Saint James United Methodist Church of Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Thursday, 9 November 2017 "Weekly E-News - Upcoming X-citing Worship, Faith Development, Congregational Care, Compassionate Outreach, Next Generation Ministries and Community News" "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (John 14:1-2)

 Saint James United Methodist Church of Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Thursday, 9 November 2017 "Weekly E-News - Upcoming X-citing Worship, Faith Development, Congregational Care, Compassionate Outreach, Next Generation Ministries and Community News" "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (John 14:1-2)

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X-CITING WORSHIP
Sunday Worship. We would love to see you in worship for "Thank You For Your Service" Joel 2:11 at 9 am and 11:30 am at the Paseo Campus and 10:30 am at the Renaissance Campus. You can also join us online for a live stream of the worship celebrations each week.


Wednesday Night Live. Wednesday, November 8, @ 7p in the Ministry Mall for our continuing exploration of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Led by Dr. 3 and the Pastoral Team, we wrestle with what the Bible says, the cultural context, people, places of the time and what it means for us today. Please read Deuteronomy 31-34 for next week's study.

Deuteronomy 31:1 Moshe went and spoke the following words to all Isra’el: 2 “I am 120 years old today. I can’t get around any longer; moreover, Adonai has said to me, ‘You will not cross this Yarden.’ 3 Adonai your God — he will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess them. Y’hoshua — he will cross over ahead of you, as Adonai has said. (LY: ii) 4 Adonai will do to them what he did to Sichon and ‘Og, the kings of the Emori, and to their land — he destroyed them. 5 Adonai will defeat them ahead of you, and you are to do to them just as I have ordered you to do. 6 Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid or frightened of them, for Adonai your God is going with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

(RY: v, LY: iii) 7 Next Moshe summoned Y’hoshua and, in the sight of all Isra’el, said to him, “Be strong, be bold, for you are going with this people into the land Adonai swore to their ancestors he would give them. You will be the one causing them to inherit it. 8 But Adonai — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.”

9 Then Moshe wrote down this Torah and gave it to the cohanim, the descendants of Levi who carried the ark with the covenant of Adonai, and to all the leaders of Isra’el. (LY: iv) 10 Moshe gave them these orders: “At the end of every seven years, during the festival of Sukkot in the year of sh’mittah, 11 when all Isra’el have come to appear in the presence of Adonai at the place he will choose, you are to read this Torah before all Isra’el, so that they can hear it. 12 Assemble the people — the men, the women, the little ones and the foreigners you have in your towns — so that they can hear, learn, fear Adonai your God and take care to obey all the words of this Torah; 13 and so that their children, who have not known, can hear and learn to fear Adonai your God, for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess.”

(RY: vi, LY: v) 14 Adonai said to Moshe, “The time is coming for you to die. Summon Y’hoshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I can commission him.” Moshe and Y’hoshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 Adonai appeared in the tent in a column of cloud; the column of cloud stood above the entrance to the tent. 16 Adonai said to Moshe, “You are about to sleep with your ancestors. But this people will get up and offer themselves as prostitutes to the foreign gods of the land where they are going. When they are with those gods, they will abandon me and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger will flare up, and I will abandon them and hide my face from them. They will be devoured, and many calamities and troubles will come upon them. Then they will ask, ‘Haven’t these calamities come upon us because our God isn’t here with us?’ 18 But I will be hiding my face from them because of all the evil they will have done in turning to other gods.

19 “Therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the people of Isra’el. Have them learn it by heart, so that this song can be a witness for me against the people of Isra’el. (RY: vii, LY: vi) 20 For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, flowing with milk and honey; and they have eaten their fill, grown fat and turned to other gods, serving them and despising me, and broken my covenant; 21 then, after many calamities and troubles have come upon them, this song will testify before them as a witness, because their descendants will still be reciting it and will not have forgotten it. For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore.” 22 So Moshe wrote this song that same day and taught it to the people of Isra’el.

23 Adonai also commissioned Y’hoshua the son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and full of courage; for you are to bring the people of Isra’el into the land about which I swore to them; and I will be with you.”

