Trunk or Treat 2019

Operations Report for November and

December Even though, thankfully, we fully own our building, there are many building related expenses! In fact, it represents 32% of our 2019 budget. In an effort to better manage building expenses, we closely watch and track building and grounds expenditures. Several years ago, we noticed unusual spikes in water usage. We finally found the culprit…a couple of toilets with unreliable mechanisms. We calculated the waste…more than 1,000 gallons of water per toilet over a weekend! Now, if a toilet is running or a faucet is dripping, staff and teachers promptly report it! We’ve also upgraded the thermostats in the “church” end of our building, which provides automatic temperature set-back to save on heating and cooling, the ability to remotely make changes, as well as early visibility of a problem. For a high-level view of the Building budget:

Utilities: 39% Maintenance: 30% (elevator, heating & cooling repair, lawn, pest control, plumbing, snow removal, trash service) Custodial services: 26% Security system: 4% Miscellaneous: 1%

These are just a couple of examples of efforts to cut down on waste. Ideas are “in the works” to reduce our power consumption, which alone is responsible for 26% of our Building “dollars.” Thank you for your faithful financial support to our church. We are trying to be good stewards of the funds allocated toward the maintenance of our building and grounds. Steve Guthrie, Operations

Trunk or Treat was a successful, fun-filled event for all!

Ward Press Glorify God Grow Disciples Go Serve November/December 2019

Sunday Worship, 10:30am Christian Education,

9:30am

Office Hours M-Thurs 9:00am -1:00pm

816.361.2200 Email: office@wppresbyterian.org

Church Staff Interim Pastor,

Rev. Bonnie Grabowski Office Administrator, Tina Hill

Choir Director, Joseph Hill Organist, Dr. Arthur Rinehart

Bookkeeper, Chuck Kneyse

Preschool Directors, Kim Manford

Leslie Bullington

Officers Elders

Worship: Carmen Rinehart Mission and Stewardship:

Sarah Nettels Personnel & Administration:

Candis Lochmann Youth:

Sean Stoy Adult Discipleship:

Mark Ihde Operations: Steve Guthrie

Clerk of Session: Karen Wiederaenders

Treasurer: James Lusk

Deacons

Diana Justus, Emily Lantz Steve Nelson, Rosemary McDaneld, Susan Stewart & Pat Wiederaenders

Trustees Don Barta

Steve Nelson Ed Rucker

A Special Season “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Eccl 3:1 This is a dynamic time in the life of this church. November is when we participate in the Stewardship Campaign; Thanksgiving will soon be upon us; and then it is only a few short days before Advent begins. These special events bring to mind the opportunity for gratitude and celebration. In the short time I have been with you, I have enjoyed seeing the various ways that you are doing ministry and mission. From serving meals at Cross-Lines to hosting preschool parents, from supporting two mission families in the field to holding a Trunk or Treat event, from engaging with other small churches to initiating the Kindness Club, there are so many ways that you are making a difference in this community and in the world. The Stewardship Campaign is a means of reminding us of our need to give back to God, to live generously, and to support the worship and ministry of the church. We also need to acknowledge that without financial giving, it is much more difficult to accomplish God’s work. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday, a time to remember the good things in our lives. The cornucopia is a great illustration of the sense of abundance that we can feel, the host of blessings that have come our way. At the same time, we are called to remember those whose needs have not been met, those who are waiting for justice and righteousness to fully be a part of their experience. There is so much yet to be done to bring the kingdom into fruition. We are part of this transformation through our participation in the life of Ward Parkway Presbyterian. Advent is profound evidence of God’s goodness. It prepares us for the gift of Jesus, who came to be the Christ and our Savior; and it prepares us for the day when Christ comes again, the day that the world will be restored and God’s people will be reconciled with God and one another. In the meantime, we strive to live faithfully, fully engaged in our spiritual journeys. I pray that you will be energized and excited to participate in this busy time in the life of Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church as we celebrate God’s gifts, give thanks for our lives and the life of this community of faith and set out ambitious plans for the future, knowing that through God, all things are possible. Pastor Bonnie

Charlie Crossette -November 10 Bev Reeves-Dudley -November 11

Danny Edwards - November 22 Steve Nelson -November 25 Brad Good –November 30 Emily Lantz-December 3 Quinn Stoy-December 7

Mike Montgomery-December 12 Noelle Stoffel-December 13 Debbie Babb-December 22

Brendan North-December 24

Happy Birthday!

