WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE

SPROUTS

 November 13, 2017

A weekly communication for:

WDC Churches and Pastors

WDC Executive Board, Commission, Committee and Task Force members

Any content may be used in bulletins and newsletters and

forwarded to congregational leaders and members.

WDC Sprouts is also available at:  www.mennowdc.org (Publications)

IN THIS ISSUE:

*Pastoral Openings

*News and Transitions

*Announcements

Pastoral Openings

First Mennonite Church, McPherson, KS

News and Transitions

Susan Jantzen, pastor at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, KS, has announced her resignation effective June 30, 2018.

Roger and Cynthia Neufeld Smith, Pastors at Southern Hills Mennonite Church, Topeka, KS, will resign effective August 2018.

WDC announcements

  1. Remember, the next Leadership Lunch(bring your own sack lunch) will be on Thursday, November 16 from 12-1:30 pm at the WDC offices. Each month, we are discussing a different Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) competency and how it relates to scripture, Anabaptist theology and practice, and our own areas of ministry. This month, we will focus on “Engage Unusual Voices.” All pastors and ministry leaders from both WDC and SCC are welcome even if you haven’t attended a KLC training or one of the previous Leadership Lunches. We hope these lunches will encourage and empower each of us to exercise more leadership for the common good in our churches and communities. If you want to join by Zoom video conference, contact Nancy Funk (316-283-6300; wdc@mennowdc.org) by November 15.  If you have questions, contact Kathy Neufeld Dunn (kathynd@mennowdc.org), Rachel Siemens (pastor.rachel@faithmenno.org) or Phil Schmidt (pschmidt@tabormennnonite.org).
  1. Register now for the Year of Evangelism Kick Off:  Anabaptist Witness, January 19-20, 2018.  Reconnect ancient spiritual practices, social justice, and authentic Anabaptist evangelism for today.  You’ll find a poster, schedule and online registration about this exciting workshop for church groups and individuals at:  https://mennowdc.org/year-of-evangelism/.
  1. MC USA Core Competencies: Pastors, leaders, and others interested–the Conference Resource Library now has all the resources suggested by MC USA for Core Competencies for pastors.  These titles can be found in the online catalog by searching for “core competencies.”  Stop by or contact the library to borrow these titles.  We mail books anywhere in WDC!  crlib@mennowdc.org or (316)283-6300.
  1. Bradley Kauffman, Director for the Mennonite Worship and Song Committee, will be available on Sunday morning, Dec. 3, to visit a central Kansas congregation to lead singing, share a brief update about the hymnal project, or lead a Sunday school discussion about the creation of the new hymnal.  If your congregation is interested in hosting Bradley that Sunday, contact him at BradleyK@mennomedia.org.  Bradley will be in Kansas that weekend for a hymn sing at Hesston Mennonite Church on Dec 2 at 6:30 pm, and at Bethel College Mennonite Church on Dec 3 at 6:30 pm.

Camp Mennoscah announcements
1.  One more chance to get rid of last year’s white elephant gift!  All Camp Mennoscah volunteers from any and all years are invited to celebrate another year of sharing God’s love with others through service.  We’ll gather at the Retreat Center on December 16 at 2:30pm-ish for conversation, games (indoor or outdoor), and cookies!  There will also be an optional white elephant gift exchange.  Wrap up that oddity you found in the attic or at the back of your closet.  Someone’s sure to want it, right?  Call us at 620-297-3290 or email olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org with questions.  Families are welcome!

  1. We need your help! Camp Mennoscah is seeking volunteers to help prepare the kitchen for renovations beginning Saturday, December 2, and continuing Monday-Saturday December 4-9 until the kitchen is completely gutted. Both women and men are welcome to come out and help, and we will have a variety of tasks to complete. All work will be inside, so don’t worry about cold temperatures! If you wish to volunteer multiple days, that’s great! We can arrange lodging and meals for you. Carpooling to camp may be available on some or all of the days. If you have questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Jim Yoder at 316-284-3890 (call or text), jdyoder@cox.net, or Camp Mennoscah at (620)297-3290, office@campmennoscah.org. Bring a friend, or bring multiple friends! Thank you for considering this opportunity!

Mennonite church announcements

  1. Bethel College and MCC-Central States will partner for #GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. We are asking for financial gifts to the Bethel  Annual Fund and dark-colored, medium-weight, new bath towels to help MCC replenish their relief kits. These kits provide valuable supplies to families whose lives have been disrupted by war or disasters in areas such as Syria, Iraq and Ukraine.  Bring donations Nov. 28 between 5-9 p.m. to the location nearest you (see below). There will be a short program and update on the college at 7 p.m. Each location has a goal of bringing in $2,500 and 250 towels. If they all meet their goal, you will have helped raise $10,000 for Bethel College and 1,000 towels for MCC relief kits.  If you are unable to make it to one of these events, but would still like to give towards the goal, go to www.bethelks.edu/giftand designate your gift as #GivingTuesday to one of the four locations:
    –          Hope Mennonite Church (868 N Maize Rd., Wichita 67212)
    –          Southern Hills Mennonite Church (511 SE 37th St., Topeka 66605)
    –          Rainbow Mennonite Church (1444 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City 66103)
    –          Bethel College Mennonite Church (2600 College Ave., North Newton 67117)
    Dessert and refreshments will be provided.  For more information, contact Brad Kohlman, alumni development director, 316-284-5357, or bkohlman@bethelks.edu
  1. Nurture children’s faith at home this Advent and Christmas through family worship.  Find a free, downloadable guide at www.anabaptistfaithformation.org.  For use between December 3 and January 6, it includes a daily Bible reading, short litany, songs, hands-on activities and questions to ponder together.
  1.  Patriotism, Pacifism, and Sacrifice – What is conscientious objection? Why do people refuse to  go to war? What does the First World War teach us 100 years later?  Kauffman Museum at Bethel College discusses these questions in its traveling exhibit “Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War,” on display in North Newton through January 21, 2018. The exhibit remembers peace-minded people who resisted U.S. involvement in the war, the enactment of military conscription, the war bond drives, and the denial of freedom of speech under the Espionage and Sedition Acts. For their resistance many suffered community humiliation, federal imprisonment, and mob violence at the hands of a war-crusading American public. “Voices of Conscience” lifts up the prophetic insights and the personal courage of World War I peace protesters, and suggests parallels to the culture of war and violence in our world today.  Kauffman Museum invites church groups, Sunday School groups, and youth groups to use the exhibit to talk about the history of peace witness and its relevance for us and our churches. Historical consultant Jim Juhnke and curatorial consultant Rachel Pannabecker are available by request to provide discussion starters and historical background.  For more information or to book a special tour of “Voices of Conscience,” contact Andi Schmidt Andres, Kauffman Museum curator of education: 316-283-1612 or asa@bethelks.edu.  (Kauffman Museum, Bethel College, 27th and North Main, North Newton, KS 67117, Regular hours: Tues-Fri 9:30-4:30, Sat-Sun 1:30-4:30, closed Mondays and major holidays.  Visits outside of regular hours: additional $25.00 fee.  Admission: $4.00/adult, $2.00/child 6-16, free/members)

Western District Conference

2517 North Main, PO Box 306

North Newton KS  67117

316-283-6300; FAX:  316-283-0620

Email:  wdc@mennowdc.org

Website:  www.mennowdc.org