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Caring notes...
- From Linda Graham: "Thanks everyone for your kind wishes as I recover from knee replacement surgery. Please send positive energy my way so I can bend my knee better each day! I'm happy to be back home with Dale, who has been given a clean bill of health."
- Let's remember in prayer the congregation of Argentine Mennonite Church (Metropolitan Ave in KCK). They have come to the decision that they will not continue as a congregation. What happens to their building, parsonage and long legacy remains to be seen. We will share more information as it becomes available. For now, they welcome our love and prayers as they mark this ending and imagine the new beginning this may bring forth.
- Let's join together in loving prayer for and with Bob and Phyllis Carlson, as Phyllis continues receiving Hospice Care at home.
Office Notes / Staff Updates
Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Thurs - Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Church Administrator, Sarah Unruh, will be out of the office on Friday April 14 and Monday April 17.
Minister of Worship and Music, Rosi Penner Kaufman, will be off on Sunday April 16.
This week at Rainbow
Sunday:
- Worship Service: Offered in the sanctuary at 9:30 AM and by livestream on YouTube. View here or click the photo above to watch.
- Community Building Time in the Fellowship Hall: at 10:30 AM
- Faith Formation Hour: at 10:50 AM
Past or future videos are always available on YouTube. Search for Rainbow Mennonite Church KC.
This Sunday, April 16, for those participating via livestream, if you have a joy or concern you would like shared with the gathering, please email or contact Ruth Harder by 8 am Sunday morning (913.333.2605). The scripture focus will be on Matthew 28:16-20.
The Adult Education Committee will offer two new classes beginning Sunday, April 16, 2023 and ending on Sunday May 21, 2023. The two classes being offered are as follows:
Anabaptist Community Bible Project
Class facilitators: Brian Pauls and Ruth Harder
As the Anabaptist movement approaches its 500th anniversary in 2025, MennoMedia is commemorating the event by creating a first-ever study Bible from an Anabaptist perspective. It will include insights from leading biblical scholars, as well as insights, comments and questions submitted by 500 Bible study groups convening now, including one at Rainbow!
Study groups are asked to convene four times. Therefore, we will meet during the second hour the next four Sundays. If you can't make it on a given Sunday, or if you prefer to participate in this entirely online, you can join the zoom-based Monday night Bible study group from 5-6 pm.
If possible, we ask you to attend all four sessions (either online or in-person or a combination of the two.)
The first session (April 16 in person and April 17 zoom) will be an introduction. Please read this short article ahead of time. Anabaptists and the Bible
Website for more information: Anabaptism at 500
No Place Like Home: Lessons in Activism from LGBT Kansas, by C.J. Janovy
Class facilitator: Phil Rhoads and Clif Hostetler
The book tells the epic story of how a few Kansans, realizing they were unfairly under attack, rolled up their sleeves, went looking for fights, and ended up making friends in one of the country’s most hostile states. This book also looks forward, as an inspiring guide for progressives concerned about the future of any vilified minority in an increasingly polarized nation.
Additional information about adult Sunday school, including Zoom link, is available at THIS LINK.
Congregational Highlights
College Care Packages: It's hard to believe we are nearing the end of another school year! We are sending college care packages to our students as they finish their semester. Boxes are set up in the fellowship hall for you to add your small nonperishable items to the packages. We have 12 students this year. For a list click here. Deadline to contribute is April 16.
Latin Jazz Orchestra Concert: Save the date for a concert in the church. As part of our outreach effort into the community, the Outreach Committee and the Rainbow Performing Arts Committee will be hosting a live concert by the KC Latin Jazz Orchestra in the sanctuary on May 20th at 7:00 pm. This will be a free concert open to the public.
Our spring congregational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, following the second hour. More details will be forthcoming.
Faith Formation
Upcoming Activities
Friday-Saturday, April 14-15th | Kaufman Museum and MCC Sale
Sunday, May 7 | Youth Group 6:00- 8:00 pm TBD
Community Sharing
The Community of Christ will be holding its next World Conference April 22-28 at the Auditorium in Independence MO. This year they will be also honoring the Community Peacemaker Teams as the recipient of their International Peace Award. This award began in 1993 as part of their annual Peace Colloquy. This year's award will be during a service 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Saturday the 22nd in the Temple Sanctuary in Independence. Attendance is open to all, with no registration. The event will also be broadcast live on YouTube The link is: International Peace Award ceremony There will also be two "Lunch and Learn" times with the peace award recipients in the Temple--12:30-1:45 PM on the 22nd and 12:30-1:30 PM on the 24th.
Because of its historical beginnings, I believe this event will be of significant interest to the members of Rainbow Mennonite Church. I first became acquainted with Rainbow by meeting Phil Rhoads when we both participated in a CPT trip to oppose the use of Depleted Uranium in weapons during late 2006. -John Mueller
Mennonite Church News and Resources
All Western District Conference women are invited to join a virtual event sponsored by Western District Women in Mission on Tuesday, April 25. Jenny Gehman, spiritual director, retreat speaker, and writer, will present on "Holy Host: the Hospitality of God." Join us in person or virtually. Our in-person gathering will be at First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas, beginning with a salad potluck at 6 p.m. followed by Jenny joining virtually from Pennsylvania at 6:45 p.m. There is no cost to this event, but please register by April 23 by emailing westerndistrictwomen@gmail.com so you can receive a Zoom link if joining virtually. Please email your RSVP if attending in person and bring a salad to share. Church groups can consider gathering together to watch the Zoom. For more information, contact Wendy Schrag at 316-841-5245.
Camp Mennoscah has been offered a gift of $100,000 dollars. The money comes to Camp as a matching gift. We have been invited to raise money that will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.
In response to this generous gift, Camp Mennoscah has launched the M&M Project! M&M stands for Mission and Maintenance. We know you will want to be in on this opportunity to continue our Mission at Camp - to be a place where all can renew themselves, their relationships, and their connection with God through Jesus Christ. Click here to view more information.
For recent links to Mennonite Publications, click below:
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