FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: God Still Comes |
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Twenty five years ago I experienced the most unusual holiday of my life. My son was due on December 26 but arrived on December 17. I suppose it was the first time in my life that I was not in church on Christmas Eve. And this year, all of us will experience a very unusual holiday season. I suspect that you, like me, have pictured having a chicken breast instead of a 25 pound turkey with all the trimmings for Thanksgiving. And then comes the four weeks of December typically filled with too many parties, concerts, service projects, church services and gift exchanges to squeeze onto the calendar. This year will be different. Quiet.
Still, I am hopeful. Our church staff began meeting under the tent in the back yard in August to dream about how to make this holiday season meaningful, even if covid interrupted our typical patterns of celebrating the arrival of Christ. Mike and I will preach “Home by Another Way” because as we read the Bible we see that almost every character in the Christmas narrative faced an interruption that forced him or her to go home by another way. And so these characters will guide us -- Mary, Joseph, Magi -- to the home of God who comes into whatever messy makeshift place we find ourselves in this December.
I look back on that tent meeting as the beginning of gestation. Slowly, I began to sense the excitement of the Spirit coming to life. In one of our darkest winters yet, we will be powerfully lifted up. A beautiful cello and piano duet of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” will launch Advent on November 29. The angelic youthful voice of Clara Thompson will perform “Coming Home.” Sara and Alex Goering will favor us with “The Prayer,” made well-known by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Alex Goering will conclude Advent by singing Bach’s famous “Sleepers, Awake” from Cantata 140 accompanied by Kansas City Baroque Consortium. The virtual Chancel Choir will sing its debut of an exciting arrangement of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” on Christmas Eve, along with many other special musical arrangements you won’t want to miss.
I hope you will reach out to someone you know who longs for hope and the assurance that God still comes to make a home with us. Invite him/her to worship with us on one of the Sundays of Advent or on Christmas Eve. Pajamas are welcome every week. And you can bring your own coffee mug and fill your communion cup with any beverage you enjoy. I know that the best Christmas I ever had was the one when a child was born. It was the most unusual, but the one that found me more full of love than I had ever imagined was possible.
Grace and Peace,
Carla
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IN WORSHIP THIS WEEK: "Dancing in the Wasteland" based on Jeremiah 33:10-11. Rev. Carla Aday preaching.
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. |
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ADVENT SERMON SERIES BEGINS NOVEMBER 29 |
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.
ADVENT DEVOTIONS BY EMAIL - During the season of advent, Country Club Christian Church will share advent devotions each week, Monday through Thursday. These will appear on Facebook and on our web site, but if you’d like to receive them directly in your email inbox, sign up using the button to the right.
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MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE
The fall series of Monday Night Classes is now available for viewing online. Check out each session HERE.
- The Rest of the Story: Behind the Sermon
- The Protestant Reformation
- Saints of Our Time, Fred Craddock, Anne Lamott, Howard Thurman
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GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY WITH GRACE UNITED COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
Sat., Dec. 5
All are invited to serve with projects supporting Grace United Community Ministries, a Metro Mission partner. One group of volunteers will assist with lunch distribution from 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Another group will help with the community garden from 10:00 a.m.-noon planting new trees, prepping gardens for winter, etc. Both projects will be outdoors and safe practices will be followed Use this LINK to sign up for your preferred slot.
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UPROOTING RACISM: INVESTING IN JUSTICE AND EQUITY
In case you missed it: Watch this recent conversation between AltCap President Ruben Alonso III and members of Country Club Christian Church, designed to educate and explore ways the church can be involved in the critical work of building a more just and equitable society.
AltCap is an Kansas City organization that is a part of the long-term effort to dismantle systemic racism and create a more whole society through its work of investing in capital- and resource-starved communities in the region through accessible and innovative financing projects and partnerships.
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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
ADVENT IN ADVANCE. Sun., Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Chapel parking lot (RAIN OR SHINE.)
Our annual make-and-take event to help children and families prepare their homes for Christmas looks a little different this year — instead of making items at church to take home, we’re moving to a take and make format. Pick up craft packs to do as a family at home. Activities come with instructions and supplies.
We will also be taking photographs of children dressed as angels and/or shepherds for our Christmas Eve service. Come ready for this photo op; some props will be provided.
Click HERE for more information about Children and Family Ministries.
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YOUTH
YOUTH GROUP SAVE THE DATES!
Sunday, November 22—Girls' Group at 4:00 p.m., followed by Youth Group Service Project at 5:30 p.m. We'll assemble warm packs to donate to Micah and are asking everyone to bring one or two pairs of good-quality gloves or a $5 donation to help.
Youth Group on Sunday, December 5. Weather pending, we’ll meet in the backyard for youth group activities. Stay tuned for more information. No youth group on Sunday, November 29th— Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, December 18—Youth 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!
Lots more information about Youth Ministries happenings HERE. Sign up for email and/or texting updates.
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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)
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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.
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NOVEMBER COLLECTION CONNECTION
Metro Mission is gathering new or gently used blankets and tarps for sharing with our mission partners who serve the homeless in the metro area. Twin or full size blankets and tarps approximately 5 x 7' are most useful. Donations may be dropped off at church Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m- 3:30 p.m. at the East entrance.
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OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Our prayers and condolences are with the families and friends of:
Mark Gibbs
Molly McDonald
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CONSIDER A YEAR-END FINANCIAL GIFT |
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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 f or more information.
Thank you for all of the ways you support the ministries and mission of Country Club Christian Church.
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