Holmeswood Ministries
Every Member is a Minister
We believe every Christian has gifts of service that God wants to use in helping and serving others. While we do have a ministerial team that gives leadership to programs and ministries, we believe that every member is needed to do ministry in our community. We have programs to help believers discover what talents have been given to them by God and are ready to help members in utilizing those gifts to serve Christ and this community together.
Ministries at Holmeswood Baptist Church
| • Missions | • Youth |
| • Education | • Media Center |
| • Fellowship | • Children's |
| • Senior Adults | • Worship Arts |
Holmeswood Ministries - Missions
Forest Avenue Baptist Church Women and Children's Shelter
Provide a meal for approximately 40 homeless women and children. Currently 2 groups go on the 2nd and 3rd Monday of each month. Occasionally the church participates in a collection for specific needs items.
City Union Mission Sack Lunch Program
This project takes places during January and February of each year. Bible Fellowship groups sign-up for a weekend during those months to make 300 sack lunches for homeless men. The Mission team provides the sandwich materials including sacks; classes provide fruit, chips or cookies to go with the sandwiches. The class is then responsible for delivering the sack lunches to the mission site.
Adopt-a-Block
Every Saturday morning, excluding the first, Holmeswood members head over to the Adopt-a-block neighborhood to pray with and visit our neighbors. This ministry has many possibilities for outreach and relationship building, however the numbers of participants are small.
Sew 'n Sews
On the third Friday of each month a group gathers to make quilts, lap blankets, knit, sew, etc. These hand made items are then shared with area hospitals, children, and shelters. Once a year this group participates in Holiday Market, a fund raising event for the Youth Group. Proceeds from their booth go to the youth fund and help offset the cost of the Sew 'n Sews ministry.
Hands-on Missions
During the summer months those who are able and willing volunteer their time to make home improvements, build additions, and partner with other organizations to make some kind of physical improvements to building structures. Male and female are encouraged to join the group. Often a project will be completed within a week's time frame.
Fall Festival (Formerly known as the Block Party)
Annually Holmeswood throws a Community Fall Festival for the surrounding neighborhood and our congregation. There are several opportunities for serving related to this event. Job opportunities include coordinating, donations, organizing, advertising and volunteering during the actual event. This is a wonderful opportunity for outreach.
Kansas City Rescue Mission
Thanksgiving Dinner at K.C.R.M., Holmeswood will provide the food and service required to feed around 150 homeless men. Throughout the year KCRM needs volunteers to help cook, serve, organize, answer phones, and provide special needs. KCRM is a homeless men's shelter that seeks to renew men through food, shelter, education, addiction recovery, job training, and through the Gospel.
Center Community Partnership
In September 2004, Holmeswood took intentional steps to recognize the need to partner with the surrounding community. Throughout the year opportunities to serve alongside community organizations and the Center school district are always available. Various drives for school needs take place, volunteers to work with Youth Friends are needed, and opportunities to support crisis situations arise.
Anchors
A seniors program is offered once a month to church and community persons. A guest entertainer and lunch are offered along with a devotion time and fun fellowship.
Community Chorus
This singing group meets every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. to learn new songs and practice the old. Throughout the fall and spring months they take their songs on the road to nursing homes, churches, and other ministry organizations. They always need new voices.
Adopt-A-Family
There are several homeless families living in the Center Community. Each year we partner with the social workers in the school district to identify those families in need of holiday assistance. Groups or BFG classes provide food, clothes, and toys. Some classes have built relationships with these families therefore providing ongoing assistance in various ways.
Holmeswood Early Childhood Center
Multiple opportunities to serve with a Missional attitude are available in our childcare program. Reading, offering to come and sing with the children, play with the children, support our childcare staff are always available.
Samaritans Purse
Each year during October and November shoe boxes are filled by individuals or as group projects with items for children. They are mailed to global areas and given to children during the Holiday season.
CBF Missions Opportunities
Traditionally the youth group has participated in a yearly mission's trip. However, there is a huge need for adult volunteers throughout the year to partner with the CBF "glocal" missionaries. "Glocal" includes Global and local mission sites. Individuals, pairs, or a team of people could begin an adult mission trip to partner with one of the many sites in the nation. Holmeswood collects a yearly Global Missions offering over and above our budgeted funds.
Blessing Bags Ministry
This is a ministry of the youth group and a few other adults. Throughout the year blessing bags of food are prepared and delivered to people who are homeless.
Children’s Missions
The Children’s Missions team provides educational and spiritual activities that connect children to local and global missions on Wednesday nights throughout the year.
Church Mouse Errand Team
A new group to HBC. Church mice are folks who are willing to run errands, do shopping, respond to emergency situations related to the community mission ministries.
