MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION EVENTS – MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020

If you have news to share in the weekly church email newsletter, please notify Jonathan Bacon or Larry Birkby by Noon on Sunday each week.

Don’t forget to join us each week for the Sunday Morning Mission Road Worship Online and for the Wednesday Evening Prayer Circle Online!

IN THIS ISSUE:

CHRISTMAS PACKAGES

HMA 2021 PLEDGE INFORMATION

WINTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

And More…

CHRISTMAS PACKAGES

It’s that time of year when the Mission Road Congregation steps up and provides Christmas gifts for distribution by the Central Avenue Center of Hope (CACH). If you’re able to contribute to this worth cause, consider a gift for anyone or more of the following categories of individuals:

Adult Female

Adult Male

Female Child Elementary age

Male Child Elementary age

Female Middle School/High School age

Male Middle School/High School age

Gifts should be loosely wrapped (preferably in open Christmas bags) and delivered to the Mission Road church on or before Sunday December 13, 2020. Robin will be at the church between 10 and 12 Noon on the 13th. Please keep the packages small (maximum size would be shoe box size) as they will be distributed using social distancing, through a drive-up window. If you have a mix of items for any age or gender; if you place them in a bag the CACH staff can distribute them as needed. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thank you

HMA 2021 PLEDGE INFORMATION

The Board of the Health Ministries Association (HMA) recently voted to renew our contract with Saira Giron to serve as our nurse in Honduras for 2021. If anyone wishes to make a pledge for 2021 or is ready to make a donation to support her work next year, please email Paul Bennetts at paul89crna@gmail.com or you can send your donation check to Paul at 10926 S. Cottage Lane, Olathe, KS 66061 and he will forward checks to the HMA office.

Checks should be made out to "Health Ministries Association" or just "HMA" with a notation in the memo line for "Honduras Nurse Program." Thanks to all who have supported Saira’s work for the past several years.

WINTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

The Winter Worship Schedule is now available online at https://tinyurl.com/Winter2020Worship. Thank you to all those who volunteered to provide the worship experience in the Winter of 2020-2021.

THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP

The Sunday, December 13, 2020, worship theme is “Bring Good News” and will feature a message by Steve Holben. Karen Birkby will preside and serve as the worship planner. Brian Libeer will provide the PowerPoint and host the Zoom meeting assisted by Paul Bennetts.

You’re invited to join us online starting at 8:45 AM for conversation and fellowship with the worship activities beginning at 9 AM. After the service, we’ll keep the Zoom session open for folks to fellowship. We hope you can join us.

By the way, you’re welcome to stay online and chat after the worship service and join the adult class online. You do not need to log out, you can simply chat with friends online or mute and stop your video and then start your video again when class begins at 10 AM.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The Mission Road Adult Sunday School Class will meet online using Zoom this coming Sunday. Class time will follow the Sunday morning worship starting at 10 AM.

The text for Sunday’s class is the final chapter (“Conclusion: The Power of Disturbing Stories”) of the Amy-Jill Levine book “Short Stories by Jesus.” Jonathan Bacon will lead the class discussion. Plans are to conclude the book this Sunday (December13, 2020).

There will be no adult class on December 20 and 27, 2020, but of course there will be worship on those dates starting at 9 AM.

NEW BOOK FOR ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Starting on Sunday, January 3, 2021, the Adult Sunday School class will begin the study of Amy-Jill Levine’s “The Sermon on the Mount.” The book examines Jesus’ most profound and memorable teachings from his sermon on the mount.

The class will be co-taught by Jane Landrum, Marilyn Gairns, Jonathan Bacon, Paul Bennetts and Dennis Wood.

The book is available from Amazon for $13.34 (plus tax) and shipping unless you have Amazon Prime. The class will include discussion coupled with six video presentations by the author.

