Our Staff •Rev. Choongho Kwon Senior Pastor

•Judy Everley Congregation Care Minister

•Mark Keeney Program and Bell Choir Director

•Sandra Smith Secretary

•Taylor Tracy Music & Student Ministry Director John Livingston Organist

•Rachel Phelps Nursery Attendant

•Kathryn Boman Nursery Attendant

•Carrie Cerra Nursery Attendant

Northwest District News

Welcome Rev. Melissa Dodd, New Northwest District Superintendent!

Rev. Melissa Dodd has been named as the next Nor thwest Distr ict Superintendent. She will replace Rev. Cindy Buhman, who will be returning to serve as a local church pastor after Annual Conference Session in June.

Rev. Dodd has a degree in elementary education from Missouri State University and a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary. She worked in youth ministry before becoming

a licensed local pastor at Campbell UMC in Springfield. She continued to serve that church as a provisional elder and elder in full connection before being appointed to Asbury UMC in Springfield, where she has served as senior pastor since 2014. She has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry and has been a leader in the Missouri Conference Candidacy Summits.

“Rev. Dodd has offered excellent pastoral leadership in her appointments, loves the local church, and has earned the respect of her clergy peers through her solid work on district and conference teams,” said Bishop Farr. “Melissa has strengths in mentoring and coaching and I look forward to seeing her implement those gifts, along with her energy and vision, through the superintendency in the Northwest.”

Rev. Dodd is excited about the opportunity to serve the church as a district superintendent. She knows she has a lot to learn but feels the skills she has developed will be a good fit for the position.

“It’s exciting because it’s in my wheelhouse,” she said. “I’m an organizer. I like structure. I like strategy. I like working with teams and people to problem solve and strategize. I like to encourage people.”

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

Due to Memorial Day

the next newsletter deadlines are

June 4 and 18.

The church office will be closed

Monday, May 28.

Next Newsletter: June 4, 2018

See inside for upcoming events …

A New Guild—The Finer Things

The Annual Church Picnic

VBS Dates

Missions “Pause for Paws” (plus an oppor-tunity to submit your own pet photo!)

Graduates’ Reception

Rev. Cindy Buhman has appreciated the opportunity to lead as a District Superin-tendent and is looking forward to serving as a local church pastor again.

“Serving as the Northwest District Superintendent has been a great privilege for me,” said Rev. Buhman. “I am so honored to have had the opportunity to be in min-istry in a different way. Of course, I will miss working with Bishop Farr and the rest of the cabinet. However, I am so excited to be returning to where my heart is - to the local church.”

Being Faithful

PAGE 2 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR

APRIL 29, 2018 Our Presence 8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 19

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................. 79

Sunday School .................................................. 53

MAY 6, 2018

Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 26

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................. 48

Sunday School .................................................. 44

MAY 13, 2018 Our Presence

8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................... 19

10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship ............................. 85

Sunday School .................................................. 46

Prayers Requested

Susan Dowden

Memorials … A contribution has been given in memory of Carolyn Burks by Karen Hall.

Avondale UMC recently received a thank you letter and certificate from

CWS Blankets “In grateful recognition of your support for emergency response and sustainable development around the world through

Church World Service.”

Thanks to all who supported this mission. Your generous donation to the

CWS Blankets program tells people in crisis, “you are not alone, someone cares.”

We would like to thank our Avondale UMC family for the calls, cards, and prayers. They keep us going. Some days

are good, some not so good. Les and Shirley Lowrey

We would like to thank you all for the kindness and compassion that you shared with us during the time of the loss of our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Carolyn Burks. Your kindness and support shown by the family dinner and the heartfelt funeral service was truly appreciated. Thank you.

Mike Burks, Sonja Myer and the rest of Carolyn Burk’s family.

Joyful Java It Is! The coffee-naming competition held recently at Avondale UMC raised a total of $82.00 (our goal was $60.00). The winning name, Joyful Java, received votes totaling $52.00.

Join us—everyone is welcome!

A new guild begins June 2, and will meet in Wesley Hall the first Saturday of every month, from 10:30 a.m. until noon.

