This summer we regather in person for worship and begin a new sermon series called “Go…

love your neighbor(hood).” As we navigate the many questions, challenges, and competing priorities from this spring, we will focus our attention on Jesus to know what is most important. Jesus’ last command to the disciples after His resurrection was to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The central activity of Christian life is disciple-making. Disciple-making creates followers of Jesus who learn to love and keep His commands over time. Disciples are learners who become more like Jesus year after year. Disciples

experience the presence of Jesus who said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).Disciple-making begins with the verb “go.” Disciple-making requires us to cross barriers of social isolation and cultural division. A practical and accessible way for all of us to start is through the art of neighboring. Jesus summarized the will of God around two commandments:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great

and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall

love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matthew 22:37-39).

The reality is that many of us do

not even know the names of our neighbors. We live in separate spheres. We prefer to judge what we observe from a distance. We do not know what is important to them. We do not know the real needs in their lives that Jesus can meet.

We will share our journey this summer by reading The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.

We will learn and apply the profound experiences of a group of churches who genuinely sought to love their neighbor. These

churches discovered that “the solutions to the problems in our neighborhoods aren’t ultimately found in the government, police, or schools or in getting more people to go to church. The solutions lie with us. It’s within our power to become good neighbors, to care for the people around us and to be cared for by the people around us. There really is a different way to live, and we are finding that it is actually the best way to live. As followers of Jesus, one of the worthiest endeavors we can undertake is to take the Great Commandment seriously and to be in relationship with our literal neighbors.” Each week we will learn from Jesus’ personal interactions of disciple-making in the gospels as we seek to love our neighbor(hood) together this summer.

Summer 2020

GO…LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR(HOOD)By Pastor David Palmer

Worship God, Live by His Word, and Join His Mission in the World

Ecclesia

When Jesus was asked to reduce everything in the Bible into what’s most important, He said, “Love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matthew 22:36-40). Everything hangs on these two commands! Circumstances have shaken our entire world over the past few months in ways this generation has never before experienced. Feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger have certainly intensified, but the opportunities for gospel witness have increased as well. While we may continue to practice social distancing, we shouldn’t engage in relational distancing! Now is the time to love our neighbor.

Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and make disciples” (Matthew 28:16-20). Sharing our faith can sound so intimidating. The word evangelism might be one of the scariest words for a Christian. We are afraid of engaging in evangelism for so many reasons – we fear we might do it wrong, not know how to answer a question, or flat out be rejected. While these concerns certainly have some merit, perhaps we should start by just seeking to really love our neighbor. For some us, that pursuit will start by simply learning their names.

This summer, we want to grow as loving witnesses. We will focus on our neighbors and seek to build relationships. We don’t want to view our neighbors as a project, but as people God made in His image and longs to be reconciled with. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors; everyone could use more love right now!

The sidebar has twelve ways to GO… love your neighbor(hood). Choose one to start with and see what other doors open as you get to know your neighbor(hood) better. Take faith-filled risks. Ask God to increase your love for those you live near, and ask for His help in building relational bridges that will, in time, support the weight of truth.

IDEAS1. Map your immediate surroundings

2. Care for first responders in your community

3. Create chalk art on your driveway, sidewalk, or street

4. Fill and distribute blessing bags

5. Prayer-walk your neighborhood

6. Be present and available in your yard twice a week

7. Host a socially- distanced coffee hour

8. Organize a block party

9. Cook out with neighbors

10. Join an outdoor book club

11. Keep connected digitally

12. Create a back yard movie night

God calls us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly this summer. I know for myself, I can read these portions of the gospel solely in terms of “me,” “myself,” and “I” as an individual. However, the Bible is dominated by plural pronouns – “we,” “our,” “you all,” etc. Scripture was read aloud to gathered groups of listeners. Many biblical rebukes are pointed toward broken relational behaviors. Most exhortations involve renewed community dynamics. And so, being Christian this summer in Student Ministries

the next few months our special focus is to embody God’s love in this world for God’s glory. We do this TOGETHER. As Colossians 3 says, we are to develop a heart (or ‘guts’ in the Greek) of compassion, kindness, and love. What an opportunity! We invite you to join us in boldly putting on these practices and in doing so, living out the Great Commission in our homes, neighborhoods, and city!

“For the next few months our

special focus is to embody God’s love in this world for God’s glory.”

KENWOOD STUDENTS ... GO!By Pastor Fred Anderson

12 SIMPLE WAYS TO GO...By Pastor Scott Burns

at Kenwood means publically living out these communal commands, specifically in the form of loving our neighbor(hood). For

Our church family loves to host VBS each summer sharing Jesus’ love with children through God’s Word, fun, and friendships. This summer we cannot gather in a large group for VBS so we are taking VBS to our different neighborhoods! Families can host a Neighborhood Backyard VBS Party for smaller groups of children with all the fun of VBS crafts, games, and friendships! VBS can have double the impact when done with neighborhood relationships at the heart of it.

