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VISITORVISITOR Bethesda Mennonite Church

IS 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.

June 2013 Volume 54 No 6

Inside this Issue

“For other foundation can no one lay

than that which is laid, which is Jesus

Christ.”

- I Corinthians 3:11

The Earth Is the Lord’s……..……..1

Bethesda Women In Mission......2,3

New Members……………………….2

Baptism Class………………………2

Pastor’s Reflection…………….……4

MC U.S.A…………………………….5

CPMC………………………………...6

DVBS: Athens……………………….7

Bethesda Preschool News…………7

Thank You…………………………...8

News from Trenton………………...8

Swan Lake Fire……………………..8

Upcoming Events…………...……...8

!Explore/Joshua Janzen…………...8

Calendar……………………………..9

Faith In Action…………………….10

The

Earth

is the

Lord’s

The Earth is the Lord’s

What does “the earth is the Lord’s” mean in the face of Hurricane

Sandy? What does “the earth is the Lord’s” mean when scrolling

through political posts on Facebook? What does “the earth is the

Lord’s” mean as we hear that friends and neighbors are signing land

contracts for frackers to begin work?

Everything. All. Extreme words we are taught to avoid. Is this poetic

hyperbole? A rule with a few exceptions? If we take this concept seri-

ously, how would it change day-to-day life? If I took this seriously,

how would I live differently? How would you live? Are we open to

changing our behaviors?

Commentators write that this psalm was probably used in festival

processions. The beginning of Psalm 24 is often used to lead in wor-

ship—a reminder that God rules over all things and created all things.

If we allow it to, this text can remind of us God’s sovereignty, drawing

us in to be in awe of our God.

The words in Hebrew emphasize creation, which includes images of

water—a symbol of unstable chaos. It is not just in the 21st century

that we look around, asking questions about God’s presence and sover-

eignty. The people of God, living in a broken world, have always had

to reconcile the “already” with the “not yet” of God’s kingdom. We are

simultaneously called to be thankful while also being lured into creat-

ing lists of wants and competing to fulfill a myriad of obligations.

What does it mean to be in awe of God? What is it like to be drawn in

by the majesty of our God, remembering that the Creator of all took on

flesh and dwelled among us?

Part of the MC USA Convention theme is “healed in hope.” Isn’t the

act of hoping quite risky? You open yourself up for disappointment.

You acknowledge that what you want and/or need is beyond your own

ability to produce. Yet hope is at the heart of kingdom living.

We act and live out of the hope we have in Christ. We worship be-

cause our God is mighty. We work for justice because of the call of

God. We testify to the acts of God because we have experienced God’s

goodness. We rest in God because this is not the end. May it be so.

By Sherah-Leigh Gerber

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Date: Monday June 24, 2013

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Mike and JoAnn Friesen Home

10 Henderson North Road

Hostess: JoAnn Friesen

A sign-up sheet will be on the east hallway bulletin

board.

Bethesda Women’s Ministries

June 2013 Events

LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN...

LIKE A RIVER

***Note: Our "First Tuesday" Evening gathering will be on the SECOND Tuesday in June as the Fellowship Hall will be overflowing with Vacation Bible School activity on our regular meeting night!

***Tuesday, June 11 @ 7:00 p.m.

Bible Lesson: "Seek the Lord and Live"

by Margaret Hiebner

Feature: "Parlor Conversation"

by Erin Sams

Meet in Fellowship Hall

Offering for Bethesda Women's Ministry

Projects

Refreshments will be served following

the program

NEW MEMBERS:

Sandra Peters - May 5, 2013

Jeff Michel - May 12, 2013

Pastors Andrea Wall and Jim Voth

Baptism Class:

Back row: Pastor Andrea Wall, Jordan Heinrichs, Clay Bergen, Trevor Friesen, Matthew Buller, Tyler Henry, Solomon Doxtator-

Morenberg, Pastor Jim Voth

Front row: Paige Mestl, Camryn Dick, Katelyn Janzen, and Kate-lyn Siebert

Pictures by Tara Swartzendruber

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In Service for the Lord! BETHESDA WOMEN IN MISSION

May 6, 2013

On the evening of Monday, May 6, the Bethesda Women in Mission hosted the 4th Annual

“Celebrate Women” event in the Fellowship Hall. Community women joined in the special oc-

casion, with music featuring singing and piano by Lynn Hall and piano with Sandra Quiring.

