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1 Thessalonians 3:12 offers a beautiful blessing which Pastor Jim invited us to share with each other this past Sunday. Here are a variety of translations of this verse to strengthen and encourage us in being open to God growing love within us. Love is, after all, what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 endures, even after everything else (even faith and hope) disappear.
May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds. (CEB)
May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity… (The Voice)
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all…
(NKJ)
May our Honored Chief make your love for each other and for all people grow deep and wide… (First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament)
—Pastor Tonya
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, MAY 5, 2024 – FAITH, HOPE and LOVE
Loving Lord, you have showered your world with faith, hope, and love. Help us to be faithful to you, to offer hope to those in need, and to love all your children. Amen.
1 Cor. 13:1-3; (Mark 12:28-31)
Today we celebrate the ministry of Camp Mennoscah and the gift it is to us and our children as we support the camp and bring a bit of camp into our sanctuary for everyone to experience.
- Preacher: Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger
- Worship Leader: Stephanie Gehring
- Song Leader: Trae Gehring
- Children’s Time: Lona Willems
- Scripture Reader: Jennalee Boggs
- Organist: Pauline Buller
- Ushers: Jay Gehring & Stephanie Gehring
- Nursery Attendant: Susan Combs
- Sound Tech: Earl Ediger
- Live Stream Tech: Jonathan Wenger
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
- May 5 – Teacher Appreciation Sunday; highlighting Camp Mennoscah
- May 13 – Craft Night – 6:30-8:00pm
- May 19 – Pentecost Sunday, with Communion
- May 23-28 – Pastor Tonya gone on vacation
- May 25 – FMC serves at the Soup Kitchen
- May 26 – No Sunday School
- June 2 – Mennonite Friendship Communities Community Worship Service (6:30pm)
- June 9 – 6:30pm Ice Cream Social @ FMC (note date change!)
- June 15-16 – FMC’s Camp Mennoscah Weekend – Sunday Worship @ Camp (no livestream!)
- June 30 – Potluck after Worship
REMINDER: If you are last one out of the church building, be SURE the doors lock behind you.
DEEPENING in Christ…
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 Thursdays (in person @ FMC) from 12:30-1:30pm. If you’d like to learn more, contact Pastor Tonya.
LPC: Listening-Prayer-Conversation Groups
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 meets 1:00pm on Tuesday May 14
- The Wednesday evening group next meeting is at 6:30 on Wednesday, May 8
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES FOR EVERYONE
CHILDREN’S CLASSES: Living the Good News (Shine curriculum from MennoMedia)
- Preschool-3rd grade – meet in the basement classrooms
- 4th-6th grade – meet upstairs in Jr Youth room
SENIOR YOUTH (8th-12th grade) meet upstairs in Sr Youth room
ADULT CLASS in Fellowship Hall: DVD based study, “Celebration of Discipline,” by Richard Foster. Pastor Jim and Pastor Tonya facilitate
ADULT CLASS in Basement Classroom: Salt & Light study guide prepared by MennoMedia.
And, the YOUNGER ADULTS CLASS meeting in the library. For more details, talk with Maggie or Adam Pounds.
UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines
UPPER ROOM – May through June – is available above the mailboxes.
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES – COMMUNITY WORSHIP & ICE CREAM JUNE 2
Plan to join the mfc Community in worship on Sunday evening, June 2 at 6:30pm for worship and ice cream.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
- Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm
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; 10-1 on Wednesday
- Available other times by appointment.
- Available evenings and weekends (cell phone is most reliable)
Upcoming “Day Apart with God” dates (for silence, reading, prayer & journaling – will NOT be checking email or responding to texts/calls (except for emergencies). Typically this is the 4th Wednesday of the month.
Upcoming Vacation: May 23-28, 2024
Pastor Tonya’s Sabbatical dates (spread out between summer 2023-summer 2025)
Pastor Tonya has joined a study program called, “Transforming Community.” Retreats take place in Chicago. Her next scheduled retreat is June 30-July 2.
A more extended chunk of sabbatical time will be taken in the summer of 2024: June 30-July 4 (for retreat) + July 23-August 9.
CRAFT NIGHT @ FMC on Monday, May 13, 2024
Craft Night is on Monday, May 13, 6:30-8:00pm in the church Fellowship Hall. Bring your project – knitting, crocheting, other crafts – and enjoy this time of friendship and ministry together. Any questions . . . contact Cheryl Warkentin or Diane Ziemer
ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT FMC – JUNE 9 @ 6:30PM (NOTE CHANGED DATE!!!)
The Faithful Community Coordination Team (Joretta Martens, Mary Wade, Hilda Iwashige) invite everyone to participate in an ice cream social on Sunday evening, JUNE 9 (NOT June 2). Gather with church friends new and old to strengthen relationships and enjoy ice cream and other treats! If you can bring a canister of homemade ice cream, please let someone on the Faithful Community team know. Everyone else is invited to bring an ice cream topping and/or finger food to share.
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:
May: Pancake mix & syrup
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.
SUPPORT FOR LightHouse . . . MENTORING
If you are interested in exploring this opportunity to serve as a mentor for a youth at LightHouse, please talk with Pastor Jim.
