Central Messenger - January 2012 by abby carr

Central United Methodist Church 5144 Oak Street | Kansas City, MO 64112 (816)753-1844 | centralcares.com facebook.com/centralcares

january 2012 Central United Methodist Church celebrates Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unconditional love that changes lives every day, as together we reach up to God, reach within ourselves, and reach out to the world.

a note from jim Happy New Year! We enjoyed a delightful Advent/Christmas season at Central. The new angel banners swirling through the sanctuary have been so well received that we will keep them up through January. Our music has been superb and gives us a taste of things to come. So many people have devoted extra hours to cooking, serving, cleaning, singing, playing, preparing and praying. Thank you for making this a great Christmas! The building project gains momentum and comes inside during coming weeks. Watch closely for ways that you can help prepare our existing building to connect with the addition. Several rooms need paint and décor. We will do some work in the ECC/Children’s Sunday School areas as well. The Church Council has approved a budget that reflects progress toward lessening our reliance on savings/endowment. Thank you for your financial support of the church. You can get a copy of the budget in the church office. We look forward to a new year of extending our radical hospitality; enriching our intentional faith formation; offering inspiring passionate worship; developing greater risk-taking missions; and inviting people to experience extravagant generosity. This is going to be an exciting season at Central. Invite your friends to share with you. Eagerly,

Jim Simpson | Pastor

WE LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR OF EXTENDING OUR RADICAL HOSPITALITY; ENRICHING OUR INTENTIONAL FAITH FORMATION; OFFERING INSPIRING PASSIONATE WORSHIP; DEVELOPING GREATER RISK-TAKING MISSIONS; AND INVITING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY.

January Worship Highlights January 1: Happy New Year! Regular schedule. Worship will celebrate Epiphany, an annual Methodist covenant renewal, and Jim’s message will explore the role of Anna and Simeon in welcoming the baby Jesus at the Temple. The Lord’s Prayer Series (January 8, 15, 22, & 29) Along with Baptism and Communion, the Lord’s Prayer may be the greatest connecting point of Christian worship across the centuries and cultures. What is it about this prayer that keeps it at the center of Christian practice? What does it mean? How does it invite us to live? These services and messages will include a dialogical element that will engage the congregation. Come reach higher, go deeper, and grow in your faith.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PRAYER THAT KEEPS IT AT THE CENTER OF CHRISTIAN PRACTICE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? HOW DOES IT INVITE US TO LIVE?

2 CENTRAL MESSENGER | JANUARY 2012

couples ministry What Will Next Year Bring? As we begin a New Year, we may experience many different emotions. We may feel a little anxious about what may be in store for us. We may be excited about what may be in store for us. The reality is that whatever the New Year brings our way, we can be co-creators with God of the direction and path our year may take. One of the popular questions we are often asked is “What are your resolutions for the New Year?” Making resolutions regarding our relationship involves looking at what is going to be best for both of us. Have you ever stopped to consider that making New Years resolutions is really promise making? In an article from the bettermarriages.org website Greg and Priscilla Hunt remind us that “with a promise we steal some of the uncertainty from tomorrow. We stake a claim on the unknown future and declare that we will not leave it to chance or whim. Every resolution is a commitment to be intentional about what comes next.” Remember, we can’t change the past, but we can shape our future together. One of the things we think about at the beginning of a New Year is that we have an opportunity to alter our course, if need be, by deciding together what we want it to be. We can then love our way toward the future on the promises we make to each other.

WITH A PROMISE WE STEAL SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTY FROM TOMORROW. WE STAKE A CLAIM ON THE UNKNOWN FUTURE AND DECLARE THAT WE WILL NOT LEAVE IT TO CHANCE OR WHIM.

Greg and Priscilla suggest a few promises we might consider making for 2012: Initiate at least 5 times as many positive moments in your relationship as negative moments. Learn and practice your partner’s love language every day. Listen to your partner with the goal of understanding his or her perspective. Identify, celebrate, focus and build on current relationship strengths. Write them down.

REMEMBER: WE CAN’T CHANGE OUR PAST, BUT WE CAN SHAPE

OUR FUTURE TOGETHER. WE CAN THEN LOVE OUR WAY TOWARD THE FUTURE ON THE PROMISE WE MAKE TO EACH OTHER.

