Park Hill Christian Church

NEWSLETTER

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August 27, 2020

A Church Building is Intended for

Service to God’s Children

The God who made the world and everything in it is

the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in

temples built by human hands. And he is not served

by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather,

he himself gives everyone life and breath and

everything else.

--Acts 17:24-25 NIV

Let’s be clear about something. God isn’t confined to a church building. God is alive and at work everywhere in the world. Since the beginnings of Christianity until now, Christians have gathered in private homes, marketplaces and “down by the riverside.” If we aren’t careful, we can confuse a church building with God. It’s a dangerous habit of our mortal minds to confuse what is eternal with what is temporal.

I know of a church in the KC area that steadily declined in membership over the decades even though they had a nice church building. When their members grew too old and too few to maintain it, they chose to sell the building to another congregation. They made almost $1.5 million in the sale and could have used that money to restart the church in new ways, but they were too tired for such an effort. The building had ceased being a tool for ministry long ago, and without the building they felt they were no longer a church. We confuse being church with having a building all the time. The two are not the same.

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❖ Prayers requested for Michael Diggs. He is the husband of the Platte County R3 Superintendent’s and Board of Education Secretary Vickie Diggs. He is battling kidney and bladder cancer.

❖ Prayers requested for Cindy Stehl who had recent surgery and is improving.

❖ Continued prayers for Jerry Kasten who is experiencing health issues. He is the brother of law of Marilyn Connor.

❖ Prayers requested for the family of Jessie Coe and they mourn her death. Jessie is Edna Annunzio’s sister.

❖ Prayers for Barbara McCauley who is experiencing a cancer resurgence. She also broke a bone in her hip. The McCauley family were Charter members.

Continued Prayers:Edna Annunzio, Werner Beldo, Gary Bjorn, Norma Phillips, Rick Howell, Wendy Lashbrook, Bill Porter, Virginia Long: Martha Fullerton’s Mother, Gage Schneider, son of a friend of Martha Fullerton, Carolyn Waterman, Jonathan Valler, Julie Waddle, Jim & Sharon Sumner’s daughter, Susan Yeager, Mary Jo Rinke, Steve Plagmann, The family of Renae Dishman Ronayne, and the family of Sandy Quinly Good, friends of Martha Fullerton, Rick Rollins, friend of the Hoovers, Pat Stehl, and for Denise Waddle’s mom: Lorraine Vandersteen.

We have live-streaming available on YouTube. You can find the live stream

by searching YouTube for Park Hill

Christian Church KC

Sunday’s service will also

be livestreamed on church

Facebook Page: Park Hill Christian Church KCMO

You can live stream on our website

https://www.parkhillcc.org/ Choose the

streaming option from top menu.

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Let us join you in prayer...Contact the church office, or have a loved one contact us, if you have been admitted to the hospital, would like a special visit, or would like to be placed on the church prayer list. Please notify us when you want to be removed from the prayer list. We are here for our beloved Park Hill Christian Church family.

Prayer Requests

In person Sunday Worship or

watch on You Tube, Facebook Live

or Live Stream on our website

Join us on Sundays at 9amIn person or on-line

There is a virtual Executive Meeting

on Tuesday, September 8th

at 7pm

Elder Meeting is Sunday, September

13th at 8:30am

Outreach Meetingvia phone

Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6pm

Athens Church Function

in Life Center

Sunday, August 30th

5:00pm to 7:30pm

There is a virtual Board Meetingon Thursday, September 17th

at 7pm

Zoom Meeting credentials coming soon

Sunday School: will happen virtually and will NOT be held in person. Meeting credentials are below. ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE. Sunday School is held VIRTUALLY via Zoom meeting on Sundays at 10:30am. New credentials are listed below and includes a phone number for those that want to call in and listen.

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/5494388847

Meeting ID: 549 438 8847

Password: 6fqx0V

Dial by your location:

+1 312 626 6799 (US)

Find your local number:

https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kjQjyOMwU

We will discuss Sunday’s sermon. Discussion questions and background info will be sent in Friday’s email.

