“A Second-Chance Harvest”

In the Bible, we often see fruit trees being used for metaphors for living out our faith. Does our living produce good fruit or doesn’t it? Far too often, we’re like the fig tree in today’s parable. God hopes we will produce good fruit in keeping with our faith, but far too often, we don’t. But thankfully, He is a God of second, third, fourth, fifth chances. He feeds our faith through Word and Sacrament and gives us time to live out our faith. May we produce a harvest in keeping with His hopes and expectations!

Create in Me a Heart of Hope:  A Devotion

Nobody calls in the middle of the night with good news. My normally innocent ringtone turned ominous the moment it breaks the silence. My friend apologized for calling in the middle of the night, and while I could identify with parts of her story, I’d never walked in her exact shoes. Holding my phone with one hand, I silently asked the One who has the answers.

What does she do now, God? How can I help her?

That was when my friend asked me a different question. She asked me if it would all work out. And, finally, I had something I could hold on to and then offer back to her. Yes! I told her. Eventually, everything would work out. Because God promises in Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Someday, I assured her, she would realize that she has healed, grown, moved on enough to feel okay again. In that moment, we both felt a glimmer of hope, and it was enough.

God is with the brokenhearted. He will never leave us. Never. He will fight for us, and He will win. Without hope, we are lost. With hope, we can withstand the storm and keep pressing forward. We can face every middle-of-the-night phone call and every circumstance that knocks the wind right out of us. With hope, the hope we find in the promise of Jesus, we know someday is coming.

Lenten & Holy Week Updates

Wednesday Services: March 23, 30, & April 6 at 5:30pm, RD Mize

Wednesday Non-Dinner Free-Will Offering Opportunities:

• March 23—Pairs & Spares for National Youth Gathering fundraising
• March 30—School Ministry for TLS Scholarship Fund
• April 6—OPEN (contact Diane Mayfield dianem@timothylutheran.com to reserve)

NOTE:  These free-will offering opportunities will also be available in RD Mize lobby on the Sunday following the designated Wednesday services. Thanks for your support of these ministries.

Maundy Thursday, April 14:  Service with Holy Communion, 5:30pm, RD Mize
Good Friday, April 15:  5:30pm, Wyatt
Easter Sunday, April 17:  7am (with Holy Communion) & 9:15am (no 8am service), RD Mize; 10am, Wyatt

Celebration Chorus will sing at Wyatt on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Sanctuary Choir will sing at RD Mize THIS SUNDAY (March 20), Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday. The combined choirs will sing on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Timothy’s Tithe Organizations Appreciate Support

Thank you, Timothy, for continuing to support the mission field through your general contributions each week. 10% of general contributions is faithfully and regularly apportioned to those organizations on Timothy’s tithe list. Below are recent acknowledgements and thank-you(s) from a couple of those organizations:

• From Lutherans for Life:  “Please receive our gratitude for your recent gift of $167.32. Your fellowship and encouragement affirm that life issues involve real people, precious treasures, and not simply political controversy or personal choice.”
• Hillcrest Transitional Housing: For more than 40 years, Hillcrest has helped families get back on their feet. Your recent gift of $836.62 helps to enable us to provide homeless individuals, families, and youth with the skills and tools they need to lead self-sufficient lives and to leave behind the cycle of homelessness forever.”

Timothy’s Tithe Organizations Appreciate Support

Thank you, Timothy, for your special committed support of sponsoring a Hillcrest apartment in Lee’s Summit. Dan Sbisa reports that the most current residents in Timothy’s apartment, April & her son Hunter, graduated from the Hillcrest program last Sunday, March 13. At the graduation, April shared her story and how Hillcrest turned her life around. Praise be to God! Continue to keep April & Hunter in your prayers as they continue to grow and now live in their own home.

The Hillcrest personnel shared that information about new residents in Timothy’s apartment should be available within a few days. Stay tuned! And don’t stop praying!

