This Week's News - January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

In Today's Newsletter...

Church Happenings - Meet our new Executive Minister this Sunday
Adult Enrichment - New Sunday School Class for folks in their 50's and 60's
Mission & Outreach - January Collection Connection
Children & Youth - Babies and Breakfast this Saturday
Save these Dates - Missouri Collegiate Choir Tour, Jan. 15
Life of the Church - Elder / Deacon Winter Retreat is Feb. 4

When my granddaughter Ava was learning to talk, she would toddle over to me and hold out her arms and say “Hold You Me.”

“What?” I thought.

And then it hit me. I needed to fill in her still-evolving grammar. “Will you hold me?”

Then I reached out my arms and scooped her up and embraced her and we snuggled up on the sofa. But who was holding who? “Hold you me.”

In the Bible, the apostle Paul writes to his dear friends in the town of Philippi saying, “you hold me in your heart.” (Philippians 1:3) He is capturing that same sentiment - mutual friendship, love, affection. Who is holding who? Paul embracing his followers or the new Christians reaching out to love their teacher. The truth was that they both experienced the joy of being together and feeling safe in the arms of one another and it was more than human love, in one another, they sensed God's holy love.

But when Paul finished writing the letter he rolled it up and passed the scroll through the bars of a prison cell where he was held on capital charges. Clearly, life was not what Paul hoped it would be. His mission had been interrupted as he was incarcerated by the Roman government and charged with a capital offense. God’s mission of love and grace appeared to be trapped and maybe even forever thwarted. Paul, who wrote much of the Christian Bible was along the way beaten, flogged, chained in stocks, shipwrecked and often ill. A letter filled with gripes and despair was in order. And yet he writes a letter of joy, gratitude, and hope to his friends in Philippi.

Most of us have not been imprisoned for our faithfulness to God. But all of us have experienced a thwarted mission. Life does not go as planned. The world disappoints us and robs us of our dreams. Paul sees beyond the present moment. He writes as though he is in prison, but the good news of God is not. The love that binds them cannot be interrupted. Because of this community of faith, believers in Christ, still barely toddlers in their faith, it is possible for God’s love to overflow more and more. Christ is alive in them. They are held by the love of God. Paul should have felt trapped by the stench of prison but instead, he felt empowered knowing that the people in the church who loved him were still holding on to him.

Though I cannot fathom Paul’s life, I do know that on my worst days, you hold me. The love of Christ rises up within your hearts and empowers us as a community of faith to share the love of Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Carla

WORSHIP WITH US

Worship with us in person at 9:01am (sanctuary), 10am (chapel) or 11am (sanctuary)

Click HERE to view our live stream.
Miss last Sunday's worship? Watch it HERE.

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023

Spiritual Resolutions: Strive Side by Side, Rev. Carla Aday

Scripture Focus: Philippians 1:27 - 2:5

As the calendar turns to January we often resolve to get more physically fit or adopt healthy life patterns for personal growth. We will look at the short letter of Phillipians to see what guidance it offers us for setting a spiritual path. Paul offers encouragement and advice such as: be bold, strive side by side, shine like the stars, and press on and find contentment.

CHURCH HAPPENINGS

MEET OUR NEW MINISTER THIS SUNDAY!

Come by to welcome Rev. Bryce Bowers and his family following the 11am worship service in the Parlor. Bryce’s roles will include leading the engagement and enrichment ministries and directing the operational life of the church.

ADULT ENRICHMENT

SUNDAY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

THIS SUNDAY! Jan. 15 at 10am, Room 301

We are excited to launch a new Sunday school class for the new year to serve folks in middle adulthood! Are you in your fifties or sixties and looking for a space to connect with others? Stop by Room 301 for a chance to meet with others, discuss potential topics and activities and enjoy some snacks.

MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES BEGIN THIS MONDAY!

Jan. 16, 23, 30 at 7pm in the Youth Center

Wielding a Double-Edged Sword: Queer Biblical Interpretation

See details HERE

MISS A MONDAY NIGHT CLASS? These classes will be recorded and posted the following Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on our YouTube channel. Click HERE to catch the new classes when they are published.

Click the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified when new content is posted!

RELIGION AND SCIENCE (FALLACIES, F(PH)YSIKOS AND FAITH)

Tuesdays, Jan. 31 - Feb. 21, 7 - 8:15pm.

Led by Dr. Blane Baker. The blurring of boundaries between science, pseudoscience, and religion is commonplace in modern American society, often resulting in both human and financial costs. In this course we’ll explore why some people prefer fallacies and fiction over scientific fact, as well as models for how to consider scientific and religious questions in everyday contexts. Personal Flourishing Classes are in partnership with the Center for Faith and Culture. Registration required at cccckc.org/wj-registration. FREE to our congregation using the sign-up code: CountryClub. Register HERE

FAITHBOOK FOR WOMEN

Winter sessions Tuesdays, 7 - 8pm (online only) and Wednesdays, 9 - 10am (in-person/online).

