UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale rehearsal.

Saturday, January 24, 2015, 7:00 PM – Card Game Party (Court Whist), Fellowship Hall

Sunday, January 25, 2015, 8:45 AM – Donuts & Coffee Breakfast (Debbie Rushfelt), join the informal conversations in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday, January 25, 2015, 9:30 AM – Sunday School Classes for children and adults.

• Nursery available – 9:30-11:30 AM in downstairs Nursery.
• Children’s Pre-baptismal class – 9:30-10:15 AM taught by Debbie Rushfelt
• Children’s Sunday School class – 9:30-10:15 AM taught by Robin Payne
• God’s Kids – 9:30-11:30 AM – Children’s Library (First Sunday of the Month Only)
• Adult Class will meet in the Church Library – 9:30 to 10:15 AM.

Sunday, January 25, 2015, 10:30 AM – Dorothy May will speak on the theme “God of Refuge?” with Robin Payne presiding. Amanda Strom will serve as worship planner. Pennie Bunkers will offer the ministry of music.

Monday, January 26, 2015, 7-8:30 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SCHEDULE

The new Adult Sunday School Class series (“The Quest for Practical Spirituality”) continues on Sunday, January 25, 2015 during the Sunday School hour (9:30-10:20 AM). This week’s session focuses on “Be Not Afraid – The Role of Fear in Life” Class discussion will be led by Jennifer Libeer. There is no class text, but handouts and sometimes videos will kick-start class discussion. The class is team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Jennifer Libeer.

CARD GAME PARTY

Join us for an evening of Court Whist, starting at 7:00 on Saturday January 24. It will be held in the church Fellowship hall. Please sign up as soon as possible. Let us know if you can bring a card table and a deck of cards. Also sign up for the kind of snack you will bring to share. We need to know number attending so we get the right number of card tables and decks of cards from those willing to share. There will be games for children, too. If you have questions please call Karen Birkby or Debbie Rushfelt. Hope to see you!

EARLY RETIREMENTS

Please remember our entire Mission Center and International Headquarters in your prayers. Because of financial challenges, World Church is offering early retirement to many church employees and afterwards there will be some potential layoffs. Our Mission Center has already received notice that our Mission Center President is taking early retirement. Along with Don McLaughlin’s retirement, our Mission Center now only has 2 employees – Pam Mathena, Book keeper and Donna Fletcher, Outreach Minister in Wichita, KS. We may still yet see additional cuts in personal in our Mission Center and re-structuring. Retirements are effective at the end of February.

2015 CHURCH DIRECTORIES

The 2015 Directories are now printed and are ready for you to take your copy! They are available in the Fellowship Hall next to the bulletin board!

2015 DIRECTORY UPDATES

Newcom, Kirk: The Gardens of Jackson Creek, 19401 East 40th Street Circle Apt. 412, Independence, MO 64057 816-503-9061

SPRING 2015 NEWSLETTER IN THE MAIL

The Newsletter was mailed from the Post Office this week! You should be receiving it shortly via USPS.

Please be aware that the Spring Worship Schedule was not included at the request of Pastor Karen Birkby. It is expected to be handed out at church at some point in the near future. Please be sure to attend so that you can get your copy. If you have any questions about the Worship Schedule please contact Pam O’Neal or Nadine Bennetts! Both Pam and Nadine have volunteered to assemble the schedule for this year! (Be sure to thank both of them).

MAILBOXES IN 1ST FLOOR OFFICE ON BOOKSHELF:

We have now updated the mailboxes to reflect the leadership changes made for 2015. If you need to leave a note or have information for any of the following individuals, you can do so in their mailbox:

Pennie Bunkers, CFO; Larry Birkby, Pastor; Karen Birkby, Pastor; Clint Reine, Administrative Coordinator – Prayer List Cards; Pam O’Neal & Nadine Bennetts, Worship Availability Forms; Troy, Church Cleaning Needs; Other

NURSERY ANNOUNCEMENT

Many thanks to all of you who have signed up for the church nursery. The schedule for January-May will appear in the bulletin calendar each week for your reference.

We are looking for a few more volunteers to complete the schedule through May…specifically we need help on these dates:

• May 15

• May 29

• April 19

• April 26

• May 10

• May 17

• May 31

It is great fun and really pretty easy duty as we typically have 2-3 kiddos! The speaker in the nursery works great, so you won’t miss out on the service.

Any children 8 or older are welcome as helpers…please sign up by contacting Caryn (Brown Millard) at (cell) 913-980-2147.

Join the fun and let me know if any of the above needed dates fit your schedule.

PS…If you cannot serve on your date, please try to trade with someone. If you cannot find a substitute, please give me a call or text so we can be sure parents who wish to attend church have a nursery option.

THANK YOUS

The bulletin board in the church Foyer has a thank you note and photo from Joan Bacon in response to the flowers sent by the church on the occasion of her mother’s passing.

From Robin Payne: Dear Mission Road Family, Thank you for the many gifts that you have given me throughout the years. The gift of love and support, encouragement, advise, and the very generous check. It truly has been an honor, and I can honestly say that it was an act of love. Blessings to each and every one.

From Clint Reine: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Thank you for your love and kindness while I served as Pastor to the congregation and, of course, just as a member previously! My family also wants to express their sincere appreciation for the support and friendship you have given them as well. We greatly appreciate your generous gift of a check provided to us a couple of Sundays ago. We were touched and appreciative of its symbolism of your affection. As I, have said previously, it was a true privilege to serve as your Pastor and it was a spiritual blessing. I look forward to seeing our congregation move into the future! God Bless.

CHURCH ART GROUP

The Church Art Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday’s of each month at the Avis and Jeremy Baptist Home from 6:00-9:00 PM. You do not have to be an artist to attend; only a willingness to try is necessary.

MISSION ROAD WORSHIP SERVICE PODCASTS

Our congregational worship service podcasts are hosted online at https://copy.com/ej21J9e1xKOCiJwX

Recently added podcasts include:

Jennifer Libeer’s message on January 4, 2015, filename 20150104-JLibeer.mp3

Karen Birkby’s message on January 11, 2015, filename 20150111-KBirkby.mp3

Ron Millard’s message on January 18, 2015, filename 20150118-RMillard.mp3

The beginning numbers of each filename indicate the Sunday of the podcast. The first 4 digits represent the year, the next two digits indicate the month and last two digits represent the day of the month. In most cases, the date is followed by a dash and then the first initial and last name of the speaker.

Podcasts from previous years are located in folders corresponding to the year (2005, 2006, 2007, and so on). If you missed a Sunday, this provides you a way to hear the music and the message.

ALL GOOD BOOKS GROUP

The next meeting of the All Good Books Club is at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at the Snider Home (contact John or Eloise for directions) to discuss “One Good Dog” by Susan Wilson.

Start reading now so you can join the discussion!

For information on upcoming book club dates and titles, plus a list of past reads, check out the book club’s website at http://allbooksclub.wordpress.com

CHURCH UKULELE GROUP

The Ukulele Group is temporarily on hiatus due to a work schedule change by the instructor. Contact Avis Garrett-Baptist for more information!

CHURCH KEY NEWS

The back exit door to the fellowship hall is now "keyed" like the main west entrance door to the church. If you have a key to the main entrance door it will also fit the back fellowship hall door.