Today was not what I expected. It was the first day of VBS, and some people were missing. The truth is, it could be because of me. Being misunderstood is so painful.
What is my defense? I am a child of God. Period.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Though judgments might be cast in our direction, it turns out that this seat is not a seat of execution, but a throne of grace. This is where God finds us. This is where we find Him. This is where slow healing starts, and God’s love pours in.
The song I’ve been listening to ends with the line, “You are not alone. Believe me. No one is alone.” And I smile. I am a child of God. The same God who took a beating and spilled blood because friends betrayed Him and His community misunderstood Him. We can come into His wounds and be healed through this place of grace.

What a Stellar VBS Week at Timothy! Attendance hovered around 150 all week with an additional 80 teen and adult volunteers serving as Pilots & Co-pilots (class teachers), Crafts Supervisors, Snacks/Game Supervisors, Openings/Music Leaders, Cinema Leaders, Bible Story Leaders, Nursery Leaders, and Registration Leaders. Thanks to all the volunteers for sharing their time and talents with the children! Thanks also to Timothy’s GATHER Commission for providing continental breakfast items for parents Monday.

Final tallies of donations collected for two servant events will be available soon. The Ronald McDonald House Charities will receive a variety of goods to help their mission, such as paper products, pantry items, and cleaning supplies. The second servant event was collecting monetary donations to support Camp Barnabas, a summer camp in SW Missouri for individuals with special needs. Competition between the boys and the girls as to which group brings in the most money for our friends at Camp Barnabas is always popular. Stay tuned for a final report about all of that!

Come celebrate the end of a STELLAR week at VBS with us after worship at our Wyatt Campus on THIS SUNDAY, July 16th.  Our VBS kids will sing at worship, and then we will have an epic FOAM party, music, yard games, Sweet & Savory Delights food truck, and some crazy fun from about 11:30am-1:30pm. ONE AND ALL ARE INVITED!!!!

The Blue Springs Community Services League is once again helping families in our community.
Collecting school supplies is a great way to serve students in need in our community, as many families depend on us to help them prepare their students return to school. Your support will help ensure students have a successful start this year. The following supplies will be collected through July 23 by dropping off in bins at both campuses:.

Calculator TI 30x IIS Solar                             Glue Sticks
Large Backpack                                             Kleenex
Blue or Black Pens                                        Notebook Paper—Wide Lined
Classic Markers                                             Pencil Bag with Zipper
Colored Pencils                                              Pencils
Composition Notebooks                                 Post-it Notes
Crayola Crayons – Box of 24                          Red Pens
Dry Erase Markers                                         Sharpies
Earbuds                                                         Spiral Notebooks – Single Subject, Wide Line
Folders with Prongs                                       2 ½ -3 inch Zipper Notebook Binders

This year’s Gala & Auction will be on Saturday, August 26, from 6-10pm at the Overland Park Convention Center. Organizers promise this event will be bigger and better than ever, with a new format and a star-studded lineup of speakers. In lieu of silent auction baskets, six themed experienced packages will be auctioned. Friends and supporters are encouraged to adopt one of these packages in its entirety or donate items as part of a package. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the families and youth served by Hillcrest.  Hillcrest thanks Timothy for its ongoing support.

Check out the various experience packages at gala@hillcrestkc.org. Reserve your spot at the Timothy table NOW for just $75 per ticket if purchased through the church. Contact Care Coordinator Sandy Gregory in church office (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042) to register or ask questions.

Do you like gospel music? Want to hear a quartet share their talents with us? Then take advantage of an hour of traditional Southern Gospel music on Sunday, August 20th, at 3:30pm in the RD Mize sanctuary! The quartet, recommended by Pastor Lieb, is comprised of mostly retired gentlemen, two of whom also play bass and lead guitar. They will gladly accept requests to fit in with their prepared musical selections. The event is free, but a love offering for them will be available. AND THEN . . . everyone is welcome to gather in the Family Life Center for an ice cream social!

This is a great opportunity to join Jesus on His mission with friends and neighbors. Take time to relax and appreciate some unhurried time surrounded by friends and music. Be open to how the Holy Spirit will open ways to transform lives for Christ.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6

It’s baseball season. I love watching my grandsons play ball, especially when they are up to bat. They position themselves just right and watch to see what the pitcher will send their way. They can’t always wait for the pitch to be perfect; sometimes they must take the risk and swing.

