2013 Bread and Broth Series IWanted: Candlelighters "Bread, Bath, and Beyond: What It Meant, Means, and Will Mean to Be a Member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" March 27, from 6-8 PM The Candlelighter (Acolyte) has the most important role in our worship services, as they are charged with bringing in the light of Christ each and every Sunday. Have you ever wondered about the history of our denomination? Have you longed to know more about why we are who we are and why your church so values diversity? Have you ever wondered what the bedrock beliefs of the Disciples church are, and how they affect our life together today? You may also have wondered: do denominations really matter? Are they important anymore, or are they a relic of days gone by. Where is Christianity headed in the zr' century? What will our church look like in 50 years? This series hopes to give some answers (not all of them!) to these questions and more. Join us for a series on denominational identity, history and mission. Acolytes must be no younger than entering second grade and no older than entering fifth grade. Very, very responsible first graders are also welcome, based upon their parent's consent and how their parents believe they will handle fire. If you are interested in fulfilling this role, please let Jennifer in the office know. Food Pantry Report James 5:12 Because of your donations, the pantry is holding its own and I thank you. Our church is busy and it is so great to celebrate this Passover with all of you. Invite someone you know. We could use plastic grocery bags, canned fruit and toilet paper. Love Rick Hebrews4:12 Revelation 1:16 :. I Camp Time - YEAH!! "' It is once again time to register for summer camps at Tall Oaks. Forms are located on the back table in the gathering hall. You may register on-line at www.TaIIOaks.org.click on "Summer Camp". You will save $5 off your camp fee if you register on-line. If you register on-line, PLEASE print out a copy of your registration for me so I can keep track of who is registered and for what camps. Everyone going to camp needs a completed and notarized health form also. SFCC pays for half of your camp fee so make your checks to our church and pay half of the early bird amount if you get your completed forms turned in by 4/14/2013. If you have any questions, please call Traci Burns at 816-813-3994 or e-rnail her at [email protected]. Once again, you will see many familiar faces at camp. I personally know the director of Day Camp 1 and our Rev. Ryan is in charge of Chi Rho 2. I hope everyone who is school age gets the chance to experience Tall Oaks - it has changed the lives of many who attend our church! Let me know if you have questions or need help with forms. IEaster Egg Hunt - March 24, 2013 I Please join us this Sunday, March 24, after Church service for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Cara would love some help on Sunday during Sunday School to hide the eggs. If you have any at home that are filled please return them to the church at your earliest convenience. Also, there are still some that need to be filled that can be picked up in Fellowship Hall. CWF Meeting Date Changed The March CWF meeting has been moved to April 4, a Thursday. During Holy Week the Community Chorus will be performing at our church on Tuesday, March 26. We plan to have our regular April meeting on April 23. LENTEN "MEAT FAST" WEEK 7: "I'm stuck in traffic,"- Death and Holy Week The call never comes when you expect it. This time, I was on a treadmill, just starting to run, a little sweaty. "Ryan, Dad passed away this morning." A quick jump off the treadmill, a stop at home, and a change into better clothes. Then, the roads still slick with ice and snow from the day before, I head towards the hospital. I'm not fifteen minutes down the road when ...traffic. Getting stuck in traffic causes you the terrible inconvenience of being trapped with your own thoughts. I had begun to write this article before Ann Darr passed me the news of her father, my neighbor, Lester's death. As I began to think about that beginning, I just knew it needed to wait: I kept coming back to the thought of how strange and how fitting it is that I start the biggest and busiest week of the pastoral year with the death of a close friend. Lester was my friend. He was one of the first people I met in Smithville because he lives next door to the parsonage. On the day I moved in, a blizzard was preparing to settle on our houses. Lester trudged through freshly falling snow, up the front steps, and walked right into my house without knocking to introduce himself! From then on, he'd pull up to my house on Sunday afternoons, right about the time I was laying down for a postliturgical nap, ready to talk about what had happened at church that day. On days he couldn't make it to the door, he'd sit outside and honk the horn of his truck until I came to talk. Lester was a member of our church, too. In recent years, his health kept him from attending too often, but he made it a point to be present on Christmas Eve at the late service each year. In those hushed moments, Lester's knees prohibited him from making it to the front of the sanctuary for Communion. So, after 'ev'eryone was served, the elders and I would take the bread and cup to him in the back parlor. Every time, he greeted me just as he would if he had seen me working in the lawn, "Hello, neighbor." Quietly, I'd respond, "Hello, neighbor. I brought you communion." His response? Quickly grabbing a piece of bread, he'd dip it in the cup with shaky fingers and then, looking into my eyes, he said, "Thank you, neighbor." It was one of the most sacred interchanges of my year: Christ was in Lester, and Lester in Christ. When we shared that communion moment each year, we acknowledged our continued fulfillment of our faithful promise, to continue to "love your neighbor as yourself." - 'This Friday, Good Friday, we'll bury two men. One is Jesus, and the other was not only in Christ but also of Christ. We will observe the important place that death holds in our lives. Death causes us to count the losses of our lives, to run our fingers over the physical and emotional scars that we bear, remembering the names of the ones with whom so much of our lives have been shared. Stories are recalled. Memories cherished. Lessons learned recounted and remembered . • • To skim over these days of Holy Week