Weekly Updates from Pastor Adam - Feb. 17, 2023
February 17, 2023
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February 17, 2023
Dear Resurrection Family,
Greetings from the Holy Land! As I write these words, our group of 189 travelers is on the way to the Sea of Galilee. I’ll tell you what we’ve been up to and share photos from the trip at the end of this eNote. I’ll also share with you a bit of what Resurrection did at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl Victory Parade, but first a word about this weekend in worship…
THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP – TRANSFIGURATION: THE MOMENT THINGS GET REAL
This weekend is the midpoint between Christmas and Easter, and Pastor Scott Chrostek is going to preach a sermon focused on the Transfiguration story – the midpoint in the Gospel of Mark. Transfiguration is the moment when things became real for the disciples, and everything changed. Similarly, our faith in Jesus changes us. Pastor Scott is going to help us pause and symbolically go to the mountaintop with the disciples to gain perspective and to reflect on where we’ve come from (Christmas and the people we are) and where we’re going (Easter and the people we’re becoming by the grace of God). This will be a very powerful weekend in worship as we prepare for our journey through the season of Lent that culminates in the celebration of Easter. I’m looking forward to worshipping with you online from Israel.
For those of you worshipping at Resurrection Brookside this weekend, Location Pastor Wendy Lyons Chrostek will be preaching in person. This will also be an important message as Pastor Wendy shares some of her hopes and dreams for Resurrection’s newest congregation.
RESURRECTION AND THE SUPER BOWL PARADE
This was quite a week in Kansas City, as you celebrated the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory. I was sorry to miss it, but I enjoyed seeing the coverage. Our Downtown location was right on the parade route and was able to offer Resurrection hospitality by giving out coffee to parade-goers on a chilly morning, providing a safe and secure child/parent unification site for the Kansas City Missouri Police, and providing a vantage point for local media outlets. Here are a couple of photos that our team shared with me that you might like to see.
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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE FEB. 22
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that lead us to Easter. During Lent, as the days lengthen and the light increases, we spend time in reflection and preparation. At all six of our Resurrection locations and online, we will have a 7 pm Ash Wednesday service of beautiful music, prayer, a message, and the imposition of ashes. At our Leawood location, we’ll also have a service at noon, and an interactive service for children, students, and families at 6:15 pm in the Leawood Foundry.
SPECIAL CONCERT TOMORROW NIGHT, FEB. 18
This Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7 pm, the Resurrection choir and orchestra will join Cameron Smith for a concert featuring music from his new album, Faith Will Bring You Through, in the Resurrection Leawood Sanctuary. Cameron is an incredible vocalist who regularly leads worship at Leawood. Invite a friend to join you, you will be blessed by this free concert.
VESPERS TUESDAY, FEB. 21 – AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR NEW BISHOP
While I’m still in the Holy Land, I have a special interview, that I recorded before I left, to share with you during Vespers on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 pm CST. Join us on myPastor Adam Hamilton Facebook page or watch the replay on my FB page or on our YouTube channel after Tuesday. I sat down with our new bishop, Bishop David Wilson. He is the first Native American to be elected bishop in the United Methodist Church. He is from the Choctaw Nation and grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Bishop Wilson will be preaching at Resurrection on Feb. 25/26, and I know you’ll enjoy getting to hear his story before then.
HISTORY OF GOSPEL MUSIC DOCUMENTARY SCREENING MONDAY, FEB. 27
As part of Black History Month, Resurrection will host the world premiere of the film I’m So Glad on Monday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 pm in the Leawood Sanctuary. (Please note, the film has been moved from the Foundry to the Sanctuary because of the number of people interested.) The film, produced by Nancy Meis and Paul Wenski and narrated by Resurrection worship leader Isaac Cates, traces the history of Gospel music in Kansas City. A panel discussion with the directors will follow the showing. There is no cost for this event, but registration is encouraged! Learn more about the film and let us know you’re coming here.
JOIN THE FUN AND VOLUNTEER AT VACATION BIBLE CAMP
Vacation Bible Camp is always a highlight of summer at Resurrection for kids, and the students and adults who serve alongside them. Volunteer registration for “Beach Bash,” VBC July 17 – 21 at all locations opened this week, and registration for children begins March 1. If you volunteer before May 1, you’ll receive $10 off registration for your kids! Here’s the link.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WITH AN “A” IN WORSHIP ATTENDANCE IN 2022!
This week we are recognizing our members who have had perfect and near-perfect worship attendance in 2022. Thank you for your commitment and faithfulness. We know we have more people worshiping each weekend than the actual number of those who take the time to register attendance, but I do want to recognize those of you who took the time to register your attendance each week. We have a 2022 worship sticker for you to place on your name tags that you can pick up at worship this weekend at the info desk at all our locations. Here is the list of names. If you attended 90% of the time but your name is not listed, please email Ashly Cooley at ashly.cooley@cor.org.
SUMMER INTERN POSITIONS
Each summer, Resurrection offers paid internships to college students interested in exploring ministry careers. In addition to serving in a ministry department, Resurrection interns participate in group learning events. Learn more and apply here.
FROM THE HOLY LAND
I arrived in the Holy Land on Tuesday. Most of our group arrived Wednesday, but we had 50 people who were stranded for a day in Frankfurt, along with thousands of others, due to a major communications cable being cut that kept flights grounded. Everyone arrived by Thursday night. Yesterday we visited Bethlehem and the sights associated with Jesus’ birth. Today, we began the day at the Dead Sea archaeological ruins of a community where John the Baptist likely lived, and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We then traveled to the Jordan River, remembering our baptisms in the Jordan River. It was very powerful. While we were baptizing two Indian men waded in the water with their clothes on asking if I would baptize them. It reminded me of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Book of Acts – very cool. We then traveled to the Wilderness, had an Ash Wednesday service, then sent the entire group to spend 30 minutes walking in the wilderness as they read the story of the temptations of Christ, and then spent time in prayer. Very moving. After lunch in Jericho, (by some accounts, the oldest city in the world), we made our way to the Sea of Galilee. We just checked into our hotel, and I’m running to dinner as soon as I finish this paragraph (we’re 8 hours ahead of KC time). Tonight, I’ll be interviewing Rabbi Art Nemitoff, who is with us, about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (last night we had a lecture from a Palestinian Christian professor). Then we’ll talk about the Jewishness of Jesus and hear a rabbi’s insights into Jesus’ ministry as he listened and joined us for our journey these last two days.
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Here are a few pictures I thought you might enjoy. Don’t miss worship this weekend, it will be powerful!
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In Christ’s love,
Adam
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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