The Salt Shaker “You are the salt of the earth . You are the light of the world.” — Jesus (Matthew 5:13-14) N OVEMBER 2 0 1 9 Parkville PresbyterianOUR MISSION Church Where Everyone Were the whole realm is Loved, of nature mine, Where Everyone Belongs That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, In this Issue : so divine, Demands my soul, 2. Opportunities for YOU! my life, my all. 3. Pastor’s Perspective — Isaac Watts 5. Extravagant Generosity 7. Sparkle Day 8. Thanksgiving Dinner; th Parkville Symphonic Thanksgiving Sunday, November 17 Band Join us Sunday morning Nov. 17 for a combined worship service at 10am (Sunday School at 9) when we dedicate our pledged giving for the 9. Featured Folks coming year and enjoy our children as they present a 10-minute Thanks- 10. November Calendar giving pageant: “Wake Up! The Harvest is Ready!” Then join us in the evening for “Our Shared Heritage: A Commu- nity Thanksgiving.” At 4pm in the sanctuary, Park University President Greg Gunderson will discuss the history connecting Park’s religious heri- tage (founded by Presbyterians connected with PPC) and initiatives of the school — past and present. At 4:30pm, we will take a step back in time with the New Harmony Handful, a classic group of See more information, p. 8 barbershop-style singers who GOD‟S MISSION will remind us of days gone by. Thanksgiving dinner will FOR US: follow at 5pm in Whipple To accept, Hall. We are inviting 50 Park embrace, and University students who love all people, won’t be able to go home for the holidays, and any leftover through Christ food will be donated to Syn- who loves us! ergy. Cash donations are welcome, but all people are even more welcome. November Northland Community Choir—Nov. 10 Please mark your calendar for the Food Pantry Northland Community Choir Fall Concert to be held Sunday, Nov. 10 Needs at 3:00 pm in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel at Park 11/2 Katie Jones University. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the English 11/4 Carl Myers, Jack Schrimsher, Sunday, Nov. 3 Landing Park cleanup fund that the Micah Staley is Food Pantry city of Parkville has been using to 11/5 Rebecca Raines, Ginna Stanturf Sunday! restore the park after the floods this past spring and summer. A $10 11/6 Kelly Jones donation is suggested; students are 11/8 Natalie Dixon, Bill Geary Special needs always welcome as guests. at this time 11/10 Lula Bounds, Chloe Fey New Liaison Announced include: 11/11 Mary Dixon, Leslie Miller Mary Listrom has taken over the 11/13 Teresa Clark, Kay Jackson duties of representing our church Ramen noodles with the Main Street Parkville As- 11/14 Mary Lucas sociation (MSPA). They meet the 11/21 Dave Rittman Bar soap second Wednesday of every month at 8:30am in the American Legion 11/24 Heather Abrahamson Syrup Hall downtown and discuss events 11/28 Jake Jacobs Pancake mix of concern and impact to the community. Please remember to November Study Jelly keep Mary informed about what in Sojourners’ Class your PPC ministry group might be Peas doing so she can, in turn, keep Rev. John Brentlinger leads us in awareness of our activities high Corn a 4-week study of Jesus’ 2nd year of with other community ministry and considers how the Toothpaste businesses. Contact Mary at events of that time illuminate our [email protected], or call faith today. Each class will be Pork „n beans 816.853.9721. “standalone” so come for one or all! Dish soap Faith and Families “Faith and Families” is not your typical Sunday School class. This class functions as a small group to provide spiritual and moral support to families attending PPC. Keeping in mind that contemporary families come in “many shapes and sizes,” this group discusses and contemplates issues affecting married couples, single adults, parents (and child-rearing), dating, family dynamics and caring for aging parents. Faith and Families meets every Sunday during the Sunday School Hour in a relaxed and informal atmos- phere. The first 20 minutes are usually spent in social conversation, check- ing in with members, getting to know one another and discussing the week’s “hot topics”. The rest of class is devoted to a wide variety of curriculum that the group chooses on an approximately quarterly basis. The group fluctu- ates between books studies, visiting experts who can speak to specific topics, biblical history, contemporary videos or facilitator-led discussions about top- ics that are on the minds of our members. Faith and