MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION EVENTS AND PROJECTS

VOILET LORENZ FUNERAL SERVICE (August 26, 1909 – January 26, 2019)

Violet Lorenz passed away on Saturday January 26, 2019. A service is planned for Friday Feb. 1, 2019 at the Charter Funeral Home, 10250 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Merriam, KS 66203. Visitation will be 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. The Funeral will start at 12:30 PM. Memories may be left on the Charter Funeral Home website at charterfunerals.com

CELEBRATE “EVERYONE’S” BIRTHDAY PARTY

On Sunday, February 10, 2019, you’re invited to a birthday celebration for everyone in the congregation (no matter the date of your birthday)! There will be games, led by the Libeer family and soon a sign-up sheet will be posted for volunteer cake bakers and sloppy joe makers. Please plan to join us at 5 PM for this special birthday celebration.

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’s class will discuss Chapter 29 (“Imperial Restoration and Continuing Decay”). Paul Bennetts will lead the class discussion.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ADULT CLASS

At the current pace, we’ll finish the study of “The Story of Christianity: Volume 1” in late March 2019. Over the next few weeks, the teachers invite members to suggest books or topics for discussion. You can share your ideas with any of the four teachers (Jane Landrum, Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts or Dennis Wood). We’ll discuss options on the fourth Sunday in February.

Suggestions to date include the following (in alphabetical order):

· A People’s History of Christianity – The Other Side of the Story by Diana Butler Bass

· Christianity for the Rest of Us – How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith by Diana Butler Bass

· If the Church Were Christian – Rediscovering the Values of Jesus by Philip Gulley

· Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli

· Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine

· The Story of the Christianity: Volume 2, The Reformation to the Present Day by Justo L. Gonzales

WINTER COAT COLLECTION

With the days starting to slowly get longer we are still a long way from seeing Ole Man Winter leaving 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 in the midst of their 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.

NEXT BOOK CLUB MEETING: NOT UNTIL MARCH

The All Good Books group will not meet in February but will resume meeting in March. We’ll discuss "Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World" by Eileen McNamara at the next meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7 PM in the Church Library.

Discussion questions for the biography will be posted on the book club website at http://allbooksclub.wordpress.com in February.

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

2019 SUMMER CAMPING SCHEDULE

June 9–14 Senior High Camp @ Chihowa

June 16–21 Middle School Camp @ Chihowa

June 23–27 Doniphan Reunion

June 29–July3 Junior Camp

July 7–12 Chihowa Reunion

July 20–27 Spectacular @ Graceland

July 21–26 MITIOG @ Doniphan

August 1–3 Youth Quest @ Olathe

MISSION LEARN AND MMC CONFERENCE

Please join us March 16, 2019 at Mission Road Congregation for Mission: Learn in the morning and spring MMC conference in the afternoon. Class options include a CFO seminar with Wim van Klinken, youth worker registration training, congregational blessings with Mary Gill, and MORE!

World Conference delegates please plan to attend to join discussions in preparation for your service in April.

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, January 28, 2019, 7:00-8:30 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 6:30-7:30 PM – Saints’ Choral Rehearsal in Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 7:30 PM – Prayer Circle in Church Library.

Sunday, February 3, 2019, 8:45 AM – Breakfast (provided by Nadine & Paul Bennetts), join us for conversation and fellowship.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

· 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, February 3, 2019, 10:30 AM – Karen Birkby will speak on the theme "Courageously Speak" with John O’Neal serving as presider and Roxann Kosmicki as worship planner. Brad Athey will provide the ministry of music and Steve Hedrick 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:

27 January 2019 message by Clint Reine, filename 20190127-CReine.mp3

20 January 2019 message by Kirk Barnhard, filename 20190120-KBarnhard.mp3

06 January 2019 message by Jonathan Bacon, filename 20190106-JBacon.mps. The YouTube video shown during the Communion Message is available at https://youtu.be/oHv6vTKD6lg

30 December 2018 message by Kennetha Kuttler, filename 20181230-KKuttler.mp3

23 December 2018 message by John O’Neal, filename 20181223-JONeal.mp3

16 December 2018 message by Arlene Leonard, filename 20181216-ALeonard.mp3

9 December 2018 message by Brian Libeer, filename 20181209-BLibeer.mp3

2 December 2018 message by Jerry Rushfelt, filename 20181202-JRushfelt.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.