Month: April 2014

‘Growing from the Ground Up’ to start April 23

A Healthy Communities Initiative, “Growing from the Ground Up,” will start on Wednesday, April 23, according to an announcement today from Mayor Mark Holland.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. at an urban garden site at 1045 Splitlog, Kansas City, Kan.

It is intended to let residents know about the program designed to reduce food deserts and increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in Kansas City, Kan., through education and community gardens. Officials hope to attract volunteers for the program.

“This is a chance for us to finally start working the ground and getting our hands dirty,” Holland said. “I’m thrilled that with the warmer weather we’re able to start making visible progress on creating this sustainable garden and furthering education to our neighbors about the benefits of healthy foods grown in our own backyards.”

All interested persons are welcome to attend this informational event that will include speakers from the Unified Government and K-State Research and Extension Office as well as additional information on garden designs, growing tips, and community fellowship. Persons unable to attend but are still interested in volunteering are encouraged to call the mayor’s office at 913-573-5010 for more information.

“Growing from the Ground Up” is made possible by a $25,000 Cities of Service Impact Volunteering Fund Grant, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The Cities of Service model focuses on impact volunteering – volunteer strategies that target community needs, use best practices, and set clear, measurable outcomes to gauge progress. This initiative is fueled by the work of Community Housing of Wyandotte County, Inc., the K-State Extension Office, and the volunteers of the city.

Faith news

To send in items for the Faith News, email information to Mary Rupert, editor, at  [email protected].

The 30th annual Polski Day celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at All Saints Parish, 8th and Vermont Avenue, Kansas City, Kan., at the St. Joseph Church site. The festival features live music, dancing and ethnic food. A parade starts at 11 a.m. at 12th and Central, proceeding to 8th. Live music by Don Lipovac will be from noon to 7 p.m. indoors. Outside, the Ed Grisnik Band will play from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sheelytown Band will play from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A polka Mass will be held at 4 p.m.

The Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th, will hold Easter Masses at 4 p.m. April 19; 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. April 20.

Christ the King Catholic Church, 3024 N. 53rd St., will hold a Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m. April 17; Good Friday service at 7 p.m. April 18; Easter Vigil Mass at 8:30 p.m. April 19; and Easter Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m. April 20.

Grandview Christian Church, 8550 Parallel Parkway, is collecting canned goods for Help 3:17, a local food pantry.

Judson Baptist Church 8300 State Ave.,  will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. April 17. A children’s Easter Party is planned from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, for children ages 2 to fifth grade. Judson plans a sunrise service at 7 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 20.

“Scripture Study, Bible Sharing and Reflection, Lectio and Journaling,” a regular weekly series facilitated by pastoral minister, Heather Neds, is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. This weekly Bible study group is based on the upcoming scripture readings from the Common Lectionary. There will be time for reflection, sharing and journaling. Call 913-906-8990 to register.

Maywood Community Church, 11201 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., will present an Easter musical, “The Price of Love” by Bruce Walters at 7 p.m. April 18 and 19, and 11 a.m. Sunday, April 20. A freewill offering will be accepted.

Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ, 2025 N. 12th St., plans a two-day church dedication celebration April 21-22.  Tours will be given from 5 to 6:45 p.m. April 21 and 22. A pre-dedication concert featuring Jason Nelson will be performed at 7 p.m. April 21. The church dedication will be at 7 p.m. April 22. The special guest will be Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ. The guest soloist April 22 will be Chrystal Rucker. The community is invited.

Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, will hold an Easter Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. April 20. A morning worship service will be at 9:50 a.m. April 20.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, will present “By His Stripes” at 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, and 10:30 a.m., Easter Sunday, April 20, in the church sanctuary. It is a dramatization of the passion, presented through drama and music.

A Community Blood Center blood drive is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. April 21 at the Parkway Baptist Church classrooms, 12320 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 816-753-4040 or visit www.esavealifenow.org.

