Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - May 24, 2024

May 24, 2024

Dear Resurrection Family,

As you read this, I’m officiating, or have just finished officiating, at the memorial service for Pat Robertson. Pat had such a remarkable impact on this congregation and the world, and left a beautiful legacy by how she lived, loved and gave of herself for others. She was 97. Her husband, Ed, was a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, and became a United Methodist Pastor following his 20-year career in the Air Force. Together they led St. Luke’s UMC on James A Reed Rd. for nearly 20 years. Pat sang in church choirs for 79 years, singing in our choir until she was 95.

Her obituary noted, “She was a proud and active member of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS where she filled many roles, including volunteering as a Greeter, helping with Blood drives, singing in the Women’s Ensemble and other choral groups, reading tutor, Morning Star Sunday School Class, and the weekly “Bagel Brigade” which helps people in need.” But that was not even a tiny fraction of all that she did. Among the things I found amazing was that at 80, she went on one of our Malawi serve trips.

She and Ed left a remarkable legacy not of one or two huge endeavors, but a lifetime of small daily acts. Pat’s morning prayer each day was, “Lord, help me to do five things today to bless other people.” I don’t know when she began that prayer, but assuming it was at age 37, that was 60 years, that was 21,900 times she prayed that prayer. And I don’t doubt that across the course of the last 60 years (more likely across the course of her entire adult life), she actually did five things to bless others each day, that would be 109,500 ways that she blessed others across the course of the last 60 years alone. What a legacy!

This weekend in worship, as we reflect upon the legacy of those who have died, we’ll also consider the legacy we will leave behind. If you are travelling, I hope you have a safe and joyful Memorial Day, but also that you will join us online if you can’t be here in person this weekend.

WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND: WHAT DO THESE STONES SAY? LEAVING A LEGACY

This weekend’s message aims to tie powerfully into Memorial Day, the message is entitled, “What do These Stones Say? Leaving a Legacy.” I will promise that you will find this weekend’s message powerful, practical and compelling. Don’t miss worship this weekend. Again, if you are out of town, plan to join us online at cor.org/worship or on our YouTube channel which you can access here.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN MINISTRY AT RESURRECTION: DEBI NIXON

This week Debi Nixon becomes only the third staff member, alongside me and Dan Entwistle, to reach thirty years of ministry on our staff. Debi and her husband, Reed, began worshiping with us when we were in the funeral home chapel. Shortly after, she began volunteering heading up our children’s ministry. It was soon evident God had a calling on her life to ministry and leadership in the church and she joined our team as our first children’s ministries director. She laid the foundation for our children’s ministries and was eventually asked to give leadership to our missions and discipleship teams. She also took on the staff leadership position for all of our capital campaigns. She was then tasked with overseeing and leading our initiatives to strengthen other churches and launching our new locations and serving on our executive staff. Today she is our Executive Director of Development, overseeing our Resurrection Foundation, giving leadership to our capital campaigns at all locations, our annual stewardship campaigns and a host of other strategic projects. I mention all of this to say that she has had a profound impact on this congregation in her thirty years of service. I know of no one who works harder, demonstrates greater commitment to Christ and the mission of Resurrection than Debi. This church would not be what it is today, nor have the reach that it has had, without her. Join me in congratulating Debi Nixon in her thirty years of ministry at Resurrection.

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY – CHURCH BUILDINGS CLOSED; MEMORIAL GARDENS OPEN

All church buildings will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. The Resurrection Memorial Garden at Leawood (located outside Building A) and the Overland Park Memorial Garden will be accessible all day for anyone wanting to visit a loved one’s resting place or looking for a quiet place for prayer and remembrance. The Wesley Memorial Garden, at Leawood, will be open 10 am – 2 pm and will be accessible through the South Entrance to Building C.

CHURCH CONFERENCE APPROVES SEVEN CANDIDATES FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY!!!

At our Church Conference this last Tuesday, congregation members voted unanimously to recommend seven candidates for pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church. David Andersen, Suzy Ayres, Justin Burnett, Sierra Glaser, Adam Hartley, Jill Hays and Leah Swank-Miller were all recommended as candidates. This is the first step in a process every pastor must go through in order to eventually be ordained. This group joins the three candidates that were approved in February 2024, Neil Glaser, Katy Nall and Timothy Shrout.

Part of our dream as a church is to raise up pastors from our congregation, to help them with their seminary education, and to see them ordained to serve Christ and the church. We currently have 20 persons who are pursuing ordination from our congregation. We’ve had dozens of others who have already been ordained and are serving congregations. I’m so excited for these candidates, and proud of their courage and commitment in answering God’s call!  Please keep these Resurrection members in your prayers.

SIGN UP NOW FOR SCHOOL MAKEOVER JUNE 20-28

Join us for a fun and rewarding School Makeover at Woodland Early Learning Center (711 Woodland Ave, Kansas City, MO 64106) from June 20 – 28. We’ll be working together to spruce up the classrooms and paint the hallways. It’s a chance to give back to our community and create a brighter, more inspiring place for the future generation. Join us in making a difference one brushstroke at a time. Click here to register and be part of something special.

FALL FAMILY RETREAT AT BIG CEDAR IN OCTOBER

Unwind and reconnect as a family at the Fall Family Retreat at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, MO on October 11 – 13. Kids will have a chance to conquer the outdoors, there will be an on-site nursery available, and parents can find encouragement and renewal at a marriage seminar led by pastors Scott and Wendy Chrostek. A Friday night chuckwagon campfire dinner kicks off the weekend, and we’ll conclude with a meaningful time of worship on Sunday. Register here.

NEW EMERGING LEADERS COHORT FORMING

Are you a young adult feeling called to leadership within the church? The Emerging Leaders Cohort is a program designed for you. This nine-month program, starting in August 2024 and running through May 2025, will equip you with the leadership skills and faith formation you need to discern and pursue your calling. Applications are now being accepted. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your future as a leader in the church. To apply, click here.

FOSTER ADOPT COMMUNITY SURVEY

We are re-launching our Foster Adopt Community, and we want to hear from current foster and adoptive families within Resurrection! Please take a minute and complete this brief survey to let us know how the church can best support the amazing work you are doing and let us know what you think the future of this ministry should look like. Here’s the link.

HOLY FRIT NOW AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING

I’m so excited to share with you that Holy Frit, the documentary about the creation of the stained-glass window at our Leawood location is now available to rent on streaming platforms.

In 2015 a young filmmaker from LA, Justin Monroe, began documenting the design, creation and installation of the Resurrection window. He wanted to capture the challenge of creating this massive window and the inspiration behind it. The window was two years in the making, and required 14,000 hours to complete, each of its thousands of pieces made up of “frit” (ground glass) fused together. It was designed and created by glass artist Tim Carey with Judson Studios in Pasadena, CA, assisted by world-famous artist Narcissus Quagliata. The film documents the backstory of the multiple challenges faced during the window’s two-year design and production process – artists challenging themselves and each other, using untested techniques, and racing against a deadline. It’s really an amazing story.

Holy Frit has won 6 Audience Awards and 4 Jury Awards for Best Documentary at International Film Festivals, and has had special screenings in theaters across the country. Now you can watch it on a streaming platform (Apple-$3.99 or Amazon-$4.99 to rent). For more information check out their website by clicking here.

BRIEF VESPERS THIS TUESDAY NIGHT

This next Tuesday I’ll be working from the Lake of the Ozarks completing a manuscript on an upcoming book, The Message of Jesus, returning to the office on Wednesday. Join me for an abbreviated vespers from the lake! 7:30 pm Central Time on Facebook Live which you can access here.