Prayers and Concerns

PNC Update

Don and IrmaJean Barta

Phyllis Bartlett Warren Bell

Doris Bowman Jean Horst

Kathy Montgomery Ramona Nelson

Bob Skillman Jean Sprinkle

Our Missionaries:

The Hendrys, Karla Koll Kansas City Rescue Mission,

City Union Mission and Cross-Lines

As those who have participated in previous pastoral searches can verify, although discouraging, setbacks occur. Such is the case in our current search. Our promising pastoral candidate accepted a call to serve elsewhere. The PNC is determined to move on and with confidence continue to give our best efforts as we seek the person who will lead WPPC into the future. Meanwhile, please continue to pray that, open to the transforming and empowering work of the Holy Spirit, we will find the person God has already planned to lead our church forward. Specific prayer requests might include wisdom, patience, and assurance during this period of uncertainty. Also pray for Pastor Bonnie as she serves us in the interim. As we await our installed pastor, may we remain open to the thing God wants to do in and through us. Let us catch a vision of who we are called to be and to grow closer to God and one another. Carmen

In Loving Memory of Charles "Ken" Bartlett

May 11, 1927-September 30, 2019

The Men’s Breakfast group meets at 8:00am the third Monday of every month at the Neighborhood

Café in Waldo. They will meet Monday, November 18, and December 16. Please join us!

Christmas Events Schedule

Sunday, December 1- Hanging of the Greens worship service and Communion Sunday. Sunday, December 15- A light meal after worship, followed by caroling. Tuesday, December 17- The Preschool Christmas program, 9:15am-10:30am. Tuesday, December 24- Christmas Eve candlelight Communion service at 6:00pm. (The choir and guest string quartet will present special music for this worship experience). Sunday, December 29- A worship service of lessons and carols.

October Session Minutes Preschool News

Fall is in full swing here at preschool! The children are enjoying the cooler weather and all the leaves. We have already begun practicing our Christmas songs for the upcoming Christmas program. We are excited for the Kansas City Zoo Mobile to visit preschool on November 14! The children love seeing all of the animals that they bring and love to learn interesting facts about each one. Preschool chapel services will be held on Wednesday, November 20, and Thursday, November 21. Mrs. Bartel always does such a wonderful job sharing Bible stories with the children. Preschool will observe Thanksgiving break on Wednesday and Thursday, November 27 and 28. Our staff will have its annual Christmas party with lunch on Friday, December 6, at noon. This is always a wonderful time to celebrate and honor our hard-working staff during the holidays. Our school- wide Christmas programs will be held on Tuesday, December 17, at 9:15 and 10:30. The children have been practicing diligently for their moment in the spotlight. After the Christmas program, our Christ-mas break will begin. We will resume school on Monday, January 6. Here's wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season! Kim and Leslie

Bonnie is working on a sermon series for October called “A Season of Hope.” We have had high humidity in the fellowship hall because of all the rain. Steve Guthrie has set up some dehumidifiers and has had the room checked for mold. The test turned up no mold. We have started a Kindness Club for children in the preschool. These will meet on the third Friday of the month. The preschool does not meet on Fridays so this will not interfere with their programs but will provide parents something to do on one Friday a month. The first meeting will be October 18. We will have the kids pack lunches for Cross-Lines. Future projects include making Christmas cards and hygiene kits. The Pastor Nominating Committee is still working hard and asks for our prayers and our patience as they continue looking for the right candidate.

Adult Bible Study CORNERSTONE BIBLE STUDY Group. We are currently doing a 10 week study in the BELIEVE text by RANDY FRAZEE that introduces you to the key spiritual practices of Christian life. We are encountering axioms that guide us and real-life stories that inspire us to act like Jesus. Join us on Sunday morning in the Holy Grounds Room at 9:25am for DVD and discussion. Questions? See Mike Montgomery.

Harvesters

Harvesters for the holidays! Please remember as you shop for groceries throughout November and December to add items to your cart for our Harvesters barrels. This coming season brings

extra demand for food donations. We give out of the abundance God has given us!

Missions Update

*A bundle of blankets and coats was dropped off for Project Warmth on Nov. 2. Thanks to all who donated them! The Salvation Army will get them to people who need them. November's monetary do-nation from the Missions budget also will go to Project Warmth to help folks pay utility bills this winter. *Watch in the next couple of weeks for another batch of warm socks to appear in the narthex so we can hand them out to neighbors God puts in our path. *Also on the horizon: Ward Parkway is exploring a partnership with Argentine United Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Kan., to support its Baby Closet with diaper donations. A diaper drive might be in our future! Sarah Nettels, Elder for Missions