DISCUSSION OF WORLD CONFERENCE ACTIVITY

This coming Sunday, June 26, 2016, everyone is invited to a discussion of the recent 2016 World Conference led by Evangelist John O’Neal. The session will replace the normal adult Sunday school class and will meet in the Church Library. Everyone is invited and all delegates and attendees are urged to attend and share their experiences.

PASSING OF JAN SELL

Please be aware of the passing of Jan Sell, mother-in-law of Russ Hedrick. Janice Hedrick would like to thank the congregation for keeping the Sell family in their prayers. Jan Sell passed away two weeks ago.

REGARDING PRAYER REQUESTS

Please know that any member of the congregation can post prayer requests or share information about members and events on the Mission Road Members Only Facebook page. You do not need to send the information for approval to anyone. In fact doing so may slow down the dissemination of your request. Be sure to include the person needing prayers and what situation has occurred (if you wish to share that information). If your post concerns an event or news item, be sure to include the basics in your posting (such as who, what, where and when).

For prayer requests, if you do not have access to Facebook, then please call Paul Bennetts or John Trinkl Sr., our Congregational Pastoral Care Coordinators.

VBS REQUEST

Vacation Bible School is in need to brown paper bags (grocery store type). If you have any to donate, please bring to the church anytime between now and July 10.

INA FITE TURNS 100!

Ina Fite will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 24, 2016! We invite you to participate in a card shower for Ina. Please send a birthday card to:

Ina Fite

13800 W. 116th St., Apt. 2114

Olathe, KS 66062-7833

On Sunday, July 10, 2016, we will have a cake and punch reception for Ina immediately following the Sunday morning worship service. Please join us in greeting Ina and wishing her a happy year!

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MISSION ROAD FUNDRAISER FOR CAMP MITIOG

Save the Date: Saturday, July 30, 2016. As you may already know the Camp for Kids organization is matching donations made to CAMP MITIOG. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to capitalize on the generosity of this group. Therefore, we will be hosting a Show and Share Dinner. Participants will buy a seat at a table. If they buy a complete table space ($100. – 8 people) they will then decorate the table with a theme of their choice. If they share a table with others, all those sponsoring the table will work together to decorate it. The evening will also include a silent auction in conjunction with the meal. Members of the CAMP MITIOG board will present the entertainment and an evening of information. The cost for each chair space will be $12.50. Checks need to be in by July 24th to assure your donation is matched. Remember it is a charitable donation and Camp for Kids will match the funds you donate when you purchase a seat or table. Please purchase your place at a table early and contact Karen, Caryn or Marge with questions.

Please see Kennetha with your donation items for the silent auction. We are looking for items or services large or small, all donations are welcome.

EARLY ALERT: VBS COMING TO MISSION ROAD

Join us at the Mission Road Congregation for Vacation Bible School, 6:00-8:30 PM, Monday through Thursday, July 11-14, 2016. This year’s VBS theme is “Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”

CELEBRATE ELEANOR SANDY’S 90TH BIRHDAY

You are invited to a birthday party for Eleanor Sandy on Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 4:00-6:00 PM at the Lenexa Congregation of the Community of Christ. Eleanor’s daughters, Gail and Nancy, are planning the event to celebrate their Mother’s 90th birthday. Mark your calendar today.

JULY BOOK CLUB MEETS ON DIFFERENT THURSDAY TO DISCUSS "A GIFT OF THE EMPEROR”

The All Good Books club will discuss Theresa Park’s book, “A Gift of the Emperor,” at the next meeting on Thursday, July 21, 2016 (7 PM in the Church Library). Notice that the date is one week later than the regular meeting day of the month.

The group has also changed the November 2016 meeting to the third Thursday of the month (we normally meet on the second Thursday), so as you plan ahead be sure to check the book club’s Meeting Dates and Books page at https://allbooksclub.wordpress.com/meeting-dates-books/.

NURSERY HELP NEEDED!!!

Please consider signing up for the nursery so that we can more easily staff it for our youngest children. Consider it an opportunity to get to know some of the younger families of our congregation and those cute little kids! Please see Caryn Brown or Pam O’Neal about how you can help!

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE NEEDS PANTRY ITEMS!

The CACH desperately needs pantry items to share with the needy families they serve. Food pantry items: Pork & Beans, Pinto Beans (dry or canned), and Spaghetti Sauce.

Kitchen items: kitchen trash bags, bleach, and dish soap.

Thrift Store items: Kitchen items, Linens, and summer things.

