Advent is a time to think about the coming of Jesus. But there’s more to the story than a cute little baby wrapped in swaddling cloths. After all, the manger didn’t draw that much attention.  However, the coming of Jesus was part of God’s great plan.  And we see in our readings today how the people longed for God to come and for His mission to commence because they knew it would change everything.

I remember the first time someone told me I was a leader. I looked at her in disbelief. I could think of at least a dozen reasons why she was wrong. But leading an organization or a ministry isn’t what makes me a leader. What makes me a leader is the calling Jesus placed on my life, when He commissioned me to go and make disciples.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20

Let me tell you right now, you are a leader. Don’t discount your sphere of influence. You know and spend time with people who need to hear about Jesus. People who are longing for greater meaning, freedom, and truth in their lives. The answer to their longing is Jesus. The fields are ripe and ready for harvest. Jesus said so Himself. They just need some workers.

We need to live a life worthy of the calling Jesus has given us: to go and make disciples, to partner with what the Holy Spirit is already doing, and to help lead people right back to Jesus.

As part of your preparation for celebrating the birth of the Christ Child, make plans to join your Timothy family at this year’s Advent Services. The service on Wednesday, Dec. 6 will be in the sanctuary at 6pm. The Dec. 13 Advent service will be in the Wyatt Auditorium at 6:30pm in conjunction with the TLS 1st through 8th grade Christmas program.

You are invited to select gift tags from Timothy’s Giving Trees in the lobbies for the annual Journey to the Manger ministry, which will occur on Sunday, Dec. 10. This year, we will support families as identified by Community Services League, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in KC. The tags may be selected until Dec. 9, with all gifts, with tag attached, returned on December 10^th during either worship service. Please check your gift tag to determine if the gift should be wrapped or unwrapped. Please note that there will be no inventory list identifying donor’s name with a certain gift tag.

Please plan to attend the second Town Hall Meeting THIS Sunday, Dec. 3^rd, at 11:30am in the Wyatt Auditorium to hear the latest updates since the first Town Hall. Questions are still encouraged and can be directed to the same link on Timothy’s website by clicking on Church, then Next Generation, or by clicking here The meeting will be recorded and placed on church website on Monday, Dec 4th.

Leadership is seeking individuals with knowledge and expertise regarding flooring options for the Wyatt stage. Please contact Louie Wilbers (816.988.6059). Thanks!

Worshipers who mail correspondence or contributions to the RD Mize address should send to Wyatt address, effective January 1, 2024. That address is 301 E Wyatt Road, BSMO 64014. Please also contact any financial institutions asap who may regularly mail in your contributions. USPS will forward RD Mize – addressed mail to Wyatt address beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Closing with Harvest Baptist Church is scheduled to occur between Jan. 4-12.

1.  Can you elaborate more on the setup that will need to take place that is pushing the traditional service to 10:30? We believe that during this transition we will be susceptible to member attrition and that further disrupting the schedule has been followed for many years (contemporary following traditional since we started attending 15 years ago) will lead to lower church attendance. Our fear is that implementing this change, then reviewing in the first six months will be too late.  Response:  It usually takes worship staff 30 minutes prior to the arrival of the musicians and worship team to clean the stage floor. The tech people arrive early to get the sound system up and running. Then mics and belt packs are set out, as well as whatever else the musicians/vocalists need to prepare for the service, followed by a sound check with musicians and vocalists to ensure balance among them. Finally, the rehearsal starts, as this is usually the only rehearsal with musicians, and then any final corrections just in time for the start of the service. On Communion Sundays, the team assists with the table and cloth so altar guild volunteers can prepare the communion ware. The entire process takes 90 minutes.

2. Shouldn’t we consider paying off more debt instead of building a large shed or hiring another employee when we don’t know the future direction God will take us? Response:  A Wyatt storage building is required to provide a safe and secure location for existing church property, equipment and supplies currently in the storage buildings at RD Mize and Timothy members’ homes. Stored equipment and supplies include building and lawn maintenance, snow removal, tools, cleaning equipment, Fall Festival equipment, church seasonal items, ministry supplies, and youth/school equipment and supplies. Reducing even more debt after the sale of RD Mize will be part of a debt reduction plan established by the Executive Board.

3. Instead of renting locations to hold Bible studies, have we thought about using members’ homes? Response: Timothy is blessed to partner with our sister Lutheran church, Pointe of Hope, on North 7 Highway for three gatherings (Tuesday AM weekly Adult Bible Study, Tuesday AM weekly Women’s Bible Study, and Ruth Circle on 2nd Thursday). All other Timothy activities do not need off-site scheduling because they can occur at Wyatt. The Adult Bible Study and Ruth Circle gathering are too large to meet in members’ homes. The smaller Women’s Bible Study investigated meeting in members’ homes, but the presence of steps, both inside and outside the homes, is not workable for several women.

4. Has there or will there be any round tables or small group gatherings to help plan the future of Timothy as this is such a large church and will most likely change the culture of the church? Response: The current expansion plan will be revisited since God led a buyer to purchase the RD Mize Campus sooner than expected. These discussions will likely be included in the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan process. This plan will be shared with leadership in December and then shared with the congregation at the Annual Voters’ Meeting on January 7, after which the congregation will be encouraged to participate.

5. Will we begin the call for a Senior Pastor or reach out to our current pastors now that we will be at one location and that might be more suitable to someone? Response:  The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan includes a focus on staffing, the goal being to develop and implement a staffing plan, which includes calling a senior pastor, by first identifying and establishing a funding source as well as identifying and establishing a new Call Committee in 2024.

Volunteers are priceless, and Timothy needs you as we transition to one campus. Have you ever thought about serving as an usher either as an individual or a family? Perhaps as a worship assistant on Sunday to serve alongside the pastor, or maybe a front-desk volunteer during the weekdays? You are invited to stay after worship next Sunday, Dec. 10, at either campus for information and an opportunity to ask questions. You may also go to Timothy’s app and church website and click on Volunteer or click on this link. Please watch for other volunteer opportunities soon. Thanks for your support!

Food Donations in December THANK YOU, Timothy, for the generous response to the brown bag food donations.  You have helped provide meals for the needy during this holiday season.    You may still donate food this weekend.  Community Services Leagues has been our regular December food drive, and thankfully because Blue Springs responded heartily during Community Unity Week, they are well stocked for this month. So, because of our impending church move to Wyatt, Timothy will NOT be collecting groceries in the grocery carts during December.

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study “The Gospel of Luke”; 10:15-11:15am, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by Fritz Barlag & Dale Russell

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

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study “The Gospel of Mark”, 6:30-7:30am, Fireplace Room (302); led by various men

Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle; 9-11 am, Room 111, RD Mize; led by various ladies

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

Wednesday Night Sr High; Youth Room(506); 6:30-8 pm; Confirmation; 6:30 -8 pm; Room 501
Note: No classes on Nov.22.

Thursday Evening Women’s Bible Study (Women of Thursday) Book study; 6:30-8pm; Youth room (506), led by Miriam Lindemann

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