Welcome to the E-pistle -- your weekly news update from Brentwood Christian Church.

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417-881-0144

brentwoodchristianchurch@gmail.com

First Sunday of Advent

Updated for Advent! In Person Worship Guidelines

10:00 a.m. Livestream

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Updated in person worship guidelines beginning this Sunday for children and adults
Here are a few updates to our in person worship guidelines [view all guidelines here]. Remember, masks and social distancing are still required at all times while inside the building.

All Ages: Because temperatures are getting colder, it’s more difficult to gather outdoors following worship. With this in mind, you may gather in the downstairs Fellowship Hall following worship (not before worship) to share in conversation. Please mask and social distance.
Pre-K thru 2nd Grade: Children’s Church is now upstairs in Room 16. Nursery is in Rooms 12 & 14. (See details from Pastor Sarah below.)
3rd thru 5th Grade: Children's Church will be in Room 17, across the hall from the younger group. (See details from Pastor Sarah below.)
Children's Drop Off Location: Drop off for children is no longer downstairs. Now, children may attend the beginning of worship service then go to Children’s Church. They’ll be dismissed from worship following the announcements, which take place toward the beginning of the worship service. (Children are also welcome to attend the entire worship service; Children’s Church is an option for those who prefer it.)

Thank you!
Thanks to everybody who helped prepare our sanctuary for Advent and Christmas! It looks beautiful and we are so grateful for your hard work.

Exciting Updates from our

Special Board Meeting!

We are entering into an exciting time in the life of Brentwood! While details will soon be announced, we are collaborating with Trinity Presbyterian Church to make some much needed, overdue updates to our sanctuary!

Because our congregations are partnering together, it means that each congregation is in a position to fund this project while maintaining all of our shared commitments to outreach and justice initiatives, which remain our top priority.

While this is still a fairly modest effort (there aren't any structural changes or additions to the building), it provides the opportunity to:

replace the original carpet (from 1980)
update our pews (special thanks to an anonymous donor for funding the pew reupholstery)
improve lighting
increase accessibility
paint the interior walls
get matching chairs for the choir
update the gathering area just outside the sanctuary with new lighting, flooring and painting (this is the area where people enter the church and where we can gather for coffee and such)
install a new sign outside that includes Trinity's name along with Brentwood's

If all goes as planned, it's our hope to have these updates completed in time for this Easter! (While updates are taking place we will gather for worship in the downstairs Fellowship Hall.)

Again, we will announce more details soon -- as well as ways that you can be involved. We'd like to express our deepest thanks to those who've donated to this project and have helped make it possible, including our friends from Trinity Presbyterian Church. Special thanks also to the special committee that's put so much hard work into these efforts all year long:

Diane Riedle, Stewardship Chair
Brent Fullington, Property Chair
Betsy Burris
Cindy Lear
Gary Stewart
Dan Bohannon (ex-officio)

Feel free to reach out to any of them (or to Phil and Emily) with questions.

We'll share more later, but wanted you to be the first to hear the exciting news!

Children's Church Updates from Pastor Sarah

Some exciting changes are in store for our children. Worship and Wonder has always been designed for children Pre-K through second grade. As needs have emerged, we are enacting some changes to provide more learning opportunities for all ages.

Pre-K thru 2nd Grade: Once children leave worship, children in Pre-K through second grade will go to Room 16 for a Bible story, sharing their “bubbles,” prayer and snacks and play. Parents will be asked to volunteer for this on a schedule. Please note that through the season of Advent, parents will be asked to do only one Sunday at a time. After Christmas, we would like parents to serve three weeks at a time. (This is negotiable so please give Sarah your feedback.)

3rd thru 5th Grade: Children in third through fifth grade will go with Sarah to learn Bible basics, Bible stories and a craft. This group will meet in Room 17, across the hall from the younger group. Thankfully some of our youth have volunteered to help!

Children will not be allowed to leave without a parent so please make sure to pick them up from the appropriate room. As always, whether or not children elect to leave the regular worship service is up to the parents. We look forward to the changes and hope you do too!

Crosslines Toy Store Updates

Our annual Crosslines Toy Store drive is collecting items for teens in the Ozarks from Nov. 7-Dec. 12. Each teen receives 5 gifts in the following price ranges: $25.00, $15.00, $10.00, a miscellaneous, and one knitted gift. Please do not wrap the gifts. If possible, leave the price tag on (as that is how they are separated by volunteers). You can bring your donations to the church and we will transport them to Crosslines. Here's a list of suggested gifts for teens.

