May 2014 Volume 55 No 5 VISITORVISITOR - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/bethesdamennonitechurch/documents/2014 M… · VISITORVISITOR ethesda Mennonite hurch IS A OMMUNITY ARING

1

VISITORVISITOR Bethesda Mennonite Church

IS 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.

May 2014 Volume 55 No 5

Inside this Issue...

“For other foundation can no one lay

than that which is laid, which is Jesus

Christ.”

- I Corinthians 3:11

Pentecost Focus…………………….1

Bethesda Women’s Ministries…...2

A Pastor’s Reflections……………..3

CPMC Conference…………………4

Summer Bible School……………..5

Workshop…………………………...5

Thank You………………………….6

MCC Sale Report………………….6

Upcoming Events………………….6

Preschool News……………………6

Calendar……………………………7

Faith in Action…………………….8

PENTECOST - A LETTER FROM PRISON June 4, 1944

So, we are now also celebrating Pentecost, still separated, and

yet it is still in a way a community festival. When the bells

sounded early today, I had a great longing for a worship service.

But then I did like John on Patmos (Revelation 1:9-10), and held

a worship service for myself, alone, that was so beautiful that

the loneliness was not felt at all, because you were all there, and

even the churches in which I had already celebrated Pentecost.

Every few hours since last evening I have been saying to myself

the Paul Gerhardt hymn of Pentecost with the beautiful verses:

"You are a Spirit of Joy"...and "Give joyfulness and strength…”

and also rejoicing in the words "If you faint in the day of adver-

sity, your strength [is] small (Proverbs 24:10), and "for God did

not give me a spirit of cowardice, but of love and self disci-

pline" (II Timothy 1:7). The strange story of the "miracle of the

languages" (Acts 2:1-13) has also again kept me very occupied.

That the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel - which

kept the people from understanding each other because they

each spoke their own language - should come to an end and be-

come overcome by the language of God, which everyone under-

stands, and which is the only language through which people

can understand each other, and that the church should be the

place where this happens; these are all very great and im-

portant ideas. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2

Barb Voth, Rhoda Keener, Shar Doell

March 18 - photo by Kathryn Goertzen

JOIN US FOR THE JUNE BWM MEETING!

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

(DATE CHANGE DUE TO BIBLE SCHOOL)

7 ;00 P.M.

FELLOWSHIP HALL

“Sustaining Hope: Naomi, Orpha, Ruth”

Bible Lesson: Leanna Peters

Feature: “Our Stories”

By Sue Sullivan

Refreshments will follow the program

Offering will be for Bethesda Women’s Ministries

All women are invited to attend

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

Date: Monday, May 19 Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Fellowship Hall Hostess: Elva Janzen

A sign up sheet posted on the Women’s Ministries board.

3

A pastor’s reflections

BY PASTOR JJIM VOTH

It is Wednesday night, April 23 and I’m just home from our last Wednesday evening prayer

and Bible study gathering for this spring. I’m listening to the blessings of an evening shower

and pondering the blessings of our “Year of the Bible” studies together. We’ve been reading

Psalm 119, an acrostic psalm containing 22 sections of eight verses; each section beginning

with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Tonight we read verses 89-96 which begin with

the letter Lamedh.

Tonight we learned that Lamedh, the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the tallest of all

the letters and is considered the center of the alphabet. Its shape is like that of a hand hold-

ing a stick with which to goad or prod the oxen while working the field. (Kind of like a throt-

tle.) We delve deeper into the meaning of this letter and learn that it means to prod oneself to

learn; the discipline of learning and studying the Holy Scriptures. We learn that Lamed is a

Hebrew word for learning that translates into the Greek word for disciple, mathetes. (Notice

the word “math”? Math means “that which is learned.”).

Jesus calls us to be his disciples; his matheo in Greek. He calls us to learn at his feet and then

as we are going through life, invites others to come and be disciples.

