Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - August 23, 2024
This eNote is filled with things to celebrate and opportunities to be part of the amazing work God is doing through our church. It was fun to meet new people at the car show and in worship this weekend who were here because you, their friends and neighbors, had invited them! I am so grateful to be your senior pastor, and as I shared with our staff team this week, I don’t know when I’ve been as excited about the future!
THIS WEEKEND: DRIVER’S ED AND THE OWNER’S MANUAL
How did you learn to drive? Today, high school students need 50 hours of driving with an adult to be able to apply for a full driver’s license. When you got your first car, did you have any problems driving it? This weekend, I’ll share some fun stories about learning to drive, the importance of studying the Owner’s Manual and why having seasoned mentors can help keep you from disaster as we come to the second in our series of sermons looking at the connection between restoring, maintaining and driving classic old cars and the Christian life.
Once again, I’ll be preaching with a ’67 and ’68 Mustang behind me on the chancel, and we’ll have classic cars outside at every location for you to enjoy. Last weekend at Resurrection Leawood we invited people to vote on their favorite car by putting pocket change or cash in the box corresponding to their favorite car – we raised over $8,000 towards the purchase of a new used van for Pastor Adrian in Tarnow, Poland. We’ll vote again this weekend on the cars out front. The winner of the vote this last weekend was the 1923 Ford Model T. We’ll keep the vote open for the next couple of weeks and may have new cars to add as well. If you’ve got a classic car you’d like to display, click here to let us know – we’d love to have it out front this weekend.
This weekend will be a great time to invite friends, family and co-workers who have children and teens to join you for worship. If you are in town, plan to worship in person, and if you are traveling or out of town, join us in worshiping online.
MATTHEW’S MINISTRY AWARENESS WEEKEND
From our beginning, Resurrection has been a place that welcomes people of all abilities, and this weekend we’ll celebrate our annual Matthew’s Ministry Awareness Sunday. In worship, Matthew’s Ministry families, participants and volunteers will share scripture, stories, and music. And as you leave worship, you’ll receive a Matthew’s Ministry Sonflower Bakery cookie. This weekend is all about celebrating this ministry and the amazing work this ministry does for individuals with special needs and their families. Stop by the information tables when you leave worship this weekend or go to our website here to learn more about all the great things happening in our Matthew’s Ministry program and opportunities to volunteer and support this ministry.
INTERESTED IN JOINING RESURRECTION? COFFEE WITH THE PASTORS
- Sunday, Aug. 25, 12:30 pm at Downtown
- Sunday, Aug. 25, 2 pm at Leawood, West, Overland Park, Spring Hill and Online
DO UNTO OTHERS YARD SIGNS AND T-SHIRTS
It was exciting to see more than 3,000 yard signs with our Do Unto Others message go out last weekend and start appearing around the city. We’ll have yard signs available at all our locations again this weekend, and outside the bookstore at the Leawood location (Building B Commons) during the week. Mark your calendars for our next Serve Saturday on Sept. 21 when you can volunteer to help blanket the city with our signs.
If you haven’t ordered your Do Unto Others t-shirt yet, you can do so online hereto have it shipped to your home, or we have some available in the Leawood bookstore.
THOUSANDS OF ALL AGES CONNECTING AND GROWING IN FAITH THIS FALL
Last weekend, we had more than 750 students (grades 6-12) and 1,040 children at Resurrection locations for our fall kick-off. How exciting is that! Thank you to the many volunteers who have stepped up to love and guide our children and teens as they learn and grow in faith. And, more adults than ever are also taking intentional steps to grow in faith, with 3,000 people involved in a small group, including 300 brand new groups and another 384 committed to a study or class, plus 1,000 women in Building Better Moms and 300 in our new Bloom group for women in midlife.
I share this to celebrate, but also to remind you that small groups are such a huge opportunity to develop new friends while growing deeper in your faith. We’ve got Adult Sunday School classes at 9 and 11 at most locations, home-based small groups, the amazing Disciple Bible Study, and more. Click here to find out more about study and small group opportunities. We’ve got a place for everyone. If you are not already involved in a group or study this fall, I encourage you to find your place. Wednesday, Aug. 28, is when groups and midweek programs kick-off, so sign up today and join us!
AUGUST BLOOD DRIVES FILL CRITICAL NEED
- Mon. Aug. 26 – West, noon – 6 pm
- Tue. Aug. 27 – West, 8 am – 2 pm
- Wed. Aug. 28 – Brookside, 9 am – 1 pm
LIVE NEAR LIBERTY? JOIN ME MONDAY NIGHT IN LIBERTY!
This Monday night we’ll be having an informational meeting about launching our new Resurrection Liberty location at William Jewell College.
If you live in Liberty or the Northland, join me and the new Liberty Location Pastor Shannon Starek, this Monday, Aug. 26, for an informational gathering about the launch of our new Resurrection Liberty location. We’ll gather at 7 pm in the Gano Chapel on the William Jewell Campus, 510 E. Mississippi St., Liberty, MO. Invite your friends who might be interested in being part of this new congregation. We’ll be sharing some of our plans and opportunities as we look to our December launch of this location. Here’s a link for parking directions and registration.
