Briefly: Religion news

 A ‘Celebration of
Peace’ at the Temple

A “Celebration of Peace” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the
Community of Christ Temple, River Boulevard and Walnut Street,
Independence.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory choirs join with
area high school choirs to present this event. Each choir will sing a
variety of choral works, and the concert will close with the world
premier of a composition on peace written for the 400-plus singers by
noted American composer Eric William Barnum, a doctoral student in
choral conducting at the University of Washington. Barnum has received
numerous commissions, fellowships, and awards for his compositions.
A freewill offering will be taken.

‘Thirst for God’
is Sunday’s theme

Dennis Sharier will speak on the theme “Thirst for God” at the 10:20
a.m. worship service this Sunday at the Stone Church Community of
Christ, 1012 W. Lexington Ave., Independence.
Sharier teaches Mission Center Temple School classes and works with
priesthood ministries. Arthur Butler will preside. Others
participating in the service are Jerry Nieft, Jeanne Rider and Alecia
Cripps. Special music is provided by Supravan and Kevin Brown, and
Pamela Landrum.
Services have captioning for the hearing impaired. For more
information, contact the church at 816-254-2211 or visit
www.stone-church.org.
• Evangelist Bob Kyser gives the morning message on the theme “Thirst
for God” at 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. communion services this Sunday at The
Groves Community of Christ Congregation, 1515 W. White Oak,
Independence.
Assisting in the services are Ardis Everett, Ward Francis, Ken
Johnston, Irvin Jones, Christina Nagel and Brenda Williams. Vocalist
Mary Buxbaum and pianist Barbara Fears will provide music ministry.
All are invited to attend.

New senior minister
at First Christian

Donald Brezavar will be installed as the Independence First Christian
Church senior minister at 9:30 a.m. March 10, 125 S. Pleasant St.
There will only be one service at 9:30 a.m. for the installation.
Paul Diehl and Kathryn Graham from the Greater Kansas City Disciples
of Christ Region will conduct the service and installation.
Immediately following will be a “love offering” brunch in the
Fellowship Hall. Reservations are required, call the church office at
816-252-6100.
Brezavar will be the 22nd senior minister at First Christian, which
was founded July 4, 1835.

‘A Transforming Love’
is a theme for Lent

Independence First Christian Church is holding a Lenten series, “A
Transforming Love” at the church, 125 S. Pleasant St. The speaker will
discuss a living free of anger and fear, transformed by God’s love.
Services are at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. For more information, contact the
church at 252-6100 or www.fccindepmo.org.

Congregations hold
ecumenical services

The Blue Springs congregations holding ecumenical Lenten services meet
this week at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, 3108 S.W. U.S. 40.
Dinner is at 6 p.m., with worship from 6:40 to 7:30 p.m. Pastor Brad
Bray of All Saints Lutheran Church will speak on “The Feeding of the
Five Thousand.”
Remaining services:
• March 13, “The Healing of the Official’s Son” with V.A. Strong, All
Saints Lutheran Church, 421 S.W. 19th St.
• March 20, “The Healing of the Man Born Blind” with Ron Bowen, First
Christian Church, 701 N.W. 15th St.

St. Paul UMC
offers free meals

St. Paul United Methodist Church is serving up free community meals,
“Loaves & Fishes”, from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 3601 S. Sterling Ave.,
Independence. Everyone is welcome. For questions, call the church at
816-254-8680.

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. 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.

‘The Bible 30-Day
Church Experience’

The great stories of the Bible come to life with “The Bible 30-Day
Church Experience” at Woods Chapel United Methodist, 4725 N.E.
Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit. This series is based on the TV miniseries,
“The Bible”, and those in attendance will experience the power and
drama of some of the world’s most well-known stories in a fresh, new
way.
A miniseries watch party will take place Sunday evenings in March from
7 to 9 p.m. at the church for those interested in viewing the
miniseries on a giant screen. As part of “The Bible 30-Day Church
Experience”, the church will also include stunning video clips from
the TV miniseries produced by Emmy Award winning husband and wife team
of Mark Burnett ( The Voice, Survivor) and Roma Downey (Touched By an
Angel) into weekly worship at 8, 9:05, 10:10 and 11:15 a.m.
For more information, visit www.woodschapelchurch.org or call 816-795-8848.

Oakland UMC
sets Chili Day

Oakland United Methodist Church will hold its annual Chili Day from 11
a.m. to 4 p.m. March 9 at the church, 30701 E. Truman Road, Buckner. A
bowl of homemade chili or vegetable soup or chili dog, a piece of pie
and a drink is for a $5 donation for adults, and $3 for children under
12. For more information, visit www.oaklandumc.net.

Financial Peace
University offered

Blue Springs Christian Church will hold Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace
University classes beginning Thursday at the church, 7920 S.W.
Missouri 7. Classes will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.
The nine-week course provides families and individuals with tools to
gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term
financial success.
There is a $95 fee per couple, which includes book, workbook and CD
lessons. There is also free childcare. For more information or to
register, call Carolyn 220-5585.

‘The God of Faith’
is Lenten subject

Wilburn Stancil, a professor of theology and religious studies at
Rockhurst University, is a visiting theologian at First Presbyterian
Church of Independence. “The God of Faith” is Stancil’s topic for the
Lenten lesson series. The lessons explore the existence of God, how we
encounter God, how we speak about God in our use of masculine and
feminine language, the goodness of God in light of suffering, and some
of the paradoxes in God’s nature.
The Lenten series continues March 10 and 17. The class will meet
during the Sunday school hour, 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. in Westminster
Hall, Pleasant Street and Lexington Avenue, diagonally across from the
church building. The presentations are open to all.

Graceway offers
Divorce Care

Graceway is offering Divorce Care for Kids and Divorce Care for
Adults. The programs are on Wednesday evenings at Graceway and will
run approximately 13 weeks twice a year.
Divorce Care for Kids is a special group to help your children heal
from the pain caused by a separation or divorce. This program provides
your children with a safe and neutral place to recognize and learn to
share their feelings. Divorce Care is a friendly, caring group of
people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most
difficult experiences.
Graceway, at 5460 Blue Ridge Cut-off, is a multi-cultural church
committed to the teaching and preaching of God’s word. For more
information call 816-423-2843 or visit
http://visitgraceway.org/small-groups/care-groups.

Sermon series on
the Gospel of John

A sermon series “ ‘... that you might have life...’ Jesus in the
Gospel of John” continues at the United Methodist Church of the
Resurrection, including Resurrection Blue Springs.
Sunday worship services at the Blue Springs campus, 601 N.E.
Jefferson, are at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Nursery care is available for
infants through 3-year-olds, and Sunday school is offered for age 4
through fifth grade.
Resurrection has several campuses, including the main one in Leawood.
The sermons are delivered by Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton. Remaining
sermons in the series:
• This Sunday, “The ‘Signs’ Jesus Performs.”
• March 10, “The Unbelief of Many.”
• March 17, “Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse.”
• Palm Sunday, March 24, “The Crucifixion.”
• Easter, March 31, “The Resurrection.”
• April 7, “Faith, Apostasy and Restoration.”