Meet Karla Koll– Our Missionary in Costa Rica

Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church 7406 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo 64114

Phone: 816-361-2200

www.wppresbyterian.org

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Meet Karla Koll, our PCUSA missionary in Costa

Rica. Karla serves on the faculty of the Latin Biblical

University (UBL) as professor of history, mission, and

religions. Her classroom is filled with diverse students.

Pentecostal pastors learn next to Roman Catholic nuns

and those with years of leadership experience in their

churches study alongside new believers whose

intellectual curiosity has led them to study theology.

Students from indigenous cultures and communities of

African ancestry share their perspectives. Together with

faculty members, they seek to construct theological

responses to the urgent challenges facing the peoples

of Latin America.

Karla attended UBL in 1984 as a theology student. She

says, “The institution … offered me the opportunity

to learn from and with Central Americans about what it

meant to follow Jesus Christ in the midst of the struggles

for peace with justice in the region. At the same time I

also discovered my calling to serve in Central America in

theological education and to build relationships between

Christians in the U.S. and Central America.”

In addition, Karla's work at UBL gives her the oppor-

tunity to help Presbyterians in the United States “be drawn

to greater commitment to work in God’s mission for the

fullness of life for all.” As she pursues her work, Karla

says she is inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, which

describes our calling as Christians to be engaged in

reconciliation. “As followers of Christ, we are called to be

ambassadors for the new creation God is bringing about,”

Karla emphasizes. “The call to work for reconciliation has

been central to my ministry.”

Karla is married to Francisco Javier Torrez Bermudez,

a native of Nicaragua. They are the parents of an adult

daughter, Tamara Torrez-Koll, a college student in

Oregon. (Please pray for Karla. You can get a prayer card for

Karla in the narthex.)

Ward Press

Glorify God Grow Disciples Go Serve November/ December 2014

Tuesday, August 19:

Preschool Staff Meeting

Monday, August 25:

Preschool resumes

Office hours change to Mon.-Fri. 9-1:00pm

Tuesday, Sept. 2:

Women’s Bible Study resumes

Sunday, Sept 7:

Cornerstone Bible Study resumes

Sunday Worship,

10:30am Christian Education,

9:30am

Office Hours M-F

9:00am -1:00pm

816.361.2200

Email: office@wppresbyterian.org

Church Staff

Pastor, Connie Happell

Office Administrator, Tina Hill

Choir Director, Joseph Hill

Organist, Dr. Arthur Rinehart

Accountant, Ruth Meyers-Melching

Custodian, Scott Curry

Preschool Directors, 816.361.2201

Kim Manford Leslie Bullington

Officers

Elders Worship: Diana Justus

Fellowship & Hospitality:

Lynne Crossette

Mission and Stewardship: Jim Durig

Personnel & Administration: Steve Nelson

Adult Discipleship: James Lusk

Youth Discipleship: Sean Stoy

Operations: Bob Liepsner

Clerk of Session: Mardy Cottrell

Deacons Jim Kurtz, Susan Stewart,

Shirley Lytle, Rosemary McDaneld

& Janet North

Trustees Marlene Durig , James Lusk,

Jean Hunter Tom Stewart-Treasurer

SAVE THE DATES

Sunday, Nov.23– Hanging of the Greens after worship Angel Tree begins

Sunday, Dec.7-Caroling to homebound members

Angel Tree Deadline Sunday, Dec.14 -youth@wppc-6:00-7:30pm

Sunday, Dec.14-Children’s Nativity during worship Tuesday, Dec.16-Preschool Christmas Program-9:00am

Sunday, Dec. 21-Choir Cantata during worship Wednesday, Dec. 24 -Christmas Eve Service-5:00pm

O God, who has proven your love for humanity by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord, and has illumined our human life by the radiance of his presence, I give you thanks for this your greatest gift. For my Lord's days upon earth: For the record of his deeds of love: For the words he spoke for my guidance and help: For his obedience unto death: For his triumph over death: For the presence of his Spirit with me now: I thank you, O God. Grant that the remembrance of his blessed life that once was lived out on this common earth under these ordinary skies may remain with me in all the tasks and duties of this day. Let me remember— His eagerness, not to be ministered unto, but to minister: His sympathy with suffering of every kind: His bravery in face of his own suffering: His meekness of bearing, so that, when reviled, he reviled not again: His steadiness of purpose in keeping to his appointed task: His simplicity: His self-discipline: His serenity of spirit: His complete reliance upon you, his Father in Heaven. And in each of these ways give me grace to follow in his footsteps. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I commit all my ways unto you. I make over my soul to your keeping. I pledge my life to your service. May this day be for me a day of obedience and of charity, a day of happiness and of peace. May all my walk and conversation be such as becomes the gospel of Christ. Amen. —John Baillie. A Diary of Private Prayer (Oxford, 1936)