Discipleship: that’s what we wish to encourage during the ‘Year of the Bible.” And as we con-

tinue to be disciples of Christ, let us continue to share our God encounters - those sometimes

surprising, blessed moments in life when we see God directing our lives and opening us to new

possibilities of living by faith.

During this season following the resurrection, moving toward the day of Pentecost, June 8,

the birthday of the church, let us join in prayer, whether in the park, in worship, in our homes,

with our family or friends, or in that quiet place alone with God. Let us listen to the Spirit

speaking to our hearts through God’s word to us. Let us journey on in the joy of being disciples

and making disciples.

One footnote: This evening in our last study of the spring we closed by each one sharing a

proverb of King Solomon from Ecclesiastes. Take a few moments to read Ecclesiastes chapter

10 through 12 and pick out a proverb that strikes you. Some that we talked about together:

Ecclesiastes 9:18; 10:2; 10:20 and 12:1. Go, cast your bread upon the waters! Take a risk! Be

prodded on by Jesus!

Mathetes

Lamedh

4

In Service for the Lord! CENTRAL PLAINS

MENNONITE CONFERENCE

June 19-22, 2014

MT. PLEASANT, IOWA

HOSTS CMPC

June 19-22

WHERE: Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Sugar Creek Mennonite Church in

Wayland, Iowa

SPONSORED BY: The Mennonite churches of southeast Iowa

SPEAKER: Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, Associated Dean For Leadership Education

Jewel also leads the Church Leadership Center at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

THEME: Joyfully Following Jesus: Formed by God’s Word

MESSAGE TOPICS:

Starving for Your Word

Called to Teach so that all Might Feast

Formed to Teach, Formed to Lead

YOUTH DELEGATES: Led by Shana Peachey Boshart, Conference Minister for Christian Formation

Children’s Activities will be offered on Friday and Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Children will

dine with their parents.

WORKSHOPS:

Ecuador Partnership: New Pastors, New Churches, New Country

The Loss of Turtle Island Exercise

Agrarian Community Formation

Social Media and the Church

Making the most of your Church Website

Circle of Grace—Successful Implementation Tips

The Nuts & Bolts of Child and Youth Protection Policies

The Stones Cry Out: Palestine Christians & the Quest for Peace

Ask the Conference: What’s your Question (for youth and young adults)

CONTACT: Central Plains Mennonite Conference, PO Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029-0101

Monica at (605) 925-4463

Email: [email protected]

5

BETHESDA MENNONITE CHURCH

COME!

and bring a friend!

WILDERNESS

ESCAPE

IS COMING TO

BETHESDA

JUNE 2 - 6

Registration forms for Bible School are available outside the church office or on line. Early registration

fee (by May 11) is $10 per child and needs to be dropped off at the church office. Late registration fee

(after May 11) is $15 per child. Please contact Elizabeth Goertzen at 402-723-4746 or

[email protected] if you have any questions. Eligible ages: Preschool (3 before January 1, 2014)

thru grade 6.

ENTRUSTED WITH THE MESSAGE OF RECONILIATION A LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

FEATURING

ELIZABETH TROYER - MILLER

MAY 4, 2014

This workshop is for all Board and Committee members and all interested persons. Child care will be available. If you have questions, please contact Carol Janzen at 402-723-4675 or Laura Steingard at 402-723-4536.

6

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY 4: LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP

MAY 14: 6:30 P.M. -PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

MAY 18: CHILD DEDICATION

MAY 25: NOON - CHURCH POTLUCK

MAY 25-JUNE 1: YOUTH SERVICE TRIP TO ASHLAND,

MONTANA

MAY 26: MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES AT CEMETERIES

MAY 29: ASCENTION DAY

JUNE 2-6: BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 8: PENTECOST

JUNE 15: BAPTISM AND COMMUNION

JUNE 19-22: CENTRAL PLAINS CONFERENCE

JUNE 29: NOON - CHURCH POTLUCK

BETHESDA PRESCHOOL HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE! Be sure to “like” us for preschool updates and happenings!

https:/www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers

A special thanks to our family and

friends for all the prayers and con-

cern during my illness and surgery.

