Our Staff

Rev. Choongho Kwon Senior Pastor

Judy Everley Congregation Care Minister

Sandy Smith Financial Secretary

Brent Dickerson Office Manager

Dr. Jonathan Ray Choir Director

Charles Tsui Accompanist

Kathryn Boman

Whitney Lollar Nursery Attendants

Avondale UMC - A place for spiritual enrichment through participation in a caring church family.

Deadline for the

next newsletter:

10:00 a.m.

November 18, 2019

See Inside …

Our Schedule - p. 3

Proposed Reconcil-ing Statement - p. 3

Upcoming Holiday Events - p. 2

Youth Zone - p. 2

Biscuits & Gravy Brunch Nov. 17- back

Blood Drive Results - p. 2

Trunk or Treat Re-sults - p. 2

SPECIAL INSERT: Church Conference Q&A

Connecting With God,

Caring For the Whole

Our Mission: “To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World”

New Sermon Series (Nov. 17 - 24, 2019) “Honor the Past, Serve the Present, Provide for the Future”

It is not easy to give thanks in every circumstance. But, we believe there is always a way of looking at life from the standpoint of eternity. The sto-ries of Hebrews in the time of Exodus remind us that faith in God is a spiritual battle against hopelessness and godlessness. People of Israel remember and learn from the failure and success of their ancestors in the wilderness. The stories of Exodus are revisited and inter-preted through other books of the Old Testament. They honored the past whether it was successful or not. They knew their past days give power to en-rich the present life and also provides a guidance for their future. We Chris-tians learn from their experiences. We give our ears to what God speaks to us through the life journey of Israel.

Let’s think about how we honor our past. How was God with us? How

does the past enrich our present days? What does God provide you through your past and present days for your future?

Through the sermon series, we’ll think about how God was always faithful to Avondale UMC (AUMC). We’ll remember and honor those who worked for AUMC in the past. We’ll give thanks to God for what God is doing for us here and now. Also, we’ll commit ourselves to move forward as faithful disciples of Christ toward the future of God’s mission. Nov. 17 “Honor the Past, Serve the Present, Provide for the Future (1)” (Exodus 16:1-15, Philippians 2:14-18) Nov. 24 “Honor the Past, Serve the Present, Provide for the Future (2)” (2 Thessalonians 5:16-23) In Christ, Choongho Kwon

Being Faithful

PAGE 2 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR

October 27, 2019 Our Presence 8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ................................ 29 10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship .............................. 72 Sunday School .................................................. 64

November 3, 2019 Our Presence 8:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ................................ 33 10:50 a.m. Sunday Worship .............................. 74 Sunday School .................................................. 44

Our Nut Sale Fundraiser was very successful and netted $636.14, which we will split $318.07 each for the Youth Fund and Capital Improvement Fund. A few orders are waiting to be picked up - see Church Office.

Next up: Tater Creator Lunch and bake sale on Sunday, Nov. 24, in coordination with the Hanging of the Green. Preparations will begin on Saturday at noon.

Love and Thanks!

Sunday Nov. 24 :

12:00 – 1:30 Hanging of the Green &

Tater Creator (youth fundraiser)

Sunday, Dec. 15 :

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Christmas Extravaganza

10:50 – 12:00 a.m. Costuming for Pageant

(children & youth)

4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Christmas Caroling followed by

Chili and cookies in Wesley Hall

Saturday Dec. 21:

9:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

Sunday Dec. 22:

9:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

10:50 a.m. Christmas Pageant Presentation

Tuesday Dec. 24 :

7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Service

Missions and Outreach Teams give a Big Thanks to all who made the Trunk or Treat a great success. Invita-tions were prepared by the church office, and Hannah Kwon arranged the central office OK for email distri-bution to students as well as for the paper reminders that were sent home. Trunks were provided by Girl Scouts, by the Assistance League, and by friends and members of AUMC. Candy was made available by the Food Pantry. There were many children who do not attend church at Avondale, and the way we reached the community is a great example of moving the church outside the church.

Blood Drive Results

The bad news is: We registered 21 donors, but unfor-tunately 12 of them were deferred.

The good news is: 11 units were collected and, since each unit can be broken into three different compo-nents, we may have saved up to 33 lives.

Thanks to all who donated and all who tried. You are true blessings.

Suzy Conaway

Holiday food baskets will be prepared by the Food Pantry for families in need at Christmas time. Do you know a neighbor, friend, or someone in your family that we can bless with a basket?

Please see a Food Pantry Volunteer for a nomination form.

PAGE 3 AVONDALE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 1:00 p.m. Bible Study in Room 14 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 9:30 a.m. EHS Class (both groups together) 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 10:00 a.m. Breakthrough Prayer 1:00 p.m. Threads Guild Note: Church Office Closes 2:00 p.m. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 8:30 a.m. Education Committee Meeting 10:15 a.m. Church Conference - Sanctuary 12:30 p.m. Handbells Rehearsal 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Girl Scouts - Wesley Hall 5:00 p.m. Staff Appreciation Dinner MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Veterans Day (Church Office Open) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 10:00 a.m. Cleaning Contractor Review 1:00 p.m. Bible Study in Room 14 6:30 p.m. PPRC Meeting WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 9:30 a.m. EHS Class 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice in Practice Room THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 10:00 a.m. Breakthrough Prayer 5:30 p.m. EHS Class SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Capital Campaign Commitment Cards Due 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Biscuits & Gravy Brunch - Wesley Hall

THRIFT SHOP HOURS

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

Canned vegetables and beans, 1 pound bags rice and dry beans.

