During our “Neighboring” series last July, we talked about God’s charge to Israel in the book of Jeremiah: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you,” God says to the people exiled in Babylon, “and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” As a church we have been praying for more opportunities to do just that. And one chance for us to seek the welfare of Kansas City has arisen through a partnership with Rosedale Ridge, an apartment complex a few minutes’ drive from Jacob’s Well.
Beginning this summer and continuing into the school year of 2014-15, JW will be piloting an after school program for approximately 30 Rosedale children (Kindergarten through 8th grade). Lindsey Jacobus will be directing this initiative and so we wanted to take a moment to introduce her here. Also, we are hoping that a number of us within the JW community will consider volunteering a couple hours a week to help mentor and encourage Rosedale kids, many of whom face significant challenges and also (of course) have huge potential.
We will hold infant and young children’s baptisms and dedications on Sunday, May 4th. If you would like to have your child/children baptized or dedicated, please sign up here.
There will be a mandatory parents’ meeting on Monday, April 28th at 6:30pm. Childcare is available for that meeting for those who request it on the signup form. Questions?, contact Jessi Marcus.
Easter Gatherings featuring the Choir – Sunday, April 20, 7am, 9am, and 11am (Childcare for ages 0-2)
Easter Pancake Breakfast – Sunday, April 20, Banner Hall, 8:00 am – 11:30 am
Seder, Thursday, April 17, 6-8pm
The Seder meal commemorates the beginning of Passover week for Jews. The meal uses symbolic foods and a liturgy that is read in order to recount God’s saving act in the Exodus event. In the Seder, there is a longing for the Messiah who will redeem Israel. As Christians, we believe that Messiah is Jesus. The meal takes on the added symbolism of Christ for us, as we see our identity as grafted in with Israel. We remember Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and long for his coming again to make all things right.
We will gather in Banner Hall to participate in a Seder meal and soup potluck.
What to Bring: Please bring a place setting (bowl, spoon, cup) for each member of your family and something to share for the dinner portion of the evening. Last names A-S: soup, T-Z: bread.
Click HERE to sign up for the Seder; please register by Sunday, 4/13. Childcare for birth – 5 years is available for those who register. 1st Grade and above are invited to participate.
Tenebrae (Good Friday), Friday April 18, 8pm
Lament and pray in the darkness of Christ’s crucifixion through this reflective worship gathering held in the sanctuary. The gathering will last approximately one hour and childcare for 0-5 will be available.
Saturday Night Vigil, Saturday, April 19 7pm – Midnight
Join us as we keep vigil on Saturday night and await the dawn of Easter. We will start out at the fire pit outside at 7pm and proceed with corporate activities at the top of the hour from 7pm to Midnight. There will also be a journey through the stations of the cross and areas of prayer and contemplation for individuals and groups to take part in on their own timeframe. Come and go as you wish.
Geography of the Spirit – Follow Up
In connection with last Sunday’s sermon–“Geography of the Spirit: Cave”–we offer an intriguing reflection by Barbara Brown Taylor on discovering a new way of seeing.
“I do not know what darkness means to someone who is blind, but I am beginning to understand that light has as many meanings as dark. There is an old prayer in the Book of Common Prayer that goes like this:
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and illumine this night with your celestial brightness; that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Among other things, this prayer recognizes a kind of light that transcends both wave and particle. It can illumine the night without turning on the lights, becoming apparent to those who have learned to rely on senses other than sight to show them what is real. This is the light the mystics see when they meditate in the night hours, picking up their pens in the morning to write down their revelations. It is the light Moses saw in the darkness on Mount Sinai, where the glory of God came wrapped in dazzling darkness. Dionysius the Areopagite called it “the unapproachable light in which God dwells.”
Parents – as we continue to adjust to the new rhythms of our children joining us for communion on Sundays, we’d like to ask you to remain seated in the sanctuary until the pastor is completely finished speaking, including the reading of the Lord’s Supper passage. If possible, please do not dismiss to gather your children until he/she sets aside the podium and the servers come forward. This will help us all to maintain a reflective space as we enter in to communion. Thank you! Also, remember that parents can discern whether or not they wish their child to participate in communion.
Meet Lindsey Jacobus!
JW: First thing’s first: How do you pronounce your last name?
