WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
December 10, 2019
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)
To support WDC ministries, contributions may be made HERE.    
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Pastoral openings
*Pastoral news & transitions
*Announcements
Pastoral Openings
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, KS – Associate Pastor
Southern Hills Mennonite Church, Topeka, KS – Pastor
Turpin Mennonite Church, Turpin, OK – Pastor
News and Transitions
Susan Jantzen will be installed on December 15 as Interim Pastor of Worship and Visitation at First Mennonite Church, Newton, KS.
WDC announcements
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!  


3.  There are also many options for donors considering planned gifts to benefit Western District Conference. One of those options is a charitable gift annuity, a tool that provides an income payment to the donor or donor couple for their lifetime and then sends a gift to charity upon their passing. Charitable gift annuities offer competitive payout rates and can be a powerful tool for donors to use to provide an income stream for them in their retirement years and support the charities that they are passionate about. The American Council on Gift Annuities is changing rates in 2020 and is recommending slightly lower payout rates. If you have been thinking about establishing a new charitable gift annuity, 2019 is the time to act before rates go down!  
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!)
Camp Mennoscah announcements
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!
Mennonite church announcements
1.  Green Mustard Seed Fund:  Mennonite Creation Care Network  is offering a new grant, in which congregations may apply for $500 to $1000 to assist with creation care projects.  MCCN especially welcomes applications from congregations in communities suffering from environmental injustice.   For more information see https://mennocreationcare.org/green-mustard-seed-fund/
 
2.  Join an intentional community with peers, serve with a local nonprofit, and plug into your neighborhood and local congregation in places like Chicago; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; and Alamosa. Learn more at www.MennoniteMission.net/Serve. Age: 20+; term: 1–2 years.

3.  Need a change of scenery? Join SOOP and use your gifts and skills to work alongside others in a network of ministries across the church. Flexibility designed for retirees, families, and adults over 25. Explore opportunities at www.MennoniteMission.net/Serve.

WDC Sprouts announcement guidelines:  Announcements pertain to Western District Conference (WDC) ministries and churches, institutions with which WDC has formal relationships, and Mennonite Church USA agencies and ministries.  
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