Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - March 1, 2024

Dear Resurrection Family,

Happy March! Even though we had an extra day in February, it seems to have flown by! Easter will be here before we know it! In this eNote we have a link for you to sign up to volunteer and help welcome our guests to Easter services and also information about our annual Easter egg hunt.

THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP: RANGE ANXIETY

If you own or have thought about buying an electric vehicle (EV) you are familiar with the term, or at least the feeling of, “range anxiety” – the fear that you won’t have enough battery power to make it to your destination. In a gas-powered car, you just stop and fill up, but it’s not quite so easy with an EV. If you have battery-operated tools, you know a little of the concern. You pull your drill out to use it, and after a short time, your battery dies. If your battery dies, your tool or electric car is worthless until you can get it plugged in and recharged. This weekend we’ll consider this as a metaphor for our spiritual lives, as Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit giving us power, and Paul uses the Greek word for energy to describe the Spirit’s work in us.

As we continue our study of The Gospel According to Paul, we’ll find that Paul teaches more about the Holy Spirit than Jesus or the other apostles. We’ll learn from him who the Holy Spirit is, what the Holy Spirit does, what happens when we do not avail ourselves of the Holy Spirit’s power, and how different life is when we are living in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the end, I’ll invite us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I hope you’ll keep reading the letters of Paul with me. Here’s the download link to the schedule that places the letters in chronological order if you’d like to join me in reading all the letters of Paul this Lenten season. If you are following the plan, you’ll finish 1 Corinthians today.

GROUNDBREAKING AT RESURRECTION BLUE SPRINGS THIS SUNDAY

This weekend, Resurrection Blue Springs will break ground on their Generation to Generation capital campaign projects – an expanded Narthex and additional space for students, missions, and fellowship gatherings. Resurrection Blue Springs will celebrate this milestone after their 9 am and 11 am worship services this weekend. Please pray for this new phase at Resurrection Blue Springs and the ways God will use the spaces to make an impact on generations to come!

EASTER EGG-VENTURE – MARCH 23

Resurrection’s annual “Egg-Venture” will be on Saturday, March 23, at all locations. This is a family-friendly FREE event for kids of every age with an egg hunt, meaningful crafts, and fun-filled activities. Invite your family, friends and neighbors and join us!

• 10 am – noon at Resurrection Leawood, Overland Park, and Brookside locations and hosted by Downtown at the National WW1 Museum and Memorial.
• 2 – 4 pm at West and Blue Springs locations

To make sure the Egg-Venture is fun for all, we need enthusiastic volunteers to be part of the team hiding eggs, participating in activities, or assisting with set-up and tear-down. Anyone middle school age and older can help. Sign up here.

WELCOME OUR GUESTS TO EASTER SERVICES MARCH 30/31

You can help share the Easter message of hope with our guests by volunteering to serve at one of our Easter Services. On Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31, we will have a total of 22 worship services at six locations, including special interactive services for children. You can see all the service times and locations here. At each service, we will share the story of the first Easter and celebrate with moving music and an inspiring message that will fill you with hope. We will need extra volunteers to greet and usher in worship and serve in our nurseries at all locations. Here is the link, where you can sign up to serve.

VBC REGISTRATION IS OPEN! SIGN UP TODAY

Mark your calendars for July 15 – 19 and get ready for “The Jesus Tour,” Vacation Bible Camp’s exciting adventure for kids currently in kindergarten through 5th grade! This year our kids will explore Jesus’ message of kindness, respect, compassion and humility through fun activities, crafts, games and music. Registration is now open HERE!

HANSON BOOK SIGNING SUNDAY AT LEAWOOD

Dr. Hal and Julie Hanson, parents of the late artist and Resurrection member Jeffrey Hanson, will be signing copies of their book, The Purple Driven Life, in the Leawood Narthex following worship from 10 am – 1 pm this Sunday, March 3. This inspirational book outlines the important lessons Jeff taught during his short time on Earth. Jeff’s story is one of art, love, kindness and generosity as a visually impaired artist who changed the world through art.

The Purple Driven Life, authored by Hal Hanson, is a sequel to the 2013 book, Lessons from CLOD, which chronicled the first twenty years of Jeff’s remarkable life. Since Jeff’s passing in 2020 from a brain tumor, Hal kept a daily journal, recording his thoughts and emotions while he and Julie, struggled with their grief. Many of those key learnings are illuminated in The Purple Driven Life. Copies of the book are available for purchase from The Well Bookstore at Resurrection Leawood. I’ve read the book and found it inspiring, and a powerful testimony to faith and the power of love.

REMINDER FROM OUR SECURITY TEAM

Providing a safe and welcoming space for all is our top priority, and we have a team of trained staff and volunteers who are committed to this. I just want to remind you that during worship and church events, it would be helpful if you left large bags and backpacks at home or in your cars. If you do need to bring a backpack in with you, you may be asked to open it by a member of our security team. Please know that they are just doing their job and working to keep us all safe at Resurrection.

VESPERS THIS TUESDAY

Join me on Tuesday at 7:30 pm on my Facebook page. We’ll consider how scripture and our faith speak to what’s happening in Gaza, and, if I have time, we’ll also touch on the debates in Alabama surrounding embryos. Are frozen embryos created during the IVF process to be considered children for legal purposes? Here’s the Facebook link.

UPDATE ON ROYALS AND DOWNTOWN LOCATION

We met again with the Royals this past week concerning their plans to construct a new stadium downtown. Their plans would have a significant impact on Resurrection Downtown. I don’t have anything new to report yet but hope to have something to share soon. In the meantime, we have paused our building expansion until we have more clarity. We will keep you apprised as things progress and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email Pastor Scott at scott.chrostek@cor.org.

Don’t miss a powerful weekend in worship as we focus on the Power of the Holy Spirit!

Adam