Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - October 11, 2024
October 11, 2024
Dear Resurrection Family,
As I sat with a family in the hospital this week, their daughter having just been diagnosed with diabetes, I was reminded of Paul’s words, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” They gave thanks for a mother’s intuition to get her daughter to the doctor, for the doctors and nurses who discovered what was wrong, and for the blessings of simple daily blood tests and the gift of insulin.
I had several more pastoral situations like that this week that reminded me of the power of gratitude, and the importance of giving thanks. I was reminded again this morning as I listened to news reports out of Florida, and the comments of one woman whose house was flooded twice in the last week, giving thanks that things weren’t worse than they were. And, last night, I remembered Paul’s words once more after the Royals’ loss, their season over, and how much the players, coaches and fans had to give thanks for during this turnaround year. “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
I’ve got some important things to share with you today – but I want to start by encouraging you to be in worship this weekend – this weekend’s message spoke to me as I prepared it, and is one I think everyone you know, whether they go to church or not, would find meaningful, helpful and inspiring.
THIS WEEKEND: THE POWER OF KC AND BEARING FRUIT
This weekend I’ll be preaching in my Charlie Hustle KC Heart t-shirt as we look at how we might practice our politics without losing our faith or our important relationships. K and C are two attributes Jesus modeled for us, and which, if practiced, change everything. In the sermon, I’ll share a story one of you shared with me of a recent K-State football game at Brigham Young. I’ll share with you powerful words from the author of the book, I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. I’ll end the sermon with my favorite scene from the hit TV show, Ted Lasso. Click here to watch the two-minute preview of this weekend’s message!
Following worship in person, we’ll be handing out a small deck of 12 Do Unto Others Conversation Cards with questions for you, your family, and friends to discuss over a meal, helping you have “fearlessly curious conversations.” Invite a friend, and if you’ve got one, wear your Charlie Hustle KC Heart t-shirt or your Do Unto Others t-shirt.
DO UNTO OTHERS SUPER SERVE SATURDAY, OCT. 12
Don’t forget that we have a huge opportunity to Do Unto Others through Serve Saturday tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 12. We’ll be putting our kindness campaign into action this month in a tangible way that can help our friends and neighbors in need. Check out the Serve Saturday projects and sign up here.
RAISE THE BAR! DONATE PROTEIN BARS FOR HUNGRY KIDS
Just a reminder that from now through Oct. 27, we are Raising the Bar Against Hunger and collecting as many kid-friendly protein bars as possible for our Backpacks for Hunger program that helps feed kids in our partner schools. Each weekend, we provide 1,500 children here in Kansas City with snack packs filled with nutritious and delicious things for the children to eat while home on the weekends. We do this because, on the weekends, they do not receive the free or reduced breakfast and lunches they receive at school during the week. Our snack packs have plenty of nutritious snacks to last the weekend, including two protein bars for each child – you give away 3,000 kids’ protein bars per week. You might invite your neighbors to join in this effort – my experience is that nearly everyone is blessed by having a chance to help low-income and hungry kids here in Kansas City. I invited my neighbors this week, and several contributed bars – one family provided nearly 300 bars – enough for 150 children for a weekend! LaVon and I also purchased CLIF Kid ZBars at Costco and felt great joy in doing so! You can learn more about the hunger ministry and make a monetary donation here.
DO UNTO OTHERS WORKSHOPS – WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 6:30 PM
In the third week, we’ll be introduced to The After Party, developed by Curtis Chang, Russell Moore and David French for those weary of political division and seeking a new perspective on Christian engagement in politics.
ONGOING SUPPORT FOR HURRICANE-DEVASTATED AREAS
Bishop Tom Berlin of the Florida Conference sent the following brief video as a special thank you to you, Resurrection, for your support. Take a look here.
We ask that you continue to pray for those recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, as well as those who have now been impacted by Hurricane Milton. If you would still like to donate to our Disaster Response fund, please visit cor.org/disasterresponse.
CHRISTMAS AT RESURRECTION – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE TICKETS!
AMAZING STUDENT RETREATS COMING IN NOVEMBER
- META MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT – Nov. 1-2 at Resurrection Leawood.
Join us for two days filled with friends, fun and fellowship! Learn more and register here. - ACTIVATE HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT – Nov. 15-17 at Youth Front.
Join us for an unforgettable 2-night retreat and find strength, resilience and hope and discover the secrets to living an unbreakable life, register here
VESPERS THIS TUESDAY NIGHT
I’ve got two more Tuesday Vespers before we shift the format and launch the Making Sense of Faith podcast the week of the election. Click here to go to my Pastor Adam Hamilton Facebook page. You can also access it here on YouTube later in the week.
ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING ELECTION POLL WORKERS
As part of our Do Unto Others Campaign, Resurrection has been showing appreciation to election poll workers. This week, we have been providing cookies (baked by our Matthew’s Ministry participants) and a thank you note to all of the Johnson Country election volunteer workers who are going through their training. Here’s a photo of some of the staff with our cookies and thank you notes. If you would like to help with this project, email Cathy.Bien@cor.org. I love this and see it as such a tremendous need and opportunity for us to bless others!
This past Monday was our 34th anniversary as a church. I mentioned this in a special eNote that came out on Monday. I just want to reiterate something I shared in that note: I am so very, very proud of the way you seek to serve others, Resurrection, and I am honored to serve as your pastor.
With gratitude and love,
Adam
Adam Hamilton
Resurrection Senior Pastor
Reverend Adam Hamilton is the senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection and the author of 22 books. He has been married to LaVon since 1982, and she has been a critical partner in every dimension of Adam’s work. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Adam’s writings are known for helping readers make sense of challenging theological questions, exploring the significance of the biblical stories, and equipping Christian leaders to be more effective in their work. He earned his MDiv from Perkins School of Theology and graduated with honors from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry.
