Bags of Grace Reach Out to the Needy

In the December 2012 issue of Steeple Talk it was reported that Youth Group and Outreach Committee members assembled 300 “Bags of Grace” to be distributed to the needy people seen at various street intersections.  To date, nearly 100 of these have been distributed.  This means we still have 200 “Bags of Grace” available.  You will find a generous supply of these in a basket on a table just outside the church office door.  Feel free to pick up several bags and help someone in need.  Thank You to all who have remembered Jesus’ words, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”  

Photo Gallery

The congregation's Photo Gallery is now accessible from BRPC's website.  You will find the link on the "What's Happening" page under "Important Links".  You may need a password if you have not visited this site before.  Please contact anyone on the Tech Ministry team to obtain it. Mary Ziegenhorn, Craig Ziegenhorn, Bobby Neal, Avis Odenbaugh or Bill Melewski. Enjoy!!!

Photo Requests

The website administrators want to update the photos used on the website to keep things current and interesting.  If you have any photos of interest that have been taken this year, 2012, and willing to share them with other BRPC members, please forward them to wmelewski@kc.rr.com. or put memory card in the Outreach Moderator's mailbox. If your photos are good quality hard copies, they can be used as well by scanning and converted to digital format. 

New Literature Display Rack

Thanks to the fine work of Dick O’Dell, the new Literature Display Rack has been installed in the Narthex. It is one component of the Welcome Visitor Center planned by Outreach.  Over time we hope to have literature and other items available to first time visitors that will acquaint them with the various activities at Blue Ridge Presbyterian. The literature is available to BRPC members as well. DVDs of past worship services will be displayed for visitors and members. If you have suggestions as to what you would like to see displayed contact one of the Outreach committee’s members.

Reaching out to Visitors

In reaching out to our visitors, the Outreach Committee is working to place a wall mounted literature display rack out in the Narthex.  This rack will enable us to display easily accessable information for all visitors (and even for BRPC members wanting more information) to learn about Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church.  The display will be available to all groups and committees to tell about themselves - who they are, what they do, when they meet, etc.  Along side of the rack will be a small bulletin board that will from time to time display pictures and brief bios of new members and staff.  At other times, articles of interest about Outreach will be posted.  Once installed and stocked with brochures, it is hoped everyone will take advantage of it.

New Website is Live

Our NEW website is now live!!!  By the time you read this post our new upgraded website will be live, meaning ready for your use.  The website upgrade team, Pat Jackson, Mike Taylor and Bill Melewski, enjoyed the challenge of creating a totally new looking website yet building on its predecessor.  You will find more color,  more pictures, videos of Pastor Pat's sermons and the scriptures for that Sunday, more content about Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church and its members.  Additionally, you will find important links to the various committee blogs, the Presbyterian Church USA. It was designed with the goal of reaching out not only to BRPC members but to our community.  This is Your website, please visit it often.  As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. An important note, our new website address is www.brpcraytown.org.

Food for Hungry Kids

Do you want to take part in an entertaining and rewarding benefit event that helps feed kids during the summer months when school is out?   If so, please plan to attend a benefit for the Raytown Summer Lunch Ministry, Friday October 21, 2011, 7:30 P.M. at Raytown Christian Church, 6108 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Raytown, Missouri.  Be entertained by the Kansas City Metro Mens’ Chorus and learn more about this successful outreach ministry.  RSLM served over 12,700 lunches to hungry kids, an average of 448 meals per day by over 400 volunteers. These volunteers came from community churches including Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church and civic groups as well as from the City of Raytown.   

Church members

Square peg in a round hole? Do you ever feel that way? I ask myself: are my faithful sharp edges making little pathways in the complacent round hole that  is the institutional church? Or are the strong faithful walls of the church of Christ Himself grinding off my too-sharp edges? Either way, this is a difficult process. But God works slowly and effectively, and He is shaping me, and the other members and the whole church itself so that all will glorify Himself.  One day, one glad day, all creation will fit together perfectly.

Why do we go to Church?

The best answer I know is that God shaped it to be formed as a "colony of heaven in the country of Death."  The church is certainly not the kingdom of God! But it is a witness to that  kingdom. We are trying to live a life of resurrection in a world where Death gets all the headlines.In our churches, there are people who can't feel safe unless they exclude other persons.  Rejecting  people is a basic attack on Christ and His teaching.
    WHITE/BLACK, SLANT EYES/ROUND EYES/ ,GAY/STRAIGHT , OLD/YOUNG, FAT/SKINNY!
Incredible--but He said it: we believe it:  Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. He loves us all. Paul the apostle said: I used to judge people as humans, but never again.  (Henceforth I will judge no one after the flesh!)  Humans are welcome in this church! Come and help us learn to be better humans with you. Love us, teach us, share with us and let us share with you. Let's all learn to live a life of resurrection in a world of Death.