In life, we, too, can’t always wait for conditions to be perfect or free from all risk. The only way to come to terms with reality is by trusting God, regardless. Instead of protecting ourselves, we need to release ourselves. Instead of hoarding, we need to give and invest. Instead of drifting, we need to pursue life. Instead of doubting, we need to courageously trust. Trust in the promise that God is ALWAYS with us while we can take life as it comes.

Vacation Bible School | July 10-14, 2023
Time & Location | 8:45am – 12pm | RD Mize Campus

It’s time to register your Pre-K through 5th graders for the 2023 Stellar VBS. Go to Timothy’s website (www.timothylutheran.com) and click on Children & Youth tab, the VBS “Stellar” 2023.

Middle Schoolers (incoming 6th – 8th graders) are invited to VBS Swim Talks from 5:30 – 7 pm on Tues, July 11th, and Thurs, July 13th. Bring friends! Contact Pastor Ryan for more details.

VBS Adopt-A-Student
Adopt-A-Student helps Timothy provide Vacation Bible School free to all students!

Each year we seek loving people to help financially support Children’s Ministry through our VBS Adopt-A-Student program. Did you know that many churches charge students to attend VBS? Your financial gift goes a long way to help Timothy provide a free Vacation Bible School experience to all kids in our community. In the RD Mize and Wyatt lobbies you will find Adopt-A-Student envelopes for your convenience, or you can go online through the Timothy website or app. Your gift is greatly appreciated.
Give on-line by CLICKING HERE. Choose “other” as an option and type VBS.

VBS DONATIONS BOARD & AMAZON WISHLIST
VBS is right around the corner. Help us collect all the items on the donation boards or click the link below from the Amazon Wishlist. Visit the donation board in the church lobbies or CLICK HERE to go on-line to the Amazon Wishlist.

Thank you, Timothy, for once again supporting ministries outside our walls! The recent LWML Elizabeth Circle diaper drive between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day will make many babies happier! Kaye Gray reports that 1,356 diapers of various sizes, 2,006 baby wipes, and a $20 online donation are much appreciated. The mission of Happy Bottoms is to collaborate with the community to empower, connect, and impact low-income families by alleviating diaper need in the Kansas City area. According to the National Diaper Bank Network Check 2023, nearly 1 in 2 families with young children do not have enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy. Happy Bottoms wants to change that, and since 2009 they have been covering the number of diapers a family is short each month, known as the diaper gap, in the KC Metro. Timothy’s donations will help their effort significantly! Thank you!

The Blue Springs Community Services League is once again helping families in our community.
Collecting school supplies is a great way to serve students in need in our community, as many families depend on us to help them prepare their students return to school. Your support will help ensure students have a successful start this year. The following supplies will be collected through July 23 by dropping off in bins at both campuses:.

Calculator TI 30x IIS Solar                             Glue Sticks
Large Backpack                                             Kleenex
Blue or Black Pens                                        Notebook Paper—Wide Lined
Classic Markers                                             Pencil Bag with Zipper
Colored Pencils                                              Pencils
Composition Notebooks                                 Post-it Notes
Crayola Crayons – Box of 24                          Red Pens
Dry Erase Markers                                         Sharpies
Earbuds                                                         Spiral Notebooks – Single Subject, Wide Line
Folders with Prongs                                       2 ½ -3 inch Zipper Notebook Binders

Crossways is coming back! Pastor John will once again lead this two-year journey through the entire Bible on Tuesday nights, starting on Sept. 12^th, from 6:30-8pm at the RD Mize Campus. The class already boasts several enrollees, so please join this group by registering by August 15 on Timothy’s app or website to assist staff in planning. Invite your friends! More information can be found on the church website (http://www.timothylutheran.com). If you have questions, please contact Pastor John (816.228.5300 Ext. 8041).

It’s time to Join Jesus on His Mission over the upcoming holiday weekend! This year, the revitalized Blue Springs Ministerial Alliance is coordinating events for kids in conjunction with the Red, White, and Blue Springs event TOMORROW, July 1st, at Blue Springs South High School. We will share His Mission by hosting a simple, fun fishing game in the “kid zone” that allows kids to win small prizes. Consider signing up for one of two shifts (5:30 – 7:15 pm or 7:15 – 9pm) AND THEN stay for the always-amazing, free fireworks show! To sign up, go to the Events page on Timothy’s website (www.timothylutheran.com) or contact Pastor Ryan (816.228.5300 Ext 8046). Stop by Timothy’s fishing booth to say “hi”!

