THIS WEEK @ FMC – September 28-October 4, 2022

26 days!!!  We’ve been planning for over 2 years for our Centennial Celebration and now its right around the corner.  Right around a closer corner is October 1, the date by which we’d like your RSVP’s.  These will be really helpful in planning for the two meals part of the event:  the Saturday evening borscht supper with bread and pie, and Sunday noon potluck with meat provided and locals asked to bring generous salads and desserts to share. 

So, head on over to the Centennial page on our website where you’ll find details for the weekend schedule as well as the link to RSVP.  It will only take you a minute or two! If you need help, please contact me.

We’re also anticipating some fun events leading up to the weekend celebration on Wednesday evenings and one Sunday, October 9.  Those details are below, and also here.

And … looking ahead just a bit …  make sure to save up some energy for our first Halloween Donuts on the Lawn since COVID!! This will happen on Halloween at the church.  We’ll need volunteers to help cut, fry, and serve donuts for this fun opportunity to connect with the hundreds who come trick-or-treating in the church neighborhood.  This is why some people know us as the ‘donut church’ and I’m excited we’ll be back on the lawn with our donuts this year.

In all that lies before us, receive this blessing I shared on Sunday…

May the blessing of God go before us

May God’s grace and peace abound

May God’s spirit live within us

May we walk on holy ground.

May God’s blessing remain with us always

May we walk on holy ground.   

(adapted from a song written by Miriam Terese Winter)

    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.

FELLOWSHIP TIME with drinks following the worship service each Sunday

Enjoy a time of fellowship with coffee, tea or juice following the worship service each Sunday. Join us in the Common Grounds room.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2:  A Memorable Day at the Beach (+ World Communion Sunday)

O God, sometimes our broken ways are more comfortable and familiar than living in the freedom you created us for. Give us courage to set aside the things that get in the way of saying yes to your call upon our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

(Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29; Matthew 2:13-15)

• Preacher: Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger
• Worship Leader: Calvin Buller
• Children’s Time: Lona Willems
• Scripture Reader:  TBD
• Organist: Pauline Buller
• Ushers: TBD
• Nursery Attendant: TBD
• Sound Tech: Earl Ediger & Allen Yoder
• Live Stream Tech: Jonathan Wenger

MISSION & PEACE SUNDAY OFFERING FOR MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Thank you for your generous donations this past Sunday for the work of Mennonite Central Committee around the world!

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 2 – Worldwide Communion Sunday
• October 6 – Faith Formation Coordination Team – 4:00pm
• October 7 – Faithful Community Coordination Team – 9:30am
• October 5 – WNAF: Anabaptist Streams Converging in Central KS, presented by Dale Schrag

CENTENNIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

FMC CENTENNIAL . . . LightHouse Service Day and Giving Opportunities

To date, the total raised for the LightHouse project is $28,525, which exceeds the goal we set of raising $22,000! Thank you for your tremendous generosity!  The monies raised will be used for construction costs and furnishings for the apartments. But we are not finished! More dollars are needed for ongoing maintenance needs, so your donations are still very much appreciated from now until October and beyond.  As contractors complete their work, we anticipate inviting volunteers for painting, trim work, cabinet installation, floor work, etc.  Interfaith’s goal is to have the building finished by sometime this winter.

OCTOBER WNAF (Wednesday Nights at First) + 1 SUNDAY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENTS

*All Wednesday evening programs listed below 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-5^th grade for the Wednesday evening programs – if possible, please RSVP to Pastor Tonya if you need childcare.

OCT 5  Dale Schrag: Anabaptist Streams Converging in Central KS

• 5:30-6:15pm Dinner
• 6:20-7:20pm Program

OCT 9 (Sunday) LeRoy Esau and John Esau: Hymn Sing-Along

• 3:30pm Sing-Along in the sanctuary (and livestreamed – link will be on our website)
• Refreshments following

OCT 12  June Galle Krehbiel, Bonnie Swenson & Delon Martens, reflecting on the making of our 100^th anniversary history book: Arms Wide Open

• 5:30-6:15pm Dinner
• 6:20-7:20pm Program
• 7:30-8:39pm Choir Rehearsal (for Oct 23 Centennial Worship Service)

• 5:30-6:15pm Dinner
• 6:20-7:20pm Program
•  7:30-8:39pm Choir Rehearsal (for Oct 23 Centennial Worship Service)

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 100^th anniversary, we have raised over

$26,000 (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: games and activities for the young and young at heart

Inside: Memorabilia Museum of historical items to peruse; purchase your copy of the new 100^th anniversary history book; sit and visit with old and new friends; and more!

