Mission Road – Community of Christ

Don’t forget to join us this week for the Sunday Morning Mission Road Chat Online and for the Wednesday Evening Prayer Circle Online (see below)!

IN THIS ISSUE:

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION ONLINE MEETINGS

WORSHIP AVAILABILITY FORM

TIME TO REACH OUT

NO FOOD PANTRY DROP OFF THIS SATURDAY

DIRECTORY OF ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

And More…

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION ONLINE MEETINGS

The Mission Road Congregation will offer several meetings in the coming weeks online.

7 PM Every Wednesday until the Stay at Home quarantine ends – Prayer Circle.

9 AM Every Sunday until the Stay at Home quarantine ends – Sunday Morning Mission Road Chat Online.

The theme for Sunday, April 26 is “Will You Recognize Him?” Kirk Barnhard will facilitate the session and Brian Libeer will offer the message.

You’re invited to join us online starting at 8:45 AM for a few minutes of conversation and fellowship. The worship activities will begin promptly at 9 AM and conclude by 9:30 AM. Well then keep the Zoom session open for folks to chat afterward. We hope you can join us (see the information later in this newsletter about how to join the Zoom session).

WORSHIP AVAILABILITY FORM

The Summer 2020 Worship and Service Availability Form is now available online at https://bit.ly/3bklvoL

Please return the form by May 3, 2020. You can email it to Caryn at carynpbro or mail the form to: Mission Road Community of Christ, Attention Pam O’Neal, 7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

TIME TO REACH OUT

Many of our members live alone and during this “Stay at Home” period, they might enjoy a call from one of their church friends. Give your friends a call or if they have an iPhone or iPad, Facetime them.

NO FOOD PANTRY DROP OFF THIS SATURDAY

Every other week you are encouraged to drop off foodstuffs for the Central Avenue Center of Hope. The next drop-off Saturday will be May 2, 2020, from 10 AM to noon, there will be a large box outside the front entrance of the church for you leave your donations.

Your contributions are especially important during the current pandemic. Robin Payne will pick up the contributions at Noon and deliver it to the Center for Hope.

DIRECTORY OF ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES

The world church continues to maintain and expand the listing of online Community of Christ worship opportunities at the website below.

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

And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options will enable you to continue your regular contributions.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Per World Church recommendations, all church gatherings are suspended until at least May 31, 2020.

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.

Don’t forget to join us for the Sunday Morning Mission Road Chat Online (see below)!

IN THIS ISSUE:

WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT

WORSHIP AVAILABILITY FORM

COMMUNITY OF CHRIST EXTENDS CLOSING DATE FOR SITES

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION ONLINE MEETINGS

And More…

WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT

Based on guidance from the First Presidency regarding gatherings in May and June, all face-to-face congregational gatherings are suspended through May 31, 2020. Camps and reunions scheduled for June are now canceled.

For additional details, you can read the entire statement at https://www.cofchrist.org/Common/Cms/documents/17April-Covid19-Update-EN.pdf

To clarify, congregation gatherings have not been suspended through June, only through May. A decision about Spectacular is forthcoming, and decisions about camps and reunions in July and August will be made by June 1.

COMMUNITY OF CHRIST EXTENDS CLOSING DATE FOR SITES

The Community of Christ temples, Auditorium, headquarters and historic sites around the USA will remain closed to the public through June 30. Church officials also extended a current work-from-home strategy for many employees.

The decision to extend the plan reflects the Presidency’s continued concern for the welfare of staff and their families. The selected date is fluid, based on government and public-health recommendations. The First Presidency also advises congregations and mission centers to continue the suspension of church gatherings.

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 until Stay at Home quarantine ends – Prayer Circle.

9 AM Sunday, April 19, 2020 – Sunday Morning Mission Road Chat Online.

This Sunday’s theme will be “Do Not Doubt, but Believe,” The Sunday Morning Chat offers the opportunity for the Mission Road Congregation to informally “chat” online using Zoom followed by a short message by Paul Bennetts. The Chat session will begin and end with a prayer and include time to share what’s happening in your life during these “Stay at Home” days. Time will also be allotted to discuss the thoughts offered in Paul’s morning message. We hope you can join us.

