Sowers Seeds Dear Friends,

Often I am amazed at how time rolls around. I suppose it could be that I am an active

person who tends to take life at a gallop, but I think it is more than that, because it seems to move

quickly for most people. I can remember my Grandmother saying, “Sometimes the days stretch

on, but the years come and go so very quickly.” In its own way I suppose the movement of time

grants a form of hope in most situations. We may be going through difficulty, choppy water, or

struggles now, but they will not last because time and struggles have a way of passing. Meaning;

if we keep our heads up, square our shoulders, and keep pressing forward even the waters that roil

and foam will be calmed in short order. Yet, I know as well as the next that when we are in the

midst of the maelstrom it can be hard to believe that there is something on the other side of our

current struggles. It is the way of people, when life hits hard we turn in towards ourselves and our

sense of perspective narrows so much that what was before and what may be after is obscured.

Yet, if only in our moments of struggle we could pull back and attempt to look at the whole picture

we might maintain a sort of hope that had previously eluded us.

In the lives that we are blessed to lead, it is that sense of perspective that will either grant

us hope or keep us mired in hopelessness. With the right perspective we can see the times before,

the times present, and a brief glimpse of what is to come. If our perspective is scant or too close,

we may only see what is present, thus losing the memory of what was before and not seeing that

there is a possible future beyond where we are now. Now and again it takes acts of self-discipline

and concentration to change our perspective. One thing we know about inertia, even if science

wasn’t our chief area study, is that people and objects do not change direction until they are acted

upon by an equal and opposite force if you will. Changing our directions and changing our

perspectives is much more challenging than simply saying I will change. Though, the decision to

move in new ways is a good first step.

Perhaps a healthy challenge for Lent is to regain that sense of perspective about time and

our place within it. As of late, I found myself saying, “I just don’t have enough time to do x, y, or

z.” Yet, in a moment of reflection already in this season I realized that time passes and it will wait

for no one, but how we use the time that is ours is a matter of personal choice. The time we are

given, even when it does feel like enough, is a gift in and of itself. Rather than complaining about

the lack of time perhaps our perspective changes when we first give thanks for the time that is ours

and pledge ourselves to living well within it. I noticed this aspect of time powerfully as I was

considering the changes in the youth of the church and of the preschool. There was this part of me

that just wanted things to slow down, but because I know it will not, I will give thanks for all that

I have seen, all that is happening right now, and all that I will be humbled to see as way gives way

to way.

All the Best and God’s Blessings, Pastor John

March 14, 2019

Go to our Homepage: www.leavenworthchristian.com

Lenten Study ~ Sundays

March 10th through May 12th - 4:00pm - Kitterman “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by: Henri Nouwen

In the early church, the forty days of Lent was the culmination

of one’s preparation for being baptized and entering into the life of the

church. In many churches we reach back to that historical sense of

study and renewed devotion for Lent. Come join our journey through

Lent towards Easter with the author Henri Nouwen as a companion

and guide on this holy pilgrimage.

Renovation Team Meeting Wednesday, March 20th

10:00am ~ Kitterman

City Wide Clean-up Saturday, April 6th

9:15am meet at the church and return for pizza at 11am

Summer Camp is Coming!!!

You will find registration packets in Narthex with all

the information you need!

Register before April 30th to save $40!

Fund Raiser for Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope April 5th ~ 5:30pm Cash Bar ~ 6:15pm Dinner

“NIGHT of HOPE” at June’s Northland

601 Pottawatomie

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Pray for our out-of-town Active Duty Personnel Melissa Van Valkenburgh, Lucy Collings,

Hannah Bond, Dustin Phillips, Rob Widmyer, Jim & Rachel Sullivan, Christin Collins,

Nickalas Derringer, Rose Uy, Nelson Hanson Cameron Brown

Pray for those in the Hospital/Rehab Pearl Stonebraker- Twin Oaks #417

Liz Seever- Twin Oaks

Ongoing Cares & Concerns Steve Martin, Alice Bushman, Marilyn Vance, Noah Kincaid, Helen & Bill Nowlan

Kathy Ramirez, Rose Marie Theel, Ruby Corbet, Don Bohnsack, Katie Boyer, David Wimer, Winnie Henderson, April Shea, Brian Onasch, Pearl Stonebraker

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Please help us update our Active Duty list with

members or those in direct relationship with our

members.

Pray for those who have lost a loved one Blair Ledet – January 21, 2019

(Donna Bailey’s son) Gene Allen – February 16, 2019

Betty Wimer – February 19, 2018 Linda Walling – February 25, 2018

Continued prayers for Jacob Hayes- as he does rehab and healing after surgery. Joan Brown

March 11th is the 8th anniversary of Matt Groves’ passing. Please pray for the Family.

Prayers for Felicia Bagley’s Uncle in Puerto Rico- late stages of cancer. Please remember Felicia & the Family in prayer as they are also dealing

with the passing of her Great Uncle last week.

All Those dealing with storms & Those dealing with health problems. Ruth Kenton

Brian Onasch- a lot of doctor’s appointments this week in preparation for stem cell transplant in April.

Praises! Felicia Bagley’s friends, Christine & Ian are expecting baby #4! Prayers for a safe pregnancy.

Caitlin Onasch’s Great Grandma celebrated her 96th birthday on March 7th.

