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This morning (Tuesday, October 18) we celebrated Jack Mace’s life with many family and friends. Part of my sending words at the service were from Jack himself – a poem he wrote and set to music. His words give voice to the profound grace of God Jack experienced in his life, and shared so freely with others.
May the Holy Spirit Sing to Your Soul (Jack Mace 1989)
When in the dark abyss of fear, and faith I could not bind;
No peace I felt within my soul. No kindness could I find.
In love, God’s gentle comforter drew near my soul to heal.
Then my dear Lord’s almighty grace place on my heart God’s seal.
Ever shall I recall that day, when in my darkest hour,
God’s spirit sang unto my soul. I felt God’s loving power.
As gently filling love it came, the gift which God did send,
When in sweet blessing for my pain, God took my trembling hand.
Now, walking hand in hand with Christ, I hear the Spirit sing.
Rejoicing in God’s kindness pure, my soul hath taken wing.
Now, evermore shall I rejoice. No more in fear I pine.
God’s Spirit sings unto my soul. God’s gift of love is mine.
O, gentle comforter from God, direct my steps today
To one with anguish flowing high, whose soul cries out in pain.
Use me to sing your gentle song of comfort from above
Thru deeds of mine, compassion show to one who needs God’s love.
With thanks for the many ways God blessed us through Jack…
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.
COVID-19 safety suggestions for ourselves and others
CMT affirms these recommendations offered by the CDC: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask on public transportation. You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23: 100th Anniversary Celebration
Arms Wide Open: Set Free to Serve and Love One Another
Scriptures & Prayers of Blessing: Previous Pastors – Marlin and Betty Kym, Debbie Schmidt, LaVerle Schrag,Miles Reimer, Nathan Koontz; Current Pastors – Tonya Ramer Wenger, Jim Unruh
- Worship Leaders: Tonya Ramer Wenger, Delon Martens
- Children’s Time: DeAnna Goering
- Pianist: Peggy Stucky
- Organist: Pauline Buller
- Guitar: Bryan Kehr
- Song Leaders: Calvin Buller, Jonathan Wenger
- Ushers: Glenda & Rick Hooper, Diane Ziemer, TBD
- Nursery Attendant: TBD
- Sound Tech: Earl Ediger
- Live Stream Tech: Sadie Nisly
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 (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 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 plate is placed at the back of the sanctuary for your Sunday morning donations. You are also welcome to send a check to 52 Rambler Rd Hutchinson KS 67502.
CALENDAR – LOOKING AHEAD
- October 19 – WNAF: Conversation with Former FMC Pastors; Choir rehearsal at 7:30pm
- October 22-23 Centennial Celebration Events (see below)
- October 24 – LightHouse meeting for partners and mentors – FMC 6:00-7:30pm
- October 31 – Halloween Donuts on the Lawn (talk to Jonathan Wenger for details)
- December 4 – Budget and Annual Congregational Meeting
CENTENNIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Thanks to all who volunteered to help in various ways on Oct 22-23. If you signed up to bring bread or pie, please have those at the church by 4pm on Saturday.
- CENTENNIAL CHOIR – All singers are welcome to join the choir for the October 23 worship service. Rehearsal on Wednesday October 19 at 7:30pm, with a warm-up rehearsal on Sunday, October 23 at 8:30am.
FMC CENTENNIAL . . . Partner/Mentorship opportunities
OCTOBER WNAF (Wednesday Nights at First) CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENTS
*Our Wednesday October 19 evening program will have an option to join by Zoom and will be recorded. Contact Pastor Tonya (tonya@hutchfmc.org) for the link, or check the FMC church email closer to the time. We are also planning to provide childcare for nursery-5th grade – if possible, please RSVP to Pastor Tonya if you need childcare.
OCT 19 In-person conversation with former FMC Pastors: Marlin & Betta Kym, Debbie Schmidt, LaVerle Schrag, Miles Reimer, Nathan Koontz
- 5:30-6:15pm Dinner
- 6:20-7:20pm Program
- 7:30-8:30pm Choir Rehearsal (for Oct 23 Centennial Worship Service) in the choir loft
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WEEKEND SCHEDULE – OCTOBER 22-23, 2022
SATURDAY OCT 22
2:00-3:30 Open House at LightHouse (1005 N Washington Hutchinson KS)
2:30 Dedication & Blessing at LightHouse: In honor of our 100th anniversary, we have raised over
$28,000 (and counting) to support the construction and ministry of LightHouse. LightHouse is a house being renovated into 8 one-bedroom apartments, intended to address the growing need for transitional housing for youth 18-21 years old in our community.