Families also gets to- gether socially throughout the year whenever the spirit moves us! The Salt Shaker P a g e 3 Pastor’s Perspective ~ Rev. Steve Andrews AVE YOU EVER HEARD OF “THE SCIENCE take a day off work and spend it with their H OF GRATITUDE?” A growing body of re- child? search indicates that people who cultivate That day, realizing my good fortune gratitude sleep better, worry less, experience turned my whole day around. improved health, and report a greater degree of love, hope, and empathy toward others. This fall, as we ask our members and friends to prayerfully consider how they This research stands as confirmation of might financially support the church in the ancient wisdom of Scripture, like Philip- 2020, we are focusing on God’s gifts. “God’s pians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I Gifts” is the theme of will say it again: Re- our bulletin inserts and joice! Let your gentleness other stewardship mate- be evident to all. The rials. “Grateful to God, Lord is near. Do not be Giving to Others,” is anxious about any- the title of our worship thing, but in every situa- series. And all of this is tion, by prayer and peti- based on the simple idea tion, with thanksgiving, that gratitude is good for present your requests to us. God. And the peace of God, which transcends In our Reformed theo- all understanding, will logical tradition, we have guard your hearts and your minds in Christ a saying, “grace and gratitude.” The notion is Jesus.” that God’s grace is a free gift to us, and in response to that gift we offer lives of grateful We are an especially blessed people. Very thanks. We do not set out to do good be- few of us have ever had to worry about hav- cause we hope to win God’s favor. We know ing enough food to eat, clean water to drink, God loves us—with an indescribable, im- clothes to wear, or shelter to keep us warm. measurable, wondrous kind of love. We lead A few weeks ago, I found myself feeling an- lives of love, hope, and empathy not to earn noyed because I had to keep my daughter forgiveness, but because we already are for- with me all day; she had been sent home given. from daycare the day before and they would not let her back without a doctor’s note. I Our worship series has been exploring felt annoyed about missing work, annoyed both sides of this “grace and gratitude” coin, having my day disrupted, and . I sud- extolling gifts from God for which we are denly had to stop and give thanks. thankful, and the kind of grateful response each one calls forth. Because we are grateful Yes, we had to wait until the afternoon to for communion with a worldwide body of see a doctor, but how many people around Christ, we seek reconciliation, forgiveness, the world would long for same-day access and true love in our relationships with one for a great physician for their kid? And how another. Because we are grateful for a divine many people in our country would rejoice to Cont’d on next page Pastoral Perspective — cont. from previous page love that conquers every barrier and division, As an institution, Parkville Presbyterian we strive to bring down any walls that might Church is especially grateful for your gifts. keep us from loving others. Unlike with some other non-profits, there are very few grants available to churches, and we Because we give thanks to a God who pro- don’t qualify for most of the ones that are out vides us, each and every day, with the emo- there. To keep being available for our commu- tional, spiritual and physical necessities of life, nity, to keep supporting missions that feed peo- we give from those resources so others may ple and change lives, to find provision. keep offering hope to At the end of the day, those despaired by the that’s what it means to world, we depend on be generous. We recog- the gifts of our mem- nize that our friends and bers and friends. Your family are a gift from gifts are by far our God. We recognize that main source of reve- our brothers and sisters nue. in Christ are a gift from So this fall, I urge God. We recognize that you to cultivate this church — as a place where community gratitude. Be mindful of what you have more groups meet and lives are transformed and than what you do not. Be aware of the beauty, people encounter God — is a gift from God. We love, and hope all around you. For the sake of recognize the gift of each other, because the your health, your spirituality, and this church, church is not really a place but a people. The let us give thanks to God.