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February 2015 | Vol. 61, No. 2
THE SPIRE
A Community of Grace
Pastors
From My Heart to Yours –
Rev. Norwood V. Brown, III
Pastor/Head of Staff
Love the Lord your God…
Love your neighbor as yourself.
woodybrown@thespire.org
Rev. Dr. Ted M. Pierce
February is known as the “month for love.” Of course, we think
of Valentine’s Day. However, I am thinking of much more…
Associate Pastor
ted@thespire.org
It's not too late to get your
photo taken for our RHC
Pictoral Directory. Lifetouch
will be at Rolling Hills on
Monday, February 16. Please
contact the Church Office to
make an appointment
Worship Schedule
9:00 & 10:15 AM
Traditional Worship
Adult Education
Nursery and Preschool classes
9:30 AM
Celebration Choir for
Grades K-5
Youth Choir for Grades 6-12
10:15 AM
Long ago God decided it was not good for people to be alone. So
God said that we should be in relationship with one another (to
be in community).
Sadly, our culture too often encourages people to be preoccupied with themselves. First and
foremost, we see (and experience) people focused on their needs, their wants and their desires
without regard for others. A life devoted solely to one’s self is selfish and isolated.
God invites us to live differently. God offers us more complete, more fulfilling and more
authentic lives. When we live in community committed to caring and loving others, as well as
ourselves, then we truly enter a new way of life.
Encouraging and loving others helps us remember:
1. No One is Alone
2.There is Always Hope
3. People Matter the Most
I am so thankful for our Rolling Hills church family. Now I invite you to help Rolling Hills be
a greater, more significant, and better Community of Grace. Help us love in healthy ways.
Youth Church School
Faithfully yours,
* Children start in the Sanctuary
and go to Church School
following A Time for Children
Nursery available both hours.
P.S. A Gathering of Men on February 14 at 7:30 a.m. has a very special program. Kansas City
Royals legend Willie Mays Aiken will be with us. He has an amazing story of life and faith.
Men of the church I hope to see you there!
.
Rev. Ted Said...
“Do You Know?”
How do you measure “success”? What kind of data does a church use to see if we are meeting
our goal of reaching across the sanctuary, across the street, and across the sea? There are the
basic ways of counting attendance at all our activities, adding pledges each year, and
measuring mission money spent, but we must not forget another very important way to
measure success - personal testimony. Words from individuals and groups who experience the
love and grace that reaches across the sanctuary, across the street and across the sea. Let me
share a few recent testimonies so you can evaluate this measure of Rolling Hills success:
Rev Ted Pierce
Across the Sanctuary
Across the Street
Dear Ted,
Dear Rolling Hills Community,
It was an honor and privilege to meet you.
Thank you and the Rolling Hills congregation
for the support and care over the last couple
of years. In my life I struggle to maintain
balance to fulfill duty to country, duty to
family, and duty to community. Often I feel
inadequate in all three. When Ann told me
about the friendships she made among the
Rolling Hills congregation, it relieved some of
the worry and concern I felt being so far away.
I am truly grateful to the people that reached
out to Ann, to the congregation that accepted
her, and to the individuals that volunteered
their service to assist her.
On behalf of the Board and 100+ Blessings Abound
volunteers, thank you for your support in 2014! We had a
fantastic year as the ministry continued to grow.
Those weeks with her at the end were among
the most meaningful of my life. I feel fortunate
to have shared that time with her. Not only did
it bring me closer to Ann, it brought our whole
family together.
Thanks to your generosity, we made great strides in pursuit
of our mission to help those in need through the resale and
redistribution of donated items. We support food
distribution, permanent housing for homeless individuals,
cross-cultural ministry, annual Christmas stores, home
repair and numerous other poverty-relief ministries.
Our donations and store traffic grew significantly last year,
including the opening of a dedicated furniture store. We
welcomed more volunteers from all walks into a positive,
Christian environment. Finally, our financial contributions
to MLM and LUMA grew as well.
I'm confident that 2015 will bring an increased awareness
as to the needs of those around us, and BA volunteers will
respond ready to serve as Called. Thank you for your
generosity and continued support!
Ann will be missed and it will take time to
grieve her passing. I will return to
Afghanistan grateful to Ann and the people of
Rolling Hills. There is relief knowing that Ann
is at peace and with the Lord.