Don’t waste time and energy making New Year’s resolutions that you know you won’t or can’t keep. Resolve to invest time and energy in your relationship and experience relationship success in 2012! We may not know exactly what this New Year will bring our way, but we can be sure that together with God we can face whatever it may present to us. We hope that you will use this opportunity to keep growing in our relationships. Happy New Year! Keep growing...

Clark & Ruth Achelpohl

Watch for Great Dates at Central starting on February 18, 2012. Time and place will be the same: 5:00 PM at Central UMC. We look forward to seeing you there.

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central culture Mather Class December Schedule

Central Chili Cookoff!

NOTE FOR MEMBERS: Because of the New Year Holiday, there will be NO class held on January 1. After January 1, class will temporarily be relocated to Kenwood Hall because of the current church construction project.

Mark your calendars and check your spices! The third annual Central chili cookoff is Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in Kenwood Hall.

January 8:

Gary Wesche | “HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Polar Science’s 100th Year Birthday

Our resident science teacher will discuss with us why this special event is so important to the world.

January 15 & 22:

Dr. Robert Gamer | Christianity in Asia

Over these two weeks, Bob returns to his most recent two-month trip to several countries in Asia and will show slides about the status of Christianity there. Be there for this two-part series!

Practice Presence January Dates A traveling contemplative prayer group. Wednesday mornings, 7:458:30am. We begin with 10 minutes of settling in (drinking tea, absorbing the surroundings). Following a short reading and introduction, there will be 20 minutes of silent meditation–seated and/or walking. January 4 : Barrows Chapel at Central United Methodist January 11 & 18: Pilgrim Chapel January 25: Inside greenhouse at Kauffman Gardens

Sunday Morning Christian Education at Central United Methodist

All classes meet at 9:30am on Sundays. The Pastor’s Class Kenwood Hall

Samaritans’ Class Oak Hall Young Adults

The Mather Class

Wesley Hall “A class for all ages studying the Bible, our community, and the world.”

College-Age

Age 3 - Kindergarten Room 105

1st - 5th Grade Room 206

6th - 12th Grade Youth Room

“The Nest” (Nursery) Room 107

Oak Hall

4 CENTRAL MESSENGER | JANUARY 2012

Check the blue cards or notify the office if you will be entering the chili and/or dessert competition. The more the merrier! Can Vi Pherigo repeat her dazzling performance as last year’s chili champion? Will Megan McCurdy make a strategic comeback? Will 2010 champ Chad Leabo be in the running? Or will a new favorite emerge? We won’t know until February 4. But you will want to be there when it happens!

Mission Mart & Gift Card Fundraiser Thanks to all who participated in Central’s gift card fundraiser and Mission Mart. These were two new and successful ventures to raise money for missions while providing holiday shopping opportunities. The gift card fundraiser produced nearly $500, which will go a long way toward helping our youth travel to a mission opportunity this summer. Thank you for your patience and participation in this fundraiser. Now that we’ve figured it out, we will likely offer it again. About a dozen vendors participated in the Mission Mart. The United Methodist Women raised about $330 for missions by selling goodies and terrific table runners handmade by Cindy Wienstroer. Cindy also raised $50 for the Festival of Sharing through her table runner fundraiser. The Mozambique Initiative raised about $320 for the Parsonage Project by selling cashews, chili and Connie Hubbard’s incredible handpainted chicken eggs. Youth member Anna Sell raised $30 for the Heifer Project by selling beautiful handmade jewelry. Items were also marketed to benefit the Boy Scouts, youth group, Pilot Club of Lenexa and other worthwhile causes. We look forward to continuing the Mission Mart next year in the new space!

CECC news CECC Enrollment Begins Soon! CECC

Enrollment for the 2012-13 school year and Summer 2012 begins March 1st for our currently enrolled families and Central UMC members. On April 1, enrollment is opened to the public. Central UMC members also receive a special discount on monthly tuition. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about any of our classes! You will also want to schedule a tour to see the program for yourself. Brochures and enrollment forms will be available by mid-February, so be sure to check out our web page at www.centralcares.com. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis, so enroll early! Directors make the final decision on classroom assignments for all children.