It’s time to mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2023 Hillcrest House Party Gala & Auction on Saturday, August 26^th, from 6-10pm at the Overland Park Convention Center . It promises to be bigger and better than ever! A great line-up of entertainment and speakers (KC Wolf Dan Meers among them). Next to the opening of its newest transitional housing facility in Eastern Jackson County (Independence Hall), Hillcrest promises this event will be worth celebrating. More details can be accessed at https://hillcrestkc.org/special-events/gala/

Reserve your spot at our Timothy table NOW for just $75 per ticket if purchased through Timothy. To reserve your spot or to ask questions, please contact Sandy Gregory, Care Coordinator, (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042).

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Isaiah 42:10

Have you ever laughed at Scripture? Not because it’s funny but because the chances of you putting it into action are unlikely. Isaiah 42:10 is a call to sing a new song; to raise our voices, rejoice, sing for joy, and proclaim His praise. But when we’re struggling to get through the day, it’s not quite so simple or easy.

Many of us find ourselves feeling wearier and more worried than overflowing with worship and wonder. Financial worries, grief, loss, parenting struggles, or a fragile marriage, among many other unnamed cares, can weigh us down.

It’s tempting to think Isaiah 42:10 is a text for when life is all rainbows and butterflies, not stress and struggle. But it’s exactly moments like this — when life is hard, we’re tired and want things to change — that this text is for. When Isaiah spoke these words to the people of Israel, they were again in captivity, and the people were worn out and worried beyond belief. Yet in the middle of these tough times, God calls them to sing a new song — to burst forth in joy, hope, and peace in the darkness.

I quietly hum “Amazing Grace” as I walk into the hospital for a visit, and I realize the victory and freedom this grace has given me. No matter what we face or how tired and anxious we are, we can sing a new song or an old one. We can exchange our weariness and worry for worship as we find God in our darkest places.

Over the past several months, Timothy intentionally promoted some of the many organizations receiving our 10% tithe in the form of prayers in worship, through the weekly emailed prayers, and postcards distributed after worship on first Su7ndays. Letters of appreciation like the one below affirm our commitment to tithing. Thank you for continuing to pray for missions here locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. They all appreciate our prayers and financial  support. Just one way to join Jesus on His Mission!

“Thank you, dear saints in Blue Springs,
I am incredibly grateful for your ongoing prayers and financial support! Last Thursday evening, before we began our Chinese class (reading Luke’s gospel), my dear friend/Chinese teacher, Kass had an “ah ha” moment.  We were talking about my deaconess studies, and I showed her the first commandment with its meaning that I was memorizing for class.  Kass read it with a question mark in her voice, as if it were hard to believe: “No other gods?!”

I think that it was Kass’s first moment of realizing that Christians have only one God and are not just adding Jesus to a collection of other go-to gods.  Most of the Taiwanese have a god for business, a god for fishermen, a god for farmers as well as praying to their ancestors for their own earthly peace and for their ancestors’ well-being in the afterlife.

Please join me in praying that God will continue His good work in Kass’s heart and bring her to complete understanding, faith and joyful salvation in Jesus.

Barb Rebentisch
Asia Regional Office Building
cell phone: 651-359-5107
5F-1, #167 Gongyuan Street
East District, Chiayi City, TAIWAN”

On May 21st, the Stewardship Team presented a brief explanation after the worship services about Tax-Advantaged Giving to help Timothy members consider how wise stewardship practices can benefit both members and Timothy. If you were unable to attend the session that day, please stop by the Information Center at either campus to pick up printed materials which may be helpful in planning. You will find information about “donating your IRA distributions to a charity,” ” your required minimum distributions: we’ll help you make the most of the money you must withdraw,”  and “qualified charitable distributions: support your favorite causes with IRA distributions” as well as the introductory information from the Stewardship Team about topics for future sessions. Stay tuned for the next quarterly stewardship session, and please contact any of the Stewardship Team members if you have questions (Dave Domsch, Gary Flandermeyer, Mel Falk, Doug Spilker,  Joe Sauter, and Doug Hick).

Where is one place you can join Jesus on His Mission?  Right where you are—here at Timothy! You can do this by volunteering as a Care Connector. It’s easy and rewarding! From the convenience of your own home or anywhere, you can reach out to a group of people via phone, email, or cards, whatever works best for you! For more information, contact Sandy Gregory, Care Coordinator, at 816.228.5300 ext. 8042 or sandyg@timothylutheran.com .

Last Friday, Timothy kiddos and friends showed up to bump at Bump City, to the tune of 100 in number! What a fun opportunity to share the love of Jesus! Mixed in with lots of playing, they enjoyed pizza and snacks. It was a great way to kick off the summer together!