Faith Community Nursing
This group is looking for ways to respond to the holistic needs of the church and neighborhood community through networking, educational opportunities and a monthly news article
Food Pantry
An ongoing ministry to meet the needs of hungry people in the Center Community. We are in partnership with the school district social workers who have daily access to the food pantry as well as serving those who call on the church for assistance throughout the week. HBC Bible Fellowship groups donate assigned food items as well as other individuals from the local community and New Hope Methodist church.
Harvesters Back Snack Program
A community partnership with Harvesters and Center School District. Teams of people meet weekly to fill the back snack bags which go home every Friday to identified chronically hungry children living in the Center School District. This program reaches across the Kansas City Metropolitan area into Olathe schools and to Clinton, Missouri.
Matthew 25 Project
A New opportunity. This is a partnership with William Jewell College responding to the housing needs in the Palestine area of Kansas City. Work groups are paired with other churches for an added cross cultural experience. Volunteers must be ninth grade and up through adult ages to participate.
New Hope Church Partnership
New Hope is a Methodist congregation located at Wornall and 101st. New Hope helps keep our food pantry full by taking a monthly food collection. In turn Holmeswood donates linens to their Linen Closet.
Pray and Play
is an open door basketball ministry. Guys and gals from the community join in basketball and a devotion/prayer time Tuesday nights throughout the year. Volunteers to pray, lead a devotion time, or simple come up and hangout with our community neighbors are always needed.
School Supply Room Holmeswood hosts a year round school supply closet for students in the Center School District. Supplies are collected in the fall and throughout the year.
Clothing Assistance Room
The clothing assistance room supports the needs of families in the Center School District. We do not accept drop-offs and the closet is used only by the district social workers who are helping identified families.
Vacation Bible School
An annual summer event for children. Vacation Bible school reaches out to the church community and neighborhood to provide a week of fun, fellowship and spiritual growth and renewal.
Prayers and Squares
This ministry team meets the second Monday of the month to make lap sized quilts for individuals who need to be wrapped in prayer. While each quilt is made the creators pray for the individual who will receive the quilt. Anyone who likes to sew, tie or pray is invited to join the team.
Financial Contributions are given to the following organizations:
Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General, CBFMO
ABWE Missionaries – Steve and Sandy Aholt
Missouri Baptist Children’s Home
Baptist Home of Missouri
Holmeswood Benevolence Fund
Mid-America Indian Fellowship
Windermere
Word and Way
Christian Higher Education
Assoc. Blue River/Kansas City
Baptist Center for Ethics
Mission Team Project
Angel Tree Prison Fellowship
The Youth Group
Baptist World Alliance
Forest Avenue
Kansas City Rescue Mission
Holmeswood Ministries - Education
Bible Fellowship Groups (BFG)
Many churches call them Sunday School classes, and we did for a long time. We started using the phrase "Bible Fellowship Group" (or BFG) because we place so much value on relationship. It's not enough to walk into the building on a Sunday, sit for an hour or so, accumulate some knowledge, and then walk out. Our aim is to connect meaningfully with each other even as we connect with God.
We have groups for literally all ages, and they meet each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Some adult groups meet at alternative times during the week. We do not assign BFG's to people based on age, marital status, or any other means of characterization. We invite people to sample several groups and stay in the one that puts them in the best position to be shaped by Christ and to help shape others.
If you are interested in exploring this form of life at Holmeswood, please call the church office or simply show up on a Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
Preschool BFG
Excellent teachers bring the love of God to our little ones each Sunday morning. From infancy through kindergarten, Holmeswood children learn about God and the world.
Children's BFG
Holmeswood children learn about the Bible and Christian values through a rotational method of teaching. Biblical stories are taught through various mediums: art, drama, storytelling, games, music, and cooking. Each story comes alive in our newly renovated rooms that help the children picture what life was like in ancient Israel.
Sixth graders enjoy their own department, which focuses on life issues particular to their age group. Their year culminates with a team-building family retreat, which ushers them into the Youth Group.
Youth
Youth 7th grade through 12th meet in the activities building during the BFG hour. During the hour we share our prayer and praise concerns with one another, follow a Smyth and Helwys Bible Study curriculum and experience Christian Fellowship. Youth are encouraged to ask hard questions and learn how to think theologically for themselves. Teachers approach students as their mentors and guides facilitating Spiritual growth and Biblical knowledge.
Holmeswood Ministries - Fellowship
Mission statement:
"We will support others in their walk with Christ and build strong friendships in faith."
We have a wide array of activities designed to help us interact and enjoy one another's company and develop new friendships in faith. Our monthly activities include game nights, skate nights, potlucks, square dancing, and picnics. For the sports-minded we offer weekly basketball and volleyball in our gym. The gym is also opened to the public every Tuesday for walking.
