Briefly: Religion news

Ash Wednesday
services offered

Three Independence churches near the Square will take part in an Ash
Wednesday observance at the First United Methodist Church, 400 W.
Maple Ave.
The other churches involved are the First Presbyterian and First
Christian. Members from all three churches may participate in the
observance of the Stations of the Cross at any time of their choosing
between 3 and 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday at First Methodist.
One of the stations will include the imposition of ashes by one of the
three pastors, Rev. Dave Calson of First Presbyterian, Rev. Don
Brezevar of First Christian and Rev. Mitchell Jarvis of First UMC.
Participants may enter the elevator door off the parking lot and go to
the upper level for the self-guided observance.
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, the period of spiritual
preparation for Easter in remembrance of the passion, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is March 31.

-----

St. Ann’s fish
dinners in Lent

St. Ann’s Church will have fish dinners every Friday during Lent from
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 through March 22 at the church, Cedar and
Lexington avenues, Independence.
The menu includes boiled and fried shrimp, catfish, catfish fillets,
french fries, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, corn, hush puppies and
cornbread. There also is baked tortilla crust chipotle tilapia, baked
panko-breaded tilapia, macaroni/cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Drinks are included with dinner.
Dinner prices range from $8.50 to $9.75. A fish sandwich or grilled
cheese sandwich with fries is $4. A la carte items may be purchased
separately. Desserts are available and sold by the Altar Society. For
information, call the church at 816-252-1160.

---

Ash Wednesday
at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church will have Ash Wednesday services from
7 to 7:40 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 3108 W. U.S. 40, Blue Springs.
Ecumental Lenten services will start on Feb. 20 at the Church of the
Resurrection, with Rev. Andrew Florio as minister. The Feb. 27 service
will be at Good Shepherd Christian Church, with Rev. Ron Keel
minister. Services start with a light supper at 6 p.m., followed by
the worship service at 6:40 p.m.
Chapel Hill will be the site of a Blue Springs community blood drive
from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday. It will be held in the kitchen and you may
sign up by contacting Ros Colwell at colwell.ros@gmail.com.
For more information, contact the church at 816-229-3367 or visit
www.chpresby.org.

---

First Presbyterian

chocolate festival

The First Presbyterian Church will hold a chocolate festival from 1 to
4 p.m. Saturday at Westminster Hall, Lexington Avenue and Pleasant
Street, Independence.
A free-will donation allows guests to sample three decedent chocolate
delicacies. From cake to fruit and other yummies dipped in the
chocolate fountain are among many choices. Guests may buy goodies for
their sweethearts or bid on a gift baskets. Children under the third
grade will enjoy the chocolate Kid’s Korner full of fun activities.
For more information, call the church at 816-252-6662.

---

Mardi Grad at
Trinity Episcopal

Trinity Episcopal Church will host a Mardi Gras/white elephant bingo
party beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 409 N. Liberty
St., Independence.
Everyone is invited to participate in the potluck dinner. Please bring
two dishes (main dish, side dish, salad or dessert). White elephant
bingo will follow dinner; bring a white elephant gift wrapped. For
information, call Barbara Leabo at 816-254-0123.
Boy Scout Troop 282, sponsored by Trinity, will be having its annual
Pancake Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity.
Trinity will also have services at 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. on Ash
Wednesday. Beginning Feb. 19, and on Tuesdays during Lent, there will
be individual prayer and meditation from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church.

---

Fat Saturday
at St. Cyril’s

St. Cyril’s Church will hold its Fat Saturday fundraiser dinner and
dance beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Mike Onka Hall in Sugar
Creek.
The evening includes music by the Sugar Creek Tamburitzans, raffle,
auction and more. A Mass will be held at 5 p.m. at St. Cyril’s Church
prior to the party.
Tickets include dinner, beer, wine and set-ups. Admission is $25 per
person, $30 at the door. Children 6 to 12 are $12. For tickets, call
Debbie Ray at 816-461-4877.

