Are You an Influencer?

Dear Resurrection Family,

As you read this the annual UMW Rummage Sale is happening at our Leawood location until 6 pm raising money for projects benefitting women and children, teams of Resurrection members are renovating two urban preschools, we’re preparing for Serve Saturday tomorrow morning, and almost 1,500 children are gearing up for Vacation Bible Camp to kick off this Sunday. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what’s happening around the church this weekend! Before sharing other news, I want to tell you about this weekend in worship.

THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP: INFLUENCERS

When we started Resurrection 31 years ago, our hope was that each person who would walk in the door and find their lives changed here would leave worship each week inspired and equipped to influence others, to be salt and light as Jesus said, embodying the good news.

Every day people make a living on social media as “influencers.” Companies are paying people to use their social media platform to reach and connect with a world of potential customers. Influencer marketing is one of the most successful business models in today’s economy and that’s largely because we are easily influenced by the people around us.

Jesus came as an influencer, announcing the Kingdom of God, showing people the love of God, and calling followers who would, in turn, influence others, becoming salt and light. In our daily lives, each of us are called by Christ to be influencers.

This weekend, Pastor Scott Chrostek will begin a new sermon series titled “Influencers: The Future of Faith is in the Followers.” This weekend, we look at something all influencers know: “there’s power in our words.” We will explore what the scriptures say about using our words to influence others. Join us for in-person worship at 9 or 11 am at all of our locations. See how you can worship with us.

MY WEEKEND INTERVIEW: JAMES AND PAT MCGINNIS

Each week while I’m away on sabbatical I’m interviewing interesting people, inviting them to share their faith story. This weekend, you’ll meet (or if you already know him, you’ll get an update on) James McGinnis. James is known as the I Love You guy. When you meet him, the first thing you’ll see is his hand raised in the American Sign Language sign for “I love you.”

In 2014, James was playing football for Olathe East and, following a tackle, collapsed on the field with a subdural hematoma. He’s spent the last seven years relearning how to talk and walk, his life dramatically changed. Today he embodies what Pastor Scott is preaching about – he has become a remarkable influencer. I sat down with him and his dad recently and I know you’ll be inspired by his words this weekend in worship.

VACATION BIBLE CAMP BEGINS SUNDAY

We’ve been looking forward to our Vacation Bible Camp for children all summer, and it’s almost here! Next Sunday morning, we kick off VBC in our KiDSCOR programs at each of our locations, as well as online. We kick off Vacation Bible Camp this Sunday morning with almost 1,500 children registered at our five locations and online. This year’s theme is “The Great Adventure” and our children will walk through the Exodus story with the Israelites and learn what is means to trust God.

It’s not too late to get in on the fun, so register now! Since our family will be on vacation at Lake Michigan, we’re joining each day online.

Register Now →

CATCH LAST TUESDAY’S VESPERS WITH ARTIST TIM CAREY AND FILMMAKER JUSTIN MONROE ON YOUTUBE

This last Tuesday night, I had a great conversation with Tim Carey, the Resurrection stained glass window artist, and Justin Monroe, the filmmaker who created the film Holy Frit, the documentary about the making of the window. It was shared as my vespers on Facebook Live.

If you are not on Facebook, you can also check it out on the church’s YouTube channel. You’ll learn more about the making of the window and the award-winning documentary. We hope to show the documentary again this fall. It won’t be released on a streaming platform for a few months – it is in a dozen more film festivals in the months ahead, having already won four Audience Choice awards as Best Documentary.

Watch the Interview on YouTube →

THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY NIGHT VESPERS: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. CAMERON SMITH

Every Tuesday night I share a 30- to 45-minute Vespers on Facebook Live at 7:30 pm Central Time. If you follow my Facebook page you’ll be automatically notified when I go live. Click here to go to my Facebook page and click “follow.”

