We all love the mountaintop. We love the thrilling rush we feel when things are going good and it’s obvious that God is with us. But what about when we go down the mountain? What waits for us down there? The disciples were once faced with a similar experience. Peter wanted to stay on the mountain, and little wonder. But Jesus leads His disciples—and us! —back down the mountain and promises to be with us every step of the way.

I am looking forward to snorkeling when we are in Roatan, Honduras. But there is always a little apprehension, too. It’s a big ocean off a foreign country. As I think about that initial plunge off the side of the boat and go deep into the water, it’s a little eerie. I make the decision to believe that I can do this.
Too often, it’s our fear that keeps us from stepping out in courage or faith. What would you like to do that you’ve never done before? What’s been stopping you from saying “yes,” whether it’s to something big or small? Inside our heads is a chorus of self-doubt that wants us to believe that it’s best not to put ourselves out there.
I believe that God has a great adventure of faith and purpose for our lives. Stepping out in faith doesn’t require perfection. Stepping out in faith IS success. Part of the adventure is that God gives us the grace of each day to keep figuring things out!
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:23
Every day, God gives us a chance to try again. God’s faithfulness isn’t blocked by our fears or failures. The brilliance of God is that He can, even when we cannot. No matter how many times we’ve doubted ourselves or failed, God offers a divine do-over. He promises that as we let His Spirit guide our lives, freedom and victory are waiting for us.

Maybe the time is right for your 5^th-8^th grader to receive the Lord’s Supper.  If that is stirring in their heart, we encourage you to join us for Early Communion Class. This 4-week class, starting next Sunday, Feb. 18, at 4pm in the Music Room, preps our young people to receive this beautiful gift. One parent/guardian/mentor is expected to attend with the kiddo. Please contact Pastor Ryan with questions.

Please join your brothers and sisters in Christ on Ash Wednesday, February 14, at 6pm for a traditional service with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes (no Ash Wednesday dinner). Then for the subsequent Wednesdays during Lent (Feb. 21 through Mar. 20) and Holy Week, you are invited to join us in the Auditorium for Dining with Jesus meals (6-6:30pm) followed by family-oriented, interactive worship (6:30-7pm) for worship, fellowship, and a snippet of what Jesus has for us.

Why around a table? Because that’s where Jesus often did His most important ministry. As a matter of fact, throughout Scriptures, we see meals being a beautiful place where God does some amazing stuff. So we are going to dive into the Gospel of Luke where we will find Jesus not only sitting with those who loved Him but also with those who hated Him. We will hear some powerful red letter words, and we will wrestle with what it means to be sustained by God’s Word. This series will carry us through Lent, Holy Week, and Resurrection Sunday.

• Feb. 21, 6pm:  Provided by LWML (menu: chicken tenders; potato casserole, jello salad, cookies and brownies) freewill offering to support mites (10%) and Hillcrest (90%), and LWML will match total freewill offering.
• Feb. 28, 6pm:  Provided by Women of Thursday Bible Study (menu: ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, desserts); freewill offering to support Timothy’s operating fund
• Mar. 6, 6pm: Provided by TLS (menu: pizza); freewill offering to support TLS Scholarship Fund
• Mar. 13, 6pm:  Provided by GATHER Commission (menu: pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee, juice, & water); freewill offering to support upgrades to the gathering area in the 4G’s
• Mar. 20, 6pm: Provided by TLS 7^th & 8^th (menu: tacos); freewill offering to support 2024 spring class trip

Please be aware that west doors and parking lot are not available until 6pm due to TLS AfterCare.

As the adjustments continue in our new configuration, there is also a new need.  We do not have enough teachers for FaithRoots at our 10:30am service!  Do you enjoy children?  Would you be willing to teach just one Sunday a month?  Materials are ready each week for approximately  10 kiddos  and 2 teachers.  Would you prayerfully consider volunteering for this important ministry?  We will train and support you along the way.  If interested, contact Pastor Ryan soon.

It seems like every time we blink, something is changing at Timothy lately. Not only that, but there is a lot of hurt, loss, concern, and grief stirring within many of us. And we are left in a heap of confusion. Let’s be honest—there are those who are disgruntled, those who are saddened, those who have stopped supporting ministry at Timothy, and those who are thinking about leaving. So what do men and women of faith do? We turn towards the God who loves and cares for us. We turn toward the one who promises renewal and restoration. That’s what we will do together on Sundays in worship between February 18^th through March 24^th. We will tune into the books of Ezra and Nehemiah to be reminded that we worship a God who restores His people in the midst of their confusion, chaos, and grief. We will also ask the Lord to restore us: restore our hope, restore our focus, restore maybe even our faith. We invite you to join us and even come prepared! Here’s a suggested reading plan for our season of Lent:

• Prior to February 18:       Ezra Chapter 1
• Prior to February 25:       Ezra Chapter 3
• Prior to March 3:              Nehemiah Chapters 1&2
• Prior to March 10:            Ezra 4:21-5:2 & Nehemiah 4:10-15, 5:1-12, & Nehemiah 6:10-14
• Prior to March 17:            Nehemiah 8:9-18
• Prior to March 24:           Nehemiah Chapter 10

Singing Saints, a nationally acclaimed choir from Saint Paul Lutheran High School, will sing during both worship services this Sunday, February 11th. It is a great opportunity to enjoy amazing music and see how God is leading the young people of our Lutheran faith. Please come, invite your friends, bring your neighbors, and appreciate God’s gifts to these young people.

TLS invites the congregation to attend the Annual TLS Auction for an evening of fun and entertainment on Sat., Feb. 24, from 6-10pm at the Adams Pointe Conference Center! All proceeds benefit the TLS Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $50 per person and include access to the live and silent auction, dinner, dessert, non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine.

