UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, March 9, 2015, 7-8:30 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale rehearsal.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 7:40 PM – The Prayer Circle meets in the quiet of the Church Library.

Thursday, March 12, 2015, 7:00 PM – The All Good Books discussion group will meet in the Church Library to discuss “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty.

Sunday, March 15, 2015, 8:45 AM – Donuts & Coffee Breakfast (Paul Bennetts), join the informal conversations in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday, March 15, 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)

Sunday, March 15, 2015, 10:30 AM – Gloria Giles, Paul Hedrick and Cheryl Kennedy will speak on the theme “Confess Our Impatience” with Linda Dayton presiding. Linda will also serve as worship planner. Mission Bells will offer the ministry of music.

Sunday, March 15, 2015, – Church Art Group meets immediately after church. Bring a sack lunch.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SCHEDULE

The “The Quest for Practical Spirituality” Adult Sunday School Class series will continue with the following topics:

March 15, “Forgiveness: Freedom from Hate,” discussion led by Jane Landrum.

March 22, "The Job of Science and the Job of Faith,” discussion led by Ken McLaughlin.

March 29, “Success, Failure and Our Life Energy,” discussion led by Paul Bennetts.

April 5, no class, instead join in the Easter Sunday activities.

April 12, Registered Youth Worker Class, all invited, taught by Clint Reine.

The class is team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Jennifer Libeer.

HONDURAS ELECTRICAL ACCESS PROJECT

Summary: Your contributions are sought to cover the $5,000 needed for the El Cisin Electrical Access project. Donations in your church offertory envelopes or by check to Pennie Bunkers (Congregational Financial Officer) need to note that the funds are for the Honduras Project. Through Sunday, March 8, 2015; $1,890 have been collected of the $5,000 needed. Now here is the back-story:

Nestled in the mountains of western Honduras in the Department of Copan is the community of El Cisin. Unlike almost every other community in the world, everyone in El Cisin is a member of the Community of Christ. While this remote village has many physical needs, the largest need impacting health, economics, and education is the lack of electricity.

On March 1st, the Mission Road Community of Christ approved a resolution to provide a $5,000.00 donation to the Health Ministries Association to help the El Cisin community in funding the upfront cost of installing electricity in their village. Providing for this need addresses the Church’s Mission Initiative of Abolishing Poverty and Suffering by assisting to develop community. These funds will open doors of access that have been closed because these people are economically poor. Electricity will raise their standard of living and allow them to have a better life alleviating suffering from poor health, ignorance, and exploitation. On a very basic level, electricity will increase the productive hours of a day. Currently, the only access to electricity for meager lighting is for some of the families to use a car battery in their home with wires that lead to a single fixture with a light bulb. This arrangement is a safety hazard and dangerous for the children.

Also, since many children have asthma (not uncommon in developing countries where exposure to open fires and industrial waste etc. cause lung injuries), electricity will make nebulizing treatments available. Apostle Carlos Mejia, Who is assigned to the region, believes “developing community” to bring people out of extreme poverty is the role of the church.

The three congregations in the Department of Copan are relatively new church plants in Honduras. The Community of Christ has been working with these groups to help them identify needs and ministries as they seek to serve their communities. The Central America Mission Center President (Gonzalo Mejia) and Apostle Carlos Mejia introduced the Health Ministries Association (HMA) to these communities in November 2014. The visit was an effort to engage the resources of HMA to assist in providing medical support to these communities. During that visit, educational support was also offered in the form of three traveling box libraries of books. The local elementary school will be loaned a box of books for the school year as part of Friends of Education, Honduras program home-based out of La Buena Fe, Honduras and an organizational partner of HMA.

During this November meeting at El Cisin’s church building, representatives from each of the three communities stated physical and community needs. Electricity was the priority identified for El Cisin. It is important to note that women and men had equal voice at the meeting. Each person present stated their involvement in their community and the position held that added authority to their perspective and comments. This gender equality was also validated by the MC President who stated that several female priesthood calls have been processed for these congregations.

The current source of employment other than agriculture is to tightly roll 25 pounds of newspaper for the casing of fireworks. This one day’s worth of labor yields $1. Making fireworks is the main industry of this area. There also appears to be a higher than normal incidence of “special needs” children being born in the area as expressed by members of the group perhaps as the result of toxic exposures from this industry.

HMA is planning a medical team for June 2015 to offer three clinics in addition to investigating the health needs and current medical services available in this area.