TIME TO REACH OUT

Many of our members live alone and during this “Stay at Home” period, they might enjoy a call from one of their church friends. Give your friends a call or if they have an iPhone or iPad, Facetime them.

FOOD PANTRY DROP OFF EVERY OTHER SATURDAY

The next drop-off Saturday will be May 2, 2020, from 10 AM to noon, there will be a large box outside the front entrance of the church for you to drive by and drop off foodstuffs for the Food Pantry. Your contributions are especially important during the current pandemic. Robin Payne will pick up the contributions at Noon and deliver to the Center for Hope.

DIRECTORY OF ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES

The world church continues to maintain and expand the listing of online Community of Christ worship opportunities at the website below.

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

And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options will enable you to continue your regular contributions.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Per World Church recommendations, all church gatherings are

suspended until at least May 31, 2020.

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 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.

MISSION ROAD CONGREGATION ONLINE MEETINGS
The Mission Road Congregation will offer several meetings in the coming weeks online.

7 PM Every Wednesday until Stay at Home quarantine ends – Prayer Circle.

7 PM Thursday, April 16, 2020 – The All Good Books discussion group will discuss “The Confession Club” by Elizabeth Berg.

9 AM Sunday, April 19, 2020 – Sunday Chat Mission Road Online. This Sunday’s theme will be “Do Not Doubt, but Believe,” The Sunday Chat offers the opportunity for the Mission Road Congregation to informally “chat” online using Zoom followed by a short message Paul Bennetts. Each Chat session will begin and end with a prayer and include time to share what’s happening in life during the quarantine plus time to discuss the thoughts offered in the morning message. We hope you can join us.

TIME TO REACH OUT
Many of our members live alone and during this “Stay at Home” period, they might enjoy a call from one of their church friends. Give your friends a call or if they have an iPhone or iPad, Facetime them.

FOOD PANTRY DROP OFF EVERY OTHER SATURDAY
The next drop-off Saturday will be April 18, 2020, from 10 AM to noon, there will be a large box outside the front entrance of the church for you to drive by and drop off foodstuffs for the Food Pantry. Your contributions are especially important during the current pandemic. Robin Payne will pick up the contributions at Noon and deliver to the Center for Hope.

DIRECTORY OF ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES
The world church continues to maintain and expand the listing of online Community of Christ worship opportunities at the website below.

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

And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

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 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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options will enable you to continue your regular contributions.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR
Per World Church recommendations, all church gatherings are
suspended until at least May 1, 2020.

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.

CENTRAL AVENUE CENTER OF HOPE FOOD CONTRIBUTIONS

This Saturday, April 11, 2020, from 10 AM to noon, there will be a large box outside the front entrance of the church for you to drive by and drop off foodstuffs for the Food Pantry. Your contributions are especially important during the current pandemic. Robin Payne will pick up the contributions at Noon and deliver to the Center.

EASTER WORLD CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, at 2 PM Central Time, the World Church will stream a live Easter worship service. Take a look at https://www.cofchrist.org/live-webcast for details and how to be prepared for watching and listening to the service.

WORK ON CHURCH BUILDING

The stripping and waxing that was postponed from earlier will occur tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday this week. The floors in the Narthex will be stripped and then re-waxed.

The area includes the floors that extend from the main entrance (new recently re-tiled entrance) to the sanctuary, all the way around to include the area outside the office, library, main floor restroom, and stairway to the basement as well as the balcony and upper office.

If you want to practice on the piano or organ you may access the sanctuary from the main entrance on the new tiled floor through the chair and table storage area. Otherwise, please wait until Saturday afternoon. You can still access the Fellowship Hall if you need access to Wi-Fi. Also, the main floor restroom will not be accessible. You may access the basement (by elevator from the Fellowship Hall) and access the library through the kitchen.

These are only temporary inconveniences and probably won’t affect many members. If you have any questions, feel free to call Pastor Larry Birkby.

