JOIN ONLINE WORSHIP ACTIVITIES

During this COVID-19 season, don’t be isolated from your church family. There are numerous online opportunities for worship, Sunday School Class (both for adults and children), prayer service, and Sunday Chat and more. Check out the complete list on the world church website below.

https://www.cofchrist.org/online-ministries

Though Mission Road is not offering specific online, live worship services, you are invited to join one offered by the Bethel Congregation. And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE STILL HAS NEEDS DURING THIS PANDEMIC!

There are many families served by the Center who’s needs continue even during the current Coronavirus pandemic. In order to assist, Robin Payne will be at the church on Saturday from 10 AM to Noon collecting goods.

You’re invited to drop off non-perishable items such as canned goods (fruits, vegetables, canned meats and so on) plus bread, fresh fruit, peanut butter, jelly or paper products like toilet paper, Kleenex tissues, diapers, and the like.

Sometimes when under stress and concerned about the current health crisis, a good remedy is to reach out and help someone else!

FIRST PRESIDENCY UPDATED STATEMENT

Response to COVID‐19 Virus

20 March 2020

The First Presidency is extending the recommended suspension of church gatherings around the world through at least Friday, 1 May 2020. Church gatherings are worship services, meals, conferences, funerals, and other group activities. The Presidency continues to monitor guidance from government and public health agencies around the globe related to the estimated spread and duration of the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, if local government and public health guidance is more restrictive than the Presidency’s recommendation, please follow local guidance. As new information is available it will be released and posted at www.CofChrist.org/covid‐19.

As a reminder, the Presidency bases its recommendation on the following principles:

1. The church’s response should emphasize preventative, rather than reactive, strategies to keep the COVID‐19 virus from spreading as quickly as many infection‐rate models indicate.

2. A primary prevention strategy is “social distancing.” The World Health Organization advises: “Maintain at least 1-meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.” According to the USA Centers for Disease Control, social distancing involves “remaining out of congregant settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance” between people whenever possible. Social distancing is especially challenging for people in church settings.

3. The church’s response should emphasize “protecting the most vulnerable” (Doctrine and Covenants 164:6a) in our congregations, cities, towns, and villages. This includes our senior members and those already affected by other health challenges.

Historic sites will remain closed to the public through at least Friday, 1 May 2020. Based on guidance provided by the Independence, Missouri, USA mayor, the Temple Complex, including the Peace Pavilion, will remain closed to the public with all events canceled through at least Friday, 15 May 2020. Headquarters staff at all sites continue to support operations, but staff presence in the offices is limited to maximize social distancing. Reopening all sites to the public will continue to be evaluated as the situation unfolds.

Social distancing can cause us to feel isolated from each other and God. We are grateful for the many ways people are staying “connected” and supporting each other in living Christ’s mission while upholding the strategy of social distancing. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? …neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 38 NRSV).

As you connect and support each other through the Lenten journey into Holy week and then the Easter season, we ask you to remember that your congregation, mission center, campgrounds, and World Church have financial responsibilities even though we are not physically gathering. Please use online giving (www.CofChrist.org/give) or mail in contributions to support Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes.

PAST MISSION ROAD RECORDINGS ONLINE

You’re invited to relive past worship services or listen to those you’ve missed. Over the coming weeks, please remember that past Sunday morning worship service audio recordings are available online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

Recordings are located in folders corresponding to the year (e.g., 2018, 2019, 2020). 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 (20200224 represents February 24, 2020). The date is followed by a dash and the first initial and last name of the speaker.

The following list includes the most recent audio recordings:

08 March 2020 message by Jonathan Bacon, filename 20200308-JBacon.mp3

01 March 2020 message by Steve Holben, filename 20200301-SHolben.mp3

23 February 2020 message by John O’Neal, filename 20200223-JOneal.mp3

16 February 2020 message by Karen Birkby, filename 20200216-KBirkby.mp3

09 February 2020 message by Jennifer Libeer, filename 20200209-JLibeer.mp3

02 February 2020 message by Kennetha Kuttler, filename 20200202-KKuttler.mp3

GOODBYE TO STEVE AND LAURIE HOLBEN!

Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re unable to hold the farewell potluck for Laurie and Steve. Without that opportunity to thank the Holben’s for their service and friendship, we’d suggest you can contact them using email (sgholben) or using Facebook. There’s no snow in Kansas but maybe we can create a blizzard of messages to Laurie and Steve!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS MESSAGE

When church services resume at Mission Road, we’ll continue the adult Sunday School class with a discussion of Chapter 1 of Amy-Jill Levine’s book “Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi.” Be sure you’ve read the Introduction too.

If you’re curious to learn more about the author, who is Jewish but teaches classes on Christianity, check out her humor and her comments on faith and belief at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFy_jjP2WzU

NEED A COPY OF THE NEW ADULT CLASS BOOK?

If you wish to purchase a copy of the adult Sunday school text (“Short Stories by Jesus” by Amy-Jill Levine) please contact Jonathan Bacon (his phone and email address are in the church directory). We can arrange to have the book delivered to your home.

The text is optional but provides insights and information that cannot be covered in the weekly Sunday school class.

The cost of the book is $13 and should be added to your offering with an indication that it’s for the Sunday School text.

ALL GOOD BOOKS GROUP MEETINGS SUSPENDED

Because of the World Church recommendation that all gatherings be suspended until May 1 or later, the All Good Books discussion group is suspending our scheduled meetings until at least May 2020. If you want to prepare for the next meeting, you can read “The Confession Club” by Elizabeth Berg (the author of “The Story of Arthur Trulov,” “Night of Miracles” and “Open House”).

MISSION: LEARN 2020 AT THE OLATHE CONGREGATION

The Mission Center has announced that “Mission: Learn” scheduled for March 28, 2020 has been canceled.

ORGAN CONCERT @ THE TEMPLE

This concert is canceled as are all activities and events at World Church facilities until April 13, 2020.

2020 REUNIONS

Doniphan June 12–16 2020 with Guest Minister Apostle Art Smith. Contact: Josh Huyett, (913) 707–3005

Chihowa July 12–17, 2020 with Guest Minister Apostle Dave Nii. Contact: Sarah Marolf (785) 213–8308

***Please note Doniphan reunion date change***

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

There will be no activities at the church until May 1, 2020 or later. We’ll keep you posted.

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.

Please remember John and Eloise Snider in your prayers this week.

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE VIA EMAIL

The email address for general church drafts of your Order of Worship and church business (Clint Reine) is mrcoc

The email address for CFO business (Mary Reichenbach) is mrcoccfo

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.