Rev. Shanna Steitz Rev. R yan Motter Rev. Suzanne Mott Amy Fisher Jennifer Gilbert Levon Weaver November 5 Kae Keller Kevin Freeman November 12

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1 NOVEMBER 5, 2017 Ancient Prophets For Modern People We will hold a time of remembrance for all of our Saints during the Pastoral Prayer moment. You will have the opportunity to come forward and light candles in remembrance of those you have loved and lost. If you d like, you can bring a picture or a memento to place on the Communion Table and/ or the Candle table as we remember those saints with you. All mementos and memorials can be recollected after worship is over. Additionally, the next two Sundays, November 12 & 19, Louanne cary will be selling pumpkin bread to benefit the Food Pantry, as well. Get yours for only $5/loaf! Saints Remembered We especially pray for those Community members that have left us in this past year: Curt Hampton Sandi Holderman Uzziel Pecina George Saller Dean Spurgeon Charlotte Bevington Rev. Ryan Motter Associate Minister Rev. Suzanne Motter Children s Minister Amy Fisher Youth Director Jennifer Gilbert Nursery Supervisor Be A Saint This Sunday, November 5, is All Saints Sunday. So many of the saints we remember were generous in many ways. As a tribute to them and as an opportunity to live into their legacies of generosity, a Special Offering to support the work of Community Christian Church Food Pantry will be collected. We invite you to give as you are able so that your life may support the lives of others. Rev. Shanna Steitz Senior Minister November 5 I Kings (adapted) November 12 Amos 5:14-24 November 19 One Service: Congregational Meeting & Thanksgiving Sunday Isaiah 9:1-7 November 26 Jeremiah 29:4-14 Levon Weaver Business Administrator Kae Keller Executive Assistant Kevin Freeman Building Supervisor Will Evans Maintenance Jonathon Antle Organist John Stafford Choir Director Tim Whitmer Pianist 4601 Main Street Kansas City, MO (816) www. community-christian.org

2 What I really want to say... These weeks between the end of our commitment campaign and Advent were harder than usual to plan around. I decided to rely on the narrative lectionary to be our guide because it forces me to explore topics I might not otherwise choose. It gets me out of my comfort zone. Immediately upon looking at the passages before even opening up my Bible and just looking at the books and verses I knew I was in trouble. The narrative lectionary is one of a couple different prescribed structures to help move the church through an annual cycle of exploring the breadth and width of scripture. The narrative lectionary is on a four-year rotation. So, four years ago one could have looked at Fall 2017 and seen that the scriptures to be used in worship would be these tricky passages from the Hebrew prophets: Elijah, Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah to be specific. And smarter preachers than I would have made a different decision. However, as I spent some time with these texts, I realized how much these ancient prophets have to say to modern peoples. It has been a difficult 12-months in our world everything from the election that caused tremendous division, to the destruction of fires and hurricanes, to terrorism of all types. We wrestle with these issues, and it would seem our faith should inform all this. I know Jesus was certainly using these ancient prophets to inform his preaching in the stories you read of him, because just like these prophets, Jesus was dealing with oppression and injustice and how to live in a secular world that seems ever more complicated. I hope you will come to worship during this month having read these passages. I use Biblegateway.com to explore several different translations because sometimes one word will spark something in me, and I invite you to do the same. I know many of you even have new study Bibles from your recent work with my Ryan in the Deacon s Sunday School class. Let s really use them and engage both our heads and our hearts around these ancient messages to see how they might guide us in this time. Speaking of my Ryan and the Deacons Sunday School class, Ryan will resume leading a Sunday morning gathering this Sunday at 9:30am. By request of the group, they will be exploring God s activity in the world today. Is it true that, God is still speaking What is God doing and what are we supposed to be doing as disciples of Jesus? As Community Christian Church? We really didn t plan this, but sometimes the Holy Spirit helps you out! I think there can be really beneficial conversations between our worship, study, and prayer around these issues. I hope you ll be engaged, and even if you can t come to class that you ll prepare for worship by having read the scriptures in advance. Heck, send me questions, concerns, or thoughts. I may dump you back to our education time, but it might prompt something in me for our sermon as well. This is one more way we are invested in our own relationship with God and with our Community. How are we growing in our faith? How are we making our congregation stronger by deep and thoughtful conversations? I m going to pray about this and I hope you ll join me. Make sure you pay special attention to the items on the cover under the heading Be A Saint. And I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday. Coming Up at Community Every Sunday At Community 8:30 am Worship Service in Bonfils Chapel 9:30 am Education Hour 9:30 am Youth Group in the Youth Room 10:30 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary 11:30 am Coffee Fellowship Sunday, November 5 11:45 am Coffee Fellowship in the Gallery 4:00 pm Sunday Meal in the Park Tuesday, November 7 9:00 am Finance Meeting 2:00 pm Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Diaconate Meeting in the Jenkins Room 8:00 pm AA Meeting in Bonfils Chapel Wednesday, November 8 7:00 pm Choir Practice Thursday, November 9 10:00 am Chair Yoga in the Narthex 7:00 pm Alpha Group at the Cayton Residence in Blue Springs Friday, November 10 7:00 pm AA Meeting in Bonfils Chapel Saturday, November 11 6:00 pm Youth Progressive Dinner Sunday, November 12 9:30 am Administrative Council Meeting 11:45 am Elders' Meeting in the Jenkins Room PLAZA LIGHTING PARTY November 23 Doors open at 5:30 pm Switch thrown at 6:54 pm PRAYER CONCERNS New This Week: Continued Prayers For: Bonnie Penegar, Bob Maygar, Merit Hill, Jack Bohne, Chuck Motter, Norma Henderson, Leland Brown & his mother, & the families of C.E. Leigh & Richard Doak Blessings, Rev. Shanna