TIME TO REACH OUT

Many of our members live alone and during this “Stay at Home” period, they might enjoy a call from one of their church friends. Give your friends a call or if they have an iPhone or iPad, Facetime them.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Every Friday, you can watch one of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musicals for free on YouTube. Simply go to “The Show Must Go On” Channel on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag). Each week a different musical is available starting at 1:00 PM CST and available for the next 48 hours. The next musical (available Friday, April 10, 2020) is “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options will enable you to continue your regular contributions.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Per World Church recommendations, all church gatherings are

suspended until at least May 1, 2020.

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.

INVOCATION FOR STAY AT HOME DAYS

God, protect me from hopelessness.

Prepare me for courage, and

Push me to love.

From a Barbara Borkowski letter (Field Support Minister, Team Lead, Central USA Mission Field, Community of Christ)

MESSAGE FROM THE PAST FOR TODAY

In October 2007, Dorothy May provided the focus moment and John Snider provided the message at our morning worship. John’s message of thankfulness in times of stress resonates today. You can listen again today.

The recording is available at https://bit.ly/2V5tlMd

The focus moment starts at 6:15

The message starts at 14:05

But you may enjoy the entire recording of music and prayers plus the focus moment and message.

MISSING WORSHIPING WITH YOUR CHURCH FRIENDS?

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

And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

Additionally, the Toronto Congregation plans an online communion service this coming Sunday, April 5. If interested, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TorontoCongregation/ for updates and additional information.

TIME TO REACH OUT

Many of our members live alone and during this “Stay at Home” period, they might enjoy a call from one of their church friends. Give your friends a call or if they have an iPhone or iPad, you can Facetime them.

ONLINE WEEKLY PRAYER CIRCLE

You are invited to participate in this week’s Online Prayer Circle. Starting at 7 PM on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, you can join our Zoom session.

NOTE: The Zoom session will open starting at 6:45 PM for anyone who has never used Zoom before, so we can work out any issues before the official start of the Prayer Circle.

If you have a computer, smartphone or tablet with Internet access, use the following link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8855297717

If you have a computer without speakers, a microphone or webcam, go to the same link (https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8855297717) and for audio, dial one of the numbers listed below. There is no Kansas City number, but you can access using any of the following:

720 707 2699 US (Denver)

346 248 7799 US (Houston)

312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

If you dial in, you’ll be prompted for a Meeting ID, which is 885 529 7717 followed by the # sign.

If you do not have a computer, you can dial in (to any of the above numbers) using any phone. You’ll also need to enter the Meeting ID listed above (when prompted).

If you’re using the phone to access audio (and not using your computer’s speakers), you can toggle between mute and unmute by pressing *6. You can also raise your hand by pressing *9

ZOOM TUTORIAL

If you’ve never used Zoom and have access using your computer, tablet or smartphone, watch the basic 8-minute Zoom introductory tutorial before the meeting at https://youtu.be/9isp3qPeQ0E. There’s a series of Zoom tutorials offered by the company itself at https://zoom.us/resources

REMINDER GOODBYE TO STEVE AND LAURIE HOLBEN!

Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re unable to hold a farewell potluck for Laurie and Steve Holben. They’re moving next weekend, so please remember them in your prayers for a smooth and uneventful moving experience.

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!

ALL GOOD BOOKS GROUP MEETING ONLINE

The All Good Books discussion group was scheduled to meet at the church at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 16, 2020, to discuss “The Confession Club” by Elizabeth Berg (the author of “The Story of Arthur Trulov,” “Night of Miracles” and “Open House”).

Instead of the face-to-face meeting, because of the stay at home order and Coronavirus, we’ll meet online using Zoom. Specific instructions will be available next week (but they’ll be very similar to the instructions for the online Prayer Circle).

MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

If you have not heard, every Friday, you can watch one of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musicals for free! Simply go on YouTube and search for "The Show Must Go On." Each week a different musical be broadcast/posted starting at 11:00 am and available for the next 48 hours. The first musical (posted Friday, April 3, 2020) was “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.” The full production features Donnie Osmond as Joseph!

ADDITIONAL VIRTUAL WORSHIP EXPERIENCES

Join Mission Center Invitational Support Minister Craig Hidy for a worship service via Zoom – 6:30 Thursday evenings. Watch the Mission Center Facebook page for details and a link each week!