“Jazz it Up!” Silent Auction and Dinner CECC will be holding its annual Jazz It Up! Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, Feb. 10th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Kenwood Hall. There will be a jazz combo comprised of UMKC Conservatory students, good food, fun and games for children and awesome auction items to bid on—you won’t want to miss it! Also, if you would like to make a donation of an item or have a connection to procure items for our Silent Auction, we would love donations! Specifically, we are looking for items in the following categories: cooking, gardening, entertainment and children’s books/toys. Contact Donna Brown or Trina Taft, at 816-753-1844 or central_ecc@yahoo.com if you can help. Tickets will go on sale at the end of the month—watch for the auction preview, starting on Sunday, February 5th! We’ll see you on February 10th!

WE WOULD LOVE DONATIONS! SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: COOKING, GARDENING, ENTERTAINMENT AND CHILDREN’S BOOKS & TOYS. CONTACT DONNA BROWN OR TRINA TAFT IF YOU CAN HELP. WE’LL SEE YOU ON FEBRUARY 10TH!

Additional Infant Room and Extended Day Classes to Open in January 2012 We are excited to announce that Pam Cutelli will be opening the additional infant room (102) after the first of the year. Pam is one of our most gifted infant teachers and will be a great fit for this single teacher classroom. She will also be close by to continue to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with all the infant/toddler teachers. We’re very proud of the team of teachers we have teaching our infants and toddlers. With this expansion we will also be adding to our Extended Day program. We will be having 3 rooms open for AM Extended Day and 5 rooms will be used for the PM Extended Day classes. We have hired Rebecca Clair to help staff our afternoon extended day classes as well as adding to some of the other teacher’s schedules. We are thrilled with how our program continues to grow!

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central culture Finance Report The finance committee is pleased to announce that the Heart of Giving stewardship education campaign was a great success. We increased our pledges $50,000 to a total of $400,000 in congregational tithes. This matched our aggressive goal of a 15% increase. This is a big shot in the arm for the 2012 operational budget. We are slated to only have a small shortfall, while paying our apportionments in full. It’s the strongest budget we’ve put together in nearly a decade. While we are very happy with how things are trending, we still have a large challenge ahead of us. We need continue increasing tithes and growing our congregation at a strong clip. This is for two main reasons: Borrowing from savings—We expect to borrow $75,000 from savings in 2012. This borrowed amount has ranged from $75,000 to

$200,000 in the past ten years. During that time our church has utilized our savings to offset the lack of growth in congregational tithes. Now our savings is running low. It is expected to run out in the next few years. Our goal is to fund a budget without the use of savings in the next few years. Further, we’d like to grow the savings back to an adequate amount for a rainy day fund. Increase in expenses—Walking around the church, you’ll see that we are running on a bare bones budget. There are many items that need to be repaired, redecorated or upgraded. We would really like to get these items addressed in the next couple of years. This will improve the overall safety and experience of our church. Additionally, we’d like to commit more financial resources to outreach activities and programming of the church. Thanks again for your continued support of Central.

College Ministries Update Hello Central! This is my first official greeting to the congregation since I have taken over the position with the College-Age Ministry, so I want to start by thanking all of you who have given your time and talent to help with the Wednesday night dinners. Without you and your kindness, we would not be reaching the huge number of students that we now have relationships with. My dream for this ministry is that the students feel welcomed into the arms of our community in the same way that Brian and I did when we first walked through the doors. A fact of life in the world of a college student is that they do not tend to go to Sunday morning services, which is where the majority of our large-scale fellowship takes place. College-age people are at a time in their lives that where they are in the process of forming new long-term bonds and changing relationships that they have relied on up to this point in their lives. This is a time in life where people are developing new support systems, and they need to know people from all age groups and walks of life. I invite all of you to reach out and give these students the gift of your friendship. The core of this ministry is forming relationships with people. A college-age person has as much of a need for a friendship with someone their grandmother’s age as with someone their own age. Currently the easiest access point we have to facilitate these friendships is Wednesday dinners. Please come join us and get to know some of these students.

