WEATHER ALERT:

Due to weather conditions, all in-person daytime and evening programs have been canceled across the church’s locations for Wednesday, except for the Recovery programs and Food Pantry at Overland Park. Decisions for Thursday daytime programs will correspond with local school district decisions and will be posted on the church’s website.

IMPORTANT:

Scheduled programming has resumed for Thursday, February 13 at all Resurrection locations.

Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - January 10, 2025

January 10, 2025
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January 10, 2025

Dear Resurrection Family,

I wonder if, before you read the rest of my eNote, you would pause to pray for two groups – for all who are affected by the wildfires in California, including the firefighters, and also pray for those who have worked tirelessly this last week to address the ice and snow that blanketed major parts of our country. Many of these worked through the nights and are still working to clear the snow.

THIS WEEKEND: THE CHOSEN, MARY MAGDALENE AND JIMMY CARTER

This is one weekend I hope you won’t miss in worship, a weekend that would be  perfect for inviting a friend who doesn’t go to church to join you.

I’ll be kicking off our January sermon series looking at four gospel stories from the life of Jesus focused on the people Jesus loved. Each week we’ll look at what the gospels teach us, how these stories speak to our lives, and then we’ll illustrate the story with clips from the hit streaming television series, The Chosen – clips that will bring the gospel stories to life and touch your heart.

In this weekend’s sermon, we’ll focus on Mary Magdalene, a woman out of whom Jesus cast seven demons. Those demons may have been literal spiritual entities, but the word was also used to describe sickness, mental illness, and addiction. Perhaps the most moving episode in the entire Chosen series is the one that shows Jesus casting out Mary’s demons. As we study this story, we’ll also see how Mary’s story relates to a decision Former President Jimmy Carter made in 2017 that led him to, in his words, “lose my religion.” He left the Baptist denomination he’d belonged to most of his life, and the reason tied to Jesus’ love of Mary Magdalene.

If you have a friend who worshiped with us for Candlelight Christmas Eve on TV, online or in person, but they don’t usually go to church, invite them to join you for worship this weekend. It will be an inspiring and moving weekend in worship that will touch their hearts and yours too.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: THE CHOSEN BIBLE STUDY

Each Wednesday during the sermon series, we’ll be showing the entire episode of The Chosen that we’ve drawn from for the weekend sermon, and I, or at our other locations, our location pastors, will lead you in table conversations about the gospel story and the episode. Next Wednesday we’ll view Episode One from Season One of The Chosen.

We’ll have a brief intro with some “what to look for” comments, then we’ll watch the episode, then we’ll discuss in small groups the episode and the scripture passages it was based upon. This Wednesday’s episode will introduce you to Peter, Nicodemus, Matthew, Mary Magdalene and Jesus. Find out more by clicking here. At Leawood, you can join us for a light supper starting at 5:30 pm and then we’ll officially kick things off at 6:30 pm. Childcare is available.

I think you’ll find this really fun, and inspiring. This is a great way to make new Resurrection friends and or to invite your friends and neighbors who are not in a small group to join you! To find out more about the Wednesday evening offering at our locations and online, click here.

RESURRECTION ONLINE GEO GROUPS LAUNCH

If you worship online from outside the Kansas City area and are interested in connecting with fellow Resurrection online worshipers in your area, check out our new Geo Groups that launched last month. These monthly in-person gatherings across the U.S. are led by volunteer guides and will focus on either social activities (sharing meals, attending events), community service projects, or a combination of both in their local communities. If you are interested, click here and check out the available groups and register by January 30 to join members in your area.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SERVE EVENTS

We still have openings where you can sign-up to volunteer in the community at one of our MLK Serve Events on Saturday, Jan. 18 or Monday, Jan. 20. We will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by rolling up our sleeves to make a meaningful difference in our community. Register here.

MONTHLY LEADERSHIP NETWORK GATHERING FOR YOUNG ADULTS 

The Leadership Network is a monthly gathering for young professionals, where faith and leadership come together! Stop by before work on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:30 – 8:30 am and hear from a community leader on all things faith and leadership. You can enjoy an inspiring morning with coffee, bagels, and the chance to connect with other like-minded young leaders. The first event is on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 7:30-8:30 am and will be at Resurrection Overland Park. Learn more here.

MLK SERVE EVENTS JAN. 18 AND 20

Register here today for one of our MLK Serve Events on Saturday, Jan. 18 or Monday, Jan. 20. In the spirit of Dr. Martin King Jr.’s powerful vision of social justice, equality, and community empowerment, we will honor his legacy by rolling up our sleeves to make a meaningful difference in our community. Events are designed as easy, low-commitment ways to make a positive impact on your neighbors in the metro area. Find out more about the many ways to serve here.

MONTHLY LEADERSHIP NETWORK GATHERING FOR YOUNG ADULTS

The Leadership Network is a monthly gathering for young professionals, where faith and leadership come together! Stop by before work on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:30 – 8:30 am and hear from a community leader on all things faith and leadership. You can enjoy an inspiring morning with coffee, bagels, and the chance to connect with other like-minded young leaders. The first event is on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 7:30-8:30 am and will be at Resurrection Overland Park. Learn more here.

JOIN ME FOR A CONVERSATION OF HOPE WITH BOBBI JO REED

On Thursday, Jan. 23, in conjunction with Resurrection Recovery, I’ll be joining Healing House founder Bobbi Jo Reed for “A Conversation of Hope.” Bobbi Jo is an amazing woman who I am privileged to call a friend. With over 29 years of sobriety and a powerful story of transformation, she has dedicated her life to helping others overcome addiction, establishing a network of recovery homes that have served more than 14,000 individuals in Kansas City. Her remarkable journey, chronicled in the documentary Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence, exemplifies the power of hope and second chances. Plan to join us on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6-7 pm in the Foundry at our Leawood location or on the livestream on our website. Learn more here.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 7-8

All Resurrection women and their friends are invited to experience two transformative days of growth and connection at the Beloved Women’s Conference, February 7 and 8 at Resurrection Leawood and Online. Forbes Top 20 speaker Liz Bohannon and CEO Dr. Nicole Price will lead an exploration of “Why Our Story Matters,” and how women of all ages and life stages can pause, reflect, and embrace a fundamental truth: we are beloved in God’s eyes. Through compelling speakers, interactive workshops, and meaningful dialogue, you will discover how your unique narrative interweaves with God’s greater story. Don’t wait, register today here. You don’t want to miss this opportunity for women of all ages.

8TH-12TH GRADERS: YOU CAN BE PART OF SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

This February 21-22, Resurrection Students, through our partnership with the Great Plains and Missouri Annual Conferences, are creating a two-day power-packed experience with meaningful worship, and leadership development as we wrestle with questions about faith and life. Called Converge 2025, this is a gathering of students from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, and this is a great opportunity for all students, whether you’re deeply involved in church or just beginning to explore your faith. Check out this event here, and explore other opportunities for students here.

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S PODCAST

In this week’s episode of my Making Sense of Faith podcast, I talked about doubt, with an episode titled “In Praise of Honest Doubt.” I believe that doubt and questions can be healthy and beneficial, as they help us to explore, learn and grow. One of my goals with this podcast is to address the questions you have about issues around faith. If you have a question that you’d like to see us explore in a future episode, you can submit it by sending an email here. Making Sense of Faith can be downloaded on your favorite podcast app, or click here to watch or listen to this as well as earlier episodes and to sign up to be notified when a new episode is released.

I’m looking forward to being back in the pulpit this weekend as we begin the series The People Jesus Loved.

See you in worship!

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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