Check out Seventy Craig Hidy’s weekly blog: www.emporiacofchrist.org/70craigblog

Other virtual ministry opportunities – including Bethel and Olathe – can be found at www.cofchrist.org/online-ministries.

In this time of need please continue your generous response via eTithing. It is safe and easy. Find more information at www.cofchrist.org/etithing.

EASTER WORLD CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, at 2 PM Central Time, the World Church will stream a live Easter worship service. Take a look at https://www.cofchrist.org/live-webcast for details and how to be prepared for watching and listening to the service.

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options work.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

Per World Church recommendations, all church gatherings are

suspended until at least May 1, 2020.

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 SOMETHING TO READ IN QUARANTINE?

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

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.

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 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.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PASTOR LARRY

While we are not able to gather for services and other meetings at church, we are taking this opportunity to do some maintenance and minor remodeling. We have replaced the floor tile at the main entrance. We are also planning to do some other things. This Friday Troy is going to strip the wax from the floors in the Narthex and then re-wax the floors.

When I say Narthex, I am referring to the floors that extend from the main entrance (New Tiled entrance) to the sanctuary, all the way around to include the area to the office, library, handicap restroom, and stairway to the basement as well as the balcony and upper office. So, if you want to practice on the piano or organ you may access the sanctuary from the main entrance on the new tiled floor through the chair and table storage area. Otherwise, please wait until Saturday afternoon. You can still access the Fellowship Hall if you need access to Wi-Fi. Also, the Handicap restroom will not be accessible. You may access the basement (by elevator) and the library through the kitchen door.

These are only going to be temporary inconveniences and probably won’t affect many of you. If you have any questions, feel free to call me.

We hope you are all staying safe. Remember to check your email and Facebook for additional updates. Remember we are still getting together for Prayer Circle via Zoom (see the message below). If you have never used Zoom and need help with it, please read the IMPORTANT ZOOM NOTES later in this newsletter.

The World Church will hold an Easter worship service and more information on it is listed below. We’ll also keep you posted on other worship services available online.

Don’t forget to call members of your church family to let them know you miss them.

Thank you for your understanding during this very unusual time. We wish God’s blessing to you.

ONLINE WEEKLY PRAYER CIRCLE

You are invited to participate on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 7:00 PM in an online Prayer Circle using Zoom.

If you have a computer, smartphone or tablet with Internet access, use the following link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8855297717

If you have a computer without speakers, a microphone or webcam, go to the same link (https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8855297717) and for audio, dial one of numbers listed below. There is no Kansas City number, but you can access using any of the following:

720 707 2699 US (Denver)

346 248 7799 US (Houston)

646 558 8656 US (New York)

253 215 8782 US

301 715 8592 US

312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

When prompted for a Meeting ID, enter 885 529 7717 followed by the # sign.

If you do not have a computer and just a phone, you can dial in using any of the above numbers. You’ll also need to enter the Meeting ID listed above (when prompted).

IMPORTANT ZOOM NOTES

· If you’ve never used Zoom and have access using your computer, tablet or smartphone, watch the basic 8 minute Zoom introductory tutorial before the meeting at: https://youtu.be/9isp3qPeQ0E. There’s a series of Zoom tutorials offered by the company itself at https://zoom.us/resources

· Jonathan Bacon who is moderating the Zoom session will be online starting at 6:45 PM. If you’ve never participated in a Zoom session, sign in at 6:45 PM so we can work out any issues before 7 PM. It also gives you a chance to chat before the Prayer Circle begins…but of course that’s part of the Prayer Circle anyway…chatting with church friends.

· Everyone will be muted when you first join the meeting. Be sure to unmute when you want to talk and mute when you just want to listen or if there’s background noise in your home that might interfere with everyone else sharing online.

· If you’re using the phone to access audio (and not using your computer’s audio), you can toggle between mute and unmute by pressing *6. You can also raise your hand by pressing *9

MISSING WORSHIPING WITH YOUR CHURCH FRIENDS?

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

And don’t forget that you can access past Mission Road Congregation worship service podcasts (recordings) online at https://bit.ly/2MSgZW8.

Additionally, the Toronto Congregation plans an online communion service this coming Sunday, April 5. If interested, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TorontoCongregation/ for updates and additional information.

