WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE

SPROUTS

 October 9, 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

Mennonite Church of the Servant, Wichita, KS – Pastor

Peace Mennonite Church, Dallas, TX – Pastor

News and Transitions

Congratulations to Tim and Jen Amor on the birth of their son, Augustine Barrington Peth Amor, on September 14.  Tim is the pastor at Beatrice Mennonite Church in Nebraska.

Tom Harder began serving as Pastor at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro KS on October 1.

Frank Ward, retired pastor, died on September 28 in North Newton, KS.

WDC announcements

  1. The WDC 2019 Narrative Budget and additional information was mailed out to all WDC congregations at the end of last week. Please check your mail for this information. We invite congregations to use this information as you are planning your budgets for the upcoming year, and thank you for the many ways you contribute and participate in the ministries of WDC. The Narrative Budget is also posted on the WDC website along with the 2019 budget at https://mennowdc.org/resources-for-stewardship/. Please contact the WDC office with any questions.
  1. Keynote speaker John Garland will testify to God’s faithfulness at the “Telling the Jesus Story” Year of Evangelism event Oct 26-27.  You will be encouraged to shape and share your own Jesus story at Iglesia Luz del Evangelio, 1524 Dowdy Ferry Rd, Dallas, TX.  Consider riding the van from Newton, KS with others.  More information and register at:  https://mennowdc.org/year-of-evangelism/.
  1. The Western District Conference Immigration Task Force would like to thank you for your participation in our survey earlier this year.  We hope to use the information we gathered to engage with congregations and support them however we can as they work through issues surrounding immigration in their communities and the United States at large.  You can view a brief report of our survey’s findings here:  https://mennowdc.org/committees-task-forces/(also attached).  If you’d like to know more about the task force please contact Ryan Goertzen-Regier (Chair) at ryan.goertzen@gmail.com.
  1. New Resources for Child and Youth Safety:  Together as WDC, we are “resourcing healthy, missional churches.”  Two new resources to help us do this are “Prevention & Response:  Sexual Abuse and Non-Credentialed Individuals” from Mennonite Church USA – available at  http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/prevention-and-response-sexual-abuse-and-non-credentialed-individuals/– and the latest update of a model Child and Youth Protection Policy from Dove’s Nest at https://dovesnest.net/sites/default/files/Short_model_policy_2018_0.pdf.   Both resources help congregations protect those who are most vulnerable in the church community.
  1. The Mennonite Historical and Agricultural Museum Fall 2018 Heritage Lecture will be on Saturday, October 13 at 9:30 am at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall.  Peggy Goertzen, Director and Archivist at Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, will speak on the topic – Dr Peter Richert – Migration, Ministry, and Medicine (a man that had a big influence on the history of Goessel).  Event is free and open to the public.  Donations to the museum are welcomed.
  2. Enjoy BBQ & Bluegrass at the First Mennonite of Halstead’s Annual Hog Roast Sunday evening October 21 from  5-7 pm at the Gazebo in the Scout Park in Halstead (3rd & Locust Street).  Bring lawn chairs for the come and go event featuring music by ‘Kilometer 81’ (the Ken & Amy Regier Family) and a pulled pork dinner.  Proceeds will support New Hope Shelter in Newton & ongoing relief efforts at Academia Menonita Betania in Puerto Rico which serves children kindergarten thru 10th grade and was severely damaged by hurricanes in 2017.  In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the church directly South of the Park at 427 W 4th
  3. Know Jesus 2019 – An overnight event for Junior High youth groups and youth (6th-8th grades), save the date – February 9-10, 2019 on the Hesston (KS) College campus.  Registration forms will be coming soon.  (Sponsored by the South Central Conference and Western District Conference Youth Ministry Committee.)  Attached is a Save the Date card.

Camp Mennoscah announcements

  1. Many warm thanks to everyone who braved the chilly weather and the possible rain to visit the Camp Mennoscah booth at Bethel College’s Fall Fest and to the really brave souls who helped take out the dam!  It was cold water and gray skies, but delightful people.  Thank you so much!  We had a blast seeing everyone!
  1. Only a few spaces are left at the Fall Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats, October 26-28 and November 2-4!  Register online at www.campmennoscah.orgor call us at 620-297-3290.  It’s a relaxing and fun-filled time to spend time with other croppers and crafters, as well as spend some time in God’s creation!
  1. Christmas Gathering for all Camp Mennoscah volunteers!  Put it on your calendar, wonderful counselors and program directors and cooks and nurses and staffers!  We’re gathering on December 15 at 2:30pm for conversation, cookies, games and great fun.  Families invited to join.
  1. Ever wanted to be a Camp Mennoscah host?  Now’s your chance!  We’re looking for people to help host weekends.  This could mean helping with dishes, starting the campfire, making popcorn, or any number of other delightful things we do when groups are at camp.  Contact olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.orgor call 620-297-3290.  We’d love to help you attain your dream of hosting!

