Warrensburg Church of the Brethren

You have a choice! Each Sunday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., we are now worshiping together both in person in our church building (702 E. Hale Lake Rd in Warrensburg) using COVID protocols* and remotely via Zoom broadcasts (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86201854760). Please join us.... It's our new normal and we are EXCITED! #smallchurchbigideas *You may DM us for our current COVID protocols when meeting in person for worship.

Congratulations to Janis Russell, a valued friend of the Warrensburg Church of the Brethren who was named Volunteer of the Month by Warrensburg Main Street Inc. Janis has degrees in History, Women’s Studies and English from the University of Central Missouri and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri at Columbia. She has lived numerous places in the United States working as a Reference Librarian and an Adult Programs Librarian. Retirement broug...ht Janis back to Warrensburg and she joined the COB community after an invitation from Renee Staab to attend a Christmas program. Janis is a volunteer extraordinaire. In addition to volunteering to the Warrensburg Main Street Inc, She is also active with the Citizens of Environmental Action group (CEAburg), the Johnson County Democrat Club, The Food Center, The Christmas Store, Johnson County CROP Hunger Walk, Warrensburg Cat Advocates & Save Our Shelter, and she participated in the Old Drum Open Mic as a poet. Janis is an avid reader, a regular at university and community band events, and has been gardening since 10 years old! She tries not to miss Lifelong Learning at UCM programs, has served on the UCM Earth Day and Social Justice committees, and is an active advocate for a world where everyone is offered opportunities and dignity. Thank you, Janis, for being a part of our faith community and always teaching us something new.

We are sharing a tribute to Morris Collins written by Lynesha Cole for Fathers' Day. This past Sunday, Pastor Jackson explained the meaning of "father" as found in the Old Testament this way. "The term Father as a reference to God, supplements the term father as commonly used in Jewish history and culture. The word Father to Jews was a very broad term. While it meant an immediate male parent, it also included the head of a people, or tribe; a grandfather, founder of a town or guild, profession, in trade, Father in previous generations (to document heritage)." Morris Collins was a true father not only to his biological family, but also to our community.

COB's Road Warriors! On Sunday after our worship service, a dozen COB inter-generational bicyclists hit the Spirit Trail! So many happy smiles. Special thanks to Stephanie McCoy for organizing the bike ride and to Pastor Pearl Miller for providing refreshments.... Photo cred: David Pearce

Love is in the air! It's not often that we get to celebrate not one, but two milestone anniversaries of our pastors in a single week! ** On Friday, June 11, Pastor Jackson & Sonny Short will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.... ** On Saturday, June 12, Phil and Pastor Pearl Miller will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary. Wow! What an example of commitment and love for all of us. Please consider sending a note of congratulations to these couples. (And because Pastor Pearl has always been a super achiever, June 12th is also Pearl's birthday!)

Dreams for inclusion. Pastor Jerry spoke on Sunday of a dream we all have. A dream of inclusion. "We have a dream.... We dream of a place where everyone is welcome! We dream of a place that is safe for everyone. We dream of a place where everyone is accepted. We dream of a place where everyone is loved. We dream of a place where Jesus leads us into a week of relationships that are a life-giving blessing for everyone. We dream of a time when everyone sits at the table and there is good food aplenty for everyone to eat their fill. We dream of a community in which all, joyfully share the work of taking care of one another." Join us on Sunday mornings at 10:00 and learn more about our dreams and ways to make them a reality. #smallchurchbigideas

Inclusion. When y'all means ALL. Mark Pearce gave a powerful message on Sunday about inclusion based on the examples of interactions Jesus and Nicodemus found in John 3. Mark concluded his message with this song "When Y'all means All". Although, it is typically thought of as a secular song, it is spot on. Thank you, Mark!

We welcome you to join us via Zoom each Sunday. 10:00 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m. Worship Service link --> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86201854760... 1:00 p.m. -- 2:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study... https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85932564859 5:00 p.m. -- 5:30 p.m. Power of 8 Prayer Service link --> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82387346323... Please visit our website at www.warrensburgcob.com for more details.

This! Gotta love a church with a sense of humor! Face mask available from Brethren Press. "Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. (not so close) Together."

Today (Wednesday, Jan. 27) is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Listen to NPR's interview from Ruth Cohen, an Auschwitz survivor, about her message to young people about the importance of the phrase "never forget." Organized 300 years ago in Germany, the Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination devoted to its slogan of "continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together."

This past Sunday, Pastor Pearl's message was entitled "FOLLOW THE LEADER" based on Mark 1:14-20. She included the following the following musical clip performed by the multi-talented Jacob Crouse. Who should we follow? Song may be found in the Mennonite songbook "Sing the Journey" Written by Shirley Erena Murray, 1996

Write it down! The age-old advice is that if you want to remember something important, write it down! A friend of ours made a goal to hand-copy a chapter from two books of the Bible (Psalms and 1 Corinthians) each day in order to remember the words. Obviously, she already has written copies, but her hope is that by copying them by hand, she will focus more intently on the messages found there. We (Phil and LuRae) plan to hand-write one printed page of Pastor Jerry's Sunday ...sermon each day in the coming week. What he said was important and definitely worth remembering. What do you want to commit to memory in your life's journey "of continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together."?

You are invited to join us for the community's monthly meeting Diversity & Dialogue this Thursday, Jan. 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm via Zoom. After a brief check-in by participants, Loretta & Christa Collins will lead a continuing study of Toni Morrison’s book, "The Origin of Others." Before this meeting, the leaders suggest that participants read Chapter 4 and be prepared to discuss the following questions/thoughts:... 1. Toni Morrison explores many controversial topics in this book. How has the controversy of the book affected you so far? 2. She discusses politics and history in this book, referring to people fleeing their homes due to violence, persecution, beliefs, and prejudices. Discuss any examples in which you have heard or witnessed this happening during your lifetime or recently? What do you think life was like for those who were surrounded by hostility and threats of death? What do think may have been the reasons for and success of all-black towns (or other ethnicities)? Zoom Meeting link --> https://tinyurl.com/yyrsy9w2 Meeting ID: 738 6977 0938 Passcode: 7L4zFW This dialogue group was founded by Jerry Crouse, pastor of the Church of the Brethren - Warrensburg and the late Rev. Morris Collins, senior pastor of Jesus Saves Pentecostal Church - Warrensburg. Leave questions in the comments below or DM us.

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Moderator Paul Mundey has announced the next Moderator’s Town Hall will be Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6:00 p.m. CST. The topic will be Faith, Science, and COVID-19. Dr. Kathryn Jacobsen, specialist in infectious disease epidemiology and global health, will be the featured resource person. More information, including how to register, may be found in the shared document below.