It’s time to Join Jesus on His Mission over the upcoming holiday weekend! This year, the revitalized Blue Springs Ministerial Alliance is coordinating events for kids in conjunction with the Red, White, and Blue Springs event on Saturday, July 1^st, at Blue Springs South High School. We will share His Mission by hosting a simple, fun fishing game in the “kid zone” that allows kids to win small prizes. Consider signing up for one of two shifts between (5:30 – 7:15 pm or 07:15 – 9pm) AND THEN stay for the always-amazing, free fireworks show! To sign up, go to the Events page on Timothy’s website (www.timothylutheran.com) or contact Pastor Ryan (ryanh@timothylutheran.com).

Sr High: A group of senior high kiddos and adults are heading to Tulsa on our mission trip Tomorrow, June 10^th through Friday, June 16^th. Keep us in prayer as we serve the people in Tulsa and grow in our calling to Join Jesus on His Mission! Keep tabs with us during the week at ppm.org/18555 or on our Timothy Facebook page.

Sr High: Revolution midweek youth study is meeting throughout the summer.  Contact Pastor Ryan for the schedule.

Jr & Sr High: It’s time to chillax and float down the river together!  It’ll be a full-day outing on June 26^th from about 7:30am-8pm as we head down to the Niangua River and swim, float, and row row row our boats.  Cost will be $35.  Scholarships are available.   Adult drivers/chaperones needed also.  RSVP by June 16^th to Pastor Ryan.  Ryanh@timothylutheran.com

All children & youth:  VBS is coming at you July 10-14^th.  Kids pre-k through 5^th are welcome to sign up for a Stellar week of fun Sign up to attend here! Those 6th  grade and up are encouraged to sign up to help for this joy-filled, intense week of Jesus. Volunteer sign up! We will have middle school swim talks that week as well on Tuesday and Thursday!  And a Sr. High BBQ Wednesday night! Invite your friends and neighbors!

All seniors are invited to the annual Pairs & Spares picnic on June 20th in the Family Life Center (FLC).  Bring a dish to share for the potluck luncheon and enjoy fellowship with friends. Hot dogs, brats, drinks, and  paper products will be furnished. Contact Janet Masters (jlmasters44@gmail.com) with questions.

Timothy’s current GriefShare session recently completed, and we thank God for Pam Lund’s commitment as its facilitator for the past three years. What a blessing her leadership has been to many people coping with various kinds of grief! The next GriefShare session will begin this fall, and we look forward to offering this ministry to many more people. If you are interested in helping to facilitate the next session, please contact Sandy Gregory, Care Coordinator (sandyg@timothylutheran.com or 816.228.5300 Ext. 8042).

The second TLS trailer was delivered this past Monday, June 5th, with no problems. Timothy’s staff is now waiting for the leasing company to complete the set-up process so that electrical and plumbing work can proceed as soon as possible. The goal is to prepare the trailer for occupancy by end of June.

Discussions continue with interested partiesd about the sale of RD Mize. The Real Estate Task Force is also researching commercial real estate brokers and attorneys for possible assistance when needed.

Feel free to stop by the “free tables” in lobby at RD Mize to select many additional items. The congregation is also welcome to stop by the Children’s Library (Room 304) and Adult Library (Room 303) to select books or other materials you would li9ke to own.

One of Timothy’s members recently shared the following story, and we pass it on for the congregation to enjoy:
My sister-in-law’s younger brother unexpectedly passed away. He had been single all his life, but had a vast network of friends and fraternity brothers from college. She wanted to invite them to his Celebration of Life, but after rummaging through all his files, she could not find any contact information for any of them. She assumed she could get the information from his cell phone, but it was password protected. She tried and tried to open his phone, but with no success. One evening when she was sitting quietly, a soft voice whispered in her ear, “. . . Bill’s favorite number is 23.” She jumped up, ran to the cell phone, and typed in “232323,” and the phone opened! She was able to use his contact list to share the unfortunate news with all his friends. She later confided in me that she was convinced that it was an angel speaking to her in that soft whisper.
Dear Lord, help us all to be open and receptive to the “soft whispers” from You, the Holy Spirit, and your angels!”

I traveled to a big family event this past weekend. There was a lot of laughter, dancing, and fun, but during the weekend, my niece, Hannah, shared her faith story which included the prayer for a baby. Through much pain, struggle and surgery, she is due in August, anticipating a baby boy.

When we invite Jesus into every detail of our lives, prayer can get personal. Jesus invites us into a life of prayerful adventure — one where we walk with Him, like a child on a hike with their father, asking questions, and listening to His gentle guidance. 