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Sunday School

MAKES A DIFFERENCE

MondaySeptember 7th

The Church Office will be CLOSED in

observance of Labor Day Holiday

BOLD HOSPITALITY

Board Meeting

Sundays at 10:15am

There is a Worship

Committee Meeting

on Sunday, September 6th

at 10:15amat the art table

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Church Building continued from page 1

Yet, church buildings, when understood in the right light, can be excellent tools to serve God’s children, both church members and non-members. Although we make church buildings an end unto themselves, they really are only a means to an end, namely showing God’s love to a world in need of it. This distinction between building as end in itself and building as tool to serve God and others is one of the greatest issues facing American Christianity today.

The good news for Park Hill Christian Church is that we have a good building that remains in relatively good shape. It sits at a great location and is accessible to people with disabilities. Yes, it takes money to maintain a building of this size, but those are the normal costs of owning real estate. The building is not facing structural collapse or in need of immense rehabilitation. It has the potential to be used much more than it normally is in non-COVID-19 times, and with the proper vision by church members it can be a wonderful tool for ministry to the community.

Compared with many congregations—maybe most congregations—including ones I have served in the past, Park Hill is in a good position building-wise. I am personally aware of dozens of churches who have building issues with repair costs far beyond what they can ever reasonably hope to repair. Unfortunately, most of those congregations will not be proactive about selling their property and using the proceeds to keep their church going. Instead they will “go down with the ship,” so to speak, because they have confused their church with their building. Park Hill doesn’t have to make that choice, at least not now.

A few weeks ago, you were mailed a letter informing you Rev. Dr. Larry Patterson, former minister of PHCC, will be back on Sunday, September 13. During Rev. Dr. Patterson’s time the church built the Life Center and named it in honor of him and his wife, Mary Ann. Now, the current PHCC Board chose to make this occasion an opportunity to make a bold request. They asked PHCC members and friends to pay off the remaining mortgage debt for the Life Center. If this can happen, PHCC will be in a strong position to move into the future.

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It’s no secret that PHCC has like most churches a membership generally older in age. Most churches are not increasing their membership numbers and the funding which can come from more people. To the contrary, churches across the country are having to rethink what membership even means to a culture that no longer finds value in “joining” anything. So, if PHCC can pay off this debt, it means decreasing its expenses at just the right time. The money currently paying the mortgage can be used for building maintenance and ministry to the community. If this debt can be taken care of, PHCC will be in a farbetter position than most churches to move into a bright future.

The bright future of PHCC will depend, however, on more than removing the building debt. It also depends on church members using the building to serve the community rather than as a private club house. The PHCC Board has taken the input from the 40 Days of Prayer and Purpose and produced the idea of “Bold Hospitality.” Bold Hospitality means actively welcoming the community into our building as a means of service in the name of Jesus Christ. The beginning of this movement is happening as we open our building to groups serving adults with mental disabilities and another congregation that does not have its own building yet. Groups that can afford to pay rent will do so, and some who cannot afford it but who still meet unmet needs in the community will be provided the space as a part of our ministry. This is only the beginning of moving PHCC’s building from being just one more building people pass by as they go about their day into it being a site the community looks to for connection and purpose.

Step 1 in PHCC having a proper theology of its building is getting rid of the building debt in order to funnel its resources towards serving the community via its building. Step 2 is PHCC actively connecting its building to the work the Holy Spirit is already doing in our community. Remember, God is not confined to a building. God is already doing saving work all around our church’s location. We only need to make our building fully available to God and it will be used to change lives for the better.If you are planning on being present on Sunday, September 13 to welcome back Rev. Dr. larry Patterson, please send in your R.S.V.P. (Church leaders and Rev. Dr. Patterson fully understand that many who wish to be present cannot do so because of the risks of COVID-19.) Also, now is the time to make your contribution to paying off the mortgage for the Patterson Family Life Center. Unlike your usual contribution to the church’s operating budget which pays for staff, maintenance and outreach, 100% of funds given toward this goal will be applied to paying off the mortgage. PHCC stands ready to step into a bright future.

