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Rainbow Mennonite Church's midweek update
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GET READY FOR SOME LIVELY MUSIC!!  Stand up, clap your hands, dance if you want! This will all happen at 7:00 pm on May 20th in the Sanctuary. Be sure to arrive on time as the doors will close at 7:15. Bring your friends and bring the kids. Let’s fill the place up. The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra will be playing some lively music with a Latin flare. The concert is free and open to the public. We will see you there! If questions, contact Keith Jantz or David Bluford.


Rainbow News May 17, 2023
 
Upcoming Events


May 17 - Wednesday
  • Women’s Lunch in person at Eggct. 11:00 AM
May 20 – Saturday
  • KC Latin Jazz Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM
May 21 – Sunday
  • Worship Service 9:30 AM
  • Community Building Time 10:30 AM
  • Faith Formation Hour 10:50 AM
May 22 – Monday
  • Bible Study online 5:00 PM
May 23 – Tuesday
  • Staff Meeting 12:00 PM
May 24 – Wednesday
  • Piecemakers (Quilters) 10:00 AM
Office Notes / Staff Updates

Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Thurs - Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
 
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, May 21, 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 Psalm 121.
 
This Sunday we will be celebrating our high school graduates Joel Bollinger, Elsie Fleming, and Caleb Stoltzfus with light refreshments during community building time. Baskets will be available for cards.
 
The current Adult education class will be offered until May 21st and additional information about the adult Sunday school, including Zoom link, is available at THIS LINK.
 
No Place Like Home: Lessons in Activism from LGBT Kansas, 
by C.J. Janovy
Class facilitators: 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.
 
May 21st will be the last Sunday for children’s Sunday School! We will take a break this summer and gather again in the fall.
 
Congregational Highlights

The drama/worship team for the Mennonite Assembly in KC this summer needs to borrow four wooden kitchen dining chairs the first week of July 3-6. Would anyone at Rainbow have some they could borrow? If so, contact the church office.
 
Are you interested in serving Rainbow as a paid interim, working with the Faith Formation Board to care for our children, youth and their families? Click on the links below to see the two interim job postings. And please help spread the word!
 
Facilitator Birth-6th Grade (15 hours a week)
Facilitator 7th-12th Grade (15 hours a week)
 
Our 4th and 5th graders will be selling Rainbow T-shirts during the second hour. Let's show them how much their fundraising efforts for the P&SJ's commissioned artwork means to RMC. They make great gifts, sleepwear, workout shirts, or beach cover-up. Rainbow is a peace church and we have the t-shirts to prove it! Shirts cost $25 each.
 
Joint response from Church Council and Stewardship Committee:
During last Sunday’s Spring Congregational meeting, an individual asked why Matthew Lewis Estate Fund proposals submitted in 2022 have not been made public. We apologize for this oversight and offer the following explanation: As the proposal list was being curated by the Stewardship Committee, the Church Council recommended (see May 26, 2022 Council minutes) that the Stewardship Committee not pursue or evaluate any of these proposals until after the congregation did further goal setting. Proposals could then be evaluated against those future goals of the congregation. In response to this recommendation, the Stewardship Committee paused the evaluation process. The evaluation process is still currently paused. We apologize for not highlighting this beyond Church Council minutes (found on church website). And since a request has been made to see the list of proposals, here is what was submitted to the Church Council on August 23, 2022. 
 
A note from Rainbow Personnel Committee about changes ahead: With Sarah Neher's imminent move to Beatrice, NE, she has reduced her hours to half-time (20 hours). This half-time arrangement will run from May 13 through July 11, with Sarah's farewell scheduled for Sunday, July 9. For more on Sarah's changes ahead and current proposals regarding the soon-to-be open staff position, click here for Pat Peter's remarks at the Spring Congregational meeting last Sunday. 
 
Seeking people who wonder (and are willing to help kids wonder, too): we're looking for volunteers to help us wonder in worship during the summer months. A number of folks are regular and willing volunteers, but if you'd like to join the list to lead the Moment of Wonder portion of worship, please contact Rosi at rpkaufman@rainbowmennonite.org.
 
