10 years laterTen years ago this week, I convinced Pastor Christyn to visit a potential first-call church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She had just started working for the Ellen Show and was less than thrilled at the idea of starting over again. I told her that if she at least visited with me, I’d let her have full choice of our next vehicle (we only had one car between us at the time and I really wanted a pickup truck). I had a great phone interview with the Call Committee of Martin Luther Lutheran Church, and wanted to take the congregation up on the offer to visit in person at the end of April. Up until that point, the only impression we had of MLLC was the paperwork provided by the synod and my phone interview. We knew we needed to experience Sunday worship with the whole congregation and meet its members face-to-face. We had so many questions: What does this “bedroom community” look like? What feeling does the church building itself emote? What’s the vibe of Sunday morning worship and fellowship? And is there a Super Target nearby?

Our first impression was that what they say is true - there is nothing like Midwest hospitality, and MLLC is no exception. This was an important quality for us, as we weren’t going to move the 1,600 miles from Southern California to a congregation whose first language wasn’t joy.

Secondly, it was clear that the people of MLLC care about others. This is connected to the first quality, but it goes deeper. We were especially impressed how Melinda Dawley, head of the Call Committee at the time, found and shared a blog that Christyn had made of our wedding and life in LA. A guitar player named Bob spontaneously wished me a “Happy Birthday," a very thoughtful gesture that has stuck with me all these years (we did in fact visit during my 28th birthday; Christyn even researched the location of the nearest Waffle House on Douglas and treated me to breakfast because she knows that I do like some tasty hash browns!). Third, MLLC was - and still is - clearly open to God moving in different or unusual ways. We were impressed with worship featuring a band and using a screen. Even the fact that MLLC was open to a first-call pastor, still green from seminary, showed how much you trusted in God! Every group that I met with shared how they were open to doing something new and different because God was doing new and different things, too.

Thank you for being who you are for the last ten years and for many more years to come! As we reflect back to that first Sunday in May from 2010, I pray

that we never lose these qualities. May we always welcome the new face because we may be entertaining angels. May we always care deeply for each other as Christ cares for us. May we be open to God moving us in new and unexpected directions, especially during this time of viruses and social distancing. Christyn and I can think of no other people we’d rather endure a pandemic alongside! Amen! 

Pastors Hans & Christyn Koschmann

V IS IONSWE ARE TO CARE FOR OUR HOME, OUR CITY, AND THE WORLD AS STEWARDS AND DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

M A R T I N L U T H E R L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

MAY 2020

1200 SW BLUE PKWY., LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64063 | 816.524.2540. | WWW.MLLCHURCH.COM

MLLC CHURCH COUNCIL Debbie Heineman, President/Education Ralph Dawley, Vice President/Facilities

Clarine Holtz, Secretary/Worship Travis Hudson, Treasurer/Finacne

Lindsey Dodds, Welcoming/Evangelism Andy Perkins, Small Groups/Fellowship

Hazel Claeys, Administration Pastor Hans Koschmann

Pastor Christyn Koschmann

May 2, 2010 - we were all bebes!

The church council met Sunday April 26th via Zoom. The

following bullet points were discussed:

• Treasurer, Travis Hudson has been working with a local bank to apply for a Payroll Protection Program forgivable small business loan. The application is complete and awaiting additional funding from congress.

• The main focus of the meeting was when and how we start public services up again. Tentatively, we hope to begin in June, but that will be discussed further at the next council meeting in May.

• The church has been cleaned every week (including carpets, pews and wood flooring on the altar) and disinfected.

What day is it? When did I last shower? Though we don’t plan on having any events held in our church building during the month of May, we continue to worship on Sundays at 10am online and have mid-week prayer on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Since they are stored on our Facebook and YouTube channels, you can watch them anytime after they premier!

Communion kit drive-thru takes place on Saturday, May 2nd and May 30th

From 10-11:30am in the church parking lot. Please stay in your cars and have your

passenger side window or trunk open. Sign up for each on our website!