24 Moshe kept writing the words of this Torah in a book until he was done. When he had finished, (LY: vii) 25 Moshe gave these orders to the L’vi’im who carried the ark with the covenant of Adonai: 26 “Take this book of the Torah and put it next to the ark with the covenant of Adonai your God, so that it can be there to witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiffnecked you are! Here, even while I am still alive with you today, you have rebelled against Adonai; so how much more will you do so after my death? (Maftir) 28 Assemble for me all the leaders of your tribes and your officials, so that I can say these things in their hearing, calling heaven and earth to witness against them — 29 because I know that after my death you will become very corrupt and turn aside from the way that I have ordered you, and that disaster will come upon you in the acharit-hayamim, because you will do what Adonai sees as evil and provoke him by your deeds.”

30 Then Moshe spoke in the hearing of the whole assembly of Isra’el the words of this song, from beginning to end:

32:1 “Hear, oh heavens, as I speak!

Listen, earth, to the words from my mouth!

2 May my teaching fall like rain.

May my speech condense like dew,

like light rain on blades of grass,

or showers on growing plants.

3 “For I will proclaim the name of Adonai.

Come, declare the greatness of our God!

4 The Rock! His work is perfect,

for all his ways are just.

A trustworthy God who does no wrong,

he is righteous and straight.

5 “He is not corrupt; the defect is in his children,

a crooked and perverted generation.

6 You foolish people, so lacking in wisdom,

is this how you repay Adonai?

He is your father, who made you his!

It was he who formed and prepared you!

(ii) 7 “Remember how the old days were;

think of the years through all the ages.

Ask your father — he will tell you;

your leaders too — they will inform you.

8 “When ‘Elyon gave each nation its heritage,

when he divided the human race,

he assigned the boundaries of peoples

according to Isra’el’s population;

9 but Adonai’s share was his own people,

Ya‘akov his allotted heritage.

10 “He found his people in desert country,

in a howling, wasted wilderness.

He protected him and cared for him,

guarded him like the pupil of his eye,

11 like an eagle that stirs up her nest,

hovers over her young,

spreads out her wings, takes them

and carries them as she flies.

12 “Adonai alone led his people;

no alien god was with him.

(iii) 13 He made them ride on the heights of the earth.

They ate the produce of the fields.

He had them suck honey from the rocks

and olive oil from the crags,

14 curds from the cows and milk from the sheep,

with lamb fat, rams from Bashan and goats,

with the finest wheat flour;

and you drank sparkling wine from the blood of grapes.

15 “But Yeshurun grew fat and kicked

(you grew fat, thick, gross!).

He abandoned God his Maker;

he scorned the Rock, his salvation.

16 They roused him to jealousy with alien gods,

provoked him with abominations.

17 They sacrificed to demons, non-gods,

gods that they had never known,

new gods that had come up lately,

which your ancestors had not feared.

18 You ignored the Rock who fathered you,

you forgot God, who gave you birth.

(iv) 19 “Adonai saw and was filled with scorn

at his sons’ and daughters’ provocation.

20 He said, ‘I will hide my face from them

and see what will become of them;

for they are a perverse generation,

untrustworthy children.

21 They aroused my jealousy with a non-god

and provoked me with their vanities;

I will arouse their jealousy with a non-people

and provoke them with a vile nation.

22 “‘For my anger has been fired up.

It burns to the depths of Sh’ol,

devouring the earth and its crops,

kindling the very roots of the hills.

23 I will heap disasters on them

and use up all my arrows against them.

24 “‘Fatigued by hunger, they will be

consumed by fever and bitter defeat;

I will send them the fangs of wild beasts,

and the poison of reptiles crawling in the dust.

25 Outside, the sword makes parents childless;

inside, there is panic,

as young men and girls alike are slain,

sucklings and graybeards together.

26 “‘I considered putting an end to them,

erasing their memory from the human race;

27 but I feared the insolence of their enemy,

feared that their foes would mistakenly think,

“We ourselves accomplished this;

Adonai had nothing to do with it.”