The Finer Things Guild is a craft group open to everyone. The Guild will provide bev-erages, crafters must supply their own projects

PAGE 3 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 7:00 p.m. Cathedral Choir in Practice Room

SUNDAY, MAY 20: Graduation Sunday 8:30 a.m. Missions Meeting in Avonaires Room

10:50 a.m. Children’s Church

Noon: Reception in Wesley Hall for Graduates 1:00 p.m. Girl Scout Ceremony in Wesley Hall

MONDAY, MAY 21 7:00 p.m. Finance meeting in Contemporary Life

TUESDAY, MAY 22 1:00 p.m. Bible Study in Contemporary Life

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 7:00 p.m. Cathedral Choir in Practice Room

THURSDAY, MAY 24

10:30 a.m. Prayer Team in Chapel

SUNDAY, MAY 27 8:00 a.m. to Noon: Blood drive in Wesley Hall 4:30 p.m. Youth “Summer Bash” Pizza and Games

MONDAY, MAY 28

Office Closed for Memorial Day

TUESDAY, MAY 29

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

THURSDAY, MAY 31

10:30 a.m. Prayer Team in Chapel

SATURDAY, JUNE 2 10:00 a.m. Prayer Walk

10:30 a.m.-Noon: The Finer Things Guild in Wesley Hall

MONDAY, JUNE 4 10:00 a.m. Newsletter deadline

TUESDAY, JUNE 5 Special Election in Contemporary Life

THRIFT SHOP HOURS 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday

12 to 3 p.m. Saturdays

Kansas City’s Kindest Award Synergy Services’ 28th Annual “Kindest Kansas Citian Award 2018” has honored Anita

Gorman, along with Bill and Christy Gautreaux on Friday, May 4 at the Kansas City Zoo. Congratulations, Anita!

Celebrating Our Graduates Join us for a cake and punch reception in Wesley Hall on Sunday, May 20, at noon, to

celebrate the following graduates: Drake Edmonson, grandson of Jean Hollaway

Grace Frame, granddaughter of Judy Frame

Madison Frame, granddaughter of Judy Frame

Melanie Gunn, granddaughter of Margaret Smith

Jax Hickernell, grandson of John and Mary Hickernell James Jacoby, grandson of Anita Gorman

Nathan Lightfoot, son of Betsy and Jonathan Lightfoot Daniel Newbury, grandson of Les and Shirley Lowrey

Jim Rinelli, grandson of Bill and Velma Farrar A card basket will be available.

Youth News There will be no Youth Group on Sunday, May 20. We will have an end-of-the-school-year bash on Sunday, May 27, with pizza and games as well as a meeting about our mission trip and summer events. I am aware that May 27 is Memorial Day weekend. If you are unable to attend, let me know and we will find a time to communicate. There are event/attendance requirements in order to go on the mission trip. These events will be shared on Sunday, May 27 at 4:30 pm.

Taylor Tracy, Music & Student Ministry Director

June Birthdays: 2: June Edwards

3: Andrew Halterman

5: Kaitlyn House

6: Macie Cowden

7: Allison Hamilton, Terri Bonar 8: Shellea Neilsen-Montgomery

10: Marion Taylor, Mark Wear 12: Bill Taylor 17: Karen Gibson, LaVerne Pulliam

20: Elizabeth Boman, Rev. Choongho Kwon, John Livingston

22: Sidnea Shelton

24: Jackson Garrett, Mary Hickernell, 26: Nancy Mehl 28: John Hickernell, Carter Tapp

30: Marlene Frakes, Pat Jenkins

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

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/

Mark your calendars

and join us on a

Rolling River Rampage

Vacation Bible School July 13 at AUMC

July 14 at Wilderness Camp

July 15 at AUMC

All Ages Welcome

Pause for NAWS The Missions Committee is asking AUMC to again Pause for NAWS, the Northland Animal Welfare Socie-ty. They offer a multitude of pet ser-vices at low or no cost to those who qualify and are also open to the general public for neuter/spay, grooming, etc. We will be taking donations, both monetary and wish list needs from May 20 through June 17. Wish list supplies include bottled water, reams of copy paper, tape, new mops, brooms, bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels and used bath towels. There will be a box for collections in the Narthex.

Picnic in the Park on Father’s Day The annual AUMC Picnic in the Park will again be held on Father’s Day, June 17, at Macken Park shelter

#1, hosted by your Missions committee. Hot dogs, buns, water, condiments and paper supplies will be provided. Bring your favorite picnic dish and chairs if you would like. Last year we had great fellowship with sixty-five people in attendance. We hope to see you there.

Missions Meeting/Pet Pictures

There will be a Missions committee meeting on Sunday, May 20 in the Avonaires room at 8:30 a.m. Missions team (or other AUMC members) please send a picture of your pet, or grandpet for me to print and put on our NAWS box.

Please send them to Valerie at: vgoodman@smithfield.com.