PARENT CHILD DEDICATION

Parent Child Dedication is a special time for parents to affirm their intention to raise their child in an environment where the child’s faith will flourish. In this act of consecration, we praise God and also bring the newborn/child into a relationship with the body of Christ.  In this service, parents commit themselves to this calling. 


Children are safe in the care of God.  When they are able to be accountable for their own actions, they are able to make the church's faith their own and declare their wish for baptism.


The next Parent Child Dedication will take place May 11, 2025.  Please call the church office if you would like your child dedicated.

FAITH & LIFE BOOKSTORE

Faith & Life Bookstore from Newton, Kansas, brings out a large selection of books and gifts for purchase at our Youth Christmas Market fundraiser in December.  Preorders are a great way to make sure you get the items you want! This year, Faith & Life Bookstore will be at Bethesda Sunday, December 3 and Monday, December 4.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 2-6, 2025    8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us in ancient Egypt! You'll explore Pharaoh's palace, experience thrilling "real life" dramas, play high-energy games, sample tasty snacks, and hear unforgettable music. Plus, you'll meet lots of new friends. Take a journey back to ancient Egypt... without leaving our church and find out what happened to Joseph as he went from Pharaoh's prison to the palace.


NEBRASKA MCC SALE

The Nebraska Mennonite Relief Sale is a two-day charity event that takes place every year. This year the sale is moving to a new location and will be held at the Holthus Convention Center in York. For over 40 years, Mennonite and Anabaptist churches from Nebraska and Colorado have worked together to raise funds for Mennonite Central Committee by selling food, quilts, craft items and more. 


This year's sale takes place March 28-29, 2025.

Go to the site below for additional information.


Nebraska MCC Sale 2025

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES

Memorial Day Services are held each year at the following cemeteries:

9:00 a.m. Friesen (West) Cemetery

10:00 a.m. Bethesda Mennonite Church Cemetery

11:00 a.m. Mennonite Cemetery

(In the event of inclement weather, services will be cancelled.)

CENTRAL PLAINS MENNONITE CONFERENCE

"How can we know the way?"

Central Plains Annual Meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island, IL on June 26 - 29, 2025.   

Visit the Central Plains Mennonite Conference website to learn more and to register.

CPMC Annual Meeting

LENT

WHAT IS LENT & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Have you ever wondered what people are talking about when they say they are giving something up for Lent?

Lent is a season of 40 days, not including Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.  

The 40 days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of

Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. 


Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God.  This means that it's a time for personal reflection that prepares people's hearts and minds for Good Friday, Easter, and every day of the week.  The three main things people focus on during Lent are prayer, fasting (abstaining from something to reduce

distractions and focus more on God) and giving.  

  • Prayer during Lent focuses on our need for God's forgiveness.  It's also about repenting from our sins and receiving God's mercy and love.
  • Fasting is a common practice during Lent.  The idea is that giving up something that's a regular part of life (like eating dessert or scrolling through social media) can be a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice.  That time can also be replaced with more time connecting with God.
  • Giving money or doing something good for others is a way to respond to God's grace, generosity and love.


It's important to note that doing these things can never make us earn or deserve Jesus' sacrifice.  People are

flawed and will never be good enough for a perfect God.  But Jesus has the power to rescue us from

ourselves by offering the free gift of salvation! 

Join us in the sanctuary Wednesday @ 12:00 p.m. for an Ash Wednesday service.

BAPTISM

Baptism is one of the foremost commands given by Christ to his disciples.  Jesus himself requested water baptism at the beginning of his ministry and sent his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19)


Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation that occurs through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.  It is also a pledge before the church of your covenant with God. 

If you are interested in being baptized, please talk to one of our pastors.

COMMUNION

We believe the Lord's Supper is a sign by which the church remembers the new covenant which Jesus established by his death. The bread is a sign of Christ's body and the cup is a sign of the new covenant in his blood.  In this meal, the church renews its covenant to be the body of Christ in the world and to live the life of Christ on behalf of others.  In the communion meal, all are invited to the Lord's table to renew their covenant with God and with each other.

2025 Communion Dates:

April 17, 2025 Maundy Thursday

June 1, 2025 Pentecost Communion

October 5, 2025 Worldwide Communion

December 31, 2025 Sunday Worship Service/New Year's Eve

SCHOOL KIT NIGHT

Every year in November, approximately 1,000 school kits are packed and sent to Mennonite Central Committee for children around the world.    

MCC CANNER PROJECT

Every year MCC’s Mobile Meat Canner travels across the United States and Canada meeting volunteers who prepare cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to be sent around the world.  The MCC Canner will be at Bethesda November 13-15, 2023.

Over 30,000 people a year volunteer to fill, weigh, wash and label every can. The finished cans are shipped to our partners, providing important nutrients when meat is hard to purchase. In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea), where meat is scarce, MCC shares canned meat with our partners to supplement meals for children as well as patients with tuberculosis or hepatitis. For more information go to https://mcc.org/get-involved/canning.

POTLUCK

Join us on the last Sunday of every month as we share a potluck meal in the Fellowship Hall.  

Feel free to join us anytime - no need to bring a dish if you are not able.  

Remember, we're Mennonites!  There is never a shortage of food!