The 2023 auction raised more than $140,000 to bless TLS families with scholarship support. This major fundraiser goes a long way to enable every child who wants to attend TLS the assistance to do so. With the congregation’s support, even more assistance for TLS families can be available in 2024.

Scan the QR code on the image or visit https://event.auctria.com/983406c2-5d74-4720-b5e0-23a3f4321da4/ to purchase tickets. Don’t delay! Contact Clancy Heisel (816.830.1582) with questions.

Thank you, Timothy, for your commitment to supporting Timothy’s general operating budget with your contributions, 10% of which, in turn, supports ministries beyond our walls. Below are excerpts from thank-you letters received recently from some of these organizations:

• “God bless everyone at Timothy Lutheran Church for all your prayers and support of Hillcrest and the families and youth we serve. Thank you!” Tom Lally, Hillcrest CEO
• “We at LAMP give thanks for your support of our missionaries as they share the joyful news of Jesus Christ to people who need it. You have been a blessing to us.” Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Exec. Dir., LAMP (a cross-cultural ministry sharing Christ with God’s people in remote areas of Canada)
• “As we look towards the start of a new year, we want to thank you for your continued partnership in the LUMA ministry. We could not do what we do without your continued support and prayers.” Lutheran Urban Mission Agency, KCMO
• “Thank you for your partnership and generous financial support toward our Gospel-motivated, life-affirming ministry. Your fellowship and uplifting encouragement are a blessing and honor to receive, and we are humbled by your support.” David Probst, Dev. Dir., Lutherans for Life
• “Thank you for supporting Lutheran Bible Translators through the LCMS MO District. Your gift invests in the Bible translation movement around the world. It is more than words. Thank you for putting God’s Word in their hands.” Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske, Exec. Dir., Lutheran Bible Translators
• “Thank you for supporting Mission Central as we serve our Lord Jesus by representing the Office of National & International Missions of the LCMS. Every penny of your donations fund the work of missionaries as they go into lands of darkness where people have NEVER heard the name of Jesus. That’s why your gifts of love are so, so important.” Gary Thies, Mission Development Counselor, Mission Central Foundation
• “Just as Jesus is the light to the world, you are a light to the young moms and babies we serve. Thank you for helping us restore hope to homeless, pregnant and parenting young moms in our community. You are such a blessing to us!” Angie McDonald, Exec. Dir., Mother’s Refuge, Independence, MO
• “For 140 years, Saint Paul High School has been supported by joyful, faithful servants in the “godly enterprise” of educating and lifting up those who are considering professional church work. Thank you for being one of these faithful servants.” Rev. Paul Mehl, Exec. Dir., Saint Paul HS, Concordia, MO.

Shout out to our junior high kiddos! We will make our way to the Lake of the Ozarks for the Missouri District Youth Gathering from April 5^th – 7^th. There will be worship, rec activities, large-group sessions, and break-out sessions. It will be a great getaway to recharge and connect with our Lord and others! Cost is $160 per person, with scholarship money available if needed. Contact Clancy Heisel (816.830.1582) or Pastor Ryan with questions.

All Timothy youth and their friends are invited to our all-youth Bump City outing on Friday, February 23, at Bump City at GAGE. Two hours of playing, laughing, and fellowship will be good for our winter souls! Free pizza & snacks will be available. A $5 donation is requested, if possible. Hope you can join us! Contact Pastor Ryan with questions.

Calling all current 7^th graders through juniors in high school! The LCMS National Youth Gathering will be held in New Orleans in July 2025. We’d love for you to join us as 20,000+ youth take over New Orleans to worship, grow, learn, serve, and more! Plan to attend a short informational meeting on March 10 at 11:45am in the Music Room to learn basic information and ask questions. If you have ANY interest in attending the NYG, you need to attend this meeting or send a representative. Contact Pastor Ryan with questions.

Timothy’s staff and leadership are blessed to utilize help from both Pastors Lieb and Rod to assist Pastor Ryan and other staff in moving forward with ministries. Details about their areas of help and the duties within those areas are being developed to share with the congregation soon. We thank Jon Kraft for leading the Tuesday morning Adult Bible Class through Easter as they delve into I & II Kings.

We praise God that Timothy received $300,000 in additional funds from the Bart Prather estate this week as a start of a reserve fund at Truman Heartland Community Foundation.

Worshipers are reminded to reserve the handicapped spaces and at least the first row of regular spaces along both the south and west sides of church for those with mobility concerns. Thank you!

A coat rack is available along the west wall of the lobby. A container in the vestibule entrance for umbrellas will be available soon.

Timothy’s Property Board is working hard on the various details of the storage building and auditorium changes  Currently, the site plan is under review by the City of Blue Springs. Steel for the building is scheduled for delivery on Feb. 29. Stage floor replacement work will start after worship on Sunday afternoon, July 7, and conclude before July 14. Large squares of commercial vinyl tiles will be laid. Volunteers are needed on July 7 to help remove equipment from the stage (piano will be moved by professional company). Volunteers are also needed on July 7 to paint the walls at back of stage (one on each side) from white to black. Please contact Louie Wilbers if you can help (816.988.6059).

As the consolidation process has unfolded over the past month and moves forward, leadership and staff encourage members to express their questions so that written and verbal updates can address those questions. Feel free to click here One Campus Questions to submit anonymous questions for responses in upcoming issues of Timothy Connects and after worship services as time allows.

The following question was asked this week:
“What will it take and how long will it take for the traditional service to be livestreamed? Is it volunteer-driven, equipment-driven, both or neither?”  Response:  This has been considered and will be useful in time. The current challenge not only involves training current sound techs about the traditional PowerPoint slides with the new sound board but also finding and then training additional techs to feel comfortable with the sound board. Anyone interested in serving as a sound tech should contact the church office.