Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. Psalm 136:2-3

The term “give thanks” sounds easy, doesn’t it? If we were to simply remember everything God has done for us, then this attitude of gratitude should be effortless. Just give thanks.

True thankfulness is a response of the heart. It’s giving praise for whom is behind it all — the good, the bad, the hard. And that’s problematic because we don’t always like what’s been going on.

In Psalm 136, we’re reminded not only of whom God is but also of what He has done. He is the “God of gods” and the “Lord of lords.” But this doesn’t make Him a distant God. Every verse has this powerful refrain reminding us of His kind and comforting love — a love that goes on and on.

We give because He has given. Our gratitude becomes a beautiful offering, conveying our gratefulness to the Giver of life as an expression of our love. Let’s respond echoing this chorus of adoration: “His love endures forever.” Let’s give thanks for all He is, for all He has done, even when circumstances are less than ideal.

Timothy is blessed with retired pastors in our midst who will assist in several areas of ministry during Pastor John’s three-month sabbatical from Aug. 14 through Nov. 12. Pastors Lieb and Rod have graciously agreed to assist Pastor Ryan with preaching, worship leading, homebound and hospital visits, and funerals. Timothy’s elders are also available to assist as needed. Please contact Mel Falk, Acting Director of Board of Elders, if you can serve as an interim leader of Pastor John’s Tuesday Morning Bible Class. Please continue to pray for all of Timothy’s servants.  Timothy’s leadership thanks the congregation for serving and volunteering as you see a need.

Timothy’s Property Board has scheduled a work day to clear the clear the ditch near Highway 7 at the Wyatt Campus for Saturday, August 26, from 8-11am.  Many hands make less work! Please contact Louie Wilbers (816.988.6059) to offer your assistance. It is very much appreciated! Thank you!

Timothy’s Care Ministry is seeking a caring, compassionate individual who has experienced the death of family member or close friend to serve as a co-facilitator for our GriefShare ministry. GriefShare is a 13-week ministry meeting twice each year, spring and fall, on Thursdays from 6:30-8pm. This fall’s session begins on Sept. 21. Contact Care Coordinator Sandy Gregory (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) with questions.

JourneyMen Pickleball Place: Grain Valley Community Center | 713 N Main St, Grain Valley, MO 64029 Date & Time: Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 | 6-8pm All skill levels are invited to JourneyMen’s Pickleball event – beginners welcome too! Join us Wednesday, August 23, 6-8pm, at the Grain Valley Community Center for an evening of fellowship, pickleball, and a short devotion. Don’t have a paddle? That’s OK, we have some to share. All guys 14 and older are invited (14-16 need to be with dad, grandpa or mentor). Feel free to invite a friend. Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study Tuesday Mornings 6:30am-7:30am 302 (Fireplace Room) R D Mize Campus Led by Bob Downs and various leaders The Book of Luke As we study Luke’s carefully researched account of Jesus’ life, consider yourself on a journey with Luke to learn more about Jesus of Nazareth, whose body, crucified for the forgiveness of our sins, becomes the temple of the living God. Luke presents the story of Jesus’ life as a journey. The story begins at the Jerusalem temple (1:8), climaxes with Jesus teaching at the temple some 30 years later (19:45–21:38), and ends at the temple (24:53) after Jesus is crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended outside the city. Led by Bob Downs and various leaders

The new school year is fast approaching! We praise God for all students, teachers, and their families and pray all experience a blessed year.

Teacher Dedication Sunday will be on Sunday, August 20th, during the RD Mize service for all TLS teachers and all teachers everywhere. Thank you for supporting our students’ teachers!

On Sunday, August 27th, during both services, students of all ages and grades are invited to participate in Timothy’s annual Backpack Blessing, so bring your backpacks and receive a small gift. In addition, after the Wyatt service, worshipers and their friends are invited outside to share a brief blessing and prayer over the second trailer and tours of both trailers, if desired. TLS students will be available as tour guides.
The GATHER Commission will set up a photo booth in the lobby at each campus for families to take photos as they celebrate the start of a new school year.

All 6th through 8th graders and their parents are urged to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, August 30, at 6:30pm in the RD Mize sanctuary about Timothy’s upcoming Confirmation ministry. Details and expectations about this ministry will be shared. First class will be Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 6:30-8pm. Please direct all questions to the church office (816.228.5300).

Timothy Ladies and Friends:  Mark your calendars for Saturday,  August 26 at 9AM.
LWML invites you to the Fellowship Hall for a program, breakfast sandwiches, and short meeting. Guest speaker will be Alan Lubert from Ronald McDonald House. Monetary donations for RMH will be collected. No reservations required. For more info, call Kim Duffy, 913-488-7677.