Timothy’s Food Donations Always Appreciated

Timothy’s ongoing, monthly food collections may be “routine,” “just what we do,” but please know that community groups receiving those donations on a rotating basis ALWAYS are very grateful. Last week, Gary Flandermeyer delivered a truckload full of non-perishables to Jesu el Buen parish in KCMO.  Pastor Frank Eberhart and his staff were sincerely overwhelmed once again to benefit from your generosity. Thank you very much!

2022 First Fruits contributions total $64,915.59, as of March 13^th. Thank you very much!

Raise the Roof contributions total $20,250, as of March 13^th. Thank you very much!

Adopt-a-NYG Student (Pi Fundraiser) contributions total $5743.14, as of March 13^th. Thank you very much!

“Thank you, Timothy, for helping us in our time of need. You are a blessing and your ministry helps make the world a brighter place every day. The family of Charles Osborne”

Prayers Requested for Phyllis Embree who will have surgery on Tuesday, March 22^nd.

Food donations in March will be delivered to BS Community Services League. Your ongoing support is always appreciated.

JourneyMen Take the Lead Event—Wise Guys THIS TUESDAY, March 22, 6:30-8:30pm, Family Life Center, RD Mize. All guys 15 & older welcome to hear Garrett Stutz, a 7’1” professional basketball player, share his faith story and enjoy smoked pulled pork. Join us as we get on the journey of digging into God’s Word. Contact Pastor Rod (rodl@timothylutheran.com) with questions. Please register at https://timothylutheran.com/take-the-lead/

TLS Trivia Night “A Night at the Movies” Friday, March 25, Wyatt Auditorium, doors open at 6pm, $20 per person or $150 table of 8; concessions, raffles, & more! Childcare available. Proceeds benefit TLS Scholarship Fund. Purchase tickets at https://timothylutheran.school.com/trivia-night/ or at table in each lobby on March 20.

Lutheran High School—KC Home Music Tour Concert Fri., March 25, 7pm, 12411 Wornall Rd, KCMO 64145. All are welcome and encouraged to attend to enjoy both sacred & secular pieces performed by the vocal choir, concert band, and hand bell choir at Lutheran High.

Spring Craft & Vendor Fair Do you like to shop? Make plans to attend this National Youth Gathering fundraiser on Sat., Apr. 2, from 8am-2pm at the Wyatt Auditorium. Free admission. More than 35 vendors & crafters will fill the auditorium with a wide variety of goods. Mark your calendars!

Thrivent Choice Dollars If you desire to allocate your Thrivent Choice Dollars to Timothy, please do so by March 31 deadline. Go to your account at Thrivent. Com or contact your Thrivent representative if you have questions. Thank you very much!

Easter Eggstravaganza Sat., April 9, 2-4pm, Wyatt (outdoors, weather permitting); rain date, April 10 after worship service; enjoy FREE family games, crafts, & traditional egg hunt starting at 3pm; Rolling in the Dough KC food truck available to purchase sweet treats from 2-3pm; donations of individually-wrapped candy to fit inside plastic eggs and prize-table goodies (full-size candy bars, small toys, small stuffed animals, etc) welcomed; drop off at either campus in plastic bins in lobby; contact Allison Spencer (816.695.0090) if you can volunteer time to help.

Caring for God’s House Volunteers needed for cleaning sanctuary and lobby at RD Mize on Sat., March 26, 8:30am-12:30pm. Can you donate some time that morning? Contact Viv Bradshaw (816.229.0397) or Diane Mayfield (dianem@timothylutheran.com or 816.228.5300 Ext. 8040) with questions! Thank you!

Skating Party All children & students invited! Bring friends! Sat., March 26, 4:30-6:30pm; $5 per skater, Rink Ratz, BS. Contact Pastor Ryan (ryanh@timothylutheran.com) with questions.

