Due to my error, I goofed and sent out a mailing without the text of the newsletter this week. You may have already received this newsletter. If so, please disregard this copy of the newsletter. Robert Sindt

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION EVENTS AND PROJECTS

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST POTLUCK

On Sunday, December 22, 2019, you’re invited to join us for the Annual Mission Road Christmas Breakfast Potluck starting at 8:45 AM. Everyone is invited to bring their favorite breakfast dish to share.

There will be no Sunday School classes on the 22nd, so everyone is invited to join in the fellowship of the Christmas Potluck prior to the Worship Service at 10:30 AM.

CHRISTMAS VESPERS POSTPONEMENT

The Christmas Vesper service was postponed due to weather. We’re rescheduling to 6:30 PM Sunday, December 22, 2019. Join us for our Christmas Vesper Service, reception and a visit from Santa for those young at heart.

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

If you have purchased gifts for the Christmas Gift Tags in support of the Central Avenue Center of Hope (CACH) Christmas Party and were not able to get them to church this Sunday you can take them to the Birkby’s. Karen is going to go to the Center of Hope on Thursday morning to help the CACH staff tag the donated gifts. So bring anything you may have bought to support the CACH recipients. The CACH staff will take the donated gifts and create gift boxes for the adults, teenagers and children served by the Center.

If you didn’t pickup a tag and would like to contribute you are not too late. Tag your gift with the age, gender and size of the items. Items sought are new toys, games, and books for children and gifts appropriate for teens.

For adults, suggestions include hoodies, stocking caps, socks, gloves, underwear (size medium), candy, snack food, pens, lighters, flashlights or other useful items to fill the gift boxes.

The Center asked that all gifts be in gift bags or gift boxes that can be easily opened (so items can be reshuffled to meet the needs of specific recipients). Thank you in advance for making someone’s life a little better!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPIC

The Adult Sunday school class will resume the study of “The Story of Christianity: The Reformation to the Present Day,” Volume 2, by Justo L. Gonzales on Sunday, December 29, 2019.

Jane Landrum will lead the discussion of Chapter 29 (“A Shifting Landscape: Latin America”) on page 363.

FINAL SUNDAY FOR REVERSE ADVENT SEASON GIFTS TO FILL THE PANTRY

Arlene Leonard announced a “Fill the Pantry” Reverse Advent project for the congregation. Each person is invited to join in and contribute as much or as little as you are able in the coming Advent Season.

Each day from December 1 to 25, you’re encouraged to purchase and set aside an item to feed the hungry (all collected goods will go to the Central Avenue Center of Hope). Collect the items during the week and then bring them to church each Sunday in December.

The following list is meant to assure that the Food pantry gets a well-balanced menu of items to help families served by the Center. Keep in mind that many of the children served by the Center are from families who depend on the school lunch program for one or two solid meals each day. With schools closed for three weeks over the holidays, in early January (after providing Christmas meals) the demands on the Center are greater than normal. The Reverse Advent Season Project is meant to replenish the Food Pantry for January.

Week 4/December 22

December 22: Can of Mixed Vegetables

December 23: Can of Carrots

December 24: Can of Green Beans

December 25: Birthday Cake Mix and Frosting

EXPLORING CHALLENGES DISCUSSION GROUP

The Exploring Challenges discussion group will not meet until Sunday afternoon December 29 at 4:00 PM in the Church Library.

Dennis Wood is leading the discussion group to explore issues that affect Mission Road’s future. United States demographics and cultural trends are issues that confront not only Mission Road but also all Christian churches in the U.S. The hope is that discussing these issues will help us better understand how to meet those challenges and fulfill Mission Road’s purpose and reason for being.

Discussion will focus on recent articles from the Herald, and two books: "Beyond Resistance" and "Christianity for the Rest of Us."

NO BOOK CLUB MEETING UNTIL THE NEW YEAR

There will not be an All Good Books group meeting in December. The next meeting is scheduled on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 7:00 PM in the Church Library.

The book club will discuss “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover and everyone is invited to attend.

Discussion questions for the memoir are available at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/books/educated-tara-westover-discussion-questions.html

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30 PM – Saint’s Chorale practice in the Church Sanctuary.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 7:30 PM – Prayer Circle in the Church Library.

Sunday, December 22, 2019, 8:45 AM – Christmas Breakfast Potluck, bring your favorite breakfast dish to share and join us for conversation and fellowship!

Sunday, December 22, 2019

· No Sunday School Classes.

Sunday, December 22, 2019, 10:30 AM – Jonathan Bacon will speak on the theme “The Promise of Love” with Larry Birkby presiding and serving as worship planner. A Musical Duet (Pennie Bunkers & Charles Athey) and a Musical Trio (Athena Bradshaw, Margaret & Charles Athey) will offer the ministry of music. Brian Libeer will provide the PowerPoint.

Monday, January 6, 2020, 7:00-9:00 PM – Mission Bells rehearsal in the Church Sanctuary.

WORSHIP and SPECIAL MUSIC AT MISSION ROAD

If you are not able to attend the Sunday Worship services at Mission Road, you can listen to our posted podcasts each week. If you miss our worship services and wonderful musical ministry, please join us for the peaceful Spirit of Worship. Links to our weekly podcast are listed below.

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 (20190224 represents February 24, 2019). 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:

15 December 2019 message by Ron Millard, filename 20191215-RMillard.mp3 will be posted shortly.

8 December 2019 message by Steve Holben, filename 20191208-SHolben.mp3

1 December 2019 message by Jane Landrum, filename 20191201-JLandrum.mp3

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITHOUT EMAIL OR FACEBOOK ACCESS?

If you know someone in the congregation that 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.

FOR FUTURE CHURCH CLOSINGS

In the future, if inclement weather forces the cancellation of church services at Mission Road, we’ll post the closing on our church Facebook page, send a message to the church email list and list the closing on KCTV Channel 5 and KSHB Channel 41.

Be sure to check the TV listings for either "Community of Christ – Mission Road" (KSHB 41) or "Community of Christ – Prairie Village" (KCTV5). The listing will be under one of those two names.

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.