Our Staff •Rev. Choongho Kwon Senior Pastor •Judy Everley Congregation Care Minister •Mark Keeney Program and Bell Choir Director •Sandra Smith Secretary •Taylor Tracy Choir Director •John Livingston Organist •Rachel Phelps Nursery Attendant •Kathryn Boman Nursery Attendant •Carrie Cerra Nursery Attendant

“A Happy New Year!”

May GOD bless YOU and keep YOU in 2018!

My first sermon of 2018 was from the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the courage to change the things I can.” Praying with the Serenity Prayer is one of my resolutions in this year. I ask God to give me peace, courage, and wisdom each day. The peace of God makes me to accept the things I cannot change. The grace of God encourages me to keep working for the Church. I seek the wisdom given by the Spirit of God whenever I make decisions as a disciple of Christ. I also ask God to give you the same graces in daily life.

2018 is a new gift of God for all of us. I wish all of us fully experience joy of life and grow in spirit. I wish all God’s people in the Northland keep working for the community and make a difference in the life of people in need. I wish Avondale UMC and all other congregations of the UMC have the peace of God to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can for the future of the UMC.

I ask God to give me the courage to practice the mission of the UMC: “Make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.” I also ask God to give you the courage to invite people to Christ. The mission statement is not only for pastors but also for all Christians of the UMC. I dream all Avondale families participate in making disciples of Christ and working for the transformation of community in 2018. What if everyone invites a guest to Sunday worship services every month? What if the guests are invited to Sunday school classes? What if they come to Bible study or prayer group meetings? As your pastor, I’ll pray for you to live as disciples making disciples of Christ. When we work hard together for this mission, we can experience the serenity to accept the things we cannot change and receive the courage and power to change the things we can for the future of Avondale. We can see how God changes our lives as well as our church in 2018.

In Christ, Choongho Kwon

Avondale UMC - A place for spiritual enrichment through participation in a caring church family.

Youth News

The youth will be working at Pizza Ranch on North Oak on MLK Day, Monday, January 15 from 4 to 9 p.m. They will get paid a percentage of the busi-ness for those hours along with all tips. Let's support our youth and join them for a fun evening out on this date.

Youth will be attend-ing WOW in Spring-field, MO on January 19 thru the 21st. The Youth who are attending include Cait-lyn Mahan, Addy Bahn, Savannah Lindsey, Syd-ney Murphy, Samuel Kwon and Stephen Kwon.

January 22, 2018, 10:00 a.m.January 22, 2018, 10:00 a.m.January 22, 2018, 10:00 a.m.January 22, 2018, 10:00 a.m.

Being Faithful

PAGE 2 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR

DECEMBER 17, 2017

Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 22

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ........................... 108

Sunday School .................................................. 83

DECEMBER 24, 2017

Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 33

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ........................... 101

Sunday School .................................................. 71

Christmas Eve ................................................. 100

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 18

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................. 52

Sunday School .................................................. 31

JANUARY 7, 2018

Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 18

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................. 52

Sunday School .................................................. 42

Memorials

A contribution has been given in memory of Helen Henderson by James and Mary Nauser

Contributions have been given in memory of Ellen Engel by Bonnie House and Judy Jensen..

Prayers Requested

Billy Taylor

Don Castor would like to thank everyone who came by to see him during Christmas. He really liked the Christmas tree, cookies and carolers.

Don Castor and Vicki Cole

The Food Pantry workers would like to thank you for your generous donation to the Food Pantry in 2017. The Food Pantry provides food for adults, chil-dren and seniors in the Clay and Platte county area. Your contributions were a great help in serving these communities. Valerie Goodman, the Mission Chair-person will be presenting the numbers for food collect-ed and people served, in the Mission Report. We wish to thank you for your support of the Food Pantry. Have a very Happy New Year. Janie, Dorothy, Betty, Winnie, Stephanie, Loma, John

and Buster

My heartfelt thank you to all my Avondale friends for your healing prayers and thoughtful cards. You have greatly helped with my healing from knee re-placement surgery. I am truly blessed to have you as my friends.

