MESSAGE FROM THE PASTORS

Dear Congregational Family,

We feel honored to do our part in keeping Mission Road a “happening” place. All of your varied ways of supporting us are truly a blessing.

Thank you for your generous Christmas gift. It is a wonderful reminder of the cooperation we all share. The hearts in the frame are so symbolic!

We’re praying for a great new year for us all.

In Christ – our love,

Larry and Karen

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THANK YOU FOR PRAYERS

Karen Birkby would like to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns on her behalf of her shoulder replacement surgery.

ALL GOOD BOOKS CLUB MEETS THIS THURSDAY

The next meeting will be this Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 7 PM in the Church Library. The group will discuss both “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood and “Mrs. Saint and the Defectives” by Julie Lawson Timmer. Readers may read either or both books and come prepared to discuss what you’ve read.

Discussion questions for both books are posted on the book club website at allbooksclub.wordpress.com.

ADULT CLASS DISCUSSES THE EPISTLES OF PAUL

The Adult Sunday School class will continue the study of the epistles of Paul next Sunday at 9:15 AM in the Church Library. The discussion will focus on II Corinthians Chapters 5-6, plus a special report on: Why does society takes a simple concept (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) and makes it complex by adding rules, regulations and laws?

Dennis Wood will lead the class discussion. Please bring your Bible to class.

VOLUNTEER POSITION AVAILABLE IN MMC

Responsibilities for the “Mission Center Support Specialist” include:

• Offer planning support to camp directors

• Serve on MC Youth Ministry Council

• Address Active Network questions

• Other duties as assigned

Some reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. mileage, relevant training, required utilities) may be available. Anyone who is interested can please send a resume and letter of interest to the Presidents at presidentteam by January 31, 2018.

WHAT IS TWIST?

Youth from all over the mission center have been gathering together during quarterly TWIST weekends. Although these events have a lot of time built in for fun and socializing, the main goal of their time together is Teens Working In Service Together.

This means that Saturday is a day of service. They either help the congregational members from the church where they are staying or move into the community to volunteer locally. Everyone comes away from the experience touched in one way or another.

NEXT TWIST WEEKEND AT OLATHE

Teens Working in Service Together

7:00 pm Fri, Jan 19 – 11:20 am Sun, Jan 21

All attendees must complete an Event Registration Form. A $20 donation is suggested. Please RSVP to Allen Keehler 816-810-5690, Donna Fletcher 316-644-4079 or Kat Hnatyshyn 816-506-6948.

WOMEN’S RETREAT: DIVINE FEMININE

Immersing ourselves in the nurturing and comforting Spirit of God, March 2 – 4 @ Camp Doniphan.

Ladies age 14 and older are welcome to join Apostle Janné Grover and explore God in a feminine sense. The $100 cost covers food, bedding, towels and accommodations in the main lodge. Registration starts at 6:30 pm. To allow for food preparations, please RSVP by February 3. Download the registration form at wendyjgunn.

Bring your friends, your scriptures, games for free time, and your favorite snacks to share on Friday and Saturday evenings. An auction will be held to defray the cost of the retreat. Please bring nice items for this event…and your checkbook to buy them! If you need financial assistance to attend, you may contact Pam Mathena. Please don’t let finances keep you away from this amazing weekend with your sisters and your God.

YOUTH HISTORIC CARAVAN MATCHING DONATION OPPORTUNITY

A generous Donor in our Mission Center has made an offer and a challenge to the entire Midlands Mission Center. For every $1 donated between now and February 15, 2018 they will match the total donations up to a maximum of $4,000! As we close out 2017, please consider this opportunity to double your donation and help make the Sr. High Historic Caravan a reality. 48 teenagers so far have sent Interest Forms into the MMC and we anticipate more. We expect this to be one of the largest, if not the largest, Caravan in recent history! Thank you Midlands!

Donations should be made payable to the Midlands Mission center and given to your Congregational Financial Officer or mailed to the Midlands Mission Center at 7615 N Platte Purchase Drive, Kansas City, MO 64118. All donations are tax deductible. Please note your donations are for the “Youth Historic Caravan.”

JUST JESUS TEMPLE SERVICE

At 7 PM on Sunday, January 21, you’re invited to attend the “Just Jesus” Temple Service with Stassi Cramm and Matt Frizzel at the Independence Community of Christ Temple. It’s a celebration of Jesus’ message and mission. The service includes performances by the Graceland University Choir.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITHOUT EMAIL OR FACEBOOK ACCESS?

If you know someone in the congregation who does not have email and does not use Facebook, please let Jonathan Bacon know. We’re trying to be sure everyone in the congregation has access to periodic news updates and information on congregational activities.

2018 CAMP DATES

June 6-16 Historic Caravan

June 7-22 Middle School Camp

June 24-29 Doniphan Reunion

July 5-7 Youth Quest

July 8-13 Chihowa Reunion

July 20-21 International Youth Forum

July 21-28 Spectacular

July 22-27 MITIOG

July 29-August 2 Junior Camp

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Monday, January 8, 2018, 7:00-8:30 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale Rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 7:35 PM – Prayer Circle meets in the Church Library.

Thursday, January 11, 2018, 7:00 PM – All Good Books group meets in Church Library to discuss “The Hand Maid’s Tale” and “Mrs. Saint and the Defectives.”

Sunday, January 14, 2018, 8:45 AM – Breakfast (provided by Arlene and Lee Leonard), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

• 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, January 14, 2018, 10:30 AM – Jerry Rushfelt will speak onthe theme "Jesus Calls" with Jennifer Libeer presiding and serving as the worship planner. The Saints’ Chorale will provide the ministry of music and Jonathan Bacon 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:

7 January 2018 message by John O’Neal, filename 20180107-JONeal.mp3

29 December 2017 Celebration of Life Service, filename 20171229-PWeber.Memorial.mp3

24 December 2017 message by Ron Millard, filename 20171224-RMillard.mp3

17 December 2017 Christmas Vesper Service, filename 20171217-Vespers.mp3

17 December 2017 message by Jennifer Libeer, filename 20171217-JLibeer.mp3

10 December 2017 message by Jonathan Bacon, filename 20171210-JBacon.mp3

3 December 2017 message by Steve Holben, filename 20171203-SHolben.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 is both in the Church Directory.