UPCOMING MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION EVENTS AND PROJECTS

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

Sometimes it is good to reflect on the past year and this is the time of year when such reflection typically occurs.

This congregation has always been generous with time, talent and money in supporting important works…

Let’s just quickly recap a few of our accomplishments during 2016:

• We hosted a "Make Some Magic Night" Silent auction for Camp Courage, that raised over $2,600.
• In July we hosted a Camp MITIOG fundraiser that raised over $4,000 for the camp, which serves children with special needs who otherwise would never enjoy a camping experience.
• We hosted our annual Chili Cook-off and Supper that raised funds for Outreach International, an organization that helps disadvantaged people in other countries by providing services to make them more self-sufficient.
• Throughout the year we collected shoes and socks for students at Osage City High School.
• We provided assistance for the Central Avenue Center of Hope in Kansas City, Kansas by collecting an average of 150-200 lbs. of food per month plus clothing, and household goods. Further, a faithful group has served lunch at the Center for Hope once a month.
• We also provided $1,600 to fund the Center’s Thanksgiving meal that served 126 individuals, contributed to their annual paper drive, the shoebox Christmas gift project and supported the August and January Back to School Supply drives.
• Some members of the congregation supported a GoFundMission project that netted $4,400 to replace the Center’s aging roof and paint the Center’s interior.
• There may be other projects that I’ve forgotten, but we also followed up the El Cisin project from last year (that helped pay for electrical lines to be brought to a remote village in Honduras with another project for the same area. We pledged and are currently collecting $5,750 for the Health Ministries Association’s full time nurse project for the La Buena Fe district in Honduras. That’s the same area where the Blumenschein family setup a medical mission in the late 1950s.

In addition to doing good works, we enjoyed some social activities during 2016 by

• Sponsoring and coordinating eleven meetings of the All Good Books discussion group here at the church.
• Sharing in an Ice Cream Social with a Mission Road centered trivia contest.
• We offered a July 4th Celebration with bouncy houses, balloons, face painting, hot dogs and drinks for the community.
• Shared in a garden workday.
• And participated in some birthday card showers for some of our most senior members.

We’ve seen improvements in our building including upgraded lighting in the sanctuary, Library and around the church building and parking lot.

Our congregation also hosted a Midlands Mission Center Coffee Talk and sent several members as delegates to the 2016 World Conference.

We’ve been blessed with music by the Mission Bells, the Saints’ Chorale and many fine vocal and instrumental soloists.

The Adult Sunday School class has studied "The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything" by Brian D. McLaren; we’ve studied the Words of Counsel in preparation for World Conference and subsequently began the study of Mark Scherer’s Volume 3 of The Journey of a People which included a visit by the author and former World Church Historian.

And of course, as a congregation we’ve maintained a dynamic prayer list and a very active prayer circle that meets on Wednesday evenings.

Throughout the year we’ve celebrated new births, recorded milestones, mourned over the passing of beloved members and rejoiced as new members have entered the waters of Baptism. It’s been a good year and we shouldn’t forget all we’ve given and received!

For 2017, we look forward to again participating in a community that worships, studies, prays and serves together in love and friendship.

NORMAN BERNAUER UPDATE

Norman would welcome visitors at his new location in Room 211 just down the street at Brighton Gardens at 7105 Mission Road.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Wednesday, January 4, 2017, 6:30 PM – Saints Chorale rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017, 7:45 PM – Prayer Circle meets at the church.

Sunday, January 8, 2017, 8:45 AM – Breakfast (provided by Jonathan Bacon), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, January 8, 2017 – Sunday School Classes

• Nursery available – 9:15-11:30 AM, in downstairs Nursery.
• Children’s Pre-baptismal Class begins – 9:15-10:15 AM, taught by Debby Rushfelt
• Children’s Sunday School class – 9:15-10:15 AM, taught by Robin Payne.
• Adult Sunday School class – 9:15-10:15 AM, team taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in Church Library.

Sunday, January 8, 2017, 10:30 AM – John O’Neal will speak on the theme "Jesus, the Beloved" with Brian Libeer presiding. Brian will also serve as the worship planner. The song leader for learning a new hymn in the “Community of Christ Sings” will be Jack Cave. The ministry of music will be provided by a Cello Duet. Jason Scott will provide the PowerPoint slideshow. The service will also include the ordination of Pennie Bunkers.

Sunday, January 8, 2017, after church – Potluck dinner to celebrate ordination of Pennie Bunkers. Bring your favorite dish or dessert to share!

Monday, January 9, 2017, 7:00-8:30 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal in Church Sanctuary.

HONDURAN NURSE PROGRAM PLEDGE GOAL MET!

We’re happy to report that the Tangible Love Grant was approved by the World Church for our Honduran nurse program. The Health Ministries Association now has all the pledges needed to hire Saira Giron beginning in January 2017 and sustain her for the entire year. Thank you again for your support of this exciting program to reach out and bring healthcare to so many.

Those of you, who have made pledges, please make your checks out to Health Ministries Association (or simply HMA) and give your pledge amount to Paul Bennetts. Please do not make checks out to Mission Road.

Thank you again, for meeting the $5,750 pledge goal for 2017!

BULLETIN BOARD ALERT

The bulletin board at church includes a pair of glasses that are still looking for an owner. They were left at church a week or two ago and want to serve their owner…who needs to step forward and claim them!

Also, the bulletin board includes a thank you note from the Pastors, Karen and Larry Birkby, for the Christmas gifts given them by the congregation.

THE COAT-MITTEN-GLOVE-HAT TREE IS OPEN FOR YOUR DONATION

Got a coat that still has useful life but it is just hanging in your closet? Got an extra set of new mittens or gloves or a hat or blanket? The church is now collecting winter wear for the Central Avenue Center of Hope. Bring your worn but not worn-out winter coats, boots, or new gloves, mittens and blankets to church next Sunday. There are folks in desperate need since the harsh winter weather has arrived.

JANUARY 12, 2017 WILL BE NEXT BOOK CLUB MEETING

The next book selection for the All Good Books discussion group is “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” by Eleanor Roosevelt. The book club will resume meeting on January 12, 2017 at 7 PM in the Church Library. Mark your calendar.

You can always find a schedule of upcoming book discussions at allbooksclub.wordpress.com/meeting-dates-books/ Come join us!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS RESUMES ON JANUARY 8

On Sunday, January 8, 2017, the adult Sunday school class will resume discussion of "The Journey of a People” Volume 3 by former Church Historian, Mark Scherer. Jane Landrum will lead the discussion of Chapter 13 (“Educating for Change”).

DEADINE APPROACHING: 2017 DIRECTORY CHANGES NEEDED!

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. Shortly, 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.

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.

The following list includes some recent audio recordings:

25 December 2016 message by Karen Birkby, filename 20161225-KBirkby.mp3 including the YouTube video 20161225-Christmas per kids.video.mp4 and notes about the video in 20161225-Christmas per kids.txt

11 December 2016 message by Steve Holben, filename 20161211-SHolben.mp3

11 December 2016 Charlie Brown video used in Steve Holben’s message, filename 20161211-CBrown.video.mp4

11 December 2016 Vespers Service, filename 20161211-Vespers.mp3

4 December 2016 message by Paul Bennetts, filename 20161204-PBennetts.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.