Jean Hollaway

February Birthdays

2: Debbie Ryder, Nicholas Durbin

5: Diane Bonacci

6: Martha Moore

9: Nara Helfrey

13: Vicki Graft

14: Valerie Goodman, Brett Heber

16: Fern Lamberd

17: Margaret Smith

21: Kathy Irvine, Venita Wright, Dorothy Sanders

23: Laura McDaniel, Kerensa Dare

27: Judy Jensen, Jensen Hamilton

PAGE 3 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10

6:00 p.m. Jubilee Ringers in Practice Room

7:00 p.m. Cathedral Choir in Practice Room

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

10:30 p.m. Prayer Team in Chapel

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JANUARY 12-13

6:00 p.m. Friday until 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Scouts in Wesley Hall

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stewards of Children Training in Contemporary Life (See Judy Everley or call the church office to register)

MONDAY, JANUARY 15

Church Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16

1:00 p.m. Bible Study in Contemporary Life

2:00 p.m. Staff meeting in Pastor’s Office

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17

5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Community Meal in In Wesley Hall

THRIFT SHOP HOURS

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday

12 to 3 p.m. Saturdays

Current calendar information is always available at www.avondalemethodist.org

Mark Your Calendar

Church Council Meeting

Sunday, January 28

at Noon

(Following 2nd Worship Service)

The Food Pantry is collecting

CANNED FRUIT

throughout the month of January

Last month, 439 cans of green beans were collected. Thanks to everyone who continues to support

our AUMC Food Pantry.

COMMUNITY MEALS RESUME

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17

5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Wesley Hall

PAGE 2

A New Year’s letter from Council President Bishop Bruce Ough

To the People Called United Methodists: Grace and peace to you as we embrace the New Year. The joy of Christmas and the gift of Emmanuel – God with us – gives us the confidence to face the future with hope. This hope is born of our faith in the Living God. Thus, as we enter the New Year we affirm that God who started a good thing in us will see it to fruition. As United Methodists, we are at a precipitous moment, uncertain about our denomination’s future. Yet, we do know that we have been raised up as a people to share in God’s mission by spreading scriptural holiness across the globe. And, we know that God knows what form this mission will take in the future. As a Council of Bishops, we have been in unceasing prayer, asking God to open our hearts and minds to discern what God would have us do to lead our global movement. We thank you for your earnest prayers and invite you to continue to pray for the Commission on a Way Forward and the Council as our work continues and we prepare for the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference. Likewise, every part of the world where our United Methodist Connection is present is in the throes of dramatic upheaval, conflict, poverty, migrations or natural disasters. As we enter 2018, let us resolve to be tireless in our efforts to bring health, healing, recovery and transformation to a broken world. Let us be unflagging in our commission to reach new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us be fully available to grow in our love of God and neighbor. Let us renew our commitment to always and everywhere practice our Rule of Life – do no harm, do good, attend to the ordinances of God. The New Year is a time for renewing the covenant. John Wesley clearly understood that covenant cannot be manufactured or maintained by structural, administrative or compulsory means. He knew that covenant-making and covenant-keeping were spiritual matters—a function of offering one’s life to God and to God’s purposes above all else. The first celebration of the Covenant Service in the Methodist movement was held on Monday, August 11, 1755. In short order, covenant renewal services were being held on New Year’s Day in class meetings and societies of the Methodist revival movement. Many United Methodist churches utilize this service in their own Watch Night or New Year’s Day worship. Many United Methodists can recite all or portions of Wesley’s invitation to his Covenant Service as deftly as they can recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed or Psalm 23. The words are powerful and provocative. I believe they may hold the key to our seeking a way forward. They invite a measure of humility, integrity, denial and surrender that is often discomforting and disorienting to our pre-conceived, siloed positions. They clearly remind us that we belong to Christ, and that to give ourselves to Christ in all things is the heart and soul of all covenantal relationships within our great United Methodist Church. So, as we enter into 2018 and trust that God will provide a future with hope, I invite all United Methodist’s to renew our covenant with God and one another, as we join Methodist people throughout the ages in praying the Covenant Prayer, which in part reads:

Lord, make me what you will put myself fully into your hands; put me to doing, put me to suffering, let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and with willing heart give it all to your pleasure and disposal. Amen.

May God add God’s blessing to our journey together as a covenant people and grant us a blessed New Year. Bishop Bruce R. Ough, President

AVONDALE AMBASSADOR

PAGE 3 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

Library Inventory

Thanks to all on the library committee for your work on January 6 taking inventory of our collection. The inventory lists show that some books are missing, though. If you have any of the books listed below, please return them to the library (titles, sub titles, and authors are included):

Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book, Rockwell, Norman, 1894-1978.

