BETHESDA NEWS

“A community caring for all God’s people,

being transformed by Christ's love,

serving others as a witness of God’s grace and peace.”

Bethesda Mennonite Church

www.bethesdamc.org

May 25, 2014 Dr. Sam and Sherri Evans and Flora Mae Manuel will be giving a report

of their work in the Philippines today after the potluck meal at noon in the

Fellowship Hall. A short video will be included in the report. Please help us welcome Thayne and Janene Sparke! Thayne is one of

the sponsors leaving for Ashland Fellowship today and will help with

pastoral duties this summer. Janene will arrive after she finishes with her

teaching schedule. Pastor Andrea Ordination

Pastor Andrea met with the Pastoral Leadership Committee of the Central

Plains Mennonite Conference at the Benedictine Retreat Center in

Schuyler, Nebraska, for the purpose of an interview toward ordination.

Based upon affirmation by Bethesda and an interview and blessing of the

Pastoral Leadership Committee, an ordination service for Pastor Andrea

will be planned for the future. The ordination service for Pastor Andrea

symbolizes God's call for her to ministry, dedication to that call, and our

congregation’s affirmation. This is a wonderful event to celebrate, for

Pastor Andrea and Mike, and for Bethesda! We give our blessings to

Andrea and Mike as she moves forward in her calling to minister. Memorial Day services will be held at the following cemeteries Monday,

May 26, 2014:

Friesen (West) Cemetery @ 9:00 a.m. – Blaine Friesen

Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery @ 10:00 a.m. – John Huebert

Mennonite Cemetery @ 11:00 a.m. – David Quiring

In the event of rain, a joint service will take place in the Bethesda

sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. Please Note: No glass containers or gravel.

Flowers and other arrangements may be left at the cemetery for 10 days

following Memorial Day. Any items left after June 5 will be disposed of. The building housing the Cemetery Directory has now been completed.

~Bethesda Historical Committee

WEEK AT A GLANCE SUNDAY, May 25

Youth and sponsors left for Ashland Fellowship in Montana.

8:30 A.M. Deacons

8:55-9:15 A.M. Prayer Time

9:30 A.M. Worship Service

10:40 A.M. Sunday School/Catechism

12:00 P.M. Potluck/Dr. Sam & Sherri Evans Report

MONDAY, May 26

Memorial Day Services/Offices Closed

TUESDAY, May 27

8:30 A.M. Staff Meeting

8:00 P.M. Church Council

WEDNESDAY, May 28

12:00 P.M. Bulletin Announcements Due

Next Sunday, June 1, 2014

Sermon – Pastor Jim Voth

Offering – Mennonite Church USA

Pianist – Marilyn Janzen

Ashland Fellowship Youth Group Returns

Sunday, June 1, children, preschool through grade 6 will be invited to a

special Children’s Church. Following the children’s focus, preschoolers

and kindergarteners are invited to an activity and lesson time upstairs, and

grades 1 – 6 are invited to view the “Prince of Egypt” in preparation for the

VBS Wilderness Escape happening June 2 – June 6.

~ Sunday School Committee

Sunday morning worship services are being live-streamed and can be

viewed by going to www.bethesdamc.org and clicking on the ‘Media’ tab.

Pastoral office hours are now posted outside the church office. Since

pastor’s schedules include evening meetings, visitation and crisis care

during the day, evening and night time hours, this schedule offers the

congregation times when the pastors will be available at the church.

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs.

Hospitalized:

Gladys Friesen Henderson Hospital, Henderson, Nebraska Dismissed:

Dorothy Balaban Wedding:

Brian and Jerrilyn Janzen announce the approaching marriage of their

daughter, Taylor, to Chase Chrisman of McCool Junction, Nebraska, on

Saturday, May 31, 2014, at Bethesda Mennonite Church. Pastoral Search Prayer Support:

Gather in the northwest adult classroom, across from the Preschool, at 8:55

a.m. as we seek God’s will for a new pastor. We need your prayer support

as we continue our search. ~ Pastoral Search Committee The Prayer Board, located near the church office, is a place to post prayers

that come to the office. If you wish to have a prayer matter posted, please

call the church office, Pastor Jim Voth, or email him at

jim@mainstaycomm.net. These may be prayers of praise, thanksgiving or

intercession. If you wish to post a prayer for someone other than yourself,

please request their permission. Thank you! Enole Ditsheko will be visiting the states in mid-June. He is asking for

help from Bethesda in donating gently used musical instruments such as

trumpets, trombones, cymbals, flutes, steel drums, double bass, violins,

mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind, harmonicas, etc. Enole

envisions a marching band for the young people in Gaborone as a way to

fill their time effectively other than loitering on the streets or participating

in destructive behaviors. Instruments may be brought to the church office.

If you have questions, please contact Norm Yoder at 402-723-4950. Prayer in the Park: A prayer group began meeting in the city park at the

shelter on Monday (Easter Monday), April 21, 2014 and will continue

through Pentecost, Sunday June 8, 2014. Everyone is invited to participate

as we anticipate the Holy Spirit and His wonders in Henderson and around

the world. Meeting times are Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m., 12:00

p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.; and Sundays at

5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!! For questions, call Erin Sams or Carrie

Bergen.