We thank you for the cards and the

food your brought us. Also thanks to

Pastor Jim for his visits.

Dinah and Carl Siebert

Thank you to my family relatives and

friends who remembered me in help,

prayers and support through the last

couple of months of waiting and

through my surgery and recovery.

Thank you also, for the food and vis-

its after I got home. Thank you to

Pastor Jim for his visits and prayers

and for the pastors support.

Lorene Friesen

NEBRASKA MCC SALE RESULTS

CRAFTS…………………..$ 41,132.50

ART AUCTION……………...5,608.00

QUILT AUCTION…………37,502.00

CHILDRENS AUCTION. …..757.50

AUCTION OF FOOD……..23,701.00

MCC PROJECTS…………...7,179.96

AUCTION TOTAL $115,880.96

CONCESSIONS…………...65,276.69

OTHER DONATIONS……25,732.87

2014 SALE TOTAL $206,890.52

Thank you to all who have encouraged and supported me in the

last 2-3 years as editor of The Visitor. I have enjoyed the chal-

lenges and the learning as I worked on each issue. A special

thanks to office staff for their help, especially Cindy in her edit-

ing help . The pastors have also been open to committing more

time, adding to their responsibilities, with articles. Pictures

have been important to visually understand each other, and so

Kathryn Goertzen and Tara Swartzendruber have contributed a

great deal, as well as others.

This work has stretched me and helped me grow in my faith.

May God give such blessing to the next editor.

I will edit the June issue of The Visitor, and be available if nec-

essary to help in transition of editorship.

- Margaret Hiebner

7

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

2014

! 1 HAPPY MAY DAY!

2 7:30 A.M. Care Cen-ter Devotions

3

4 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: Mennon-ite Church USA 12:00 Leadership Workshop

5

6 8:30 a.m. Staff

Meeting

7 9:00 a.m. Comm.

Bible Study @ HMB Church

7:00 Powerhouse 7:30 Music Comm.

8 8:30 a.m. Bethesda

Care Team 2:30 Pastor’s Coffee

@ Rosewood

9

10

11 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: Local Church

GRADUATION SUNDAY

HAPPY MOTHER’S

DAY!

12

13 8:30 a.m. Staff

Meeting 7:00 Board of Dea-

cons 8:00 Sunday School

Committee

14

9:00 a.m. Comm.

Bible Study @ HMB Church

6:30 Preschool Grad-

uation 7:00 Powerhouse

15

16

7:30 a.m. Care Cen-ter Devotions

17

6th, 7th, 8th Grade Templo Alabanza Trip

18 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: CPMC Child Dedication 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Templo Alabanza Trip Men’s Night Out

19

7:00 BWM May Birthday Celebration

20

VISITOR ARTICLES DUE!

8:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

8:00 Board of Bus. 8:00 Board of Ed. 8:00 Board of Svc. &

Outreach

21 9:00 a.m. Comm.

Bible Study @ HMB Church

22 2:30 Pastor’s Coffee

@ Rosewood

23 24

25 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: Local Church 12:00 p.m. Potluck Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

26 MEMORIAL DAY

SERVICES Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

27 8:30 a.m. Staff

Meeting 8:00 Church Council Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

28

9:00 a.m. Comm. Bible Study @ HMB Church

Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

29 Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

30 7:30 a.m. Care Cen-

ter Devotions Taylor Janzen/Chase Chrisman Wedding Rehearsal Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

31 Taylor Janzen/Chase Chrisman Wedding Youth Service Trip Ashland, Montana

8

Bethesda Mennonite Church

Box 130

Henderson, NE 68371

Phone: 402-723-4562

Fax: 402-723-4567

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.mainstaycomm.net/bethesda

Return Service Requested

Volume 55 No . 5 2014

The VisitorThe Visitor

A congregation of the Mennonite Church

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit 6

Henderson, NE 68371

Photo by Tara Swartzendruber

Faith has been alive and in action through Bethesda….

…praise be to god! PENNY POWER FOR MCC

EASTER FOCUS