Three From Galilee, The Young Man From Nazareth, Holmes, Marjorie, 1910-

Complete Idiot's Guide to World Religions, The Toropov, Brandon

Founding Mothers, The Women Who Raised Our Nation, Roberts, Cokie.

Gospel According to Wesley, The Weems J r ., Lovett Hayes

Gospel Of Luke, The, Barclay, William , 1907-

1978 , ed.

Gospel of Matthew, The, Barclay, William

Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M., The Vol. 1 Wesley, John

Surviving Without Romance, Afr ican Women Tell Their Stories Cummings, Mary Lou

Traveling Light Releasing The Burdens You Were Never Intended To Bear, Lucado, Max

Your Church and You, Corson, Fred Pierce

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

Bedtime Prayers, Frantz, Jennifer , ed.

Bible Stories for Bedtime, Brown, Terry

Bible. The Children's Bible

But I'm Thankful - I Really Am! Moncure, Jane Belk

Children Just Like Me, A Unique Celebration of Children Around the World, Kindersley, Barnabas

Child's Story Of Easter, A Oursler , Fulton, 1893-

1952.

Daniel and the Lions, DeVries, Cather ine, ed.

Endless Line of Splendor, Luccock, Halford E.

Everyday Prayers, Frantz, Jennifer , ed.

Give Us This Day The Lord's Prayer, Tudor , Tasha

God Made You Special, Metaxas, Er ic

God's Great Big Love for Me, Lucado, Max

If I Had Lived In Jesus' Time, Graystone, Peter .

If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart, Lord, J ill Roman

Jesus, Mary and Martha, DeVries, Cather ine, ed.

Little Lamb's Big Scare (and the Shepherd's Great Care), DeVries, Cather ine, ed.

Moses, The Long Road to Freedom, Beneduce, Ann Keay

On the Night You Were Born Tillman, Nancy

Picture That! Bible Storybook Harrast, Tracy

Prayer for a Child, Field, Rachel

Psalms for Young Children, Delval, Mar ie-

Helene

Thankful Together, Davis, Holly

Through Tara's Eyes, Helping Children Cope with Alzheimer's Disease Baumann, Kathy

When Jesus Was Born, Dotts, Maryann J .

You Are Mine, Lucado, Max

Avondale United Methodist Church 3101 NE Winn Road Kansas City, MO 64117 Phone: 816-452-3518 Early Worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:50 a.m. Email: avondaleumc@gmail.com Website: www.avondalemethodist.org

https://www.facebook.com/AvondaleUMCkcmo/

Children’s Church begins January 21

Beginning January 21st we will begin Children’s Church. All chil-dren in kindergarten through third grade will meet in the Education

wing for activities focused on Bible stories, crafts, color-bell ringing, and to learn about church proto-col. Children 1st grade through 3rd grade will at-tend the 10:50 service through Children’s Moments and then exit the Sanctuary to attend Children’s Church with the Kindergartners. (Our nursery poli-cy states that only infants through kindergarten are accepted for nursery care on Sunday mornings.) Ra-chel Phelps, our Nursery Coordinator, will lead this program with assistance from Kat Boman. Chil-dren’s Church will be held on the 1st and 3rd Sun-days of each month during 2nd service. We encour-age your children to participate in this exciting pro-gram. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays, we encourage par-ents to have their children attend the entire worship service and suggest that children utilize the activity

bags and book shelves in the back of the Sanctuary. Parent volunteers will also be needed to assist with Children’s Church. We hope parents and other church members will sign up for a shift once every 2 or 3 months so the program will meet Safe Sanc-tuary policy guidelines. The sign-up sheet will be in the church nursery. The Education Committee is excited to offer this program on a trial basis for January 21 through April. Please note the 1st and 3rd Sundays on your calendars.

Peace and Joy Steve Boman, Nursery Coordinator

Stewards of Children Training

Before they turn 18, 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls, experience some form of sexual abuse. You can change that. Come receive an evidence-informed

training and learn how you can recognize and pre-vent child sexual abuse. The training is this Satur-day, January 13, 10:00 a.m. until noon, at Avondale UMC. Sponsored by KC Street Hope.