Suggested Gift Ideas

The Great Information Update

We are trying to make sure that everyone connected to our church community has access to the information you need so we can best serve you.

Could you take a moment to fill out this Google Form so we can make sure our records are up to date? We greatly appreciate it!

Update My Info

News and Notes

Crisis Cold Weather Shelter Volunteers Needed
Cold weather season has begun which means our Crisis Cold Weather Shelter is opening up on nights that fall to or below freezing through the end of March. This year, we are part of a collaboration of churches that will be providing an inclusive shelter for couples, people with pets, and anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, especially those who are transgender and non-binary. The shelter will be at Asbury United Methodist Church (1500 S Campbell), which puts it a lot closer to downtown and a number of resources that are available to our unsheltered neighbors.

As was the case last year, our shelter depends on volunteers. There are a number of ways that you can volunteer. We need people to transport pets, people to do evening set-up and check-in, a laundry runner in the mornings, and of course overnight volunteers. You can sign up for a shift or two or more (some people sign up for the same shift each week, that way it becomes part of their routine. And then if the temps don't fall below freezing on your night, you get the night off) here.

Cold Weather Shelter Amazon Wish List
Here is the link to the Asbury Shelter Amazon shopping list. Please share with with all your faith communities and friends!
The address should be updated to 1500 S. Campbell, 65807. So if they add the item to their cart DIRECTLY FROM the list, it should automatically ship to that address. If they click on the item to view it, and then add it to the cart, we are not sure it will automatically know to ship to Asbury.

People are welcome to shop for the same or similar items locally and drop off to Asbury Church Moday-Thursday 9am-2pm when the church office is open.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/20RX40LA4E2CG

The AIDS Quilt Exhibition
A portion of the AIDS Quilt will be on display December 1-5 at National Avenue Christian Church (there is a flyer that has all of the information, so you can just include that if you'd like. I've attached it to this e-mail).

Introducing Virtual Church

Virtual Church provides an opportunity to come together via Zoom to share in conversations about life and faith with Emily and Phil. The format and structure is similar to the online sessions of Coffee & Conversation that took place before we went back to in-person gatherings for Coffee & Conversation.

When:
The first Virtual Church is scheduled for Dec. 7th at 10:00 a.m. They will then take place on the first Tuesdays of each month at 10:00 a.m.

Zoom ID: 490 261 7574

Justice Leadership Program

Who will join in the work of transforming the world?
As Christians we are called on to stand up for compassion and in opposition to injustice. Faith forms the foundation for action. If you feel the call, the Justice Leadership Program can show you how to take action. JLP exists to inform, equip and inspire those who have a passion for justice and a desire to get involved in the most important work in the world. We invite you to
Jubilee, a 6-month virtual program for adults who want to increase their understanding of social justice, deepen their faith, and gain the skills and confidence to take meaningful action.

www.justiceleadership.org
info@justiceleadership.com
Facebook/Instagram: Justice Leadership Program

Children & Youth Updates

Children's Fall Programming in Cooperation with Trinity Presbyterian:

Saturday, December 11: Christmas Crafts, 1:00-4:00 (Snacks and Crafts). We will be providing a little extra time for parents to do what they need to get ready for Christmas.

Children & Youth Amazon Wish List

Our Pastoral Team is Here For You

If you are going through a difficult time in life or have questions/concerns and would like to visit with one of our pastors, you may contact them by phone (417-881-0144) or email in order to set up a time (if it’s an emergency, using the phone to contact a pastor is best).

Rev. Dr. Phil Snider, Senior Minister
Rev. Emily Bowen-Marler, Associate Minister
Rev. Sarah Stephenson, Minister to Families
Rev. Charlie Bahn, Minister of Congregational Care

Email Dr. Snider

Email Rev. Bowen-Marler

Email Rev. Stephenson

Email Rev. Bahn

Stewardship Update

2021 Budget Goal thru Oct — $258,942
General Offering thru Oct — $245,509

Brentwood makes a profound difference locally and globally through a variety of programs, ministries and justice initiatives that are only possible because of your generous acts of giving. Indeed, it is only through your partnership that we are able to change the world together. Click here (or on the "Donate" button) to make a safe and secure online donation. Thank you in advance for your generosity.