September 2 Colonial Church News

September 6 Worship

“Rev. William Barber II" Worship in Series Modern Prophets

Rev. Barber has been called the most powerful, prophetic person since Martin Luther King Jr. His leadership inspired the Moral Mondays movement and the reinvigoration of the Poor Peoples' Campaign. This Sunday, we are going to hear his prophetic message to America as we consider what God is speaking to the church today.

Sunday Worship Online

Connect to online live worship service at https://colonialucc.online.church/ at 8:30 or 10:15 a.m.

Or, you can watch our service anytime after 8:30 a.m. on Sundays via YouTube at https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeV

Fellowship Time at 9:15 a.m. Immediately following our 8:30 online worship service, grab a mug and come over to our community's Coffee & Conversation online. You can connect at https://tinyurl.com/ColConv

Online Children's Sunday School.Camille Breckenridge teaches the week's Sunday School Bible story on Sunday mornings at https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVid

If you know of kids who might enjoy taking part in our Sunday School, invite their parents to signup to be on the list to receive the weekly materials at https://bit.ly/CCSSOnline.

Modern Prophets Sermon Series

Prophets are people who speak for God.

Often prophets are not popular, because their words put them at odds with the powers in this world.

Our nation has modern prophets, and we're going to hear their messages in a special series that will take us into the school year.

William Barber II - September 6
Bill McKibben - September 13

Colonial/YMCA Partnership Learning Pods

Colonial Church's partnership with the YMCA to provide space for learning pods during COVID-19 online school was features on KSHB-TV news last week. Watch Pastor Aaron's interview here.

If you would like to help us welcome students on September 8 to their first day of school through the Y Learning Academy at Colonial, arrive at the old Macy's parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Wear your mask and bring something to help greet these kids. You could bring a home-made sign welcoming the students or balloons or bells for ringing happily. Students arrive at approximately 8:00 a.m., so we should be done by 8:30 at the latest! Come one, come all and show Colonial hospitality. Contact Julie Luttman if you have questions.

Gathering Sunday Drive-In Movie Night

Sunday, September 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Gathering Sunday during the pandemic is going to be different! We're going to come together for a socially distanced drive-in movie night to watch the movie "Hidden Figures."

For you artists out there, we're going to use sidewalk chalk to decorate our parking spaces in the south lot to celebrate our church community's ministry partners - like Artists Helping the Homeless, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, and Veronica's Voice.

When: Sunday, September 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Where: Colonial Church Back Parking Lot

Free to attend. Bring your own popcorn and drinks

✶ Please wear a mask when you are outside your vehicle.

Let us know you are coming so we can have enough space by registering here.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters

“Charity can’t fill food needs in the pandemic,” claims Valerie Nicholson-Watson, Harvester CEO, in the Kansas City Star last month.

Now the local food bank distributes around 1.3 million pounds of food weekly, but that is not enough. Feeding America, a food bank network, projects food insecurity will increase 42% over pre-pandemic rates, at least until the end of the year. Worse, the number of hungry children is expected to increase by 59%.

Nicholson-Watson says the charitable sector, including local food pantries, cannot meet the need. Only the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) has the reach and efficiency to provide the necessary assistance. Present funding is inadequate.

In August Sen. Pat Roberts, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, said he supports increasing SNAP funding. We can let him know we do, too. The Board of Outreach encourages all Colonial friends and members to write or call Sen. Roberts as well their other Congress members urging them to increase SNAP funding. We will be joining other Bread for the World members around the country with the same request. We do justice when we ask our government to ensure no American goes hungry.

A sample letter/email and a phone message with contact information will be printed in next week’s Crier. They will also be passed out on Gathering Sunday , September 13, in the parking lot. Messages can be mailed individually or dropped off in the bin outside the church office.

Join the Colonial Church Virtual Choir

Join the Colonial Church Virtual Choir for the 2020-21 season. Kirk Carson has a summer hobby - learning to direct a virtual choir! For this coming year, the choir will rehearse and sing from home. You'd receive a "click track" with your part (and accompaniment). You listen to that in your headphones/ earpods, while recording yourself on your phone/audio recorder and send it to be included in the choir. So, if you'd like something fun and new to try - particularly as the months turn colder - signup today to be part of our choir at https://colonialucc.breezechms.com/form/1f282c

Kelly Hansen Ordination Service

Ordination is a celebration for Christ’s church, and we could all use a reason to celebrate these days. Kelly Hansen will be ordained at Colonial Church at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13. You are invited to the virtual worship service at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84817810369.

