Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - April 26, 2024
I’m writing this from Charlotte, North Carolina, where we are nearing the end of the first week of the United Methodist General Conference. Exciting things are happening as delegates from around the world work together to share, collaborate and chart the course for the future of the denomination. The atmosphere has been positive, hopeful and inspiring as we trust God to lead us to be a united church. I’ll share more about some of the specific actions below, but first, here’s what’s coming up at Resurrection and an update on future Resurrection locations.
THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP – THE POWER OF ONE
Have you ever thought, “I’m only one person, what difference can I make?” This weekend, Pastor Scott Chrostek will be sharing a message titled The Power of One. As followers of Jesus, we have opportunities every day to build God’s kingdom on earth, and the good news is we’re not doing it alone. When we step outside our comfort zone and do something that perhaps makes us uncomfortable or even afraid, God is with us and can do more than we ever imagined.
I’ll be worshiping in Charlotte this weekend, but I’m looking forward to also joining Resurrection online for this important message. Invite a friend to join you this weekend for worship!
NO 9 AM WORSHIP APRIL 28 AT RESURRECTION BROOKSIDE
Due to the Brookside Trolly Run on Sunday, we will only have one service at Brookside at 11 am this weekend. Streets will be closed for the race, making it difficult to get to the church. Feel free to come at 7:45 am to cheer on the runners from Resurrection Brookside.
HANDY-PERSON MINISTRY FOR WIDOWS, SINGLE MOMS, ELDERLY
Several weeks ago, my sister-in-law asked me a question: Do you have a ministry to help widows with basic home repairs? She lost her husband several years ago and lives in another city, she just wondered if we helped widows in our community. She noted that, in the Bible, God calls his people to help widows (widows are mentioned 33 times in scripture). There are others, like single moms, or the elderly, who may struggle to complete basic home repairs and cannot afford to hire someone to do them.
Last weekend in my sermon, as I spoke about how United Methodists really focus on a lived faith, I mentioned that I felt God calling us to start a ministry like this and wondered if any of you would be willing to help – to volunteer to be a part of a team to do minor home repairs for our widows, single parents and elderly. If God might be calling you, and you are interested in helping shape and design this ministry we would love to have you join us. Here’s a link to an interest form. Let us know and someone will get back to you.
PHILIP YANCEY AT RESURRECTION NEXT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MAY 4-5
Yancey will be speaking next Saturday, May 4, from 9 am to noon at Leawood and online. There is still some availability to attend the event, and you can register here.
CELEBRATING GRADUATES MAY 5
Next weekend, May 4-5, we will also be celebrating our graduating high school seniors during worship. This will be a special time to recognize this important milestone and honor these young people. We’ll have a special gift for all students graduating high school who are in worship at all our locations.
TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW IN YOUR FAITH IN MAY
- “Who Am I?” Workshop In Person Wednesdays, May 8 – 29, 6:30 pm, at Leawood, and Online on Thursdays, May 9 – June 6, 6:30 pm.
Explore your identity, strengths and connection to God by utilizing scripture, the Enneagram and your spiritual gifts. - “Meet Your Bible” In-Person Class – Sundays, May 5 – June 9, 3 – 4:30 pm, at Leawood, and Online on Wednesdays, May 1 – June 5, 6:30 – 8 pm.
Explore the foundation of the Old Testament and the fulfillment found in the New Testament in this six-week overview study of the Bible.
RESURRECTION HOSTS NEHEMIAH ASSEMBLY MAY 7
We are hosting the Good Faith Network for the 2024 Nehemiah Assembly on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 pm in the Leawood Sanctuary. This event brings together representatives from over 30 congregations to celebrate progress on pressing issues like Mental Health Crisis Care, Ending Homelessness, and Lack of Affordable Housing in Johnson County. We’ll hear about how local officials are addressing these critical challenges and how we can play a role in making positive changes in our community. Here’s more information.
PLANS UNDERWAY FOR NEW RESURRECTION LOCATIONS
Spring Hill/South Johnson County
Fifteen years ago, Resurrection purchased 80 acres of land on 175th Street, west of Ridgeview to one day launch a Resurrection location aimed at being a regional church for the southwest part of Johnson County and northwest Miami County reaching Springhill, Gardner, South Olathe and Bucyrus. There is tremendous growth happening in that area.