MIDLANDS MISSION CENTER ONLINE CLASSES: BEGINNING JAN 9

• Introduction to Priesthood Ministry (Temple School MP300) 8 weeks

• Ministry of the Deacon (Temple School MP302) 6 weeks

• Ministry of the High Priest (Temple School MP307) 8 weeks, Instructor David Anderson, Pres. Quorum of High Priests

• Introduction to Pastor Ministry – 6 weeks

• NEW Generational Overview (mini-class) 3 weeks, $18

$25 registration begins December 14. To register, please visit www.developmetrics.org and click on “USA Registration”.

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION ONLINE MEETINGS

The Mission Road Congregation will offer several meetings in the coming weeks online. Access details are the same for each session and are listed below.

7 PM Every Wednesday – Prayer Circle.

9 AM Every Sunday – Sunday Morning Mission Road Worship Online. More information on this Sunday’s worship is below.

10 AM Every Sunday – Adult Sunday School Class studying “Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine.

NEXT ALL GOOD BOOKS BLUB MEETING

The All Good Books group will meet on Thursday, January 21, 2021, to discuss “The Overstory” by Richard Powers. Watch the book club website at https://allbooksclub.wordpress.com/ for discussion question in the near future.

SCHEDULE OF FOOD PANTRY DROP-OFF DATES

The Mission Road Congregation continues to serve an important need by providing food stuffs, school supplies and new or gently used clothing for the Central Avenue Center of Hope. In October we provide an astounding 325 pounds of food for the pantry (surpassing September 245 pounds)! The need continues!

Please plan to drop supplies off at church on the following Saturday mornings between 10 AM and noon:

December 12, 2020

January 9, 2021

There continues to be a special need for food, school supplies, personal hygiene items, school supplies and t-shirts.

CURRENT CHURCH RE-OPENING STATUS

World Church buildings and historic sites remain closed. The Mission Road Congregation remains closed until infection rates in the area drop.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Please remember that church expenses continue, even when we’re not meeting in the building. Mary Reichenbach, the Congregation’s Financial Officer has indicated that contributions can be mailed to her house (10223 Briar Dr., Overland Park, KS 66207) or the church (7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208), or you can sign up for eTithing on the World Church website https://www.cofchrist.org/etithing). Any of these options will enable you to continue your regular contributions.

If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link and then scroll down to Mission Road Community of Christ. When you click on that page, there will be an option in the upper right-hand corner to ’sign up’ to create your account and enter either your bank account information for direct debit or a credit card to charge your contribution, or ’sign in’ if you have already set up your account. You may also choose a one-time contribution or a continuing contribution. Most of the contribution options on our tithing envelopes are available on the Mission Road eTithing page. If you have additional questions about electronic contributions, please contact Mary.

MMC JOB OPENINGS

Social Media Specialist (Part-time, approx. 20 hr/month)

Posted 11 November April 2020 / Open until filled

Youth Minister (Part-time, approx. 20 hr/month)

Posted 28 April 2020 / Open until filled

Young Adult Minister (Part-time, approx. 20 hr/month)

Posted 28 April 2020 / Open until filled

Email letter of interest, resume, qualifications, and references to Khnatyshyn or allen.keehler; or mail documents to: Midlands USA Mission Center

7615 N. Platte Purchase Dr., Kansas City, MO 64512

CAMPGROUNDS

Chihowa and Doniphan have been hit hard by the pandemic and remain closed resulting in immense income loss. Please consider contributing to help support these worthwhile ministries. https://bit.ly/donatemmc.

Chihowa is looking for someone with plumbing knowledge to help trace underground lines and identify areas of improvement. We have some leaks and may need to replace and upgrade the systems. Please contact Board President Aaron Laughlin 816.454.2607

SUMMER 2021 CAMPS SCHEDULED

Doniphan Reunion – June 11 – 15

Middle School Camp – June 20 – 25

Senior High Camp – June 20 – 25

Junior Camp – June 27 – July 1

Chihowa Reunion – July 11 – 16

Youth Quest – July 22 – 24

Spectacular – July 24 – 31

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 are trying to be sure everyone in the congregation has access to periodic news updates and information on congregational activities.

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.

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 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.