Blue Ridge Baptist ready for block party
A block party will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Blue Ridge Baptist Church, 9320 E. 35th St., Independence.
The event includes a bounce house and games for kids, hot dog supper, popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy, along with community screenings, police car and fire truck. This free event also includes a craft and bake sale in the front foyer of the church.
For more information, call 816-353-8140 or visit www.blueridgebaptist.com.
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Clothing exchange at Beacon Heights
Beacon Heights Community of Christ will hold a free clothing exchange for children grades K-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church, 19402 E. Holke Road (next to the Blue Valley Activities Center), Independence.
Bring your outgrown, clean children’s school clothing (all sizes) to exchange for clothes (you pick out) that will fit your children for the coming year. There will also be volunteers from the Independence Police Department to enroll your child in the Ident-A-Kid program ( free).
For more information or directions, call 816-796-7033.
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First Presbyterian organizes blood drive
The First Presbyterian Church of Independence is sponsoring a blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Westminster Hall, 417 W. Lexington Ave., Independence. If you have medical eligibility questions, call 1-800-245-7035. You may also contact Joy Young at 816-358-6133.
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First Christian plans a pancake breakfast
The First Christian Church of Independence will hold a community pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall, 125 S. Pleasant St., Independence. The cost is $3.50 for coffee, juice, sausage and all-you-can-eat pancakes. For information, call the church at 816-252-6100.
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St. John LaLande holds 5K walk/run
The registration deadline for St. John LaLande’s 5K walk/run is Sunday. The race will begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 21.
Register by Sunday to guarantee a race shirt. The cost is $20 for individual, $60 for families (4 T-shirts maximum). Register online at active.com, keyword: Viking Voyage. For more information, e-mail Trish.Totta@yahoo.com or call Barb at 816-517-2336.
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Author to speak at Colonial Hills
Blue Springs resident and author Richard Brown will speak on the theme “Put Faith into Action” at the Colonial Hills Community of Christ in Blue Springs during the 10:30 a.m. service on Aug. 8. He will also lead the 9:15 adult church school class, using his recent book “What Was Paul Thinking?”
Brown is a retired editor of the denomination’s monthly magazine, the Herald. He worked there and at Herald Publishing House for 23 years. From 2003 to 2007 he served as pastor of the Colonial Hills congregation.
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First UMC continues 175th anniversary
The weekend of Aug. 7 and 8 marks the second stage of the 175th anniversary celebration the First United Methodist Church of Independence, 400 W. Maple Ave.
Major events are an ice cream social from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 7, and a combined worship service featuring guest speaker Rev. Harold Johnson of Lee’s Summit at 11 a.m. Aug. 8.
The ice cream social on the church lawn (weather permitting), is intended as a neighborhood event of live music, games for children and ice cream and cookies.
The Rev. Johnson is one of three former pastors of the church invited to speak in three stages on the theme of the celebration, “God’s presence with us in the past, present and future.” He was the senior pastor from 1985 to 1990.
The Rev. James Smith of Independence, who served the church from 1999 to 2003, was the guest speaker June 13, and the Rev. David Kerr of St. Louis, who led the church from 1983 to 1985, will be the speaker at the final celebration Oct. 10.
Ten charter members were organized as a Society of Methodists by a circuit rider in 1835. Meeting for several years in their homes, they purchased two lots at Maple and Spring in 1840. A modest church structure appeared on the lots soon after, and Methodists have worshipped at that location ever since.
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Stone Church: ‘God’s Love is Steadfast’
LaDora Cripps will speak on the theme of “God’s Love is Steadfast” at the 10:20 a.m. worship and communion service Sunday at the Stone Church Community of Christ, 1012 W. Lexington Ave., Independence.
Ron Yeager Jr. will preside over the service. Clare Vlahos will play piano, and Jeff Benson and Jenna Wight will sing. Others participating in the service are Alan Tyree, Aleta Nelson, Sherry McClaran and Regg Stoner.
The 2010 Stone Church Summer Series begins Sunday at 6:45 p.m. This is the first of four services. Carolyn Brock, a member of the Spiritual Formation and Wholeness Ministries team for the Community of Christ, will speak about “Blessings of Community.” Tom Mountenay will preside over the service. Greg Testerman will sing with accompanist, Joy Goodwin, at the piano. Others participating in the service are Sharon Diddle, Sarah Tubbesing, Aaron Laughlin, Mikal Shedd and Jim Diddle. The Stone Church is located at 1012 W. Lexington, Independence, Mo.
Signing is available for the hearing impaired. For more information, call 816-254-2211 or visit www.stone-church.org.
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Financial Peace University offered
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University will be offered at the First Baptist Church of Buckner on Sundays, Aug. 15 through Nov. 21. Meetings are at 6 p.m. A preview session will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church. For more information, call the church at 816-650-5632.
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Cochran to address Groves Congregation
Seventy Tom Cochran, Community of Christ Central Mission Center Missionary Coordinator, speaks on the theme “God’s Love Is Steadfast” for Communion services at The Groves Congregation this Sunday.
Cochran, also pastor for Hawthorn Place, worked 20 years in the Kansas City business community prior to church employment in 2008. Ada McDole presides at 9:30 a.m., with Ward Francis, Lillian Jacobs, Brenda Williams and Merlyn Williams assisting. Christina Nagel presides at 10:15 a.m., with Tom Peterson, Bruce Ellis and Brenda Williams assisting. Music ministry will be provided by pianist Mary Buxbaum, and instrumentalists Jon and Jodi Donald.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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St. Paul’s Lutheran sets vacation Bible school
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Independence is holding vacation Bible school this Sunday through Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. It will be a journey to ancient Egypt each evening, and all children and adults are encouraged to attend. Meals will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday for a free will offering
The congregation’s Rock the House contemporary worship service will follow VBS week at 5 p.m. Aug. 7, with the message “Drained from busy schedules.” Upbeat praise music, videos and open prayer time are a part of the worship, followed by refreshments in the fellowship hall afterward.
At the 9 a.m. regular worship service Aug. 8, the youth group will share their faith stories, pictures and music from the National Youth Gathering held in July in New Orleans. And the children from VBS will sing some of the songs they learned during the week of VBS.
The church is at 17200 E. 39th St.
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Dinner and gospel at St. Mark’s UMC
There will be a covered dish dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a gospel program at 7:15 p.m., at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 603 N. Jennings Road, Independence.
Doug Hodges and Steve Perry will be the music program. They have been around a long time and are very good.
Both the program and the dinner are open to the public. Bring your favorite covered dish and join in the festivities.
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