my baptism means - indian heights umc · that said, “my baptism means_____” some of the answers...

Dear Siblings in Christ:

It’s February. The month that I wish I could just skip over. I don’t like February. It’s the month my dad died, and it’s cold and snowy and dark and dreary. Don’t you often wish you could just skip past the hard stuff in life? The stuff that brings up emotion, anger, guilt, regret and move right to the stuff that you love; the stuff that brings you joy.

As a church we remembered our baptisms a few weeks ago and hung notes on the cross that said, “my baptism means__________” Some of the answers I saw; rebirth, a second chance, transformation, identity in God. How beautiful to remember that through our baptism we are given all of this. A chance for renewal in God, a remembrance of the things that we can’t change but that through God we can muddle through. See page 2 for a photo of the cross!

The UMC is in a valley in the wilderness, trying to find its way through to reconciliation and grace for all its members. As May approaches, it is important as a church and as part of the connectional UMC we remember that there are people on each sides of the spectrum that worship beside you, have coffee with you and attend the same social gatherings as you. And isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t that the beauty of the church? That we can all come together from all sides of our faith and beliefs and agree that we worship ONE God, the God of truth, the God of light, the God of love, and do the work of God that has been done at Indian Heights since it first opened it's doors: loving God with all our

heart, soul and might and our neighbors as ourselves. It would be nice to just skip to May and see what is going to come from General Conference. It would be nice to skip past the media that will come out, the social media posts that we disagree with to just go straight to the end, see what happens and go from there. Yet just as I can’t skip past the month of February, we can’t skip all the months that lead up to May; to the conference that will bring grief to many and joy to others. A conference where we will come back to worship together after legislation will be voted in, one way or the other that will split the church. But we will come back together, and we will worship God and we will be with one another as we continue to welcome ALL of God’s people. And by ALL, I mean ALL; everyone on both sides - ALL because that is the church and that is who Indian Heights is. An open church for all of God’s people to worship the God that met us that day in the River Jordan and claimed us all as beloved, made in the image of God and God said we were good.

The cross with our remembrance of our baptism is the reminder of this naming. The reminder of our unity in God and the reminder that even when things get hard, when our lives seem to be stuck in darkness there is the light of Christ to lead us through it. Grace and love to you all and always know you are enough; you are worthy, and you are beloved.

-Pastor Ali

“My baptism means___________________________________.”

Every year on Ash Wednesday we come together to worship, reflect on the year and repent to The ONE who created us and named us, beloved. This year on Ash Wednesday, clergy and laity from the KC District of the Great Plains Conference will be gathering at St. Paul's UMC in Lenexa to repent and resist all forms of oppression in the church and world. The event is open from 8am-5pm, with one hour "sessions". Come as you are able, hear music, a word from clergy, and walk the prayer stations. Please spread the word - invite your friends and co-workers!! Ask Pastor Ali if you have any questions. Note - this is not an “all-day” event/workshop...but a “come as you can throughout the day” experience. Come, show your presence and your voice!

A n e w s m a l l g r o u p i s b e g i n n i n g o n S u n d a y m o r n i n g s i n F e b r u a r y ! T h i s g r o u p i s g e a r e d t o w a r d a d u l t s i n t h e i r " a d u l t i n g " p h a s e o f l i f e . . . t h e p h a s e w h e r e m a r r i a g e / r e l a t i o n s h i p s , k i d s a n d j o b s a r e c o n s t a n t l y a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f o u r m i n d s , a n d w e o f t e n f i n d o u r s e l v e s w o n d e r i n g h o w w e c a n d o i t a l l . T h i s g r o u p w i l l f o c u s o n b e i n g i n r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o n e a n o t h e r t h r o u g h s h a r i n g o u r l i v e s , w a t c h i n g C h r i s t - c e n t e r e d v i d e o s , a n d d i s c u s s i n g h o w t h e V e r y S p i r i t o f G o d i s m o v i n g i n u s .

T h i s g r o u p s o f f e r s a s p a c e w h e r e p e o p l e c a n c o n n e c t s p i r i t u a l l y a n d l e a n o n o n e a n o t h e r d u r i n g t h e t i m e s w h e r e t h e d a y s s e e m l o n g , a n d t h e y e a r s s h o r t .

J o i n P a s t o r A l i a n d P a u l H a y n e s a s t h e y c o - l e a d t h i s g r o u p b e g i n n i n g F e b r u a r y 2 n d . J u s t s h o w u p . N o " h o m e w o r k " . T h e g r o u p w i l l m e e t i n t h e Y a h w e h R o o m - B a t 9 : 1 5 a m o n S u n d a y m o r n i n g s . C h i l d c a r e p r o v i d e d i n K i n g d o m K i d s .

Guess What?? We are having a VBS this summer!

9:30-11:30am, June 1-5 (kids are invited to come sing songs they learned during worship on June 7!!)

Yes, it may be cold and snowy now, but summer will be here before you know it. We will need lots of volunteers. How can you help? If you are interested in leading a sta-tion (snack, story telling, games, art, or an age group) please let Julie know. We are super excited to offer this to our community.

