I Issue 45

Food Pantry ReportDecember 19Psalm 146: 1& 2Thanks to everyone that delivered bags. Our Christmas bagshave been well received and much needed. Thanks to Lesliefrom Mid-Continent Public Library for a whole box of newchildren's books to put in the bags. Thanks to the Scouts whodelivered fifteen to twenty sets of bags Sunday after church.Thanks to the Garden Club who provided 65 bags of fruit andpotatoes. Thanks to the faithful. fabulous Friday Crew - Judy,Denney, Shirley, Steve Craig, Cheryl. Cara Massie, Jack andRader. It was a long evening. Saturday morning we had a lawcrew filling the bags. The Iorio family came and helped too.Due to Cheryl Hill's help we were done in an hour!! Mondaymorning we delivered 25 sets of 4 bags to the upperelementary. Mac, Cheryl and Sandy Finney helped.

We're still receiving food donations. What a wonderfulharvest. Also monetary donations are coming in. God Blessyou ail!!!

Our organist has served for more than 30 years. How long hasit been since you said Hello? Do you know her name? She isvery important to our worship service. She worships andwitnesses to us every week. Take time to gently and quietlyreach out.

ReadGalatians 6:9 & 10Love, Rick

January 7

Thanks to Curt and Kraz for their donation and ParadiseUnited Methodist and Good Shepherd Catholic Church fortheir donation

Love, Rick

P.S.We could use canned fruit and toilet paper.

Board Meeting

There will be a Board Meeting on January 13.at 7 p.m.. All Elders,Deacons, Board Officers and Committee Members Pleasejoin usfor this time together as we focus on administering the work ofthe church together.

Dear Holiday Assistance Donors and HelYour generosity during this season is well ",hr'ro,~i"1rorl and does notgo unnoticed. First. I appreciate your help. you, I would notbe able to continue this program for Sm ille families. Becauseofyour donations, over 75 children had brig Christmas morningsand meals. Your donations also allow to have a positiveconnection and conversations with each of parents and build ona relationship as a stepping stone to providi resourcesand supportof all kinds, leading to healthier and hap kids, throughout theschool year. Secondly, the families ap ate you. Below you willfind a sampling of notes of thanks directly from the recipients. I'verewritten and copied from both handThank you to all who donated the wogenerously donated to my children! Since iwill help give my kids a better Chriappreciate it! Havea merry Christmas!!

erful items that weres hard finding ajob thisThanks again I really

DearMs. Downs and Holiday donors,I cannot even begih to expressjust howare for your very generous donations.amazingChristmas thanks to each andit's the worst feeling in the world toable to give your children the most siChristmas because obvious needsoverwhelming feeling the day we receichildren. I cried with happiness knowingand the great generosity this schoolstrangers! Again, I cannot tell you howhow surprised our children will be Chopen these wonderful presents! ThaChristmas an amazingone!!! Sincerely,I wanted to let you know how much IWithout the assistance my kidsChristmas!! Thanks to your help a BIGshoulders...now I know my kids will haveso worried they wouldn't this year!!! YEnjoyyour holidays!!!DearSanta'sHelpers,Thanks to you. Our children will celebrholiday! Your presents will bring aBy giving your time, energy and spiritmeaning of Christmas. Again, thankkids. You are a part of their lives too.

nkful my husbandand Iy children will have anone of you! As a parent

you are not going to bee things they want fore first. It was anthe presents for ourit was going to be ok

thankful we are, andas morning when they

for making my familiesI Parents

iate the holiday help!!

has been lifted off mygood Christmas!!!! I washelp saved Christmas!!!!

a wonderful Christmassmile to many faces.