130 ATTEND RESURRECTION SPRING HILL RIBBON CUTTING AND INFO GATHERING
This last Monday, we had an information meeting for those interested in being a part of the new Resurrection Spring Hill location. We had 130 people attend as we cut the ribbon reopening the former Spring Hill UMC as Resurrection Spring Hill. It was very exciting. Our first official Worship Services at Spring Hill will be on Sun., Sept. 8, at 9 and 11 am.
AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE: HOW TO RAISE A CITIZEN EVENT
Resurrection is collaborating with American Public Square to host an important event coming up on Mon., Sept. 16, from 5 to 8 pm in the Leawood Foundry (Building B). Author Lindsey Cormack, will share insights from her book How to Raise a Citizen (And why it’s up to you to do it). I’ll be serving as the moderator as Lindsey shares practical tips for parents and educators on teaching children about government processes, the Constitution, and the importance of civic engagement in today’s politically charged climate. She’ll also be taking questions from the audience. Her book, through age-appropriate discussions on voting, democracy, and becoming informed, active citizens, helps parents navigate these vital conversations through thoughtful and civil discourse. Lindsey is a professor in New York but grew up in Overland Park. I’m really looking forward to this program and hope you will plan to join me. It will also be live-streamed. You can register to join us in person or online through the American Public Square site here. Childcare will be provided, but you need to go to the Resurrection website here to reserve a spot.
LAUNCH OF “THE DWELLING” FOR YOUNG ADULTS – JOIN ME
VESPERS TUESDAY – LIVE STREAMED FROM THE DWELLING
This Tuesday and next I’ll be speaking to our young adults at The Dwelling during Tuesday Vespers so if you are a regular vespers attendee, you’ll have a chance to hear my talk live-streamed on Vespers on Facebook Live at 7:30 pm. I think you’ll enjoy this! Click here to go to my Pastor Adam Hamilton Facebook page where I’ll be sharing with you live. You can also access Vespers later on YouTube here.
MIRACLE OF INNOCENCE GALA SEPTEMBER 6
Miracle of Innocence, co-founded by Resurrection Pastor Darryl Burton, will hold their 7th Annual Fundraising Gala, “Turning Injustice Inside Out” on Friday, September 6, beginning at 5pm in the Resurrection Leawood Foundry (Building B). Miracle of Innocence is a non-profit organization that works to help free innocent men and women from prison and provide care for them when they come home. The event features dinner, music, dancing, and a live and silent auction. Kansas State Senator Cindy Holscher is the honorary chair of the event, and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II is the keynote speaker. If you are interested in learning more, or joining Lavon and I at this year’s gala, you can do so on their website.
AN UPDATE ON AID TO UKRAINE
Carol Cartmill and Sheree Reece on our mission staff just got back from Ukraine where they met with leaders and evaluated our work there to date, and what more we can be doing. By way of reminder, in the wake of the devastating invasion of Ukraine, your generosity has been a lifeline for countless individuals. In the past 2 ½ years, we have deployed $570,000 of the $900,000 you gave to support those affected by the war. You funded a mobile clinic fabricated in a shipping container, medications, and critical relief items. As the invasion has continued, you helped fund generators, wound vac units, medical supplies, trauma training for psychologists, play therapy kits, a vehicle to transport people and supplies across the border, and more. Carol and Sheree visited our partners in Uzhhorod and Kyiv last week and witnessed the incredible outreach with the funds sent by Resurrection.
At Open Door Counseling Center in Kyiv, innovative and personalized techniques are used to care for soldiers and families that have lived in occupied areas with over 1,000 hours of therapy a month. Plans are to build a retreat center outside of Kyiv to help those affected by PTSD, concussions, addictions, and trauma that will include adaptive sports, green space, art, and support groups. Ukraine lacks such care and facilities, and this center will engage patients mentally and physically 8-10 hours a day.
Scores of physicians have left the country, so medical care is hard to come by, especially in de-occupied communities. You are funding the medicine and medical supplies used in monthly medical clinics that travel to these villages until the medical infrastructure has returned.
In Uzhhorod, located in the SW corner of Ukraine, the United Methodist Church created two shelters for people who lost their homes and communities in Eastern Ukraine. Guests participate in the upkeep of the facility as well as work in the community if they are able. They’ve become family to each other as they await the end of the war. Once the war is over, the largest shelter will become a rehabilitation and trauma center. The church is growing, and a fourth congregation will soon begin meeting with hopes they can complete a partially constructed church building.
I’m so proud of all that you have done to bless, care for and bring healing to Ukrainian people, including our brothers and sisters in the United Methodist Church there. The people there are so grateful for your continued support and the tangible ways you are an expression of God’s love.
Looking forward to an amazing weekend in worship, and Matthew’s Ministry cookies for everyone!
Adam
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.
