Again this year, the TLS Parent-Teacher League (PTL) is organizing a Christmas Wonderland Shop for TLS students to shop for gifts for their parents.

The congregation is invited to support this project by picking a gift tag from a Christmas tree in each lobby from October 18 through November 19.

The unwrapped gift items may be returned to the bin next to the tree before Nov. 19 so that the Christmas Wonderland Shop can be set up for students to shop the week of Dec. 4th. Thank you for your support!

Now is the time to start thinking of families who may need some extra assistance at Christmas. If you know of an individual or family from our congregation or school who would be a candidate for our Giving Tree ministry, please submit their name(s), address and phone number in a sealed envelope and place in Sandy Gregory’s mailbox in the RD Mize Communication Center or contact her at 816.228.5300 (8042). Deadline to submit names is October 30 for the team to coordinate all necessary steps for a successful 2023 Giving Tree ministry.

A Giving Tree will be displayed at each campus starting Wed., Nov. 22^nd, for members to choose tags and return the suggested gifts on Sunday, Dec. 10th, for Timothy’s annual Journey to the Manger. Gifts will be distributed to families suggested by Timothy members, Community Services League, Immanuel Lutheran in KC, and Our Redeemer in KC. Thank you for your generous support in the past. We look forward to this year’s gifts of love.

As the holidays approach each year, Timothy’s care support groups offer special help to those who are hurting. The GriefShare “Surviving the Holidays” special session will be Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30-8pm in the Fireplace Room at RD Mize, led by Lois Warren and Susan Ready. All who grieve the loss of a loved one at any time in their lives are encouraged to attend and bring family and friends. (Information regarding the DivorceCare “Surviving the Holidays” special session will be coming soon).

This may be the first, second, third or more holiday season after the loss of your loved one(s). This special session may help you through the tough emotions the holiday season brings. Due to the nature of Thanksgiving and Christmas, with its focus on family, annual traditions, social events, and “cheer”, the emotions can blindside you. You can lessen the impact by knowing what to expect and being prepared.

Practical tools from the GriefShare “Surviving the Holidays” session will enable you to not only survive the holidays but also face them with some peace and assurance. Contact Sandy Gregory in church office (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) with questions and to request childcare. Register online at griefshare.org under Holidays.

Consolidation Update
Timothy’s leadership will host a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, Oct. 22, in the Wyatt Auditorium immediately after the 10am service, to share consolidation progress and answer questions. Please plan to attend! The meeting will be recorded for placement on church website, but not live-streamed. Postcards about the Town Hall Meeting were mailed on Friday, Oct. 6. If you did not receive one, feel free to call the church office.

The congregation is urged to submit questions prior to the meeting to expedite the discussion. Those can be submitted on Timothy’s website by clicking on Church, then Next Generation, or by clicking on submission button on congregational email sent on Monday, Oct. 9, at 10am.
To date, the following questions have been submitted:

1.  Will the meeting be live-streamed?  As noted above, the meeting will be recorded but not live-streamed due to lack of personnel for that after the service.

2.  When will Pastor John be back?  Pastor John’s sabbatical concludes on Sunday, Nov. 12. He will return to his office on Monday, Nov. 13.

3.  What items from the sanctuary will be moved to Wyatt? The baby grand piano is scheduled to move to Wyatt on Jan. 3rd. Plans are still developing to move the altar, hanging cross, and banners.

4.  Who is making the decisions on the worship schedule? Will there be any opportunity for input from the congregation? The elders are responsible for organizing the worship at Timothy. They are working with the pastors and staff to create Timothy’s new worship schedule. Please contact Acting Director Tary Krahenbuhl or any of the elected elders to provide input for worship schedule or content. All suggestions will be taken under advisement to create the best possible worship experience for Timothy.

5.  We have heard that the grand piano will be moved to Wyatt. What about the organ? If not, is there a plan in place for purchasing another instrument with a full sound like the current organ? There are no plans to move the current organ to Wyatt, per recommendations from music ministry staff. Currently, there are no plans to purchase another instrument, subject to re-evaluation in the upcoming months.

6. Regarding the next generation, once we have consolidated at Wyatt, will we revisit the current plans to see if they meet our needs? Due to the three+-year pause caused by the pandemic and God’s hand in providing a buyer for RD Mize before starting Phase 1 at Wyatt, the Next Generation process moving forward needs to be re-evaluated. The congregation is urged to participate as strongly as it did in the early months of 2020 when various task forces worked hard to start the process.

7. What kind of research/studies did we perform to choose any updates made? Leadership is not clear what this question specifically references.

8. Will the benches and plaques placed on the RD Mize property be moved to Wyatt?  Yes

9.  How are you keeping children in school safe after the consolidation; consider inside and outside cameras for security?  Upon consolidation, the school day for pre-school & elementary students will operate as it does now with safety & security a high priority. Doors are locked throughout the day with admittance only by assigned keycards or by office staff after reason for visit is approved. The front desk staff will monitor “traffic” in and out of the building while sitting in the hallway just outside the south entrance to the Auditorium. Currently, camera surveillance monitors the main hallway, administrative offices, and school hallway. Cameras need to be installed outdoors. In addition, during the school day (including Before School Care and After School Care), no “church” activities will occur at Wyatt, just as they do not now. Plans for location of church activities are in process, with updates shared at the first Town Hall Meeting with any necessary modifications shared at the second Town Hall Meeting. Once finalized, those plans will be publicized as soon as possible.

MO District President Lee Hagan and his wife will host a 2024 tour of Germany and Austria. You are invited to join them on this journey through the German and Austrian alps down the Reformation Road. From the majestic beauty of the German alps surrounding the storybook castle Neuschwanstein and the Eagle’s Nest at Bechtesgaden to Mozart’s Salsburg and the Austrian hills, the tour will explore the breathtaking sights and sounds of this region. As the journey turns north, the group will explore the history of Martin Luther and the Reformation. One of the highlights of the tour will be visiting Wittenberg for the annual festival commemorating Martin and Katie Luther’s wedding. Group events will include a Rhine River dinner cruise, beer-tastings at a Bavarian brewery, and dinner at a Bavarian Biergarten. Other historical sites will include visiting the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz and the J.S. Bach Museum in Eisenach along with the famed Wartburg Castle. The tour will include 12 nights hotel lodging, daily breakfasts, five dinners, daily devotions, and historical introductions to the Luther sites by Dr. Hagan. Come be a part of this journey of faith, history, music, and natural beauty as we travel the Reformation Road! For more information please contact Sarah Irwin, Assistant to the President, at sarah.irwin@mo.lcms.org