BETHESDA NEWS “A community caring for all God’s people,

being transformed by Christ's love, serving others as a witness of God’s grace and peace.”

Bethesda Mennonite Church

www.bethesdamc.org October 9, 2016

Deacon Nomination…The terms of Arlin Hiebner and John Huebert as members of the Board of Deacons expire in December. Both Arlin and John have decided not to seek another term. On Sunday, October 23, 2016, a congregational meeting will be held, immediately following the worship service, for the purpose of nominating individuals to fill the terms vacated by Arlin and John. Each congregational member may list four (two for each vacant position) congregational members as nominees for a three-year term. When identifying members, please give consideration to their spiritual gifts and how they may share them on the Board of Deacons and with the congregation as a whole. Absentee ballots are available and must be requested by the member in writing (email is permissible), in person or by phone. If we receive a phone request, ballots must be picked up and signed for by someone representing the member doing the requesting. All absentee ballots must be returned by Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) welcomes donations of money for its disaster response in Haiti, where people are suffering the effects of Hurricane Matthew, which crossed the country October 4. Matthew's high winds and extensive flooding caused significant damage and increased already heightened cholera concerns in the Artibonite Valley where MCC's long-term reforestation program operates. To donate, visit mcc.org/hurricane-matthew, call 1-888-563-4676 or send a check to MCC at 21 S. 12th St. PO Box 500, Akron PA 17501. Kauffman Museum at Bethel College seeks artifacts, letters, photos and documents that tell the story of conscientious objectors during World War I. To learn more, or if you have an item for donation or long-term loan, please contact museum director Annette LeZotte at alezotte@bethelks.edu or 316-283-1612.

WEEK AT A GLANCE

SUNDAY, October 9 8:45 a.m. Deacons Prayer Time 9:30 a.m. Worship

10:40 a.m. Sunday School 10:40 a.m. Catechism Class Student/Parent Meeting

MONDAY, October 10

TUESDAY, October 11 8:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 5:15 p.m. Sunday School Committee 7:00 p.m. Board of Deacons 7:00 p.m. Preschool Committee

WEDNESDAY, October 12 9:30 a.m. Women’s Bible Study (The Upper Room)

12:00 p.m. Bulletin Announcements Due 7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Mission:Possible 7:00 p.m. CORNERSTONE – Fields of Faith 7:00 p.m. Powerhouse – Fields of Faith 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, October 13

8:30 a.m. Bethesda Care Team

Next SUNDAY, October 16 9:30 a.m. Worship Pastor – Jim Voth

Offering – Central Plains Mennonite Conference Special Music – Chancel Choir

Music – Sandra Quiring

CHURCH FAMILY Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs.

Prayer Request: JoAnn Epp Please continue to keep Bryce and Anna Wall’s twins in your prayers. Hudson was able to go home this week. Sawyer continues to be at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado. His surgery for tracheal stenosis was postponed until he gains additional weight gain. Wedding: Alex Siebert, son of Lester and Jean Siebert, and Melissa Sliva will be joined in marriage on Saturday, October 15. May the Lord bless this marriage. Thank You: Thank you to the ministers and the congregation for your prayers, cards and the many kindnesses you have shown our family during Don’s illness and death. God Bless You!

Virginia Peters, Becky and Brent Buller, Mike and Lois (Briles) Peters Ten Thousand Villages:

Ten Thousand Villages is celebrating 35 years of fair trade in Lincoln and invites everyone to celebrate on October 15 in the Historic Haymarket District. The day will be full of performances, interactive displays, food, sales and fellowship. There will be sales on merchandise, fair trade

treats made by volunteers, as well and demonstrations throughout the day. Check out the announcement on the bulletin board in the east hallway for more information. Fall Clothing Give-A-Way: East Hill Church of Christ in York will host a fall clothing give-a-way on Saturday, October 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Clothing and shoes for men, women, and children, as well as bedding, will be available for free. Please use the south doors at 11th and Florida. Donations of clothing, shoes, bedding and hangers can be dropped off between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. beginning October 10 through October 14 at the East Hill Church of Christ.

MCC Relief Sale Meeting: There will be an MCC Relief Sale meeting on October 23 at 2:00 p.m. This meeting will be for board members only. Following the board meeting, a Mini Auction will be held at the Beatrice Church (the country church). Please note, the time is 2:00 p.m. The agenda will be lengthy. Plan to attend if you are a board member.

Central Plains Bible Study Webinar: We had a great turnout for the first Bible study webinar and the second one is just around the corner on Monday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. In A Two-Edged Sword: Reading the Bible Like an Anabaptist, we will look at some of the difficult texts in the Bible. These webinars are especially for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, but anyone is welcome. RSVP on the Bible Study Webinars page at www.centralplainsmc.org by Thursday, October 20.

Ecuador Learning Tour: Now is the time to signal your interest in the January 7-19, 2017 Learning & Fellowship Tour to Ecuador. Organizers would like firm participant commitments by October 31, 2016. Find a description of the trip at http://www.centralplainsmc.org/upcoming-trips.html. To confirm your place on the trip or to request more information, please contact Joetta Schlabach at jschlabach@faithmennonite.org or by phone at 651-290-2185. Refer to the September 18 bulletin insert for additional information.

