Stepping Aside or Stepping Up

     No one expected winter in October. The trees were filled with their fall celebration, painting the world with oranges and yellows and reds. Then, the temperature dropped and a light rain turned into a thick and heavy snow. Layer after layer of heavy, wet snow piled up on trees and I heard a loud crash. A large branch had broken under the weight of the snow. The problem wasn’t the storm or the temperature — it was the timing.
I’ve never been much good at waiting. When I want something, I want it now. In short, I want to skip over the uncomfortable process and get to the satisfying results. But to skip over the waiting means to risk crashing. But I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands’ . . Psalm 31:14-15a
As a church we are waiting for “the promised transformation”. We don’t know what that will look like or where we will end up, today we wait. Perhaps waiting isn’t as unproductive as it seems. At times, what happens during the fall is precisely what needs to happen to get us through the winter and to the spring.
We trust God knows the desire of our hearts. He’s a master of the process. Enjoy the slow fall of leaves and the sweet savoring of what is yet to come. Embrace the wait, slow as it may be, and trust that the One who paints the leaves and sends the snow knows precisely how to turn our waiting into a rewarding spring.

CrossWalk Starts Tomorrow

Timothy’s Wednesday evening children’s ministry program, CrossWalk, resumes tomorrow, Sept. 1, at RD Mize from 6:30-8pm for a fun-filled Kickoff Event! We welcome new and returning students to the Fellowship Hall for ice cream sundaes, team-building games & activities, and a special visit from King Rodnae!! You do not want to miss this!

Special Note:  Masks will be worn when in large-group activities but are optional when in smaller groups.

Steakburger Volunteers Urgently Needed

Timothy’s Festival Committee needs US! Timothy’s Steak Burger ministry, a long-standing outreach and in-reach fellowship opportunity, is famous for Timmy Burgers that “fly out of the steak burger booth” after festival goers wait in long lines for their burgers during the annual BS Fall Fun Fest in Downtown Blue Springs every September. This year’s festival is Sept. 17-19, and Timothy’s big red tent is always set up in front of Overhead Door at the corner of 11^th & Main Streets. If you are new and have not yet been a part of this “well-oiled” process, it’s time to find out! And, veterans, now is the time for you to sign up as well! The Festival Committee relies on 300+ volunteers each year for this important ministry. To date, less than 100 people have volunteered. Please review the info below to select what will work for you.

If you prefer to remain “behind the scenes,” maybe cutting onions in the garage under the Overhead Door storefront on Thursday, Sept. 16, from 6-8pm appeals to you. Maybe you prefer to remain “behind the scenes” in this garage preparing “fixin’s,” such as trays of sliced cheese or containers of tomatoes or raw onions, during one of the shifts on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Or maybe you would enjoy working in the booth on the “assembly line.” Order takers, cooks, runners, and cashiers are also in high demand.

Please check out the shifts below. (Did you know your “compensation” for volunteering, in addition to feeling good about spreading the love of Jesus with the community, is a coupon for a free burger??)

Shifts at the booth in Downtown Blue Springs:
Friday, Sept. 17:

• 8:45am-noon
• 11:45am-4pm
• 4pm-7:30pm
• 7:30-pm-10:30pm

Saturday, Sept. 18:

• 10am-1:30pm (great place to watch the parade!)
• 1:30pm-4:30pm
• 4:30pm-7:30pm
• 7:30pm-10:30pm

Sunday, Sept. 19:

• 9:45am-1pm
• 1pm-4:15pm
• Clean up & take down (start at 3pm)

Each year, proceeds from the Festival Committee’s Steak Burger Booth support many church  non-budgeted needs, such as narthex roof repair, replacement of sanctuary carpeting & tile, playground/drainage improvements, just to name a few of the most recent projects. In addition, the annual tithe from the proceeds has supported Timothy’s ministries in the areas of youth group events and support for seminarians.

Please contact Kathy Wilbers (816.365.6483) or Becky Blatt (816.291.5418) or email steakburgers@timothylutheran.com NOW to volunteer your time. Thank you!

Attention: Ladies
Women of Hope Invitation

Ladies, you are invited to the Women of Hope kickoff event for the coming year! Please join us for an evening of fellowship on Thursday, Sept. 23, at Stone Haus Farms Winery, 24607 NE Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64086, from 5-7pm.

We will meet at the outdoor shelter where appetizer trays will be provided. Please RSVP your attendance and any questions to Diane Mayfield (dianem@timothylutheran.com) or Nancy Nowiszewski (nancyn@timothylutheran.com) by Sept. 19. Rain date: Sept. 30

Attention: Men
Join the JourneyMen Red Letter Challenge

Join me in the JourneyMen 40-Day Red Letter Challenge. Too many followers of Jesus read the Bible but never put those words into practice. Likewise, there are many who do good works but aren’t sure why they are doing them.

Putting God’s Word into practice is much more effective when you are not alone. Commit to participate in the JourneyMen 40-Day Red Letter Challenge with a group of men as we use each other as accountability partners walking together in this journey. Stretch your faith by getting involved and doing the things God is asking you to do. When you feel ill-equipped and unprepared, God will use those moments to give, shape, and form your faith life.

