DO YOU EVER WONDER HOW PRAYER WORKS?

When my daughter said her prayers at night she would bless everyone: family members, all of her friends, her pets,

everyone. After awhile it became her routine to end her prayer every night with, “All Girls”. Finally, my curiosity got the

best of me and I asked her, “Why do you always add the part about all girls?” Her response, “Because everybody else

always finishes their prayers by saying, All Men!

I tend to often mention prayer in my sermons. We know

prayer is good and we know we are supposed to pray and

we know it “works”, or we think it does…..but then

sometimes we ask for things and they don’t happen so then

we don’t understand why it didn’t “work”. I think when

we pray and ask for something we have a response in mind

that God is supposed to give. If it’s not the answer we want

then we think prayer is not working.

When our kids were little and they asked for something

from us, they often did not get the answer they wanted, but that didn’t mean that we weren’t looking out for their best

interest. Maybe they would actually get exactly what they wanted, but they would have to be patient because it would

come later. Or maybe they would end up with something different in the future that would really be better than what they

asked for in the first place. Maybe what they asked for was not at all good for them and the answer was simply No. That’s

kind of how I look at prayer.

I have also come to believe that maybe God is wanting me to be less selfish, have more humility, and quit asking for things

to have or for him to fix. Maybe I should be asking for the strength, the patience, and the perseverance to do it myself,

with his help. And maybe I should be asking for the faith to really, truly believe that he will lead me down the right path,

even if it is not the path I think I should take.

Because maybe this life is not all about me. Maybe it is about serving God in the way he wants me to serve, not in the way

I want to serve. If I ask God, through prayer, and I listen….really listen….he will give me the answers. - Pastor Anchul

FEBRUARY 2019

CALL TO PRAYER & SELF-DENIAL PROGRAM FOR U.M.W.

The Blue Ridge United Methodist Women will hold their next meeting on Sunday, February

17. We will meet downstairs in the undercroft following the church service. Our Spiritual

Growth leader, Connie Turnipseed, will present the program, "Call to Prayer & Self-Denial".

Lunch will be served by the Priscillas Circle.

GOLDEN KEY RINGS IN VALENTINES DAY WITH BELL PROGRAM

Golden Key will meet on Thursday, February 14 with a Valentine program by Sue Ann Comfort from the

Christian Church in Raytown. She works with the bell choir there and does a magnificent job. I’m sure her

program will be entertaining. For lunch we will have spaghetti and meat sauce, peas, tossed salad, garlic bread

and red velvet cake. Come join us for fun, fellowship and good food. Call Marilyn Yorke at 816-977-5385 for

reservations. Cost for the catered meal at 12:00 noon is $7.00. The program is at 1:30.

SOUPER BOWL SOUP TO BE COLLECTED SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Even though our beloved Chiefs are not in the Super Bowl this year we want to continue the

tradition of collecting cans of soup for REAP. Please bring 1 or more cans of soup to place in

the front of the sanctuary on Sunday February 10. We know we’re a week late but want to

allow more time for more donations. With the cold weather soup is a great meal and students

being out of school means more meals at home. Your soup counts! - Karen Johnson

ALSO . . . Don't forget to continue to pick up diapers and wipes for REAP and Mother's Refuge also. All sizes

are appreciated. The EVEning circle, - Karen Johnson

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FAMILIES RECEIVE CHRISTMAS STORY BOOKS

The EVEning Circle of the United Methodist Women meets on the first Monday evening of the

month. Our service project for February is making the Christmas Story Books from recycled Christmas

cards. When the books are finished, sometime in November, we donate them to Ronald McDonald

House for the families staying there. In 2018, we delivered 40 completed books. Ronald McDonald

House has three buildings which can house 80 families so this year we hope to complete more books to

deliver in November after Thanksgiving. We can use more help with this service project and invite you

to join us February 4th at 6:30 p.m. Call Sandy McConnell at 816-224-4603 if you have any questions.

PROCEEDS FROM BLUEGRASS BENEFIT MANY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

The UMW work hard on Bluegrass nights preparing, serving and cleaning up a variety of snack foods

including soup, chili and specialty desserts. All the prices are very reasonable and the many folks that

attend purchase quite a lot of food and drink. The United Methodist Women of The Ridge appreciate

all the support from all those attending and visiting the Snack Bar during the monthly events!! They

want us to know just how they use their proceeds from Bluegrass events to assist others.