Have a blessed 2015!
Tony Whitter
Executive Director
Please feel free to share this with the congregation to convey my appreciation. I will take
Ann's ashes to Colorado in the spring and
have a small memorial for her there.
Thank you,
Glenn Grimes
1542 Deer Point Way, Reston, VA 20194
(please fell free to send Glenn and family
a card)
Dear Rolling Hills Church,
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
Thank you for all your letters of support throughout the
semester. They brighten my day every time I get one. Thank
you for supporting me and the rest of the students in the
“YES” program.
Thank you
Jasper Gain
(From a "YES" student after the Outreach Committee gave
a wonderful Christmas party and gifts to the students)
2
Across the Sea
(Correspondence between our Outreach Committee and one of
our students who will receive support for Rolling Hills Church
in a 2015 mission project in Guatemala.)
P.S. There is one more thank you I need to share…
Dear Will,
Ted and I wanted to thank you, from the bottom of
our hearts, for sharing one of the best days of our
lives. To be able to share our vows during service,
with our church family present, was an incredibly
beautiful experience that we will never forget.
On behalf of the members of the Rolling Hills Outreach Committee, thank you for your presentation last evening. We are excited
to be supporting you in your service project, and look forward
to hearing about your work among the Mayan people. You are
definitely going to change lives.
Barb Fay (Moderator, Outreach Committee)
Dear Rolling Hills Church Family,
We feel loved and we love you!
Juliet Pierce
Dear Outreach Committee Members,
Thank you all for allowing me to present and for all of your
thoughtful questions. Your committee is providing me with the
opportunity of a lifetime and I cannot thank you enough. I look
forward to keeping in touch and keeping you informed throughout the length of this project.
Sincerely,
Will Penner
Now you know – RHC continues to be a successful community
of love and grace….
Outreach
Every Monday night, the Rolling Hills Church is taken
over by 42 khaki clad young men learning about knots,
computers, outdoor camping, technology and much
more. This is the home of Boy Scout Troop 387 from the
Heart of America Council based in Kansas City,
Missouri.
Christmas Offering Update
The Outreach Committee thanks
everyone who made a
donation to the 2014 Christmas
Offering. Rolling Hills
Congregation opened their
hearts to give more than $29,000
to Paces to make "A Place to Be Safe Because They're
Kids". The new home, located in Kansas City, Kansas
will allow children to get services, stay as a family, and
remain local while waiting for placement in foster care
or with a loving relative. Thank you again for your
generosity and making Kansas City a great place
for kids!
Troop 387 has given local youth in the neighborhood
and the surrounding community assistance in their
search for personal growth and excellence. Troop 387
has provided over thousands of hours of community
service which includes the yearly sign up in
November for providing a meal to the Shalom House.
There have been 185 young men who have received
the highest achievement in Scouting - the Eagle Scout
Award. A plaque with the names of those who have
been pinned with the Eagle Scout Award from the
troop is outside the north wall of the sanctuary. Not
every space is filled, as more youth from Troop 387
will go on to earn the badges, plan and complete the
service project and become the future community
leaders of the Kansas City area and beyond.
To learn more about Boy Scout Troop 387, please
check out to their website at http://troop387opks.
Scoutlander.com. Scout Sunday is February 8.
Fifty-Six Years Young,
Boy Scout Troop 387
Fifty-six years ago, Rolling Hills Church opened
its door. That same year, Troop 387 was
chartered, and it's still growing strong!
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
3
Announcements
Dates for “Kaleidoscope”
Spiritual Nurture Dinners
A Gathering of Men
Join us on Saturday, February 14 from 7:30 to
8:30 a.m. Kansas City Royals Legend Willie
Mays Aikens will be sharing his testimony.
Invite your friends and have some breakfast
while you hear Willie's story. $5 donation per
person please.
Please join us on the following Wednesdays from
5:30 to 7 p.m. for fantastic food, an opportunity to
visit with friends, meet new people, and listen to
an interesting speaker all for a $5 donation
per person.
February 18: Ash Wednesday: Ashes to Lilies
What are the 40 Days About? Ted Pierce
February 25: Cathy Glennon: Mind, Body,
Spirit - Chronic Illness.