Small Groups
Two men's groups, one women's group, and one mixed group meet during the week. All of the groups incorporate Bible study into their agendas. A couple of the groups have support group dynamics, such as confidentiality. We are always eager to think about starting new groups, so if you are interested, please let us know.
Holmeswood Ministries - Senior Adults
Senior Adults Ministries
The Anchors luncheon is the third Thursday of each month 11:00am-1:00pm. We offer fun, fellowship, prizes, entertainment and great food. The catered lunch costs $7.50. Please call the church office to make required reservations.
Holmeswood Ministries - Youth
Youth Ministry at Holmeswood
The Youth group is an awesome place to receive unconditional, Christ like love. The youth consist of 7th grade to 12th grade people.
The Youth meet every Sunday morning to discuss the issues of everyday life and God's word in their Bible Fellowship Group
Throughout the year youth may participate in a variety of experiences and discipleship growth. Youth will be challenged to focus their lives on Jesus Christ in all ways including unconditional love for others, sharing, witnessing, learning, caring for the needy, and participating as the church and worship.
Each summer we take a Mission trip to an area in the United States that has special needs for service. These are excellent opportunities to get out into the world and serve. Most youth are very touched during this week and come back changed in some way. We also have a lot of fun. Youth today need time to be themselves in healthy ways.
Wednesday nights are a great time for youth to join in prayer, fellowship and spiritual growth. Youth today need time and space of their own to explore who they are and who they want to be as they seek to develop their spiritual selves. Wednesday nights provide youth a much-needed break from the chaos of the world. Please join us from 6:30 - 7:30 and take time to discover yourself.
The Youth Group would love to have you, just as you are, come check us out!
Holmeswood Ministries - Media Center
Holmeswood Media Ministry
Mission Statement
"The mission of the media library of Holmeswood Baptist Church is to provide resources and services which advance learning about God, stimulate Christian growth, enrich worship experiences and support members and leaders of our church in their Christian walk."
Media Library Hours
Please call the church office for hours open: 942-1729
The director of the Media Center is Pat Tennison
Bible Friends Groups on Sunday Mornings at 9:00
Infants and Toddlers
We believe that even at a very young age children can begin to comprehend the love of God when it is modeled by loving caregivers. Children at this age are held, comforted and told often that God made them and that they are loved by God. Children also are taught to recognize that God made the world and all that is a part of it.
Preschool Aged Children and Kindergarten (3-6 year olds)
At this age Bible stories are introduced in the classroom with multiple hands-on experiences to help the story stick in memory. Teachers continue to emphasize God's love, introduce who Jesus is, and how we are to be kind to one another.
Children (7-10)
Multi-sensory learning continues throughout the childhood classes. Each Sunday all children join together at the beginning of class for a time of singing, worship, and storytelling. This time is then followed by breaking into smaller, age-related groups for activities such as art, games, cooking, and drama. Additional emphasis begins to develop on service projects and social justice issues. Each child is given their own Bible at the beginning of first grade which they are helped to use throughout these years.
Tweens (11-12)
Due to their increasing ability to think more abstractly a different approach is used for this age group. Over the course of a year, this class works through a study of Jesus' life in the Gospel of John. Video and movie clips related to the Gospel are used to engage the minds of this more intellectual class. Bible trivia and Bible drill challenges also keep this group looking deeper into the scriptures. This overview of the Gospel message along with a challenge to dig deeper into the text, we believe prepares them for the years to come in the youth group.
Holmeswood Ministries Worship
Worship Arts
Sanctuary Choir: Open to all ages of singers interested in singing anthems in worship, leading the congregational singing and performing in extra venues, such as great works, musical theater, and singing for and with outside groups.
Rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm in the choir room.
Holmeswood Community Chorus: Open to all adults in the community who enjoy singing for community organizations such as retirement centers, churches, and clubs.
Rehearses Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Children's Choirs: We provide choral experience for ages 3 and above. Our children sing in worship, and also perform a musical each year.
Rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30. Watch "What's Happening" for rehearsal dates.
Sanctuary Hand bells: Our hand bell ringers play over five octaves of hand bells and hand chimes. These are mostly experienced ringers, but if you have an interest and can read music, there may well be a place for you in this talented group. Hand bells play in worship as well as for outside groups.
Rehearses Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30pm in room S109
Instrumentalists: We have place for you as soloists and in conjunction with other musical groups.
Liturgical Dance: This is a beginning liturgical dance group which seeks to enlarge the worship experience through gesture, expression and movement. Any interested are invited to join us.
Watch "What's Happening" for rehearsal dates and times.
Drama:The Drama group performs in worship, and worship experiences, as well as full drama and musical drama productions. We offer free Church Drama classes Tuesdays at 6:30 for folks ages 12 and up, taught by three dedicated and highly experienced teachers.
Praise Team: Our contemporary worship is led by our Praise Team musicians.