WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
June 24, 2014
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:
*On-Line Giving
*Announcements
On-Line Giving
by Phyllis Regier, WDC Business Manager
While the traditional passing of an offering plate remains the top choice for most churches, electronic giving options are beginning to gain ground. The use of envelopes and offering plates may soon be surpassed by electronic giving. These online options include cell phone applications, automatic bank withdrawals, credit cards, QR codes and even lobby kiosks. For instance when scanned by a smart phone the following QR code will take you directly to the contribution website for Western District.
All these new giving forms acknowledge the trend that people are writing fewer checks and many are no longer carrying a check book. We’ve all, especially the young, come to expect an array of other giving options.
Most sites offer a recurring giving feature that allows online donors to schedule their church donations weekly, biweekly or monthly. When all the options to give are available and donors are free to set their own dates or days to give, many churches have reported a significant increase in giving. This can help even out cash flow for weeks when attendance is down such as during summer when many families go out of town or are simply too busy with other activities. The online giving option allows these people to give to their home church regardless of where they are during the year.
The times are changing and online giving is a way of keeping up with the times.
For more information, contact Phyllis Regier, pregier@mennowdc.org, 316-283-6300.
WDC Announcements
1. Do you belong to the “Last Chance Club”? Time’s a-wastin’ but you can still register for the WDC Assembly, July 4-6. Go to mennowdc.org today to sign up!
2. Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church invites the broader community to these special events, as they continue to celebrate 140 years of faithful service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
- July 13, 7 pm – Willmar Harder & Hannah Neufeld share about their MCC work in Bolivia
- July 20, 7 pm – Historical program and worship at the site of the former Immigrant Houses built for the first settlers to the Inman/Buhler area. Featured speakers: Brian Stucky (methods of locating former buildings), Glen Ediger (research about area Immigrant Houses). Location from Hoffnungsau church is: 1 1/2 miles north on 13th Ave, 1 1/2 miles west on Arrowhead Road.
- July 27, Celebrating the Past, Faithfully Embracing the Future – 9:00 Children’s activities, games and informal visiting; 10:00 Worship & celebration service; Noon – Fellowship meal.
3. Missed the Shine Launch? Come hear about the new Shine curriculum and how to use it in your congregation. Tuesday, July 8 from 7:00-9:00pm at Buhler Mennonite Church. Please register by emailing the presenter, Jennie, at jenniewintermote@gmail.com by July 7.
4. Family Camp! All ages are invited and welcome to join us for fun and exciting Family Camp adventures on July 26-27 at Camp Mennoscah. There will be worship and music and a treasure hunt and a contra dance, swimming, river play–and all imaginable sorts of fun! The brochure can be found online at www.campmennoscah.org under Retreats. It’s going to be adventures galore!
5. Room for YOU (and a friend, too)! Camp Mennoscah still has room at our fun-filled and adventuresome PreJunior II, First Camp, Junior II, and Junior High II camps. Join us for week (or a second week) of camp! (Senior High camp has only a limited number of places.) Invite a friend or neighbor! Scholarships are available. Contact us at 620-297-3290 with questions.
6. Mental Health Spiritual Retreat–This long-running, beloved retreat for those affected by mental illness, along with family and friends, is August 31-Sept. 1. The theme for the retreat is “Finding Your True Self.” Activities include a hayrack ride, worship and music, swimming, crafts, and sessions on the theme. Partial scholarships are available. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 for information.
MC USA Announcements
1. Multi-Staff Congregation Leader’s Summit: Nov. 10-12, 2014, at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA. Large congregations with multiple pastoral staff represent both opportunities and challenges in our Anabaptist understanding of church life. Join us to learn together how to navigate this journey. Learnings will come from John Stahl-Wert, Executive Board staff and peers. Fee $149 (includes room/board). Email Beth to RSVP for your team: bethh@mennoniteusa.org.
2. Bethany Christian Schools, Goshen, Ind., is seeking a Head of School to lead a private Christian school that provides Christian education to about 280 students in grades 4-12. Bethany Christian Schools is a dynamic learning community that integrates faith development with academic excellence. Grounded in Mennonite values, Bethany equips students for Christian discipleship in the church and around the world. Qualified candidates must have prior experience in school administration and organizational leadership, preferably in a senior administrative position, with church school experience. A Master’s degree in education from an accredited college or university is required. The candidate must have or be able to obtain an Indiana Building Level Administrator License prior to starting this job. Qualified candidates must possess proven skills in leading educational institutions while exhibiting a passion for entrepreneurial pedagogy and administration. The candidate must have a mature, growing commitment to Jesus Christ. The candidate must be a contributing participant in the mission of their congregation and must have a commitment to Anabaptist-Mennonite belief and practice. Cover letter and resume may be sent to: Kirk Stiffney, 1114 N. Main St., Goshen, IN 46528, (574) 537-8736, Kirk@stiffneygroup.com. Additional information can be found at http://www.bethanycs.net/jobs
3. J. Daryl Byler, a former MCC representative in Palestine and Israel, Iran, Iraq and Jordan and the current executive director for Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacemaking, will be in central Kansas the first weekend in September for “Conversations for Peace in Palestine and Israel.” Byler and Jason Boone, Coordinating Minister for the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA, are available on Saturday afternoon and evening, September 6, and Sunday morning (September 7), to meet with interested groups and congregations, either together or separately. Expressions of interest in any of these times can be sent to Western District Conference (wdc@mennowdc.org), specifying which one or ones are preferred.
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