FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: A Fountain |
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Deep and Wide
Deep and Wide
There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.
Thirty-two years ago was my first official day on the job at Country Club Christian Church. I could not have imagined then the depth and width I would experience inside the contours of this beloved congregation.
I did not yet know about the wide expanse of mountain majesty one could see from the top of a hike to Sky Pond with a group of church friends in Rocky Mountain National Park during Christian Community Camp. I did not yet know how walking down a dusty narrow road in Nicaragua amongst the poorest people of the world could open up one’s vista to know the wideness of God’s mercy. Unknown to me was the pliable elasticity of the human heart that God can stretch so wide inside of me that it easily embraces four generations of one family sitting shoulder to shoulder in our old wooden pews.
With each passing year, I have fallen more deeply in love with this congregation and become increasingly awed by the ways God moves among us, pushing us to love the world that God so loved in ever widening ways.
After coming to work here as a single woman, I got married, had children and step-children, watched my son be baptized and my grandchildren be dedicated in our sanctuary. I got to be on the receiving end of your love when I went through cancer of my own and a few year’s later, my husband’s journey with cancer. Sitting next to you in the pews, I listened to some of our nation’s brilliant voices: poet, novelist and environmental sage Wendell Berry; feminist catholic theologian Joan Chittister; Harvard scholar and preacher Peter Gomes; just to name a few. The faith that was mostly in my intellect took up residence in the depth of my soul. The tears we shed together at funerals and next to hospital beds carved within me a deeper respect for the human person.
All this is to say that as I began to ponder my 32nd anniversary on our church staff, I couldn’t stop humming that song from childhood church camp:
Deep and Wide
Deep and Wide
There’s fountain flowing deep and wide.
We are not a perfect church. I am not a perfect pastor. But the God of all creation has been flowing deep and wide within us for a very long time. The wideness of God’s mercy animates us. The depth of God’s amazing love enlivens us. I know this, not just because I have been honored to serve as your pastor but because I have been graced by God’s deep and wide spirit flowing into my own life through your beauty and compassion.
Grace and peace,
Carla
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SEPTEMBER UPDATE
In case you missed it, watch Carla's update about plans for fall at Country Club Christian Church.
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This series concludes this Sunday with Part 3, "One Penny at a Time" based on Romans 11:33-36. Dr. Mike Graves preaching.
Watch last Sunday's worship service HERE.
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Starting September 13...So much of life has been unsettled or disrupted by the global pandemic we are living through. Even gathering in our sacred space to reconnect with God and each other has been disrupted. As with a bathroom scale that sometimes needs to be recalibrated to zero, we also need to take action to re-center ourselves in God’s realm. This series will look at how characters in the Bible faced unsettling historical moments and rather than give in to fear, they took action to live out their faith. More information HERE.
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Save the Date
LEMONADE AND LITURGY
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Sun., Sept. 20, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Gather with your church family for an afternoon of fellowship and faith. This open house-style event includes opportunities such as:
- quiet meditation in the Sanctuary or Chapel
- prayer walk around our campus
- live music
- lemonade and cookies
- a chance to visit with ministers and staff.
All activities will be done with distancing measures in mind and masks will be required when not enjoying refreshments in the lemonade stand. Watch for more information about service components. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to Sept. 27.
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ROOTS YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
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Service Project with Urban Farming Guys. Rescheduled to Sat., Sept. 12, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. RSVP to Tyler Heston
- Connect and Converse with Mayor Quinton Lucas. Sun., Sept. 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited for a night of conversation with Mayor Quinton Lucas. Please bring a lawn chair.
UPROOTING RACISM: AN ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOP There are still spots available for the remaining anti-racism workshop on Sat., Sept. 19 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Led by members of The Open Table’s Anti-Racism Training Cohort. Register by emailing Lisa Tang. More information HERE.
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MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES
The Rest of the Story: Behind the Sermon
Led by Dr. Mike Graves
Sept. 21, 28, 7:00 p.m.
via YouTube Live.
Scripture passages are about a lot of things; sermons are about one. That’s what Dr. Mike Graves used to tell his seminary students. To use a metaphor from the movies, it means a lot of material ends up on the cutting room floor. In these interactive sessions, we’ll look back at two passages from which Mike preached, thinking about what was not covered. Participants may want to watch or listen to previous sermons ahead of each class.
Sept. 21 - focusing on Matthew 13:24-30. Watch or listen to sermon from July 19. Join class via YouTube Live at this LINK.
Sept. 28 - focusing on Matthew 14:22-33. Watch or listen to sermon from Aug. 9. Join class via YouTube Live at this LINK.
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STATE OF THE CHURCH Rev. Carla Aday will give a vision update and present the annual report for the last fiscal year on Tues., Sept. 15 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Save the date and watch for Zoom link in future newsletters.
FAITHPUB AND FAITH BISTRO RETURN
Gatherings will be from 6:30-8:00 p.m. under the tent in the back yard.
FaithBistro for women of all ages, with guest speakers on spirituality and real-life issues.
Sept. 17 - guest speaker Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn
Oct. 15 - guest speaker Donna Houtteman, docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
FaithPub, hosted by Dr. Mike Graves, this men’s group meets for conversation on a host of spiritual topics.