From Swan Lake Christian Camp: Piano Night at the Lake will be held November 5, 2016 at Swan Lake Christian Camp at 6:00 pm. Come for a night of music in the Still Waters Retreat Center while enjoying a delicious five course meal. There is no charge for the event, but donations will be accepted and reservations are required as seating is limited. This a fundraiser event with all proceeds going toward completion of the Still Waters Retreat Center. Please call the camp at 605-326-5690 for reservations. 10th Annual School Kit Work Night: We will be packing school kits on November 6. The evening will begin with the youth serving supper as a fundraiser. The time will be announced at a later date. You may come early and help to string kits and prepare the pencils for packing. We will again be packing 1,000 kits and since this is the tenth time we will do this, we can celebrate knowing we have sent over

10,000 kits in the last ten years. Thanks to your generous giving, the funds have been received to complete this project. Contact Lindy Siebert or Adeline Huebert if you have any questions concerning this project. Living Water Rescue Mission: The Living Water Rescue Mission in York will be having their annual celebration banquet on November 14 at the Holthus Convention Center in York. Come hear the amazing testimonies of lives changed by our Lord Jesus. Enjoy a great meal, and be entertained by this year’s special musicians. Please call the Mission at 402-362-0127 to make your reservation. Seating begins at 6:00 p.m. with the meal being served at 6:30 p.m.

Backpack Program…Please remember the Backpack Program, for our local students, that provides children with nutritious and easy to prepare food items on weekends when school meals are not available. We are beginning to collect food items for the 2016-2017 school year. Donated items may be placed on the table outside the church office. The Backpack

schedule will be up on the east bulletin board in the coming weeks.

MDS Nebraska has agreed to remove and install new siding on a two story house in Dewitt this fall. Work on this project will occur following harvest. Please keep this project in mind and consider helping if possible. The family had been doing some window repair on their own, however, this came to an end as the man lost his foot in late summer. If you have any questions, please contact Roy Smith, MDS Nebraska Chair.

YOUTH Order forms for the greenery and nuts fundraiser will be handed out today during the Sunday school hour. Forms are due back by November 6, 2016. Catechism Class… The 2016-2017 Catechism class will begin today with a student/parent meeting during the Sunday school hour in the conference room.

Powerhouse (high school) and CORNERSTONE (junior high) will be meeting at the Heartland Community School football field on Wednesday, October 12 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for Fields of Faith. Youth will be sharing their testimonies and leading worship. Parents can drop off youth and pick them up at the school. Bring blankets and warm clothing. Garage Party Update: Thank you for the responses regarding the Henderson Community Garage Party. Bethesda will host two locations along the Henderson Ministerial Association route on Monday, October 31. Each child will be able to collect stickers and claim a prize on Sunday, November 6 during morning worship. If anyone is interested in helping with the food for a s’mores bar, contact Pastor Andrea by text at 402-710-3195 or email andrea@mainstaycomm.net.

For junior high and high school calendars visit the Bethesda Faith Formation page at www.bmcfaithformation.com. If anyone would like to receive texts about junior high or high school activities, please contact Pastor Andrea at the church or e-mail her at andrea@mainstaycomm.net. Mennonite Church USA Convention 2017 is coming up July 4-8, in Orlando, with the theme “Love Is a Verb.” One way you can show love is to consider donating to the convention scholarship fund or partnering with a congregation that can’t afford to send people on its own. Learn more at http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration/ or find the convention on Facebook or Twitter.

Bethesda Preschool has a Facebook Page!

Be sure to “like” us for preschool updates and happenings at

https://www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers.

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First Tuesday Meeting

November 1, 2016 @ 7:00 p.m.

“Worry is a Misuse of Creativity ”

FINANCIALS Worship Offering Sunday, October 2, 2016 Attendance - 284 Sunday School Attendance – 124 Mennonite Church USA ................................................................ 3,166.00 Swan Lake Christian Camp ............................................................ 1,050.00 Bethel College .................................................................................. 250.00 Dayspring – Thailand ......................................................................... 90.00 Dayspring – Undesignated ............................................................... 200.00 Reach International – Sam/Sherri .................................................... 100.00 Ashland Fellowship .......................................................................... 120.00 Technology Improvement Fund/Sound System .............................. 120.00 MCC School Kits ............................................................................... 345.00 Bethesda General Operating Receipts .......................................... 5.945.00 Worship Offering ................................................................ $11,386.00 Sunday School Offering ............................................................. 128.00 Sunday School Projects ............................................................. 981.97 Total Sunday Offering ......................................................... $12,495.97 Join MCC on a Learning Tour to Kenya February 27 - March 11, 2017! Tour highlights include seeing a sand dam in action, learning more about sustainable food projects, meeting the kids at MCC supported education programs and enjoying a one day safari. Contact Anna Yoder annayoder@mcc.org or 316-283-2720 for more information.

Sanctuary Unavailable July through October 2017 PLEASE NOTE: The sanctuary will be unavailable from July 1, 2017 through October 31, 2017 due to Board of Business projects. (NOTE the change in end date from previous bulletin announcements.) They will be painting the ceiling beams, rearranging pews to allow more space

between benches, and replacing lights and carpet. Please keep this in mind as you plan weddings and other events.