​BREAKFAST POTLUCK, GINGERBREAD NATIVITIES AND NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 we’ll celebrate the upcoming Christmas Holiday with a breakfast potluck starting at 9 AM and plenty of socializing for the adults up until the 10:30 AM worship service (Jonathan Bacon will offer the Christmas message). For the potluck breakfast, bring your favorite breakfast dish to share!

Starting at 9:30 AM all children will create gingerbread nativities (under the direction of Robin Payne). It will be a wonderful morning of fellowship and celebration, so be sure to join us for our “final Sunday before Christmas” celebration.

NEW OUTDOOR CHURCH LIGHTING

The new outdoor lights that were approved at the Fall business meeting are 95% installed. When you drive by the church in the evenings check out the new look. The new lights make the parking lot brighter and better illuminate the church from the Mission Road side.

THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT

If you missed Sunday night’s Annual Christmas Concert, you missed a “cast of thousands” who sang, played, recited and celebrated the birth story of Jesus, a packed house, and dozens of delicious Christmas cookies. Special thanks go to Margaret and Charles Athey for planning and organizing the concert.

Additionally, we’d like to acknowledge the many groups who participated: The Saints’ Chorale (Dorothy May, Susan Clark, Jean Bink, Joselyn Cortes, Janice Hedrick, Jane Landrum, Anna Lynn Vogel, Cheryl Kennedy, Donna Emslie, Connie Williams, Mary Reichenbach, Lisa Emerson, Larry Birkby, Merrill Clark, Richard Emslie, Paul Hedrick, Michael Foltz, Steve Hedrick, Russ May, Ron Millard, John O’Neal, John Trinkl) directed by Jack Cave with Sharon Wood on the piano/organ; The Children’s Choir (Alex Cortes, Joselyn Cortes, William Cortes, Jolie Estingoy, Kai Estingoy, Sasha Estingoy, Noah Pride, Logan Scott, Morgan Scott, Anderson Strom, Coleman Strom) directed by Margaret Athey and Robin Payne with assistance from mothers: Pennie Bunker, Maria Cortes, Shannon Estingoy and Tamara Scott; the Brass Ensemble (Trumpets: Adam Hoehn, Scott DeBrow. Trombone, Rich Emslie. Tuba, Mason Pride); String/Woodwind Ensemble (Violins: Brad Athey, Anna Lynn Vogel. Cellos: Charles Athey, Dorothy May. Flute, Pennie Bunkers, Clarinet, Jennifer Libeer); the Three Wise Men: Bob Andes, Jeremy Baptist and Brian Libeer; Artist: Avis Baptist, Chimes: Brad Athey; Program Assistant: Pam O’Neal; PowerPoint: Kennetha Kuttler; Candle Lighters and Readers: Joselyn Cortes, Ali Libeer, TJ Libeer, Noah Pride and Daniel Estingoy; and, of course, Pastors Karen and Larry Birkby.

If you missed or want to relive the concert, an audio recording is available; just check out the “Mission Road Worship Audio Recordings” section at the end of this eNewsletter.

THANKS TO THE GIFT GIVERS

Thank you to each member of the congregation who contributed to the Christmas Gift Tag project. The gifts will be delivered to the Central Avenue Center for Hope before Christmas.

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.

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!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE STARTS NOW!

The second semester of school will begin in January and once again students face the need for notebooks, pencils, paper, erasers, markers and all the traditional school items. As you finish your Christmas shopping, why not pick up a few school related items for the January School Supplies Drive! Bring to the church and leave on the table in the Narthex.

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). If you like history (and gossip) with a female version of Tom Sawyer set in 1938, you will enjoy this novel with a cast of characters as varied as you’d find in any small town USA.

YOUTH MISSION TRIP SCHEDULED

Youth Mission Trip scheduled for Jan. 15-17, 2016. All senior high and middle school students are invited for a fun weekend of fellowship and giving. We will be leaving KC Friday evening around 4pm and driving to Wichita, arriving around 7:30pm. Saturday will focus on helping local families and/or church through mission oriented activities. We will participate in the Webb Road Worship Service Sunday morning and then head back home that afternoon. Suggested donation of $15. Please let us know if you are interested. Also look for more information in the coming weeks.

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!

MIDLANDS MISSION CENTER 2016 SUMMER CAMPING PROGRAM

Youth Quest KC: June 7-9

Sr. High Camp: June 12-June 17

Doniphan Reunion: June 21-26

Junior Camp: July 5-9

Chihowa Reunion: July 10-15

MITIOG: July 24-29

Spectacular: July 23-30

Middle School Camp: July 31-August 5

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 TAKES A BREAK

The Adult Sunday School class is 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 BUT there will be no class on December 20.

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

The schedule for the upcoming weeks includes:

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.

Sunday, January 3, 2016 – Jonathan Bacon, Chapter 10 (“Secret Agents of the Secret Kingdom”)

Sunday, January 10, 2016 – Paul Bennetts, Chapter 11 (“The Open Secret”)

Sunday, January 17, 2016 – Jane Landrum, Chapter 12 (“Hiding the Message in New Places”)

Sunday, January 24, 2016 – Jennifer Libeer, Chapter 13 (“Getting It, Getting In”)

Sunday, January 31, 2016 – Dennis Wood, Chapter 14 (“Kingdom Manifesto”)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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 will make Gingerbread Nativities.

Sunday, December 20, 2015, 10:30 AM – Jonathan Bacon will speak on the theme "The World Is About to Turn" with Karen Birkby presiding and Karen is also serving as worship planner.

MISSION ROAD WORSHIP AUDIO RECORDINGS

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

Recently added audio recordings include:

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

Ron Millard message presented on December 13, 2015, filename 20151213-RMillard.mp3

Annual Christmas Concert on December 13, 2015., filename 20151213-ChristmasConcert.mp3

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.