Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - July 11, 2025
July 11, 2025
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July 11, 2025
Dear Resurrection Family,
I hope your summer is going well. I’m looking forward to being back in the pulpit this weekend. Below, I’ll share with you where we’re going this weekend, a bit of the conversation I had with Bishop Harvey, our United Methodist bishop in the areas devastated by the floods last weekend, and some exciting things you’ll want to know about.
WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND – GOD, LOST DOGS AND WILL THERE BE PETS IN HEAVEN?
This weekend, my message is God, Lost Dogs and Pets in Heaven? This sermon series on God and Animals coincides with our children’s Vacation Bible Camp, which focuses on God’s wild kingdom and the animals. I’ll be sharing what happened when our oldest dog, Maybelle, scared by fireworks, ran away last week. We spent an hour and a half trying to find her. I was reminded of the many passages describing God searching for lost sheep. We’ll also talk about when pets are afraid, and I’ll offer some biblical passages that may help us answer the question, “Will there be pets in heaven?” Just a reminder, this is a sermon series aimed to connect with children, but also with your friends who don’t go to church but who love their pets. Invite them to join you for worship; I promise this message will speak to them.
As part of this celebration of animals, children are encouraged to bring a favorite stuffed animal to worship this weekend. After worship, find a pastor, and they’ll give you a sticker and bless you. You’ll also get to hear about our Pet Ministry at Resurrection and all the ways we support pet owners in our community.
PET BLESSING SATURDAY AT LEAWOOD
As we celebrate pets, we will have a special Pet Blessing at our Leawood location on Saturday, July 12. You can bring your beloved pets to receive a special blessing from Resurrection pastors who will be stationed outside the main sanctuary from 9 to 10 am. (Or check out Resurrection Brookside’s Pet Blessing on July 17 at 6 pm.) Whether you have a loyal dog, a curious cat, a cheerful bird, or any other cherished companion, all pets are welcome to receive this pastoral blessing. This meaningful tradition celebrates the joy and unconditional love our animal friends bring to our lives and recognizes them as important members of our families and faith community.
WAYSIDE WAIFS AT RESURRECTION LEAWOOD SUNDAY – ADOPT A PET
We have a number of excellent animal shelters in Kansas City. One of them near Resurrection Leawood is Wayside Waifs. They are amazing – I’ve had the joy of touring their facility and meeting their staff. Representatives of Wayside Waifs will be at our Leawood Location this weekend if you would like to know more about their shelter, how you can volunteer or help, and how you can adopt a dog or cat. Both of our dogs were rescue dogs, and there are dozens of dogs and cats needing to be adopted right now. To find out more about Wayside Waifs, click here.
WILD KINGDOM VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL WEEK IS HERE!
Vacation Bible Camp kicks off Monday, and nearly 1,400 kids are already registered for what will be an amazing, fun-filled week of friendship, fun and growing in faith. You can still register your kids and grandkids right now at resurrection.church/vbc. Invite a friend and register. Some activities begin Sunday night, depending on your Resurrection location. Kids will be on an incredible safari adventure to find joy, peace, confidence, and courage in Jesus! They will also sing original songs, make a take-home craft, and learn animal facts from Zookeeper Stu. We don’t want any Kindergartener through 5th grader to miss out on VBC. Visit resurrection.church/vbc to discover more about full week, mini-week, and one-day options across our locations.
RESURRECTION WILD KINGDOM DAY AT THE KC ZOO SATURDAY, JULY 19
In keeping with our VBC and worship themes, I want to encourage you to bring a friend and join us for a Resurrection Day at the Kansas City Zoo on Saturday, July 19, at 9:30 am. I’m so proud of our zoo here in Kansas City. LaVon and I try to take our granddaughter at least once a year.
This event is the culmination of our Vacation Bible Camp, and the opportunity to spend some time with your family and friends exploring God’s amazing creatures at our special discounted rate of just $14 per person. Meet us at the zoo entrance for sweet treats and a scavenger hunt for the kids. We’ll also have special guest appearances from cast members of Christmas at Resurrection hanging out by the penguins and polar bears! It’s going to be amazing! Invite your friends, get your tickets here, and plan to join us!
RESPONDING TO THE TRAGEDY IN TEXAS
I was reading this morning the stories of some of those who died in the flash floods on the Guadalupe River a week ago today, and the heroism of some who helped others escape. I spoke this week with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, a friend who has been here at Resurrection many times. She is the resident bishop for the annual conferences in South Texas. I asked how we could help.
She noted, “There are communities up and down the river that have been devastated that are not making the news right now. Many of the homes are irreparable. We have teams assessing. Right now, the area is not equipped to handle an influx of volunteers – that will come in the weeks and months ahead. Right now, they are partnering with agencies to ensure the immediate needs of food, temporary housing, clothing and more are met. First United Methodist Church in Kerrville is feeding people daily and hosting first responders. Many of our other United Methodist Churches are doing the same. After this, there will come counseling efforts, rebuilding efforts and more.”
If you would like to join LaVon and me in contributing, know that 100% of the funds you give will go to disaster relief. You can donate through Resurrection to grants that will go to the Rio Texas Annual Conference of the UMC by clicking here.
UPDATE ON LEAWOOD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
This week, I was able to walk through the spaces on our Leawood Location that are under construction for the new chapel, renovated student center, and recreation area. If you’d like to take a look inside the Student Center, where sheet rock is going up, or walk with me to the site of the chapel, where foundations are being poured, here’s a link to my video. You can also follow the progress on our website here.
LOCAL MISSIONS SERVE SATURDAY JULY 19
If the zoo isn’t your thing, plan to join us for our monthly Serve Saturday. On the third Saturday of each month, we offer simple, flexible opportunities for you to make a meaningful difference in our community. Whether you’re trying something for the first time or returning to a familiar activity, you’ll surely experience the joy of being God’s hands and feet in action. Discover how even small acts of kindness can create powerful ripples of positive change right here in Kansas City. Learn more about our local serve opportunities next Saturday and sign up here.
THIS WEEK’S PODCAST: RELIGION AND POLITICS?
This week, the IRS ruled that pastors and churches would not lose their tax-exempt status if they endorsed or opposed candidates for public office, upending a 71-year-old interpretation of The Johnson Amendment. I spoke a bit about this in my Making Sense of Faith podcast this week. I also talked about why, while pastors should not endorse candidates, it is important that pastors and churches speak about moral issues. For Christians, our morals, values and ethics should be a reflection of our faith in Christ and shaped by scripture. I recorded my podcast from the lake on Tuesday night, as the sun was setting, it is an informal conversation about the intersection of faith and politics. If you’d like to hear it, click here.
I’m excited about this weekend and the week ahead as we explore God’s Wild Kingdom!
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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