28 “‘They are a nation without common sense,

utterly lacking in discernment.

(v) 29 If they were wise they could figure it out

and understand their destiny.

30 After all, how can one chase a thousand

and two put ten thousand to rout,

unless their Rock sells them to their enemies,

unless Adonai hands them over?

31 For our enemies have no rock like our Rock —

even they can see that!

32 “‘Rather, their vine is from the vine of S’dom,

from the fields of ‘Amora —

their grapes are poisonous,

their clusters are bitter;

33 their wine is snake poison,

the cruel venom of vipers.

34     “‘Isn’t this hidden with me,

sealed in my storehouses?

35 Vengeance and payback are mine

for the time when their foot slips;

for the day of their calamity is coming soon,

their doom is rushing upon them.’

36 “Yes, Adonai will judge his people,

taking pity on his servants,

when he sees that their strength is gone,

that no one is left, slave or free.

37 Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods,

the rock in whom they trusted?

38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices

and drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let him get up and help you,

let him protect you!

39 See now that I, yes, I, am he;

and there is no god beside me.

I put to death, and I make alive;

I wound, and I heal;

no one saves anyone from my hand!

(vi) 40 “‘For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear,

“As surely as I am alive forever,

41 if I sharpen my flashing sword

and set my hand to judgment,

I will render vengeance to my foes,

repay those who hate me.

42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,

my sword will devour flesh —

the blood of the slain and the captives,

flesh from the wild-haired heads of the enemy.”’

43 “Sing out, you nations, about his people!

For he will avenge the blood of his servants.

He will render vengeance to his adversaries

and make atonement for the land of his people.”

(vii) 44 Moshe came and proclaimed all the words of this song in the hearing of the people and of Hoshea the son of Nun.

45 When he had finished speaking all these words to all Isra’el, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words of my testimony against you today, so that you can use them in charging your children to be careful to obey all the words of this Torah. 47 For this is not a trivial matter for you; on the contrary, it is your life! Through it you will live long in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess.”

(Maftir) 48 That same day Adonai said to Moshe, 49 “Go up into the ‘Avarim Range, to Mount N’vo, in the land of Mo’av across from Yericho; and look out over the land of Kena‘an, which I am giving the people of Isra’el as a possession. 50 On the mountain you are ascending you will die and be gathered to your people, just as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 The reason for this is that both of you broke faith with me there among the people of Isra’el at the M’rivat-Kadesh Spring, in the Tzin Desert; you failed to demonstrate my holiness there among the people of Isra’el. 52 So you will see the land from a distance, but you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Isra’el.”

33:1 This is the blessing that Moshe, the man of God, spoke over the people of Isra’el before his death:

2 “Adonai came from Sinai;

from Se‘ir he dawned on his people,

shone forth from Mount Pa’ran;

and with him were myriads of holy ones;

at his right hand

was a fiery law for them.

3 He truly loves the peoples —

all his holy ones are in your hand;

sitting at your feet,

they receive your instruction,

4 the Torah Moshe commanded us

as an inheritance for the community of Ya‘akov.

5 Then a king arose in Yeshurun

when the leaders of the people were gathered,

all the tribes of Isra’el together.

6 “Let Re’uven live and not die out,

even though his numbers grow few.”

7 Of Y’hudah he said:

“Hear, Adonai, the cry of Y’hudah!

Bring him in to his people,

let his own hands defend him;

but you, help him against his enemies.”

(ii) 8 Of Levi he said:

“Let your tumim and urim

be with your pious one,

whom you tested at Massah,

with whom you struggled at M’rivah Spring.

9 Of his father and mother he said, ‘I don’t know them’;

he didn’t acknowledge his brothers or children.

For he observed your word,

and he kept your covenant.

10 They will teach Ya‘akov your rulings,

Isra’el your Torah.

They will set incense before you

and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

11 Adonai, bless his possessions,

accept the work he does;

but crush his enemies hip and thigh;

may those who hate him rise no more.”

12 Of Binyamin he said:

“Adonai’s beloved lives securely.

He protects him day after day.

He lives between his shoulders.”

