WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
September 15, 2015
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
Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, KS – Pastor (Search Committee appointed)
Eden Mennonite Church, Moundridge, KS – Pastor
Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater, KS – Pastor
New Creation Fellowship Church, Newton, KS – Pastor (Search Committee appointed)
San Antonio (TX) Mennonite Church – Pastor (Search Committee appointed)
News and Transitions
Rob Burdette ended as Transitional Pastor at Shalom Mennonite Church, Newton, KS, on August 30.
First Mennonite Church, Clinton, OK, has withdrawn from Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA as of August 11, 2015.
Katherine Goerzen began as Associate Pastor at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, KS, on September 1. She also continues in her role as Coordinator for the AMBS-Kansas Center.
Jenny Schrag began as the Joint Youth Pastor for three churches on September 1 – Buhler (KS) Mennonite Church, Hoffnungsau (Inman, KS) Mennonite Church and Inman (KS) Mennonite Church.
WDC Announcements
- The WDC Annual Assembly is a gathering of Western District folks from near and far, this year at historic Bethel College in North Newton, KS. One way that you can support WDC is through serving as a host home for those who will be traveling from a distance. Those who can make their guest room available on October 30 and 31 are invited to either sign up on the registration form (if you are attending), or contact WDC at 316-283-6300 or wdc@mennowdc.org (if you are not attending). Thank you!
- Several Leadership Transformation Grant scholarships are still available for pastors or other congregational leaders to attend the three-day You.Lead.Now seminar at Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita! To apply for a scholarship through WDC, see application form at https://mennowdc.org/grants/ . After your scholarship application is submitted and approved, information will be sent to you to complete your registration directly with KLC. The registration deadline for the Oct 12-14 seminar is Sept 21, and registration deadline for the Nov. 16-18 program is Oct 26.
- Camp Mennoscah’s Annual Meeting and Work & Play Camp are back to back–come to both! The Annual Meeting will start at 3:30pm on Sunday, September 20th, with disc golf (new baskets and course!), bath house tours, and a scavenger hunt. We’ll have a short meeting and a simple meal following these activities. Work & Play Camp will start registering at 3pm, jump in with the Annual Meeting fun times, and then continue on through Weds, Sept. 23, with projects and coffee breaks. Tasks are available for all skill and ability levels. Let us know you’re coming for a day or for all of it! Registrations accepted until full. Call us at 620-297-3290.
- Photogenic or Photographer? You’re invited to come to one or both of Camp Mennoscah’s Scrapbooking Retreats, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 6-8. This is a time for you to create and remember. Bring your laptop or boxes of photos and spend some dedicated time with your memories! Other table crafts welcome–let us know what you’re crafting when you register! Contact us at 620-297-3290, register online, or find the registration form at www.campmennoscah.org in Retreats.
- Camp Mennoscah will take out the dam on Sunday, October 4, at approximately 2pm. Spectators and helpers welcome! We suggest wearing clothing appropriate to the task, be that spectating or helping. Anyone in fancy costumes should expect to have their picture taken and posted on Facebook. Want to make sure that you know if something changes? Email olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org or call 620-297-3290 to let us know you plan to be there.
Mennonite Church Announcements
1. Where is the Good News for Rural Folk? AMBS-Kansas Center will be hosting S. Roy Kaufman’s webinar entitled “Where is the Good News for Rural Folk?” This webinar will take place on Wednesday, September 30 from 1:00 – 2:30pm at the AMBS-Kansas Center classroom at 2517 N Main in North Newton, KS. This webinar will explore how a ministry of community formation might take place in the lives of declining rural congregations, enabling these congregations to become missional agents of change in their communities. Cost is $10 per participant. Please contact Katherine Goerzen at kgoerzen@ambs.edu to register. The registration deadline is September 23.
2. AMBS Church Leadership Center: Please join us for…
Webinar: Greg Boyd on Anabaptism
Thursday, September 17, 2:00-3:30 pm EDT
Hosted by David B. Miller, AMBS Associate Professor of Missional Leadership Development
Hear Dr. Gregory A. Boyd reflect on his journey toward Anabaptism, how his Anabaptist commitments are reflected in his life, ministry and theological understandings, and what difference it makes. Get details and register. Your first webinar is free! If you’ve participated in AMBS webinars previously, attend 5 to earn a free one. Get details and register.
3. The annual Instituto Bíblico Anabautista-IBA BENEFIT dinner will take place Friday, October 16 at 6:30 pm in the First Mennonite Church of Newton fellowship hall. A smothered pork burrito dinner will be prepared and served by Chef Carlos Lujano. A short program will follow featuring a hymn by IBA student Javier Rodriquez, a dance performed by the children of Iglesia Mennonita Casa Betania, and video presentation by Ervin Stutzman. Dinner is by donation. This is a great opportunity for a Sunday School, Small Group or individuals to come and hear how this program is equipping Hispanic leaders in Mennonite Church USA. IBA is a program of Mennonite Education Agency’s Hispanic Pastoral and Leadership Education Program. For any inquires contact Violeta Ajquejay at: VioletaA@MennoniteEducation.org or call 316-281-4342
4. Leave or stay? Many Syrian families face that question as international humanitarian assistance dwindles and the patchwork of resources they used to rely on wears thin. Your gift of money helps Mennonite Central Committee continue to provide food, water, rent assistance and winter supplies so families that decide to stay in the region can survive the cold weather ahead. Please give online at mcc.org/syria-iraq; by phone at 1-888-563-4676; or by check, sent to MCC U.S., P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501. Thank you!
5. MCC Borderlands Learning Tour 2015– you are invited to participate in a learning tour designed to bring awareness about the increasing migrant deaths, militarization and effects on sister communities by the border wall along the Mexico/U.S. Borderlands. Participants will increase their understanding of the social, economic, political and theological significance of migration in border communities. The tour is Oct. 28-Nov. 4, leaving from Tucson, AZ. For more information contact Saulo Padilla, MCC U.S. Immigration Education Coordinator at saulopadilla@mcc.org, or go online to learn more and register mcc.org/borderlands-tour.
6. Spruce beetles have moved into trees at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) youth camp worked throughout the summer to address the issue and removed 80 trees containing beetles. Eighteen more trees containing beetles need to be removed. MDS will be working at this project October 2-10. All skill levels are needed. During the MDS youth camp, some of the most productive volunteers were teens who had never done this kind of work before. If you can help that week, or even a day or two that week, please call Paul Unruh 316-772-6308 or Gordon Unruh 620-747-0835. Food and lodging will be provided by RMMC.
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