new & upcoming at LUMC!
EVENT SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR TONIGHT

Due to the inclement weather, some groups are not meeting today.

The following events are cancelled tonight:
Children's Choir
Chancel Choir

Dinner's On Us is NOT cancelled and will go from 5:30 to 6:30 as usual.
Spiritual Bootcamp

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)

As we move into the new year and approach the holy season of Lent, we are excited to begin focusing on ways to increase our personal relationships with God through renewing spiritual practices, both personally and as a church body.

We're calling this new initiative our Spiritual Bootcamp. The focus of the Bootcamp will be to provide educational sessions on scripture, prayer, and personal spiritual examination in small groups and churchwide. Our hope is that you will set your own personal goals for this time of renewal.
SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP KICKOFF
Sunday, February 6 | 11:30 a.m. | Schneeberger Hall/Zoom

The start of February means the start of LUMC's Spiritual Bootcamp! Join us at the Bootcamp Kickoff event this Sunday, either in Schneeberger Hall or on Zoom. We'll have dessert and coffee, and each small group leader will give an overview of what they'll be studying for the Bootcamp. We encourage everyone to join a small group during this exciting month.
Attending the kickoff from home?
Check out the Spiritual Bootcamp overview to learn more, see a list of small groups, set personal goals, and get helpful resources.
Why Spiritual Bootcamp?

We are doing Spiritual Bootcamp to enable us to fulfill our purpose of Journeying Together Toward Spiritual Growth. With our culture changing after some decades, the sense of faith community and relationship with God and fellow Christians is gradually falling apart, and that hinders our spiritual growth. The bootcamp will help each one of us to be a real follower of Christ, which simply means reading and applying the word of God. The end results of this will strengthen our relationship within the church family, with God and one another. Last year’s total average Sunday School attendance in person and on Zoom was 72. If I may break it down, 9:00 Kid’s Kingdom was only 3, 10:30 Kids Connect was 4, Nursery was 1, Middle School was 2, High School was 4, Dashers Sunday School was only 9 people, Foundations was 12, Pathfinders was 8, Spectrum was 14, and Young Adults Conversations (YAC) was an average of 6. Out of an average of 156 attending worship, you can see from the Sunday School average numbers that we are not doing our best. I would encourage group leaders to double the average numbers in attendance. We can use all means to invite and encourage non-participants to join us. We encourage you to join any of the above Sunday School classes or other small groups listed in the Spiritual Bootcamp overview. Meanwhile, be thinking of your personal spiritual goals.

–Pastor Ezekiel 
SUNDAY EVENING BOOTCAMP BIBLE STUDY
Sundays, February 6–27 | 6 p.m. | Zoom

Do you ever wonder about the purpose of prayer, the nature of prayer, or the results of a life of prayer? If so, you’re invited to join Andy Oren on Zoom for a study of Holy Living Prayer: Spiritual Practices of Building a Life of Faith. As part of our Spiritual Bootcamp, this small group study will help strengthen your prayer life. Books are available outside the sanctuary.
METHODIST MEN'S GROUP
Saturday, February 12 | 8 a.m. | Wesley Room

Men's Group meets the 2nd Saturday of each month for discussions and presentations of interest to Christian men of all ages. The February meeting will feature Rev. Jan Hayen discussing “The Frontier Methodist Church....Including Lenexa?”. All are invited to attend! If you'd like notifications about meetings or have questions, contact Erik Troy at troysinks@hotmail.com, Jay Soper at jcs@jcsoper.com, or Chuck Sheppard at shepcr@sbcglobal.net.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON BIBLE STUDY:
"EXPERIENCING GOD" WITH PASTOR EZEKIEL
Sundays, starting February 13 | 4 p.m.

What is God’s will for our lives? Beginning on February 13, Pastor Ezekiel will begin the conversations around knowing God’s will. Our resource guide will be the bible study Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, written by Henry and Richard Blackaby. This book examines experiencing God from the Old and New Testament scriptures.

