Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - August 2, 2024
Dear Resurrection Family,
I’m typing this as we’re traveling by van across the Irish countryside on our way back to Dublin. LaVon and I spent the week touring Ireland. Those who follow me on Facebook know that my great-great grandparents on my father’s side, the O’Neil’s, were from Ireland, and it has been on my list of places I hoped to visit. It’s been such a blessing to me here this week. I’ll tell you more about where we visited and include a few pics at the end of today’s eNote.
Tomorrow, LaVon and I are flying to Krakow, Poland to meet up with a team of Resurrection youth and young adults flying over today from the U.S. I’ll tell you more below. But first, here’s what’s coming up at Resurrection this weekend…
THIS WEEKEND: JESUS AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans talks about how the church is many individuals, each with unique gifts, who make up the body of Christ. This weekend, our message will examine what it means to be a community that strives to be the body of Christ, and how we can use our unique gifts as part of this community. Pastor Scott Chrostek will be sharing the message this weekend in Leawood, as well as via video at Blue Springs and Downtown, in online worship, and on television. Pastor Bill Gepford is preaching at West, Pastor Suzy Ayres at Overland Park, and Pastor Wendy Lyons Chrostek at Brookside. If you are in town, plan to worship in person, and if you are traveling or out of town, join us in worshiping online.
STUDENT AND YOUNG ADULT MISSION IN POLAND THIS WEEK
Tomorrow evening LaVon and I will meet up with a team of 16 youth and young adults in mission to Poland. We’ve been invited by the United Methodists of Poland and Ukraine to spend time with their clergy and laity including their youth and adults, leading their annual spiritual life retreat. On Sunday, we’ll worship in a United Methodist Church in Krakow, and online with Resurrection and visit Krakow. On Monday, we’ll spend the day at Auschwitz and spend the evening unpacking the experience and asking how “Christian” Europe could have allowed such atrocities. We’ll then travel to Warsaw on Wednesday and prepare for the retreat that begins Thursday.
Our students will lead Vacation Bible Camp for the children and spend time in conversation and fellowship with the Polish and Ukrainian youth. Our adults and I will spend time teaching. I’ve been asked to speak to the adults about God and suffering in the light of the Russian war against Ukraine and the backdrop of the Holocaust, and to speak about topics in my latest book on doubt. I’ll speak with the pastors about key leadership learnings from Resurrection to encourage them and strengthen their churches. We’ll be sharing some of the highlights via video in worship next weekend. Please pray for our Poland-Ukraine mission team as they travel today and through the coming week.
SMALL GROUPS ARE GEARING UP FOR AN EXCITING FALL SEASON!
This fall, we’re offering a diverse range of small groups and classes to enrich your faith journey. There’s something for everyone, from in-depth Bible studies to practical life application courses. Our groups meet regularly to explore scripture, share experiences, and support one another, while our classes provide focused learning opportunities. Whether you’re interested in theological discussions, creative workshops, or community outreach projects, we have groups and classes tailored to various interests and life stages. It’s a perfect opportunity to build lasting friendships, deepen your faith, and positively impact our community and beyond. To explore all the different groups that are offered and to register, click here.
THIS TUESDAY IS THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI
You can access the 2024 KC Voter Guide online, with the digital version being updated after the primary elections. Printed copies will also be made available closer to the November 5 general election.
INTERESTED IN MEMBERSHIP WITH RESURRECTION?
- Sunday, Aug. 11, 12:30 pm at Brookside and Blue Springs
- Sunday, Aug. 25, 12:30 pm at Downtown
- Sunday, Aug. 25, 2 pm at Leawood, West, Overland Park, Spring Hill and online
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT NEXT WEEK
Next Thursday and Friday (Aug. 8 and 9) Resurrection will host the Global Leadership Summit in the Leawood Sanctuary. Each year, we invest in equipping and preparing leaders in our community through the Summit. This event offers insight and training from some of the nation’s leading experts and business leaders. Duke Basketball Coach Micheal Krzyzewski, as well as Marcus Buckingham, Jo Saxton and Arthur Brooks are a part of this year’s lineup. If you are looking for ways to grow in your leadership and to be inspired, there’s still time for you to register here.
AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE EVENT AT RESURRECTION DOWNTOWN
On Monday, Aug. 5, Resurrection will be hosting an American Public Square event at our Downtown location at 5:30 pm. Presented by American Public Square at Jewell and Kansas City PBS, this event will examine the progress made and challenges that persist ten years after the Ferguson uprising ignited a national conversation about policing and racial justice. Featuring a panel of law enforcement leaders and civil rights experts, including Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte, Urban League President Gwendolyn Grant, and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker, the discussion moderated by Nick Haines from KC PBS will explore the complex issues surrounding police accountability, community trust, and systemic reforms. This is opportunity to be part of a vital dialogue that will be broadcast as a special Week in Review program. You can click here to register to attend in-person or virtually.
Resurrection is collaborating with American Public Square, an organization committed to using civil discourse to bridge the partisan divide through fact-based conversations about local, regional and national issues, on several programs as part of the Do Unto Others Campaign this fall. You can learn more about American Public Square here.
A BIT MORE FROM AND ABOUT OUR VISIT TO IRELAND
After four days in England, and a week on a cruise through the Norwegian fjords, LaVon and I set to conclude our vacation in Ireland. We arrived in Dublin last Saturday and spent Saturday and Sunday in the heart of Dublin. While there I worshiped at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and visited the Chester Beatty Museum to see some of the earliest manuscripts of the New Testament. On Monday, we took off for Kilkenny, visiting its castle and cathedral and walked around this Irish town. On Tuesday, it was off to see the Rock of Cashel – a medieval cathedral and chapel – on the way to Killarney on the southwest coast of Ireland. We stayed there two nights.
At Killarney we rode the horse drawn carriages through the national park, then spent the next day driving the scenic “Ring of Kerry” including the Kerry Cliffs. Evenings included dinner in pubs with Irish music. Yesterday we made our way north to Doolin, and there visited the Cliffs of Moher. We hiked along these and were in awe of these majestic cliffs rising nearly 1,000 feet out of the sea. You’ve likely seen them in films like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince or The Princess Bride. If you want to see photos, check out my postings from on Facebook for the last week here.
I’m looking forward to worshiping online this weekend and with our youth team and our United Methodist brothers and sisters in Krakow!
Grateful for you, Resurrection!
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.
