February 2015 | Vol. 61, No. 2 THE SPIRE A Community of Grace Pastors From My Heart to Yours – Rev. Norwood V. Brown, III Pastor/Head of Staff Love the Lord your God… Love your neighbor as yourself. [email protected] Rev. Dr. Ted M. Pierce February is known as the “month for love.” Of course, we think of Valentine’s Day. However, I am thinking of much more… Associate Pastor [email protected] It's not too late to get your photo taken for our RHC Pictoral Directory. Lifetouch will be at Rolling Hills on Monday, February 16. Please contact the Church Office to make an appointment Worship Schedule 9:00 & 10:15 AM Traditional Worship Adult Education Nursery and Preschool classes 9:30 AM Celebration Choir for Grades K-5 Youth Choir for Grades 6-12 10:15 AM Long ago God decided it was not good for people to be alone. So God said that we should be in relationship with one another (to be in community). Sadly, our culture too often encourages people to be preoccupied with themselves. First and foremost, we see (and experience) people focused on their needs, their wants and their desires without regard for others. A life devoted solely to one’s self is selfish and isolated. God invites us to live differently. God offers us more complete, more fulfilling and more authentic lives. When we live in community committed to caring and loving others, as well as ourselves, then we truly enter a new way of life. Encouraging and loving others helps us remember: 1. No One is Alone 2.There is Always Hope 3. People Matter the Most I am so thankful for our Rolling Hills church family. Now I invite you to help Rolling Hills be a greater, more significant, and better Community of Grace. Help us love in healthy ways. Youth Church School Faithfully yours, * Children start in the Sanctuary and go to Church School following A Time for Children Nursery available both hours. P.S. A Gathering of Men on February 14 at 7:30 a.m. has a very special program. Kansas City Royals legend Willie Mays Aiken will be with us. He has an amazing story of life and faith. Men of the church I hope to see you there! . Rev. Ted Said... “Do You Know?” How do you measure “success”? What kind of data does a church use to see if we are meeting our goal of reaching across the sanctuary, across the street, and across the sea? There are the basic ways of counting attendance at all our activities, adding pledges each year, and measuring mission money spent, but we must not forget another very important way to measure success - personal testimony. Words from individuals and groups who experience the love and grace that reaches across the sanctuary, across the street and across the sea. Let me share a few recent testimonies so you can evaluate this measure of Rolling Hills success: Rev Ted Pierce Across the Sanctuary Across the Street Dear Ted, Dear Rolling Hills Community, It was an honor and privilege to meet you. Thank you and the Rolling Hills congregation for the support and care over the last couple of years. In my life I struggle to maintain balance to fulfill duty to country, duty to family, and duty to community. Often I feel inadequate in all three. When Ann told me about the friendships she made among the Rolling Hills congregation, it relieved some of the worry and concern I felt being so far away. I am truly grateful to the people that reached out to Ann, to the congregation that accepted her, and to the individuals that volunteered their service to assist her. On behalf of the Board and 100+ Blessings Abound volunteers, thank you for your support in 2014! We had a fantastic year as the ministry continued to grow. Those weeks with her at the end were among the most meaningful of my life. I feel fortunate to have shared that time with her. Not only did it bring me closer to Ann, it brought our whole family together. Thanks to your generosity, we made great strides in pursuit of our mission to help those in need through the resale and redistribution of donated items. We support food distribution, permanent housing for homeless individuals, cross-cultural ministry, annual Christmas stores, home repair and numerous other poverty-relief ministries. Our donations and store traffic grew significantly last year, including the opening of a dedicated furniture store. We welcomed more volunteers from all walks into a positive, Christian environment. Finally, our financial contributions to MLM and LUMA grew as well. I'm confident that 2015 will