THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS UPON US!

The First Sunday of Advent is December 2, 2018. Please join us for communion, a message from Jerry Rushfelt, Sunday School classes and sharing in the Christmas Spirit.

CHRISTMAS DECORATORS NEEDED

You’re invited to join fellow members for the Christmas Decorating Party at the Church on Saturday, December 1, 2018. If you haven’t signed up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex, you can still do so during Wednesday evening activities (Choir and Prayer Circle) or just show up!

VESPERS SERVICE SCHEDULED

The annual Mission Road Christmas Vespers Service will be held on December 16, 2018 at 6 PM. Join us for an evening of music and scripture.

CHILDREN’S PRACTICE FOR VESPERS SERVICE

The children will begin practicing and preparing for the Vesper Service soon. The practice will occur during part of the normal Sunday School hour, from 9:45-10:15 AM each Sunday.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA AT THE HIGHLANDS

The Christmas Cantata (The Winter Rose) is scheduled for 7 PM on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the Highlands (7615 N. Platte Purchase Dr.

Kansas City, MO). All are invited to attend.

WINTER COAT COLLECTION

With Daylight Savings time going away and the fall colors are showing their beauty it’s time to think about Ole Man Winter coming soon. With the arrival of winter, it means colder weather and perhaps some snow. It’s also time to remember to clean out the closet of the gently used coat that you don’t plan to wear anymore and help someone else keep warm this winter. If that’s not the case with you perhaps you can afford to spend a few dollars on a new coat for someone else. Central Avenue Center of Hope is starting the annual winter coat drive. Please remember those that may need a new coat this winter. Please hang up your coat gift on the coat rack by the office door. Look for the sign.

WINTER GLOVE AND MITTEN COLLECTION

Remember to also add to the collection of gloves and mittens being collected for Central Avenue Center of Hope. Tis the Season.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPIC

The Adult Class will continue to the study of "The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, Volume 1" by Justo Gonzalez each Sunday.

Next week the discussion will focus on Chapter 23, "Jerome." Jonathan Bacon will lead the class discussion.

HEALTH MINISTRIES ASSOCIATION 2019 PLEDGE FORM

Honduras Nurse program

For the past two years, the Mission Road family has shared generously with HMA in our effort to provide health care to residents of remote villages in Honduras. These are people who would not receive any professional health care if not for the visits provided by our dedicated nurse, Saira Giron and the Health Teams of HMA. 85% of the donations to this program go for providing nurse’s salary, advanced training, medications and clinic supplies and transportation costs to get to the villages. The remaining 15% covers the costs of postage, wire transfers, and a small amount for preparing and printing the pledge brochures. All health care teams provide 100% of their own costs for travel, room and board and insurance. All the Board members for HMA are unpaid volunteers.

If you are willing and able to make a pledge to help us continue to provide for this program in 2019, please complete a pledge form (found in Sunday’s bulletin) and return to Paul Bennetts. Or provide Paul with your name, address, and pledge amount for 2019.

UPCOMING eLEARNING CLASSES

Registration for enrollment begins December 14, 2018 for these online classes:

Introduction to Priesthood Ministry (MP300) – Required for new ordinands and those exploring priesthood leadership. Class dates: Jan. 12 – March 8 ($25 – limit 30).

Ministry of the Deacon (MP 302) – Required for new Deacons and those exploring Deacons ministry. Class dates: Jan. 12-Feb. 22 ($25 – limit 20)

Pastors in Mission (NEW) – Created to introduce pastors and pastors council to basic congregational leadership. Class dates: Jan. 12-Feb. 22 ($25 – limit 30)

To enroll, please visit http://developmetrics.org

NEXT BOOK CLUB MEETING IS IN JANUARY

The All Good Books group will discuss "With Love, Wherever You Are" by Dandi Daley Mackall at our next meeting on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7 PM. No meeting is planned for December 2018.

Discussion questions for the January novel will be posted in December.

The schedule of upcoming books for discussion is always available at https://allbooksclub.wordpress.com/meeting-dates-books/.

2018-2019 CHURCH DIRECTORY

Work is beginning on the next Congregational Directory. If you have updates (contacts, pictures, information) that you would like included, please email the information to Clint Reine at the church email address (mrcoc).

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.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Monday, November 26, 2018, 7:00-8:30 PM – Mission Bells Rehearsal in Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints’ Chorale Rehearsal in the Sanctuary.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 7:35 PM – Prayer Circle in the Church Library.

Saturday, December 1, 2018, 10:00 AM – Decorate the church for Christmas. Many hands make quick work of the project. Come share in the excitement of the Christmas season.

Sunday, December 2, 2018, 8:45 AM – Breakfast (provided by Bob Andes), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, December 2, 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 "The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, Volume 1" by Justo Gonzalez, taught by Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts, Jane Landrum and Dennis Wood in the Church Library.

Sunday, December 2, 2018, 10:30 AM – Jerry Rushfelt will speak on the theme "Anticipate Sacred Presence (Hope)" with Steve Holben serving as presider and worship planner. Jane Landrum will provide the ministry of music and Jonathan Bacon will provide the PowerPoint.

MISSED LAST SUNDAY’S SERVICE?

Audio recordings of past worship services are available online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8. This is a short URL for a Google Drive folder with past recordings.

Recordings are located in folders corresponding to the year (e.g., 2017, 2018). If you missed a Sunday, this provides you a way to hear the music and the message.

Each audio recording begins with the date of the service (20180805 represents August 5, 2018). The date is followed by a dash and the first initial and last name of the speaker.

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:

18 November 2018 message by Kirk Barnhard, filename 20181118-KBarnhard.mp3

11 November 2018 message by Paul Bennetts, filename 20181111-PBennetts.mp3

4 November 2018 message by Steve Holben, filename 20181104-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 our Congregational Pastoral Care Coordinator.

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 link to Mission Road worship service audio recordings at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8

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.