Weekly Word December 12-16
Reminder: SCMC will be holding Regional Discernment Meetings in January. Read more here in English or Spanish.
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You Are A Leader! You might not think of yourself as a Leader, but you really are. All of us are influencing those around us. The question is, “Are you a Good Leader?”
South Central Mennonite Conference has an opportunity for you to improve your Leadership Skills through a partnership with the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC). Learn more about KLC at https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/
From KLC’s Website: “Leadership is a skill that can be developed through learning and practice. The principles and competencies covered at KLC can help anyone hone the skills needed to successfully confront problems that exist in organizations and communities. KLC is different in that it focuses on helping people from all positions, backgrounds and sectors learn the same four competencies of leadership.”
Grants for classes at KLC are available through SCMC. Contact the Conference for more information or to apply for a grant. (please note, these grants are only available to Kansas residents)
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“Reimagining the Call: Finding and Forming the Leaders God is Calling”
with David Boshart, Heidi Regier Krieder, & Clarence Rempel
January 13, 2023 – 12-1:30p.m. at
Water’s Edge Restaurant, 701 S. Main St., Hesston
Is your congregation being proactive about calling people to leadership in the church? How can future leaders for your congregation and the broader church be identified and prepared?
Pastors, congregational leaders, and interested laypersons are invited to a luncheon on Friday, January 13 from noon to 1:30 pm at Water’s Edge Restaurant, 701 S. Main Street, Hesston. Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary president David Boshart will be offering perspectives on calling and nurturing leaders from within congregations, followed by a conversation with Heidi Regier Kreider (conference minister for Western District Conference) and Clarence Rempel (regional ministry coach for South Central Conference).
Lunch will be served, compliments of AMBS; RSVP by Friday, January 6 using the following link.
If you receive this invitation and think of others from your congregation who should attend, please share it with them!
RSVP Here
or 574.296.6210
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A service of Licensing towards Ordination for Joshua Haver, Campus Pastor at Journey Mennonite Church was held at the South Hutchinson campus on December 11, 2022. Standing to the right of Joshua is Esmeraldo (Esme), his wife. To his left is Clarence Rempel, Regional Ministry Coach. Prior to coming to Journey, Pastor Joshua had served with Victorious Christian Harvesters in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, for 15 years in community evangelism, Bible teaching, and oversight of 50 churches. Joshua and Esme have three children – Ariella, Ketziah, and Joshua.
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Pastor Kevin B. Santiago of Peace Mennonite Community Church in Aurora, CO, was on a recent podcast discussing the historicity and importance of baptism and communion. To help listeners understand how communion is a memorial or remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, he shares a story from his youth visiting the Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima monument in Washington DC. Communion reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice for us, the greatest sacrifice, and it should impact us when we take the elements.
To listen to the full-length podcast explaining the historical and theological development of baptism and communion, follow the link below.
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SCMC is looking for a new representative to serve on the board of Camp Mennoscah. If you are aware of families or individuals in your church who have appreciated the services of the camp, please encourage them to volunteer.
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The Kansas MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service) Unit is sponsoring a Learning and Service trip to Jennings, Louisiana, January 28-February 4, 2023. Participants will leave on Saturday traveling to New Orleans, staying overnight, learning about long term recovery from disasters and visiting Laura Plantation on Sunday. Your cost will be one night lodging, two tours we will take and meals on the days we travel. MDS is covering the transportation, meals and lodging while on the MDS project in Jennings. We will be rebuilding homes with MDS from Monday through Friday. To make your reservations or for more information contact Cleo Koop at cleohkoop@gmail.com or call 316-282-0797.
You will find a complete list of current volunteer opportunities with Mennonite Disaster Service here.