Jesus made bold promises to His disciples about prayer: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). Jesus lived a life of personal prayer. He would’ve talked to His Father about everything — from turning water into wine to asking God to consider preventing the suffering Jesus would endure on the cross. There was nothing off-limits between Jesus and His Father. 

There’s nothing off-limits when it comes to us and God either. Prayer isn’t meant to be boring, but personal. Tell Jesus everything. We can ask Him to give us a life of prayerful adventure. Then just watch as our prayer life starts to get personal.

Discussions continue with interested buyers for the RD Mize campus. In addition, Timothy’s Real Estate Task Force met last Sunday to begin forming next steps to list the RD Mize Campus. Thanks to Bill Ekey, Corey Koenig, Gary Storck, and Gary Flandermeyer for serving on this team. If anyone from the congregation would like to serve on this team and/or has input regarding the listing process or plans, please contact Chair Bill Ekey (wee1115@centurylink.net) or Diane Mayfield (dianem@timothylutheran.com). 

The congregation is invited to stop by the “free table” in the lobby at RD Mize to pick up usable items from storage areas that will not be stored elsewhere, moved, or discarded. As additional storage areas are cleaned, sorted, and organized over the upcoming weeks, there will be more opportunities for free items.  Contact the church office with questions. 
The congregation is also invited to visit the Adult Library (Room 303) and Children’s Library (Room 304) to select books or other materials they would like to own.

All children & youth: June 2^nd 6-8pm All are invited to come hang out with us at Bump City from 6-8pm on June 2nd.  We are going to run wild and reconnect.  Parents, we invite you to hang out and chat while your kiddos do their thing.  Pizza and snacks will be provided.  We are asking for a $5 donation per kiddo, if possible. Pre-sign your waiver here….https://www.bump-city.com/copy-of-hours-and-calendar

Sr High: A group of senior high kiddos and adults are heading to Tulsa on our mission trip Saturday, June 10^th through Friday, June 16^th. Keep us in prayer as we serve the people in Tulsa and grow in our calling to Join Jesus on His mission! Keep tabs with us during the week at ppm.org/18555 or on our Timothy Facebook page.

Sr High: Revolution midweek youth study is meeting throughout the summer.  Contact Pastor Ryan for the schedule

Jr & Sr High: June 26 6-8pm It’s time to chillax and float down the river together!  It’ll be a full day outing on June 26^th from about 7:30am-8pm as we head down to the Niangua River and swim, float, and row row row our boats.  Cost will be $35.  Scholarships are available.   Adult drivers/chaperones needed also.  RSVP by June 16^th to Pastor Ryan.  Ryanh@timothylutheran.com

All children & youth:  VBS is coming at you July 10-14^th.  Kids pre-k through 5^th are welcome to sign up for a Stellar week of fun Sign up to attend here! Those 6th  grade and up are encouraged to sign up to help for this joy-filled, intense week of Jesus. Volunteer sign up! We will have middle school swim talks that week as well on Tuesday and Thursday!  And a Sr. High BBQ Wednesday night!

It’s time to put the Annual Adam’s Army Blood on your calendars! This blood drive, in its 18^th year, will be Sunday, June 4^th,, 9 am – 2 pm, in the Family Life Center at RD Mize.  Sign up at savealifenow.org/group and enter code CB3C. Questions concerning eligibility should be directed to 800.668.0900. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome as well. If you are unable to donate on June 4, doing so at any Community Blood Center close to that date and specifying Adam’s Army Blood Drive will be credited toward this annual effort. For additional details, contact Sandy Gregory at 816.228.5300 Ext. 8042 or sandyg@timothylutheran.com .
Donate sign-up https://donate.savealifenow.org/donor/schedules/sponsor_code

Have you heard the news??  Timothy’s VBS is one week earlier than usual in July, so mark your calendar for July 10 – 14 from 9am-noon at RD Mize. Everyone is pumped for a “Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light” great time! More details and registration/volunteer opportunities can be accessed at the Children & Youth tab at http:// www.timothylutheran.com.  Invite your friends and neighbors! Please check out the display at either campus and choose a “star” of requested supplies to help ensure Timothy’s VBS is a free ministry.  Your help is much appreciated!

All seniors are invited to the annual Pairs & Spares picnic on June 20th in the Family Life Center (FLC).  Bring a dish to share for the potluck luncheon and enjoy fellowship with friends. Hot Dogs, Brats, drinks, and  paper products will be furnished. Contact Janet Masters (jlmasters44@gmail.com) with questions.