REMINDER GOODBYE TO STEVE AND LAURIE HOLBEN!

Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re unable to hold a farewell potluck for Laurie and Steve Holben. They’re moving next weekend, so please remember them in your prayers for a smooth and uneventful moving experience.

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!

EASTER WORLD CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, at 2 PM Central Time, the World Church will stream a live Easter worship service. Take a look at https://www.cofchrist.org/live-webcast for details and how to be prepared for watching and listening to the service.

PASTORAL PRAYER

Our Most Gracious and Eternal Heavenly Father, we come this morning in thanksgiving of the abundant blessings you have bestowed upon us as a congregation. The many times that you have cared for us when we were in need and may not have known it. As we come this morning, we are alone and separated from our church family. We feel alone from you as well because we are so accustomed of meeting together to worship. We feel lonely this morning as we are also isolated from what we are accustomed of doing in our daily lives. We understand the need for this state of separation and the reasoning behind it. But we still miss the close fellowship we enjoy. We asked that you fill us with that warmth we feel as we gather on a Sunday Morning. Please comfort us as we reach out to you for that gentle spirit we enjoy.

We are thankful this morning that most of us are isolated from this awful threat. But there are those of our church family that are in the throes of the conflict; and for them we ask for your protection. We ask for special blessings for those that are on the front lines of this pandemic that has invaded our world. We know there are many brave souls that are faced with caring for others. Protect them and give them courage to perform their life saving measures. We ask for those working in laboratories that are searching to find a cure that you might give them inspiration and direction to reach their goal.

As we turn our thoughts to the Easter Season, we remember the sacrifice that Christ made for each of us. Help us to remember the teachings he has provided us in the scriptures. We remember the forty days that Christ spent in the wilderness as he fasted and prayed. We have been somewhat isolated for but a few days. We have several things to help keep us connected. May we reach out to each other in this time of isolation and give comfort to each other. Lord we ask that you continue to bless us and keep us safe. Guide and direct our lives in ways you would have us serve our fellow beings. Grant us the strength to carry your love to those we may contact. Help us to be the example you would have us be.

For these many favors and blessings we ask these things in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP MESSAGE AND FOCUS MOMENT

You’re invited to read Roger Parrish’s message and focus moment that was originally prepared for this morning’s service at Mission Road. You’ll find the focus moment on the congregation’s website at https://mission-road.org/2020/03/29/todays-focus-moment-by-roger-parrish/ and Roger’s message at https://mission-road.org/2020/03/29/todays-message-breathe-on-me-breath-of-god/

BETHEL AND PAST MISSION ROAD WORSHIP RECORDINGS AVAILABLE

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.

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

THE PRAYER CIRCLE MOVES ONLINE

The weekly Prayer Circle that typically meets in the Church Library on Wednesday evenings has moved online using a videoconferencing tool called Zoom. Plan on joining us on Wednesday evening at 7 PM. Everyone is welcome and further instructions will follow early this week. You’ll be able to access the session using your computer, tablet, smartphone or simply dial-up using any phone.

MARILYN GAIRNS FATHER TURNS 99

Marilyn is one of the teachers for the Adult Sunday School class. She recently posted to Facebook the following message: “My father who is locked-in until we are all well (the pandemic ends) in a nursing home. He will be 99 years old on April 6 and I don’t know how we can help him share his birthday since we can’t see him.

If you would like to send my dad a card, for his 99th Birthday, on APRIL 6, here is his address. Please don’t feel obligated. I really didn’t expect you all to want to reach out yourself. I was just trying to figure out what I could do since I couldn’t be there. You may want to mention that you know one of his seven children, since I can’t be there to explain who sent the card when they arrive. Thanks so much in advance for caring.

Martin Parisot
c/o Hope Creek Care Center
4343 Kennedy Drive #1225
East Moline, Illinois 61244-4203

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options work.

REMINDER 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 Holbens 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!

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

There will be no activities at the church building this Sunday.

REPLACING ENTRANCE TILE AT CHURCH

Remember, the floor tile inside the main entrance of the church is being replaced. While this project is underway it will be necessary for everyone to enter the church from the other exterior doors. If you have a key to the front door, it will open any of the exterior doors including the back door to the Fellowship Hall, the basement door at end of the hall by the teen center and the basement door at the bottom of the ramp that enters by the ladies restroom in the basement.