5:30pm Borscht Supper begins in the basement fellowship hall (RSVP by Oct 1)

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  (RSVP by Oct 1)

     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…

FALL WORSHIP thru OCTOBER 16, 2022

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.     

FALL WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL  @ 11:00AM (no Sunday School on the 5^th Sundays)

Preschool-5^th Grade: SHINE! Curriculum:  Fall of a Kingdom

• Preschool-Kindergarten (basement – rooms 1&2)
• 1^st-5^th (basement – rooms 5&6)

6^th-8^th (upstairs to the right)

Senior Youth: 9^th-12^th grade (upstairs to the left)

ADULTS:

The Adult Discussion/Study class meeting in the fellowship hall and on Zoom (contact Pastor Tonya for the zoom link or watch for the link in the Friday email from her). This group will be learning this fall about Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.  Pastor Jim will be leading conversation on Oct 2 and 9.  You can learn more here: https://dofdmenno.org/

            “Younger Adults” Class meets in the adult education room in the basement.

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. A fair number of folks responded positively to an initial email inquiry/announcement about this.  More details and plans will be shared later in November. 

STRENGTHENING Community Connections…

SAFE SANCTUARIES TRAINING @ FMC OCTOBER 2 NOON-2:00PM

This announcement applies to anyone who works with children or youth at FMC.  This includes nursery care providers on Sunday morning, Sunday School teachers, mentors.  Your presence is requested at our annual Safe Sanctuaries training on Sunday October 2, 2022 at noon (right after Sunday School).  We will provide lunch and expect to conclude by 2:00 at the latest, and likely earlier.  We are committed to the safety of the children and youth who are part of our church, and to equipping all of you with an understanding of our Safe Sanctuaries policy so it can be implemented appropriately. Please RSVP by September 28 to Pastor Tonya (tonya@hutchfmc.org), letting her know if you can, or cannot, attend.  We appreciate you giving this your time and attention!! 

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:                                               

OCTOBER: Canned Soup (especially tomato & cream of mushroom)

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.

CROP HUNGER WALK (Reno County), SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25!

Thank you for your generous donations!!  We had a great turn out from First Mennonite at the walk (about 15 of us), along with others from Community Church of the Brethren, Grace Episcopal, Emmanuel Lutheran, and 10^th Avenue Methodist. 

PAYDAY LOAN REFORM INFORMATIONAL MEETING . . . RSVP requested

Various organizations across the state of Kansas have come together to confront the predatory nature of payday loans. Today, the average payday loan accumulates 391% interest in just 5 months. As the Kansans for Payday Loan Reform, we’ve been able to identify successful ways other states have reformed the payday loan industry to be fairer. To learn more, you can visit the website https://kspaydayreform.wixsite.com/website. To learn more about this work, you can attend a community conversation on October 13, 2022 at 6:30 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church located at 1602 N Main St, Hutchinson, KS. These organizations and leaders in the Reno County community are working together to host this conversation: Circles of Hope Reno County, Hutchinson Community Foundation, United Way of Reno County, Resilience Reno County, Beyond Barriers, and the Mercy and Justice Team of the Great Plains Conference of the UMC. Please RSVP here

CAMP MENNOSCAH announcements

Work and Play Day on October 15!  

Share a few hours of your time for the satisfaction of improving camp grounds and some free time wandering the trails, fishing, or whatever your favorite camp activity is.  The day starts at 8:30am at the maintenance shed.  If you are coming from a distance, ask about an overnight stay.  Let us know you’re coming, so we can plan for you and your friends.  Call 620-297-3290 or

email olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org!

We’re taking out the dam on October 16 at approx. 2:30pm!  

Everyone is welcome to join in or to watch.  Gather at the shelter.  (The actual removal of the boards is not for young ages.)  The event will go forward, whatever the weather, unless deemed unsafe.  Call Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290, if uncertain.

Fall Scrapbook and Crafts Retreat on Oct. 28-30!   

Crafters and scrapbookers are all invited to come for a weekend of creativity and friends.  Lodging will be in the Retreat Center and cropping/crafting will be in the Main Camp dining hall.  Space heaters will be available for both areas since the repairs for the furnaces will not be completed.  Register here!