3 Lifetouch Photography Session Pictorial Directory! The much-desired new Pictorial Directory is happening! We have scheduled 6 photo days with Lifetouch: November 24, 25, & 26 as well as December 8, 9, & 10. We request that those in close proximity to the church building schedule their sitting on Friday or Saturday, leaving the Sunday times for those who come from further away. 8:30 worshipers, please feel free to make appointments for Sunday mornings immediately following worship! Each family will receive a Complimentary 8x10 portrait & Directory for participating In addition to the printed directory, we will also have an online directory! Click here to schedule your sitting! Cornerstones of Care: Wish Upon a Star It's that time of year again! We will continue our partnership with Cornerstones of Care by sponsoring Christmas gifts for local children in foster care. Sponsorship wish cards will be available in the Narthex following each service beginning Sunday November 5th. Please contact Liz McCullough at for additional details or with any questions or concerns. For over 125 years, the saints of this church have annually made it possible for future generations to thrive because of their commitments to this beloved community. One of the ways each of us can be a living saint is by saying, "I'm invested" in something bigger than ourselves and something that might last beyond our time on the planet. Thanks to everyone who has made an investment for You can still make your financial commitment and we'll run a finalized list on our Thanksgiving Sunday, November 19th. Norma Abernathy Brenda Barnes Suzanne Berry Aaron & Mollie Blackburn Linda Blackshere Carolyn & Jack Bohne Shelly Bolling-Strickland Ray & Nan Borden Ed & Sondra Bowers Letha Boyd Erv & Margaret Brewster Karl Bublitz Scott & Ingrid Busch Jorge Carballeira Louanne Cary Dick & Lura Cayton George & Rachel Chrisman Truman & Myra Christopher Bob & Donna Clark Jim Coakley Tom & Diane Cranshaw Dale & Lisa Craven Mike & Christie Crump Mark & Denise Dickerson Jim Dugan & Gaye Henderson Overton & Sue Durrett Scott & Donna Duschen Danny & Jackie Eberts Carol Edmondson Dorothy Elliot Orvil & Helen Emanuel Larry Evans & Gayle Woods Ron & Toni Faust Lois Fitzgerald George & Lyndia Flanagan Tyrone & Jennifer Gilbert Esther Gutierrez Darrel & Amy Hanan Kathy Hogarty Pam Holloway Carol Hon Marce Ireland Trent & Jan Jones Art Kent & Lydia Butler Kay Ketcham Bill Langley Betty Laughman Jan Marcason & Dick Purucker Jeanne Martin Bob & Kay Maygar Ron & Carol McAdoo Pauline McCreary Zach & Liz McCullough Judy Melton Nicole Melton Ken Mohler Ryan & Suzanne Motter Donna Muiller Vernie& Kristy Nerstheimer Louise Nyberg Janet Page Marj Palmer Linda Parvin Donna Porter Jay & Mary Reading Mary Reliford Arthur Ridge Judy Robinette Jonne Rose Vern Rourke & Cindy Gillispie Tom & Elaine Scatizzi Doug Shafer Luanne Shrout Cathy Silvey Earl Spurgeon & Susan Walker Spurgeon Ryan & Shanna Steitz Bob & Sandra Steitz Virgina Stewart Steven & Sandra Stites AnDray Strickland Eugene & Carol Suter Gerald Swanson Gary & Karen Tannen David & Carol Thompson Pam Thompson Sharon Thompson Clyde Thompson Lettie Vogel Jon & Gayla Voss Levon & Courtney Weaver Ann Weaver Rex Wiant& Laura Whitener DRAFT as of Steeple of Light The Steeple of Light is dedicated this weekend, Friday, November 3, 2017 through Sunday, November 5, 2017 by Megan Brownlee in honor of Becca and Will and in celebration of Megan & Bill's 29th wedding anniversary on Sunday, November 5, The Chancel Flowers may be dedicated any Sunday for $50. The Steeple of Light can be dedicated for $30 for one weekend evening, $75 for the entire weekend, and $50 for one weeknight.