Sorry for this temporary inconvenience. The main entrance should be available again by midweek next week. When the main entrance is available, we will get the word out. Please make sure to turn off the lights and lock the building when you leave. Thank you for your understanding.

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 MEETING ONLINE

The All Good Books discussion group was scheduled to meet at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 16, 2020, to discuss “The Confession Club” by Elizabeth Berg (the author of “The Story of Arthur Trulov,” “Night of Miracles” and “Open House”).

At this point, it appears that will not be possible due to the Coronavirus pandemic and stay at home orders. We’re exploring the possibility of conducting the book club meeting online using Zoom, a videoconferencing tool. More information to follow, but please keep reading!

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***

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.

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.

Today’s message on the theme "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" is presented by Roger Parrish.

Today’s theme is “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”. The Bible Old and New Testaments equate the breath of God with life, and the breath of God to new creation or restoration. I’ll get into today’s scripture from Ezekiel shortly,

But first, I want to start with a Parish family history story.

My 4th great grandfather born in 1736 was farming in coastal Connecticut in 1765. His family then included his wife Mary and 3 children. His family with 5 other families seeking a better life opportunity joined in a settlement in what is now Strafford, Vermont; incidentally just 12 miles from where Joseph Smith was born later. The land was acquired from a then Province of New York, as this was unsettled land between New York and New Hampshire. The families spent 3 years making trips back and forth to clear enough land to start farming. After 1770 three more children were born in Vermont including my 3rd great grandfather, Eliada.

In the meantime, New Hampshire sold rights in Strafford often to the same land and conflict arose as to land ownership. The dispute was settled by the Crown ruling in favor of the New York grants. Later, the early New York grantees were in the minority and with the beginnings of the Revolution, and the New Hampshire militia, led by Ethan Allen, those New York grantees were labeled enemies and pushed off their lands. Any Canadians here will recognize the label given them, Loyalists. Identity politics is not new, only its label. Mary’s father was an earlier settler and the family went to live with him.

My 4th great grandfather was stripped of his hard-cleared virgin land, his ability to support a family was lost, his country was in turmoil, and the future looked bleak. I’ll finish this story later, but first, I want to get back the Scripture message for today taken from the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament.

The prophet Ezekiel lived during the time of the Babylonian conquest in the 5th century BC. He ministered to the people during the siege of Jerusalem and after Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed. The people including its leaders, artisans, and wealthy people were taken captive and lived in exile in Babylon to serve the Babylonian king. The Jewish king was captive in a foreign land. God’s promise to give the Israelites their land for all time seemed empty. The temple, the dwelling place of God, lay in ruins. The Israelites no longer had a national identity. It seemed that God had deserted them.

The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and one of the major prophetic books in the Old Testament following Isaiah and Jeremiah. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet Ezekiel, while exiled in Babylon. Two are well known from spirituals – “Ezekiel saw that wheel Way up in the middle of the air” and the one in today’s Scripture reading – “Ezekiel connected “dem dry bones.” As spirituals they were teaching aids.

Today’s Scripture is Ezekiel 37:1-14 I’ll summarize its elements.

Under the spirit, Ezekiel was brought into a valley full of a very large number of very dry bones. God asks Ezekiel if these bones could live again. Ezekiel responds, “Lord God, You know.” God asks Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones saying “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Surely God will cause breath to enter you and you shall live, He will put sinews and flesh on you and cover with skin and put breath in you, and you will know I am the Lord.”

Then came the interpretation after the 11th verse. The bones are the whole house of Israel. Its people are like bones that are dry, all hope is lost, and they have been cut off and isolated. Then God says he will open the graves and cause the Israelites to come forth and then He will bring you into the land of Israel.

This prophesy harkens back to Genesis where all creation is assigned to God’s power. What could be more powerful than the creation of life? Returning the Israelites to their homeland should be a piece of cake by comparison. It’s to remind them that they were not abandoned and to have faith. Later in the chapter 37 we find:

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones came to him after God had directed him to prophesy of the rebirth of Israel in chapter 36. God announced, through the prophet, that Israel will be restored to her land in blessing under the leadership of “David, My servant [who] shall be king over them” (Ezekiel 37:24), many believe this is a clear a reference to the future under Jesus Christ the Messiah, descendant of David (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Luke 1:31–33).