bring an increased awareness as to the needs of those around us, and BA volunteers will respond ready to serve as Called. Thank you for your generosity and continued support! Ann will be missed and it will take time to grieve her passing. I will return to Afghanistan grateful to Ann and the people of Rolling Hills. There is relief knowing that Ann is at peace and with the Lord. Have a blessed 2015! Tony Whitter Executive Director Please feel free to share this with the congregation to convey my appreciation. I will take Ann's ashes to Colorado in the spring and have a small memorial for her there. Thank you, Glenn Grimes 1542 Deer Point Way, Reston, VA 20194 (please fell free to send Glenn and family a card) Dear Rolling Hills Church, WWW.THESPIRE.ORG Thank you for all your letters of support throughout the semester. They brighten my day every time I get one. Thank you for supporting me and the rest of the students in the “YES” program. Thank you Jasper Gain (From a "YES" student after the Outreach Committee gave a wonderful Christmas party and gifts to the students) 2 Across the Sea (Correspondence between our Outreach Committee and one of our students who will receive support for Rolling Hills Church in a 2015 mission project in Guatemala.) P.S. There is one more thank you I need to share… Dear Will, Ted and I wanted to thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for sharing one of the best days of our lives. To be able to share our vows during service, with our church family present, was an incredibly beautiful experience that we will never forget. On behalf of the members of the Rolling Hills Outreach Committee, thank you for your presentation last evening. We are excited to be supporting you in your service project, and look forward to hearing about your work among the Mayan people. You are definitely going to change lives. Barb Fay (Moderator, Outreach Committee) Dear Rolling Hills Church Family, We feel loved and we love you! Juliet Pierce Dear Outreach Committee Members, Thank you all for allowing me to present and for all of your thoughtful questions. Your committee is providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime and I cannot thank you enough. I look forward to keeping in touch and keeping you informed throughout the length of this project. Sincerely, Will Penner Now you know – RHC continues to be a successful community of love and grace…. Outreach Every Monday night, the Rolling Hills Church is taken over by 42 khaki clad young men learning about knots, computers, outdoor camping, technology and much more. This is the home of Boy Scout Troop 387 from the Heart of America Council based in Kansas City, Missouri. Christmas Offering Update The Outreach Committee thanks everyone who made a donation to the 2014 Christmas Offering. Rolling Hills Congregation opened their hearts to give more than $29,000 to Paces to make "A Place to Be Safe Because They're Kids". The new home, located in Kansas City, Kansas will allow children to get services, stay as a family, and remain local while waiting for placement in foster care or with a loving relative. Thank you again for your generosity and making Kansas City a great place for kids! Troop 387 has given local youth in the neighborhood and the surrounding community assistance in their search for personal growth and excellence. Troop 387 has provided over thousands of hours of community service which includes the yearly sign up in November for providing a meal to the Shalom House. There have been 185 young men who have received the highest achievement in Scouting - the Eagle Scout Award. A plaque with the names of those who have been pinned with the Eagle Scout Award from the troop is outside the north wall of the sanctuary. Not every space is filled, as more youth from Troop 387 will go on to earn the badges, plan and complete the service project and become the future community leaders of the Kansas City area and beyond. To learn more about Boy Scout Troop 387, please check out to their website at http://troop387opks. Scoutlander.com. Scout Sunday is February 8. Fifty-Six Years Young, Boy Scout Troop 387 Fifty-six years ago, Rolling Hills Church opened its door. That same year, Troop 387 was chartered, and it's still growing strong! WWW.THESPIRE.ORG 3 Announcements Dates for “Kaleidoscope” Spiritual Nurture Dinners A Gathering of Men Join us on Saturday, February 14 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Kansas