-6:00pm, Friday 5:00-8:00pm.

MAUNDY THURSDAY VIRTUAL (ZOOM) ‘LOVE FEAST’ @ 6:30PM ON APRIL 1

HOSTED BY COMMUNITY CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

The Community Church of the Brethren in Hutchinson has invited us to join them for a virtual (ZOOM) Love Feast at 6:30 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 1.  (No meal will be included.)   The ZOOM link will be available  the day of the event –  let Pastor Tonya know if you plan to attend so she can send it to you! Participants are encouraged to bring to their ‘at home’ worship space:

• bread and juice or water for communion,
• hand sanitizer for the feetwashing/ handwashing portion of the service.  

UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines

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

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Kindergarten – 6^th grade:  Sunday @ 4:00pm on ZOOM (will begin in person April 11@ 11:00am)

7^th-8^th grades:  Sunday @ 11:00 – in person

High School youth:  Sunday @ 1:00pm – currently meeting online

Adult Sunday School @ 11am on Sundays on ZOOM  (Meets the first three Sundays of the month)

If you wish, please join us 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 4 – NO Sunday school on Easter Sunday

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

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 

PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS

Monday:  Sabbath Day; Tuesday-Friday:  generally working 9am-5:30pm(ish)

Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)

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…

FMC at SOUP KITCHEN on MARCH 27

We will be privileged to serve again at the Soup Kitchen on Saturday, the 27^th.  There is still no fellowship and all the meals will be served in carryout\take away boxes, as before.

• STILL NEEDED:  drivers for 2 delivery routes at 4 pm.
• Please contact: Eldon\Jane Wagler, Kevin or Juliet Nisly if you have questions or can help with a shift. 

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)

BOHNE BERROGI Sales ONLY ON April 3.

The Bohne Berrogi Committee will be making and selling this ethnic delight at Moundridge High School on April 3 between 9:30-10:30AM.  COST: $20.00 a dozen, NO sauce provided; NO advance orders.

!!!!!  NEW INFORMATION . . . Plants and Things –  – donate plants  . . . volunteer to work

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 to allow for proper social distancing
• If you have donations of plants, please bring them to the MCC Building on Friday afternoon, April 9.  This will be a drive through donation with volunteers greeting you and collecting your donations of tomato plants, cabbage sets, etc.  If you wish to make a donation and can’t make this time frame, please contact Kristi at 1-620 367-2721 or email kdunruh97@gmail.com.
• Also selling recycled jewelry created by Theresa Klassen.
• This is your opportunity to prepare for your gardening year, and to support the great work of the Mennonite Central Committee. Credit Cards will be accepted. 
• Volunteers are needed to help Friday to accept plants and help set up.  On Saturday volunteers are needed to help with organization and cashiers.  Link to volunteer to work on April 10:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E44AFA72CA6F85-volunteers1

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

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Western District Women in Mission 2021 Spring Soiree  –  Thursday, April 8 at 7:00pm. 

All women and girls are invited!  Gather with us for a virtual night of worship, music and a reflection on “Faith in Turbulent Times” offered by special guest speaker and freelance minister, Georgia Metz, M. Div. Special music will be provided by Erin Regier Graber and Addie Regier Kauffman.  We are so excited for this time together and hope to have as many women as possible join us!!  Email WDWM2021SpringSoiree@gmail.com to register by April 5. A zoom link will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. 

Book discussion: Why Did Jesus Die and What Difference Does it Make? The WDC Resource Library will host a Zoom discussion on Michele Hershberger’s book Why Did Jesus Die and What Difference Does it Make? at 7:00pm on Thursday, March 25.   Contact the library (crlib@mennowdc.org) to borrow a copy of the book or to register for the discussion.

WDC Immigration Task Force ZOOM networking meeting Thursday, March 25, 7 pm.  Call the church office if you would like to receive the ZOOM invitation.

 A Conversation About Justice & Peace for Palestine & Israel:  The Western District Conference Israel – Palestine Task Force is hosting an informal one hour Conversation About Justice & Peace for Palestine & Israel on April 13 at 7 pm CDT.  There is no cost to participate.  To register for the meeting please email  wdc@mennowdc.org.  A Zoom link will be provided.  Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kathy Nuefeld Dunn at kathynd@mennowdc.org. 

CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements

Thank you, thank you to all the volunteers who helped with Youth Volunteer projects and with putting in the dam!  We are grateful you are willing to share your time and energy doing projects that make Camp Mennoscah safe and fun!

Summer Youth Camp registration is open!   Register online here!

Looking for HUGE tents!  Camp Mennoscah is looking for at least 2 more tents that hold approx. 8-10 bunk beds for summer youth camps (18′ X 36′).  These would be (similar) to the ones used for Senior High Camp (military tents repurposed for peace).  The cost to purchase one is approximately $2600.  If you have one stored away and are willing to lend it to Camp Mennoscah for the summer, please contact us at 620-297-3290.

It’s time to finish the Campfire Amphitheater at Camp Mennoscah!  Work days: April 2 to 3, April 9 to 10, May 14-15.  Come out for one or both days and part or all-day. Ask about overnight lodging. A team of five volunteers will work from 9:00 am to 4:00pm each day installing the new stone benches. There will be stone to cut, move, clean and set along with a whole lot of mortar to mix up.  Bring a lunch and water bottle with you when you come, and plan to arrive at the North cabin area to check in around 9:00 am. Email  office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to volunteer.  Let us know by the Tuesday before!

Looking for kitchen staff and nurses!  Camp Mennoscah is filling volunteer and stipend positions for kitchen staff and nurses for the upcoming 2021 summer.  Contact Camp Mennoscah at office@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 for available weeks and details.  Kitchen staff can receive a scholarship up to full camp fees for their camper.

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.

Camp Mennoscah is seeking a full-time Director of Development, Marketing & Communications to lead our ongoing operational and advancement needs.   This position reports directly to the Board of Directors while taking directive from the Executive Director when related to operational considerations.  As a member of a small, very hands-on staff, the role is expected to be highly collaborative.  This professional must embrace the mission of Camp Mennoscah, have an established background in coordinating nonprofit donation strategies, possess strong written, interpersonal, leadership and relationship building skills, and work as an independent contributor with good organization and follow-through.  Most of the work will commence off campus, however some in-person time at camp is required.  This role involves organizing broad-based fundraising initiatives, advocating for Camp Mennoscah through speaking engagements, promotional materials, and social media, as well as recruiting volunteers, and building relationships with board members, donors and staff.  Our ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of five years of fund development experience, or equivalent experience in church relations, and a passion for Camp Mennoscah.  They should also be familiar with office related applications, and other technology used for communication and social media.  Experience with CampBrain and the associated donor database is a plus. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and early submission is encouraged.  Please send application materials (resume, cover letter, references and salary requirements) to campmennojobs@att.net.

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

Staley Lecture, “Biblical Laments in the Age of COVID,” given this year by Dr. Wilma Ann Bailey is available online.  Dr. Bailey is Professor Emerita at Central Theological Seminary.   Click this link to see the video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHVBcr4_djA, and feel free to share the link as you wish.

HESSTON COLLEGE announcements

Renewed Life with Bel Canto Singers – Hesston College’s Mullet Drive parking lot, 301 S Main St, Hesston, KS – Sunday, March 28, 3 to 4 p.m.  This is a community worship service with music of Lent, Holy Week and Easter.  Join us in person or on the  Fine Arts Livestream

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

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!!