LWML MO District South Zone Spring Rally Sat., April 9, Messiah Lutheran, Independence; Theme: “LUMA Live”; registration 9am; opening devotion 9:30am; cost $5 which includes lunch; Program: Kelsha James, LUMA Community Outreach Coordinator. Gifts from the heart: laundry soap/pods, cleaning supplies, sponges, & baby wipes for LUMA Community Closet. Monetary donations also accepted, payable to LWML MO District KC South Zone. Childcare available upon prior request. RSVP to Carol Haesemeier (816.478.1659 or hhaesemeier@sbcglobal.net) by March 29.

Reaching Out to Welcome Inn Residents GIVE Commission appreciates your help with donating essential items for the Welcome Inn residents going into the summer months. Especially appreciated are toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper plates, plastic silverware, canned fruits & vegetables, cereal, and toaster pastries. Bins at both campuses are available for drop off until April 24. Thank you very much!

Women of Hope Spring Retreat All women & friends are welcome to take a trip around God’s Wonder Full World on Sat., April 30, 9am-4pm at Wyatt Campus. Cost is $25 per lady which includes lunch & materials. It will be a travel-themed retreat filled with laughter, Bible study, and reflection. Don’t relay—register now by contacting Nancy Nowiszewski (nancyn@timothylutheran.com) or Diane Mayfield (dianem@timothylutheran.com).

Altar/Stage Flowers If you would like to provide flowers for the altar at RD Mize or stage at Wyatt, please call the church office or sign the “flower chart” posted on bulletin board in Rd Mize lobby hallway. Cost is $35.00. Thank you!

Ladies Book Club rescheduled its first meeting for March 24 at 7pm (due to inclement weather on March 10) at the home of Barb Kalbfleisch. Contact Barb (barbkalbfleisch9@gmail.com) if you have questions. It’s not too late to join the group!

DivorceCare meets on Mondays, 6:30-8pm, RD Mize. Childcare available upon request.

GriefShare meets on Thursdays, 6:30-8pm, RD Mize. Childcare available upon request.

Job Opportunities Timothy Lutheran School has the following teaching positions available for the 2022-2023 school year.  If you are interested or know someone who would like to apply please contact Ken Holland at Kenh@timothylutheran.com for more information.

Kindergarten, Third Grade and Seventh & Eighth Grade Combo – Emphasis in Math and History

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study “An Overview of the Old Testament”; 10:30-11:30am, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by Fritz Barlag & Dale Russell

Monday Evening Adult Bible Study (1^st & 3^rd Mondays) Various topics; 6:30pm fellowship, 7pm study; Fellowship Hall, RD Mize; led by Roxanne Kerwood

Monday Evening Women’s Bible Study “Faith & Fire Elijah”; 6:30-8pm, Room 111, RD Mize; led by various ladies

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study “Matthew 17-28: The Sacrifice of the King”; 6:30-7:30am, Fireplace Room (302); led by various men

Tuesday Morning Adult Bible Study “The Book of Revelation”; 10-11am, Fellowship Hall, RD Mize; led by Pastor John

Wednesday Discovery Class 6:30-7:30pm, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by Pastor Rod

Wednesday Cross Walk Pre-school through 5^th grade; 6:30-8pm, begins in Fellowship Hall, RD Mize

Wednesday Confirmation 6^th-8^th grades’6:30-8pm, begins in Room 501, RD Mize

Wednesday Senior High Revolution Bible Study 6:30-8pm, Youth Room (506), RD Mize; led by Carrie Hochgrebe, Becky Blatt, & Ryan Kuecker

Thursday Evening Women’s Bible Study (Women of Thursday) Book study, 6:30-8pm, Room 102, RD Mize; led by Miriam Lindemann & Becky Blatt; contact Becky Blatt (ebblatt99@yahoo.com) for current book

Thursday Evening JourneyMen Bible Study “Passionate Pursuit of God”; 6:30-7:30pm, through March 31, Fellowship Hall, RD Mize; followed by fellowship at Applebee’s; led by Pastor Rod

Saturday Morning Moms Bible Study (1^st & 3^rd Saturdays) 9-10am, Wyatt 4 G’s; led by Kaye Gray