Sept. 24 - guest speaker Max Deweese
Oct. 22 - guest speaker Doug Hundley
NEW RESIDENT SMALL GROUPS. Do you know someone who is new to the Kansas City area and is finding settling into a new community challenging during a pandemic? This fall we will kick off a new small group for new-to-Kansas City folks who want to get to know our city and meet new friends. Contact Lisa Tang at lisat@cccckc.org to be put on a list to receive more information.
FALL PROGRAMMING MAILER. Watch your mail for a guide listing fall programming opportunities at Country Club Christian Church.
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GUEST GATHERING
Do you know someone who would like to learn more about Country Club Ch ristian Church or who is interested in becoming a member? Invite them to a Guest Gathering on Mon., Sept. 14 from 6:30- 8:00 p.m. under the tent in the back yard. Masks and social distancing measures will be in place, but guests will have an opportunity to meet and chat with our ministers and other church members. RSVP to Barbara George.
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3RD ANNUAL MAX DEWEESE TOURNAMENT
Fri., Sept. 25 • Noon • St. Andrews Golf Course
Proceeds support ministries to help veterans.
Sign-up ($150 per person), form a team, and sponsor a hole ($750). All are welcome. Not a golfer? You can make a donation to the tournament in any amount. Sign up HERE or for more information, contact Dr. Mike Graves.
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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
CLUB KIDS, for 3rd-5th graders, resumes on Sun., Sept. 13, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. outside at church. Join us for some fun!
Below,12 families met Catherine and April (and a new furry friend) for Popsicles in the Park on Sun., Aug. 30. Catch up on what's happening with Children and Families Ministries, including more opportunities to connect, HERE.
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YOUTH
SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUPS. Starting Sun., Sept. 13. Middle School at 5:00 p.m. High School 6:30 p.m. outside at church.
SUNDAY STORIES. Check out Sunday Stories, five to 15 minute videos with Tyler and a guest. They’ll share personal stories related to the Sunday’s scripture, a short lesson, and more. Follow us on Instagram and stay tuned!
Lots more information about Youth Ministries happenings HERE. Sign up for email and/or texting updates.
Below, high schoolers enjoyed the annual BBQ party, held in the back yard this year.
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CROSS-LINES COMMUNITY OUTREACH. Carol Pasley, Cindy Thornton, Joyce and Steve Statler served tacos for lunch at Cross-Lines Food Kitchen and assisted in making bagged lunches for use during the week. Food insecurity continues to rise in our community and Country Club Christian Church supports several local agencies with food meal distribution programs including Cross-Lines Community Outreach.
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DELLA LAMB COMMUNITY SERVICES. The McAdams-Johnson family helped Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn deliver donated books and puzzles to Della Lamb Community Services. Staff member Khadra Aden met the group to receive the donations and took all on a quick tour. The books and puzzles will be offered to refugee families and the early education center. A big thanks to the church families that donated gently used or new items to give to this partner agency.
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GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY:
Hartman Elementary School
Sat., Sept. 26, 9:00 a.m. -noon
All are invited to a service day at Hartman as we clean-up and beautify the outdoor classroom space. All work will be outside the building and we will practice safety with social distancing and wearing masks. Work will include mulching, yard cleanup and applying wood protectant to their outdoor classroom. Two shifts of approximately 10 people are available to allow for safe distancing. Sign up HERE. Contact Catherine for more information.
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COLLECTION CONNECTION - UNIFORMS FOR HARTMAN ELEMENTARY
We will continue to collect school supplies and new and gently used school uniforms for the children at Hartman Elementary in September: white or navy polo shirts, navy or khaki pants, shorts, skirts, and jumpers. You may participate by ordering online and having items delivered to church, making a monetary donation by clicking HERE and choosing Collection Connection, or by dropping items by the church Mon.-Fri., 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in the plastic container by the east entrance.
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SYMPATHY. Our prayers and condolences are with the families and friends of:
Chuck Zarter
Photo below: Virginia Watson (balcony, upper left) greets family and friends on her 96th birthday this past Saturday. Cindy Thornton (lower right) played bagpipes for the occasion.
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MEMORIAL GIFTS. Gifts honoring loved ones are placed into the Church’s Endowment Funds, which are used to support the church now and into the future.Gifts have recently been given in memory of:
Paul Niewald
by Diane Barrett
by Paul and Mary Ella Klingsporn
by Rosemary Myers
Robert "Bob" King
by Steve, Christina and Susan Baretta
by Paul and Mary Ella Klingsporn
by George and Mary Lee Koppe
by Maureen McGinty
Ruth Rader
by Paul and Mary Ella Klingsporn
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If you have not already turned in your giving estimate card, it is not too late to do so. You may make your make your pledge securely online using the buttons below or email your pledge to Rachel Clement, Director of Finance (816-381- 9256). Thank you.
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We are grateful for your continued financial support, which is allowing the church to continue to serve in ministry with you through these uncertain times. If you would like to share your weekly offering electronically, please do so at HERE, or text the word General to 816-484-3399 to give quickly and easily.
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