With the book as a background, we will explore our personal beliefs and what we can do to grow closer to God and live a more God-centered life. Join us as we explore our faith and work together to increase our understanding of God’s will.
FAMILY VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY
Sunday, February 20 | 11:30 a.m.

The family Valentine's Day Party has been rescheduled for February 20. Join us on the 2nd floor of the Education Building for lunch and fun activities! RSVP to Mary Clow at Mary.Clow@lenexaumc.org.
IN-PERSON WORSHIP
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In-person worship takes place in the sanctuary at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Masks are strongly recommended indoors. If you plan on attending in person, we encourage you to read all our COVID safety protocols at https://lenexaumc.org/covid/.



LIVESTREAM WORSHIP
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For those who'd like to worship from home, we livestream both the 9 and 10:30 services. Please tune in at facebook.com/LenexaUMC/live!
Missed last week's service?
this Sunday's worship
FEBRUARY 6
5TH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Youth Sunday

Join us online or in-person for either service this week as the youth lead us in worship! These services will center around the theme of creation care, inspired by the group's love of The Lorax.
COMMUNION SUNDAY

The congregation comes up the center aisle to receive communion. Servers wear gloves to hand out bread and prepackaged juice cups. Those who wish to continue taking communion with the wafer in the cup instead of receiving bread are welcome to do so. After receiving the elements, you may kneel at the communion rail or return to your seat to consume the elements. Those worshiping at home can either supply their own bread and juice or pick up prepackaged elements at the church office or during the Dinner’s On Us drive-thru the Wednesday prior from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
ongoing events & announcements
VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

Greeters & Ushers
Can you help as a greeter or usher during worship? We have several positions open. Please consider volunteering once a month if you are able to.

To volunteer to be an usher or greeter, visit our SignUpGenius page:
Youth Volunteers

We’re always needing volunteers to help with Sunday School and Youth Group! Please contact Teila Creekmore if you’re interested! We would love for you to join us!

FOOD PANTRY

The food pantry is accepting all donations of non-perishable food and toiletries.

Please bring your donations to the gray bins outside of the church office.
ALTAR FLOWERS

The 2022 Altar Flower Calendar is on the bulletin board outside the office. You may also sign-up by calling or emailing the church office. You may sign up to bring flowers to commemorate a special occasion or in memory of a loved one.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

Everyone is welcome to join any of our classes!

9 AM:
Pathfinders: Asbury Room
Spectrum: Room 122
Foundations: Room 119 and via Zoom

10:15 AM:
Dashers: Asbury Room

10:30 AM:
YAC—Young Adult Conversations: The Underground

Find the class that is the best fit for you! Contact the church office for more information, including Zoom links to participate from home.
ZOOM BIBLE STUDY
Thursday evenings | 7–8 p.m.

All are welcome to participate in a weekly zoom Bible study led by Fiske Miles. In the coming months, the chapter selections for each week in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are organized to read each of the four gospels in parallel, concluding on the Thursday before Easter Sunday.

Thursday, February 3

  • Matthew – 10,11
  • Mark – 5
  • Luke – 7
  • John – 4,5

Email Fiske Miles for more information. We hope you can join us!
DRIVE-THRU DINNER'S ON US!
Wednesdays | 5:30–6:30 p.m.

We're serving you curbside at Dinner's On Us, our weekly free meal!

Enter the lot on the northwest side of our property and we will serve you from the front of the education building. Spread the word to your friends and neighbors!

menu options:
#1: pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a cookie
#2: PB & J sandwich, chips, and a cookie
Contact Wayne Dothage or Lisa Freeman to volunteer as a server/baker.

connect with us!
Connect with other members via Facebook—though we may not see each other in person as often, our LUMC community is active online and as welcoming as ever!

Have an announcement you want included in CrossLinks? Submit it by Monday at 5 p.m. to have it featured in that Wednesday's issue.
Lenexa United Methodist Church

Office Hours: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Monday–Friday
Church Office Phone: (913) 888–5600

Preschool Office Phone: (913) 888–6300