3:00-5:00pm Cookies/Refreshments and Activities for All Ages at First Mennonite (52 Rambler Rd)
Outside:
- Inflatable Obstacle Course, Corn Hole, Bubbles, Ladder Ball, Chalk
- CRAFT: First Church Model Kit – option to build there or take the kit home
- “100” Display: Large homemade wooden “100” plus a display of jars filled with
- different 100 items to visually see what 100 represented in different ways looks like.
4:30pm – gather for a GROUP PHOTO beside the 100 display!
Inside: Memorabilia Museum of historical items to peruse; purchase your copy of the new 100th anniversary history book (cash or check $25, credit card $28); sit and visit with old and new friends; and more!
5:30pm Borscht Supper begins in the basement fellowship hall (RSVP by Oct 8)
SUNDAY OCT 23
8:30am Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
9:30am WORSHIP Arms Wide Open – Set Free to Serve & Love One Another (Gal 5:13-14)
Former and present pastors will share a scripture and prayer of blessing for First Mennonite;
Centennial Choir sings
11:00am Fellowship & Transition to Potluck Lunch in the basement fellowship hall
11:30am Potluck Lunch begins
Meat provided; local participants, please bring large side dishes and desserts to share
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 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.
No SUNDAY SCHOOL on October 23 or 30.
UPPER ROOM and REJOICE! devotional magazines
REJOICE! and UPPER ROOM . . . new issues for September are available above the mailboxes. Please let us know if you would like a copy mailed to you.
LPC: Listening-Prayer-Conversation Groups BEGINNING January 2023
Pastor Tonya will be offering something new beginning January 2023 … an opportunity to participate in a monthly LPC group: Listening. Prayer. Conversation. The plan is for a once/month simply structured hour of listening to scripture and Spirit, praying with and without words, and conversation with God and others.
More details and plans will be shared later in November.
STRENGTHENING Community Connections…
HALLOWEEN DONUTS ON THE LAWN IS BACK!!!
After a COVID induced hiatus, we are planning to be back on the church lawn on Oct 31 serving homemade donuts to the hundreds of trick-or-treaters in the church neighborhood. If you’ve never helped before, perhaps this is the year to join the fun!! Costumes welcome but not required (and traditionally there’s opportunity for FMC kids and youth to go trick-or-treating as part of the evening!).
Jonathan Wenger will mix up enough dough for about 500 donuts. Helpers will be needed to: cut the donuts in the basement kitchen, carry donuts out to the lawn, fry donuts, and hand out donuts. We’ll also need help setting up and cleaning up. It takes many hands to make this operation run smoothly. If you can, please let Pastor Tonya or Jonathan know if you plan to come and help, or feel free to show up at the last minute!! Set up will begin at 4pm and we’ll start rolling and cutting donuts around 4:30pm. Come when you can!
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
- Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday – 10:00am – 1:00pm
PASTOR TONYA’S HOURS/SCHEDULE
- Monday: Sabbath Day
- 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)
STRETCHING to Serve as Christ Served…
SUNDAY MORNING DONATIONS FOR RENO COUNTY FOOD BANK: NOVEMBER: Canned Fruit
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, tooth paste and tooth brushes. Travel size – new & unopened – are desirable.
COLLECTING BIBLES for missions
Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church (Inman) is collecting Bibles not being used anymore to take to missions. Let’s not just let the gospel decorate our shelves but put what we don’t use anymore to good use. Diane Ziemer has provided a box in the foyer into which you may put your old/unused Bibles, and will deliver them for us. Bible collection continues through October 31.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE announcements
The MCC Meat Canner will be in Newton November 2 and 3. They are asking for volunteers from FMC on Wednesday, November 2, 6:30am-12:30pm. Please let Pastor Tonya know ASAP if you can help. Meals are provided, volunteers are asked to bring snacks.
MCC Buckets of Thanks: This Thanksgiving season, show your gratitude and provide hope to those in need by collecting relief supplies for MCC. The supplies you donate will fill a Bucket of Thanks (aka an MCC relief kit) for people affected by conflict or disaster around the world. For more information, including supply lists and a ready-to-use curriculum for children, visit: mccbuckets.org.
MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES (mfc) . . . Mollie B & SqueezeBox with Ted Lange
This benefit event for mfc will be held Saturday, October 29, at 6:30pm at Journey @ Yoder, 3605 East Longview Rd (1 mile north of Yoder on Yoder Road). Suggested admission is $15 adults, $7 children and $50 family. Mollie B is well-known as host of the “Mollie B Polka Party” & PBS’s “Polka!” documentary. Ted Lange is a 2-time GRAMMY nominee. They have been featured in the 2018 Warner Brothers Movie, “The Mule,” starring Clint Eastwood; named male and female vocalists of the year; and inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame. Everyone is welcome!
CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements
On Saturday, November 12, we will be playing in the dirt at Camp Mennoscah! It’s the last step (we think) in finishing up the newly renovated amphitheater. Dirt needs to be moved by hand between the rows of limestone seating. We’ll start at 9am and work until the last tablespoon of dirt is in place. Stay for as long as you are able. Bring your water bottle, weather appropriate gear and we’ll provide a lunch. (Call us at 620-297-3290 and let us know of any dietary considerations.)
Camp Mennoscah merch . . . make a purchase to support camp! The Camp Mennoscah online store has been refreshed and is ready for you to fill your need for that newest Camp Mennoscah tee shirt or water bottle. Plan ahead for Christmas gift-giving! Click here: http://camp-mennoscah-store.square.site/
There are a great many things for volunteers to do–come be one! Any of the following are great options for groups of one or more: cutting firewood, cleaning after groups, weekend hosting, being a committee member, mowing or other maintenance/grounds tasks, making a meal for a volunteer group, or recruiting people to volunteer at camp. These are just some of the possibilities! Call us at 620-297-3290 for more information.
BETHEL COLLEGE announcements
Thurs., Oct. 20 – The inaugural Senses & Aging Symposium, 6-8:30 p.m., Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center at Bethel College, with Karen Kendrick speaking on “Hearing Loss and Fall Prevention” and Angela Loucks Alexander presenting from Australia on “Auditory Processing Disorder in Adults.” The symposium is free but registration is requested at www.bethelks.edu/academics/convocation-lectures/senses-aging-symposium
Nov. 4-5, “The Contemporary Relevance of Erasmus for Today: A Symposium,” with a keynote address by Dr. Greta Kroeker, University of Waterloo, Ontario, on Nov. 4, at Bethel College.
Registration is now open for “Joining Voices Together,” Bethel College’s Worship and the Arts Symposium, Sat., Nov. 12, on campus, featuring resource people Bradley Kauffman, Rachel Epp Buller, Katie Graber, SaeJin Lee, Cynthia Neufeld Smith, Adam Tice and Isaac Villegas. Register at https://www.bethelks.edu/worship-arts-registration-2022; discount for 3 or more people from the same congregation. In addition, the public is invited to a Community Evensong service, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall, which will consist entirely of congregational singing from the Voices Together hymnal, arranged around the 12 artworks found in the hymnal.
SWISS MENNONITE CULTURAL & HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION fall banquet
We are excited to announce plans for the Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association Fall banquet. It will be held at the Eden Mennonite Church near Moundridge on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Brian Stucky, a 1971 graduate of Moundridge High School and currently living in Goessel. As a descendant of the family who operated the Alta Mill near Moundridge, he will give a program about “Mennonite Mills in Central Kansas”. Knackie’s will cater the meal. The cost to attend is $25 per person payable at the door. RSVP by texting or calling Nancy Stucky, 620-532-5693 by October 24.
FAITH & LIFE BOOKSTORE Christmas Pop-up shop – SAVE THE DATE!
Faith & Life Bookstore in Newton will be selling in our building on Saturday, November 19. Mark this date on your calendar!!
WDC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Multiple performances of the play “We Own This Now” written by Allison Brookins and performed by Ted & Co. are coming up in early November:
- Wednesday November 2 at 7:30pm at Tabor College
- Thursday November 3 at 7:00pm at McPherson Church of the Brethren
- Saturday November 5 at 3pm at Hope Mennonite in Wichita
$20 adults/$10 students/indigenous people get in free.
Freewill offering to support Kanza Heritage Society at the show.
What does it mean to “own” something? What is the relationship between “owning” and “taking” — and what is the relationship between “ownership” and (taking) responsibility? … Chris has farmed the land his grandmother found as a home in Kansas after fleeing Russia almost 100 years ago. His daughter Riley is learning more about the people who were on that land before her Oma arrived, and the jarring connections she has to the fate of those people. Chris and Riley navigate their changing relationship to each other, the land they’ve been living on, and the stories they tell. Historical documents, absurd situations, and extended metaphors accompany Riley and Chris’s journey. They — and the audience — learn how the Doctrine of Discovery (the legal framework that justifies theft of land and oppression of Indigenous Peoples) is still being used and causing harm today.
KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE – QUILTER’S CORNER accepting donations
Quilter’s Corner is gladly accepting donations for the MCC sale which is April 14 and 15, 2023. Bring your fabric, notions, quilts and quilting supplies to the MCC Center in North Newton clearly labeled for Quilter’s Corner. If questions, contact Ann Yoder Smith at 919-604-3282.