Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023

Dear Resurrection Family,

LaVon and I arrived home Monday night and like Dorothy, I can say, “There’s no place like home.” I’m excited to be back in the pulpit this weekend as we launch a new sermon series on The Life and Journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Tomorrow night Daylight Savings Time ends – we’ll get an extra hour of sleep this weekend as we “fall back.”

Here’s a bit of what’s happening around Resurrection…

THIS WEEKEND: “SOMETIMES LIKE A MAN, SOMETIMES LIKE AN ANGEL”

There is no one, aside from Jesus, who has had a greater impact on Christian faith than Paul the Apostle. We first meet him in the New Testament as a raging persecutor of Christians, but his dramatic encounter with Christ – his conversion – transformed him. He became Christianity’s greatest champion, leading Christianity from being a small sect within Judaism to a faith that would encompass all people, Jews and Gentiles, and which paved the way for Christianity to become the faith of nearly a third of the world’s population. He started churches across the Roman Empire and then, to encourage them, wrote letters to them and their leaders; these letters make up nearly half of our New Testament.

This weekend we’ll learn about Paul’s background, his persecution of the early church and his dramatic conversion. A second century document described Paul’s appearance in rather unflattering terms, but noting that he appeared, “sometimes like a mere mortal, sometimes like an angel.” As we talk about his story, we’ll find this phrase is an apt description of Paul, and perhaps of us as well. Inivte a friend to join you these next few weeks as we study The Call: The Life and Journeys of Paul the Apostle. Here’s a video promo I filmed in Ephesus in Turkey you might enjoy. And here’s a video promo for the sermon series that you can share on social media.

LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS WITH MEALS AND WARMTH

Also this weekend, don’t forget to pick up a bag after worship for our Thanksgiving Meals and Winter Warmth drives. On the bag is a list of the items needed. You can also access this list on cor.org/next. Once you’ve filled your bags, you can drop off your donations in the collection bins placed at all of the doors for distribution to those in need in our community. Additionally, throughout the month of November, we have a variety of opportunities to give back through serving. To see all of the ways that you can give back during this ThanksGIVING season, go to cor.org/next.

CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultures and traditions of Native Americans and to honor their contributions to our country. Those contributions include agriclutral practices, the development of medicine, and environmental stewardship. They have also enriched our lives with their music, art and stories. We’re honored that our bishop in the Great Plains Annual Conference, Bishop David Wilson, is a member of the Choctaw Nation and was the first Native American to be elected bishop in the United Methodist Church.

For those of you who live in the Kansas City area, the historic influence of Native Americans is seen in the names we’re familiar with – Kansas from the Kansa or Kaw people. Missouri is named for a tribe of the Sioux called Missouris. Many of you live in Shawnee from the Shawnee tribe who lived in this area. Shawnee Mission Schools are named after the first school in the area, the Shawnee Mission School started by Methodist Thomas Johnson (after whom Johnson County was named). Olathe is the Shawnee word for “lovely” or “beautiful.” Wyandotte County is named for the Wyandot people. Bluejacket Street, pool and school were all named after Chief Charles Blue Jacket who was also a Methodist pastor (and farmer and postmaster). Of the four Native Americans serving in Congress, one is Congresswoman Sharice Davids, who represents many of you in Congress.

And, as you know, the history of Native Americans is also marked by tragedy, injustice and pain. In addition to the indigenous Native tribes that already lived in the Great Plains, many others were forced to relocate here as a result of the 1830 Indian Removal Act, removing most Native Americans from east of the Mississippi, setting aside the areas that became Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma as Indian territories. Many of those in Kansas and Nebraska were later relocated to Oklahoma as Kansas opened for settlement by whites.

If you are interested in reading more, KCUR has an article on A Local’s Guide to Native American Cultural Sites around Kansas City you can find here. A great resource for Native American Heritage Month is also found here. It was created by The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to help us learn more about Native American culture and history.

NEW MUSIC PREMIER BY ISAAC CATES SUNDAY EVENING, NOV. 5

You may have seen the article in the Kansas City Star or heard the interview on KCUR. I’m excited to share that Isaac Cates, Resurrection’s Worship Leader of Outreach, musical composition, “Canon For Racial Reconciliation” will be premiered this coming Sunday, November 5, at Community Christian Church on the Plaza at 7:30 pm. It’s a large work for a double choir commissioned by William Jewell College. Here’s a short video of singers rehearsing his piece, and tickets to the world premiere can be purchased here if you are interested. 

THANK YOU TRUNK OR TREAT VOLUNTEERS

Cold, rainy weather did nothing to dampen the fun at the trunk or treat events at each of our six locations. The more than 380 volunteers moved the events into our buildings and made sure everyone experienced a warm Resurrection welcome. Our staff have heard from numerous families who had so much fun and were so welcomed that their kids now want to come back. Thank you, Resurrection!

GENERATION TO GENERATION ZOOM MEETING FOR RESURRECTION ONLINE AND TELEVISION

Are you one of the many people who worship with us primarily online or on television? I invite you to join me and Pastor Ashley Morgan Kirk on Thursday, November 9 at 6:30 pm CST for a Zoom meeting as we dive into the future of our plans for online and television. In this virtual gathering we’ll explore the boundless possibilities that lie ahead, as we share our aspirations for expanding our ministry online and the possibility of adding our services on television in additional cities. We’re also looking at ways for online and television worshipers to go deeper in their faith. This is part of the Generation to Generation capital campaign for our online community in the hope that those who are not connected to one of our physical locations will help us expand our online ministry. To secure your spot and receive the Zoom link, simply click here.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR SATURDAY, NOV. 11

Don’t forget that the Resurrection Foundation is hosting an online Estate Planning Seminar on Saturday, November 11, from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Presented by local estate planning attorneys, the seminar will have helpful and relevant information for all ages and life stages and prepare you to take the next step with your professional advisor. Click here to register for this free seminar by Thursday, November 9. On Friday, November 10, you will receive an email containing a unique link to join this informative seminar. For additional information, please contact foundation@cor.org.

NOVEMBER BLOOD DRIVES