Someone came over and stood at the foot of his bed and rubbed his feet. Writer and teacher Parker Palmer tells in one of his books about the time when he fell into such a deep depression that he could no longer get out of bed in the morning. Folks from his faith community and friendship circle wanted to help but no one knew what to do. Advice giving didn’t work. Encouraging didn’t work. One friend came over on a regular basis and simply stood at the foot of his bed and in silence, rubbed his feet. This simple act is what mattered most to him.
When a friend or loved one faces depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorder, post-traumatic stress or some chemical imbalance or some other form of mental illness, we often find ourselves unsure of how to respond. The pain can be exacerbated when we find ourselves holding it inside. The veil of secrecy around sharing one’s own experiences with mental illness causes us to feel isolated and alone.
The truth is that one in five adults will face mental illness this year and one in 20 will experience a severe mental illness. I ache for our young people knowing that the leading cause of death for those ages 10-34 is suicide. Many young teens and young adults are facing trials that I didn’t even dream about as a young person. Fifteen percent of teens face major depression each year. How can we be present to each other during times of mental as well as physical illness? We know to take a casserole after a heart attack or appendectomy but how do we help after a friend leaves a psychiatric hospital?
Duke Psychiatrist Patricia Resick writes about the importance of community in sharing trauma. Perhaps this is how we as a church can empower each other. Small groups, Bible studies, pastoral connections can be ways in which we offer one another the crucial support that lifts a friend or family to feel God’s divine love and grace in the midst of the challenges of mental illness. The spiritual mystic St. John of the Cross wrote in the middle ages about the “dark night of the soul.” And the letter of Paul to the church in Rome wrote about “the whole creation groaning...and the spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”
Sometimes the best we can do in times of suffering is to walk alongside one another.
Grace and Peace,
Carla
To send Carla an email click HERE.
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HUMAN RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE
Oct. 24-27
Sign Up Deadline is June 25
This pilgrimage to Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama will include visits to the National Peace and Justice Museum, the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Freedom Riders Museum.
The trip is planned in partnership with members of Swope Parkway United Christian Church. Participants will be encouraged to build relationships with members of the partner church by participating in a small group prior to the trip. The trip is led by Rev Carla Aday and Dr. Claudia Highbaugh, Retired Chaplain and Disciples of Christ pastor.
A $100 deposit, due by June 25, reserves your spot. Sign up and pay electronically HERE. Total cost is $1250 per person, double occupancy, or $1,600 single occupancy. Scholarships are available. Includes hotel; airfare, transportation from Atlanta to Alabama and all sights by motor coach; museum fees, three breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners, tips. Does not include: two dinners, two lunches, travel insurance, transport to Kansas City airport. (Without airfare, $875 double; $1225 single.)
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ONLINE SECURITY REMINDER: Recently we have received several reports of members being contacted through email or social media sites such as Facebook by fake profiles claiming to be church staff. Some reminders about online security:
- Be very careful if you receive messages that sound in any way suspicious or arrive at suspicious times, such as during the middle of the night.
- Some of these messages contain links that, when clicked, can download malware to your computer. Don't click on any links received through Facebook Messenger or direct messages from Instagram.
- Rev. Carla Aday and other staff do not use social media direct messaging to ask for assistance or money.
- Only give money through secure, trusted sources, and if you are not sure, contact the church first.
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SPIRITUALITY FOR THE REAL WORLD
Summer Sermon Series
If reading the letters of the apostle Paul feels like ancient history, reading the book of James can feel like he’s reading our mail, watching our news. In this series, we’ll receive practical wisdom for what it means to be Christian in the real world.
Sun., June 26 - Dr. Mike Graves preaching Part 3: The Third Step, based on James 2:1-13.
Worship with us in person at 9:01 (front lawn), 10:00 (chapel) or 11:00 (sanctuary) a.m. Click HERE to view our live stream. Miss last Sunday's worship? Watch it HERE.
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BREAKFAST ON THE LAWN THIS SUMMER
Sundays in June and July, 9:45-11:00 a.m.
Come to worship hungry this Sunday and enjoy Breakfast burritos and breakfast tacos and coffee by Taco Naco!
July 3 - Pancakes
July 10 - to be announced
Breakfast will be complimentary; free will offering welcomed.
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ANNUAL GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN
It's not too late for you to share you giving estimate for the 2022-2023 year. You may:
Thank you again for your past support and ongoing faithfulness. We are grateful for you and that you are a part of our church family.
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ECUADOR MISSION TRIP
A team will travel to Ecuador from Oct. 29 - Nov. 6, 2022, for a week of service and learning with mission partner FEDICE, a non-profit organization that works to build sustainable livelihoods, encourage self-sufficiency, and significantly enhance quality of life for indigenous and marginalized rural communities in Ecuador. More information HERE. If you’re interested in this trip, contact Tyler Heston.
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ROOTS SUMMER FUN!
Roots provides opportunities for adults in their 20s and 30s to connect as community, to learn and grow spiritually, and to make a change in our city through service-learning projects. Join us for these opportunities to connect and grow together.
First Friday Meet-up!
