UPCOMING MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION EVENTS

NEW LIGHT BULBS IN THE SANCTUARY

Twenty-four of the 90-watt halogen spot light bulbs in the front half of the sanctuary have been replaced with 15-watt LED flood light bulbs. You may remember a few months ago we replaced all the exterior light fixtures on the building with new LED light fixtures. We now are in the process of replacing the interior light bulbs with LED bulbs. Ron, Steve & Larry replaced the bulbs last Saturday morning as a trial to compare the lighting. The new bulbs while consuming 1/6th of the power provide a broader beam of light and more lumens (brightness or more visible light). The new bulbs produce a soft white light and are estimated to last 25,000 hours or well over 20 years of service. So that means that Ron, Steve and Larry are working themselves out of the bulb replacement business. The bulb replacement business may even skip a couple of generations of light bulb changers. Replacement bulbs have been ordered to replace the rest of the bulbs in the sanctuary and once that job is completed we will definitely be "In the Light". Not only will we be saving energy costs to light the sanctuary but we will also save energy to cool the building.

PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE

There has been on-going conversation about extending the Sunday School class time to facilitate longer class discussions. Plus, there has been inadequate time for people to move from class into the sanctuary in time to learn a new hymn at 10:20 AM.

It’s been proposed that we alter our Sunday morning schedule to give more time for class and more time between class and the hymn sing/worship service. The following proposed schedule is being considered. The Pastorate would like to make a decision in time for (possibly) starting the new schedule in September. If you have any concerns or would like to express support for the new schedule, please contact Larry Birkby during the coming week.

• Breakfast 8:30 AM join us for conversation & fellowship.
• Nursery available – 9:00-11:30 AM, in downstairs Nursery.
• Children’s Sunday School class – 9:00-10:00 AM, taught by Robin Payne.
• Adult Sunday School class – 9:00-10:00 AM, team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in Church Library.
• God’s Kids – 9:00-11:30 AM – Children’s Library (Second Sunday of the Month Only) studying Bible stories.

BOOKS NEEDED!

Tom and Judy Jowett are collecting books for a charity sale at Bass Pro in Springfield, MO. The money earned will be used to provide Christmas gifts for children from disadvantaged homes. If you have books to donate, please bring to the church no later than Sunday, September 4, 2016 (Labor Day weekend).

ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL SCHEDULED

Mission Road’s Annual Ice Cream Social will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Alisa Johnson is planning the event with a start time of 5:00 PM. Mark your calendar, ask Alisa how you can help, and watch for further announcements!

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SAINTS CHORALE?

Are you a singer and would like to join the Mission Road Saints Chorale? Fall choir practice begins on Wednesday August 31 at 6:30 PM. Join us in this ministry of music!

MISSION BELLS SEASON TO BEGIN

The Mission Bells will begin rehearsing again starting on Monday, September 12 and Monday, September 19 (7:00-8:30 PM) for the fall season. Our first ministry of music offering will be on Sunday, September 25. Our September rehearsal schedule is different from the usual schedule of performing at 3rd Sunday services, with rehearsals on alternate Mondays. We could use additional ringers. If you read music and want to be part of a special worship experience, let Dorothy May know!

PRE-BAPTISM CLASS TO START IN SEPTEMBER

Debbie Rushfelt will offer a pre-baptismal class starting the Sunday, September 11, 2016 for any interested children in the congregation. Please let Debbie know if you have children interested in the class.

VIOLET LORENZ CELEBRATES HER 107TH BIRTHDAY

On August 26, 2016, Violet Lorenz will celebrate her 107th birthday! We invite you to participate in a card shower for Violet. Please send a birthday card to:

Violet Lorenz

Overland Park Nursing and Rehab Center

6501 W. 75th Street, Room #201

Overland Park, KS 66204-3017

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE PAPER DRIVE

Underway is the annual congregational paper drive to help the Central Avenue Center of Hope, August 1 – September 25, 2016.

The CACH needs 25,000 of each of the following items for serving food to our clients:

8–9” foam plates; 5–6” dessert plates; 5–7 ounce cups; 5–7 ounce foam cups; 12 ounce foam bowls; 4–6 ounce dessert bowls; napkins, paper towels; and toilet paper.

Our congregation has entered a little friendly competition (we want the trophy that will be given at the Fall Mission Center conference. CACH uses a formula to be fair to all congregations, large or small (the number of items given divided by our September 18th attendance).

The Central Avenue Center of Hope continues to respond to the mission of "abolishing poverty and ending suffering." Thousands of meals are served each year to individuals and families through your continued generosity. Please join us in this important ministry. No gift is too small.

DIRECTORY MAILING ADDRESS CHANGES WELCOME!

Please email ( mrcoc ) or provide Clint with a written update to any addresses or name changes for the congregational directory or newsletter mailing list. Certain college students and a few others have moved since October/November of last year and we are getting a number of newsletters returned for incorrect address information. In short order there will be a final proof copy of the directory made available in the fellowship hall for you to have one final check. NOW is the time to send Clint any new information that has obviously changed.