Current calendar information is always available at www.avondalemethodist.org

Church Conference

Sunday, Nov. 10 10:15 AM

Proposed “Reconciling Statement”

“As United Methodists, we believe in open hearts, open minds, and open doors. The congregation of Avondale United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, is open to all of God’s children. We wel-come, include, fully affirm, and celebrate the lives of all people. People of all physical and mental ability, race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, gender expressions, family structure, marital status, socio-economic class, faith history, and sexual ori-entation are welcome, affirmed, and loved here. We believe that all individuals are created by love in God’s image. As a Reconciling Ministry Church, we strive to create a safe space and a community that enriches the life of each person. We embrace our diversity and invite all to be a vital part of our church family and ministry.”

REMINDER … Please bring Peanut Butter for the Salvation Army

for its Holiday Food baskets.

(Collection table in the Narthex)

PRAY THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH

The Breakthrough Prayer Committee is continuing to offer prayer suggestions in the Inez Stuart Chap-el, but you can certainly pray other places. The Youth have designed a very meaningful altar cloth and their room is quiet and sunny. The area next to the elevator on the sanctuary level offers a somber place to reflect on members of our church family who have gone before us. Prayer suggestions will be available in both locations.

AUMC

WELCOMING

TASK FORCE

For common questions and answers about this

vote, please refer to the

SPECIAL NEWSLETTER INSERT.

Avondale United Methodist Church

3101 NE Winn Road

Kansas City, MO 64117

Phone: 816-452-3518

Early Worship 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:50 a.m.

Email: avondaleumc@gmail.com

Website: www.avondalemethodist.org

https://www.facebook.com/AvondaleUMCkcmo/

Biscuits & Gravy Brunch

Sunday, Nov. 17, 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Save your appetite and invite friends and family to the Biscuits and Gravy Brunch on November 17 in

Wesley Hall. Great food will be available between 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. There will be time for you to attend Sunday School and either Worship Service

as well as gather for food and fellowship.

Suggested donation is $3.00 for children ages 3-10, and $7.00 for those over 10 years of age. Contem-porary Life Sunday School Class uses the proceeds

of this to support local charities and AUMC mis-sions and other AUMC causes.

Kristy and Larry Schmitz report from Puerto Ri-co that they are doing well. When they called Sunday, the team had been cleaning up a house and had already made six trips to the dump with debris. Continue to lift them up in prayer until they return November 9th.

In November we will be collecting items for Thanksgiving Baskets and we have contacted Northland Assistance Center for families to help at Christmas. You may nominate family or friends too - see a food pantry volunteer for a nomination form.

The missions committee is honored to serve in such a caring congregation!

Questions and Answers about the Vote on November 10th

What is a Church Conference and is it different from Church Council and Charge Conference meet-

ings? According to the UM Book of Discipline, a Church Conference meeting is called when a major deci-

sion is to be made where all full members of the congregation are encouraged to attend and vote. All church

members and attendees are always welcome at Church Council and Charge Conference meetings, but only

those elected or appointed to the Church Council are allowed to vote at those two meetings.

Who presides at a Church Conference? The pastor makes a request to the District Superintendent who,

according to paragraph 248 of the 2016 Book of Discipline, is authorized to call a special session of the Avon-

dale UMC Church Conference. In the event that the D.S. is unable to preside, then the D.S. appoints some-

one to preside at the Conference. Our D.S., Rev. Melissa Dodd, is unavailable and has appointed Rev. Steve

Cox to preside.

What is on the agenda for the Church Conference? Only the business that was presented to the D.S. at the

time of the request. For us, it is to vote to accept or not accept the Reconciling Statement that has been pro-

posed by the Welcoming Task Force. An agenda/form for minutes has been sent to us by the D.S.

Do I have to be present to vote? Yes. We really wanted to be able to offer absentee balloting, but Rev. Dodd

tells us that she has read and re-read the Discipline and one must be present to vote. A Roll Call sign in

sheet has been provided by the D.S. for this meeting.

How will the vote be taken? Paper ballots will be used to assure privacy. They do not need to be signed. The

Reconciling Statement will be printed on the ballot. Four tellers will distribute, collect, and count the ballots

at the front of the sanctuary for the sake of transparency.

What does it mean to accept this statement and what does it not mean? Accepting this statement by a

75% vote means that the Church Council will then be asked by the Welcoming Task Force to vote for AUMC

to join the Reconciling Ministries Network to become a Reconciling Church. This vote is only Step 1. It does

not mean that our church will not exist as we know it; we will continue to be AUMC. It does not go against

the Book of Discipline in any way. It does not go against the Bible since Jesus commanded us to “love our

neighbors as ourselves.”

What happened prior to asking for this vote? The Welcoming Task Force is led by Laity, not the pastor. A

group of AUMC members who were interested in becoming a Reconciling Ministries Church began meeting

in April of 2019. Everyone in the congregation has been invited to our meetings and programs. We will be

sharing more details of the timeline prior to the vote on November 10th and will happily entertain any ques-

tions that have not already been answered.

What happens after the vote? The Welcoming Task Force will have finished its “task.” A new small group

will be formed to determine “next steps.” (Website updates, etc.)

What if my question has not been answered? Many of you met the members of the Welcoming Task Force

during worship on October 27. Any one of the members would be happy to visit with you, or you may save

your questions for the beginning of the Church Conference on November 10th.

Peace and Blessings,

The AUMC Welcoming Task Force

SPECIAL NEWLETTER INSERT AUMC November 4 Edition