One of my favorite stories from Anne Lamott is her explaining why she made her (now grown) son Sam go to church as a child. She gives humorous detail about trying to get him enthused — all to no end. She jokes that he goes because she is 75 pounds …
An Hour Spent in Study
A well-known proverb among Jewish rabbis goes like this: “An hour spent in study is an hour spent in prayer.” I love that saying, not just because study is important to me as a former seminary professor but because it reminds me that study is a way of praying, of …
“Mountains are huge contemplatives. They are there and they are in the presence up to their necks and they are still in it and with it and within it.” This is how author, poet, and philosopher, John O’Donohue talks about the wonder of landscapes such as those that surrounded us at Christian Community Camp last week.
“Mountains are huge contemplatives. They are there and they are in the presence up to their necks and they are still in it and with it and within it.” This is how author, poet, and philosopher, John O’Donohue talks about the wonder of landscapes such as those that surrounded us at …
Peace, Justice, and Love
Howard Thurman was valedictorian at Morehouse, a historically black men’s college, in 1923. While a student he worked as an errand boy in the university president’s office and one day a man waiting to see the president engaged him in conversation. “I am rearing my boys so that they will …
Grace
By Lisa McCleish, Director of Early Childhood Programs Last March, the Parents’ Day Out and Preschool Program left on a Friday, ready for a week spring break, and didn’t re-open until June 1, over 10 weeks later. COVID. Admittedly, the staff were unprepared to be closed due to a pandemic. …
A Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place
By Matthew Thompson, Director of Music I have always loved going to church! I know it may seem odd to most but for some reason, church, especially worship and music called out to me from a young age. I was around 12 years old when I began playing the organ …
Serving with a Smile
By April Booth, Director of Children’s Ministries One Sunday during the children’s sermon we talked about Martin Luther King Jr. and how he loved people and the ways he showed love by serving them. As we talked about things we’ve done to serve – working in the garden at Urban …
Join a Small Group
By Barbara George, Director of Membership Development Just last week I heard from a first-time Neighborhood Communion participant that the group had met again and what a wonderful experience it had been…. appetizers, insightful guided discussion, and of course, lots of laughter! “It all came together!” Ten groups met this …
In Memory
By Lara Schopp, Director of Communication My father-in-law was a man of few words. He worked hard and had high expectations for the people in his life. He was fiercely private and kept his circle small. He was a cowboy and a lifelong horseman, spending hours tending to his last …
Sacred Listening
By Lara Schopp, Director of Communications Each Sunday during worship, I have a moment when I think “I’m probably not supposed to be doing this.” That moment comes during The Lord’s Prayer, when—while everyone else in the room is doing what they’re supposed to be doing, which is reciting those …
One Neighborhood at a Time
By Barbara George, Director of Membership Development How do you build Community? One neighborhood at a time. My 8th grade class consisted of 53 students; classmates I had grown up with and known my whole, long life. Together we entered our high school of 4,000…1,000 in our freshman class. This …
Time-Out
By Dr. Paul Tucker, Co-Director of Music On June 3, at 5:30 a.m., I, along with 50 singers from the University of Kansas, flew to Los Angeles International airport for a week of rehearsals and a live concert/recording with my twin brother’s orchestra from the University of California, Irvine. Frankly, …
The Mountains Are Calling
By Anne Haraughty, Ministries Coordinator In about five weeks, a group of adventurers from Country Club Christian Church will be traveling to Estes Park, Colorado, for Christian Community Camp, led by Dr. Mike Graves and facilitated by April Booth and Rachel Clement. Some have been attending Community Camp for decades …
Thank You!
I always get to write a newsletter article during the time you are responding to the stewardship campaign. Coincidence? I don’t think so. It is so I get to tell you each year how you amaze me. This church can’t make the difference it makes without you! The gifts that …