(iii) 13 Of Yosef he said:

“May Adonai bless his land

with the best from the sky, for the dew,

and for what comes from the deep beneath,

14 with the best of what the sun makes grow,

with the best of what comes up each month,

15 with the best from the mountains of old,

with the best from the eternal hills,

16 with the best from the earth and all that fills it,

and the favor of him who lived in the [burning] bush.

May blessing come on the head of Yosef,

on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

17 His firstborn bull — glory is his;

his horns are those of a wild ox;

With them he will gore the peoples,

all of them, to the ends of the earth.

These are the myriads of Efrayim;

these are the thousands of M’nasheh.”

(iv) 18 Of Z’vulun he said:

“Rejoice, Z’vulun, as you go forth,

and you, Yissakhar, in your tents.

19 They will summon peoples to the mountain

and there offer righteous sacrifices;

for they will draw from the abundance of the seas

and from the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20 Of Gad he said:

“Blessed is he who makes Gad so large;

he lies there like a lion,

tearing arm and scalp.

21 He chose the best for himself

when the princely portion was assigned.

When the leaders of the people came,

he carried out Adonai’s justice

and his rulings concerning Isra’el.”

(v) 22 Of Dan he said:

“Dan is a lion cub

leaping forth from Bashan.”

23 Of Naftali he said:

“You, Naftali, satisfied with favor

and full of blessing from Adonai,

take possession of the sea and the south.”

24 Of Asher he said:

“May Asher be most blessed of sons,

may he be the favorite among his brothers

and bathe his feet in oil.

25 May your bolts be of iron and bronze

and your strength last as long as you live.

26 “Yeshurun, there is no one like God,

riding through the heavens to help you,

riding on the clouds in his majesty.

(vi) 27 The God of old is a dwelling-place,

with everlasting arms beneath.

He expelled the enemy before you

and he said, ‘Destroy!’

28 So Isra’el lives in security;

the fountain of Ya‘akov is alone

in a land of grain and new wine,

where the skies drip with dew.

29 Happy are you, Isra’el!

“Who is like you, a people saved by Adonai,

your defender helping you

and your sword of triumph?

Your enemies will cringe before you,

but you will trample down their high places.”

34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”

5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.

7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.

9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.

10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!

FAITH DEVELOPMENT

Dr. 3 will lead a short prayer and devotion. The purpose is threefold: First, it will help you to start your day off right. Second, it provides spiritual food for the middle of the week. Third, it will help to ignite or reignite the fire in your faith. Join me every Wednesday as you're getting ready for work and school or while you are on your way. In 15 minutes or less you'll get what you need to become and to stay spiritually aware.

Senior Fitness & Bible Study. Join us at the Paseo Campus every Wednesday from 11-11:30a for light to moderate exercise done from the comfort of a chair! A trained fitness expert will guide you through exercises that help strengthen you and fellowship to help motivate you. Then, stay for Bible Study from 11:30a -12:30p and get strengthened in the spirit! Feel free to bring a dish and join us in the potluck lunch following our study time.
Sunday School. There are three adult Sunday school classes offered this summer at St. James Paseo Campus. All classes are held on the 2nd floor. The classes are the Women's Sunday school class, The Mixed Adult's Sunday school class, and the Men's Sunday school class.

Starting Sunday, November 26, 2017, Register for Advent Growth Groups at the Welcome Center! Titles include: "The Shack", "Jesus and the Disinherited", "Simply Wait", "Underdogs & Outsiders", and "Faithful"





CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Christian Sympathy is extended to the family of Teresa Jean Jackson Dean, mother of Terri Curry.
Acknowledgements were received from the families of John A. Willis, father of Davis L. Mack; and Mary (Craig) Dean, cousin of Elaine Pettiford, Cynthia Goode Wade and Helen Walker.