---

Mission Woods
has Bible bingo

Mission Woods Community of Christ will be holding a free Bible bingo
and cake walk from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the church, 2800 N.W. Duncan
Road, Blue Springs. There will be prizes for everyone, and fun for the
whole family. For details, call the church at 816-224-0095.

---

Financial Peace
University set

Cornerstone Community of Christ will hold Dave Ramsey’s Financial
Peace University classes beginning at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the church,
1316 S. Osage St., Independence.
The nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical
tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for
long-term financial success.
For more information or to register, call Timothy Wand at 816-521-4074.

---

‘Listen to Jesus’
is Sunday theme

Norman Swails will speak on the theme “Listen to Jesus” at the 10:20
a.m. worship service this Sunday at the Stone Church Community of
Christ, 1012 W. Lexington Ave., Independence.
Swails is a retired appointee who served as a member of the Presiding
Bishopric. Carol Constance will preside. Others participating in the
service are Phillip Contreras, Doug White, Linda Keller, Dennis
Sharier and Joe Anway. Special music is provided by Anna Rider, Twila
Rider and Clare Vlahos.
Services have captioning for the hearing impaired. For more
information, contact the church at 816-254-2211 or visit
www.stone-church.org.
• High priest Shirley MacDonald speaks on the theme “Listen to Jesus”
for 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday at The Groves Community of
Christ Congregation, 1515 W. White Oak Independence.
This Sunday is designated as “Youth Ministries Day.” Leah Spiers,
granddaughter of Groves resident Virginia Spires, represents the youth
by providing Music Ministry. Leah, both a vocal soloist and violinist,
will be accompanied by Christina Nagel. Al Baughman, Ray Huggett, Lois
Jones and Brenda Williams assist in the services.
Everyone is welcome to attend.

---

‘Evil’s Ultimate
Defeat’ is sermon

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has been holding a
sermon series, “The Line Between Good and Evil,” and this Sundays
sermon, “Evil’s Ultimate Defeat,” is the last in the series. The
church, based in Leawood, has a campus at 601 N.E. Jefferson St. in
Blue Springs. Services are at 10:30 a.m. and include the sermon via
video.

---

Cowboy church
at Arise Ministries

Arise Ministries Church will hold cowboy church this Sunday, 4845 S.
Norfleet Road, Independence. The traditional worship service is at
10:30 a.m., with special guest Darlene Jones, a multi-award winning
gospel singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and author. Lunch is from
12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and cowboy church is at 2 p.m.
All are invited to put on their boots and hats and come to praise the
Lord. Bring your favorite Mexican dish and a dessert. There will be
praise and worship, tag team preaching, music jam, fellowship, country
gospel music and more.
For more information, call the church at 816-743-9221.

---

Lincoln’s legacy
to be celebrated

Eastgate Christian Church will hold a special worship service at 10:25
a.m. Sunday in honor of the 204th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s
birth.
The service will feature a Lincoln sermon and period hymns and music,
and Scripture readings from the King James Version of the Bible, which
Lincoln read and often quoted.
Rev. Joshua Patty, the senior minister of the church, will preach a
sermon, “A Few Appropriate Remarks: Abraham Lincoln and the Search for
Meaning.” Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the
sermon will explore Lincoln’s goal in his most famous speech, the
Gettysburg Address, to define the meaning of an American nation
fighting itself. It will also explore Paul’s great speech at Antioch,
recorded in Acts 13, giving the meaning of a Jewish messiah, Jesus
Christ, for all the nations.
Rev. Patty has been studying the life and legacy of Lincoln for more
than 25 years and is the author of the Lincoln-related blog,
Lincolniana, where he shares insights into exhibits, books and
artifacts related to Lincoln.
Eastgate will also hold a special worship service for Ash Wednesday at
6:30 p.m. Feb. 13. The service of penitence, which marks the beginning
of Lent, will include a reflection by Rev. Patty, the imposition of
ashes and Holy Communion.
The church is at 4010 S. River Blvd., Independence. For more details
on either of these services, call the church at 816-252-6828.

– Jillayne Ritchie