City Royals Legend Willie Mays Aikens will be sharing his testimony. Invite your friends and have some breakfast while you hear Willie's story. $5 donation per person please. Please join us on the following Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for fantastic food, an opportunity to visit with friends, meet new people, and listen to an interesting speaker all for a $5 donation per person. February 18: Ash Wednesday: Ashes to Lilies What are the 40 Days About? Ted Pierce February 25: Cathy Glennon: Mind, Body, Spirit - Chronic Illness. March 18: (spring break no program) March 25: Andy Cullen April 15: Bill Shefchik “the Science of Tornados” April 22: Green Team “Earth Day” Deacons Over the last few months our 27 Deacons have been reaching out to contact every member in their Deacon Care Community as part of our mission to be a community of grace for all. Many connections have been made and our church records are being updated daily! We enjoyed meeting the church members during the pictorial directory. If you did not have your picture taken, or if you have moved, changed e-mail address or phone number, please call Andrea at the church office (913-642-9100). Writing in the Spirit Writing in the Spirit is a writing group that meets monthly at RHC. One of our members, Karen Divelbiss, wrote a cinquain poem that is going to be featured in the HomeWords website and was forwarded for publication in local newspapers. http://kansashumanities.org/programs/ poet-laureate-of-kansas/homewords/ homewords-columns/. Congratulations Karen! Your Deacons are enjoying hearing your stories, discovering new connections and standing with you in some of the difficult times you may face. Sarah Circle Sarah Circle meets weekly on Wednesdays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. in Room B. All are welcome! They are currently studying Paul in a Beth Moore Bible Study. Leader, bait, tackle, rod. Farm pond after Spring thaw, A bite! Hook set, reeling it in- Shalom House Thank you to the Rolling Hills Staff for providing the January meal to the men of Shalom House. Jessie Burkhalter and Amy Hopkins prepared a chili dinner and Ted Pierce and Tom Young delivered the meal. Dinner. WWW.THESPIRE.ORG 4 Music Allegro' Choirs Concert Friends of Music and the Arts invite you to join us on Thursday, February 19 for an evening of vocal entertainment featuring four Allegro Kansas City Choirs ranging in ages from third through twelfth grades. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The Repertoire will showcase classical, folk, and multicultural selections to delight any audience. A reception will follow in the Fireside Room. We hope you will take this opportunity to spend an evening as these young singers share their talents with our Community of Grace. FOMA Rolling Hills Friends of Music and Arts (FOMA) has exciting new programs planned for 2015, and we need more members on our committee to help us accomplish our goals. FOMA typically hosts three or four professional concerts each year. We also plan to launch new opportunities for our own members to share their musical talents, as well as provide other types of musical programs. There are numerous ways you can help ... planning, public relations, set-up, receptions, etc. If you'd like to help us share the beauty of music, please contact Pam Roland at [email protected], or Lisa Bare at [email protected]. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Sarah Thomas WWW.THESPIRE.ORG Cameron and Kelli Harrison Gianna and Brecklyn 5 children PJ party Did someone say pajama party at Rolling Hills? YES! Please join us on February 27 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for a fun night for 5th graders and under! We will eat pancakes, play games, watch movies and hang out with our church friends. Parents, here is your chance for a night out! Meet up with other RH families or have a late Valentine’s Day date. RSVP in the church office or to Amy at [email protected] by February 23. Looking Ahead: • March 29: Easter Eggstravaganza • June 8-12: Day Camp • July 6-9: Vacation Church School Day Camp 2015 Mark your Calendars! Join us June 8-12 for Day Camp 2015. This year we are holding our Day Camp adventures at a new facility. Wildwood Center located in La Cygne, KS will be our home for this fun-filled week! Camp is available to any child who has completed Kindergaten through 5th grade. Are you in middle school