Sheila Huebert provided the elegant and delicious banquet meal, served by Sherm Kauffman,

Jim Voth, Mike Wall, Milford Doell, Calvin Regier, and Norm Yoder. Floral centerpieces

graced the tables, and each person received a favor—a canvas painting of a flower, by local art-

ist Carrie Bergen. Emcee Donna Thieszen introduced our featured speaker, artist Michelle Ho-

fer, from Freeman, South Dakota.

Michelle’s presentation, “The Beauty of Our Youth— Rediscovering the Visual Heritage of the

Church” included history and examples of early Byzantine Icon Art, as well as the story of her

journey in understanding and creating Icon art. Icon art began about 300 years after Christ’s

life on earth, and is found only in the context of the Church. Simplistic in design, the colors

and gestures are significant in meaning and purpose. Blue signifies the skies, the universe,

and water. Green and brown bring to mind the earth, creation, the Creator. Halos are elemen-

tary in Icon Art. In this form of art, Mary, mother of Jesus, never looks at Jesus. Instead, her

eyes follow the person looking at her, and her gestures invite the person to learn to know Je-

sus, to worship our Lord.

Art became important to worship, and archeologists are still finding evidence of this early art-

work in their searches of ancient homes. When the “Dark Ages” declined, so did this art. Icon

art today is being revived, but is different from the original. Texture, sources of art supplies,

and personal understanding contribute to the differences. Much of the meaning of the art is

discerned by the artist, by studying the art. History has not recorded the meaning of this art.

To appreciate the beauty of this art, or any art, one must first learn to find the beauty intrinsic

in themselves, in others, and in their environment. Art can still enhance our worship, and help

us to know Christ.

Michelle became interested in this form of art when she travelled to Istanbul, Turkey. She has

found examples in Orthodox churches in the U.S., and has taken a class to understand it bet-

ter. The pictures below show examples of her work to create this art for herself and for her

church. Her children have also learned as she works on her art, and have made mosaic pieces

of art. Michelle’s enthusiasm was evident as she talked, and her excitement spilled over to

those listening. Yes, it was an evening of beauty, through set-

ting, cuisine, singing, artwork, and the beauty inherent in each

person present. By Margaret Hiebner Pictures by Kathryn Goertzen

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We have just come through the Lent and Season of Easter, ending with the celebration of Pen-

tecost Sunday. During the ten days from Ascension Day to Pentecost we invited you to consider

dedicating time and attention to the special discipline of prayer and fasting. It would be inter-

esting to know what your experience was using these spiritual practices, and how you may have

encountered God during that exercise.

For the early followers of Jesus, there was an anticipation of how the Holy Spirit was going to

move, bringing healing and hope to those suffering and hopeless. Luke tracks the activity of

that early faith community as it spread throughout Jerusalem, and then out through Judea,

and eventually to the whole world.

As those followers yielded themselves to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in the context of wor-

ship, prayer, and eating together, they responded with generosity and grace and with commit-

ment to a Jubilee lifestyle that provided for the needs of all. This faith lifestyle became tremen-

dously attractive.

Peter and Saul/Paul, found themselves pushed to the periphery of the acceptable faith commu-

nity, relying on the prompting of the Holy Spirit along the way and needing to defend them-

selves repeatedly before the folks back home - who were convinced that boundaries had been

crossed. They were sure that God could not be allowing to happen what was happening because

it didn’t conform to the norm.

These tensions fill the New Testament with plenty of illustrations of conflicts within the faith

community. There were folk who wanted to be identified more with Paul, some more with Pe-

ter, some more with Apollos and some with other leaders. It was easy then as it is easy now to

lean toward following someone’s interpretation or teaching that we like, or fits our particular

biases than to keep using Jesus as the measuring stick.

Once when asked in an interview where I would place myself on the theological continuum, us-

ing as the ends, conservative and liberal, this is what came out. I had never spoken of it in this

way before, but I knew that this particular group of believers wanted to know. I believe my re-

sponse was prompted by the Holy Spirit. “Well,” I said, “I keep trying to be as liberal as Jesus

was with grace.” This prompted some laughter and a comment that this could get you in trou-

ble, you know…? “Yes,” I said, “that can get one in trouble.” “And,” I continued, “I keep trying

to be as conservative as Jesus was in holding onto the foundation of faith in God’s righteous-

ness.”