SIGN UP TODAY! Information and registration for the JourneyMen Red Letter Challenge is available on the web at www.TimothyLutheran.com/JourneyMen/

Food Collection Update

Thank you, Timothy, for always embracing its non-perishable food and home supplies drives for the BS Community Services League, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, and Jesu el Buen in Kansas City. Each agency is always thrilled to receive Timothy’s donations.
Please note the following schedule for the remainder of 2021:

• Due to the high demand for food, the September donations will also be designated for Hillcrest. Vanessa at Hillcrest reports that residents currently would appreciate donations of paper towels, toilet paper, tooth paste, individual bars of soap, shampoo, and after-school snacks for the kids.
• Since CSL receives a huge amount of donations from the BS Community Unity Week initiative in October, Timothy’s donations in October AND November will be delivered to Jesu el Buen. This will include the traditional brown-bag food collection for Jesu parishioners to prepare a holiday meal.
• Donations in December will be delivered to BS Community Services League.

Thank you to Carol Ready, Joe Sauter, Gary Flandermeyer, Dan Sbisa, and others who so generously give of their time to organize these drives and deliver them every month.

News from LUMAA

A big thank-you to Timothy for the special donations of socks, T-shirts, and undergarments to send kids back to school! 216 items were donated by our very generous congregation!

The next LUMAA (Lutheran Urban Mission Agency Auxiliary) meeting will be Sept. 15, 9:30am, at Messiah Lutheran in Independence. Lunch will be available for those wishing to stay longer. Reservations are required for lunch and due to Lois Domsch (816.809.5846) or to Carol Haesemeier (816.591.1169) by Sept. 12. The guest speaker will be Lindsay Chadwick, administrator from Mother’s Refuge, a home for pregnant teens and new moms & their babies located in Independence.

The in-gathering will be family-sized hygiene products & cleaning supplies (paper towels, toilet paper, Depends, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo/conditioner, wash cloths, bars of soap, tooth paste, and full-sized tooth brushes). These may be dropped in the bins in both lobbies until Sept. 12. Contact Lois Domsch (816.809.5846) with questions. Thank you!

FaithRoots Classes for Pre-K thru 5^th graders; Sunday mornings at both campuses; dismisses during offering; pick up in classrooms after service.

Confirmation Classes start TOMORROW, Sept. 1, 6-8pm, Room 501 and break-out rooms at RD Mize. Contact Pastor John (johno@timothylutheran.com) with questions.

Wyatt Celebration Chorus needs you! Rehearsals will be Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm, Wyatt Campus, starting Sept. 7. Contact Sandy Logan (slogan1954@gmail.com) or Sandy Sauter (sautersandy5@gmail.com) to sign up and ask questions.

GodConnects Discovery Class starts again on Wed., Sept. 8, 6:30-8pm, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; child care available. Register at www.timothylutheran.com/discovery/class. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann (rodl@timothylutheran.com) with questions. Bring friends!

Church and School Offices will be closed next Mon., Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. Effective next week, eNotes will distribute once weekly, on Thursday, rather than twice weekly unless additional volunteers can help with the process. Contact Diane Mayfield (dianem@timothylutheran.com) for further details.

Youth Ministry Breakfast Debrief Sat., Sept. 11, 10-11:30am, at the Blatt home (307 NW Chateau Dr., BSMO 64014). Pancakes, hash browns, biscuits, gravy, warm syrup! For senior and middle school youth; debriefing about beginning of school & other topics of interest. Please RSVP to Pastor Ryan (ryanh@timothylutheran.com) or talk to him at church.

Girls on the Run registration at www.gotr.org is now open for girls in grades 3-8. Practices on Tuesdays, starting Sept. 14, from 4:30-5:45pm, and Sundays (3:30-4:45pm) thru mid-Nov. Meet at RD Mize; will also use St. Mary’s track; scholarships available.  Contact Sarah Hinkle (shinkle80@hotmail.com) with questions.

Youth Ministry Shoe Collection Fundraiser thru Sun., Sept. 12; gently worn or new shoes (no holes, tears, rips, excessive wear); drop in bins at both campuses. Thanks for your support!

DivorceCare meets weekly on Mondays starting Sept. 13; 6:30-8pm, RD Mize. Contact Care Minister Nancy Nowiszewski (nancyn@timothylutheran.com or 816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) with questions & to register.

GriefShare meets weekly on Thursdays starting THIS THURSDAY, Sept. 2, 6:30-8pm, RD Mize. Contact Care Minister Nancy Nowiszewski (nancyn@timothylutheran.com or 816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) with questions & to register.

Congregational Care Ministry (CCM) Training meets Thursdays in Oct. (7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th), RD Mize. Contact Care Minister Nancy Nowiszewski (nancyn@timothylutheran.com or 816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) with questions & to register.
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study “The Exodus”; 10:15-11:15am, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by Fritz Barlag.

Sunday Evening Senior High Bible Study “The Chosen”; 5-6:30pm, Youth Room (506), RD Mize.

Sunday Evening Middle School Bible Study 5-6:30pm, Room 505, RD Mize.

Monday Evening Adult Bible Study (1^st & 3^rd Mondays) “The Prayers of Jesus”; 6:30 steak & lobster; 7pm Bible Study; Fellowship Hall, RD Mize; led by Roxanne Kerwood.

 Monday Evening Women’s Bible Study I Want to Know You by Ann Arthur; 6:30-8pm, Room 111, RD Mize; led by various ladies.

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study “Titus: Good Doctrine & Good Living”; 6:30-7:30am, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; led by various men.

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

Wednesday Evening GodConnects Discovery Class Learn or review foundation of Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective; 6:30-8pm, Fireplace Room (302), RD Mize; child care available; led by Pastor Rod.

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

Thursday Evening Women’s Bible Study “The Women of Easter”; 6:30-8pm, Room 102, RD Mize; led by Miriam Lindemann & Becky Blatt.

Saturday Morning Women’s Bible Study (1^st & 3^rd Saturdays) for all moms of any age children; 9-10am, Wyatt 4 G’s; led by Kaye Gray.