FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: Nourishment |
|
I grew up standing next to my mother in the kitchen chopping and preparing the meal. Our family time revolved around sharing stories at the dinner table. My husband grew up in a parsonage where his mom was always baking an apple pie for the next potluck or iced sugar cookies for family tea time after Sunday night church. So when the pandemic hit last March, our eating rituals were ransacked.
Initially we didn’t even gather with our kids and grandkids. But then my husband had the brainstorm that we could order a to-go meal for each household and sit down to eat the common meal together via zoom. What unfolded tasted like manna from heaven. It was enough to carry us through those initial days of wilderness.
When summer heated up the backyard we realized that we could safely share dinner with another couple by placing a leaf in the patio table. I abandoned my custom of fussing for days over the menu and meal prep and house cleaning and found pure delight in laughing and talking with friends in the back yard over a container of take-out fried chicken. We savored the company and relaxed as the sun set and the fireflies appeared. I remembered the card that a friend gave me that said, “A good cook knows that it's not what is on the table that matters, it's what is in the chairs.” Maybe that is why in scripture Jesus is always dining with the poor, the rich, the stranger, the tax collector, his friends.
For most of my married life, dinner was something wedged in between soccer practice, church meetings and evening clients and might consist of standing up in the kitchen to eat leftovers at 9:00 p.m. or grabbing dinner on the run at a restaurant. But with covid came the chance to actually plan meals with my husband and try weeknight recipes. Our favorites came from Half Baked Harvest and we particularly loved the creamy salmon and spinach dish.
Life can be so busy and blurry that we do not savor the gifts of life. When the risen Christ appeared to his friends on the road to Emmaus, they did not recognize his voice, his face, his walk, but when invited him in for a meal of fish and bread their eyes were opened and they recognized it was Jesus.
Even in times of hardship, God nourishes our bodies with gifts from the earth and those gifts nourish our souls when we share them with companions on life’s journey. I look forward to seeing you again at our shared communion table.
Grace and peace,
Carla
To send a message to Carla, click HERE.
|
|
What makes for a life worth living and how do we glimpse this more clearly as we focus on the journey of Jesus to the cross and empty tomb? Someone has written that the purpose of Lent is to wake us up to our need for Lent. It is a season to pause and reflect on who we are and who God calls us to become. By focusing on the short but powerful life of Jesus, we remember what our own lives are meant to be. Why did he live? Why did he die? Join us on Ash Wednesday, and Sundays during Lent as we journey together toward Easter Sunday.
Connect from Home During Lent
Join us as we walk the sacred journey through Lent together. Each week during worship, on the communion table you will see not just one chalice but many chalices. It’s a way of remembering that we share one cup of life but we are spread out across the city and nation. We invite you to find a “chalice” of sorts in your own home — be it a crystal stemmed glass or a pottery mug. Place it somewhere you will see each day. Every Sunday, ask yourself: What makes life worth living? How can I practice that during Lent? Write down whatever comes to mind, and place it in the cup.
Click HERE to worship with us. In worship this Sunday: Carla Aday preaching "Life: A Lent Worth Living, Part 3 - Sanctuary," based on John 2:13-22.
Miss last Sunday's worship? Watch it HERE.
Do you ever have trouble accessing our live stream? Click HERE for some helpful hints. |
|
LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS UNDERWAY
The nominating process to fill elected positions for the 2021-2022 church year is underway.
Your participation is invaluable in identifying a diverse representation of leaders from our congregation. The Nominating Committee would like to ask you to take a second to think about the people in your church community that you would like working for you. The work of the church is more important than ever in these unusual times, here’s a simple way to be a part of it!
Nominations are being accepted for
- Elders and Deacons
- Personnel Committee Members
- Endowment Fund Trustees
- Congregational Board Members
- Treasurer
You can nominate yourself if you are interested in a specific role! Deadline is March 31, 5:00 p.m.
|
|
GUEST GATHERING
Thurs., March 18 – 7:00-8:00 via ZOOM
Coming together as a strong community of faith begins with learning more about one another. Whether you live in the Kansas City area or join us in worship from other parts of the country, we invite you to join us for our Spring Guest Gathering.