4 Last Week at Community Thank You! The baby shower that was thrown for my family last Sunday was truly an awesome time! We cannot say thank you enough to the entire team that helped make it so special. The hospitality from the Tannen s and the entire fellowship team, the homegrown bags that Marce made and the decorations were spectacular. Courtney walked into Centennial Hall and let out a big WOW! The Midwest Chamber Ensemble held a wonderful concert in our sanctuary on Sunday night! Jack loved all of his gifts and we love the jogging stroller! It was such a fun time and we were very overwhelmed by all the generosity. We simply can t say thank you enough! Sincerely, Levon, Courtney, & Jack Weaver Testing out that ice cream from Betty Rae's that Rev. Shanna mentioned in her sermon! Community s Kids & Christmas Movie & Pizza Sunday, December 10 Noon Join us for a fun Christmas movie with a pizza lunch in the Jenkins Room after worship! Our new nursery has been busy! This week our littles made sure EVERY toy was pulled off the shelves. Please RSVP to the Church Office by Monday, December 4 so we can order enough pizza. Please let us know if there are special food needs. Rev. Suzanne Did You Know? You can order CDs of any of Rev. Shanna s Sunday sermons in the office, or even listen to them on Follow us on social media

5 Community of Faith in Worship 8:30 ANNOUNCEMENTS... Rev. Shanna Steitz Please fill out an attendance card, which can be found in the back of the pews, and place it in the offering basket. PRELUDE...Tim Whitmer *CALL TO WORSHIP Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to remember. Community: We gather to remember all those saints who journeyed before us in the footsteps of Jesus. Saints now gone yet blazed a path for us to travel. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to be inspired. Community: We gather to be inspired by those same saints to blaze our own path as Jesus calls us into new and faithful journeys. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to be challenged. Community: We are ordinary saints. Gathering together with extraordinary saints. Prayerfully and courageously journeying into God's future. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near and rejoice. *OPENING HYMN No. 476 "Rejoice in God's Saints" (vs 1-3) *OPENING PRAYER...Rev. Steitz MOMENT FOR COMMUNITY SCRIPTURE READING I Kings (adapted)... Shelly Bolling-Strickland Reader: The Word of God for the people of God. Community: Thanks be to God. *Scripture Response - Hymn No. 305: Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow r, send us grace! PASTORAL PRAYER... Rev. Ryan Motter Minister: Christ be with you. Community: And also with you. Minister: Let us pray. The Lord s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. AMEN SHARING OUR OFFERING Improvisation...Tim Whitmer *The Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. MORNING MESSAGE WELCOME TO THE TABLE In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful In the Lord I'll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice! Look to God, do not be afraid. Lift up your voices, the lord is near, lift up your voices, the Lord is near. THE PARTICIPATION IN HOLY COMMUNION All are welcome to receive the gifts of bread and cup. If you are unable to come forward, we are glad to serve you in your seat. *MUSIC FOR THE JOURNEY We Give Thanks" Oh, we give thanks for this precious day, for all gather'd here, and those far away; For this time we share with love and care, Oh, we give thanks for this precious day. *THE BENEDICTION... Rev. Ryan Motter POSTLUDE... Tim Whitmer *Please Stand, If Able