The vision of this year’s Neighborhood Backyard VBS Parties is to invite children in your neighborhood who do not attend church and would not normally attend a VBS. This is a way to get to know your neighbors, share the love of Jesus, and hopefully reach a whole new demographic of children!

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF IT ALL?

Your party will be what you make it – and the relationships will allow you to be a light for Christ in your neighborhood. Get ready to have fun, laugh, and enjoy summer in special way! Share that God is faithful in your backyard this summer!

HOW IT WORKS

WHEN: 2 days of YOUR choice, 1 ½ hours or 2 hours each day

WHERE: Your backyard, side yard, front yard, or cul-de-sac! (The church campus is available upon request if you do not have a backyard. Please contact Pastor Sara to schedule.)

WHO IS INVOLVED: Each group will have a host family. Groups should be around 10 children.

WHAT’S PROVIDED: The simple curriculum and most of the materials will be provided, including invitations for guests, resources for crafts, games, and most importantly—a Bible lesson. Training and Q&A opportunities will also be available for hosts.

SOCCER CAMPI’m very excited to announce that Soccer Camp will be July 29-30 from 6:00-7:30 PM at Berke Soccer Complex in Sharonville! We will social distance on the soccer field to learn some new soccer skills and share Jesus with our neighbors! Please invite a friend to come to Soccer Camp! If you would like to help coach for Soccer Camp, please contact Sara O’Connor. We will need volunteers for this event to be a success!

SOCCER CAMPJULY 29-30 - 6:00-7:30 PM

AT BERKE SOCCER COMPLEXIN SHARONVILLE!

Please contact Sara O’Connor at saraoconnor@kenwoodbaptist.org for more information about Neighborhood VBS Parties.

25%

18%

15%

42%

Operating Expenses Fiscal 2019-2020 September 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020

Programs

Missions / Outreach

Building

Administration / Support

Programs: Worship & Music, Children & Families, Students, Young Adults, RISE, & SalariesMissions / Outreach: Denominational, World, & LocalBuilding: Maintenance, Utilities, Grounds, & SalariesAdministration / Support: Kitchen, Accounting, Salaries,& Bank

CONGREGATION GIVING

MAYREGULAR GIVING RECEIVED: $86,822REGULAR GIVING BUDGETED: $100,667

FISCAL YEAR TO DATEREGULAR GIVING RECEIVED: $982,596REGULAR GIVING BUDGETED: $906,000

STEWARDSHIP TEAM UPDATE One of the truly tangible ways God calls us to show our faith is though our gifts to Him. We are thankful to report that Kenwood’s ongoing ministries and activities remain strong and funded thanks to your gracious and generous giving during this unprecedented time of global crisis. People in our church, our community, and throughout the world have been blessed by your cheerful giving. Our team has reduced and eliminated some expenses during this period while increasing in other needed areas. Enhanced digital worship and additional support to our missionaries are examples of this Kingdom investment. Again, thank you for your giving and support of Kenwood’s ministry near and far.

Kenwood received a gift on February 29 –Joshua Kennedy, our new Technical Director. Josh arrived at Kenwood just in time to help us transition to online-only worship services during the quarantine period.

Josh was well-prepared for the challenge of immediately implementing online worship. Before coming to Kenwood, he toured with Deliverance Five, a southern gospel band, as part of the audio crew. He also worked at a small “streaming church,” where most people were reached via the internet. He holds a B.S. in Worship Technology from the University of Mobile with a specialty in audio technology.

During his first months, Josh has made several important changes. He has converted the room behind the Sanctuary to a broadcast studio. In the

studio, Josh and his good friend and volunteer assistant, Steven Neergaard, edit videos and produce the live feed for Sunday worship. Soon a sound booth will be added in the back of the Sanctuary. Josh plans to add specialty lighting in the Sanctuary to weekly worship.

Josh is especially grateful for the AV team of Jason Cox, Roger Heckenmuller, Chris McLennan, Steve Mills, Charles Oketade, and Steven Neergaard. Each person brings invaluable talents and a spirit of humble service.

Josh is blessed by his calling to Kenwood. He says, “One thing I like about Kenwood is how scholarly people are. It’s driving me to dig deep and become better-versed in my faith. We already have a small group study….God has met all of my needs and most of my wants.”

WELCOME JOSHUA, OUR NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

UPCOMING DATES

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

7

17

28

12

31

29- 31

30

20

24- 28 “One thing I like

about Kenwood is how scholarly people are. It’s driving me to dig deep and become

better-versed in my faith...”

Summer Sunday School for children begins online

Go Love Your Neighbor(hood) Summer Ministry Launch

Books & Bites+

Books & Bites+

Promise Keepers Virtual Conference

Soccer Camp

Children and Family Ministries Open House

Fall Festival/Hog Roast

Engagement Project Training