Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - May 17, 2024

Yesterday I had the chance to attend two graduation ceremonies! I’ll be trying to get to six out of seven graduation parties this weekend as well…starting tonight after a wedding rehearsal! The first graduation yesterday was for the four- and five-year-olds in our Resurrection Leawood Early Learning Center preschool. It was so fun! Teachers asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up. I’ll share some of the answers with you this weekend.

Last night we hosted the Center High School graduation. I cannot convey what a joyous occasion that was – it was the loudest high school graduation I’ve ever attended, and it was awesome. At one point they shared a brief clip of every senior answering the question, “What do I want to be doing in ten years?” I’ll share some of that with you this weekend too, as, in my sermon, I’ll be asking you this same question – “What do you want to be doing in ten years?”

I want to wish all of our graduates, preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, college and graduate school every blessing as you graduate!

WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND: WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING IN TEN YEARS?

This weekend we’ll be celebrating Pentecost, when Christians remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church, and then we’ll consider its meaning through the lens of graduation. I am so excited about sharing this message with you. We recognized graduates a couple of weeks ago, knowing some would be out this weekend, my hope is that graduates and their families will join us if you can this weekend in worship. It’s going to be a meaningful weekend as I invite you to reflect upon the same question Center High School asked of its graduating seniors, “What do you want to be doing in ten years?

Plan to join us in person if you are able, or online or on television.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial period for spotlighting mental health issues and combating associated stigmas. At Resurrection, our Counseling Ministries work to help connect our church family and community with mental health resources. This includes referrals to mental health professionals on our approved referral list as well as on-site counseling with graduate interns. We also work with the pastors to bring emotional wellness and family support programming to the congregation through Resurrection Recovery, support groups and other venues. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, please know that you are not alone, and we are committed to helping you identify the right tools so you can begin to heal and grow into the person God created you to be. You can learn about our counseling services here.

IMPORTANT CHURCH CONFERENCE MAY 21

Please note that the room has been changed for the Church Conference on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 pm. We will meet in Room B252 at Leawood to vote upon our Staff Parish Relations Committee’s recommendation of candidates for pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church. The Church Conference will also vote upon the Staff Parish Relations Committee’s recommendation regarding pastoral compensation for the coming year, and I’ll share an update on Resurrection’s future locations. Voting is limited to members of the church, but anyone may attend either be in-person or online via Zoom. Here’s the Zoom link that will be live Tuesday night.

NO VESPERS THIS TUESDAY, JOIN CHURCH CONFERENCE AT 6 PM

WE NEED A FEW MORE TEAM MEMBERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA SERVE TRIP

We are looking for a few more team members for an international mission trip to South Africa from September 6 -16. Having been to South Africa on several occasions, it is an amazing experience you will never forget. You will be working with the Ditshego Preschool – built amidst a community of people living at a major municipal trash dump. Yet this preschool is a source of so much joy and hope. You’ll also be working with another school we support there and blessing teachers, many of whom live in the community. At the end of the trip, you’ll take a two-day wild animal safari. It really is remarkable. If you’ve been thinking about this opportunity, don’t wait, apply today. If this trip doesn’t work for you, we have several other fall trips that also have openings. Here’s the link to find out more!

THANK YOU BLOOD DRIVE DONORS!

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday when the need for blood donations increases, we’re grateful for all who donated to help the Community Blood Center be prepared to meet that need. During the Leawood drive on May 6-7, 611 units were collected. Adding that to the combined total of 144 units collected at Blue Springs, Overland Park, West and Brookside, Resurrection provided 755 pints of life-saving blood this month. Thank you!

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AUG. 8-9

Resurrection Leawood will again be a host site for the Global Leadership Summit, a two-day event Aug. 8-9. The summit is the largest leadership experience in the world which partners with local churches, ministries, and organizations to help leaders grow and become a catalyst for change. This is an opportunity to learn and be inspired by nationally recognized leaders and connect with other community leaders in a setting close to home, with reduced cost and time spent on travel. Special early bird pricing is available now through July 17. Here’s the link to learn more and register. Reserve your seat today!

RESURRECTION, MEN AND PICKLEBALL!

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a rising star, test your skills, claim bragging rights, and enjoy some friendly competition at our Churchwide Men’s Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, June 15, from 9 am to noon. Choose from three Kansas City locations – Chicken N Pickle on 135th Street in Leawood, Chicken N Pickle in North Kansas City, or SERV in Overland Park. You don’t want to miss out on the fun, so invite your buddies and register today here! Limited spots are available.

DON’T FORGET SERVE SATURDAY TOMORROW

Sign up today and join us for Serve Saturday tomorrow, May 18. We have a variety of ways individuals, families, and small groups can go out into our community and serve our neighbors. Go to the website to select where you will serve.

WESLEY HERITAGE CRUISE UPDATE

Last week I mentioned the Wesley Heritage Cruise in August 2025. We had a large number of people sign up and some of the categories of rooms immediately sold out. We are working on getting more of those suites added to those available for our group. All of which is to say, if you are interested, you might want to sign up. It is going to be a remarkable trip. For more information or to sign up click here.

Finally, I am constantly humbled by the impact Resurrection members have in our community. Resurrection member and United Methodist provisional Deacon, Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Schools in Topeka, is featured in the attached story – I think it will inspire you! I am in awe of this amazing woman and the work God does through her. Read it here.