WDC Sprouts, December 10, 2019

Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, KS – Associate Pastor

Southern Hills Mennonite Church, Topeka, KS – Pastor

Turpin Mennonite Church, Turpin, OK – Pastor

1.  Western District Conference invites you to share a gift with WDC during this season, to help our congregations Witness & invite others to faith in Jesus Christ, Dwell in just & loving relationships, and Connect to God’s mission in the world.  As of November 30 we were $111,000 short of meeting our expenses for the year to date, so your generous gifts are invited to help close the gap towards WDC’s 2019 budget goal!   You may make an online contribution here or send a check to Western District Conference, PO Box 306, North Newton, KS 67117.  Thank you for your generosity!

2.  THANK YOU to congregations for their support of Western District Conference in 2019!  WDC values the gifts of leadership, ministry, hospitality, prayer, and financial support offered by congregations. We invite congregations to continue or increase giving to WDC in 2020, to support a budget goal (passed by delegates at the Annual Assembly) of expanding contributions to WDC by 10% in 2020. Join WDC in the important work of sustaining transformational pastors, resourcing healthy missional congregations, and networking Anabaptist church planting partnerships. WDC is your connection to resources and opportunities, to other congregations, and to the wider Mennonite church!  

4.  The December 2019/January/February 2020 issue of WDC Garden is posted at:   https://mennowdc.org/wdc-garden-december-2019-january-february-2020/.  Read about what’s coming up in the new year in Western District Conference. Find out how many “Peace Mennonite Churches” there are in Western District Conference.  Learn about the Church Planting Commission’s work with emerging congregations. WDC Garden is a quarterly newsletter to help you know what’s going on in WDC!

5.  The Youth Ministry Committee of Western District and South Central conferences presents… Youth Lead Now, a one-day workshop designed for high school youth to enrich their leadership skills and deepen faith. Using the adaptive leadership framework from the Kansas Leadership Center and well known spiritual practices, we will equip youth with skills to be leaders among their peers, in their churches, and in their communities.  Our hope is that congregations would partner with us by sending youth who have been affirmed for their leadership gifts or potential.

Date: January 11, 2020
Time: 9am to 4pm
Location: Faith Mennonite Church, Newton KS
Registration Fee: $50 (scholarships available upon request).  High School Youth can register HERE.

6.  Western District Women in Mission in cooperation with Everence Financial will host a two-day conference “Let’s Talk…Women, Money & Faith” on January 24 and 25 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, KS. Featured speakers, Teresa Boshart Yoder and Rhoda Blough, from Everence Financial will address money and faith topics for women of all ages and stages of life. More information and registration coming soon on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WesternDistrictWomen/?modal=admin_todo_tour or at our web page https://communicationswdwm.wixsite.com/wdwm. (Church offices, please run this announcement in your bulletins, pass this information along to women’s groups, print the attached registration forms to distribute, and post the flyer as appropriate in your church to promote the event.  Many thanks!)

1.  Christmas for Volunteers!  Camp Mennoscah loves to celebrate our volunteers and Christmas.  We’re throwing a party for everyone who has ever volunteered at Camp Mennoscah in any capacity on December 14 at 2:30pm.  This party’s for all of you!  Spouses and families welcome.  We’ll provide some snacky items and simple drinks.  Come play games and talk with fellow volunteers!

2.  Thanks to everyone who supported Camp Mennoscah on Giving Tuesday!  Donations totaling a little over $8,300 were received, and all the jelly and zwieback were claimed! Because of this support, Camp Mennoscah will continue to help campers of all ages grow in their faith through experiences in creation, fellowship, and worship. If you missed your chance to give last Tuesday, you can still mail in a 2019 donation by December 31 or give online at campmennoscah.org. Thank you for being involved in this ministry!