Lindsey: juh-COH-bus. It’s a rough one for spelling and pronouncing.
JW: How long have you been attending Jacob’s Well? What brought you here initially?
Lindsey: I’ve been attending since my Junior year of college – so about 5 years. Several of us from MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) drove together each week.
JW: Describe your first experiences with Rosedale Ridge. What about the RR community made you want to get involved there?
Lindsey: I started volunteering when MNU offered chapel points for it. Initially, my motivation was to get chapel points for something other than sitting in chapel (don’t tell MNU!). I ended up staying involved for over two years because I loved the children and the community so much.
JW: You’ve described being the Director of the Rosedale Ridge After-School Program as your Dream Job. What about this specific opportunity excites you?
Lindsey: The community of Rosedale Ridge and my experiences there are what inspired me to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work. Going back feels like my journey up until now is coming full circle. I’m even more excited about the chance to start the program essentially from scratch, utilizing research and the wisdom of everyone who has been involved before. We get to create a program that combines all of the best practices and insights.
JW: Talk a little about your education background, and your current Master’s project.
Lindsey: I graduated with an Accounting degree after changing my major at least 4 times and went to Law School immediately after undergraduate. I always wanted to serve people, but also wanted to be successful (in society’s view). Once I gave up on my ideas of success, and finally put my trust completely in God’s hands, I found Social Work – which is the best fit I could have imagined. I will graduate in May with my Masters degree. My final project is to develop an evidence-based after school program to implement at Rosedale Ridge. My project partner is Elizabeth McClure, who is a fellow student and JW member with great love & passion for the Rosedale kids.
JW: What do you hope to see happen at Rosedale Ridge over the next year or two?
Lindsey: I want to implement a really great, consistent program that improves the character and confidence of the students. I hope to see the community become a more positive place for families to grow. Most of all, I want to see the partnership between Rosedale Ridge and Jacob’s Well become a steady, sustainable, mutual relationship.
JW: How do you envision Jacob’s Well’s role in this endeavor? What do we have to offer to the RR community, and what do they have to offer us?
Lindsey: I would love to have JW serve as a deep pool of volunteers and advocates for the community of Rosedale Ridge. JW is a rare community of talented and passionate people who are also believers. I think we, as a church, can offer so much hope to a community that doesn’t often see a reason to hope. Often, people want to do some kind of service or volunteer work, but have no idea how to start. This program specifically offers a place for members of our community to give time and talent to kids and families who will really enjoy and appreciate it.
JW: Tell us about your family. How long have you been married, and what is your husband, Dylan, up to currently? What do you do for fun?
Lindsey: Dylan & I have been married for a year and a half. We have two cats & two dogs whom we love absurdly and treat as fellow humans. We love road trips, camping, trying new recipes, marathoning TV shows on Netflix, KU Basketball, & hanging out with my cousins.
Dylan is in medical school at KU Med and I couldn’t be prouder of how hard he works to accomplish his goals!
JW: Finally, what kind of volunteer help are you looking for, and where can we get more info about being involved? What’s the next step?
Lindsey: I am looking for as many volunteers as we can get! There will be several different commitment levels of volunteering, so hopefully everyone can find an opportunity to fit varying schedules and interests. Our next step is to gather a large enough group of volunteers so we can hit the ground running as soon as we finish developing the program, so please sign up through the link below and I”ll be in touch with you soon!
During our “Neighboring” series last July, we talked about God’s charge to Israel in the book of Jeremiah: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you,” God says to the people exiled in Babylon, “and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” As a church we have been praying for more opportunities to do just that. And one chance for us to seek the welfare of Kansas City has arisen through a partnership with 
Beginning this summer and continuing into the school year of 2014-15, JW will be piloting an after school program for approximately 30 Rosedale children (Kindergarten through 8th grade). Lindsey Jacobus will be directing this initiative and so we wanted to take a moment to introduce her here. Also, we are hoping that a number of us within the JW community will consider volunteering a couple hours a week to help mentor and encourage Rosedale kids, many of whom face significant challenges and also (of course) have huge potential.
In connection with last Sunday’s sermon–“Geography of the Spirit: Cave”–we offer an intriguing reflection by Barbara Brown Taylor on discovering a new way of seeing.