Tunes on Troost. Fri., July 1, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Amethyst Place (2732 Troost), one of our congregation’s mission partners, works to support women and families stuck within systemic poverty. Each first Friday this summer, they’re hosting Tunes on Troost with music, food trucks, yard games, and more.
Roots Book Club
Wed., July 6, and Tues., Aug. 9 • Location TBD
Join us for two meetings of potluck dinner and a conversation about Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Even if you haven’t read, you’re welcome to join— the book sparks a lot of conversation, and I’ll structure discussion to be interesting regardless of how much you’ve read. RSVP for location and reading info and more to tylerh@cccckc.org.
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VOLUNTEERS HELP AT AMETHYST PLACE'S GRADUATION
A recent Saturday found two teams helping an agency partner, Amethyst Place, with their annual graduation celebration. One volunteer team helped set up for the event and the other cut cake and served at the reception. Moms in the Amethyst Place community were recognized for a range of accomplishments over this past year including completing milestones in the AP program, receiving their GED, Associates Degree or Bachelor's Degree. Several were recognized for receiving their Master's Degrees. Amethyst Place seeks to inspire transformational healing and empowers generations of women and children to achieve recovery, reunification, and resilience. Learn more about the program here https://amethystplace.org/
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PARTNERSHIP WITH SCRAPS KC
This summer the church is partnering with Scraps KC, serving as its summer site for cleaning and repurposing 15,000 pounds of school supplies, and you can help! This is a great activity for a group or as a family and kids as young as 3 can participate with an adult. All repurposed supplies are donated to school teachers. Service opportunities are on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and a few weeks into July, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and noon - 2:00 p.m. More information and sign up form HERE.
OR stop by the Social Hall to help a bit when you are here for worship on Sun., June 26 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Perfect for all ages (3 years and up)
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GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY
Sat., June 25, 9:00 - 11:30 am
The Metro Mission Team is hosting a work day with one of our northeast partners Sheffield Place. Come volunteer to help in their community garden raised beds, community gardens and flower beds. Bring work gloves, reusable water bottle and small gardening tools (if available). Great project for families! Sign up HERE. |
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JUNE COLLECTION CONNECTION
The Metro Mission Team is collecting items during the month of June to support reStart,Inc., which supports people in need of housing. New or gently used twin size sheets, and new or gently used bath and hand towels are needed for their residential program. Please make sure items are clean. Bring donations to church weekdays between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m, or on Sunday mornings.
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AGENCY LEARNING TOUR
River of Refuge, 5155 Raytown Road.
Wed., June 29, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
The Grants AND Special Offerings Team invites anyone interested to join in a tour of one of the Easter offering recipients. We will see the facility, learn about their important program and hear about plans for the future. River of Refuge opened 10 transitional housing units in May 2016 to assist and empower Kansas City-metro families as they move from homelessness to self-sufficiency, and will be opening another 8 units in the coming month. RSVP to Catherine catherines@cccckc.org
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EVERYDAY JUSTICE
FIELD TRIP TO REDLINED EXHIBIT
Sat., July 9, noon
Join this field trip to the “Redlined: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation,” an exhibit at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center (8788 Metcalf Avenue. The exhibit takes visitors on a deep dive into the history of redlining and how it both shaped and was shaped by Johnson County and the region. Admission is $6 adults and $5 for seniors. We’ll meet at noon for lunch (location TBD) with the museum tour beginning at 1:30 p.m. RSVP now to Lisa. More info HERE
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SUMMER WORSHIP
We invite children who have finished 3rd grade and above to worship with their families during the 9:01, 10:00 or 11:00 services. Childcare will be provided for Preschool -2nd grade in the backyard during 9:01, 10:00 a.m., and on the second floor during 11:00 a.m. Infants and toddler childcare continues to be available on the ground floor during all three services. Sunday School will resume this fall.
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YOUTH
SUMMER SERVICE LEARNING TRIPS
Join us to serve, learn and grow together as a youth group. More information about both trips and registration packet HERE.
MIDDLE SCHOOL - Youth who have completed grades 6-8 will travel to St. Louis, Sun. June 26-Wed., June 29.
HIGH SCHOOL - Youth who have completed grades 9-12 will travel to Chicago Sun., July 10-Sat. July 16, 2022.
SUMMER FUN!
Along with our summer service-learning trips, youth are invited to a few opportunities to get together for fun and for service here in Kansas City! See below for our special socials, and stay tuned for service opportunities:
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Wednesday, July 20, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Worlds of Fun! (For youth completed grades 6-12)
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Wednesday, August 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Chicken and Pickle! (For incoming youth grades 6-12)
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HONOR A LOVED ONE
Looking for a meaningful way to remember or honor a loved one? Consider becoming a Memorial Flower or Broadcast Sponsor.
The flowers in the Chancel each Sunday are an important part of our overall worship experience. Following services, they are arranged into smaller vases by our flower ministry and delivered to our sick and homebound friends as a sign of our care and concern. Our on-line services continue to help us reach those who are unable to join us in-person because of health or geography.
Both are a beautiful way to remember and honor loved ones and support our church.
For more information, please contact Lisa Tang at (816) 333-4917 or via email.
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Meeting you where you are and walking alongside you
on your spiritual journey to a life with greater meaning.
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