or high school? join us as a Junior Leader! Come experience some old and new activities at Wildwood! Contact Jessica Burkhalter at [email protected] for more information Youth Youth Events: Sunday, February 15 Sky Zone Grades 6-8, Drop off & lunch 11:30 a.m. at RHC; Pick up 2:30pm at Skyzone* *Please note: student pick up is at Sky Zone at 2:30pm. RSVP due Feb 8 to [email protected]. Event details and required forms available in the church front office. Sunday, February 1: Youth Service Sunday (Grades 6-12) 9:00 & 10:15 a.m. Services at RHC No Church School (8th grade Confirmation class still meets in Room B) Sunday, February 1 Super Bowl Party Grades 6-12, 5:30 p.m. at RHC Students with last names A - M: Please bring a hot appetizer to share. Students with last names N - Z: Please bring a cold appetizer to share. Sunday, February 8 Sky Zone Grades 9-12, Drop off & lunch 11:30 a.m. at RHC . Pick up 2:30 p.m. at Sky Zone*RSVP by February 1 to [email protected]. Event details & required forms available in the church front office. *Please note: Student pick up is at Sky Zone at 2:30pm. Check out youth calendar updates and event details any time online at http://bit.ly/rhpcyouth. Want to be added to the Youth E-News list? Email [email protected] Youth Church School Changes To Debut February 8! Introducing a new tailored curriculum with practical life application lessons including engaging, student-driven conversations. All students will explore the same topics for 4-6 weeks; the first series is: What is the Bible? New Lesson Format: First, the whole group will meet at 10:15 a.m. in Room D (all grades 6-12, except 8th grade confirmation) for lesson overview led by Director of Youth Ministry Bobby Morgan. Next, all students will meet in breakout sessions by grade for age-appropriate discussion questions with leaders. WWW.THESPIRE.ORG 6 Day Camp 2015 June 8 -12 th th Wildwood Outdoor Education Center, LaCynge KS We are headed somewhere NEW!! Come experience Day Camp with RH!! All children of members and visitors who have completed Kindergarten through 5 th Grades are eligible for Day Camp. 5 th Grade campers will have the opportunity to spend the night, Thursday, June 12 th at camp. For additional information, contact Jessica Burkhalter at the church, 6429100/461-7882 (cell) or by email, [email protected]. Financial assistance is available. We meet at church at 8:00 each day and ride the bus to La Cygne. We will return at 3:45. COST Grades K – 4: 5 th Grade: $90.00 $100.00 3 or more children: $225.00 Enrollment Form Day Camp 2015 Deadline: May 03, 2015 Child’s Name__________________________________________ Grade Completed:____ Swims Independently: Yes No (Circle One) Parents’ Names: ________________________________________ Home Phone:___________________ Work/Cell Phone________________ Address:_________________________________ Email:_____________________ This wonderful experience requires several volunteers, please plan on attending 3-5 days. WWW.THESPIRE.ORG 7 Susan Spence PASTORS Norwood V. Brown, III, Pastor/Head of Staff [email protected] Ted M. Pierce, Associate Pastor [email protected] Communications/Marketing Consultant [email protected] MUSIC Charles Bruffy ADMINISTRATION Margaret Nichols MINISTRIES Gene Augustine Steven McDonald Business Director [email protected] Theologian In Residence Randy Payne Facilities Manager Parish Associate [email protected] Kelli Kaufman, CPA Bobby Morgan 9300 Nall Avenue Overland Park, KS 66207 www.thespire.org Associate Director of Music, Youth Choir Director [email protected] Rebecca Lloyd Barbara Meyer Co-Director,Children’s Ministries [email protected] Amy Hopkins Office Coordinator [email protected] M-Th: 8:00-4:30p F: 8:00-12:00n Su: 8:00-12:00n Patrice Sollenberger Jessie Burkhalter Patrice Sollenberger Find Us Organist Director, Youth Ministries [email protected] Financial Assistant [email protected] Director of Music [email protected] Tom Young Andrea Edgeller Director [email protected] Melina Bland [email protected] Visit Us MDO/PRESCHOOL Arlys Tarwater Clergy Assistant [email protected] Co-Director,Children’s Ministries [email protected] Call Us Co-Directors Celebration Choir Jessie Burkhalter Director Cherub Choir Email & Facebook 913 642-9100 main 913 642-1732 fax 913 642-8525 [email protected] (preschool MDO) (general mailbox) Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church
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