A PASTOR’S REFLECTION

Sherm Kauffman

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ACROSS THE STREET AND

AROUND THE WORLD In Service for the Lord!

Dr. Richard Twiss, 1954–2013

By: Annette Brill Bergstresser

President of Wiconi International was scheduled to speak at Phoenix 2013…

Dr. Richard Twiss, President and founder of Wiconi International

With sadness we share the news of the passing of Dr. Richard Twiss. On Saturday, February 9,

2013, he entered a new chapter of life—communion with the Creator.

Twiss, 58, of Vancouver, Washington, a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate from the Rosebud

Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, passed away after suffering a heart attack earlier in the

week in Washington, D.C. He was slated to speak in Phoenix on July 1 at the opening adult

worship service of Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention.

Twiss was president of Wiconi International, an organization that works to promote communi-

ty, strengthen culture and foster spiritual vitality among Native American or First Nations peo-

ple.

Wiconi means “life” in the Lakota/Sioux language; Twiss and his wife, Katherine, founded the

organization in 1997.

According to Wiconi International’s website, Twiss was committed to “creating opportunities for

the betterment of our Native people and communities through advancing education, culture,

family and spirituality—in the Spirit of Jesus.” He was a widely traveled and popular speaker,

activist, educator, author and networker among innovative thinkers within the Native North

American and Indigenous community internationally. He held a doctorate in intercultural

studies (cultural anthropology, primal and folk religions and the history of Christian mission)

from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky. He and his wife parented four sons.

“Our prayers go out to the Twiss family and Wiconi International,” says Glen Alexander Guy-

ton, director of finances and convention planning for Mennonite Church USA. “Brother Twiss

was a dynamic speaker, and we mourn his loss. We pray that that his message and ministry

will live on through the many lives he has touched throughout the years. The convention plan-

ning staff asks that you please keep the Twiss family in your prayers.”

“This is a theme not just for the five days of worship, service

and teaching that will take place in Phoenix in 2013; it is a

prophetic call to help mobilize Mennonite Church USA as it

works towards undoing racism and towards its vision of heal-

ing and hope,” said Glen Guyton, a member of the working

group and director for constituent resources for the denomina-

tion.

“The theme was born out of a discernment process deeply root-

ed in Scriptures,” said Saulo Padilla, a member of the working

group and director of the Immigration Education Office of

Mennonite Central Committee U.S. “It is an invitation to

bring down the walls of division that the world has built for

us—to walk to Phoenix and proclaim that ‘the earth is the Lord’s’ and that all are created in the image of God”, ‘no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but all citizens and members of God’s household.”

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In Service for the Lord! CENTRAL PLAINS

MENNONITE CONFERENCE

Quito Call to Prayer

Introduction: In response to a need that has been presented multiple times during visits to Quito, the Ecuador partners meeting in Henderson, Nebraska, June 29, 2012, decided to call on the churches of

Central Plains to join the Mennonite Church in Quito in a time of dedicated prayer during the approxi-

mately eight months leading up to the next partnership meeting.

Background: The Quito Mennonite Church began in 2001 through the leadership of César Moya and Pa-

tricia Urueña, and Ecuadorian members are increasingly taking leadership roles as the congregation

matures. The congregation has two main areas of outreach beyond its members. Local children partici-

pate in Peace Workshops one Saturday a month, and on weekdays they are invited to the church for af-

ter school tutoring and educational services. Support for refugees is the second area of outreach for the

congregation. There are about 300,000 refugees in Ecuador, mostly from Colombia. Their program pro-

vides counseling, food assistance and help in starting small businesses. The congregation rents a house

to the north of the city with a couple of acres of land where they are able to provide housing for two refu-

gee families and also use the land for projects to provide food and income for the refugees.

The church and their ministries are based out of a rental property in Quito. The monthly rent is $725

($8,700 a year). The church would like to be investing in a facility they own, rather than spending mon-

ey (both theirs and partnership funds) in a rental property. They have saved around $3,000, and the

partnership has around $6,000 in a fund at Mennonite Mission Network. Market value properties in the

vicinity cost around $200,000. For more information, please see: http://www.mennonitemission.net/

Stories/News/Pages/JoinHandsGrant.aspx

Please pray for:

1) The development of the Quito Mennonite Church, including their leadership and members, and their

ministries with neighborhood children and refugees.

2) God’s leading in discernment regarding future facilities for the church and its ministries.

