WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
January 19, 2016
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)
WDC Announcements
1. Hold the dates! “Held Together in Mission” is the theme the WDC Executive Board has identified for Annual Assembly, July 29-30, 2016, at Bethel College in North Newton, KS. Reference Council sessions in 2016 will also explore this theme in both rural and urban settings, as opportunity to share worship, stories, and conversation about how God is at work in the diverse contexts of WDC:
– Spring Reference Council: “Held Together in Mission: Being Church in the Rural Context” – Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice, NE
– Fall Reference Council: “Held Together in Mission: Being Church in the Urban Context” – Saturday, October 22 in Dallas, TX (schedule/location to be announced).
All WDC board, commission and committee members, delegates, pastors and congregation members are invited to attend Reference Council sessions. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Plan now to attend, and watch for more information on registration and schedules.
2. January 31 is the end of the Western District fiscal year. If your church is holding any funds for Western District, we would appreciate if you could disburse those funds to WDC by that date. We appreciate the financial support of our church members and will continue to resource your congregation as we seek to play a vital role in your spiritual life and growth. Our conference is your connection to other WDC congregations and to the greater Mennonite church.
3. Follow-up gathering for Kansas Leadership Center training: WDC and South Central Conference pastors and congregation members who have received training at Kansas Leadership Center, or who are curious to learn more about it, are invited to a workshop on Saturday, March 12, 8:30 a.m. – Noon, at Whitestone Mennonite Church, Hesston, KS. A KLC representative will facilitate conversation and guide sessions to help us consider ongoing ways to integrate leadership competencies in our Anabaptist/Mennonite context, ministry settings and WDC/SCC. The workshop is free of charge, and brunch will be served. Please contact WDC to RSVP if you plan to attend.
4. The Camp Mennoscah Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have hired Jerry Kroeker as our next executive director. He is currently the executive director at Swan Lake Christian Camp and will begin his service with Camp Mennoscah on February 1 in a part time capacity while completing critical projects in his current position. Kroeker brings nearly two decades of camping experience to this position and will be an incredible asset in continuing the momentum of Camp Mennoscah in providing a place where people of all ages come to renew themselves, their relationships and their connection with God. Our current staff will continue in their responsibilities and will be integral to a successful transition process. The board is grateful to John Stoesz for his leadership over the past year and a half and wish him well as he pursues Indigenous Justice work.
5. Hey, summer campers and youth! There’s a retreat just for those of you in grades 7-12–the Youth Volunteer Weekend–on March 11-12. We’ll be singing and having fun as part of this time of service. Registration is at 7pm on Friday with worship, singing, and snacky stuff following. Saturday will be fun times with Patrick Loganbill and Rachel Miller and various projects around camp. Register online at www.campmennoscah.org or call Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290.
6. Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats! Camp Mennoscah is offering two weekends for all you crafty and scrappy people to focus on your projects–as well as chat and share stories with others! Register online for the March 4-6 or March 11-13 retreats at www.campmennoscah.org or call Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290. It’s a chance to finish up that project you’ve been working on (or put it off even longer)!
7. Super staffers and snazzy folks! Camp Mennoscah will be recruiting for summer staff at Goshen College on Feb. 5 and at Hesston, Tabor, and Bethel Colleges on Feb. 8, 9, and 10 respectively. There will be a pizza meal/gathering on Feb. 10 at 6:15pm-ish at Papa John’s in Newton for those interested in being on summer staff and all former summer staff. Goshen pizza gathering is on Feb. 4 at Goshen College. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org for more information. We think summer staffers are a hoot!
8. Larry and Karen Loganbill and Jennifer Kaufman will share pictures and information from their Israel/Palestine trip at West Zion in Moundridge, January 31, at 6:30 PM. All are welcome. Offering will be accepted for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) for their work in the Middle East. The sharing will be followed by a time of fellowship with cookies.
9. Save the Date – Trinity Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, KS, is celebrating their 50th anniversary on May 29. RSVP to: trinit67063@embarqmail.com or 620-947-3824.
Mennonite Church Announcements
Save the Date – Mennonite Agri-Urban has just finished another successful year and you are invited to help us celebrate. Anyone interested in learning about our organization and everyone who donated feed and worked with Agri-Urban cattle is invited to a faspa on Sunday, February 21 at Eden Mennonite Church, rural Moundridge. Drop in between 3:30 and 5:00 pm. Information about the organization, a financial report and written reports from our beneficiaries will be available. A special thanks to all those who raised cattle and donated feed again this year. Proceeds from the cattle sales benefit Western District Conference, Mennonite Church USA and Bethel College.
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