6 CENTRAL MESSENGER | JANUARY 2012

Our first Wednesday meal of the new semester will be January 11th. We will be asking for volunteers to help cook and host meals starting with the week of January 18th. Our attendance for the weekly meal ranges from 30 to 40 students a week. This is a wildly successful event, but with that success comes a strain on you, the volunteers, to cook for that many people. Because of this, the decision has been made to expand the request for cooks for this semester. We will now have 2 openings each week for the main course. It will not matter if both people bring the same dish or not, in fact, variety is a good thing! This will bring the number of people you cooking for from 40-ish to 20 or so. It is still a HUGE number, but I think will be much more manageable. And finally, thank you Central for giving me the opportunity to lead this part of our ministry. This is one of the most amazing adventures I have been on (and trust me, I have had some pretty cool adventures so far in my life), and I look forward to every minute I get to spend on this ministry. I love the community we have at Central, and I love the students I have been blessed to get to know. As those two worlds merge, I know you will all fall in love with each other as much as Brian and I have.

Alexis Cook | College-Age Minister

central culture

reStart Update What a terrific holiday season it has been…reStart happened because of the wonderful Central family! The holidays continued with our visit on Sunday. Sunday, December 18th was a great day for taco salad at reStart. Helpers Gabe, Nicki and Joseph Okafor joined with Jim and Christopher Affolter (friends of Central), along with Roger and Susan Odneal. The team prepped the food, and then served it to over 130 hungry guests, complete with the wonderful treats prepared by Ann Leabo, Marianne McGuire and Janis Smith. It truly takes a Central village to have reStart. Every time, some serve the food but many, many join in the Plans are underway to determine dates for 2012. We’ll comcommitment by providing the food items. municate it widely and look forward to active participation by Thanks go to Nancy Green, Brad Pearson and Steve DeWilde, the Central family. the Achelpohls, Janis Smith, Lynnis Jameson and Larry Hamel, Diane Hunter, the Brammells, Ted Wienstroer, Joyce White, the Thanks to all for an incredibly successful 2011, Sowells, and the Gonzagowskis for providing the food this time. We left behind some ‘extra’ holiday cookies (from our Jill Gonzagowski, Sherri Scharff, Susan Odneal cookie exchange) and all were so appreciated by the reStart Central’s reStart Leaders team and guests.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1/3: Jayne Boeck, Joshua Hubbard, Betty Linn, Trina Taft 1/4: Norman Arbo, Allan Buenger 1/5: Doug Ballard, Nicky Okafor 1/6: Caren Chellgrenl 1/7: Lynn Kinsman 1/9: Jon Krueger 1/11: Ruth Blake 1/12: John Hickman, Megan Miller, Luke Stewart-Jones 1/13: Elizabeth Andersen, Thomas Atkin 1/14: Lori Brammel 1/15: May Gamer 1/16: Christoph Armstrong, Joseph Green 1/17: Greg Callahan, Kaitlin Gonzagowski, Victoria Kandt 1/18: Eric Frye 1/19: Wilda Haverkamp 1/20: Lawson Williams, Preston Williams 1/22: Laura Gitterman 1/23: Cora Bruce, Paula Kenyon-Vogt, Jim Thornton 1/26: David Andersen, Meredith Moser 1/28: Jim Hunter 1/31: Joyce White

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CECC PRESENTS

DINNER & SILENT AUCTION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 | 5:30PM

Central United Methodist Staff

Address Service Requested MAILED FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

UPCOMING EVENTS @ CENTRAL:

Jim Simpson | Pastor jim@centralcares.com

Kyle Linson | Dir. of Music & Worship Arts kyle@centralcares.com

Justin McCoy | Organist/Pianist justin@centralcares.com

Donna Brown | Dir. of Early Childhood Center central_ecc@yahoo.com

Betty Clay | Administrative Assistant office@centralcares.com

Lee Jackson | Dir. of Children & Family Ministries lee@centralcares.com

Alexis Cook | College-Age Minister alexis@centralcares.com

Abby Carr | Publications Assistant abby@centralcares.com

Steve & Greg Cutelli | Evening Receptionists Lisa Wynn | Sunday Receptionist

CECC Jazz It Up! Dinner and Silent Auction: February 10, 5:30-7:30pm