Wednesday, February 5, Childcare at Leawood, West, Overland Park will not be open during morning due to local public school systems announcing late arrival schedules. All church buildings will operate on regular schedule. However, at Leawood, West and Overland Park, programs requiring childcare will not be held prior to noon Wednesday.
On Sunday, February 9, we’re moving our regular 5 pm worship service to 4 pm so everyone can get home in time to watch the Chiefs play in the Super Bowl.
October 6, 2023
Dear Resurrection Family,
I want to begin by saying THANK YOU to all who returned your commitment cards last weekend in our annual stewardship campaign and our Generation to Generation capital campaign. This really matters, both in ensuring our ongoing ministries, and in ensuring a bright future for our congregation at each location.
I remember several years ago sitting with a man in our congregation who said, “My giving to Resurrection represents the best return on my investment of anything I do with my money. I find joy in giving and feel closer to God through it, but I also see the impact it has on the lives of people in the church, and on the community outside the walls of the church.”
And every story I hear about someone making a sacrificial commitment in our capital campaign, giving up something or taking on something in order to participate, moves me. These are investments in spaces and places that will be powerful tools for ministry.
If you have yet to make a commitment, you can do so now, by clicking here to make your commitment online, or by returning a commitment card in worship this weekend. This is really important, and each commitment has great impact.
This month we’ll be focused on the Parables of Jesus, turning our attention to some of the most important stories Jesus told, what they meant to his hearers, and what they mean for us today. Each week, throughout the month of October, our location pastors will be preaching at their locations and at Leawood and Online, this weekend you will hear from our new location pastor, Robert Johnson; then Pastor Cheryl Jefferson Bell; followed by Pastor Anne Williams from our Downtown location; and finally, Pastor Scott Chrostek.
Also, during the month of October, at each of our Kansas City area locations, we are hosting several connection events designed to foster community and fellowship. Plan to join us each weekend. From pet blessings and fall celebrations, to delicious donuts and pumpkins, each location has something special planned for you. To check out what’s going on in October at your Resurrection location, visit your location’s NEXT page. We hope to see you there!
Mark your calendars for Trunk or Treat on October 28 from 3 to 5 pm at Resurrection Leawood, West, Blue Springs, Overland Park, and Brookside, or on October 29, right after the worship services at Resurrection Downtown. Bring your family and invite your neighbors for an event filled with creatively decorated trunks, candy, games, and fun. Trunk or Treat is a great way to spend time with others in our community and invite them to Resurrection. There’s still time for you to sign up to be there with your decorated trunk or to donate candy for the event. Go to cor.org/next for details on how to sign up to volunteer and to get more information.
Throughout the month of October, we invite you to join us in making a significant impact on young lives in need through our Backpacks for Hunger program. We are collecting 14-16 oz jars of peanut butter, a simple yet nutritious staple, to support to students facing food insecurity. Help us by utilizing the provided door hangers available after worship this weekend. Use the door hangers to collect jars of peanut butter in your neighborhoods, spreading the spirit of compassion and community. