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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."
- From Becky Bartel to the Choir and Friends: “Hallelujah”
- Blessings from the Argentine Mennonite Church Family: "Dear Friends at Rainbow Mennonite Church-We at Argentine Mennonite Church would like to thank you for including us in your Maundy Thursday Service. Your compassion and understanding of our feelings in this part of our journey as a church family are greatly appreciated. We covet your prayers as we move forward. Thank you for your peace lily gift on Easter, a very fitting sign of God's love and hope, and your love." Note: Argentine is in the process of closing the church and discerning what to do with their church property and house/parsonage.
- After receiving hospital care this week due to some fall-related injuries, Jake Beachey has now been moved to St. Luke (South) hospital rehabilitation center, where he hopes to regain strength before moving to assisted living.
- Rainbow Church Council members, along with representatives from Personnel and Stewardship, will meet this coming Saturday for a leadership retreat. We welcome prayers as we continue to grapple with issues facing our church and the larger world. Special thanks to the Sapp-Yarwoods for hosting! -Gail Goeke, moderator
Office Notes / Staff Updates
Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Thurs - Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Sarah Neher, Director of Faith Formation & Congregational Life will be attending a gathering of Youth Pastors for Western District and South Central Conferences this Thursday in North Newton. April 25 - May 1 she will be on vacation.
The Trustees would like to alert the Rainbow community of exterior repairs to the building that is taking place this week and next week. We ask all visitors to enter the building on the West side to avoid any ladders and equipment. It will be safe to use both entrances for Sunday worship.
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 23, 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
So far, approx. 24 Rainbow congregants and members (divided into two groups) are participating in the Anabaptist Community Bible project. One of the groups will meet during the second hour in the Sunflower Room and the other by zoom on Mondays at 5 pm. If you would still like to join this project, please email Ruth at (ruthh@rainbowmennonite.org) And for more information about this project, click here for an hour-long webinar. Website: https://anabaptismat500.com/
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
Choir menu for Wednesday, April 19th: Grilled cheese sandwiches, Big Salad, etc.
Calling all graduates: We’d love to hear about the friends and family in your life that are graduating this year. From Kindergarteners to Doctoral students we want to celebrate! Email Sarah (sarah@rainbowmennonite.org) with their name, accomplishment, and school/program. We will be celebrating graduates during the service on May 21st.
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 and potluck. More details will be forthcoming.
Piecemakers had 4 items in the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale quilt auction last Saturday. A quilt made by Marsha Rhodes and her two sisters, and 3 comforters that were pulled from our MCC project comforters that we delivered. All 4 items raised nearly $1400.00!
Faith Formation
Upcoming Activities
4th-5th graders' spring party on April 30, 4-7 pm held at Naomi and Harold Wiebe’s house located at 5123 W 76th Terrace, Prairie Village, KS
Sunday, May 7th | Youth Group 6:00- 8:00 pm TBD
Church Camp: Please let me know if your child or youth plans to attend either Camp Mennoscah or Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. I would love to send them mail this summer. I will also send the list of who plans to attend to families. If you'd like to coordinate carpooling.
From the Deacons
The Deacons are gauging interest for a Healing, Learning, Growing short-term discussion group. The intention of this group is to heal, learn, and grow from past experiences as we move forward as a congregation. The group will have a facilitator and will be focused on what we have learned or are continuing to learn to help Rainbow move forward after the last several years of church conflict and the pandemic. Below are a few details:
· The group will have 5-7 participants. There may be multiple groups, depending on the number of people interested.
· Each person will commit to attend all the meetings.
· The group will meet 4-6 times for 1 1/2 - 2 hours each meeting.
· Group members will determine days / times of meetings.
· Discussion will be based on the interests and needs of the participants within the scope of the group description above.
If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Janelle Arnett Campbell janelleacampbell@gmail.com or 816-830-4793. Please respond by May 8.
Members
Congratulations to church member Ben Parker Sutter on his new job with Mennonite Central Committee. You can read more here: Parker Sutter concludes role as Digital Marketing Manager | Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (ambs.edu)
Hats off to Jesse Graber for being one of 80 educators nominated in the Kansas City-area Star’s Honor Roll! Here is what a student said regarding Jesse's attributes. And click here to read more and cast your vote!
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.
Mennonite Church USA is seeking Menno Snapshots blogs on the topic, “I choose to be Mennonite because...” Bloggers are encouraged to reflect on how they came to Anabaptism, what attracted them to our Mennonite theology and practices, and how this has impacted their lives. This is an ideal opportunity for the recently baptized and/or those who may have joined from other faith traditions. Suggested word count is 500-900 words. Youth are also encouraged to participate (no word count requirements). Read the blog guidelines and submit your blog here by May 22: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/blog-guidelines/
For recent links to Mennonite Publications, click below:
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