Thank you for your continued support of Central Avenue Center of Hope.

ADULT CLASS STUDIES “WORDS OF COUNSEL”

On July 3rd, the Adult Sunday school class will resume discussing the “Words of Counsel” offered by Prophet-President Veazey at the April 2013 World Conference. The remaining sessions are listed below:

Sunday, July 3, 2016 – Session Ten: God Calls – discussion led by Dennis Wood

Sunday, July 10, 2016 – NEW: Priesthood meeting starts at 9 AM, everyone invited to attend – Steve Holben will facilitate the meeting.

Sunday, July 17, 2016 – Session Eleven: Spiritually Forming Communities – discussion led by Dennis Wood

Sunday, July 24, 2016 – Session Twelve: This Burden and Blessing – TBA.

Sunday, July 31, 2016 – Session Thirteen: Trust in this Promise – discussion led by Jonathan Bacon

POSSIBLE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TOPICS FOR AUGUST AND BEYOND

Based on the current schedule, the adult Sunday school class will finish discussing the “Words of Counsel” by the last Sunday in July. In order to acquire teachers and allow preparation time for the next topic, the class will need to determine the course of study in the next couple of weeks.

During the last class vote, the study of the life and works of Paul was the second highest vote getter. However, we want to offer class members a chance to consider several topics (including a study of Paul). The following books/topics have been suggested for consideration. If you’d like to add another topic to the list, email or call Jonathan Bacon ASAP, so your suggestion may be added to the list for consideration. Here are the six suggestions to date:

“Encountering Paul: Understanding the Man and His Message” by Tatha Wiley (preface plus 8 chapters).

Description: Fascinating, controversial, yet enigmatic, the figure of the apostle Paul looms large in Christian history. But which Paul is the true one? Is it the Paul who proclaims our freedom in Christ or the Paul who demands that slaves obey their masters? The Paul who works closely with women evangelists, or the Paul who instructs women to submit to the rule of their husbands? Is it the deeply Jewish Paul or the Paul who rejects the Law? Drawing on the literary and historical insights that have revolutionized contemporary Paul scholarship, Tatha Wiley skillfully separates these different voices of Paul and their liberating and oppressive legacies. In her well-crafted work, Wiley not only illumines the authentic, historical Paul but also accounts for his influence in the history of slavery, male domination, and religious exclusivism. Encountering Paul is a welcome addition to the Come and See series.

“If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” by John Ortberg Jr. (preface plus 10 chapters).

Description: Winner of the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award! You’re One Step Away from the Adventure of Your Life Deep within you lies the same faith and longing that sent Peter walking across the wind-swept Sea of Galilee toward Jesus. In what ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, "Come"? John Ortberg invites you to consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone. Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to meet you in ways that will change you forever, deepening your character and your trust in God. The experience is terrifying. It is thrilling beyond belief. It is everything you would expect of someone worthy to be called Lord. The choice is yours to know him as only a water-walker can, aligning yourself with God’s purpose for your life in the process. There’s just one requirement: “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat."

“Islam and Christianity: Theological Themes in Comparative Perspective” by John Renard (9 chapters plus epilogue).

Description: In light of the widespread public perception of incompatibility between Islam and Christianity, this book provides a much-needed straightforward comparison of these two great faith traditions from a broad theological perspective. Award-winning scholar John Renard illuminates the similarities as well as the differences between Islam and Christianity through a clear exploration of four major dimensions—historical, creedal, institutional, and ethical and spiritual. Throughout, the book features comparisons between concrete elements such as creedal statements, prayer texts, and writings from major theologians and mystics. It also includes a glossary of technical theological terms. For western readers in particular, this balanced, authoritative work overturns some common stereotypes about Islam, especially those that have emerged in the decade since September 11, 2001.

“The Journey of a People: Volume 3” by Mark Scherer (Have not seen the book yet so I don’t know how many chapters).

Description: Follow-up to the first two volumes, covering 1947 – present (?).

“Of Water and Spirit: Preparing for Baptism and Confirmation in Community of Christ” (12 chapters).

Description: This is intended as a pre-baptismal text for adults but might also be a good review for all members.

“The Top Ten Things Dead People Want to Tell YOU” by Mike Dooley (10 chapters plus an epilogue).

Description: “I know this may come as a shock, and you know I’m not fond of using stale one-liners, but—‘reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.’ I’m as alive now as I was on the day we met, except, maybe, more so.”