have shown the trueu for all you do for our

Christmasand a Happy

a word rom ryan

Cynthia Woolever writes a regular column about topics facingthe church today. She provides great. terse summaries ofwhere ministry is and where it's going. This week's articlewas particularly thought-provoking as we enter 2014, as it'sentitled, "Big Ministry Trends for 2014." Cynthia describesthat the church is in a "David and Goliath." Take a minutetoday to reflect on Cynthia's explanations of these challenges:"David and the Church Face GoliathFor five decades, large-scare shifts in the economy, publicvalues and beliefs, and social institutions have rocked thelandscape for congregations and their leaders. What are themost significant trends calling leaders to creatively rethinkwhat it takes to declare the gospel today?"Missing generations in congregations. Worshippers areolder on average than the U.S.population. This age gap showssigns of increasing over time - up from an average worshipperage of 51 in 2001 to a projected average worshiper age of overGo by 2020. The statistics reflect another ministry-alteringage profile - the declining participation of worshippers under45 years of age. Further, less than half of worshipers todayhave children still living at home. Fewer congregations in thefuture will draw worshipers from all four generations (thosewill birth dates earlier than 1946; the Baby Boomers with birthdates of 1946 to 1964; Generation X born in the early 1960sto early 1980s; and the Millenials born after 1980)."Decline in weekly attendance. Fewer worshipers reportattending worship services weekly. Instead, over the course ofan average month, the percentage of worshipers attending allfour weekend services dropped 2-5 percent compared to onlya decade ago."Growing numbers of unaffiliated adults. About one in fiveadults in the United States do not identify with any religion.The percentages are even higher among young adults underthe age of 30. In fact. over 30 percent report no religiousaffiliation. Over the past five years, the number of unaffiliatedAmerican adults soared to 33 million."Increasing diversity among members. The racial-ethnicmakeup of congregations appears to be moving in a directionthat reflects the diversity of the general population. Asrecently as 1998, almost three out of four congregations werepredominately non-Hispanic, white churches (80 percent ofthe participants were white). That percentage dropped to 57of congregations attracting more than 80 percent non-Hispanic whites by 2012. In addition, the latest study revealsthat 44 percent of congregations have some AfricanAmerican families participating."Greater concentration of worshippers in largechurches. The average congregation has fewer than onehundred people participating in worship or other activities.Yet the typical worshiper attends a large church. The largest10 percent of congregations draw more than half of allworshipers. Although this is a long-term trend, evidencesuggests that the concentration of worshipers is rising."More small churches. Other factors, in addition to thetrends already mentioned, contributed to the surge in smallchurches. Many denominations planted churches fifty,seventy-five, or one hundred years ago in growing populationareas. Those same communities stopped growing decadesago and some even experienced population decline. Thus,thousands of rural and small-town churches across Americaare located in places with fewer and fewer people.

"Smaller budgets. Church expensesthe membership and resource basecongregations report a declining financialmore staff positions includes providiallowances, health-care benefits, andaddition, congregations further strainbuilding maintenance, electricity, anddollars, most congregations raise morebut the budget demands far outpacethrough contributions, endowments, or fa"Fewer full-time pastors serving one 1""lmnr'Qn

the majority of pastors still serve onetime minister, already about one in sixpart-time clergy. A common patternProtestant churches is the bivocationalsecular job and a ministry position. OneProtestant pastors are bivocational comof mainline pastors. Multipoint or yokedwhere one pastor serves in two or morecommon among mainline Protestant rs. Currently morethan one in ten parish assignments invol : multipoint service."Lack of consensus about the pastor's The authority forpastoral leadership is based on (a) the Iling to ministry as avocation and (b) a profession built on ucation, training, andcapabilities. When members place emphasis on callingthan competence, disappointment and urch conflict oftenresult. Effective pastoral leadership req res a complex set ofgifts and skills. Congregations need Ip articulating theirprimary mission, and then expressing s identity in worship,programs, and organizational When membersdisagree about how ministry tasksdiverse perspectives about leadershiplayer of frustration and potential conflict."Weakening institutional sup for parishministry. Denominational agencies - rdrll("\r", and national -and seminaries supply much-needed s for pastors andcongregations. As the number of cong and membersdecrease, the funding that congregatisupport their work also dropped off.support program cuts, little continuimodest lay leadership development, abecome the norm. Pastors feel it-satisfaction with the denominational su"Multiplying channels of commnew technology invites congregationsavenues for reaching out to memFinding leaders and members toproves challenging for many rm,rilron"tif'"'l