It seems the Jewish peoples have been constantly maligned in their history. Held captive in Egypt until lead out by Moses. Their nation and temple destroyed by the Babylonians holding them captive in a foreign land, then at the time of Jesus as they were occupied by the Romans, later German Jews were persecuted and imprisoned in concentration camps in our life time.

As we look at Israel today can we think the promise of a land for all time has been fulfilled? It’s been anything but easy for the present nation of Israel to say they have a land for all time. Jesus came from the house of David but was rejected as the Messiah so has that prophesy been fulfilled?

For everyone today, Ezekiel’s prophesy shows that with faith, blessings to help overcome obstacles in our lives can become a reality.

Now, as promised, I will conclude my brief history of my 4th great grandfather. As we left the story, Loyalists have been driven off their pioneered lands in what is now Vermont. He lost his land and all the work that went into it clearing it for farming, and everything else, but Mary, his wife, was able to move with her then 6 children in with her father living nearby. So why did I use this family history here? You see my 4th great grandfather’s name was Ezekiel Parish. He felt the same kind of loss as the biblical prophet Ezekiel being in captivity and removed from his native land. He lost his farm, he was separated from his family, he lost what he thought was his country.

So, what did Ezekiel Parish do? He saw no way possible to recover his loss unless the British could quell the revolution. He was not a prophet like the biblical Ezekiel. He was nearly 40 years old and could not join as an active soldier but knowing the area he could become a scout. He was eventually captured by the Continental army and imprisoned, nearly starved and treated harshly. He finally escaped and fled to Canada where he died in his 50’s in Halifax separated from his family forever.

Mary stayed in Vermont never losing faith that their hard-earned land might be returned. Vermont became an independent republic first and then acquired statehood. Mary continued to press the injustice of losing the land and along with other Loyalists who lost their lands, eventually was rewarded with compensation.

Because of Ezekiel’s service to the British, Mary and each of the children were awarded 200 acres of land in Ontario (north of Brockville). There the grown children started a new pioneer experience with lands to clear for farming. After 1850, Elida’s son Ira and brother Hiram were living in Lee County, Iowa across the river from Nauvoo. After the church split, Hiram and his family went to Utah and Ira stayed and later joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Then the spelling of the family name was changed to Parrish to distinguish themselves from the Mormon family who retained the original spelling, Parish.

For my focus moment I refer to Genesis 1:29 as a part of the first few chapters of Genesis that explain creation.

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.”

Before I begin this Focus Moment, my apologies to Dorothy May, as I am no biologist.

Today I would like to turn this focus moment to something that happens every spring, and I don’t mean baseball. It’s much more important – its nature coming out of its winter rest in the northern hemisphere – it’s the leafing out of all natural trees and plants. Its God saying “I give every green plant for food.”

I want to focus on that event and what it means.

First, what makes plants grow?

Man has always wondered just where plant growth came from. In 1648 Johann van Helmont, a Belgian, set up an experiment. He planted a willow sprig in a large pot with a known weight of dry soil. He tended the tree for 5 years and then he ripped it up and shook off all the soil and weighted it dry, and also weighed the tree. The tree weighed over 160 pounds but the soil lost only a few ounces of weight. Cleary the tree growth did not come out of the soil. At that time, matter was thought to consist of four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Van Helmont thought the tree growth came from the water. He was only partly right. It wasn’t until the industrial revolution when the atomic theory began to emerge in the late 1800’s and be accepted, that more insight about the nature of matter came to be known.

The leaf: God’s Miracle

Now we know plant growth is a process involving photosynthesis, that is chemical reactions using light. The light from the sun being the energy source. The photosynthesis process is still a subject of research and with modern tools a much clearer picture is now available.

The marvel is in how the leaf performs its function.

The leaf has pores on its underside called stoma. Through these pores the leaf sees and captures a single molecule of carbon dioxide from the air out of 2,500 other molecules. The leaf brings the CO2 into its circulator system where it begins two complex chemical cycles involving other chemicals produced by the plant.

