Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - November 15, 2024

November 15, 2024

Dear Resurrection Family,

I love this month! The fall leaves have been fantastic. I’ve made chili twice already. I’ve got the fire going in the fireplace most evenings. The Chiefs are undefeated. Thanksgiving is coming. And, I love preparing these sermons about the three questions that we asked 34 years ago that have guided our church. But there’s one more thing I love about this November: It’s stewardship month!

“What, wait?!” you might say, “You love this because it is stewardship month???” Yes, I do. I enjoy sharing with you a little of what you’ve made possible by your giving in the last year – it is amazing – and I love inviting you to grow in the grace of giving. I also love taking time to pray and calculate, and then LaVon and I will fill out our commitment card and return it. And I love handing out our new 2025 coffee mugs to thank you for making your commitment to God through the church. I’ll show you a pic of the 2025 coffee mug below. You’ll also have a chance to see what giving looks like at Resurrection, and I’ll share my specific challenge to you for this year. Please read to the end of this e-note!

THIS WEEKEND: CHIEFS’ WIN, RUSSELL STOVERS AND THE CHURCH

This weekend’s message will start with a recap of last Sunday’s last-second Chiefs’ win over the Denver Broncos. It was the most exciting win all season on a nearly impossible play. Our focus in the sermon is on the second of three questions we asked when we started this church 34 years ago: Why do people need a church? And more specifically, why do you, and everyone you know, need a church?

We’ll look at what Jesus had in mind for the church, why it mattered to him, and what it means to be the church today. We’ll consider three big ideas about church, one of which will be illustrated with the help of a box of Russell Stovers chocolates. We’ll also hear what a team of Harvard researchers found about the impact of church attendance.

We’ll close by coming back to the Chiefs’ win last Sunday. Don’t miss worship this weekend, and invite a friend to join you at any of our seven Kansas City area locations, or on TV or online. You can find times and locations for all services at resurrection.church/worship.

THIRD GRADERS RECEIVE THEIR BIBLES THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP!

We’ll celebrate a special milestone this weekend for our third graders and their families in our worship services. Every third grader will receive their very own Bible. If you have a third grader, please register them here, and plan to join us.

RESURRECTION LIBERTY UPDATE

Last weekend we had another preview service of Resurrection Liberty, our new northland location that will be meeting in Gano Chapel at William Jewell College. Last weekend’s service gave us a chance to test our a/v, worship, meet with one another, and welcome new folks. The official grand opening is December 8 and will be an exciting launch of Resurrection’s eighth Kansas City location.

YOUR GENEROSITY AND GIVING MATTER

Each year, on the weekend before Thanksgiving (November 23/24), we ask our members to return their annual commitment cards for the coming year, noting what they anticipate giving to God through the church in the year ahead. This weekend we’ll hand out the commitment cards and ask that you take them to pray over them. The Bible teaches that the first tenth of our income is God’s portion, called the tithe. It represents the ideal portion that we should give – this is an offering to God, an expression of worship and discipleship, and it makes possible the work of God through the church. Not everyone tithes, but my hope is that each of you sets this as a goal you are growing towards. I hope this for you because I know that it is a practice that will deepen your faith and positively change your life as you honor God in this way.

This year I asked our finance team to break down the giving from our congregation and when I saw it, I thought you might find it helpful. The chart below reflects just our regular giving, not our capital campaigns or Christmas Eve offering – it is the giving you see below that funds all of our ministry. I’d love you to find your place on this chart, and then, I’m hoping, if you are able (I know some are in the midst of financial difficulty) that you might consider taking a step up in your giving.

If you are an active member, but you don’t give to God through the church, we need you. I’m hoping you might commit to giving something on a weekly or monthly basis. If you are giving already, and giving at one level on this chart, I’d ask you to consider taking a step up to the next level, or, if not that, then a step up within the level you are at.