BETHEL COLLEGE announcements

Bethel College Women’s Association will appreciate donations of homemade baked goods for Market-in-the-Round at Fall Festival. Zwieback, cinnamon rolls, fruit pies, and poppyseed roll are especially needed. Please bring to Room 141 in Luyken Fine Arts Center 2-5pm on Friday Oct 7, or 7-9am on Saturday Oct 8. Email bcwa@bethelks.edu with questions.

Bethel College Fall Festival October 6-9, 2022:  For more than 50 years, Bethel College has celebrated education, diverse cultural traditions, special foods, fine arts, crafts and friendship at its annual Fall Festival, held each year on an extended weekend in late September or early October. More than 5,000 people come to Newton and the Bethel campus to enjoy an array of activities.  Features include music, food, class reunions, football, the play Quiet in the Land by Anne Chislett and the STEM Symposium honoring Professor Emeritus of Psychology Paul Lewis. See https://www.bethelks.edu/alumni/events/fall-festival for the complete schedule. Check out our Fall Festival 2022 event on Facebook at Bethel College Kansas Alumni Association (https://fb.me/e/2uPob) or follow us on Twitter: @ThresherAlumni

Oct. 16-17, well-known Reformation scholar Brad Gregory from the University of Notre Dame will give the annual Menno Simons Lectures at Bethel College.

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.

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. This is a great opportunity to shop for Christmas, birthdays, and all occasions – books, inspirational materials, and so much more for all ages. This is open to the community, so plan to bring your friends and neighbors. More details to follow.

MENNONITE HEALTHCARE FELLOWSHIP announcements

Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF) invites healthcare providers in all disciplines, including allied health, and all interested in the intersection of health and faith to our Annual Gathering at MCC’s Welcoming Place in Akron, PA, October 14th-16th, 2022. The theme is: Coming Together at the Well – Renewal Through Exploring the Five Life Standards. Participants will have the opportunity to explore and discuss the Five Life Standards from More-With-Less and how they apply to health and healing as well as hear from keynote speaker Malinda Elizabeth Berry, PhD, professor at AMBS. Commuter registration is available for local participants. Registration information at mennohealth.org/annual-gathering-2022/.

MENNONITE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITIES announcements

Position openings on mfc staff:  nursing positions on all levels, maintenance technician, dietary aides. Apply at www.mennofriend.com or call 620-663-7175.

EVERENCE® FINANCIAL WEBINARS

Wednesdays at 2 and 8 p.m. Eastern time

• Sept. 28: How to “ACE” your Financial Plan. Hear how a financial plan can help you align your life purpose with decisions about money. Become more confident in your financial future and maximize your charitable giving.
• Oct. 5: Retirement Readiness: Understanding your Income Options. You’ll hear sound ideas for generating a retirement income stream that lasts, including when to begin taking Social Security.

For information and registration, email national@everence.com

MCC PEACE CAMPS for young adults

Mennonite Central Committee U.S. is excited to offer two peace camps for young adults (ages 18-30) to develop their peace theology and practice. We would like to encourage you (or the young adults close to you) to consider participating! Read more about the peace camps and apply.

Peace camps are an opportunity to
• Apply Anabaptist, Biblical foundations of peace and justice to real world issues 
• Learn and understand dynamics of social change
• Experience personal transformation
• Build new relationships with others from across the country

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

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?

$20 adults/$10 students/indigenous people get in free

Freewill offering to support Kanza Heritage Society at the show

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.

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE letter to congregations

Thank you for the ways you embody God’s good news in your community and our conference!

We hope your congregation is utilizing the many benefits of being part of WDC:

• WDC Resource Library’s large collection of resources for Bible study, spiritual growth, theology, current issues and faith formation for all ages.
• Resources for safe-church policies, healthy communication and congregational discernment processes.
• Credentialing for ministers, with grants for continuing education and sabbaticals, pastor peer groups, healthy boundary training, and assistance with pastoral transitions and reviews.
• Partnerships that revitalize congregational witness through supporting a new church plant or working for justice and peace.
• Opportunities to grow in faith and love by building relationships with other congregations in diverse contexts.
• . . . And much more!

In the spirit of WDC;s recent annual assembly theme, United in Purpose, Together in Love, we seek your generous contributions to support WDC;s ministry and help meet the budget goals for this year. – Heidi Regier Kreider, Conference Minister