MONTHLY OFFERING ENVELOPE PACKS

The world church has begun charging local congregations $.45 per month per person to mail offering envelopes to each home. Over a 12 month period that adds up ($5.40 per person per year), especially when multiplied by the number of members in the congregation. If you are giving online (see https://www.cofchrist.org/give) or do not need envelopes sent to your home each month, please contact Pennie Bunkers. She’ll cancel the envelopes and save the congregational funds for other purposes.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE CONTINUES

The start of school is as close as the middle of August and students need to START school with the necessary school supplies so the next couple of Sundays are crucial! Every year many students go to the first day of class without the supplies they need to be successful. Now’s the time you can help by buying and bringing supplies to help students succeed.

There’s a table in the Narthex where you can add your contribution of school supplies. Further, there’s a handout with typical supplies for grades Kindergarten through fifth grade.

Even without the list, we can assure you the following items are in great demand for elementary school students: boxes of Kleenex, boxes of #2 pencils (24 count), boxes of crayons (24 count), Clorox wipes, bottles of hand sanitizer, black dry erasers, composition notebooks, pink erasers, small ear buds, pencil bags, quart zip lock bags, package of glue sticks, pages of index cards, children’s scissors, packages of multicolor construction paper and more! Help a child with the supplies they need for school success!

WORK DAY AT CAMP CHIHOWA

Yes that’s right; mark your calendar for the September 17, 2016 work day at Chihowa! You’re needed! More info to follow.

MIDLANDS MISSION CENTER CONFERENCE

Mark October 8, 2016 on your calendar as the date for the Midlands Mission Center Fall Conference. The theme will be “Now in This Moment! The conference will be held at the Good Shepherd Church, Independence, MO (I-70 and Blue Ridge).

You’ll have the chance to get acquainted, enjoy music and listen to keynote speakers Matt Frizell and Janné Grover. Watch for more details to follow!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS STUDIES CHURCH HISTORY

The adult Sunday School class has begun reading and discussing Mark Scherer’s The Journey of a People: The Era of Worldwide Community (Volume 3). The class will be taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum, and Dennis Wood.

If you do not already have the book, it can be ordered from Herald House (go to http://www.heraldhouse.org/cart/edit.asp?p=347112).

For next Sunday, September 4, 2016, the class will discuss Chapter 3 (The Humanity of Leadership). Please read and be prepared for the discussion; to be led by Jonathan Bacon.

CHURCH WI-FI NETWORK

The church is now covered by a 3-band Wi-Fi wireless network. Printing services are not available on the Wi-Fi network as it only provides Internet access. Coverage is somewhat spotty, so the further your device is from the first floor, ground floor office, the weaker the signal will be. The Network names are:

MRCOC

MRCOC_5G

MRCOC_5G-2.

The password for each Wi-Fi network is the same and posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 7:00 PM – Prayer Circle meets in the quiet of the Library. Come and join your fellow prayer warriors.

Sunday, August 28, 2016, 9:00 AM – Breakfast (provided by Eloise Snider and Bob Andes), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, August 28, 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 by Robin Payne.
• Adult Sunday School class – 9:30-10:15 AM, team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in Church Library.

Sunday, August 28, 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. Janice Hedrick will be the song leader.

Sunday, August 28, 2016, 10:30 AM – Paul Bennetts will speak on the theme "Place at the Table" with Clint Reine presiding. Clint will also serve as the worship planner. The ministry of music will be offered by Dorothy May.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016, 6:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale begins Fall rehearsals in the Church Sanctuary. The first musical offering will be the third Sunday Sept. 18th.

Thursday, September 8, 2016, 7:00 PM – All Good Books club will discuss “The Bullet” by Mary Louise Kelly.

Sunday, September 11, 2016, 9:30-10:15 AM – Children’s Pre-baptismal Class.

Sunday, September 11, 2016, 5:00 PM – Annual Ice Cream Social.

Monday, September 12, 2016, 7:00-8:30 PM – Mission Bells begin rehearsals in the Church Sanctuary.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 – Midlands Mission Center Fall Conference.

Sunday, October 23, 2016, 9:30 AM – Priesthood meeting.

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:

14 August 2016 message by Jill Strom (read by Jonathan Bacon), filename 20160814-JBacon(JillStrom).mp3

7 August 2016 message by Arlene Leonard, filename 20160807-ALeonard.mp3

31 July 2016 message by Kirk Barnhard, filename 20160731-KBarnhard.mp3

24 July 2016 message by Jonathan Bacon, filename 20160724-JBacon.mp3

23 July 2016 Joselyn Cortes’ Quinceanera service, filename 20160723-JCortez.Quinceanera.mp3

17 July 2016 message by Jerry Rushfelt, filename 20160717-GRushfelt.mp3

10 July 2016 message by Clint Reine, filename 20160710-CReine.mp3

3 July 2016, message by Brian Libeer, filename 20160703-BLibeer.mp3

CONCERNING 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.

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.