Kids: Join Julie Sunday mornings at

10:30 for Kingdom Kids!! Nursery care starts at 9:15am.

Contact Julie:

[email protected]

Kingdom Kids will continue “Cooking Up a Godly Life” series through February. We will also have a special “Valentine” treat for the congregation Sunday, February 9.

The Adult Sunday School Classes meet in the Library and downstairs classroom at 9:15 each Sunday morning to explore the Bible and its applications to daily life. All are welcome. Bob Douglass leads the one in the Library; Betty Burum leads the one downstairs. See page 4 for details on a new class that starts in February.

Please submit news for the February newsletter to Suzette in the Church Office by February 24. Your photos, news, etc. are always welcome.

Thank you to all who faithfully serve by counting our offerings each week. The upcoming schedule for January 2020:

Feb. 2nd - Jerry and Lynn Feb. 9th - Ken and Sharon Feb. 16th - Bob and Sherri Feb. 23th - Dale and Diane

On first Sundays, we traditionally celebrate Holy Communion, and also bring items for Cross-Lines’ Food Pantry. Items are accepted throughout the month as well - just put them in the plastic tub near the windows by the elevator. As we continue with cold weather, donations of canned soups, vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, canned meat, hand soap, and Kleenex are especially appreciated.

The women gather the first Fridays of the month at 11:30am (Sept-May) to enjoy a lunch together, either at church or a nearby restaurant. On February 7, we’ll dine at Conroy’s on 95th Street. Please RSVP to Diane Muth.

Did you know you can watch Pastor Ali live on Sunday mornings in case you can’t make it to church? Check out our Facebook around 10:30 on Sundays; the sermons stay up as well, to be watched any time.

We need 13 casseroles, and 7 servers to serve a hot lunch at the Wilhelmina Gill Center in KCK on Friday, March 6. Sign-ups, recipes, and pans will be available beginning Feb. 2. See Dee Hubbard with questions. Recruit a friend to help out!!

We had an event planning meeting in January to outline some of the bigger events we do. The following are dates to mark on your calendars:

5th Sunday Potlucks, follow church on March 29, May 31 (wear red– it’s Pentecost!), August 30, and November 24 (note that November 24 is actually a 4th Sunday, but because Advent begins the following Sunday, this will include Hanging of the Greens as we prepare the church for the upcoming Christmas season!!).

Ash Wednesday - February 26 • Repent & Resist Event at St. Paul’s UMC,

8am-5pm • Worship at our church: February 26, 7pm

Holy Week: April 5: Palm Sunday Worship at 10:30 April 9: Maundy Thursday Chili Cook-Off at 6:30pm April 10: Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 6pm April 12: Easter “Sunrise” Service at 8am Easter Brunch at 9am Easter Worship at 10:30am

Earth Day: Wednesday, April 22, includes a clean-up of our community garden event from 4-7pm (or whenever you can come help).

Petting Zoo: Saturday, May 2, 11am-1pm

UMC General Conference in Minnesota - May 5-15

Annual Conference in Topeka: May 27-30

Vacation Bible School: June 1-5; kids will sing in church on June 7; VBS will be 9:30-11:30am.

Worship at Roe Park: 10am on Sundays, June 28 and July 26

Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, August 9

Touch-A-Truck: October 3, 11am-1pm

Fall Fundraising Event: Saturday, November 7

Breakfast with Santa: Sat. Dec. 12, 9-11am

Christmas Eve Worship: Dec. 24 at 5pm

Thank you so much for the generous gift I received at Christmas. It is such a blessing to work for you, and to worship with you. The cards and gifts I received are lovely, but I really treasure the friendships and memories I’ve made over my years here. I look forward to another good year hear at Indian Heights UMC for all of you!! ~ Cheri White

Book Club Our Book Club will meet Wednesday, February 12 at Betty Burum's home at 1:30pm to discuss, "The Best Cook in the World", by Rick Bragg. The book is available from Amazon and in the Library. All are welcome!! Need directions to Betty's? Contact the Church Office. Consider donating your copy to our Little Library when you are done!! You can put the book in Jackie Johnson’s mailbox. Thanks!

Interfaith Hospitality Network: Serving the Homeless in Johnson County

Would you like to start the New Year by volunteering time at one of our Outreach Missions that provides support to people who are homeless? Then consider helping out at IHN!! Our congregation has been serving IHN for 11 years. We help by going to Grace Presbyterian Church on Tuesday and Wednesdays, the first full week in February, May, August and November. We host, set up, serve dinner, and visit with the families from 5:30-7pm. Two volunteers come at 7 to entertain children until 8:30. We have several devoted volunteers, but when there is an illness or someone is out of town, we are short and need more people available to help out. We are in need of more people to prepare food items for dinner when we serve IHN. We also would welcome anyone who would like to help host or entertain children on those evenings. If you would be interested in either hosting or helping with the children, you will need to attend one short workshop held every other month at an area church. Fixing food and taking it to the church does not require attendance at a workshop. Please talk to Carol Grantham for details. Thank you so much for your dedication to the cause of IHN, and their families who receive support and services through their housing transitions.

