“There is nothing more on this earth to be prized than true friendship”
-Thomas Aquinas
I lost a friend this week. Jan was 27 years older than me and often played the role of second mother, advising me and encouraging me to listen to my heart. She was the first female board chair of the church where I grew up in Texas. On days when I feel fragile, I often reach for the silver heart necklace Jan gave me when I was installed as Senior Pastor at Country Club.
Recent studies on friendship have suggested that friendship is not just icing on the cake but critical to our health and well being. For example, if you have a best friend at work you are more likely to report overall job satisfaction. I have experienced that first hand through my colleagues at the church. As Lara Schopp concludes her 15 year tenure as our Director of Communications many of us have expressed the grief of losing a trusted friend in the office, one we could always connect with over topics of family, civic issues and our own personal faith.
There are many places to find friends: work, sports, school, but the friendships we form at church often take on a deeper spiritual dimension that transcends our own styles, perspectives and opinions. For example I first got to know Max Deweese at Christian Community Camp in Colorado 33 years ago and that began a friendship that lasted until he died last week at age 101. I love thinking about the sparks of friendship that will ignite next week as dozens more of our members will forge new bonds at that same camp in Colorado. And yesterday I officiated at a funeral for one of our long-time members. Afterwards folks stood around talking about what an incredible friend he had been. Though he built a stellar career, it was his generosity of humor, compassion, and companionship that shaped their lives with bounty. As Helen Keller said, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking in the light alone.”
In these not yet post-covid days, it can be challenging to find ways to nurture and develop friendship. But it’s sacred work worth investing in. Even Jesus elevated the task when he said to his disciples that he called them not servants but friends. “You did not choose me, but I chose you,” says Jesus. (John 15)
See you Sunday,
Carla
To send Carla an email click HERE.
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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., July 24 - Spirituality for the Real World, Part 7: Friendship with the World, based on James 4:1-10. Rev. Carla Aday preaching.
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
Come to worship hungry this Sunday!
Breakfast will be complimentary; free will offering welcomed. This week sponsored by the Connections Sunday School Class.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR BACKPACK BLESSING
All school-age children are invited to bring their backpacks to worship on Sun., Aug. 14 as we offer a prayer for the new school year.
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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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MEET THE NEW CONGREGATION BOARD AND ELDER CHAIRS |
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Jennifer Austenfeld will chair the Congregational Board for the 2022-2023 church year which began July 1.
Jennifer and her husband, Mark, have been members of the church for 10 years. Jennifer began attending worship regularly after a friend invited her to the Faithbook group led by Rev. Carla Aday. She also participated in several Disciple Bible Study groups. She has served as a deacon, an elder, a faith mentor for Pastors’ Class and was on the Congregational Board for three years, including a year as Secretary. She is currently the facilitator for the Connections Sunday School class.
After her family moved to Kansas from Tennessee, Jennifer grew up in Prairie Village and attended
college at KU. She met Mark in medical school at KU, and they were married in the Combs Chapel. They
moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, for their residency training, followed by a year of fellowship training at the
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. They returned to Kansas City where Mark practiced urology and
Jennifer practiced pathology. She later became interested in medical communication processes and
returned to KU to study health psychology. She now practices clinical psychology in Prairie Village.
Mark and Jennifer treasure spending time with their three adult children and their spouses. They are filled
with joy in their new role as grandparents.
Jennifer wanted to become a member of the church after learning about its inclusive message. “To me,
Country Club Christian Church is a place where scripture, science, spirituality, and service peacefully
coexist. Our superb ministers and staff set a powerful example of what modern Christianity can be.
Together we support each other in community, while also deeply respecting the unique faith journey of
each individual.” Along with the Congregational Board members, Jennifer hopes to provide vision and
leadership as we embark on our new Next 5 Strategic Priorities. She wants to hear and be responsive to
the voices of the congregation in this process.
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E.J. Becker will chair the Elders for the 2022-2023 church year.
E.J. has been a member of the church for 12 years. He was drawn to the church for its message of "Love God, love neighbor," and he thought that the church did the basics very well and liked how they built upon them. E. J. has previously served as a Deacon, an Elder, and has served on a search committee.
E.J. and his wife, Stephanie, were married at the church over 10 years ago, and a red rose showed up in the pulpit for them five years ago when their son, Little E.J., was born. Big E.J. was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, graduated from Wabash College, spent seven years after college in Vienna, Austria. He has worked in radio since high school and for 13 years, hosted Kansas City's number one morning news program on KMBZ radio (no, he says, NPR was not number one). While he continues to work for KMBZ and ABC Radio part time, he has loved spending the last two+ years being more stay-at-home dad to Little E.J.
During his term as Elder chair, E.J. looks forward to continuing to navigate this not-quite-post-Covid world to discover and shape the ways our community will look and worship going forward.
"I pray for patience a lot. Because of the world we live in. Because of the unknowns we face every day. Because whether we realize it or not, we are all on the same journey. And a little patience, grace and kindness might just be the best gifts we can give each other along the way."
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SCRAPS KC TEACHER GIVEAWAY A HUGE SUCCESS
Nearly 400 local teachers came to 'shop' in the Social Hall, Pine Room and Sewing Room for school supplies that had been sorted, cleaned and organized. This annual project coordinated by Scraps KC helped repurpose or recycle 17,000 pounds of donated school supplies. Our church served as the summer site for this project - welcoming over 500 volunteers in the weeks preparing for the giveaway. A huge thank you to the members and friends who volunteered during the cleaning/sorting days and on the giveaway days! What a visible way to partner with the community this summer!
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JULY COLLECTION CONNECTION
School's out for summer and for some families that means less access to breakfast and lunch, as many free and reduced meal programs do not function in full during the summer months. The Metro Mission team is accepting donations of cereals, macaroni and cheese, and 16 oz jars of peanut butter for our partner agencies. Donations can be brought 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., July 27, 10:30 - 11:30 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 eight units in the coming month. RSVP to Catherine.
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AMETHYST PLACE: TUNES ON TROOST
Support mission partner Amethyst Place at the August First Friday Tunes on Troost event, 2732 Troost on Fri., Aug. 5 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Food trucks, music, kids activities, campus tours and more! No RSVP needed. Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn will be at the event, hope to see you there!
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CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES
Mark your calendar and join us in worship on Sun., Aug. 21 as the 9:01 service moves back into the Sanctuary, children’s Sunday School resumes, and we will present 3rd graders with Bibles.
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HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE LEARNING TRIP
Our high schoolers spent last week serving and exploring Chicago, supporting and learning about a diverse collection of groups doing charity and justice work across the city.
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YOUTH WORLDS OF FUN DAY
What's more fun than a day at Worlds of Fun with your youth group friends?? Lots of fun was had by all as our youth visited the amusement park on Wed., July 20.
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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 as we connect and grow together.
ROOTS BOOK CLUB
Tues., Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m. • Location TBD
Join us for 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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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
If have not submitted a commitment card with your estimate of giving for the 2022-2023 year, it is not too late to do so. You may:
Making and fulfilling a financial commitment to the church ensures that our ministries remain robust, and that we can end the year in good standing. 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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Meeting you where you are and walking alongside you
on your spiritual journey to a life with greater meaning.
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