FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: Connecting
On Tuesday night, 96 of us gathered for the annual “State of the Church.” About 35 of us gathered in the back yard under the tent and later more than 60 of us gathered via Zoom. One person wrote to me and said it was the best one we had ever had. I have a hunch I know why. It wasn’t just the great reports and inspiring messages. It was that we gathered. We sat in small groups and reflected. We saw faces of those we have missed. We reconnected. What mattered was not just the work of the church but the relationships of the church. We know God, not just through Bible study and prayer and service but also through the web of friendship that is woven when we gather in God’s sacred space. 

Years ago, when I was just barely out of seminary and trying to figure out how to be a minister of the church, I went to a conference. I admit that my goal was to try to figure out how to build the perfect programs for the church. But the speaker pushed back on that notion. He said that people were more important than programs. He defined success in the church as that moment “when lives intersect and grace is present.” It took me a while to realize how right he was. What keeps my faith alive are these moments when we interact and I become aware that God is in our midst. 

I am personally looking forward to reconnecting with many of you this Sunday at Lemonade and Liturgy on the church’s front lawn from 1:00-3:00 p.m. I hope you can stop by for 15 minutes or an hour, whatever your schedule allows. (And do stay home if you don’t feel well!) And if you are not comfortable with an outdoor in-person gathering that involves social distancing and masks, then please check out the fall program guide and consider participating in one of the Zoom, stream, or online options. There are many ways to connect. And one of those is always, call the church! Call any of the pastors or staff members. Send us an email. Leave a prayer concern on the daily prayer line. Through our mundane connections, miracles unfold. 

Grace and Peace,

Carla
SERMON SERIES: Recalibrate
So much of life has been unsettled or disrupted by the pandemic we are living through. Even gathering in our sacred space to reconnect with God and each other has been disrupted. As with a bathroom scale that sometimes needs to be recalibrated to zero, we also need to take action to re-center ourselves in God’s realm. This series will look at how characters in the Bible faced unsettling historical moments and rather than give in to fear, they took action to live out their faith. 

This Sunday, Part 2: Plant a Vineyard, based on Jeremiah 31:1-17. Rev. Carla Aday preaching.

More information HERE.
This Sunday!
LEMONADE AND LITURGY
Sun., Sept. 20, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Gather with your church family for an afternoon of fellowship and faith. This open house-style event includes opportunities such as:
  • quiet meditation in the Sanctuary
  • prayer walk around our campus
  • live music by the Instrumental Trio
  • hands on service projects for all ages
  • The Well sidewalk sale
  • lemonade and cookies
  • a chance to visit with ministers and staff
All activities will be done with distancing measures in mind and masks will be required when not enjoying refreshments in the lemonade stand. Watch for more information about service components.
STATE OF THE CHURCH/ANNUAL REPORT
If you missed this week's State of the Church meeting, you can view the recording of it, the presentation and the 2019-2020 annual report HERE.
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES
The Rest of the Story: Behind the Sermon
Led by Dr. Mike Graves
Sept. 21, 28, 7:00 p.m.
via YouTube Live.

Scripture passages are about a lot of things; sermons are about one. That’s what Dr. Mike Graves used to tell his seminary students. To use a metaphor from the movies, it means a lot of material ends up on the cutting room floor. In these interactive sessions, we’ll look back at two passages from which Mike preached, thinking about what was not covered. Participants may want to watch or listen to previous sermons ahead of each class.

Sept. 21 - focusing on Matthew 13:24-30. Watch or listen to sermon from July 19. Join class via YouTube Live at this LINK.
Sept. 28 - focusing on Matthew 14:22-33. Watch or listen to sermon from Aug. 9. Join class via YouTube Live at this LINK.

UPROOTING RACISM: AN ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOP There are still a few spots available for the remaining anti-racism workshop this Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Led by members of The Open Table’s Anti-Racism Training Cohort. Register by emailing Lisa Tang. More information HERE.
FAITHPUB AND FAITH BISTRO RETURN
Gatherings will be from 6:30-8:00 p.m. under the tent in the back yard.

FaithBistro for women of all ages, with guest speakers on spirituality and real-life issues.
Oct. 15 - guest speaker Donna Houtteman, docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

FaithPub, hosted by Dr. Mike Graves, this men’s group meets for conversation on a host of spiritual topics.
Sept. 24 - guest speaker Max Deweese
Oct. 22 - guest speaker Doug Hundley

NEW RESIDENT SMALL GROUPS. Do you know someone who is new to the Kansas City area and is finding settling into a new community challenging during a pandemic? This fall we will kick off a new small group for new-to-Kansas City folks who want to get to know our city and meet new friends. Contact Lisa Tang at lisat@cccckc.org to be put on a list to receive more information. 

