Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - June 30, 2023

I hope this note finds you staying cool in this oppressive heat here in the Midwest today! LaVon and I spent the first part of the week in Arkansas visiting Crystal Bridges in Bentonville and then Eureka Springs. We came home Wednesday, and I began working on our upcoming Summer Revival sermons called, Jesus at the Lake.

Last night, as homework for the new series, I sat fishing with my neighbor, Bob! He’s 86 and he and his wife retired here at the lake 20 years ago. They are lifelong Pentecostals, and they married 64 years ago on July 4th! He was showing me how he fishes for catfish, and we talked about what his technique might teach us as we think about Jesus’ call to “fish for people.” We were also talking about why Jesus called fishermen to be his first disciples. Before I’d left, around sunset, he’d caught a catfish – though too small to do anything with! You’ll meet Bob a week from this Sunday in my first sermon in the revival series as we look at Jesus and his walk along the lakeshore calling his first disciples! I look forward to being back in the pulpit a week from Sunday!

THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP – “CALLED TO MAKE DISCIPLES”

This weekend we’ll continue our sermon series called Becoming Better by focusing on how we can share our faith with others.  I’m looking forward to this weekend in worship.  This is the fifth habit or practice that has the power to transform our lives and draw us near to God. Pastor Scott Chrostek will be preaching at Leawood, Downtown, Online and on TV, with Pastor Wendy Lyons Chrostek at Brookside, Pastor Joshua Clough at Overland Park, and Pastor Bill Gepford at West. If you’re in town, please join them. If you’re traveling for the holiday weekend, join us online. The times and links for worshiping with us at resurrection.church/worship.

No children’s or students’ programs this weekend. This is also a “worship together” weekend, so bring your children to worship with you. We will not have regular children’s programs this weekend, but childcare will be available for ages 4 and under.

RESURRECTION ROLLS OUT NEW DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

This weekend we’re rolling out the largest IT project ever undertaken at Resurrection, a new Data Management System called ROCK. While we are implementing it in phases, eventually this system will allow you to more easily record your attendance, manage your giving, update your information, sign in your kids, register for classes and events, track your activity, and much more. You’ll first notice changes in how you register attendance and give an offering online during worship this weekend. We can now text “Here” to register attendance and “Give” for offerings using one phone number: 913-914-2600. We’ll have more instructions during worship.

As part of the rollout, the individual information for all congregants was transferred from the old data system to ROCK this week, and your profile is now tied to your phone number. We’ve taken every measure to ensure a smooth transition, but there may be instances when the new system doesn’t associate your phone number with your profile. If this occurs, you can help us resolve it for you by simply texting “Help” to the same number (913-914-2600). If you are worshiping in person, you can also get assistance at the Connection Point after the service.

We’ve had a team of staff and consultants who have put in more than 8,000 hours over the past 15 months to develop the system for managing our massive database – 215,000 congregant data points and 100 million rows of data. Changes like this are challenging, and we are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible, but there will inevitably be some hiccups, so we appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to improve our connection processes. We are confident that ROCK will provide a more efficient and streamlined experience for all, and be an important tool for connection and communication.

A huge thank you to all of our IT staff and volunteers who we’ve been calling ROCK STARS!!!

DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH AN ONLINE CLASS

In 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, the Apostle Paul describes spiritual gifts as gifts of grace, given by God to equip people to serve as the body of Christ in the world. We have a class coming up that can help you uncover your unique gifts and explore how you can use them to make a difference! You can join this three-week class online Thursdays, July 13, 20, and 27, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Learn more and register here. 

ATTENTION STUDENTS! REGISTER FOR CONFIRMATION AND FALL GROUPS NOW

If you are a middle or high school student, we have opportunities to help you explore your faith and grow in your relationship with God through our fall Student Discipleship Groups and Confirmation. Confirmation is a special opportunity to explore your faith and prepare to make a public commitment to Christ and become a full member of the church. In small groups, you’ll meet with a group of peers, guided by an adult mentor to study scripture together, explore questions of faith and life, and connect with other students. Registration for confirmation and small groups opens today! For more information and to register, visit resurrection.church/students.

YOU CAN STILL DONATE TO THE RESURRECTION RUMMAGE SALE 

The Resurrection Rummage Sale, sponsored by United Women of Faith, is July 13 – 14 from 9 am to 6 pm in the Resurrection Leawood Foundry (5001 W. 137th St.). All proceeds support Resurrection’s Foster Adopt Ministry. We can still use additional volunteers and donations! We are accepting furniture, children’s clothing, framed art, lamps, patio/outdoor furniture, and bicycles. Here is the link to learn more about donating and volunteering.

NO VESPERS THIS WEEK

There will be no vespers this coming Tuesday. Have a great 4th of July! Vespers will return on July 11.

CELEBRATING JULY 4

Please note that all church buildings will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, as our country celebrates the date in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress, declaring our country’s freedom from Great Britain. I love those lofty words Thomas Jefferson penned in the second sentence of the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

What a lofty vision! The premise that all people were created equal and that we are endowed with certain unalienable Rights has as its foundation that there is a Creator, and assumes that we have value and worth because we were created by God and in God’s image. These grand ideas were just that, ideals – a vision – that the nation would be built upon, but which would have to be hammered out and fought for, and are still being fought for. It would be 89 years before slaves would be emancipated. It would be 144 years before the 19th Amendment passed and women were granted the right to vote. We’re still working on this vision and ideal.

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s freedom and independence, it is a good time to remember the words of Paul in this declaration of independence found in Galatians 5:13-14: You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. All the law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Praying you enjoy Independence Day, and that together we can help our nation live into this vision, as we seek to love our neighbor, and pursue justice and kindness as we walk humbly with God. Happy Independence Day!

Adam

P.S. Make sure you check out all the exciting things that are happening at Resurrection at resurrection.church/next.