Grace and Peace,Rev. Chase Peeples

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Church Building continued from page 4

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/956081381520075/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Carrie Stewart has taken on a little project: setting up a site where teachers can create Amazon wish lists for their unique back-to-school needs this year, and people who care about teachers can fill their wish lists, just like a registry!

Please help to spread the word - to both teachers and those who care! It’s a Facebook Work group, Operation: Teacher’s Toolbox KC” Facebook group so no personal information is seen or exchanged to participate. https://fox4kc.com/news/2-metro-women-start-facebook-group-to-meet-local-teachers-school-supply-needs/

ATTENDANCE NUMBERSPeople are tuning in or coming in to hear Rev. Peeples.

Since reopening for in person Sunday worship on July 5th we report the following attendance numbers for August 23rd, 2020:

Face Book Live: 43 viewsYouTube Channel: 17 viewsLivestreaming: 13 viewsIn person: 18 attendees

Teacher Wish Lists

Guest Preacher

Sunday, September 6th

Rev. Peeples will be out of town Tuesday,

September 1 through Tuesday, September 8th.

Preaching in his place on Sunday, September 6th

will be Jessie Lent.

Jessie is seeking ordination in the Christian

Church, Disciples of Christ through the Mid-

America Region and will finish the process in

January 2021. Currently he is a student at

Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee,

KS with an expected graduation date this

November. He is a member of First Christian

Church, Disciples of Christ in St. Joseph, MO.

Join us on September 13, 2020Join us of for a special Homecoming Event featuring guest Larry Patterson. It begins with 9am worship followed with fellowship and a box meal in the

Patterson Life Center at 10am. We will observe social distancing and comply with COVID-19 mandates. Help celebrate nostalgic memories and experiences

we have had in our building over the years as we count our blessings and continue to expand our Christian outreach to our community. We will have old scrapbooks and photos available for reminiscing.

Please submit stories/memories to share that can be read out loudto: office@parkhillcc.org. We hope to see you there!

Please remember to RSVP so we can have an accurate count for food!

The Church has made a few updates too – we’re excited to show them off: a fresh coat of new paint, new furnishings, landscaping and other improvements!

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Dr. Larry E. Patterson

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Merry Moments Preschool is still accepting enrollments for the 2020/2021 school year! Openings are still available for ages 3-5, open Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon.

Parent Orientation will be Thursday, September 3rd from 6-7pm.

Our first day of school is Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Covid19 precautions are outlined on our website.

PRESCHOOL CLASSES START on Tuesday, September 8th

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Donation request for Assistance League of Kansas City

The Deborah Group wanted to continue our annual school supply drive so we contacted the Assistance League to see about their needs. We have given the school supplies to the Assistance League for the past two years. They pass these supplies out to several schools in the North land to children in need. The letter below explains their situation regarding donations. If you would like to donate to this cause, please go to their website at: http://www.alkc.org/

The donation process is pretty easy. As you can read they are in need of money due to the reSale Shop having been closed during the Stay at Home order. Please give this much consideration so we can reach out and help those in need.

Blessings,Deborah Group

Park Hill Christian Church

6601 NW 72nd StKansas City, MO 64151

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Connect with us:Phone: 816-741-1851

Fax: 816-741-1898Website: www.parkhillcc.org

Facebook Page: Praisinglovingservingkc

Sunday Service:Join us at 9:10 am

Live Streaming available athttp://p23.worshipstream.com/

115/ParkHillChristianChurch

Interim MinisterReverend Chase Peeples

Ministry Leader with Young People

Madison Upton Peterson

Ministry Support Administrator Melissa Foley

office@parkhillcc.org

Church Executive CommitteeJill Watson, Carl Kimbrell,

Don Bonjour

Elder ChairDamon Stewart

Deacon ChairDon Bonjour

Music DirectorRajean Buffa

OrganistDoris Stevenson

Audio/Video TechKathy Hendrix