Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - December 5, 2025
December 5, 2025
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December 5, 2025
Dear Resurrection Family,
The Advent/Christmas season is off and running. This Saturday at Leawood, we have our children’s choir musical. On Sunday at all locations, we’ll celebrate the second Sunday of Advent with a focus on peace. On Sunday afternoon at Leawood, our Matthew’s Ministry Sonflower Ringers will share a concert that will include our youth orchestra. Then, this coming week, we’ll enjoy the amazing performances of Christmas at Resurrection! Read on for more information on all three!
THIS WEEKEND – LONG LAY THE WORLD IN SIN AND ERROR PINING
Each Sunday of Advent has a theme. Last weekend was hope, this weekend is PEACE. We’ll light the peace candle in the Advent Wreath. In my sermon this weekend, we’ll turn once more to Isaiah, the gospels and the epistles to reflect upon how Christ brings peace – the very thing the prophets foretold and the angels announced at his birth. We’ll do this with the help of the song, O Holy Night. We’ll start with an interesting compilation of artists who have recorded O Holy Night, and I’ll invite you to guess the artist, then we’ll look at the line, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.” We’ll consider why the angel told Joseph to name the child Jesus, and what it means for Jesus to be our Savior. We’ll end with the story of Christmas Eve, 1914, when both Silent Night and O Holy Night brought World War I to a standstill – at least for a night. It will be a moving weekend of worship.
Here’s the promo video for the series that you can share with your friends.
ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
I am so proud of you, Resurrection, and your generosity reflected in your commitments in our annual stewardship campaign! 437 households made pledges for the first time – thank you! 1,298 pledges received so far were increased, some by $10 per week, and most by even more. Thank you! So far, we have received commitment cards from 3,865 of our households, about the same number as last year at this time – thank you to all who have made your pledges! But we are still hoping to hear from another 1,135 of you in the next two weeks.
If you have yet to make your 2026 pledge, we’d be so grateful if you could do that online today. This makes a huge difference for us as we plan for the coming year, but it is also important for you as you consider your giving to Resurrection for next year. Your generosity makes everything we do possible, and we need you! Click here to make your pledge for the coming year. Thank you so much!
TOMORROW: 125 KIDS IN CAROL OF THE TOYS!
The kids’ choir from Resurrection Leawood will present their fall musical on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10:30 am in Foundry Hall. Join the adorable cast of toys as they embark upon a new Christmas season… opening the boxes and surprisingly find that three of their mainstay OG toys are missing! Mary, Joseph, and the Baby are nowhere to be found! Toy Soldier orders a search party with OG and new toys to find these very important toys, and along the way, they discover what Christmas is all about! This musical involves over 125 children singing in the choir, actors, dancers, and a wonderful crew of volunteers who help our kids shine. Help your season start off with a smile and don’t miss these amazing kids! The musical is free and lasts about 40 minutes.
I want to say a word here about our director, Lin Sanford. Lin has served as our children’s choir director for 22 years and is preparing to leave our staff team. This will be her last concert leading our kids. Lin has done an amazing job in teaching, mentoring, discipling and loving the children of Resurrection. Hundreds of children have come through her program. I personally saw how my granddaughter’s faith grew as a result of Lin’s ministry, and I will be forever grateful for her. We’ll celebrate her as we savor this amazing performance of Carol of the Toys in the Leawood Foundry. I thought you might enjoy seeing the set for the performance created by our own Frank Gentile and his workshop of elves!
VERY SPECIAL HANDBELL CONCERT SUNDAY AT 3:30 IN FOUNDRY
Mark your calendars for a delightful afternoon of holiday music as the Sonflower Ringers present their annual Christmas Recital in the Foundry at Resurrection Leawood. On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3:30 pm, bring the whole family to enjoy this free performance that will fill your hearts with the spirit of the season through the magical sounds of handbells.
Matthew’s Ministry is our awareness, outreach, and support ministry for individuals with special needs and their families. The Sonflower Ringers is a handbell choir composed of youth and adults with special needs. To learn more, visit the Matthew’s Ministry page.
DON’T MISS CHRISTMAS AT RESURRECTION PERFORMANCE THIS WEEK
I am so excited about this year’s Christmas at Resurrection, and it is happening next week. If you have friends who don’t have a church family, invite them to be your guests – tickets are still available. Performances are next week, Dec. 11-14, with evening performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and matinees on Saturday and Sunday. This year’s production is called “Let Heaven and Nature Sing”— and it’s a musical journey through the Kansas City story of Christmas, featuring a 120-voice Resurrection Choir and orchestra, dancers from the Kansas City Dance Collective, and some incredible actors and soloists. This show is on par with anything you might see on Broadway, and you don’t want to miss it! It’s a great way to celebrate the season with family and friends. Tickets are still available here.
RESURRECTION LIBERTY’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY THIS SUNDAY!
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we launched Resurrection Liberty on the campus of William Jewell College. I’m so proud of the way this location has embraced and engaged the William Jewell students and the Liberty community. I can’t wait to see how God continues to use you, Resurrection Liberty!
HOLIDAY JOY IN SERVING
- Partner school toy drive continues – We’re collecting new toys to supply the incentive stores and equip classrooms. You can pick up a toy list at any of our locations to see what’s most needed, shop for the toys and return to the church; or you can shop directly from our Amazon Wish List here and have everything shipped straight to the church; or make a financial donation here that will benefit the schools throughout the year.
- Serve globally – We also have opportunities to serve people around the world. For $30, you can provide a month of food and hygiene essentials for a college student in South Africa or provide hygiene and play kits for migrant families at the US/Mexico border. Learn more about these opportunities here.
WORSHIP AND SERVE AT CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE
As you make your plans for Candlelight Christmas Eve, you can find all the service times and locations on our website at resurrection.church/Christmas. Last year, one in 12 people in the Kansas City metro area joined us for Christmas Eve in person at one of our locations or on television. This year’s services will be absolutely beautiful.
We anticipate many joining us who do not regularly worship with us. I hope you are inviting your friends, neighbors and co-workers who do not have a church home to join you for Christmas Eve worship. I’d also like to challenge each of you to consider not only attending a service, but also serving at another one. We’re building a team of friendly volunteers to help with everything from greeting and ushering to assisting with candles throughout the evening. You can be part of helping create this welcoming experience for others by volunteering here.
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE? BOOK SIGNING
Jesus’ crucifixion is at the center of our faith. But why did Jesus have to die? How, exactly, does his death save us? Did Jesus have to die in order for God to forgive us? Over the years, I’ve often been asked questions like these. This past Lent, I shared a series of sermons with you, answering these questions, knowing that I would be preparing a book on this same topic. The book is entitled, Why Did Jesus Have to Die?: The Meaning of the Crucifixion.
The book isn’t available on Amazon until December 16, but our bookstore received the first copies from Abingdon Press and has them available today. I will be signing copies after the 9 and 11 am services this Sunday if you are interested in having a signed copy to share as a gift. The book is available at our bookstore or online by clicking here.
As I am finishing this eNote I just received photos from Cristen Summers, in missions, of our team delivering Christmas bags with gifts for 300 foster children this morning. I love you, Resurrection, and all you do to love and serve others!
In Christ’s love,
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.
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