GriefShare. "Surviving the Holidays"Help and Hope as you Navigate the Christmas Season! Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can't be recreated?
St. James will host the Surviving the Holidays Seminar on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 6p. It is especially for people who are grieving a loved one's death. You do not have to be enrolled in a GriefShare group to attend. Everyone Is Welcome!
Prayer Time. Join us on the prayer line every Tuesday and Thursday from 12p-1p. Dial: 530-881-1212, code 293680996.
Compassionate Care. When you experience illness, the death of a loved one or if you would like prayer, we want to know so that we may provide compassion, encouragement and comfort during life's challenges. Please call the church office at 816-444-5588 or, after hours, the Care on Call phone at 816-286-6048.
WORSHIP MINISTRIES

Acolytes Needed. Children ages 4-10 are invited to sing and serve as light celebrants during our 8a worship celebration. Contact Angela Baker at abswac@gmail.com for more information.
Renaissance Ushers. If you are interested in serving as an Usher, please contact Pastor Andre Fulton at afulton@stjamesumc.com.
ABOVE & BEYOND
The 'Above & Beyond' giving campaign continues through December 22, 2017. We are confidently headed toward reaching our $200,000 goal. Key to our success is churchwide participation through
daily fasting and praying
continued regular giving
the additional sacrifice to give 'above' the normal giving
Giving can be made through 'text to give' by simply texting sjumc to 77977, using the special 'Above and Beyond' envelopes, or designating the 'above and beyond' amount on a regular envelope.
CONNECTING MINISTRIES
Join our Journey! "Envisioning More, Embracing the Mission." We have a bright, bold and brave future ahead. Aiming beyond who we are today, we endeavor to engage, equip, enrich and empower women through fellowship events, mission projects and more. We are women, just like you. We are single and married, sisters, aunts, mamas, and grandmamas too. We want to walk with you, and you with us, as daughters of the Most High God. Our next gathering will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 1:00p at the Renaissance campus. We also invite you to add ourDecember 9th Christmas celebration to your calendar. You can look forward to more information about December's fellowship soon.
Welcome Center. Ministry teams of the Paseo and Renaissance Campuses have partnered to create an inviting welcome area for members and guests (outside the sanctuary). Stop by to:

• Enjoy fresh coffee, juice or tea
• Pick-up ministry or event information, order CDs/DVDs
• Update contact information, register or volunteer 
• Take advantage of convenient, electronic giving

Connectors Needed. We are missing YOU, please consider volunteering one Sunday a month at 9a or 11:30a to assist at the Welcome Center. A signup sheet is available or you can contact the church office. Your willingness to serve is greatly appreciated:

• Nov 12 - Congregational Care Ministers
• Nov 19 - Membership
• Nov 26 - United Methodist Youth
• Dec 3 - United Methodist Men
• Dec 10 - Hospitality
• Dec 17 - VIM
• Dec 24 - United Methodist Women
• Dec 31 - Girl/Boy Scouts

NEXT GENERATION MINISTRIES

Bettylu's Closet needs your help!


Bettylu's Closet needs help from the St. James UMC congregations in preparing for our clothing and household items giveaway coming up on November 29, 2017, 2-4p. The need is for everything shown above, so if you are cleaning out your closets this winter and want to donate to a worthy cause, then join us in supporting Bettylu's Closet with your clean and gently used jackets, hats, scarfs, and gloves! Call the church office if you have any questions or would like to help out!
COMMUNITY NEWS


FEC's Learn to Earn Program helps to empower youth in the Kansas Citycommunity by making positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The program, funded by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Jackson County Sports Authority, provides economically disadvantaged young adults, 18-24 years old, that live in Jackson County, MO, with internships and scholarships in occupations that support professional baseball and football athletics. Those selected in the competitive application process are provided a six-week internship and are eligible to receive up to $3,000 in scholarships to attend a community college or vocational school. Participants will be enrolled in a post-secondary institution; the Learn to Earn Scholarship will be used to match Pell Grant funds. Click here for the application.
For More Information, Contact:
Dot Coleman
1710 East 18th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64108, United States
816-471-2330

www.settle4thebest.com

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Saint James United Methodist Church

816-444-5588

info@stjamesumc.com

www.stjamesumc.com

Saint James United Methodist Church

5540 Wayne Avenue

Kansas City, Missouri 64110, United States

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