Meanwhile, Spring Hill UMC, a beautiful, historic congregation founded in 1858 and located around 205th and 169 highway, began considering their future and wondered if they might become a location of Resurrection. They recently voted to close and become a part of a new location of Resurrection. Pastor Angie McCarty, who serves on our staff has also served as their part time pastor the last three years.
Pastor Angie will be appointed full time to launch the new Resurrection Spring Hill this summer. There will be modest updates to the 1910 building and its 100-seat sanctuary, but in many ways this will feel like a small church version of Resurrection, with limited programs and a small staff team. It will serve as phase one toward the larger vision of a regional location in the high growth area along 175th Street.
Leaders from the Center for Faith and Culture at William Jewell College approached Resurrection last year. They were aware of who you are as a congregation, and they knew our Vision 2030 called us to expand to a campus somewhere in the northland. As we discussed with their leadership the possibility of starting a location at William Jewell, it quickly became clear that our organizations share similar values and that being located on their campus might bring new opportunities for reaching new people in the Liberty community and to have a ministry among the student body of William Jewell as we “close the generational gap” and raise up a new generation of leaders.
We plan to lease office and activity space on Jewell’s campus this fall and will begin holding Sunday morning services in Gano Chapel on the campus in December. While Jewell is not currently affiliated with any religious denomination, the college has rooted itself in the Christian tradition while welcoming students of all faiths or no faith and encouraging spiritual exploration in an affirming setting. The Jewell Center for Faith and Culture provides opportunities to learn about these faith traditions and dialogue with faith practitioners through ecumenical church partners. I’m grateful for the Center and look forward to working with them as we launch Resurrection Liberty.
Pastor Shannon Starek has just been named location pastor for this new location in Liberty. I believe that Shannon’s experience as part of the pastoral staff at Resurrection Downtown for nine years has prepared her well to lead this new location. Shannon is passionate about reaching new generations and building Christian community.
Resurrection Lee’s Summit
We have not forgotten about Lee’s Summit and have plans to launch a Resurrection location along 470 in the coming year after the former Lee’s Summit UMC left the denomination last year, leaving a large area unserved by a United Methodist congregation, and leaving hundreds of people without a congregation. We’re interviewing potential location pastors and developing plans. I will hold an information meeting in the next month or two for those who are interested.
If you live in one of these areas and have an interest in being part of launching these new locations, please click this link to let us know, or share the link with family or friends who may have an interest.
REPORT FROM GENERAL CONFERENCE
THOUGHTS ON ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
A week ago, several of us from Resurrection were a part of a Unity Seder organized by the Jewish Community. There Jewish community members noted their pain from the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel as they prepared for Passover. One table sat empty with the photos of those still being held hostage in Gaza. I feel the weight of the pain and grief my Jewish friends and those in Israel feel at the murder of innocents and the continuing holding of hostages. I also oppose antisemitism which is a perpetual evil in our world.
Yesterday I spoke to a Palestinian friend and United Methodist missionary I’ve known for years. He described his pain at the devastation in Gaza and the violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, a significant number of whom are women and children, the lack of food and medicine, and the utter devastation of much of Gaza should break everyone’s hearts. I grieve for the Palestinian people, injustices and indignities that are a part of daily life for many Palestinians, and the death and destruction that has affected those who had nothing to do with the violence of October 7.
The Hebrew prophets long for a day when people will “study war no more.” (Isaiah 2:4). Jesus called us to love our enemies. My prayer is for the war to end, for hostages to be released, and for a better, peaceful and more just future in Israel and Palestine.
JOIN ME FOR VESPERS THIS TUESDAY AND DAILY UPDATES LIVE FROM GENERAL CONFERENCE!
This Tuesday night, I’ll be coming to you live from General Conference for Tuesday Vespers on Facebook Live. Join me Tuesday night at 7:30 pm Central Time on Facebook Live here. I’ve been trying to share daily updates from General Conference, so follow me on Facebook to be notified when I go live.
Don’t miss worship this weekend!
Adam
P.S. Check out your location newsletter on Tuesday for more opportunities to get connected with Resurrection. Here’s the link to subscribe.
Adam Hamilton
Resurrection Senior Pastor
Reverend Adam Hamilton is the senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection and the author of 22 books. He has been married to LaVon since 1982, and she has been a critical partner in every dimension of Adam’s work. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Adam’s writings are known for helping readers make sense of challenging theological questions, exploring the significance of the biblical stories, and equipping Christian leaders to be more effective in their work. He earned his MDiv from Perkins School of Theology and graduated with honors from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry.