Persons of all Christian traditions are invited to participate in Taizé prayer on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in Annunciation Chapel on the campus of the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, Kan. Taizé prayer is a meditative, candlelit service that includes simple chants sung repeatedly, silence, and prayers of praise and intercession.These prayer services emerged from an ecumenical community of monks in Taizé, France. For more information, visit www.marillaccenter.org or call 913-680-2342.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., is planning an Easter Egg hunt for toddlers through fifth graders at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, in the church park. Those attending should bring their own baskets. The event will be moved indoors in case of inclement weather.  Easter services will be at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. April 20 at the church, with Sunday school at 9:50 a.m.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., will hold Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m. April 17; Good Friday Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m. April 18; the Passion of the Lord at 7 p.m. April 18; the blessing of food at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19; Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. April 19 followed by a reception in the parish center; and Easter Sunday Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m. April 20.

Holy week services are planned at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St. Maundy Thursday services will be at 6 p.m. April 17; a soup supper will be served afterward in the parish hall. Good Friday services will be at 7 p.m. April 18. Easter Sunday services will be at 10 a.m. in English and at 1:30 p.m. in Spanish April 20.

Beginning on Easter Sunday, April 20, Trinity Community Church, a United Methodist Congregation, located in 5010 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., will begin offering its 10:30 a.m. service in English and Spanish.  The church has adopted the U.N. format for interpreting its English services into Spanish simultaneously. Anyone who desires to hear the worship service into Spanish can pick up a receiver before church and plug in their headphones to listen to the interpretation. Trinity United Methodist Church was founded in 1961 and changed its name in 2009 to “Trinity Community Church: A United Methodist Congregation.”  The focus of Trinity is to make the community the center of its operations.  Trinity Community Church welcomes and celebrates the lives and loves of people of all ages, races, genders, traditions, sexual orientations, abilities or disabilities, political affiliations, theological leanings, immigration status, socio-economic backgrounds. Everybody is welcome.

Zion United Church of Christ, 2711 N. 72nd, is planning an Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. The church will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 6 p.m. April 17.  The Easter service will be at 10:30 a.m. April 20; Sunday school will be at 9:30 a.m.

Church to hold dedication ceremony April 21-22

Bishop Ervin Sims Jr., Mary K. Sims and the Mt. Carmel Church family will dedicate a new worship facility in a two day Church Dedication Celebration April 21-22 with friends and dignitaries.
Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ, 2025 N. 12th St., is inviting the community to see the new facility and take part in the occasion on Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22.
Tours will be given from 5 to 6:45 p.m. April 21 and 22.

A pre-dedication concert featuring Jason Nelson will be performed at 7 p.m. April 21 in the church sanctuary.  Nelson is the pastor of Greater Bethlehem Temple Church, Randallstown, Md. He is known for his hit, “Shifting the Atmosphere.”
The church dedication will be at 7 p.m. April 22. The special guest will be Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ. The guest soloist April 22 will be gospel artist Chrystal Rucker, who will present a “sermonic solo.”

“It truly is an honor to have Bishop Blake dedicate Mt. Carmel, this is an incredible blessing,” said Pastor Ervin Sims Jr.
The community is invited to the event.
The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth-largest Protestant religious denomination in the United States with an estimated membership above 6.5 million members. Bishop Blake is known nationally and internationally for his leadership. Dignitaries and members of the COGIC fellowship from across the United States are expected to participate in this holy event as Bishop Blake delivers a powerful and anointed Sermon of Dedication.
Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ was founded in 1924 and also celebrated its 90th year anniversary on April 13. Sunday School services begin at 8:30 a.m. and worship services at 10 a.m.  For the past 34 years, Pastor Ervin Sims Jr. has been a faithful pastor and in April 2011, the General Board of the National Church of God in Christ recognized Pastor Sims’ years of faithful service and leadership to the countries of Ghana and Togo, West Africa, by elevating him to the office of the Bishopric.   The Mt. Carmel Church of God In Christ Inc. was transferred to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana on Aug. 1, 2012.
Under Bishop Sims’ leadership, church membership has grown to be one of the most significant congregations in the Greater Kansas City area; responsible for multiple outreach ministries meeting such diverse needs as housing, senior services, health and wellness, HIV/AIDS education awareness, ex-offender mentoring, emergency food and homelessness, and youth development.  Mary K. Sims provides guidance to the Mt. Carmel Women’s Fellowship, “Women of Excellence,” and an International Women’s Ministry known as “Sarah’s Daughters.”
For more information about the church, visit www.mtcarmelcogic.org.