Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Dear Resurrection Family,

A reminder, up front, that this weekend Daylight Saving Time ends as we FALL BACK an hour. Don’t forget to set your clocks backward Saturday night to arrive at church on time!

This is also the last weekend in our Do Unto Others campaign – if you’ve got a Do Unto Others t-shirt (or a Be Just, Kind and Humble, or Love Your Neighbor t-shirt), please wear it this weekend!

THIS WEEKEND: MALICE TOWARDS NONE, CHARITY FOR ALL

This week we conclude our Do Unto Others series by talking about overcoming fear and how we move forward after the election. We’re going to look at four keys to overcoming fear, we’ll remember that while Harris or Trump will be elected President this week, Jesus is still Lord. I’ll share an excerpt from a sermon by pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was hung by the Nazis in April 1945, and an excerpt from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address as we look at how we live in order to bring healing to our divided country after the election. We have a bookmark we’re giving away in worship with a prayer and a pledge for each of you.

Invite a friend. If you live in KC, join us at any of our seven area locations if you can, or on online or on TV ( KMCI 38 at 8 and 11 am or KSMO 62 at 9 am).

ALL SAINTS DAY – TODAY!

Today is All Saints Day, a day set aside for remembering loved ones who are no longer with us, particularly those who shaped our faith. I hope you’ll spend time reflecting on their lives and the impact they had on yours and thank God for them. In my life, there are many people who played important roles in my faith formation. I would not be where I am today without them. I think about, and give thanks for, these saints today. I’d like to invite you to join me in thinking about the saints in your life.

PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY THIS WEEK

In worship this weekend, you’ll receive a bookmark with a prayer on one side and a pledge on the other. This pledge represents the commitment to live out Jesus’ command to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I hope you’ll take the time to reflect on these words, make this commitment, and pray the prayer this week, especially on election day. We have also updated our Do Unto Others website with some prayer ideas and ways to respond to anxiousness you may feel.

APPRECIATING OUR ELECTION POLL WORKERS

If you are voting this week, wear your Do Unto Others button and remember to thank your poll workers. These members of our community are performing a vital civic duty ensuring that the right to vote is preserved for every citizen and that our democracy continues to flourish. Resurrection Leawood, West, and Brookside are all voting sites for the Nov. 5 election, and this weekend we’ll have banners at those locations showing our appreciation. We’ll also be providing hospitality and lunch for them.

JOY IN SERVING HOLIDAY MEAL BAGS

You can still help provide holiday meals for all those facing food insecurity this year by picking up a bag after worship and shopping for the items listed on the bags. You can also click here to see the shopping list. Remember to drop off your donations at all Resurrection locations between now and November 10. This is part of our annual Joy in Serving celebration as we experience the joy of serving and spreading joy and warmth throughout our community. If you’d prefer to have someone else do the shopping, you can also donate online here.

FINANCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS BREAKFAST

I am inviting financial services professionals from all across the Kansas City Metro to join me at an exclusive networking and educational breakfast at Resurrection Leawood in the Foundry (Building B) on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 am. This is a complimentary event, sponsored by Midwest Trust, that will offer all of our attendees the opportunity to explore the intersection of generosity and legacy planning within the community while earning continuing education credits. I’ll be speaking, along with several others, and I hope you’ll join us. You can learn more and register here.

EXCELLENT GUEST OPINION PIECE IN STAR FROM RES MEMBER

Recently a team of 11 people, ten from Resurrection and one from Jewish Vocational Services, went on a Global Impact trip to the US-Mexico border. Resurrection member, Dawn North wrote an excellent op-ed piece for the Kansas City Star reflecting on her experiences. I thought you might enjoy hearing about the team’s experience. You can read it here. I don’t believe you have to subscribe to read it – just click on the page.

PODCAST LAUNCHES THIS WEEK

This week, I’ll be launching the pilot of my podcast Making Sense of Faith. My aim for the podcast is to connect with people who may not darken the door of a church, but who are curious about faith. I also hope the podcast will be interesting to those who are long-time Christians.

The pilot podcast will drop the day after the election, simply because it seemed like a good time to reflect on faith and whatever happens on Tuesday. It will be a two-part episode. The podcast will formally kick off on Thanksgiving week.

My hope is to offer honest, real-life conversations about how faith connects with daily life, to address the kind of questions people have about faith, scripture or theology, and occasionally to include interesting guests. The first episode will be a two-part series in which I will share thoughts on Faith and Politics and how we move forward following the election. You can go to MakingSenseofFaith.org and click on the “get updates” button and you’ll receive an email when the first episode launches.

Looking forward to worship this weekend, Don’t forget to set you clocks back!

Adam