In 2018, they financially supported the following:

• Cristiana Camino, Verdad Y Vida, a church ministry

in northeast Kansas City

• Mother's Refuge, a home for unwed mothers and babies

in Independence

• REAP, Raytown Emergency Assistance Program • Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City

• Salvation Army Children's Programs • Steppingstone, transitional living for teens in Raytown

• Troop 269 at Blue Ridge Church, summer camp

scholarships for HR Bartle Boy Scout Reservation

• United Methodist Committee on Relief, United States

Disaster Response to hurricanes & wildfires

• Books for the church library at Blue Ridge Church • Air conditioner replacement and Geo-Thermal System

for heating & cooling at Blue Ridge Church

HOSPITALITY IMPACT

“It’s likely that every day presents an opportunity for you to practice radical hospitality to someone with whom you cross

paths. There is no shortage of people who could use the fit of a caring, welcoming person in their life. How awesome

would it be if, in a time of need, the first thing people would say is, “I need a Christian!” If you expect to be that person,

you’ll be surprised at how often the opportunities come along for you to show love through radical hospitality.”

-Thom Schultz

And Romans 12:13 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need.” (food, a place to stay, a

listening ear, acceptance). Bring JOY to someone during the week and to old friends and new

friends as they enter our doors on Sunday mornings with a smile, a listening ear, a helping hand,

conversation.

GREETERS NEEDED TO HELP FILL IN AS OCCASIONALL SUBSTITUTES

The Ridge has the best greeters and connectors around! Most serve once a month and some just

can’t help themselves and serve multiple times during the month. A few more willing smiles

would be appreciated to help with substituting for those on vacations. Please notify Donna

Teachman @ 358-0752 to join the team. Thank you.

SUNDAY MORNING SNACKS

We have widespread participation in consuming the snacks and could use more helpful hands in providing them. The

signup sheet is at the Welcoming Center. Thank you for your generosity!

SMALL GROUP STUDY CONTINUES THRU FEBRUARY 17 - DROP-INS ALWAYS WELCOME

Peter may have been the first one to come out of the boat, but Jesus’ invitation to walk on water is for you as well. But

walk on water? What does that mean? Walking on water means: 1. Facing your fears and choosing not to let fear have the

last word; 2. Discovering and embracing the unique calling of God in your life; 3. Experiencing

the power of God to accomplish what you would not be capable of on your own.

If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg, helps you

answer Christ’s call to greater faith, power-filled deeds, and a new way of knowing him. Relating

the story in Matthew 14 to life today, teacher and bestselling author John Ortberg invites you to

consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone.

Books and Participant Guides are widely available at bookstores and online. The hour-long study

meets at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings. For more information contact Brad & Donna

Teachman, 816-358-0752

Topics by week: 2/03 Facing Our Challenges, Conquering Our Fears

2/10 Good News for Cave Dwellers

2/17 Learning to Wait on Our Big God

Date Book Title Discussion Leader

February 21

March 21

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Lisa Cox

Jane Wilkes

3rd Thursdays, 7:00 pm in The Ridge Library

The Ridge 5055 Blue Ridge Blvd. KCMO 64133

THE RIDGE

5055 Blue Ridge Blvd.,

Kansas City, MO 64133

Tuesday -Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm

Sunday Worship 9:30am

Website:

www.BlueRidgeChurch.org

Facebook:

Blue Ridge Church

ANCHUL AXELROD, Pastor

anchul@blueridgechurch.org

Direct: 660-864-1592

KEVIN HERSHBERGER

Director of Worship Arts

KevinHershberger@blueridgechurch.org

KAREN SCHAMEL

Finance Secretary

financesec@blueridgechurch.org

Church Office: 816-353-1435

Email: churchadmin@blueridgechurch.org

FIVE HEALTHY REASONS TO VOLUNTEER

1. Decrease your risk of depression

2. Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfillment

3. Stay physically and mentally active

4. Reduce stress and reduce your risk of disease

5. Meet new people and develop new relationships

BELIEVERS IN MOTION VOLUNTEERS

Our volunteers for Gymnastics and Self-

Defense could use a break from time to time

if you’re interested in giving a couple of

hours a month on a Tuesday or Thursday

from 6-8:00 pm. They’ve been at it since June 7, never missing

a night. They’ve hugged, laughed, talked about family matters

with their new friends and have shown the loving, kind face of

The Ridge to all who’ve entered on those nights. Many folks

signed up to help when the program started and there’ve been

some changes to what was expected in the beginning. So now

that the dust has settled and we know where we can best serve -

we’d like you to join our team (or re-join) if you were on the

original list and help us get into a rotation. Two hours a month,

visit with families, watch and encourage the kids and do what

you do best - represent The Ridge. Call Dona Meyer any

Tuesday at the church office for more information.