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MCC Christmas Giving! Give gifts of comfort and joy and help meet the basic needs of our global neighbors this Christmas. Choose from unique gifts such as goats, bees, backpacks and more. Give at mcc.org/delight, call 888.563.4676 or visit the MCC Central States office in North Newton, KS at 121 E. 30th Street. With each gift you can get a card and insert explaining the project. These gifts (from $10-$4,000) make wonderful hostess/teacher gifts, stocking stuffers and are ideal for those on your Christmas list that are hard to shop for!
MCC Material Resources Center in North Newton critically low on inventory: An MCC kit cannot be shipped until every single item for the kit is assembled, but some supplies are so low that kits cannot be processed for shipping. You can help by helping to fill the following needs: New infant onesies and sleepers (3-12 month sizes); shampoo (20 oz or more), thin sanitary pads (28 count minimum) and dark colored bath and hand towels. Buy online and ship it to MCC or bring item to MCC in North Newton (121 E. 30th St, North Newton, KS 67117). Questions are always welcome, please contact katemast@mcc.org or 316.283.2720. A full list of MCC kit contents can be found at mcc.org/kits.
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Let your face shine on us, Immanuel, and restore us. Camp Mennoscah sends everyone Christmas greetings on this last week of Advent (Dec. 18). We have been blessed by your generosity of prayers, visits, volunteering and donations this year. Thank you for being part of the Camp Mennoscah community.
Other events and happenings:
- Help us Plan for the Future! A seven-question survey will help us know how camp is used and what you would like to see in the future. Click here to tell us what you think!
- Year-end donations must be received or postmarked by December 31st to count as 2022 donations. Online donations make it easier for those last minute gifts. Each gift helps Camp Mennoscah encourage campers and guests to follow Jesus Christ and seek God’s peace.
- Interviews for Summer Staff Starting Soon! We are seeking stunning summer staff to fill the following leadership positions for the 2023 summer: crafts, lifeguard, music, nature, office, and grounds. These positions are typically filled by college-age students, are summer-long and receive a stipend. Let us know who you think would make a great summer staffer at Camp Mennoscah. It’s a summer of fun, service and faith formation!
- Do you have a hankering for a giant bonfire? Camp Mennoscah has several burn piles and tall grass areas that need to be burned.This takes several people, a full day and cooperating weather. Burning hasn’t been done for a few years and we’d like to have the piles and tall grass done for safety reasons. Call 620-297-3290 or email office@campmennoscah.org to volunteer.
- Camps that run from Sunday to Saturday will now end on Friday. This is only a change for Junior and Junior High Camps. It will not affect First Camp, PreJunior, or Senior High Camps. Weekend groups will not be affected. For several weeks, the Programming Committee requested thoughts and comments on ending a full-week camp on Friday instead of Saturday. While responses were both for and against a switch to a Friday checkout, responses weighed more heavily to the positive. There are benefits to both campers and staff when staff is better rested. Groups and families will also have additional opportunities to spend time at camp with the change. The checkout time on the last day of Junior/Junior High camps will move to 10:30-11:30am (previously 9-10am) to allow for a more relaxed checkout.
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Discover Your Anabaptist Filter
Registration is now open for KNOW JESUS, an overnight retreat for 6th – 8th graders on February 4 – 5 at Hesston College! At Know Jesus, students can learn more about their Anabaptist roots through worship, service, and interactive activities. As a way to put our faith into action we will be raising funds for Numana prior to Know Jesus and then packaging meals during the retreat. To register, click here. More registration information is available here and you will find bulletin inserts, flyers and graphics about Numana here. Contact Melissa Landis at 215-896-4808 or email melissahlandis@gmail.com for more information or with any questions.
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Registration is now open for the 2023 Mennonite Arts Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 3-5. Twelve artists and our featured musical group, A Girl Named Tom, will explore this year’s theme BETWEEN: Embracing Vulnerability. You will find information about the participating artists, venue, schedule, and registration at mennoniteartsweekend.org. Hope to see you there! More information is available here.
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Don’t forget to send any announcements that you would like shared with your fellow SCMC churches to us at scc@sccmenno.org !