I’m showing this slide to illustrate the complexity of the chemistry within the simple leaf. Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz later. These complex chemicals which the leaf create react with sunlight and then change CO2 into starches and sugars used for plant growth. In light reactions from water it produces oxygen that is released back into the air. To me this is a miracle: it is living things that have what man used to call the vital force. It’s something man cannot do in a laboratory. Its science, not science fiction. Its Gods miracle in nature.

Why is this slide here? This is the Saturn, the most powerful vehicle ever made by man, it’s fueled by hydrogen and oxygen. They combine making water vapor and release a tremendous amount of energy propelling the rocket. In this like all chemical reactions, the heat given off, like the burning of the hydrogen, must be absorbed back when that reaction is reversed. In the live plant, the reverse is to convert water back to hydrogen ions and oxygen. While the rocket exhaust is over 5,000 degrees, the simple little leaf in the reverse reaction captures light energy at ambient temperatures making oxygen from water.

This is not an insignificant amount of energy. To restore all the world’s human breath back to oxygen requires an amount of energy equivalent to 6% of that of all of the oil and gas being used today.

Within the plant, the sugars and starches become the building blocks that grow the plant and produce its yield of grains, vegetables, nuts, grasses and fruits. All the food for all living things comes from plants that have undergone photosynthesis reacting sunlight with the absorbed CO2 taken from the air. This is the only source for our food. Simply speaking without photosynthesis, the sun, water and CO2 from the air there is no food – without food there is no life.

CO2 from air is and has been the only source of chemical carbon, the essential atom from which all organic chemicals were and are built. In our sanctuary everything you see with few exceptions came from growing plants from some time in the past. Not any metals, glass or bricks, but the wood in the walls and ceiling, the pews, its covers, the hymnals, our clothing and shoes, medications we took today, the fuel that heats and cools this room, our very own bodies also came mostly from the food we and our mothers consumed and that food originally came from the CO2 taken from the air.

Our bodies are like a slow burning furnace. The food we eat is the fuel and the oxygen in our aerated blood is the source of combustion. This is our circle of life. We eat food that gives up its energy to keep us alive and in doing that we expel CO2 back into the air to join other amounts of CO2 and then plant life with sunlight energy converts it into food and oxygen.

This is just a part of God’s plan that has provided the tools and mechanisms for all life. Producing food today for over 7 billion people on earth, however, does not come about easily. Man has become very efficient in the production of food rising to the needs of a growing world population. With highly developed farm machinery, invention and production of fertilizers, genetic developments to improve plant yields, refrigeration and transport system to minimize spoilage, irrigation and land management all have allowed this to come about. There is a whole lot more that can be done to produce more food to sustain the growing earth’s population. Life on earth is nowhere near any danger from over population, yet.

So, celebrate spring and welcome the new leaves and grasses that are essential to life. And this fall when you pick up the fallen leaves bless them for their effort.

As the poet Robert Browning wrote – “God’s in His heaven – All’s right with the world”.

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.

When dropping off supplies for the Center on Saturday, please use the side door into the Fellowship Hall. Because of new floor tiling, the main entrance is not available,

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

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). If you use the eTithing site, select the United States link. Any of these options work.

MISSION ROAD CALENDAR

There will be no activities at the church this Sunday.

REMINDER 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 Holbens for their service and friendship, we’d suggest you can contact them using email or using Facebook. There’s no snow in Kansas but maybe we can create a blizzard of messages to Laurie and Steve!

REPLACING ENTRANCE TILE AT CHURCH

Remember, the floor tile inside the main entrance of the church is being replaced. While this project is underway it will be necessary for everyone to enter the church from the other exterior doors. If you have a key to the front door, it will open any of the exterior doors including the back door to the Fellowship Hall, the basement door at end of the hall by the teen center and the basement door at the bottom of the ramp that enters by the ladies restroom in the basement.

Sorry for this temporary inconvenience. The main entrance should be available again by midweek next week. When the main entrance is available, we will get the word out. Please make sure to lock the building when you leave. Thank you for your understanding.

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.