3) A special opportunity that God may want to give the Quito

church as members seek to keep their hearts, eyes and ears open to

options. (There are stories from around the world, as well as the

United States, of properties that have become available below mar-

ket value, and unique opportunities to share facilities.)

4) God to lead people from Central Plains as well as Ecuador and

Colombia to give in special ways to help meet the facility needs of

the Quito church.

REMEMBER!

CENTRAL PLAINS MENNONITE

CONFERENCE

JUNE 20-23 IN ASHLAND, MONTANA

Guided by the Spirit: Knowing God's Love Hosted by Ashland Christian Fellowship, Lame Deer Mennonite

Church, and White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church

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In Service for the Lord!

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SUMMER 2013

DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 3-7

8:30 A.M. — 11:30 A.M.

ATHENS:

Paul’s dangerous journey

Travel back in time to Athens and join Paul on his missionary journeys! Paul was a real per-

son who faced danger, ridicule, beatings, and even jail as he traveled to spread the good news

of Jesus. As children hear Paul boldly stand up for his faith, they’ll joyfully explore how they

can do the same in their own lives. Children will also participate in high-energy arena games,

venture through an authentic marketplace each day for crafts and a tasty snack, and learn new

songs through our celebration time!

Music CDs are also available to purchase for $10.

Volunteers are still needed. Please contact one of following committee members if

you’re interested in helping:

Janene Sparke, Elizabeth Goertzen, Ronda Duerksen, Tara Maltsberger, or Kara Janzen.

Bethesda Preschool Trike-a-Thon Bethesda Preschool has been an outreach to the community of Henderson since its inception 11

years ago.

Last year, Erin Sams, Director of Bethesda Preschool, and Nicole Quiring, teacher, set forth a

four stage fundraising project to:

- build a Peace Garden in one of the courtyards of the church

- make a new sign for the Preschool for the north side of the churchyard

- put up a board in the hallway to let the church know of Preschool activities

- update and add to the Preschool playground in the courtyard outside of the Preschool room.

With the earnings ($9,623.32) of the Preschool Trike-a-thon held on April 14, the last of these

goals has been met!

The playground work will be done this summer, and will be ready for preschoolers in the fall.

The Preschool is saying good-bye to Erin and Nicole, and will be welcoming Kori Lewis as the

new director and teacher this coming fall.

Jason and Kori Lewis,

Tyler 8, Carter 5

Living in Atascadero,

California

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UPCOMING EVENTS

JUNE 2: 7 P.M. - TRENTON FRIESEN REPORT

JUNE 3-7: DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 11: 7 P.M. - BETHESDA WOMEN IN MISSION

JUNE 16: FATHER’S DAY; BAPTISM

JUNE 18: SERVICE GROUP LEAVES FOR PHILIPPINES

JUNE 20-23: CPMC IN ASHLAND, MONTANA

JUNE 23: 4 P.M.-7 P.M. HERITAGE PARK GARDEN TOUR

JUNE 30: BAPTISM; NOON - CHURCH POTLUCK

JULY 1-6: MC U.S.A. CONVENTION IN PHOENIX, AR

JULY 2: 7 P.M. - BETHESDA WOMEN IN MISSION;

PHILIPPINE SERVICE GROUP COMES HOME

JULY 12-13: COMMUNITY DAYS

JULY 15: MCC GOLF TOURNAMENT AT BEATRICE

JULY 28: NOON - CHURCH POTLUCK

REMEMBER OUR SWAN LAKE STAFF AND CAMPERS THIS SUMMER

We would like to thank our faith family

for all the support we have known through

the last six months. Thank you to the

Pastors, Sherm, Jim, and Andrea, for vis-

its, calls, notes, and prayers. Thank you

to our Sunday School class for food, for

prayers, for words of encouragement, and

for caring. Thank you to Kara Janzen for

helping me by doing the May Visitor.

Thank you to all who sent cards, brought

food, gave encouragement, prayed and

stopped by. Thank you, and God bless

each of you. It is a blessing to be a part of

a faith community that carries out in word

and deed what they profess. It is over-

whelming to receive such love and care.

May each of you know God’s abundant

blessings. - Arlin & Margaret Hiebner

JOSHUA JANZEN IN !EXPLORE PROGRAM After Youth Escape last summer, Pastor Andrea and Josh spent

some time talking about opportunities for him, and she told him

about !Explore. That nudge caught his attention, and got him

to think more about how this could help him participate more in

depth in the church. He has had a lot of encouragement from

many people at Bethesda, telling him he does such a good job

when he helps in worship.