If the dead could speak, don’t you wonder what they would say to those of us they’ve left behind? What would they tell us to soothe our sorrow for their loss, calm our fears of what happens when we die, and fire us up to live the best possible lives we can right now?

In pages filled with wisdom, humor, and, yes, joy, New York Times best-selling author Mike Dooley explores our most pressing and profound questions about the afterlife—and this life—from the fresh perspective of those who have made the transition to the next phase. Among the revelations and insights they share:

• We were ready; you are not.

• There’s no such thing as a devil or hell.

• We’re sorry for any pain we may have caused.

• Your pets are just as crazy, brilliant, and loving here as they were there.

• Nothing we say can prepare you for the beauty of the moment you arrive.

You’ll learn that our loved ones are not lost to us; that our time on earth is both a school and an adventure; that, all appearances to the contrary, life truly is fair; and that we have it in us to reshape our own fortunes, starting today.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, 7:00 PM – Prayer Circle meets in the Church Library. Come and join your fellow prayer warriors.

Sunday, June 26, 2016, 9:00 AM – Breakfast (provided by Alicia & Bill Johnson), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, June 26, 2016 – Sunday School Classes

• Nursery available – 9:30-11:30 AM, in downstairs Nursery.
• Children’s Sunday School class – 9:30-10:15 AM, taught in June by Debbie Rushfelt with Robin Payne returning in July.
• Adult Sunday School class – 9:30-10:15 AM, team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in Church Library.
• God’s Kids – 9:30-11:30 AM – Children’s Library (Second Sunday of the Month Only) studying Bible stories.

Sunday, June 26, 2016, 10:20 AM – Meet in the Sanctuary to learn new hymns from our new hymnal, “Community of Christ Sings.” You will learn a new hymn for use in the morning worship.

Sunday, June 26, 2016, 10:30 AM – Larry Birkby will speak on the theme "Discipleship is Demanding" with Steve Holben presiding. Kennetha Kuttler will serve as the worship planner. The Ministry of music will be offered by Pennie Bunkers.

MIDLANDS MISSION CENTER 2016 SUMMER CAMPING PROGRAM

Doniphan Reunion: June 21-26, Guest Minister Mike Hoffman, Lach MacKay and our new Apostle Janne Grover visiting with special Midlands Conference on Saturday, June 25, 7:00-8:15 PM.

Junior Camp: July 5-9

Youth Quest KC: July 7-9

Chihowa Reunion: July 10-15, Guest Minister Matt Frizzel with Janne Grover visiting on Monday

MITIOG: July 24-29

Spectacular: July 23-30

Middle School Camp: July 31-August 5

Online Registration is now available on the Mission Center website! Online registration is available for Camps and Reunion at www.midlandsmc.org

Under "Youth Camp and Reunion Registration" click on the Green Button

If you have questions call Larry & Karen or Pennie.

Summer Camp information booklets are on the table in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like to know more about the Summer Camps, please pick up a copy.

MISSED LAST SUNDAY’S SERVICE?

Would you like to hear the message from last Sunday or a Sunday service from 3 years ago? Audio recordings of many of the last several years’ worth of worship services are available online at https://goo.gl/wREl03. Note this is a new shortened URL that will take you to a Google Drive with many of the recordings from the past.

Recordings are located in folders corresponding to the year (2015, 2016, and so on).

If you missed a Sunday, this provides you a way to hear the music and the message.

The beginning numbers of each filename indicate the date of the service.

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. Enjoy!

NOTE: If you experience problems playing these audio files be sure you’re running the latest version of your browser or try a different browser. In some cases, you may be required to download the audio file before playing it.

Some of the recent audio recordings are listed below:

19 June 2016, message by Ron Millard, filename 20160619-RMillard.mp3

12 June 2016, message by Jennifer Libeer, filename 20160612-JLibeer.mp3

29 May 2016, message by Steve Holben, filename 20160529-SHolben.mp3

22 May 2016, testimonies by Arlene Leonard, Judy Hennessy, and Kirk Barnhard, filename 20160522-Testimonies.mp3

15 May 2016, message by Melanie Baker, filename 20160515-MBaker.mp3

8 May 2016, message by Jonathan Bacon, filename 20160508-JBacon.mp3

1 May 2016, Jeannette Caldeira Baptismal Service, filename 20160501-JCaldeira.Baptism.mp3

1 May 2016, message by John O’Neal, filename 20160501-JOneal.mp3

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/

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. His email address and phone number are both in the Church Directory.