For women who want to connect around faith and friendship weekly to reflect on the previous Sunday’s sermon or other topics related to our spirituality and our real lives. If you don’t have time for homework between family, work, etc, then this is the class for you. Email Rev. Tyler Heston for more info.

MISSION AND OUTREACH

CROSS-LINES MLK DAY OF SERVICE

Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, 10am - 12pm

SIGN-UP TO SERVE HERE

This is an opportunity for families to "Make it a day on and not a day off" through volunteerism and addressing our community's needs. Families will create 150 impact kits for individuals experiencing homelessness, 150 celebration kits for the Community Market, and reflect on how they are or can individually serve our community throughout the year. CrossLines is located at 736 Shawnee Ave Kansas City, Kansas 66105

JANUARY COLLECTION CONNECTION

The Metro Mission Team invites donations of supplies to help our weekly gathering of sewers and knitters as they work to complete projects to support numerous agencies throughout the metro.

Supplies needed:

White all purpose thread, preferably Coats & Clark
Knitting yarn suitable for winter scarves and hats

Donations can be brought on Sunday mornings or weekdays from 9am - 5pm.

YOUNG ADULTS (Ages 20's to 30's)

SAVE THE DATES! DETAILS TO COME!

ROOTS Lenten Small Group Series starting the week of February 27, watch for details!

If you are in your 20s and 30s, take part in a variety of socials, service projects, and opportunities to study the Bible and our faith. Details at linktr.ee/cccckcroots, or @cccckcroots on Instagram.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

BABIES AND BREAKFAST

Saturday, January 14, 9:30-10:30

Children 3 and under, bring your family for breakfast! We will be serving pancakes and have toys available. Come meet parents with children of similar age. This is a free event.

CLUB KIDS (3rd - 5th graders)

JUMPING INTO JANUARY!

Club Kids at Sky Zone Trampoline Park | Sunday, Jan. 15

Meet us at Skyzone (6495 Quivira Rd, Shawnee KS) at 4pm and plan on jumping, spinning, flipping and having a blast til 5:30pm. Cost is $20 / jumper.

RSVP to April by Jan. 12 at 3pm | Payment for this event can be made HERE

OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AT HARVESTERS

Saturday, Feb. 25, 10:30am - 12:30pm

All volunteers must be 8 or older. Unvaccinated volunteers must wear a mask

RSVP to April HERE

REMINDER! CLUB KIDS TEXTING UPDATES. Stay tuned with all of our activities via text reminders!

PASTOR'S CLASS KICK-OFF FOR 6TH GRADERS

Sunday, Feb. 5, 12:15 - 1:30pm

Sixth graders (or older youth who haven’t been in Pastors’ Class) are invited to learn about the fundamentals of Christian faith while forming a sense of community with their church before choosing to be baptized or confirmed. Following kick-off, we’ll meet most Wednesdays Feb. 15 - March 29, 6:30-8:30pm. Get more info HERE.

YOUTH GROUP (Middle & High Schoolers)

KICK OFF THIS SEMESTER AT SKY ZONE!

Sunday, Jan. 15, 4 - 5:30pm

Meet us at Skyzone (6495 Quivira Rd, Shawnee KS) and plan on jumping, spinning, flipping and having a blast til 5:30pm. Cost is $20 / jumper.

RSVP to April by Jan. 12 at 3pm. | Payment for this event can be made HERE

YOUTH LOCK-IN!!!!

Saturday, Feb. 17, 6:30pm

Middle schoolers & high schoolers are invited to an overnight full of fun, games, and more. Lots of activities will be available and we will all worship together in the 9:01 the following morning. Dismissal at 10am.

YOUTH DONUTS & DISCUSSION

Sundays at 10am,Youth Center.

Youth are invited to a weekly Sunday morning gathering including donuts (or other sweet treats) and good conversation. Youth will split up into middle school and high school groups for activities & discussion.

Consent & Release Form is required for any youth attending youth ministry events.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTINUES | 10 - 10:45am

Worship & Wonder: Pre-school - 1st grade
Footsteps in Faith: 2nd - 5th grade
Donuts & Discussion: 6th - 12th grade

SAVE THESE DATES

MISSOURI COLLEGIATE CHOIR TOUR TO PERFORM AT CCCC

Sunday, Jan. 15 at 4pm in the Sanctuary

A combined choral performance of University Singers from the University of Missouri and UMKC Conservatory Singers will be performing in our Sanctuary and the concert is free and open to the public.