FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: God Enters this Place |
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Do you remember when we thought 2021 would be better? After 10 pandemic-laden months overplayed by a host of racial, political and economic woes, we looked forward to the dawn of a new calendar year. But less than two months into the freshness of a new year we have been knocked down again by a once in a hundred year storm and violence in our nation’s capital not seen in over 200 years. The cold, the emptiness, the isolation and the monotony are enough to make even the cheeriest among us give one’s soul over to despair. After all, how many times can you clean the closets and organize the shelves in the basement before you need to go to the park and share a picnic with some friends without fear of dying.
I wish I could tell you I have the answers. Or even that our faith is the balm that will carry us through. But if there was a quick fix, it would already have been found. The Bible records the angst of God’s people in the book of Psalms:
“My tears have been my food day and night...” (Ps 42)
“My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes – it has also gone from me.” (Ps 38)
“Hear my prayer, O Lord: let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress.” (Ps 102)
If the Bible has the courage to name the angst before God, then maybe it is ok for us to also articulate the troubles of our heart and of our land. Maybe in naming the pain and sadness honestly before God we can begin to see that the God of all love and hope enters right into this very place with us. During the weeks of Lent, we see again that Jesus came into our world and faced the worst that humanity had to offer. He faced rejection because of his powerful love. God came to be with us. And God still comes to be with us. No situation on earth is too great to thwart God’s companionship or halt God’s hope for humanity.
Grace and Peace,
Carla
To send a message to Carla, click HERE.
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What makes for a life worth living and how do we glimpse this more clearly as we focus on the journey of Jesus to the cross and empty tomb? Someone has written that the purpose of Lent is to wake us up to our need for Lent. It is a season to pause and reflect on who we are and who God calls us to become. By focusing on the short but powerful life of Jesus, we remember what our own lives are meant to be. Why did he live? Why did he die? Join us on Ash Wednesday, and Sundays during Lent as we journey together toward Easter Sunday.
Connect from Home During Lent
Join us as we walk the sacred journey through Lent together. Each week during worship, on the communion table you will see not just one chalice but many chalices. It’s a way of remembering that we share one cup of life but we are spread out across the city and nation. We invite you to find a “chalice” of sorts in your own home — be it a crystal stemmed glass or a pottery mug. Place it somewhere you will see each day. Every Sunday, ask yourself: What makes life worth living? How can I practice that during Lent? Write down whatever comes to mind, and place it in the cup.
Click HERE to worship with us.
Miss last Sunday's worship? Watch it HERE.
Do you ever have trouble accessing our live stream? Click HERE for some helpful hints. |
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UPROOTING RACISM: THE HOUSING CRISIS
Thur., Feb. 25 • 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Among the many issues the pandemic has spotlighted, affordable housing and growing evictions have risen to the forefront. The housing crisis nationwide is multifaceted. Join us to learn more about critical housing issues in Kansas City and ways we might assist and protect tenants during these times, with panelists from the United Way, Legal Aid of Western Missouri and the City of Kansas City. RSVP to Lisa Tang. |
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A LIFE WORTH LIVING COURSE
SPRING SESSION
April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12 • 7:00 p.m.
Register for the spring session of the Life Worth Living Course is now open. Click HERE for more information on the class and to register. |
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FEBRUARY COLLECTION CONNECTION
Metro Mission is collecting products to support several of our ministry partners in February. Donations of toilet paper, paper towels and sanitizing wipes (for surface or hands) can be brought to church Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 3:00 p.m. at the east entrance.
SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
As a church community, we seek to embody God’s love and discover ways in which God’s Spirit is creatively transforming the lives of individuals and communities near and far. One of the ways we explore this call is through our international mission partners, including FEDICE in Ecuador and CEPAD in Nicaragua. Both organizations are partners both with our church and our denomination and work towards sustainable development across rural and impoverished communities in each country. Each year, we look forward to sending a team from our church to travel to both Ecuador and Nicaragua for a week of serving, learning, and living in community with these organizations, and throughout the years we have created not just memories but important friendships through these partnerships.
Though we have not been able to travel for (almost) a year now, we are still in partnership with FEDICE and CEPAD. You may remember our Backyard Missions Fair in October that offered ways to learn about and connect with CEPAD. We recently took another opportunity to support these organizations financially, an important opportunity in a year in which both organizations have suffered without the income they usually receive from traveling mission groups. Our Outreach and Missions Coordinating Team decided to use designated mission funds for a grant to both organizations, enabling us to stay in partnership and support their work from afar.
Are you curious about how to get involved with these mission partners? Stay tuned for a spotlight event this spring for FEDICE, and reach out to Tyler or Catherine for more information about mission opportunities both local and global.
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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Lent Take and Make Event
Sun., Feb. 21, noon - 2:00 pm
Join us in the parking lot or drive through if it's cold. We will have activities ready for your family to take home to learn about and celebrate the Lent season together.
Club Kids, for 3rd-5th graders.
Feb. 21, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Meet us at the East Entrance, we will gather and play winter games outside. Wear warm clothes -- your snow suit, boots, gloves, mittens a hat!
More information on Children's Ministry HERE. |
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YOUTH
Youth Group on Zoom
This Sunday, middle and high schoolers are invited to join us for youth group on ZOOM! Middle schoolers will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and high schoolers from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Join us via the link for an hour of catching up, playing games, and more!
March social— Yaya’s Alpaca Farm in Harrisonville, MO, on Sun., Mar. 14, 3:00 p.m.
More information on Youth Ministry HERE.
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OUR CHURCH FAMILY
IN SYMPATHY
Our prayers are with the family and friends of:
John Thornell, Sr. who died Feb. 15. John, 101, and his wife, Virginia, faithfully attended our 11:00 a.m. service.
Edmund L. Scherer who died Feb. 18. Edmund, 90, and his wife, Eleanor, faithfully attended our 11:00 a.m. service.
MEMORIAL GIFTS HONORING LOVED ONES ones are placed into the Church’s Endowment Funds, which are used to support the church now and into the future. Gifts have recently been given in memory of:
Cam Schutte
By Jeanne and Perry Cockayne, for Congregational Care
By Linda and Harvey Day, for Urban Farming Guys and Pastor's Discretionary Fund
Beverly Snyder
By Jo Strickler, for Congregational Care
By Paul and Mary Ella Klingsporn
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