Ethel Hahn -November 2

Doris McCool -November 2

Charlie Crossette -November 10

Bev Reeves-Dudley -November 11

Danny Edwards - November 22

Steve Nelson -November 25

Jace Smith -November 26

Emily Lantz-December 3

Quinn Stoy-December 7

Vall Bowman-December 9

Mike Montgomery-December 12

Debbie Babb-December 22

Brendan North-December 24

Happy Birthday!

Choir Cantata

For Your Prayers

*Prayers for God’s comfort and peace for

the Hembree and Johnson families.

*Prayers for healing for Joyce Curry,

Arthur Rinehart, Pat Wiederaenders,

Jean Horst and Irmajean Barta.

*Prayers of thanksgiving and wisdom for

those responsible for the ministries of the

congregation.

*Prayers for the Hendry family

(our missionaries to Brazil) at the death

of Todd’s Father.

Lara King, Sarah Guthrie, Candis Lochmann and

Rachel Williams. Preparing boxes for Operation

Christmas Child.

Thank you to all who volunteered and participated! It

was a huge success! Pictured: Alex Happell, Warren

Bell and Doris Burton.

Trunk or Treat 2104

This wonderful work is based on the theme Witnesses to the Nativity. It includes nine familiar carols

such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World and Silent Night along with new material composed by Hal Hopson. The work will

be performed with Choir, Soloist, Organ, Flute, and Percussion.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

September Session Notes 2015 Budget: James Lusk and Steve Nelson and

Treasurer Tom Stewart and Pastor Connie are current-

ly working on a draft of the 2015 budget.

Pastor Connie reported that we need a backup

person for child care. Susan Stewart and Pastor

Connie are leading a parents group on Tuesday

mornings. Preschool Board Parent coffees were well

attended and appreciated.

Council Reports:

Nominating: Diana Justus reported that the nominat-

ing committee is working to fill the slate to be

presented at the Annual Meeting in November.

Youth Discipleship: Sean Stoy reported that the

committee is working on structuring the Sunday

evening program so that older youth and younger

youth meet separately for part of the evening.

Adult Discipleship: Lynne Crossette reported that

Nightwatch will begin meeting once a month and

from October – December and will study “Becoming

a Woman of Prayer.” James Lusk reported that the

men’s group meeting on Friday mornings at First

Watch Fairway is studying a book by Bonhoeffer,

The Cost of Discipleship.

Operations: Bob Liepsner reported that cracks in the

south parking lot need to be filled and wood rot

repaired soon.

Worship – Diana Justus reported that Carmen

Rinehart has volunteered to make Advent banners and

the Worship Council is delighted.

Fellowship and Hospitality: Lynne Crossette

reported that there will be a Stewardship lunch on Oc-

tober 19 after church with a theme of “We Love

Ward Parkway.” We will host Trunk or Treat from

4:30-6:30 PM in the north parking lot on October 31st

with a train, obstacle course and trunks manned by

church members.

Tuesday Parent Group

Preschool News

We are loving the beautiful trees in the neighbor-

hood this time of year! We are enjoying jumping in

the leaves and looking at all of their wonderful colors

during our nature walks through the neighborhood.

We are staying busy here at preschool. Wornall

House visited our school to do presentations for our

classrooms about life during colonial times. The

children are learning how to drink tea (pretend of

course), how to wash and hang laundry, and how to

deliver mail on horse back. The children love this

pretend play and learn so much!

Culvers night is on November 13th. The preschool

will earn a percentage of all sales during the hours of

5-9 p.m. It is always a fun evening of fellowship. We

hope you can join us!

Our November Chapel will teach the children

about the feeding of the 5000 and how Jesus turned

five loaves and two fish into enough food for the en-

tire crowd. Our Christmas Program will be Tuesday,

December 16th. At preschool, we are so thankful for

the wonderful congregation of Ward Parkway

Presbyterian Church. Thank you all for your

continued prayers for the families and staff of the

preschool. Kim & Leslie