Timmy Burger Booth: at BS Fall Fun Fest, Sept 15 – 17th; Sign up for 1 or more shifts now! Look for tables in each lobby on Sundays or use the QR Code below. Solicit family, friends and co-workers to work a shift and get a free burger for each shift worked.

The MO District’s annual campaign to support Tomorrow’s Teachers & Preachers as it promotes church work vocations and the MO District scholarship endowment fund enters its third year this month. Recruitment and retention of church workers is the first priority in the MO District strategic plan. Knowing what God can do, this task is taken with a joyful boldness and offers an invitation to all members of the MO District to participate in the raising up of workers in the fields. Please keep this initiative in your prayers. If you wish to support financially, you are invited to send individual donations to the following address:  Missouri District—LCMS, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63141 with Tomorrow’s Teachers & Preachers on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support!

Timothy’s leadership is encouraged by the strong interest of Harvest Baptist Church to purchase the RD Mize Campus. The Harvest Baptist leadership received the appraisal for their facility (901 NW 19th Street) last weekend and will  meet today (Fri., Aug. 11) with the party interested in purchasing their property. Real Estate Task Force Chair, Bill Ekey, reported to the Executive Board at its meeting on Aug. 7, summarizing discussions with Harvest Baptist to date as well as recommending that Timothy move forward to choose a commercial real estate broker to market RD Mize if a mutually satisfactory agreement does not occur with Harvest Baptist within 60 days (Oct. 10, 2023), all of which was approved by the Executive Board. This development was shared with Harvest, both orally and in writing. Harvest understands that a non-refundable deposit is required before October 10 to avoid negotiating with a broker. The congregation will be updated as further developments occur. Thank you for keeping this process in your prayers.

Timothy’s Property Board is working hard to gather all necessary information to present to the City of Blue Springs to move forward with the storage building at Wyatt Campus. Conversations with the City about the overall project have started. Stay tuned for further updates.

The congregation is invited to stop by the “Free” tables in the RD Mize lobby to “shop” for new items. Thank you!

Hillcrest House Party & Auction: Sat, Aug. 26, 6-10 pm, Overland Park Convention Center, $75 per person if purchase tickets through Timothy. Contact Care Coordinator Sandy Gregory (816.228.5300 ext 8042) for details and for questions about auction.

Volunteer Opportunity  Blue Springs School District is seeking adult volunteers for its Difference Makers program, one-on-one reading to elementary students needing extra support in reading and building relationships; once weekly for an hour from Oct. 1-May 12. If interested, contact Linda Cox (816.898.3608) with questions or to sign up.

Donations Requested: Clean plastic bags and reusable cloth or plastic bags, if available, are appreciated for the staff at Lutheran Urban Mission Agency Auxiliary(LUMAA) to package food for its clients. Please place donations in clear tub in RD Mize mailbox area. Thank you very much!

Food Donations during the month of August will be delivered to Jesu El Buen Pastor (The Lutheran Church of Jesus the Good Shepherd) in Kansas City.  Always needed are cereal, canned meat, pasta, sugar, vegetable oil, cake mix, brownie mix, and canned fruit.  Paper products and hygiene products are also appreciated.  All items may be placed in the grocery cart in the lobby at either campus.  Thank you for thinking of those who are less fortunate.

Prayer Walk Sun., Aug. 20, 6pm, starting at old First Baptist Church, 15th & Main, BS. Organized by Blue Springs Ministerial Alliance. Please join others in the community to pray over students, faculty, staff, administration, and families as they return to another school year.

Southern Gospel Quartet Concert: Sunday, Aug. 20,  3:30pm, RD Mize Sanctuary. Bring friends and stay afterwards for an ice cream social in Family Life Center

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study “The Book of Acts—The Birth of Christianity”; 10:15-11:15am, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by Fritz Barlag & Dale Russell. Will resume Sept 10th

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

Monday Evening Women’s Bible Study Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle; 6:30-8pm, Room 111, RD Mize; led by various ladies

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

Tuesday Morning Adult Bible Study “Confirmation Review”; 10-11am, Fellowship Hall, RD Mize;  Will resume after Labor Day.

Thursday Evening Women’s Bible Study (Women of Thursday) Book study; 6:30-8pm; Meeting offsite in summer. Led by Miriam Lindemann & Becky Blatt; contact Becky for current book

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

Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study: (2nd and 4th Saturdays) “The book of 1 Peter| Life by God’s Word”; 8am-9am, RD Mize,  Fellowship Hall