Danielle & Doug Euler are expecting a baby in September!

Marji Dickson is home from the hospital. They want to thank everyone for their prayers and cards. Richard Sack

Praise! Melissa Wilson’s daughter-in-law, Sarah Kowalewski, was in an accident Saturday. Car damaged,

but she was not hurt, just very sore.

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Children & Youth Ministry Mission Statement

We seek to grow spiritually, serve and invite children, youth and families to

participate in missions.

Values

1. Mission – We serve together in a world of need.

2. Family – We are there for one another in good times and bad.

3. Empathy – We seek to understand each other’s feelings.

4. Acceptance – We all belong.

5. Integrity – We try to live what we believe.

Children’s Church Schedule

March 17, 2019

Treehouse Treasures Lakeside Learners

Ann Crum & Evalyn Hubert Sue Hubert & Fran Gast

CWS KITS | CWS BLANKETS

IMPACT REPORT: 2018 The CWS Kit and Blanket Programs are two of the many ways Church World Service shares in a hope-filled tomorrow. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of children and families

the world over.

The Church World Services Kit and Blanket Programs are two of the many ways CWS shares in a hope-filled tomorrow. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of children and families the world over. We will have a special offering for this program March 17th & 24th.

March 19th - 11am-5pm

First Baptist Church, 340 N 13th St, Leavenworth Community Blood Center has declared a blood emergency due to historic

weather systems and severe flu outbreak sweeping across the country.

They have caused supplies to plummet as donors are unable to attend

drives and donor centers. We urgently need you to make every effort to

attend your upcoming blood drive.

We always need more help for the Shelter of Hope. If you would like to be part of this service to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, training will be held March 13 at 6:00pm, 311 Kiowa (at the Shelter). If you have questions, please contact Ruth Kenton or Sue Hubert.

Please contact:

Emily Bean, Debbie Phillips & Dea Nicodemus,

VBS Co-Directors

Vacation Bible School

will take us…

Please mark your

calendars and consider

now what you can do to

help with this year’s

VBS.

July 8-12, 2019

with a program &

potluck on

July 14th

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March 14th Bill Rogers

Regina Kloster

March 15th Larry Elliott

March 17th Dustin Filley Patricia Sass

Sunday is St Patrick’s Day

Please plan to avoid using streets on the parade

route. We don’t know the exact time they will

begin blocking off streets near the church. The

parade starts at 1pm. 7th and Esplanade will be

blocked off from Delaware to Shawnee sometime

in the morning. Please plan to come early for

Sunday School and 11am Worship.

March 18th Mildred Boyer

Ayden Ontiveros Patrick Nowlan

March 20th Mary Sue Winneke

Attendance March 10th

10:30am Worship 62 Sunday School 39 Visitors 12

Total 101

Offering March 10th

General $7,037.00 Building 400.00 Backpack Buddies 190.00 Pastor’s Fund 35.00 Week of Compassion 249.00

Total $7,911.00

We are looking forward to Graduation Sunday, May 19th. If you know of someone connected to our congregation who has graduated or will be graduating from high school, college, or a vocational program this year, please contact the church office to make sure we have their information.

First Christian Calendar March 13-21, 2019

Sunday’s Servers March 17th

Hospital Visitation Mar 17-23

Cushing Mary Sue Winneke & Sue Hubert

St John Emily McCracken

11:00am Service Elder: Emily McCracken Scripture: Larry Elliott

Greeters Main: Kim Kincaid

Narthex: Eli Bagley Servers: Doug Euler*

Kim Kincaid & Eli Bagley Communion Prep: Max Matousek

Clean-up: Eli Bagley

8:30am Service Lay Leader: Linda Bohnsack

Elders: Mary Sue Winneke & Sue Hubert Greeters

Main: Bonnie Williams Narthex: Scarlet Ross

Servers Diane Euler*, Max Matousek

Bonnie Williams & Melissa Wilson Communion Prep & Clean-up:

Max Matousek

The driver listed for Sunday will pick up for both worship services. Call if you need a ride to church. Let the driver know which service you plan to attend.

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Wednesday, March 13th Communion Service Sanctuary 7:00am Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Mary Martha Kitterman 7:00pm aliVe Melissa Wilson’s Home 7:00pm

Thursday, March 14th Carillons 6:30pm Chancel Choir 7:30pm

Sunday, March 17th CWS Blanket Sunday Special Offering Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Sunday School 9:45am Lenten Study Kitterman 4:00pm

Monday, March 18th Prayer Breakfast Pullman Place 6:30am

Tuesday, March 19th Worship Meeting Kitterman 7:30pm

Wednesday, March 20th Communion Service Sanctuary 7:00am Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Renovation Mtg Kitterman 10:00am Girl Scouts Fellowship 5:30pm CMF Meeting Kitterman 6:30pm

Thursday, March 21st Carillons 6:30pm Chancel Choir 7:30pm

Sunday, March 17th John Groves

(913) 727-1775

*Captain

Contact US Telephone Number: (913) 682-3222

Church Office Hours Monday-Friday, 8:30 – 4:00

Church Email: church@leavenworthchristian.com

Website: www.leavenworthchristian.com Pastor: pastorjohn@leavenworthchristian.com

Reverend John Sowers: (309) 231-2665