UPCOMING EVENTS

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOPPING

The gift tags and accompanying gifts are due at the church for the 10:30 AM service on Sunday, December 13, 2015. It is suggested that you spend $10-15 on each gift, place it in a gift bag and attach the gift tag. There may be some gift tags still available, if you can contribute to this Christmas project for the Center for Hope, please contact Karen or Larry Birkby for any available tags. Envelopes are also available should you choose to donate cash or gift cards. Thank you for your continued generous support of this project!

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT ON DECEMBER 13

This coming Sunday evening, December 13, 2015 please join us for the Mission Road Christmas Concert at 6:00 PM. Let this Christmas Concert set the tone for your Christmas. Gather in the Sanctuary for a short worship service with scriptures retelling the story of the birth of Jesus accompanied by Christmas songs presented by the Saints’ Chorale. Afterwards, gather in the Fellowship Hall for snacks and a songfest of songs of the season with a special visit from Santa. One thousand flyers have been distributed into the surrounding neighborhoods inviting the community to our Christmas Concert. Plus, bulletin inserts have been distributed to 8 of the surrounding congregations in the Mission Center. Come prepared to welcome friends and neighbors to our Christmas Concert.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES NEEDED!

Donna Emslie, who is coordinating the effort, has asked for volunteers who can bring Christmas Cookies for the reception after the December 13, 2015 Christmas Concert. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex of the church. You can bring your cookies on Sunday morning, or when you come to the service next Sunday evening. Please leave them in the kitchen. Please let Donna know if she can expect cookies from you (by calling her at 913-461-8939 or by email at donnaemslie55 or by signing up on the sign-up sheet).

HAT AND GLOVE TREE GIVING PROJECT

Winter weather with snow and ice will be coming soon. Our Hat and Glove Tree is up in the Narthex. Please bring a hat or set of gloves you would like to donate to the people in need for distribution by the Central Avenue Center of Hope.

NEXT "ALL GOOD BOOKS" CLUB MEETING SCHEDULE IN JANUARY

The next meeting of the All Good Books discussion group will be on Thursday, January 14, 2016 to discuss “The Truth According to Us” by Annie Barrows, co-author of “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” The group will meet at 7:00 PM in the Church Library at the Community of Christ (7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS).

SHOES NEEDED!

Alex White is again collecting shoes for the Osage City High School students. Please bring shoes to donate as soon as you can!

2016 MISSION ROAD DIRECTORY IN PROGRESS

Work has begun on the Congregational Directory for next year. Please take a moment and check your individual or family listing(s) in the draft directory. The mark-up copy can be found on the round table in the Fellowship Hall. If your listing is correct and no changes are required, please write "OK" beside your directory listing. If you are new to the congregation, please make sure we have your name and contact information so we can add your name to the directory. We would also like a picture to include in the directory. Please, talk to Clint Reine or Larry Birkby about adding your name(s) to the directory. Thank you!

WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHANGES:

When a change is necessary in the Worship Schedule, please notify the Worship Planner, The Presider, Clint Reine, Jonathan Bacon, Jason Scott, and Larry Birkby by email or phone calls. Additionally, changes should be made to the posted Worship Schedule in the 1st Floor Office.

“THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS“ ADULT CLASS CONTINUES

The Adult Sunday School class has begun studying The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything by Brian D. McLaren each Sunday during the 9:30-10:15 AM Sunday school class hour. In class we’ll take a hard look at the message of Jesus; through new eyes and in-depth discussion. This is a view of Jesus’ message like you’ve rarely heard before…not the Jesus who embraces religion, but the Jesus who threw the moneychangers out of the Temple. Not the exclusive Jesus of many religions, but the Jesus who preferred beggars, prostitutes and the outcast to the rabbis, politicians and religious leaders of his day. We will study and discuss the radical, revolutionary Jesus who exposes shame, and ignites hope. It is an epic story of good news for everyone, whatever their gender, race, class, politics, or religion.

Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum, Jennifer Libeer, and Dennis Wood will team-teach the class. Copies of the book can be ordered through Barnes and Nobel or Amazon.com. It is available in paperback or from Amazon.com for the Kindle.

The tentative schedule for the upcoming weeks includes:

Sunday, December 13, 2015: Chapter 8 (“The Scandal of the Message”) – class discussion led by Jennifer Libeer.

Sunday, December 20, 2015: No class due to Christmas Breakfast Potluck.

Sunday, December 27, 2015: Chapter 9 (“You Can’t Keep a Secret”) – class discussion led by Dennis Wood.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 6:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale Rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 7:35 PM – The Prayer Circle meets in the quiet of the Church Library. Come join the Prayer Warriors of our congregation.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, 9:00 AM – Breakfast (Donna & Rich Emslie), come and join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, 9:30 AM – Sunday school classes for children and adults.

· Nursery available – 9:30-11:30 AM in downstairs Nursery.

· Adult Sunday School class – 9:30-10:15 AM team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum, Jennifer Libeer and Dennis Wood in Church Library.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, 10:30 AM – Ron Millard will speak on the theme "Proclaim the Good News" with Avis Garrett Baptist presiding and Kennetha Kuttler serving as worship planner.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, 6:00 PM – Christmas Concert! Bring your friends to share in our Christmas Concert, singing songs of the season and a special visit from Santa.

Monday, December 14, 2015, 7:30 PM – Mission Bells Rehearsal.

Wednesday evening Saints’ Chorale Rehearsals in the Church Sanctuary will be postposed after the Christmas Concert until Jan. 6, 2016, at 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015, 6:30 PM – The Prayer Circle meets in the quiet of the Church Library. Come join the Prayer Warriors of our congregation.

Sunday, December 20, 2015, 9:00 AM – Breakfast POTLUCK! (Coordinated by John & Marge Trinkl), bring your favorite breakfast dish to share and join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, December 20, 2015, – Children’s Sunday School class – 9:30-11:30 AM taught by Robin Payne. All children are invited to make Gingerbread Nativities.

MISSION ROAD WORSHIP AUDIO RECORDING

Our congregational worship audio recordings are hosted online at https://copy.com/ej21J9e1xKOCiJwX

Recently added audio recordings include:

Jerry Rushfelt message presented on November 1, 2015, filename 20151101-GRushfelt.mp3

Rollie & Beth Marolf message presented on November 8, 2015, filename 20151108-R&BMarolf.mp3

Joselyn Odalys Cortes Baptism on November 15, 2015, filename 20151115-JCortes_Baptism.mp3

John O’Neal message presented on November 15, 2015, filename 20151115-JONeal.mp3

Paul Bennetts message presented on November 22, 2015, filename 20151122-PBennetts.mp3

Dorothy May message presented on November 29, 2015, filename 20151129-DMay.mp3

Jennifer Libeer message presented on December 6, 2015, filename 20151206-JLibeer.mp3 (available soon)

The beginning numbers of each filename indicate the Sunday of the audio recordings. 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.

Audio recordings 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.

IMPORTANT CONGREGATIONAL LINKS

The Mission Road Congregation hosts the following social media sites:

Congregational (public) website at www.mission-road.org

Facebook Page (public) at https://www.facebook.com/MissionRoad.CoC

Facebook Group (open only to congregational members) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MissionRoad/

and

The All Good Books discussion group website at https://allbooksclub.wordpress.com/

Visit and "like" each of these sites to keep up-to-date on congregational news.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS EMAIL

If you have news items and calendar additions or changes that need to be included in the congregational news email please contact Larry Birkby at larry.birkby or call him at 913-488-9235.