Dear Siblings in Christ- People are joining us from across the country on Sunday mornings - even I hope this letter finds you well. I hope different parts of the world - sharing that you are finding ways to connect with loved they were seeking a community of faith ones, to find new ways to live into this and they have found it online. The Holy crazy world and to grow in your Spirit is moving and guiding people. relationship with God. Many of you ask "when do we get to go Summer. For many of us we had in the church"? My answer will continue to vacations planned that had to be be "I don't know". And that is the truth. I cancelled. We wanted to throw a big 4th of don't know. But what I do know to be true July and Memorial Day barbeque, and we is that we are following the guiding wanted to simply be present and with our principles of the UMC by doing no harm, loved ones and family. Sure, the country is doing good, and staying in love with God. "opening" up a bit, but the reality is that the Our world has changed, but our vision and covid-19 virus is still present. As I sit to mission have not. write this a notification popped up on my As the people of IHUMC we are computer that the KC Metro area added seeking, sowing, serving and loving all of 200 new cases today; yesterday it was God's people. As the people of the UMC 178, and the day before a similar number. we are creating more disciples of Christ for The cases begin to rise and my own the transformation of the world. Our work anxiety of how to move through all of this doesn't stop simply because the doors are for my family and you all continues to also closed, and it will never stop as long as we rise. So what do we do? How do we live have the passion and love of Christ in our into our calling to be disciples of Christ, hearts. shepherding God's people while we are Go be the church for people. Take this being told to social distance and decrease time to examine your own heart and contact with people? relationship with God. Create a vision for One way we do this is by being the light what you want to take from this whole of Christ for our families, for our friends, experience of a global pandemic and find our neighbors and those we pass on the God in all of it...the God that calls you by street. We offer a simple hello, we say how name and tells you all days that you are are you, we find ways to connect so that enough, you are worthy and you are we can be in relationship with one another beloved. in ways that perhaps we hadn't before.

This new way of doing church has Peace and blessings opened doors I never dreamed possible. -Pastor Ali Page 2

the in-person gatherings so no one will miss out. If it’s rainy, we will NOT be able to meet in Pastor Ali and the reopening team meet regularly to person and Pastor Ali will just do the worship make plans for how Indian Heights UMC is safely feed to Facebook. reopening. Latest updates based on these • Videos from all Sunday worship experiences meetings, and recommendations by our Bishop, continue to be posted on our website Monday other Pastors in the area and the CDC include: mornings, and stay on our Facebook for viewing indefinitely. • The church office is now open, Monday- • Sunday’s bulletin will continue to be emailed by Thursday, 9:30-2:30. If you can, please call Friday, and posted on our website and also in 913.649.9040 to make an appointment with the top line of Sunday’s online worship for each Suzette before coming in; all are asked to wear particular worship experience. We will print a mask and maintain social distancing by not these for on-site worship. entering the office but standing in the doorway • Support groups (AA, etc.) are meeting per their so Suzette or Pastor Ali can assist you. leaders’ discretion, but only outside on the lawn. • Unless you’ve approved it with the Trustees, More updates will follow as we continue to look Suzette or Pastor Ali, we are asking that no one ahead into the future regarding church groups enters the building outside of office hours. (Sunday School, Creative Souls, etc.). • Worshiping together will resume for two • Other groups requiring access of our building Sundays in July!! We are staggering this are not yet able to gather in the building. intentionally. July 5 and 19, worship will be at • You can always email or call the church office 10:30am via Facebook Live just as we’ve been with questions and any needs: 913.649.9040 or doing it. July 12 and 26, we’ll be gathering for [email protected]. worship at 9:30am (early so we can avoid the heat) in the parking lot by the parsonage/ Our goal is not to spiritually distance ourselves, but labyrinth. Bring your own chair if you have one, to care for others the way we believe Christ directs and wear a mask. We’ll socially distance, of us to do.

course. Worship will be live on Facebook during Page 3

continue receiving essential services such as trauma counseling, job/life skills counseling, addiction recovery, and much more.

Items will be taken to Savers, where they will be weighed. Veronica’s Voice will receive funds based on the weight. Help them reach their goal of raising $1,500 which equals 300 bags of donations!! There are several other churches throughout the metro area serving as drop-off locations for their congregations, so we are part of a team effort supporting Veronica’s Voice!!

Please bring all items in large, tied off garbage bags (30 gallon type is ideal). This is a request by Savers, where the items will be taken by Veronica’s Voice volunteers on August 11 or 12. Veronica’s Voice will let us know the day and time they will pick up items as soon as they know.