When this summer is over, and he heads for college classes at

Bethel, Josh hopes to gain a greater un-

derstanding of the church as a whole, and

what role would fit for him in the church.

Josh says that Bethesda can support him

by giving him feedback on how they think

he is doing, and asks that his brothers

and sisters in Christ pray for him, helping

him determine what God’s plan is for his

life.

Josh’s parents are Mark and Shelley Jan-

zen.

I’d like to extend an invitation to the

congregation in appreciation for your

support in the last year! You are invit-

ed to join me on June 2 at 7:00 p.m. in

the Crossroads Coffee House for a pro-

gram and dessert. I will be talking

about my work with CRU and how I

have seen God move, not only in my

life, but in the lives of college students

at Colorado State University; an up-

coming summer mission trip to Cape

Town, South Africa and serving with

CRU again next year in Colorado. All

are invited! Thank you again for the

support and prayers offered this past

year!

God Bless, Trenton Friesen

On the morning of May 4,

at about 11:30 a.m. staff

was busy getting ready for

a wedding to be held that afternoon on

the SLCC grounds. Jerry Kroeker

and another staff noticed smoke com-

ing from the garage/lounge, and in

minutes the building was engulfed in

flames. By 2 p.m. the fire trucks were

leaving. Jerry and staff give thanks

for help and concern shown.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: MC USA SLCC, Viborg, SD 3rd Grade Camp (June 2-4) 7:00 Trenton Friesen Sharing

3 8:30-11:30 a.m. DVBS

4 6:30 a.m. Men’s

Bible Study 8:30-11:30 a.m. DVBS SLCC, Viborg, SD 4th Grade Camp (June 4-7)

5 8:30-11:30 a.m. DVBS 7:00 Youth Bible

Study (Phoenix) 8:00 Music Comm.

6 8:30-11:30 a.m. DVBS

7 8:30-11:30 a.m. DVBS

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9 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: Local Church DVBS Sunday (No Sunday School)

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11 6:30 a.m. Men’s

Bible Study 7:00 BWM 7:00 Preschool

Comm. 7:00 Board of Dea-

cons 8:00 Sunday School Comm.

12 7:00 Youth & Parent

Bible Study (Phoenix)

13 8:30 a.m. Bethesda

Care Team 2:30 Pastor’s Coffee @

Rosewood

14 15

16 9:30 a.m. Worship Baptism Offering: CPMC SS Hour: Leadership Workshop Follow-up SLCC, Viborg, SD 5th Grade Camp (June 16-21)

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18 6:30 a.m. Men’s

Bible Study 8:00 Board of Ed. 8:00 Board of Svc. &

Outreach 8:30 Board of Bus.

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20 VISITOR

ARTICLES DUE! Central Plains Men-

nonite Conference

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22

23 9:30 a.m. Worship Offering: Local Church CPMC SLCC, Viborg, SD 6th Grade Camp (June 23-28)

24 7:00 BWM June

Birthday Cele-bration @ JoAnn Friesen’s home

25 6:30 a.m. Men’s

Bible Study 8:00 Church Council

26 7:00 Youth Bible

Study (Phoenix)

27 2:30 Pastor’s Coffee @

Rosewood

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29

30 9:30 a.m. Worship Baptism Offering: AMBS Potluck @ Noon

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Bethesda Mennonite Church

Box 130

Henderson, NE 68371

Phone: 402-723-4562

Fax: 402-723-4567

E-mail: bethesda@mainstaycomm.net

Website: www.mainstaycomm.net/bethesda

Return Service Requested

Volume 54 No 6, 2013

The VisitorThe Visitor

A congregation of the Mennonite Church

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit 6

Henderson, NE 68371

Faith has been alive and in action through Bethesda….

AS SEEN BY… the work we do with Central Plains Mennonite Conference; the work

we do with MC U.S.A.; the work of Bethesda Women In Mission; the work of our pas-

tors and deacons; the work of our preschool; our daily vacation bible School out-

reach; new members; our catechism class; our Service workers at Home and abroad;

Our Men’s Bible study Group; our Sunday School teachers and programs; the Work

of Swan Lake Christian Camp; Christian Peacemaker Teams; the explore program,

with Josh Janzen; And so many more efforts untold…..praise be to god!