The Weekly Visitor -- Online Edition

From the Minister's Desk

How often I have said that the only thing that ever changes in life is change itself. That isn't new by any means but it is still true. Just when we think that we have things where we want them, someone or something causes change. It can be frustrating or it can be exhilarating, depending on which side of the fence you are on. The Church is no more shielded from change than a business or the family. But somehow we want our institutions to be the way they were when we grew up as children, regardless of how long ago that might have been. So we struggle to sing the same songs we sang when we were children, we wish the preacher could preach like the pastor did when we were children, and we wish our Sunday school teachers were like we remembered them as children. But it doesn't happen that way. The pendulum will swing back and forth with time and there isn't much we can do to stop it. We can try, but the results will be the same -- change is inevitable.

Now the good side to this is that change brings in fresh life to the Church. As I said before coming to DTCC, if you want to grow then you will need to have additional personnel who will provide new programs that will attract new people. It works! You should have been here Monday night. There were three separate meetings in the education building while the 11th Chapter was rehearsing in the sanctuary, a Disciple II bible study was going on in the conference room, and the CFC was full of children playing basketball. In the Activity building the Boy Scouts were having their weekly meeting.

Is this good? I suppose it depends on whether you like change. For some this is wear and tear on our building and will cost us money in the future to keep the facilities looking good. For others, this is a great opportunity to reach out to the community and let them know that we see as our mission to provide a service to them Are we benefiting from all this activity? You can bet on that! Through these programs we have added several families to DTCC. Let us give God the praise that we are serving our community.

See you this Sunday as we worship together.

Your Pastor

We extend our Christian love and sympathy to Dennis Roaten and his family in the death of his father, Hillie Roaten. Mr. Roaten died Monday morning and services will be at Leawood Baptist Church on Wednesday.

We were thrilled Sunday night when Charlie and Anne Boyles placed their membership at DTCC.

We welcomed the following visitors: Joy & Trey Hanley, Beth & Brittany Duke, Ricky Hutchens, Andy Payne, Ed Williams, Rhonda Wright, Barbara Binkley, Naomi Brown.

February 28^th is Ash Wednesday and we are planning to kick off the Lenten Season with a Lent program following our dinner. Please plan to join us this year for this exciting way to celebrate the Lenten Season. Our menu for Feb. 28^th is baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and brownies.

Cost for the dinners this year are as follows: $5 per adult, $3 per child ages 5-12 and children 4 and under free.

Please make your reservations on or before Sunday – that way we will be sure to have enough for everyone. As always all are welcome and feel free to call the church office to reserve your place. See you there! The Membership Dept.

Our Week of Compassion offering will provide emergency disaster relief, humanitarian aid to refugees and other displaced persons, long-term assistance for recovery and development and support of basic needs such as food, shelter, tools, medicines and literacy.

This year, we are taking time to think about what our giving means; how it is related to receiving, for example; how it reflects our personal understanding of God’s gift to us; and how it participates in God’s fullness throughout the whole world. To ignite our thinking, we’re beginning with the powerful affirmation of John 1:16: "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

Please show your love by sharing your gifts from God through the Week of Compassion offering.

The Christian Women’s Fellowship will have a Bake Sale on Sunday, February 25 in the Education Building. The CWF service project for February is Bethany Hills. The money raised will be used to purchase a commercial vacuum cleaner for Bethany Hills camp. Come and support this service project by purchasing some "delicious" baked goods! Thank you! Trina Luechauer, CWF Service Chairman

DTCC 7-8 yr. old team will be playing an exhibition game for the U of M Lady Tiger team at the Field House on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. For more info call Dave Luechauer.

Our annual basketball "pot-luck" banquet will be Saturday, March 3, at 6 p.m. for team members, families and friends. Bring your favorite main dish, vegetable or salad – iced tea and coffee will be provided.

If you have a picture that represents life here at DTCC or a picture of someone who wasn’t available to have a picture taken for the directory, please bring it to church Sunday, Feb. 25 or March 4. These pictures are more than likely non-returnable. Just in case they are, please included your name and phone number on the back. If it’s a picture of a member, also include their name on the back.

Disciple Women’s Ministries will begin the Spring Bible Study on Friday, March 9. We will be using Beth Moore’s To Live is Christ, a study of the life of Paul. From what I hear, this 11-week look at the apostle, his life and travels, can be life changing.

Sign up sheets will be in the narthex on the office window. We will also offer this Bible study on Thursday nights, beginning March 8, if there is interest. Please call Patsy Keith if you have questions.

World Day of Prayer will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2949 Davies Plantation Rd., on Friday, March 2, beginning at 10 a.m. with fellowship time

More than 10,000 Disciples and United Church of Christ members will "Gather at the Welcome Table" in Kansas City, July 13-17.

This assembly is designed to strengthen congregations for their mission and to help our whole church progress toward our vision of being a true community. Make your plans to attend!

Charlie and Anne Boyles are basically charter members of SALT. They’ve attended since the contemporary worship service began to support granddaughter, Angie who works the soundboard. They also enjoy the friendly, casual worship. Last Sunday evening, the Boyles placed their membership at DTCC. "We’ve visited for years," said Charlie, "and we love this church. Everybody is so friendly. We feel like we’ve come home."

Charlie, who is retired after 30 years with MLG&W, enjoys life – one day at a time. He and Anne raised two sons and their granddaughter, Angie. Anne enjoys reading and watching TV and is "an excellent homemaker." According to Charlie, they fill their days with whatever they want to do. The Boyles come to us from a Church of Christ background. Please welcome Charlie and Anne.