WE ARE TO CARE FOR OUR HOME, OUR CITY, AND THE WORLD AS STEWARDS AND DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

NOTES

Becky Pattee May 1

Hans Koschmann May 3

Renee Pierson May 3

Noah Petty May 4

Deborah Stone May 6

Andy Perkins May 7 Jose Gonzalez May 8

Hazel Claeys May 10

Nicolle Olson May 11

Mark Jackson May 11

Charlotte Dodds May 11

Al Brunssen May 13

Ramona Miller May 15

Michael Bockelman May 17

Kennedy Jo Hertzog May 17

Matt Owens May 18Caiti Brown May 22

Cara Brown May 22

Michael Crance May 24

Trent Means May 25

Tran Vu May 25

Dawn Mays May 27

Scott Lueckert May 27

Ann Atchison May 28

Aubrey Gonzalez May 29

Kyle & Jonna Zenner May 7

Bob & Meredith Boone May 16Darrell & Deb Stone May 19

Paul & Linda Gardner May 26

Facebook: facebook.com/martinlutherlutheranchurch

YouTube: tinyurl.com/scfl9ds

LiveStream: mllchurch.freeonlinechurch.com/live

g i v e a MEAL a MONTH

With many suddenly out of work, the need is greater than ever before. The suggested menu for this month is: Canned ham ● Canned yams ● Peas ● Jello ● Hand soap

If you have a donation, please deliver it directly to LSSS (108 S.E. 4th Street) or call them to request a pick-up: 816-525-4357

You may also contact Janice Crance with questions: 816.525.6149. For more information, visit LSSocialServices.com

MINISTRY OF THE MONTH:

WE ARE TO CARE FOR OUR HOME, OUR CITY, AND THE WORLD AS STEWARDS AND DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

Last October we featured the ministry of the Veterans Community Project, a local 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation that provides transitional housing in a community setting to at-risk and homeless veterans in the KC Metro area. VCP has reached out to MLLC asking for donations, as their pantry has taken a hit thanks to COVID-19. Let’s show them what we’ve got! Feel free to bring by your donation during our Communion Kit Drive-Thru on May 2 or May 30th at church, or you can contact our church’s liaison, Bob Boone at robert.boone@thrivent.com, for more information. VCP also has an Amazon Wish List that allows you to purchase and ship needs directly to them - find the link on our website or visit it at : tinyurl.com/y7dmyfzk

Communion kits TO-GO! Here’s how it works: 1.) Sign up online at MLLChurch.com (supplies are limited to a first-come, first serve inventory);2.) Swing by the church on May 2nd and May 30th between 10-11:30am;3.) Stay in your car, open your passenger side window or trunk. Pastor Hans will deliver your goods; 4.) Bring them home and disinfect if you’d like (though they’ve been quarantined in a garage for days);5.) Have your communion elements ready on May 3, 10, 31 and June 7th during our 10am service.

join us online!Sundays 10am

mllchurch.com

WE ARE TO CARE FOR OUR HOME, OUR CITY, AND THE WORLD AS STEWARDS AND DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

Sundays are going to look and feel a little differently for the foreseeable future. Pastor Hans and Pastor Christyn are working hard to ensure you still have meaningful worship opportunities online. If you haven’t yet, please visit and follow our Facebook page and our YouTube channel, in addition to “bookmarking” our website. Next, share them

with your friends through text, e-mail, a phone call, or by sharing our posts with all your pals on social media.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/martinlutherlutheranchurchYouTube: https://tinyurl.com/scfl9ds

There are 3 ways to participate in Sunday Worship. At 10am on Sunday mornings, please visit any of the below websites in order to find our services being broadcast. While they are “premiering” you may also choose to engage in the “chat” features on any of the platforms. This is a great way to let us know you are present to how we can pray for you. Of note: Facebook’s live-streaming option often buffers, whereas YouTube and our website have been more consistent. Our LiveStream page also allows you to submit a prayer request or tithe while still watching the live feed.

LiveStream: https://mllchurch.freeonlinechurch.com/live

Though our church building is closed, Church is not.

Like you, MLLC still has bills to pay and ministries to support (such as One Good Meal, which continues to deliver 125+ meals daily out of our Fellowship Hall). This means that we still count on your regular offering and tithes, especially during this pandemic. For those who have been furloughed, we completely understand if doing so would cause additional stress. Please take care of your family, and if we can be of help to you we are here. But for those who are still employed, know that your offering really matters and continues to make possible the ministry of the church. If you’ve not set up to give electronically yet, you may do so by visiting the front page of our website or by clicking here. You may also mail your offering to the church directly. Thank you for your continued support!

VIRTUAL

EVERY SUNDAY AT 11AM

Bring your favorite coffee cup and join us after worship on Sunday

mornings at 11am for some fellowship. To

access our meeting in the month of May, click here

or manually visit zoom.com and enter the

following information:Meeting ID: 599 263 228

Password: 2hseNg