Rev. Carla Aday will address our history as a congregation along with exciting plans for the future beginning with our Centennial Celebration and our upcoming church restoration. We’ll identify pathways to meet others and become engaged in the life of the church through service and study. We look forward to getting to know you and to answering your questions.
|
|
MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES - CELEBRATING OUR CENTENNIAL
March 29, April 5, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
March 29 – “The Disciples of Christ in One Sentence” Dr. Newell Williams, Professor of Church History and President of Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, will present an overview of the historic beginnings and current status of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
April 5 – “Country Club Christian Church in One Century” Dr. Linna Place, a member of Country Club Christian Church and retired Professor of American Social and Cultural History at UMKC, will highlight the first 100 years of our church’s story.
|
|
A LIFE WORTH LIVING COURSE
SPRING SESSION
April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 7:00 p.m.
Register for the spring session of the Life Worth Living Course is now open. Click HERE for more information on the class and to register. |
|
MAX DEWEESE 100TH BIRTHDAY RECEPTION
Fri., Mar. 19, 5:00-7:30 p.m., American Legion Post 370, 7500 W. 75th St., Overland Park, KS
Longtime member Max Deweese will celebrate his 100th birthday with a reception on Fri., Mar. 19. He invites all church members to stop by to help him celebrate this milestone year.
|
|
UPROOTING RACISM: THE HOUSING CRISIS, A Personal Story
Among the many issues the pandemic has spotlighted, affordable housing and growing evictions have risen to the forefront. Recently we had the opportunity to learn more about critical housing issues and ways we might assist and protect tenants during these times. If you missed this discussion, you can watch it HERE.
For many in our community, the problem is all too real. Sara Knopf-Amelung, Director of Resource and Program Development at Amethyst Place, shares THIS STORY about one of the organization's clients. Amethyst Place is an agency the church is currently working to support. |
|
MARCH COLLECTION CONNECTION
In March we are gathering donations of candy to help fill the Easter eggs for the church’s Spring Fling and also to share with our outreach partners serving residential families for their spring activities. You can donate in two ways:
- Individually wrapped candy can be placed in the teal box at east entrance
- Pick-up a bag (or more) of 24 eggs to fill with individually wrapped candy, or stickers and then return when filled to the teal box.
Questions? Contact April.
|
|
GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY: MICAH MINISTRY
Mon., Mar. 29, Noon - 4:00 pm
The Metro Mission team invites all to a service opportunity with one of our NE mission partners, Micah Ministry at Independence Blvd Christian Church, to help in the clothing closets. We will be sorting, organizing and helping process the many donations they have received during the pandemic. Safe practices of social distancing and mask wearing will be practiced. Two shifts of up to 15 people are available. Please sign up HERE.
If you are unable to help on Mar. 29, Micah Ministry utilizes volunteers each Monday. Sign up at HERE.
|
|
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Club Kids, for 3rd-5th graders.
March 7, 4:00 p.m.
Join April on ZOOM for some fun games!
Meeting ID: 915 5007 5517
Passcode: Kids
Save the Date for Spring Fling
Sun., Mar. 21, Noon-2:00 p.m.
Children and families are invited to Spring Fling, a modified version of our annual Easter Egg Hunt designed with safe distancing measures in place. Children will enjoy an egg picking garden, crafts, games and more!
Easter Eggs and Volunteers Needed -- Pick up a pack of plastic eggs to fill with individually wrapped treats for the egg picking garden. Eggs available on Sun., Feb 28 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the east entrance. Or donate individually wrapped pieces of candy to fill eggs. Drop off candy or filled eggs at the east entrance at any time. If you'd like to volunteer to help on the day of Spring Fling, contact April.
More information on Children's Ministry HERE. |
|
YOUTH
Backyard Youth Group
This Sunday, youth are invited to join us for backyard youth group! Middle schoolers will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and high schoolers from 6:00-7:00 p.m. We’ll learn a new game called SpikeBall!
March Social— Yaya’s Alpaca Farm in Harrisonville, MO, on Sun., Mar. 14, 3:00 p.m.
More information on Youth Ministry HERE.
|
|
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
IN SYMPATHY
Our prayers are with the family of Vernon Nance who died last Thursday. Mr. Nance is mourned by his daughter, Linda McDandel, and her family.
MEMORIAL GIFTS HONORING LOVED ONES 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:
In memory of:
Bette Love
By Chuck and Marilyn Dreas
Edmund Scherer
By Abigale Obrist
By Norma Jean Sigler
Carol Smith
By Stephen and Elizabeth Wall-Smith, the Sewing Group
By Doris Soltys, the Sewing Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