Participants in the service include spiritual advisors and representatives from the UCC and Colonial Church.

Kelly is originally from Helena, Montana and moved to the Kansas City area with her husband, Mark, in 2004. After a career in the culinary arts she felt called to ministry and attended St. Paul’s School of Theology. She serves as chaplain at Truman Medical Center as well as several other organizations.

Do Not Sacrifice the Power of Your Vote!

Voter Education Webinar

Join us Wednesday, September 16, 11:00 a.m. to noon, via Zoom for an hour full of information and questions answered with our guest panelists - Lindsay Begham with The Voter Network and Kathleen Morrow with The League of Women Voters. Let’s consider the history of the vote in our nation, the challenges past and present and, most especially, how to get registered, how to find out what is on your ballot, and so much more.

Please register for the webinar here.

Hold Me Tight Online Couples Therapy

Hold Me Tight® Workshop, an 8-week online workshop that helps couples take troubling patterns of conflict and transform them into emotionally accessible, responsive and engaging interactions, is planned for Saturdays, September 26-November 14, 10:00 a.m.-noon, for Colonial families.

Based on the highly researched method of couples therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy by Dr. Sue Johnson, and her successful book, Hold Me Tight®: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, the workshop is appropriate for couples of all stages of happiness or distress. It offers a non-judgmental, emotionally safe space for you and your partner to explore your relationship and the struggles that keep the two of you from either having a stronger relationship or having the relationship of your dreams.

The presentation uses video clips to aid in understanding the lessons. Jessica Schroeder, a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Leavenworth, Kansas, will facilitate the course. Cost is $299 per couple.

To learn more and to register, click here.

Preaching through the Bible 2020-2021

Most years, Pastor Aaron preaches sermon series that people in our church community suggest. This coming year, we're going to try something new! We're going to use a series beginning in January that begins in Genesis and moves through the history of Israel to the beginning of Christ's church.

Also, on the 4th Sunday of each month, we'll be hearing from a guest preacher from one of our United Church of Christ congregations in the Kansas Oklahoma Conference. Online worship is opening new opportunities for connection and collaboration!

Updates Due Now for Member Directory

Additions/changes to your information for the Colonial Church directory are due now. We plan to have a new directory available in the next few weeks. Please check your listing in the 2019 directory and update address, children, phones, etc. If you haven't previously added a photo or need to update your photo, please send a horizontal one to info@colonialucc.org.

droppable-1598295822482

You can also go to https://www.colonialucc.org/personal-account.html and update your information. Contact Heather in the church office for more information.

Colonial Women Activities

All women of Colonial Church are invited to gather with others in casual fellowship opportunities, whether you prefer breakfast, happy hour or discussing a book. Check out the options below. No reservations required.

Coffee. Monday, September 7, 9:30 a.m., Colonial Church front lawn. Bring your chair and your coffee.
Blue Moose Tuesday. Tuesday, September 8, 5:30 p.m., Colonial Church front lawn. Bring your own chair, beverage and food as we gather - appropriately distanced - to talk and laugh together.
Book Group. Friday, September 11, 7:00 p.m., via Zoom. We will discuss "Sometimes I Lie" by Alice Feeney.

Artists Helping the Homeless Support

For the past few years, members of Colonial have purchased, prepared and helped serve an evening meal on the fourth Sunday of the month to support the program of Artists Helping the Homeless. We look forward to returning to our former way of contributing to this program soon, but until that time, please support our homeless population with a donation to cover the cost of the meal. Pay through our website by going to https://colonialucc.breezechms.com/give/online. Select "AHH" from the dropdown menu.

Contributions to the fund also support VANishing the Void nonperishable food for the Be the Change van.

Watch Our Weekly Services and Sermons

Livestream: Sundays at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. at https://colonialucc.online.church/

On Demand: worship services are on YouTube here. Sermons are available here.

Daily Devotionals

Our denomination, the United Church of Christ, provides an excellent daily devotional, written by the "Still Speaking" writers group. To have the devotions emailed to you daily go to:

http://www.ucc.org/daily_devotional

Your Support Matters

Our work together matters - to each other and to the community. We are needed more than ever in this difficult time.

Your pledges help Colonial to do its work. Counters are counting and we are making deposits. You may mail in your pledge checks or any other payments. An easier alternative is to make contributions online. You just fill in your banking information or provide a credit card and your name and email and what fund you are paying (Stewardship, food pantry, etc.) and the amount. Go to: https://colonialucc.breezechms.com/give/online

If you have any questions, you may email or call Heather in the office or Jayne Quimby, Financial Recorder.