Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Dear Resurrection Family,

Tonight, LaVon and I are heading to see the film Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.I want to tell you a little more about Bonhoeffer (who is in our Resurrection window), the person and the film, and share some of the mixed reviews of the film below, while also encouraging you to see the film. I also want to say a word about trans people below, given the stories in the news this week. These will be at the end of today’s eNote.

SPECIAL WEEKEND IN WORSHIP: WHY RESURRECTION? 

This weekend we conclude our three-part series, Before Anything Else, focused on the three questions we asked in the summer of 1990 that led to the launch of Resurrection: Why do people need Jesus?, Why do people need a church?, and the question we’ll focus on this weekend is, Why do people need this particular church?. I want to share with you some of the scriptures and convictions that went into shaping who we are as a congregation, things that I believe drew many of you to Resurrection and continue to shape our lives to this day. I think you’ll find it inspiring, moving and encouraging to your faith.

COMMITMENT WEEKEND: THE POWER AND JOY OF GENEROSITY

This weekend is our annual Commitment Weekend when we invite those who consider Resurrection your church family to return your 2025 Ministry Fund Commitment Card. We ask you to pray about what you will give to God through our church in the coming year and then to bring your card forward, if you are in person, or make your commitment online if you are worshiping on TV or online.

My hope for this year is that everyone who considers Resurrection your church family will make a commitment, and that, if you are not in financial distress, you will take a step forward in your giving, towards tithing. Even if the step is a baby step, it will be a step up or forward in your stewardship and generosity. Your giving matters to God, it has an impact on your life, and it makes possible all of the ministry of our church.

As the service ends, we will be giving out our 2025 Resurrection Mug as a thank-you for returning your commitment card – one per household – but one for each child or teen who makes their own commitment. Here’s a pic of our 2025 mug:

NEXT PODCAST RELEASED TUESDAY: THE POWER OF GRATITUDE 

Thank you to all of you who signed up to receive my new podcast, Making Sense of Faith, and to all who have watched, listened or shared with friends. We had thousands of listeners to Episodes 2 and 3, about the election.

This week, Pastor Scott and I recorded a conversation about the power of gratitude and giving thanks, aimed at helping you prepare for Thanksgiving Day. This new episode of the podcast will be released Tuesday. Be sure to listen to the end. I think you’ll find the closing stories moving.

You can sign up to be notified when each episode is released. Click here to sign up or to watch or listen to the first two episodes related to the elections. You can also search for the podcast on your favorite podcast app – again it’s called, Making Sense of Faith. Be sure to subscribe to be notified when each new episode is released.

CONSIDERING MEMBERSHIP? JOIN US DECEMBER 1

If you are interested in membership with Resurrection, register here now before you get too busy with the holidays, and join us for Coffee with the Pastors on Sunday, Dec. 1. At this gathering, you’ll meet our staff and learn about the church and our ministries and learn 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. This will be your last opportunity to join in 2024.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON OF ADVENT BEGINNING DEC. 1

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE OF HEALING AND HOPE 

Sometimes the holiday season is not all merry and bright. If you are someone who has been struggling, whether you’re grieving a loss, battling illness, or struggling with the pressures of life, please join us for Blue Christmas on Dec. 4 at 7 pm and Resurrection Leawood and online. This is a special gathering where you will find solace, acceptance, healing and hope. Details are online.

POSITIONS OPEN WITH EARLY LEARNING CENTERS AND KIDS’ MINISTRIES

Can you help us spread the word? Resurrection is seeking dynamic and passionate candidates to inspire young hearts and build connections with families. We have a full-time opening for a teacher at our Overland Park Early Learning Center, part-time openings for nursery associates at our various locations and an opening for a part-time nursery program director at our Downtown Location. For more information, please visit our website: Current Openings – Resurrection Church

HEAR PULITZER PRIZE WINNING JOURNALIST BRET STEPHENS 

As many of you know, our congregation has partnered for years with an organization called American Public Square at Jewell. Both they and we have sought to build bridges and increase civility in the Kansas City area. Each year, APS hosts an annual gala, Evening at the Square. This year it takes place on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. New York Times opinion columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Bret Stephens will speak, in conversation with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Patrick was the first African American to serve as governor of Massachusetts. The evening will also honor community leaders, Ramón and Sally Murguía, with the 2024 Founder’s Civility Award.

I serve on the board of APS and I’m grateful the American Public Square has made discounted tickets available to members of Resurrection — there is both an in-person option and a virtual option. Click here to take advantage of this special offer and purchase tickets to the event. Lavon and I look forward to celebrating with you there!

BONHOEFFER: PASTOR, SPY, ASSASSIN 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian who was a part of the resistance to Hitler. He was a co-founder and leader of the Confessing Church which rose in opposition to Hitler. His best-known work is The Cost of the Discipleship whose powerful opening chapter is one of the most moving pieces of twentieth-century theology. You can read a selection of it here. He was executed by the Nazis shortly before the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp was liberated by the Allies. Bonhoeffer is included in our Leawood Resurrection window for his courage and sacrifice in resisting evil in the name of Christ.

There has been controversy surrounding the film. It is based upon a book with a similar title (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy) published in 2010, a book disavowed by Bonhoeffer’s living relatives in a letter you can read their letter here. Christianity Today found parts of the film moving but notes ways it distorts Bonhoeffer’s story. You can read the review here.

I am anxious to see the film, which opens tonight. I’ll let you know in next week’s eNote my thoughts after seeing the film, but wanted you to be aware of it, to know a bit of the controversy, and at the same time invite you to see the film. Bonhoeffer himself was a remarkable human being and a hero to many contemporary theologians, pastors and Christians.

A WORD ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE I KNOW

I remember, perhaps 20 years ago, when the first person who openly expressed themselves as transgender began attending Resurrection. After they came out, they’d been told by their church that they were not comfortable with them coming to the church, but the pastor suggested Resurrection might welcome them. They came to our 7:30 am service in Wesley Chapel, and I watched as some of our older members welcomed and loved them. I was so proud of our members. Some were pretty conservative people, and I don’t know that they knew precisely how they thought about transgenderism. But what they did know was that they were called to love.

I know a handful of transgender persons who are a part of Resurrection today, there are likely others I don’t know. They worship, serve, and seek to faithfully follow Jesus. I’ve had a chance to sit down and talk to several to hear their stories, and I’ve found them to be remarkable people. I’ve felt empathy and compassion as I heard their stories of rejection and pain.

I don’t fully understand the experience of gender dysphoria, it is not my experience. And I’m not sure what I think about how we resolve the issues surrounding athletics and bathrooms (here at Resurrection we’ve got a number of gender-neutral restrooms). I can tell you what I do understand: treating people with compassion, love, empathy, kindness and dignity is the way of Christ. What I saw on social media this week, and from some in Washington, did not reflect this.

If you know someone who is transgender, I suspect some are feeling hurt or frightened by the national conversations of the last few months, and particularly the last week. I’d like to encourage you to go out of your way to express love and care for them.

In Christ’s love,

Adam