Can’t make it to drop your items off at the church? No worries! Veronica’s Voice will be at the Overland Park Savers at 95th and Our church is partnering with Veronica’s Nall on Wednesday, August 12th from 4 - Voice to host a FUNDrive! We were 5pm only where they will also be accepting originally going to do this in June, but the drop off donations. Please be sure to date was changed by Savers due to bring your donations to a Veronica’s scheduling issues with COVID-19 delays. Voice volunteer (in red “Live We will now collect items August 3-10; Generously” T-shirts provided by these can be left in the classroom across Thrivent Financial) so they get credit for from the elevator. Bring them during office these items. hours, Monday-Thursday, 9:30am-2:30pm if possible. Remember, Veronica’s Voice gets paid for every pound of goods donated! So….sort By donating gently-used clothing, shoes, your closets and cupboards, clean out your accessories, books, linens, baby clothes, basement, and haul stuff from the garage toys, and small household items (no you aren’t using any more...every item you mattresses, hazardous materials, large donate helps women find recovery from the furniture, baby furniture, children’s car abuse of commercial sex trafficking! seats), you can help raise funds for Veronica’s Voice as they continue their To learn more about Veronica’s Voice, visit mission to empower women to be free from their website at www.veronicasvoice.org the abuse of commercial sex trafficking. You can also contact Suzette in our Church Donations will go directly towards the cost Office with questions. of residency at Veronica’s Voice recovery home, Magdalen KC, so women can Page 4

The United Methodist Stand Against Racism We recognize racism as a sin.

We commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access.

We will work for equal and equitable opportunities in employment and promotion, education and training; in voting, access to public accommodations, and housing; to credit, loans, venture capital, and insurance; to positions of leadership and power in all elements of our life together; and to full participation in the Church and society.

What can I do?

Pray We listen for the voice of Jesus in our private acts of devotion and our public acts of worship.

The Upper Room has collected resources for the spiritual work of overcoming racism. Prayers for the Healing of a Nation - No justice. No peace: Devotion written in response to George Floyd’s murder Turning to God in Days of Trouble is a prayer for difficult days.

Connect We begin our work by joining hands and hearts to journey side by side. A United Methodist Pastor in Ferguson, Missouri, offers helpful tips for talking about race. The General Commission on Religion and Race offers several video series to encourage discussion. Discipleship Ministries offers some great resources We also have some tips for talking to your children about racism. Seek diverse blogs, podcasts, news outlets, and new relationships.

Educate: Join Pastor Ali beginning August 5th for a 6 week study on the book White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo. Ali is challenging the entire congregation to participate in the study OR read the book on your own.

Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm Where: Zoom! Link to come

Please email [email protected] or [email protected] to participate in the book study. Participants are responsible for getting their own book. If you are struggling to find it or purchase a copy please let us know. Page 5

A Letter from the Bishop (Some events have passed, but the information is still very relevant to us)

Dear Clergy of the Great Plains Conference,

United Methodist Church leaders will launch a plan of action to galvanize church members and others to actively stand against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd and protests across the U.S.

The “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” initiative is a multi-level effort throughout the denomination to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice. The church-wide effort will kick off this Friday, June 19, 2020, to coincide with Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. An announcement from members of the United Methodist Council of Bishops will be broadcast at 11 a.m. CDT on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook.

Participating in the event will be Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Episcopal Area, president of the Council of Bishops and the first Hispanic woman to hold that post; Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Area; Bishop Bruce Ough of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area; Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Ohio West Episcopal Area; and Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Episcopal Area.

"Words are great, words are important, but action is really important," said Bishop Harvey. "Pick up your pen, pick up your voice, pick up your feet, and do something."

A day of prayer and worship will follow on June 24 with an online service to be broadcast at noon CDT on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook. There will also be a denominational virtual town hall event July 1, with more details to come as that date approaches.

Regional and local worship events and town hall meetings involving community partners will subsequently take place, either online or in keeping with social distancing protocols.

United Methodist Communications has launched a national advertising campaign on social media and news websites across the United States as well as digital billboards in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Houston, and Louisville. The ads direct viewers to a website, UMC.org/EndRacism, where they can find resources to help them learn more and take action. The United Methodist Council of Bishops has asked all United Methodists to join in prayer at 8:46 a.m. and p.m. for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time the officer held his knee on George Floyd’s neck, for at least the next 30 days.