The end of April typically marks the end of the choir season. We have had a great time singing and leading worship, but it's time to give others a chance. I invite anyone who would like to share musically, either with a solo, or organizing an ensemble, or even an idea of something you'd like to hear, to contact me at rpkaufman@rainbowmennonite.org. I can help find music or help with scheduling, but I know there are talents out there that we haven't heard!
 
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! Respond to Sarah (sarah@rainbowmennonite.org) with their name, accomplishment, and school/program by TODAY. We will be celebrating graduates during the service on May 21st.
 
Faith Formation

Upcoming Activities
Sunday, May 21st | Senior Recognition 9:30 am 
 
This Sunday concludes the Faith Formation programming for this academic year. Thank you to all the Sunday School Teachers, Youth Sponsors, Mentors, parents, children, and youth who participated. I would like to recognize the Faith Formation Board for their work, guidance, and vision this year. – Sarah Neher

Rainbow Peace and Social Justice News

MORE2 is hosting a local training at Rainbow on Saturday, June 2, from 9 am-3 pm (Lunch provided). We'd like to get a Rainbow team to participate in this training. If interested, contact Laura Schmidt (mizzou4laura@gmail.com). 
 
MORE2 was created in 2004 as a social justice organization representing different faith traditions, cultural backgrounds, races, and economic means. From MORE2 website: As people of faith, we are called to break down barriers that divide us by race and class. Rather than providing services or programs, we work to change policies through grassroots movements, in ways that promote racial and economic equity in KS and MO. 
 
Community Sharing

KC Melting Pot Theatre play, "Stew" performances May 11- May 20. NOTE:  the Sunday matinee on May 14th was canceled, so we have changed the date of the Rainbow group to Thursday May 18th at 7:30 pm. Please join us or attend any performance at your convenience. The play follows four generations of Tucker women who gather in their mother's kitchen, conversing with camaraderie and wit. But as the stew simmers on the stove, so do family secrets. It was a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer. Tickets at Kcmeltingpot.com or 816-226-8087. Use promo code KyseS and don't mark senior or student. Questions?  Susan Kysela 816 809-2557
 
Wayne Stucky, member of the Southern Hills Mennonite Church, Topeka, KS and past MDS Region 3 Board Chair is planning a MDS Service trip to Red Lake Minnesota August 19 through 26, 2023. This is an invitation for volunteers (a total of 10) from the congregations of the I-70 churches (Salina, Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City). Volunteers - young or old, male or female, skilled or unskilled are welcome to fellowship together and share the Love of Jesus and bring hope to a community suffering a disaster. Red Lake is in a beautiful part of the country and the average temperature is around 77 degrees in the August timeframe. The Red Lake Nation is home to the Ojibwe Indian tribe. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to experience and learn a unique Native American culture during the week. Click here for more information.
 
RDA is hiring for the Rainbow Summer Program! Our summer program is fast approaching and we are still in need of program facilitators to fill our classroom positions! Our job descriptions can be found here and if you or anyone you know may be interested please contact, Ajhanae Franklin.
 
Mennonite Church News and Resources

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. The 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/
 
Online registration is open for MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s leading faith formation event, in Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center, July 3-6, 2023. Registration is also open for the Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, and the Delegate Assembly, July 7-8. Early bird pricing ends on May 14. Register here: convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration
 
Everence will hold an informative Medicare webinar on Tuesday, May 30, starting at 6:30 p.m. Topics will include, when and where to sign up for Medicare, what Medicare does (and doesn’t) cover, Medicare Parts A, B, C and D in clear, understandable language plus budgeting for health care costs in retirement. There will also be time for your questions. Information will be presented by staff from the Everence offices in Central Kansas. To register contact Everence at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.


Attendance recommended for those approaching retirement or those ready to sign up for Medicare. Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investments and other products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee. Products and services offered through Everence Trust Company and other Everence entities are independent of and are not guaran­teed or endorsed by Concourse Financial Group Securities, or its affiliates.
 
For recent links to Mennonite Publications, click below:
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1444 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103 Phone: 913-236-8820
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Rainbow Mennonite Church · 1444 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS · Kansas City, KS 66103 · USA

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