in favor of the joy of Easter would be to sell short the important, life-shattering, perspective-giving role that death plays in our lives. Remember the words with which we started this season? "From dust you came, and to dust you will return." We will all know death, both as those who are left and those who leave. This week is about recognizing the overwhelming power of that grave, that threatens to take us down with grief, mourning, darkness, isolation, and selfishness. Without knowing this depth, we cannot know the power of the resurrection which we'll experience this coming Sunday. So what does all this have to do with my Lenten meat fast? A few weeks ago before his health turned, Lester drove by my home on a Thursday evening. He had invited me a few times to go to Harmer's Restaurant in Edgerton with him to eat fried chicken, but the details had never worked out for us to go. This time, as he drove up, the details still weren't lining up. "Hey neighbor, you ready to go to Harmer's and eat fried chicken?" I responded with a grin and a laugh, "Lester, I'm sorry, but I'm not eating meat during Lent." Lester looked at me, "Oh yeah! I read about that in the newsletter. Are you sure you can't just have a leg or something?" "Yeah, Lester, I'm sure. I'm sorry." "Well, if you change your mind, I'll save you a seat." Keep saving that seat, Lester. Although I can wait to get there, that doesn't mean I won't miss our Christmas Eve moment next year. And I promise, by the time I do get there, I'll be eating meat again. "0 Grave, where is your Victory? Corinthians 15:55 With thanksgiving, Ryan 0 Death, your Sting?" 1 Our Prayer list: Joys and Concerns Thanks for your help!! ...for Fred Snider who had a heart procedure last week at KU Medical Center. The procedure was successful, and Fred will return to KU Med in a few weeks for a valve replacement. Fred is the father of Susan French. morning, Denney & I would like to thank those who came out on Saturday Merideth, 3/23/13, to help Phil & Kathy clean the chuch. French, Jim Ratliff, & Cheryl Argel Barbara McFadden, Judy Clough, Linda Neer, Bev Darling, Marcia & Dan Hayes, Val & ...for the family of Lester Paul who Monday morning of this week. passed away early on Ed Blosser we appreciate all the help. Thank you for caring for our church . ...for Margie Rawlings who had surgery last week to remove several kidney stones. Margie is now recovering. ...for Carol Whitmer, friend of Marcia and Dan Hayes, who continues to be in ICU in Salina, KS, and will likely be moved this week to Wichita or Topeka. ...for Daniel "Little Man" Snook who continues to deal with cancer and has recently had several unsuccessful procedures. PATCH Opportunity PATCH (Parents on volunteers and Their Children) to transport in the Chillicothe Women's children is a program that depends to visit their mothers who are prison. There is a need for volunteers in our area. If you would like more details or would like to serve in ...for the family of Elaine Stubbs, wife of Laurence Stubbs, who passed away this last weekend. ...for Sondra Gunter who received disheartening news about her prognosis. The doctors believe that Sondra is nearing the end of her courageous battle. ...for Twyla Beldsoe and Shirley Hellyer, friends of Shirley Kimsey who are awaiting the results of tests that were run this week. ...for Herman White, friend of Shirley Kimsey, who has bone cancer. ...for Kacey Ellwein who continues to recover from brain surgery . ...for Eunice Holcomb, mother of Mark Holcomb, who has been in North Kansas City Hospital with fractured vertebra and ill health this week . ...for Brian, friend of Taylor Maedel, who has been diagnosed with stage four melanoma . ...for Jan White, a woman who helps with our food pantry, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer . ...for Kevin Kennedy, friend of Ryan Motter and Don & Betty Lindsay, who continues chemotherapy for brain cancer . ...for Terri Burgman who has been moved to Plattsburg Nursing Home and continues to be on hospice care . ...for Ray Kimsey who has at home with Hospice Care . ...for the work of our Congregational Vision Team . ...for Nicole and Craig Morris as they now expect their second child, a son! Paige will be a big sister! this way, please contact da mom(whotmail.com Cindy Mayberry @ 628-2260 or . CWF Garage Sale CWF has set the date for the annual Garage Sale. April 25, 26 and 27. Start saving your stuff. We will have the basement the entire week of April 21 and would appreciate you waiting until then to bring your things to the church as we have limited storage space . 201 North Bridge Street Smithville, PHONE: NON PROFIT MO 64089-8266 816.532.0773 VI/WW .SMITHVI Presorted STO A US POSTAGE LLEFCC.ORG PAID OFFICE@SMITHV!LLEFCC.ORG Smithville, MO 64089 PERMIT NO. 57 (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) Ryan Motter, Pastor Cell: 913.707.2870 Email: [email protected] Mark Holcomb, Music Minister Velva Fausett, Organist Janet George, Pianist Greg Atkins, Treasurer Jennifer Schultz, Office Manager Children's Worship & Wonder GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Susie Clower GREETERS, WEST DOOR: Bob and Barbara Arnold April 7: Storyteller: Jacinda Manka Greeter: Jacob Manka LAY READER: John Summers GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Mike and Mary Gordon GREETERS, WEST DOOR: John and Kathy Hamilton LAY READER: Susie Clower CHILDREN'S SERMON: Greg Atkins Interested in volunteering for Children's Worship & Wonder? Contact Jacinda Manka at CHILDREN'S SERMON: Alice Richards CANDLE LIGHTERS: Jack Massie and Carter Massie [email protected]. -ELDERS: Bill Drake and Jonica Lincoln DIACONATE: Traci Burns, Rachel Drake, Josh Milne, ELDERS: Ken Lippincott and Larry Priddle Natalie Milne, Pam Maedel, and Billy Drake PREPARE COMMUNION: Josh Milne Otto, Donna Priddle, Peggy Miller, Rick George PREPARE COMMUNION: Peggy Miller CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Rachel Drake CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Rick George PICK UP SANCTUARY: Pam Maedel PICK UP SANCTUARY: Margaret Otto CANDLE LIGHTERS: Cole French and John Manka DIACONATE: Sam Miller, Bruce Hathaway, Margaret MARCH 26: Payton Hartman MARCH 27: Ted Cook, Fern Winkler MARCH 28: Sue Boswell MARCH 29: Marcus Burchett MARCH 30: Bill Lake, Cindy Mayberry, Natalie Milne APRIL 2: Kathy Jensen
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