Visitor Editor Needed…

Would you be interested in using your writing and editing talents to help

with Bethesda’s monthly newsletter The Visitor? We are currently looking

for an editor who can help gather information, write articles, take photos,

edit, etc. If you would be willing to serve in this way, please contact

Margaret Hiebner or the church office. They can help answer any

questions you might have as you consider this opportunity. Thank you for

your prayerful consideration. Coming Events… The blood drive will be in Henderson on Thursday, May 29, at the Faith

Evangelical Bible Church from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The need for blood

increases with Memorial Day weekend and as the summer approaches.

Donors are strongly encouraged to give at this time to help maintain a stable

blood supply. Appointments are encouraged to avoid a long wait and can

be made through Amy Jansen at 402-723-5756. Be sure to drink plenty of

fluids and remember a photo ID.

~The American Red Cross

Wilderness Escape is coming to Bethesda June 2 –6!!

CD’s are available for $10.00 Join us for Bible School this year to experience... “Wilderness Escape,

Where God Guides & Provides.” In small groups (tribes) kids will travel

through stations and experience what happened after Moses led the

Israelites out of Egypt. You'll learn straight

from a well-known Bible hero - Moses!

You'll discover firsthand what it was like to

live in the Israelite camp. Join one of the 12

tribes of Israel for games, music, crafts, and

manna. Registration fee is $15.00 per child

and needs to be dropped off at the church

office. Registration forms are available outside the church office or online

at www.bethesdamc.org. Click the ‘Ministries’ tab, then the ‘Children’s’

tab. There is only one week until Vacation Bible School! Thank you to all

who have volunteered to be teachers. To complete the decorating of our

Israelite camp sites, we are looking for 8 pop-up tents, (like used at track

meets), lots of solid color sheets (no holes will be put in them), woven rugs,

wooden or terracotta pots and vases, as well as ferns or decorative plants

(no flowers please).We would like to return all items at the end of VBS, so

please help us by putting your name on them. Items without labels will not

be returned and can be dropped off in the bride’s room between now and

May 31. ~Midweek Committee SWAN LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMP SCHEDULE:

Cottontail Day Camp – July 10

Chipmunk Day Camp – July 11

Third Grade Camp – June 9 – 11

Fourth Grade Camp – June 11 – 14

Fifth Grade Camp – June 15 – 20

Sixth Grade Camp – June 22 – 27

Junior High Camp – July 27 – August 1

Senior High Camp – July 13 – 18

Registration forms are located on the east bulletin board along with all

other information. KMMC (once called The 500 Mennonite Men’s Chorus) will present a

concert Sunday, June 8, at 4:30 p.m. at Presser Hall, Bethany College in

Lindsborg, Kansas. Director is Greg Bontrager and pianist is Ken Rogers.

The Menno Brass and the Bethel Church Bell Choir will also be featured.

Freewill offerings are taken with proceeds going to the work of Mennonite

Central Committee. Are you passionate about being formed by the Bible? Come to the Central

Plains Annual Meeting 2014, where Jewel Gingerich Longnecker will

speak on the theme, “Joyfully Following Jesus: Formed by God’s Word.”

Come to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 19 – 22, to learn, fellowship and discern

with your sisters and brothers. The Living Water Rescue Mission is sponsoring the 4th Annual

“Master’s Classic,” a four person scramble on June 20, 2014. A meal will

be served at 11:00 a.m. and golfing begins at 12:00 p.m. at the York

Country Club. For more information, please see the brochure on the east

bulletin board.

Shine Sunday School Curriculum Training!

Vicki Hinz-Ensz will introduce Shine and its unique features on Saturday,

June 28, and Thursday evening, July 10, at Bethesda Mennonite Church.

The presentation is the same on both dates; select the date that suits you

best and mark your calendar. More details to come! What’s coming for summer worship? “Spirit Fruit: Love, Joy, Peace and

Kindness.” We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for Sunday worship July

6 through August 31, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Our usual worship will be blended

with worship-based activities for children and sermon response

opportunities for adults with fellowship following worship. Sunday school

will be cancelled during this time. We will host special all-church potluck

dinners on July 27 and August 31. Worship in the sanctuary and Sunday

school will resume September 6. The summer community worship service

in the park will be held August 3.

MCC school kit bags have been cut. For those of you helping to sew them,

they are located in a box in the room across from the office. Thanks again

for helping us to get them sewn.

~ Adeline and Lindy The Music Committee is working on the summer worship music

schedule. If you would like to share your musical gifts, or know of

someone who would, please contact Rod Drews or Mike Wall. All are

welcome to offer their talents. Music is an important part of worship at

Bethesda; consider sharing your gifts with us!

Rod Drews- 402-723-5201 or rjdrews@mainstaycomm.net

Mike Wall- 402-723-4526 or mwall@mainstaycomm.net 2014 MCC Golf Tourney, Saturday, August 9, 2014! Save the date!

See east bulletin board for more details.

