FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: A Way Out of No Way
The best metaphor for our world of today is astronauts speeding through the cosmos, but with their life-supporting capsule pierced by a meteorite fragment. But the Church resembles Mary and Joseph traveling from Egypt to Nazareth on a donkey, holding in their arms the weakness and poverty of the Child Jesus: God incarnate.  

-The God Who Comes, Carlo Carretto

The book quoted here was published in 1974 but it certainly reads as an apt description of 2020. On the one hand we are on the cutting edge of science and technology. Last week we had a Zoom birthday party for my Dad and he was shocked that we could include his grandson who is living in Madrid, Spain. Scientists around the globe are working together to bring us a vaccine. And at the same time, our life support capsule seems to be pierced. We long for face to face connections with the people we love. So many of the systems that support life: hospitals, schools, businesses are strained to a breaking point.  

One of the biggest “aha moments” for me over the past nine months has been the resilience of the church. Can’t have Sunday school? We will meet with the kids and parents for popsicles in the park! Can’t gather in the sanctuary for worship? We will hire a drone to take photos of the stained glass for the streamed service. Can’t serve the homeless a hot meal? We will make sack lunches. Over and over again I have been astounded by the ways that our church staff and church members have made a way out of no way. They have resembled Mary and Joseph, holding in their arms the weakness and the poverty of the Child Jesus.   

This Christmas will be different. We will miss some of our sacred traditions. But God still comes. The word of God is made flesh.  

Grace and Peace,

Carla
ADVENT SERMON SERIES
After the magi visit the newborn Christ they are warned to go home by another way. And many of the characters in the story of Jesus’ birth find home in a way they had not imagined. They are on the move. Mary and Joseph are unexpectedly expecting. When the census disrupts their lives they are far from home and then a baby arrives. We too have found life unsettling and disrupted over the past nine months. Some folks are “stuck at home” unable to go to church or parties and others are longing for home but unable to travel. The season of Advent invites us to reimagine what life means as God comes to make a home with us. As we awaken to God’s birth, we too can deepen our spiritual journeys and go home by another way.  

THIS SUNDAY, PART 2 - Joseph, based on Matthew 1:18-25. Rev. Carla Aday preaching and featuring Clara Thompson performing an English folk song setting of “Coming Home” orchestrated by Paul Tucker.

LIVE NATIVITY - Sat., Dec. 19, 3:00-5:00 p.m. The miracle of Christmas comes to life via a drive- or walk-by live nativity scene on the front lawn of the church. See the holy family, shepherds and animals, enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee or hot cocoa, and pick up Christmas Eve candles for you and your family to use as you worship at home.

ADVENT DEVOTIONS - If you missed any of the advent devotions from the first week, you can find them HERE.
Click HERE to worship with us Sundays at 9:01, 10:00 or 11:00 a.m., or on demand anytime.

Do you ever have trouble accessing our live stream? Click HERE for some helpful hints.

Miss last Sunday's service? Watch it HERE.
STAFF PICKS PLAYLIST FOR ADVENT
The staff at Country Club Christian Church has curated a new playlist for Advent 2020. Songs include favorite renditions of a Christmas song and other songs that capture our Advent spirit this year with our church’s Advent theme of “Home by Another Way.” More about why each staff member chose the songs they did HERE. Playlist available on Spotify or Apple Music.
UPROOTING RACISM: Support Black-owned businesses this holiday season!
As we discussed in our recent Uprooting Racism: Investing in Equity and Justice presentation, the holidays are a great opportunity to invest in our local community by doing some (or all!) of your holiday shopping with Black-owned and other minority-owned businesses. Below are two links to lists of local Black-owned businesses; browse these lists for some places to shop this holiday season (and beyond), and learn more about how we can effect transformation in our daily lives by checking out the workshop recording above and by staying tuned for more information about other Uprooting Racism activities we’ll be up to as a church in the new year and beyond.


CENTENNIAL ORNAMENTS 
A beautiful Christmas ornament commemorating our church’s centennial will be delivered to households in mid-December. Each household will receive one complimentary ornament, additional ornaments will be available for purchase.
 
Our Elders, Deacons and volunteers in our Called Together ministry will be delivering the ornaments. Ornament pick-up dates are Saturday, Dec. 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Pick-up will be at the south door of our church, drive-thru, no contact, masks required. If you cannot deliver ornaments, you may help package ornaments to be mailed. To volunteer to help with delivery or packaging please sign-up HERE. For more information, Joe, 816-381-9249.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
DECEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Join Catherine and April for an Advent story. This week we read "A is for Angel" by Debbie Trafton O'Neal. You can find the video here.

ANGEL AND SHEPHERD PHOTOS
We are collecting photos for our Christmas Eve family service. Take a photo of your child(ren) dressed as a shepherd or an angel and email it to April by Dec. 16. Please use landscape orientation and and as plain of a background as you can.

More info about Children and Family Ministries HERE.
YOUTH
YOUTH GROUP SAVE THE DATES!

Friday, December 18Youth Group Christmas Party. Instead of youth group on December 13, join us for a night of ice skating and more for our 2020 youth group Christmas Party! We’ll meet at Crown Center at 4:30 p.m. to ice skate! We will tentatively get dinner and do a gift exchange outside at Crown Center afterwards; details TBD. RSVP now!

SPRING CALENDAR
We’re planning to host activities each Sunday night as possible next semester, with youth group at the church on the first and third Sundays, special socials every second Sunday, and service projects the last Sunday of every month. Download our Spring Calendar now for more information!

Lots more information about Youth Ministries happenings HERE. Sign up for email and/or texting updates. ​
METRO MISSION
WARMTH PACKS FOR MICAH MINISTRY
Support Micah Ministry and its clients by donating items or dollars for Christmas warmth packs. In previous years we have assembled hygiene socks, but warmth packs more appropriately meet the needs of people seeking support from Micah today.
 
Each pack will contain:
  • Hoodie (pullover or zipper but must be a hoodie, men’s sizes XL or XXL, new or gently used)
  • Warm, thick socks (new)
  • Warm gloves (new or gently used)
  • Hand warmer packets 2-3 (new)
If you would like to create packs we ask you to email your commitment to Jackie Cunningham or call Lisa Tang in the church office at 816-333-4917 so we can monitor totals. Monetary donations can be made by clicking here and selecting Micah Ministries, or mailing a check to the church noting Micah Ministries.
METRO MISSION TEAMS SERVE AT CROSS-LINES
On Tues., Dec. 1, volunteers served Taco Tuesday to 187 people at Cross-Lines Community Outreach's food kitchen, including families with children many who were doing online classes. While lunch was served Joyce and Steve Statler made 120 sack lunches for Wednesday. In addition, the church's sewing/knitting ministry team donated scarves which were much appreciated.
CONSIDER A YEAR-END FINANCIAL GIFT
During this season of giving, we are grateful for your ongoing generosity and invite you to consider making a year-end financial gift to the church. You may mail your gift to the church, or email Finance Director Rachel Clement for more information.

Did you see our year end video? Watch it below. You might see someone you know.

Thank you for all of the ways you support the ministries and mission of Country Club Christian Church.