There is an elementary school in the area; however, only three persons have attended high school. Of those three, only one lives in El Cisin because there are no employment opportunities. Educational scholarships for junior high and high school will also be investigated in June as well as an auxiliary nursing program for the one high school graduates.

There will be additional costs to bring electricity into all the homes (approximately $2,500.00. Coffee is the main cash crop and has just been harvested. With the proceeds, the 25 families are able to contribute $100 each toward their portion of costs. This amount represents a very large sacrifice for this poor area and will consume a large percentage of the coffee revenues. In addition to the $100, each family will provide labor for the project. The average family size is five persons so this project will impact 125 Community of Christ members and the church building in this community.

El Cisin community leaders will be responsible for ensuring each family contributes their labor and funds. They will also make arrangements for any family needing additional assistance. The MC President will be kept informed of project progress. The MC Financial Officer will ensure funds are properly disbursed to the electric company and that installation goals are met.

WORSHIP AND SERVICE AVAILABILITY FORM FOR SUMMER

It is time to indicate your availability to serve during the Summer months (June, July and August 2015) by completing the Worship and Service Availability form. All "local" members are asked to complete and return the form by Sunday, March 29, 2015. You can access a copy of the form online at http://goo.gl/zy94zT

REGISTERED YOUTH WORKER CLASS

The World Church is requiring that everyone who works with the youth complete a training course. This includes individuals who work with Sunday school classes, vacation Bible school, camps, youth groups and any related activities. It is highly recommended that all priesthood members attend the training session.

Clint Reine will offer the Registered Youth Worker Class on Sunday, April 12, 2015 during the Adult Sunday School hour (it will replace the ongoing adult class). Please plan to join us on Sunday, April 12 in the Church Library.

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE UPDATE

Do you wonder what the grocery bags in the hallway outside the church sanctuary are for? They’re for members who are willing to participate in Central Avenue Center of Hope food drive. You may grab a bag and take it home to fill with food items and then return to the church for the Center. The Center is hoping that members will refill the bags several times during March and April, if you’re able. However, if each family would bring a bag of food at least once during the drive that would help tremendously.

In the past the Center has participated in the Feinstein grant which provided a dollar for every pound of food donated. That grant is no longer available but there’s a new Central Avenue Resource Drive (or C.A.R.D.) grant that once again provides a dollar monetary contribution for each pound of food items gathered. This type of grant typically provides 25% or more of the Center’s budget each year, so your participation is urgently needed. Please take a bag home and fill it or just bring in food items and place in the bag of your choice.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Plans are being made to hold Vacation Bible School (VBS) in July 2015. The exact date has yet to be finalized. Please talk to Karen Birkby if you are interested in assisting with VBS in any capacity.

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!

CHURCH ART GROUP & WORKSHOPS

The Church Art Group now meets the first Sunday of each month at the church (these sessions last approximately 2 hours, so please bring a sack lunch) and on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the home of Avis and Jeremy Baptist Home. The first Sunday classes meet immediately after church and the third Sunday sessions meet from 6:00-9:00 PM.

You do not have to be an artist to attend; only a willingness to try is necessary.

ALL GOOD BOOKS GROUP

The next meeting of the All Good Books Club is at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2015 in the Church Library to discuss “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty.

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

PRAYER CIRCLE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

In an effort to grow our congregational family, the congregation is starting a "Prayer Circle." Those interested Prayer Warriors can gather to pray for the congregation and for the needs of individuals and friends of the congregation. The Prayer Circle will be on Wednesday evenings after choir practice starting at 7:40 PM. We all know the power of prayer. We hope you can join us as we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord. The Prayer Circle is held in the quiet of the Library.

MISSION ROAD WORSHIP SERVICE PODCASTS

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

Recently added podcasts include:

Testimonies by Jeremy Baptist, Lee Leonard and Roxann Kosmicki on February 1, 2015, filename 20150201-JBaptist-LLeonard-RKosmicki.mp3

Testimonies by John Snider, Dennis Wood, Karen Birkby and Val Anderson on February 8, 2015, filename 24150208-JSnider-DWood-KBirkby-VAnderson.mp3

Jerry Rushfelt’s message on February 15, 2015, filename 20150215-GRushfelt.mp3

Brian Libeer’s message on February 22, 2015, filename 20150222-BLibeer.mp3

Avis Garrett-Baptist’s message on March 1, 2015, filename 20150301-AGarrettBaptist.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.

MAILBOXES IN FIRST 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