FMC SERVES AT THE SOUP KITCHEN
Our opportunity is coming up again on May 25 to serve a meal at the Soup Kitchen. It takes many helping hands and lots of smiles to prepare and serve the folks who drop by. Put your name on the list to help prepare food, to make deliveries, and to serve food and clean up. Check the sign-up sheets – you’ll find them not far from the mailboxes. Food donations for this month have been filled. Your help is greatly appreciated.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE announcements
Soft Plastic Recycling is now available at MCC! We invite you to start a new habit of recycling all soft plastics (plastic bags, bread bags, any plastic packaging that you can stretch) at MCC Central States in North Newton! This is a NEW and ONGOING recycling project. Plastics must be clean, dry and free of food waste. A basket under the table in the foyer is designated to receive your recyclables. You may also bring your soft plastic recycling to MCC any time, placing them in the marked bin outside the warehouse. Once at MCC, the plastic is baled into 1000 pound bales. These bales are then sold to the TREX company. They melt down the plastic and use it in making their deck boards. Questions, please contact duaneunruh@mcc.org.
May 26-31: Restorative Justice Peace Camp for young adults (Chicago, Illinois) – This peace camp will dive into creative ways to implement justice in local communities. Learning from experienced restorative justice practitioners in Chicago, we will witness incredible ways that transformation is possible through restorative justice. Register today! mcc.org/events/restorative-justice-peace-camp
MCC’s Sharing With Appalachian People (SWAP) home repair program is seeking summer staff in Kimball, West Virginia or Elkhorn City, Kentucky. These three-month positions for Job Site Coordinators and Meals Coordinators will allow you to explore new cultures, develop skills, build friendships and live out your faith. Applicants should be at least 19 years old, but the roles are not limited to young adults. An hourly wage plus room and board are provided. For more information and to apply, visit mcc.org/swap-summer-meals or mcc.org/swap-summer-job-site. Or contact the MCC Appalachia SWAP office at (606) 634-4418 or AppalachiaAdmin@mcc.org.
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
Scholarship funds are needed for summer youth camps. Just as facilities are an important part of Camp Mennoscah’s ministry, so are campers. There are campers who are unable to come to camp without assistance. Give to the Scholarship Fund or Scholarship Endowment to help more campers learn about Christ while in God’s creation. Mark your donation with the fund/endowment you prefer. The Scholarship Endowment will give up to two full scholarships a year, depending on earnings. Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 for more information.
Nurses, head cooks, kitchen staff and maintenance volunteers are needed for every week of camp. The summer camps range from 3 to 6 days and begin June 9. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org if you are interested.
More volunteer fun than just the Retreat Center project! Many volunteers are still needed for the Retreat Center project, but volunteers are also needed for other camp tasks–mowing, clearing trails, weeding the flower beds. Contact us at 620-297-3290, 316-293-7313 (text) or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org.
Thank you to the many volunteers who have already helped with all the camp projects!
EVERENCE© resources for financial planning
Real world money webinar: Get ready to tap into some unexplored, real-world financial wisdom. Do you ever ask yourself questions like, “How much money do I need?” Join this Everence webinar on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. for an interactive conversation about financial health. Register at everence.com/partners.
Click here for more information, share this flyer.
Budgeting for the unexpected webinar: You never know when a financial emergency will happen – don’t let surprises derail your financial plans. Discover practical strategies to safeguard your finances against unforeseen expenses. On May 23 at 2 p.m. ET, Steve Bustos, Everence Stewardship Consultant, and Kim Miller, Partner Relationship Specialist for LSS, will present a webinar called “Budgeting for the Unexpected.” Register at everence.com/partners. Click here for more information, share this flyer.
Teaching children faith and finance: Teaching lessons of stewardship can start young and in the home! Everence and Financial Choice are here to provide resources and encouragement on your parenting journey. Read more here.
BETHEL COLLEGE announcements
Weds., May 1 – Jazz on the Green at Bethel College, 7:30 p.m. (rain venue: Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center)
Sun., May 5 – Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum with Stan Senner of the National Audubon Society, 3 p.m., Kauffman Museum auditorium
Sun., May 5 – Woven and Open Road joint concert, 4 p.m., Bethel College Mennonite Church
MENNONITE IMMIGRATION TO CENTRAL KANSAS 150th ANNIVERSARY . . . events COMMEMORATING 500 YEARS of ANABAPTISM
Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association
Come join us for “A Century of Mennonite Quilts” at the Wellness Center at Pine Village by Moundridge on Saturday, May 4 from 9:00 to 4:00 and Sunday, May 5 from 1:00 to 4:00 for a display of 110 years of Mennonite art expressed through fabric. We will have quilts representing all the decades from the 1920’s to the 2020’s, and most of the reasons, methods, and sources of materials. This is one of the events celebrating 150 years since our ancestors came to the US from the Ukraine in 1874. All are welcome to appreciate the beauty and talent of many resourceful people who used fabric they had or created new designs. Donna Zerger and her Quilt Committee are bringing over 50 quilts to show you.
Travel to Zurich + Swiss Alps – a 9-Day Tour in May 2025. Tour sites: Lake Geneva, Murren – the Swiss mountain village accessed by cable car, and Mennonite heritage in Bern and the Emmental Valley. On May 29 we will join Anabaptists from around the world in Zurich in worship and celebration of the 500 Year beginning of Anabaptism. Details and registration coming soon. Preview the tour at www.tourwithweldon.com To join the “Interested List” contact Weldon Martens at weldon.martens@gmail.com / 402-202-9276.
Mennonite World Conference Commemorates Birth of Anabaptism in 2025
On 29 May 2025, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) will welcome guests from around the world to The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500. The day-long celebration commemorates the birth of the Anabaptist movement in Zurich, Switzerland. Following workshops, concerts, a panel discussion and self-guided historical walking tours, participants will gather for an ecumenical worship service at the Grossmünster cathedral. Click here for more information https://tinyurl.com/mry2ku85