March 18: (spring break no program)
March 25: Andy Cullen
April 15: Bill Shefchik “the Science of
Tornados”
April 22: Green Team “Earth Day”
Deacons
Over the last few months our 27 Deacons have
been reaching out to contact every member in their
Deacon Care Community as part of our mission to
be a community of grace for all. Many
connections have been made and our church
records are being updated daily! We enjoyed
meeting the church members during the pictorial
directory. If you did not have your picture taken,
or if you have moved, changed e-mail address or
phone number, please call Andrea at the church
office (913-642-9100).
Writing in the Spirit
Writing in the Spirit is a writing group
that meets monthly at RHC. One of our
members, Karen Divelbiss, wrote a cinquain
poem that is going to be featured in the
HomeWords website and was forwarded for
publication in local newspapers.
http://kansashumanities.org/programs/
poet-laureate-of-kansas/homewords/
homewords-columns/.
Congratulations Karen!
Your Deacons are enjoying hearing your stories,
discovering new connections and standing with
you in some of the difficult times you may face.
Sarah Circle
Sarah Circle meets weekly on Wednesdays from
9:15 to 10:45 a.m. in Room B. All are welcome!
They are currently studying Paul in a Beth Moore
Bible Study.
Leader,
bait, tackle, rod.
Farm pond after Spring thaw,
A bite! Hook set, reeling it in-
Shalom House
Thank you to the Rolling Hills Staff for
providing the January meal to the men of
Shalom House. Jessie Burkhalter and Amy
Hopkins prepared a chili dinner and Ted Pierce
and Tom Young delivered the meal.
Dinner.
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
4
Music
Allegro' Choirs Concert
Friends of Music and the Arts invite you to join us on
Thursday, February 19 for an evening of vocal
entertainment featuring four Allegro Kansas City Choirs
ranging in ages from third through twelfth grades. The
concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The Repertoire will showcase
classical, folk, and multicultural selections to delight any
audience. A reception will follow in the Fireside Room. We
hope you will take this opportunity to spend an evening as
these young singers share their talents with our Community
of Grace.
FOMA
Rolling Hills Friends of Music and Arts (FOMA) has exciting new programs planned for 2015, and we need more
members on our committee to help us accomplish our goals. FOMA typically hosts three or four professional
concerts each year. We also plan to launch new opportunities for our own members to share their musical talents,
as well as provide other types of musical programs.
There are numerous ways you can help ... planning, public relations, set-up, receptions, etc. If you'd like to help us
share the beauty of music, please contact Pam Roland at lroland86@att.net, or Lisa Bare at lbare@everestkc.net.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Sarah Thomas
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
Cameron and Kelli Harrison
Gianna and Brecklyn
5
children
PJ party
Did someone say pajama party at Rolling Hills?
YES! Please join us on February 27 from
6 to 8:30 p.m. for a fun night for 5th graders and
under! We will eat pancakes, play games, watch
movies and hang out with our church friends.
Parents, here is your chance for a night out! Meet
up with other RH families or have a late Valentine’s
Day date. RSVP in the church office or to Amy at
amy@thespire.org by February 23.
Looking Ahead:
• March 29: Easter Eggstravaganza
• June 8-12: Day Camp
• July 6-9: Vacation Church School
Day Camp 2015
Mark your Calendars! Join us June 8-12 for
Day Camp 2015. This year we are holding
our Day Camp adventures at a new
facility. Wildwood Center located in La
Cygne, KS will be our home for this fun-filled
week! Camp is available to any child who has
completed Kindergaten through 5th grade.
Are you in middle school or high school?
join us as a Junior Leader! Come experience
some old and new activities at Wildwood!
Contact Jessica Burkhalter at
Jessie@thespire.org for more information
Youth
Youth Events:
Sunday, February 15
Sky Zone
Grades 6-8, Drop off & lunch 11:30 a.m. at RHC; Pick up
2:30pm at Skyzone*
*Please note: student pick up is at Sky Zone at 2:30pm.
RSVP due Feb 8 to bobby@thespire.org. Event details and
required forms available in the church front office.