This week, since I’ll be on vacation, I pre-recorded an interview with Dr. Cameron Smith. Many of you know Cameron, he’s a leader at Resurrection, a doctor of internal medicine and he sings regularly in worship at Resurrection Leawood. Cameron recently recorded his first album with two of the top recording producers in Christian music. Those who have heard his album have called him Christian music’s Josh Groban. I sit down with him for this week’s Vespers and hear his story, and then listen as he sings two of his favorite songs. Don’t miss this amazing Vespers this next Tuesday night!

I want to mention a couple other opportunities you have to serve others this week:

DONATION DROPOFF: BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL INCENTIVE ITEMS

Tomorrow, July 17, 9-11 am

At each of our physical locations we’ll be collecting school incentive items and new backpacks for our partner schools between 9-11 am. Students will be working harder than ever this fall and many of our partner schools have little stores where students can redeem tickets earned for good behavior or meeting testing goals.

Many of the schools do not have enough incentive items on hand to get through the first months of the school year so we are asking the congregation’s help in restocking the school stores. You can drop off the incentive items along with new backpacks at any location on Saturday.

See the List of Items to Donate →

SERVE SATURDAY: SERVE AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT KANSAS CITY

Tomorrow, July 17, 2021

We have lots of great opportunities with multiple shifts and locations including family-friendly and outdoor options. Opportunities include food pantries, assisting with donation sorting, yard beautification and community garden opportunities, and more.

Register Today →

PARTNER SCHOOL SUPPORT DRIVE BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

July 18 – August 1, 2021

Back to school can be an expensive time for families. You can help students at our partner schools start back with all the required supplies by shopping or making an online donation. If you enjoy shopping for students, bags with lists of supplies by grade level will be available at each campus for you to fill and return. Or you can make a donation online and these funds will be used to provide for items requested by the partner schools. Some typical expenditures include:

• $10 provides funding for a polo style uniform shirt
• $25 provides funding for ear buds for an entire classroom
• $40 provides funding for basic school supplies for a student
• $100 provides funding for school supplies and uniform pants and shirt for a student

Donate Online →

STAFF OPENINGS

Have you ever considered working at Church of the Resurrection? Due to recent staffing shifts through our reorganization and the creation of new positions, we have multiple job openings. You can learn about all openings by visiting cor.org/employment, but I wanted to highlight several of them:

The Silver Link Pastor directs and develops the church’s ministry for older and frail adults, including nursing home residents, the homebound population and those facing end-of-life issues. They serve in a church-wide role and offer skillful care to the community and the congregation, including pastoral support and guidance for families as they care for loved ones. Learn more and apply here.

The Wedding & Funeral Team Director oversees organization of all details related to weddings and funerals, churchwide, working with key staff and volunteers to ensure that all aspects of weddings and funerals are performed according to the church’s standards, purpose and vision. Learn more and apply here.

The Human Resources Specialist – Talent Acquisition and Employee Relations is the church’s primary source for executing the recruiting strategy and solving matters of employee relations. Learn more and apply here.

The Finance Specialist – Accounts Receivable accounts for the contributions made by church members and prospects as well as all other types of receipts made electronically and assists the Accounting Team Director with other accounting procedures and helps establish and maintain a good accounting audit trail. Learn more and apply here.

FALL KICK-OFF AND WORSHIP SERVICES

August 15, 2021

We’re planning an exciting fall kick-off August 15. Over the next few months we’ll be adding additional worship services at various locations as needed. We’re looking at new fellowship and study opportunities in conjunction with weekend worship. We’re having a big fall kick-off for our children and youth ministries at each location as well. And we’ll be sharing in a church-wide study of the most important letter of the New Testament, Paul’s letter to the Romans, what many call “The Gospel According to Paul.”

I’ll share more with you about the fall plans in the coming weeks – I’ve been working outlining the sermons and our staff teams are working on the other plans aimed at encouraging those who are ready to return to in person worship and programs.

That’s all I’ve got for today! I’m excited about the week ahead as we kick off VBC and I’m looking forward to worshipping this weekend as we hear God’s call for each of us to be Influencers!

In Christ’s Love,

Adam