JOY IN SERVING: WINTER WARMTH AND FAMILY SPONSORSHIPS

This weekend we’ll be sharing two specific ways you and your family can make a difference in our community through our November and December Joy in Serving opportunities. First, you can donate winter clothing and blankets to our Winter Warmth Drive for those in our community facing dangerous winter conditions. In Kansas City, nearly 2,000 people are experiencing homelessness, including almost 400 children. A second opportunity is to sponsor a family through our Christmas gift program. We will have trees in the lobbies at all locations where you can pick up a tag that represents a family and purchase Christmas gifts for them this year. If you worship with us from outside Kansas City, I encourage you to find a place in your community where you can tangibly share the hope of Christmas. If you would prefer, you can also contribute financially to our Holiday Joy opportunities by clicking here.

SHARE THE GIFT OF LIFE – NOVEMBER BLOOD DRIVE

• Leawood, Monday, Nov. 18, 8 am – 8 pm
• Leawood, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 8 am – 8 pm
• Brookside, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 9 am – 1 pm
• Blue Springs, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2 pm – 6 pm
• Overland Park, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2 pm – 7 pm
• West, Monday, Nov. 25, 10 am – 7 pm

THANKSGIVING PRAYER VIGIL ON NOVEMBER 20

I encourage you to begin your holiday season with a spirit of gratitude, and we’ll have a special gathering to offer prayers of thanksgiving on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 1 – 6 pm in the Firestone Chapel at Resurrection Leawood. This is an opportunity to drop in at your convenience for reflection and gratitude, and it can set the tone for the holidays ahead. Check your location pastor’s email on Tuesday for opportunities at other locations. If you can’t participate in person, you can download the prayer guide here and spend time praying on your own or with your family and friends.

CONSIDERING MEMBERSHIP? JOIN US DEC. 1 

If you’ve been worshipping with Resurrection and are ready to officially become a member, or if you are interested in learning more about membership at Resurrection, I’d like to invite you to join us at one of our locations or online for Coffee with the Pastors on December 1. At this gathering, you’ll meet our staff and learn about the church and our ministries and what it means to be a United Methodist and a Resurrection member. After a break, we’ll have a short membership ceremony. Coffee with the Pastors is at our West, Downtown, Blue Springs, Overland Park, Brookside, Spring Hill and Liberty locations from 12:30 – 2:30 pm, and at Leawood, Lee’s Summit (hosted at the Leawood location) and Online from 2 – 4 pm. If this is something you’ve been considering, I hope you’ll take this next step and become a member in 2024. You can get details and register here.

RESURRECTION ONLINE: IN-PERSON WEEKEND DEC. 14-15

If you are a part of our Resurrection Online community, we have an exciting in-person gathering coming up in Kansas City Dec. 14-15. We’ve noticed that many of our online members already make a journey to visit during the Christmas season, so we’re planning a special weekend specifically for you. Starting on Saturday, Dec. 14, you’ll have a guided tour of our Leawood campus at 10:30 am, followed by a special Online Congregant Connect at 11:30 am. Then, experience the magic of a performance of Christmas at Resurrection: Illuminations. You can either attend the show (we recommend the 1:30 pm performance) or serve as a greeter (we suggest the 7:30 pm slot). Then on Sunday, Dec. 15, we’ll worship together at the Leawood Location at 11 am (Pack your crazy Christmas sweater – it’s a theme weekend!), followed by a community meal and staff meet and greet at 12:30 pm. Register here today for this special weekend of worship, fellowship and celebration.

CHRISTMAS AT RESURRECTION: ILLUMINATIONS 

I mentioned Christmas at Resurrection last week, but I want to remind you to get your tickets, so you don’t miss this must-see event December 12-15 featuring the 120-voice Resurrection Choir and orchestra, the Kansas City Dance Collective, actors, soloists and so much more. Ticket information here. This is the perfect event to share with your friends and co-workers. Here’s a link to the promotional video that you can send with your invitation.

RESURRECTION 2025 MUG

Each fall Resurrection creates a new coffee mug for the coming year. It is first given to all of our members and guests (one per household) who return a commitment card (children and youth receive their own mug too if they make a commitment!), as a small thank you for your generosity. It is then given, in the coming year, as a welcome gift to each first-time visitor. The 2025 mug captures our Do Unto Others theme. I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek. We’ll be handing them out on commitment weekend – November 23 and 24.

I’ve got to run, but, once again, I want you to know how grateful I am for you!

In Christ’s love,

Adam