FINANCIALS

Worship Offering Sunday, May 18, 2014

Worship Attendance – 274

Sunday School Attendance – 130 Temporary Holding Accounts Central Plains Mennonite Conference ........................................ $3,467.00

Dayspring – Menno Village – Japan ................................................ 175.00

Grace Children’s Home ..................................................................... 30.00

Reach Int’l – Sam & Sherri Evans ................................................... 450.00

Benevolent Fund ................................................................................ 25.00

Facility Renovation Fund ................................................................. 100.00

Bethesda Preschool Support ............................................................... 10.00

Sunday School Offering ................................................................... 166.04

General Operating Receipts .......................................................... 2,500.00

Total Worship Offering ............................................................ $6,923.04

Ed Peters Memorial

Technology Improvement Fund ............................................. $1,280.00

Grace Children’s Home ................................................................ 25.00

Total ...................................................................................... $1,305.00

Bethesda Preschool has a Facebook Page! Be sure to "like" us for

preschool updates and happenings at

https://www.facebook.com/bethesdapreschoolers.

Preschool Graduation: On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, Bethesda

Preschool graduated 12 children from the Pre-K program. The children

performed a short program for parents and family members then walked

across the stage to accept a certificate. It was a fun evening of fellowship

with families that I will miss so much. I pray the Pre-K children have joy

and peace as they move into their next role as kindergarteners. I will miss

them greatly.

Pictured from left to right: Mrs. Kori, Madalyn Janzen, Nevada Gloystein,

Brayden Holbein, Emma Ott, Pieper Epp, Meggan Friesen, Hayden

Powers, Maddox Regier, Kaleb Siebert, Miles Kliewer, Zaine

Swartzendruber, and VaNessa Vap.

Peace Garden: Bethesda Preschool recently added new materials to the Peace Garden to

create an outdoor classroom environment for the children. New materials

were acquired from generous donations from church members and families

at the preschool. The children were able to utilize the materials on our last

day of school. They had an absolute blast! Thank you to everyone who

donated materials, money, items, and time to complete this project.

If you like gardening and would be able to help, the Bethesda Preschool

needs volunteers to help take care of the peace garden over the summer.

This includes weeding, making sure the area is tidy, and watering the plants

and flowers. We have placed a calendar on the preschool bulletin board for

you to pick a date that works best for your schedule. We are asking that you

sign up for a week at a time but appreciate any days you can give us. Please

leave your name and phone number or email address so Mrs. Kori can send

you a reminder message at the start of your week/days. Thank you!

Playground Update:

The playground is almost at completion. The Preschool Committee is

currently working on a shade structure that will stand over the top of the

play structure. We are also working on completing a patio area and possibly

adding some play items to finish out the area. We will post pictures of the

project when completed.

The preschool has officially completed our last day of class for the 2013-

2014 school year! I had a wonderful time getting to know all the children

and families at the preschool and look forward to the new school year.

There are currently still spots available for the 2014-2015 school year so if

you have a child that is at least 3 years of age (and potty trained), please

consider sending them to Bethesda Preschool. You can contact Kori Lewis

for more information at bethesdapreschoolers@gmail.com or at 402-723-

4603.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for supporting me through my

first year at the preschool! I am so blessed to have such a great church

family beside me through this journey. You have such generous hearts and

they shine so brightly. I look forward to continuing God’s work through the

preschool for many years to come. Thanks again!

~Kori Lewis, Bethesda Preschool Teacher & Director

Bethesda

Women’s Ministries 2014 Next up for BWM: June 10 (second Tuesday due to Bible School) at 7:00 p.m. Bible Study: "Sustaining Hope: Naomi, Orpha, & Ruth" Feature Speaker: Sue Sullivan The June Birthday Celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cornerstone Coffee House. Wendy Janzen will serve as hostess for the evening. Please sign up on the east bulletin board.

YOUTH

Prayer for Ashland Service Trip Please keep the following youth and sponsors in your prayers as they travel

today to Ashland, Montana to spend the week with our sister church,

Ashland Christian Fellowship on the northern Cheyenne Indian

Reservation. The youth will be helping with work projects at the Ashland

Church and the Everything is Beautiful thrift store in Lame Deer,

Montana. They will be spending time at all three of the Mennonite

churches on the reservation, building relationships with the pastors, the

youth and other congregation members. The youth will return this

Saturday, May 31, in the evening. They will tentatively be sharing about

their trip on Sunday, June 29, during worship.

Youth: Brandon Boardman

Megan Boardman

Allison Braun

Leslie Braun

Matthew Buller

Camryn Dick

Sidney Dick

Solomon Doxtator-Morenberg

Leah Friesen

Trevor Friesen

Parker Goertzen

Katelyn Janzen

Lisa Koslowski

Katelyn Siebert

Coby Steingard

Ellie Steingard

Addie Swartzendruber

Brooke Weisheit

Adults: Phil Goertzen

Wendy Janzen

Jay Dee Janzen

Thayne Sparke

Larry Swartzendruber

Rozella Swartzendruber

Barb Voth

SERMON NOTES

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