As the new year has begun, the Chancel Choir is anxious to start new music and prepare for the Lenten season (Ash Wednesday is February 26!). In December, we sang for a nursing home, and we are planning to do this again for shut-ins and others who are not able to worship with us in person. Please feel free to join us as we use the gift of music to share God’s love with everyone. Contact Cheri White with any questions...and as always, come join us at 7pm Wednesdays for Choir rehearsals! There’s always room for you.

Wear your Chiefs attire to

church on February 2!! Go Chiefs!!!

Contact Pastor Ali or the Church Office with your prayers Needs: Call: 913.649.9040 Email: [email protected] Let us know if your prayers are for the Pastor’s eyes only, or if they can be shared with our congregation and Prayer Chain.

Indian Heights United Methodist Church

10211 Nall Avenue,

Overland Park, KS, 66207

913-649-9040

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30am-2:30pm

[email protected]

www.indianheightsumc.org

Senior Pastor, Ali Haynes [email protected] 913-710-2661 (pastoral emergencies) Julie Gibson, Children & Families Ministry Coordinator [email protected] Suzette Mack, Administrative Assistant Music Staff: Cheri White, Music Director [email protected]

Elizabeth Lipford, Worship Leader Jae Moyer, Section Leader ** This newsletter is printed monthly; submissions are due the 24th of the prior month to: [email protected].

February 2: Sojourners Sunday School Class Kicks Off (9:15am)

Super Bowl Sunday - Wear Chiefs Attire to Church!!

February 4 & 5: Serve IHN at Grace Presbyterian Church (5:30pm)

February 6 & 20: Moms Matter (9:30am)

February 7: Ladies Creative Cooking (11:30am)

February 12: Book Club (1:30pm)

February 13: Brewing Faith (6pm)

February 18: One Board (7pm)

February 24: March Newsletter Items Due

February 26: Ash Wednesday Worship (7pm)

February 26: Repent & Resist Event; hosted by St. Paul's UMC in Lenexa (8am-5pm)

Men’s Breakfast at The Big Biscuit (95th & Nall): Wednesdays, 7am

Prayer Circle: 11:15am on Wednesdays Covenant Bible Study: 6pm on Wednesdays Women’s Theology Group: 2nd & 4th

Wednesdays; 9:15am Adult Choir Rehearsal: Wednesdays, 7pm Moms Matter(1st & 3rd Thursdays, 9:30am) Creative Souls: 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursdays,

4-8pm First Sundays - Holy Communion & bring items

for Cross-Lines' Food Pantry AA: Sundays & Wednesdays, 7pm (Library) Over-Eaters Anonymous (OA), Mondays

& Wednesdays, 6pm; Thursdays, 11:30am Al-Anon: Wednesdays, Noon (Downstairs)

Email or call the church office to let us know when your group is meeting (or to request meeting space). It's important that items get on the calendar so we don't double-book meeting areas, and also so we extend an invitation to those who may be "checking us out" on the website, and to those new to worship.

Our full calendar events is at www.indianheightsumc.org

Sunday sermons are LIVE on our Facebook: www.facebook.com/indianheightsumc

DATE SET FOR 2ND ANNUAL

PETTING ZOO

IHUMC’s 2nd

annual Petting Zoo is set for Saturday, May 2, 2020 from 11 to 1. So that means it is time to start planning and getting volunteers lined up for this family-oriented event. Last year, even though the event was cut short by a severe thunderstorm, IHUMC was host to 250+ guests. Thorni Ridge Exotics will be returning with their wide variety of cute, furry, scaly animals. Many of you will remember the two baby kangaroos, Oscar and Ulysses, that were a crowd favorite last year. Just ask Elizabeth Lipford and Jennifer Favero. Julie Gibson and Sherri McAlpin will be co-leaders for this year’s Petting Zoo. They have met and are so excited about what is being planned, but your help is needed. There are many ways you can help make this event successful:

• Attend the kick-off meeting scheduled for Monday, February 10 at 6:30 at the church.

• Volunteer to help with Activities, Food, Set-up and Tear Down or Parking. • Donate items for the event. A list of needed items will be posted soon in the

Narthex. • Attend a “Cow Patty” baking event scheduled for April 30 at 4:30 at the church.

We will be baking Cow Patties aka brownies. • Help make “Pool Noodle Horses” for a horse racing activity. More details to come. Please let Julie or Sherri know if you would like to volunteer or have any questions. More information will be shared after our Kick-Off meeting on February 10. So, please mark your calendars: Petting Zoo Kick-off Meeting – Monday, February 10 at 6:30 at the church. 2

nd Annual Petting Zoo – Saturday, May 2 from 11 to 1 on the church grounds.

my baptism means - indian heights umc · that said, “my baptism means_____” some of the answers...

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