WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE

SPROUTS

 July 10, 2018

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, Hillsboro, KS  (Pastor)

News and Transitions

Lois Barrett has retired as Professor at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary on June 30.

John Otto, retired WDC pastor, passed away on June 16.

Rachel Siemens, Pastor at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, KS, has resigned effective late September.  She will become the lead pastor of Carman Mennonite Church in Manitoba, Canada.

WDC announcements

  1. The WDC Assembly is coming soon!  Please join us on July 27-28 (27th at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, KS and 28th at Eden Mennonite Church, Moundridge, KS).  Register by this Friday, July 13to receive lunch and dinner on July 28 as part of the registration fee.  Registrations received after July 13 will not include these meals as the catering headcount will have been finalized.  Register at:  https://mennowdc.org/annual-assembly/#2018annualAssembly
  1. Attn WDC church offices:  submit the WDC Annual Assembly Delegate List Form (https://mennowdc.org/online-delegate-list-form/) to WDC by Friday, July 13.  This form asks for:  1) your church membership number as of January 1, 2018, and 2) Annual Assembly delegate names. Even if your church is not sending delegates to the Annual Assembly, please submit the form, so we have current church membership numbers. Thank you so much for attending to this detail!
  1. The WDC Church Planting Commission Retreat will be held on July 13-15, at Iglesia Menonita Monte Horeb, 427 N. Marlborough Ave. Dallas, TX 75208.  “In response to God’s call and commission, emerging and established communities of faith seeking the wellbeing of their community by living and sharing God’s shalom understand that a biblical foundation and theological identity are crucial.”  RSVP Sandram@mennowdc.org/ (214) 907-6309  (Poster attached.)
  1. Music Library Volunteer: Do you love church music and have 2-3 hours a month to spare?  The WDC Music Library needs you!  The Music Library Volunteer would communicate with patrons who have scores checked out, sort through music donations, deciding which to integrate into the collection, and return borrowed music to the files. Ask Jennie Wintermote for more information at crlib@mennowdc.org.
  1. Rosie Epp, WDC representative to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States Board just returned from a trip to the US/Mexico border with the MCC US board.  The board visited MCC partners and explored ways MCC is and can respond to the current immigration debate.  She is willing to share her experience and learnings with persons/churches interested in hearing how Christians can respond to the crisis of migration.  Contact Rosie at:  Rosieepp@gmail.com.
  1. Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita, KS, is taking applications for an Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, 30 hours a week.  Applicants must have skills in: all forms of communication, Microsoft Office, web maintenance, and general accounting.  If you are interested in this position or know someone who might be, please contact Melanie Mitchell, mitch3m@sbcglobal.net
  1. Invitation for peace witness: WDC recently learned that the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service, an independent federal agency, is conducting a review of military selective service registration in the U.S. The agency invites public comment through September 30, online or at public meetings. For more information see http://inspire2serve.gov/news-events/national-commission-military-national-and-public-service-announces-locations-public.  Within WDC geography, a meeting will take place Thursday, July 19 in Waco, TX – see http://inspire2serve.gov/news-events.   This is an opportunity for people of faith to witness for peace and advocate for alternatives to war and military service. For talking points, contact the Center on Conscience and War at at 202-483-2220 or http://centeronconscience.org/co/conscientious-objection-and-the-draft/353-commission-on-military-national-and-public-service.html.  (The CCW is a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of conscience, opposes military conscription, and serves conscientious objectors to war)  Other resources on conscientious objection and militarism can be found at Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Mission Network at https://www.pjsn.org/resources/the-military/

Camp Mennoscah announcements

  1. We already know we have a lot to celebrate this summer at Camp Mennoscah!  On August 12 at 6:30pm, we’ll gather together at Hesston Mennonite to sing and celebrate a summer of friends and faith with our annual Camp Sing.  There will be joyous singing followed by popcorn and generic pop–a camp standard!  Add Camp Sing to your calendar and we’ll see you there!
  1. Young Adult Retreat at Camp Mennoscah, August 3-5!  All young adults (18 years old and older) are invited to spend a few days at Camp Mennoscah, doing favorite camp activities and luxuriating in nature and the camp community.  Register online at campmennoscah.organd pick your own level of scholarship!  We want everyone to be able to attend.

Mennonite church announcements
1.  Join Mennonite Central Committee on a Learning Tour to Explore the Root Causes of Migration in Guatemala and Honduras, November 7-17. Guatemala and Honduras, are countries from which the US, and increasingly Mexico, are receiving the majority of its immigrants. Honduras and Guatemala are both within the top 10 most violent countries in the world, plagued by gang presence, political corruption, and lack of economic opportunity that permit the realities to exist that drive people from their homeland. MCC seeks to educate and expose Learning Tour participants to the realities that many people face that result in migration, internally and to foreign countries. This Learning Tour will provide firsthand stories, opportunities to meet the people as well as the organizations that are walking with them, participate in the rich culture, and witness the efforts of Guatemalans and Hondurans who are striving for positive change in their communities. Throughout the course of the tour, we hope to explore various perspectives on the topic, learn about how our decisions impact migrants, plant the seeds for ongoing connections, and learn about practical ways to support and advocate for the people and communities that we encounter. Approximate cost will be $700 (plus airfare). For more information or to sign up for this trip please contact chrislandes@mcc.org.  (Poster attached.)

2.  MCC Central States has a Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery education resource packet available. The packet includes a five or ten week Study Guide, a booklet of ten Biblical Reflections, a poster, a tribal map and “The Doctrine of Discovery, in the Name of Christ” DVD. The packet is available for $30 to cover materials and shipping. This resource is ideal for youth and adult Sunday School classes, bible study classes and more. Contact ericalittlewolf@mcc.org to order this packet.

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