WHAT DOES A BOOK CLUB AND CHOCOLATE HAVE IN COMMON?

The All Good Books discussion group will meet on Thursday, September 14, 2017 to discuss the novel “Stars Are Fire” by Anita Shreve. We’ll meet in the Church Library at 7 PM.

This is our second annual “Chocolate Meeting!” If you don’t remember what that means or you missed last year’s “Chocolate Meeting,” then show up on the 14th and find out!

Further, if you haven’t had time to read the book this month, come join us anyway. We always have a lively, wide-ranging discussion, so we hope you can join us!

COMING SOON! HERITAGE DAY STORYTELLERS NIGHT AT MISSION ROAD

Do you love a good story? If so, we have an exciting evening for you! Celebrate Heritage Day this year with Apostle Art Smith, Mark Scherer, and Barb Walden as they share some of their favorite stories from church history at the Mission Road congregation on Sunday, September 17 at 7:00 PM. Our storytellers will share the theme "Preserve the Past ~ Inspire the Future."

The Storytellers evening is sponsored by Mission Road congregation and Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation in support of summer interns who share the church’s stories at our historic sites.

A donation opportunity for the Alma Blair Internship Program will be available for those interested in supporting this unique educational opportunity for young adults. All are invited. No RSVP needed.

NEW CARPETS INSTALLED

The new carpets have been installed in the Sanctuary, the main floor office and in the nursery. Please remember to NOT bring food or drinks other than water into the Sanctuary. (Communion being the exception.) Should you forget and spill, please clean up your spill right away. Also, let the pastor know so we can avoid any permanent stains. Thank you

TAKE A PEEK AT TEEN CENTER IN BASEMENT

The Youth Group has been hard at work for the summer painting their teen center. It is not quite done yet, but it is taking shape. Next they will finish painting the Teen Loft and hallway to the balcony. The final paint project is the hallway in the basement. Be sure to give them kudos – not only are they real troopers but they are amazing artists!

THIS WEEK SAINTS CHORALE BEGAN; NEXT WEEK MISSION BELLS REHEARSALS BEGIN

The rehearsal schedule for the Mission Bells is included in the Sunday bulletin. Mission Bells will begin rehearsals on Monday, September 11 from 7-8:30 PM.

Want to exercise your musical muscles? Come join one of the two congregational music groups! Saint’s Chorale regular rehearsals began this past week on Wednesday. If you like to sing or know someone who does, invite them to join in the fun.

HAVE YOU READ THE LETTERS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL?

You’re invited to read the four chapters of Philippians for this week’s Adult Sunday School Class as well as Chapter 5 (“Paul’s letters”) of Tatha Wiley’s book “Encountering Paul.” We’ll focus on pages 74-96 in the Wiley book (through the discussion of Philippians). Dennis Wood or Jonathan Bacon will lead the class discussion. It’ll be a surprise. If possible, bring your Bible (any version).

A list of questions for Chapter 5 was passed out in class today. Use it as a guide for your reading. We’ll discuss the questions selected by the class from the list next Sunday.

ADULT CLASS STUDIES THE COMMUNITY OF CHRIST

A second adult class meets each Sunday for adults interested in learning about church membership. This class is informational, for anyone wanting to know more about the Community of Christ. The class is held during the regular Sunday School hour (starting at 9:15 AM). All are invited to join the class taught by Ron Millard and Karen Birkby.

CENTER FOR HOPE PAPER DRIVE

The congregational paper drive to help Central Avenue Center of Hope in underway! The Center needs 20,000 of each of the following items for serving food to the homeless. Please bring what you’re able.

8–9” foam plates,

5–6” dessert plates,

8 oz. foam cups,

12 oz. foam bowls,

Napkins, forks and toilet paper.

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

COFFEE TALKS

Join the Midlands Mission Center Leadership Team for the following scheduled Coffee Talks:

September 6, 2017 at 6:00 PM, Excelsior Springs, Potluck with Janné Grover

October 6, 2017 at 9:00 AM, at the Bethel Congregation.

November 10, 2017, time and place TBA

December 8, 2017, time and place TBA

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE MENS’ RETREAT

Beginning Friday, October 27, 2017 at 7:00 PM until Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Camp Chihowa.

Don McLaughlin will be the guest minister. $60 for a weekend of food, fellowship, sharing, learning, and spiritual growth. Watch for more details.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints Chorale Rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 7:45 PM – Prayer Circle meets at the church.

Sunday, September 10, 2017, 8:45 AM – Breakfast (provided by Bob Andes), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

• Nursery available – 9:15-11:30 AM, in downstairs Nursery.
• Children’s Sunday School class – 9:15-10:15 AM, taught by Mary Reichenbach.
• Teen’s Sunday School class – 9:15-10-15 AM, taught by Clint Reine.
• Adult Sunday School class – 9:15-10:15 AM, discusses "Encountering Paul” by Tatha Wiley, taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in the Church Library.
• Adult Class Exploring the Community of Christ – 9:15-10:15 AM, taught by Karen Birkby and Ron Millard.

Sunday, September 10, 2017, 10:30 AM – Steve Holben will speak onthe theme "Where Two or Three Are Gathered…" with Jennifer Libeer presiding and serving as the worship planner. The song leader for learning a new hymn in "Community of Christ Sings" will be Janice Hedrick. Saints Chorale will provide the ministry of music and Steve Hedrick will provide the PowerPoint slideshow.

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:

27 August 2017 message by Mary Reichenbach, filename 20170827-MReichenbach.mp3

20 August 2017 message by Steve Holben, filename 20170820-SHolben.mp3

13 August 2017 message by Ron Millard, filename 20170813-RMillard.mp3

6 August 2017 message by Clint Reine, filename 20170806-CReine

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 is both in the Church Directory.