Sunday, February 1:
Youth Service Sunday
(Grades 6-12) 9:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Services at RHC No Church School
(8th grade Confirmation class still meets in Room B)
Sunday, February 1
Super Bowl Party
Grades 6-12, 5:30 p.m. at RHC
Students with last names A - M: Please bring a hot
appetizer to share.
Students with last names N - Z: Please bring a cold
appetizer to share.
Sunday, February 8
Sky Zone
Grades 9-12, Drop off & lunch 11:30 a.m. at RHC . Pick
up 2:30 p.m. at Sky Zone*RSVP by February 1 to
bobby@thespire.org. Event details & required forms
available in the church front office. *Please note: Student
pick up is at Sky Zone at 2:30pm.
Check out youth calendar updates and event details
any time online at http://bit.ly/rhpcyouth. Want to be
added to the Youth E-News list? Email
bobby@thespire.org
Youth Church School Changes To Debut February 8!
Introducing a new tailored curriculum with practical life application lessons including engaging, student-driven
conversations. All students will explore the same topics for 4-6 weeks; the first series is: What is the Bible?
New Lesson Format: First, the whole group will meet at 10:15 a.m. in Room D (all grades 6-12, except 8th grade
confirmation) for lesson overview led by Director of Youth Ministry Bobby Morgan. Next, all students will meet in
breakout sessions by grade for age-appropriate discussion questions with leaders.
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
6
Day Camp 2015
June 8 -12
th
th
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center, LaCynge KS
We are headed somewhere NEW!! Come experience Day Camp with RH!! All
children of members and visitors who have completed Kindergarten through 5 th
Grades are eligible for Day Camp. 5 th Grade campers will have the opportunity to
spend the night, Thursday, June 12 th at camp.
For additional information, contact Jessica Burkhalter at the church, 6429100/461-7882 (cell) or by email, Jessie@thespire.org. Financial assistance is
available.
We meet at church at 8:00 each day and ride the bus to La Cygne. We will
return at 3:45.
COST
Grades K – 4:
5 th Grade:
$90.00
$100.00
3 or more children: $225.00
Enrollment Form Day Camp 2015
Deadline: May 03, 2015
Child’s Name__________________________________________
Grade Completed:____ Swims Independently: Yes
No
(Circle One)
Parents’ Names: ________________________________________
Home Phone:___________________
Work/Cell Phone________________
Address:_________________________________
Email:_____________________
This wonderful experience requires several volunteers, please plan on attending
3-5 days.
WWW.THESPIRE.ORG
7
Susan Spence
PASTORS
Norwood V. Brown, III,
Pastor/Head of Staff
woodybrown@thespire.org
Ted M. Pierce,
Associate Pastor
ted@thespire.org
Communications/Marketing
Consultant
melina@thespire.org
MUSIC
Charles Bruffy
ADMINISTRATION
Margaret Nichols
MINISTRIES
Gene Augustine
Steven McDonald
Business Director
margaret@thespire.org
Theologian In Residence
Randy Payne
Facilities Manager
Parish Associate
tomyoung@thespire.org
Kelli Kaufman, CPA
Bobby Morgan
9300 Nall Avenue
Overland Park, KS
66207
www.thespire.org
Associate Director of Music,
Youth Choir Director
patrice@thespire.org
Rebecca Lloyd
Barbara Meyer
Co-Director,Children’s Ministries
jessie@thespire.org
Amy Hopkins
Office Coordinator
patrice@thespire.org
M-Th: 8:00-4:30p
F: 8:00-12:00n
Su: 8:00-12:00n
Patrice Sollenberger
Jessie Burkhalter
Patrice Sollenberger
Find Us
Organist
Director, Youth Ministries
bobby@thespire.org
Financial Assistant
andrea@thespire.org
Director of Music
cbsings@aol.com
Tom Young
Andrea Edgeller
Director
arlys@thespire.org
Melina Bland
kelli@thespire.org
Visit Us
MDO/PRESCHOOL
Arlys Tarwater
Clergy Assistant
susan@thespire.org
Co-Director,Children’s Ministries
amy@thespire.org
Call Us
Co-Directors
Celebration Choir
Jessie Burkhalter
Director
Cherub Choir
Email & Facebook
913 642-9100 main
913 642-1732 fax
913 642-8525
rollinghills@thespire.org
(preschool MDO)
(general mailbox)
Rolling Hills
Presbyterian Church