6 Community of Faith in Worship 10:30 PRELUDE...Jonathon Antle INTROIT *CALL TO WORSHIP...Rev. Shanna Steitz Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to remember. Community: We gather to remember all those saints who journeyed before us in the footsteps of Jesus. Saints now gone yet blazed a path for us to travel. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to be inspired. Community: We gather to be inspired by those same saints to blaze our own path as Jesus calls us into new and faithful journeys. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near to be challenged. Community: We are ordinary saints. Gathering together with extraordinary saints. Prayerfully and courageously journeying into God's future. Minister: Gather near, saints of God. Gather near and rejoice. *OPENING HYMN No. 476 "Rejoice in God's Saints" (vs 1-3) *OPENING PRAYER... Rev. Steitz CHILDREN S MOMENT... Rev. Suzanne Motter Following the blessing, the children will remain in worship with their parents. Worship bags are available. SCRIPTURE READING I Kings (adapted) Reader: The Word of God for the people of God. Community: Thanks be to God. *THE GLORIA PATRI No. 35 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. PASTORAL PRAYER...Rev. Ryan Motter Minister: Christ be with you. Community: And also with you. Minister: Let us pray. The Lord s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. AMEN SHARING OUR OFFERING Improvisation...Jonathon Antle *The Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION... Sue Durrett SPECIAL MUSIC Sine Nomine (For All the Saints) Williams... The Chancel Choir John Stafford, Choir Director MORNING MESSAGE WELCOME TO THE TABLE For All The Saints" PRAYER FOR THE BREAD & CUP... Doug Shafer WORDS OF INSTITUTION FOR THE BREAD & CUP...Rev. Ryan Motter THE PARTICIPATION IN HOLY COMMUNION All are welcome to receive the gifts of bread and cup. Partake of the elements as they are passed and then share them with your neighbor. MOMENT FOR COMMUNITY *MUSIC FOR THE JOURNEY Make Me a Servant" *THE BENEDICTION...Rev. Ryan Motter POSTLUDE...Jonathon Antle All are invited Coffee Fellowship Sponsored by the Diaconate in the Gallery *Please Stand, If Able

7 Scripture for Sunday, November 5 Say: The scripture reading today is I Kings (adapted) Listen for God to speak: God s word came to the prophet Elijah after three years of a terrible drought. Go and present yourself to Ahab; I m about to make it rain on the country. Elijah set out to present himself to Ahab and the moment Ahab saw Elijah he said, So it s you, old troublemaker! It s not I who has caused trouble in Israel, said Elijah, but you and your government you ve dumped God s ways and commands and run off after the local gods, the Baals. Assemble everyone in Israel at Mount Carmel. And make sure that the all the prophets of Jezebel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of the local gods, the Baals, and the four hundred prophets of the goddess Asherah, are there. So Ahab summoned everyone in Israel, particularly the prophets, to Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the people: How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds! Nobody said a word; nobody made a move. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a dual. Each would pray to their God and the one who answered with fire would win and all the people agreed. Fourteen verses later - Yahweh, God of Israel and of Elijah proved to be the winner. All the people fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming, God is the true God! God is the true God! After that, Elijah massacred all the prophets of Baal. Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: The gods will get you for this and I ll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you ll be as dead as any one of those prophets. Elijah ran for his life. He ran as far as he could get from the OVER ->

8 wrath of Jezebel. Finally, he collapsed under a tree wanting in the worst way to be done with it all to just die: Enough of this, God! Take my life I m ready to join my ancestors in the grave! Exhausted, he fell asleep. Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, Get up and eat! He got up, ate and drank his fill, and continued walking for forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. Reader Stops Then the word of God came to him: Elijah, what are you doing here? I ve been working my heart out for You, O God said Elijah. The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I m the only one left, and now they re trying to kill me. Then he was told, Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by. A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here? Elijah said it again, I ve been working my heart out for God, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I m the only one left, and now they re trying to kill me. God said, Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. Meanwhile, I m preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven t bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven t kissed his image. Reader: The Word of God for the people of God. Community: Thanks be to God.

9 SERVER ASSIGNMENTS MONITOR: Tyrone Gilbert DATE: 11/05/2017 COMMUNION PREP: Dais X AnDray Strickland Trent Jones Liz McCullough Donna Muiller Aaron Blackburn Offering: Communion: Sue Durrett Doug Shafer POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 3 & 4. Bring offering down for blessing 6. Serve roped area, Conference Room, & Balcony MONITORS: Count attendance; sort/secure offering with #3&4 positions; return communion trays to prep room post service. ARRIVE AT 10:15 TO CONFIRM ALL SERVERS & PRAY WITH ELDERS.