GOLF TOURNAMENT
3RD ANNUAL MAX DEWEESE TOURNAMENT
Fri., Sept. 25 • Noon • St. Andrews Golf Course
Proceeds support ministries to help veterans.
Sign-up ($150 per person), form a team, and sponsor a hole ($750). All are welcome. Not a golfer? You can make a donation to the tournament in any amount. Sign up HERE or for more information, contact Dr. Mike Graves.
ROOTS YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Sunday, Sept. 27, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
​Bible & Beer (location TBD)
It’s easy for the stories and wisdom in the Bible to seem inaccessible and disconnected from our day to day lives. For Bible and Beer, folks in their 20s and 30s are invited to bring your favorite beverage (alcoholic or not) and join us for some conversation about what the Bible is and its transformative potential for our lives today. Contact Tyler for more information. At right: Roots gathered to hear from and chat with Mayor Quinton Lucas last Sunday.
BACKYARD MISSIONS FAIR
Sun., Oct. 18, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
This year, since we are unable to travel internationally for our annual mission trips, we’re bringing the mission trip experience home with our Backyard Missions Fair. Instead of traveling to Nicaragua you're invited to an open-house missions fair in the church backyard. Learn about our partnership with CEPAD, a nonprofit that works to support vulnerable communities across Nicaragua, and to hear about our vision for our missions work as a church. Come by for 30 minutes or the entire two hours to connect and take part of our mission work!
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

CLUB KIDS for grades 3-5 continues this Sunday, Sept. 20, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. outside at church. Join us for some fun! Wear your mask and running shoes! Bring a completed 2020-2021 Consent and Release form with or email to April ahead of time.

Click HERE for more information about Children and Family Ministries.
YOUTH

SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUPS. Middle School at 5:00 p.m. High School 6:30 p.m. outside at church.

SUNDAY STORIES. Did you see Tyler's first Sunday Stories? five to 15 minute videos with Tyler and a guest. If you missed it you can catch a new one this Sunday on on Instagram!

CONSENT AND RELEASE. We have a new 2020-2021 Consent and Release form that we need for each youth participant in any youth programming. Please download here and submit via mail or email. Contact aprilb@cccckc.org with any questions.

Lots more information about Youth Ministries happenings HERE. Sign up for email and/or texting updates. ​
PARENTING COLLEGE STUDENTS: CHECK IN
Sunday, Sept. 27, 3:00 pm.
We are one month into a college academic year unlike any we have seen before. Parents of college students are invited to a conversation to share joys, concerns, observations, and questions in a confidential setting. Jennifer Austenfeld, Ph.D., church member and clinical psychologist, facilitates this gathering. Jennifer worked with college students during her psychology internship and postdoctoral training at the KU counseling center. In-person with masks and social distancing under our backyard tent. Hosted by Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn and Rev. Tyler Heston and co-presented by our Pastoral Care ministries. Pre-registration required by emailing Lisa Tang or 816-333-4917.
METRO MISSION
GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY: 
Hartman Elementary School
Sat., Sept. 26, 9:00 a.m. -noon
All are invited to a service day at Hartman as we clean-up and beautify the outdoor classroom space. All work will be outside the building and we will practice safety with social distancing and wearing masks. Work will include mulching, yard cleanup and applying wood protectant to their outdoor classroom. Two shifts of approximately 10 people are available to allow for safe distancing. Sign up HERE. Contact Catherine for more information.
FALL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES. Many of our service partners across the city have had to modify their operations in the wake of the pandemic. However, there are still opportunities to serve this fall. Click HERE for more information or to sign up.
WEEK OF COMPASSION. Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is currently monitoring the wild fire, hurricane, and flooding disasters across the country. Right now the best way to help is with monetary gifts. To support these efforts, click HERE.
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
MEMORIAL GIFTS. Gifts honoring loved 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:
Beverly Harvey          
by Evalyn and Milburn Hobson 

Robert "Bob" King    
by Anne Henderson 
by Brucie and Bill Hopkins 
by Susan Lidey 
by Ronald and Emily Shuppy 
Paul Niewald    
by Douglas R. Peete Foundation 
by Evalyn and Milburn Hobson 
by Jo Strickler, for Pastoral Care 

Ruth Privette    
by Evalyn and Milburn Hobson 

Chuck Zarter     
by Greg and Nancy Lear 
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
We are grateful for your continued financial support, which is allowing the church to continue to serve in ministry with you through these uncertain times. If you would like to share your weekly offering electronically,  please do so at  HERE, or text the word General to 816-484-3399 to give quickly and easily.