Advocacy and worship resources will seek to equip leaders, members, and the public to join in this important racial relations work. To encourage wide participation, a variety of materials will be made available in English, Korean, Spanish, French, and Portuguese translations.

The denomination has a long-standing history of advocating for justice. The Social Principles of The recognize racism as a sin and commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access. The Great Plains Conference communications team will do its best to curate content so you can find it easily on our website at https://www.greatplainsumc.org/racial-justice.

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Watch your emails for Monday news, which will include a brief study to prepare us for the upcoming Sunday’s sermon as Pastor Ali continues her “Summer Games” series through July 12. Watch for your favorite board games!! If you aren’t on our email list, please contact the Church Office at [email protected] or get on it through the link on our website.

Send us your photos!! Here, Regan and Jerry Muth play “Girl Talk Jenga” in preparation for the sermon that focused on the game Jenga!! Page 7

Sunday, June 28th. was Cheri White’s last day as Music Director for Indian Heights. Although unable to gather in person, we honored Cheri with a drive by celebration, a gift card and a special video played during worship. We appreciate the many gifts Cheri has brought to our ministry and thank her for her years of faithful service to Indian Heights.

Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee

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Contact Pastor Ali or the Church Office with your prayers Needs:  Call: 913.649.9040  Email: [email protected]

Let us know if your prayers are for the Pastor’s eyes only, or if they can be shared with our congregation and Prayer Chain.

11:15-11:45am Join us on Zoom (until we are able to meet in person again):

https://zoom.us/j/93339369006 Prayer Vigil for Solidarity We gathered at our labyrinth at 7pm on Tuesday night, June 16, for a prayer vigil as we joined prayers with congregations across the Great Plains conference of the United Methodist Church (Kansas and Nebraska), and prayed for our hurting world. We prayed in solidarity to end systemic racism and for change in our country. We believe that if we can all come together with all races, then we can be a part of the solution for change. The event was powerful, and the Spirit was present. Please continue to shine the Light of Christ into the world wherever you go. Page 10

New Sidewalk - we have a new sidewalk in the front of the church. Thank you to all who made this possible through your time and financial donations. The new sidewalk is not only nice to look at, but it makes our church walkway safer to travel on!! Your continued giving allows us to continue doing projects like this around the church!! Page 11

Be sure to follow our Kingdom Kids Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ indianheightsumc.org.

It has daily posts with praise songs and fun activities to do as a family. It's also a fun place to post your family pics sharing some of your favorite activities. Our early summer theme is “Summer Games” and will follow along with Pastor Ali’s series.

Julie Gibson, Children & Families

Ministry Coordinator

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Summer Outdoor Opportunities Thank you for your help...and thank continue around the exterior of our you to all who have already helped church. Can you help out with out. The yard, including the weeding, pruning, etc.? Just show labyrinth and the playground areas up as you are able. Contact Dale are looking great!! Sauer with questions.

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We are still planning on having Touch a Truck this fall. As long as believe it is safe to have this, more information will be out soon regarding volunteer needs. Until then, please pray that the pandemic quiets down and that we are able to host this annual fun event for the community. Page 14

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Indian Heights United Methodist Church 10211 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66207 913-649-9040 Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30am-2:30pm  Sundays: Worship via Facebook at 10:30am on [email protected] July 5 and 19  July 12 and 26: Worship in person, outside in www.indianheightsumc.org the parking area by the parsonage at 9:30am (early to avoid the heat). These services will

also be on Facebook Live at 9:30am.

 Wednesdays, 11:15am Prayer Circle (via Zoom) Senior Pastor, Ali Haynes

[email protected] 913-710-2661 (pastoral emergencies) **As of July 1, the only groups meeting in-person are the 12-step groups, which are meeting outside; Julie Gibson, Children & Families please check with group leaders for more details Ministry Coordinator and watch our Facebook and emails for other [email protected] updates. Suzette Mack, Administrative Assistant  AA: Sundays & Wednesdays, 7pm  Over-Eaters Anonymous (OA), Mondays Music Staff: & Wednesdays, 6pm; Thursdays, 11:30am Elizabeth Lipford, Worship Leader  Al-Anon: Wednesdays, Noon

Jae Moyer, Section Leader Sunday worship is LIVE on our Facebook: www.facebook.com/indianheightsumc ** This newsletter is printed monthly; submissions are due the 24th of the prior month to: [email protected].