technology use raises new questiboundaries and ethical issues as congan ageless message.."Look for the Desirable in the Diffihappen because well-worn strategiconsistent results. God's work in theof faith seeking with new eyes - thenot yet obvious. Moving through dchange and the willingness to let go of

se. Funding one orsalaries, housing

plans. Inir budgets throughng costs. In realthat ever before,

s used to send on toStaffing and missioneducation for clergy,crisis managementare expressing less

they receive.on. The explosion ofmake use of mountingand the community.at new media use

Innovative

Ity. Failure and defeatproduce remarkablydepends on peoplentage or strength isIties always requirepast."

With excitement and new energy for

20 I ",Jo lh Bridge Stree

Srnit VI It~,:\"06"::08,)-82 -:6,I-h.'JE. )11" ,;,:ui-~

FirstChristianChurch

Ryan Motter, Senior PastorCell: 913.707,2870

Email: ryan@smithvillefcc,org

Lara Blackwood Pickrel, Associate PastorCell: 816,863,3692Email: lara@smithvillefcc,org

Mark Holcomb, Music MinisterVelva Fausett, OrganistJanet George, PianistGreg Atkins, TreasurerJennifer Schultz, Office Manager

a look ahead

Children Worship & Wonder

Jan 12: Storyteller: Linda NeerGreeter: Cheryl Merideth

Jan 19: Storyteller: Bev DarlingGreeter: Kathy Hamilton

Interested in volunteering for Children's Worship& Wonder? Contact Jacinda Manka atmankaja@smithville,k12,mo,us or 816-225-1973.

upcomingbirthdays

GREETERS,EAST DOOR: Jerry and Alice RichardsGREETERS,WEST DOOR: Bob and Barbara ArnoldLAY READER: Barbara McFaddenCHILDREN'S SERMON: Susie ClowerCANDLE LIGHTERS:Shae Cissell and Adison LowmanELDERS:Darsi Hartman and Traci BurnsDIACONA TE: Gary Jones, Greg Atkins, John Manka,Jacinda Manka, Kathy Atkins, Michelle AtkinsPREPARECOMMUNION: Gary JonesCLEAN UP COMMUNION: Greg AtkinsPICK UP SANCTUARY: John MankaCASH COUNT: Phil French

NON PROFITPresorted STD AU,S, POSTAGE

PAIDSmithville, MO 64089

PERMIT NO, 57

GREETERS,EAST DO R:Janice HeathGREETERS,WEST D OR: Joel and Darsi HartmanLAY READER:Alice lichardsCHILDREN'S SERMO : Rev, Lara Blackwood PickrelCANDLE LIGHTERS: ocie Parks and Ava ParksELDERS:Larry Driver and Mike GordonDIACONATE: Matt F nch, Mary Gordon, Conner French,Kathy French, Shelly rala Lauren FralaPREPARECOMMUN ON: Matt FrenchCLEAN UP COMMU ION: Mary GordonPICK UP SANCTUAR : Conner FrenchCASH COUNT: Bob mold

JANUARY 7: Denney French; JANUARY 8: Terri Burgman, David Watkins; JANUARY 9: Eli sa Miller; JANUARY 10: MollyBlosser, Lyle Brown, Pat Heath, Brock Cook, Pat Heath; JANUARY 12: Betty Lindsay; JAN~ARY 13: Jerry Duff; JANUARY 15:Maya Simon, Lana Summers; JANUARY 16: Jane Waldeck; JANUARY 17:Kate Parks; JAN IIARY18: Cheryl Merideth,Stephanie Simon, Tessa Shull