Joseph is born & other news

Joseph is born & other news

Dear Westport Presbies, family and friends,

Joseph Raach, son of Rita Marie and Joe Raach was born yesterday, Aug. 20 at Overland Park Regional Hospital. We praise God! Joseph was 4 pounds, 15 ounces and 19 inches long. A challenging time as Rita Marie had to go through several days of brave faith after her water only partially broke; and since he was about 2 months early, the medical people wanted to boost his lung function and strengthen him as much as possible for actual delivery. Joseph is doing well in the NICU at the hospital. He is breathing on his own, and they are going to try to give him some nourishment very soon. Prayers of thanks and love for the whole family. Rita Marie and Joe stay until maybe Friday. This means we are re-scheduling the baby shower until Sept. 29, which will also be a 5th Sunday breakfast.

Bruce Anderson is having another surgery to remove a brain granuloma same location and size as last time, and the neurosurgeon is confident of success. He had this very same surgery one year ago. This surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, Aug. 29 in Columbia, Missouri. Prayers!

We have a miracle of sorts taking shape at church in that for the first time in many, many years, we are going to have a YOUTH GROUP at church. The “Phoenix Rising Project” is the brainstorm of myself and Josh Starks, and we have at least 4 wonderful young people at the start, and they will be inviting friends. We are going to meet on 1st and 3rd Fridays, so the first night is Friday, Sept. 6. Hooray!

We are going to combine fun, fellowship, faith and food! The driving focus is Westport’s strength:  arts and spirituality: person to person spirituality(friendship) intrapersonal spirituality(self understanding, acceptance, nurturing one’s own internal “growing edge”) and person to Jesus  spirituality (exploring, learning, committing to “Jesus” ideas). The Phoenix is still rising from the ashes! We thank the parents for their support!

Some of our members are doing a great work by re-creating a church nursery/child care on the 2nd floor. Thank you so much! And for the first time in a long time, we have a reliable child care person, Rachel Price-Torre, who was a youth leader and participant in Peace Quest and is now a college student and friend of our congregation’s. Hooray!

Our Shower Ministry, Lunch Bag Ministry and Back to School Project are all deepening our commitment to our community and to people in need.

Thanks to Karen Elmer to buying all the Back to School supplies. Thanks to generous donors who put is over the $1,200 goal. Thanks to everyone who have been committing time, money and energy to these efforts!

Westport Rising Sunday School for children will start up again on Sunday, Sept. 8. Thanks to Donna Kay Campbell and Marian Thomas for leading this great work!

Choir returns to sing in worship on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Keep the faith. Rev Scott

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