Mennonite church announcements
1.  Send a team from your congregation to “Cultivating Generous Congregations,” a seminar hosted by Everence on Friday, November 9, 5 pm through Saturday, Nov 10, 4 pm at Cross Winds Conference Center, 8036 N Hoover Rd, Hesston, KS.  This two-day course is for those who believe in their congregation’s capacity for greater generosity; have a desire to become more comfortable talking, preaching and teaching about money; are willing to redefine and expand the channels through which giving can take place in their congregation; and understand that money and giving are important aspects of discipleship and pastoral care.  Registration fee is only $50 per ministry team.  (The normal fee of $250 has been significantly reduced thanks to a generous grant from Lake Institute.)  For more information and to register (by Oct. 30), contact Mitch Stutzman at mitch.stutzman@everence.com or 316-283-3800 or visit our event page.  If your team will be traveling a long distance, ask about available lodging.

  1. The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for our December 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on Good News, Great Joy.  More information at:  https://themennonite.org/december-2018-call-submissions-good-news-great-joy/
  1. Take a seminary course this spring!  Check out Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s (AMBS) online, hybrid and campus courses, which include Global Anabaptist-Mennonite History and Theology; The Corinthian Corresondence; Psalms, God’s Shalom and the Church’s Witness; Faith Formation and Spirituality:  Adults and Seniors; Discerning and Knowing; Theology in Context:  Elkhart, Indiana; and more.
  1. Exploring Peace and Justice in the Bible (noncredit):  Oct 24 – Dec 11 – Biblical texts show both the Holy Warrior God and the prophet who decries peace without justice.  Wrestle with the biblical meaning of peace and justice in this online AMBS short course taught by Safwat Marzouk, Ph.D., and Drew Strait, Ph.D.  Cost:  $250.  CEUs available.  ambs.edu/shortcourses

    5.  Do you have a great idea for an “Equipping Seminar” at MennoCon19?  Convention planners are eager to hear it!  Find the selection criteria and submit your proposal by Nov. 5 at mennoniteusa.org/seminars.

  1. Your small group or Sunday school class is encouraged to use the Pathways study guide now and submit the Journey Forward Feedback Survey by Dec 31, 2018.  Available in English and Spanish at mennoniteusa.org/jf.
  1. Rachel Waltner Goossen, a 1982 graduate of Bethel College and professor of history at Washburn University, Topeka, will speak on the Bethel campus Oct. 21-22. She will preach at Bethel College Mennonite Church the morning of Oct. 21 and then give the 66th annual Menno Simons Lectures, with the series title “Sexual Identities and Leaders in the Faith.” The first lecture, at 7 pm Oct. 21, is “‘Coming Out’: Mennonite Leaders Departing.” The second, Oct. 22 at 11 am (a Bethel convocation), is “‘Coming Out’: Mennonite Leaders Arriving.” The third, Oct. 22 at 7 pm, is titled “Finding a Home: LGBTQ+ Leaders.” The lectures are based on an oral history project in which Goossen interviewed 27 LGBTQ+ individuals (along with several allies and others) in pastoral leadership roles, within and outside the Mennonite church in the United States and Canada. All lectures are in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center and are free and open to the public.

    8.   The Kansas Chapter of MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) announces three one thousand dollar grants.  In connection with our regular annual convention, this year we are inviting young professionals under the age of 40 to attend a special 24 hour event designed particularly for this group of people.  MEDA works around the globe to create business solutions to poverty.   Last year through our work in 60 countries, and in partnership with 322 other organizations, we were able to help 91 million families.  We want to engage young professionals who share an interest in our mission.   We invite you to come to Indianapolis, November 9-10 to 1) network with fellow innovators, entrepreneurs, working professionals, and global citizens, 2) listen to special guest speakers in business and international development, and 3) take a firsthand look at MEDA’s worldwide work in creating business solutions to poverty.  For those who have a business  idea they want to pitch, there is also a chance to present this to a panel of judges and be entered in a chance to win $5,000.  Three finalists will receive free registration, transportation, and lodging for the event.   To learn more, go to: www.meda.org/MEDAx.  If you have interest in applying for one of the three one thousand dollar grants to attend this event, please contact Jerry Weaver.  ph 620-327-4933 or email at  jerwea@gmail.com

    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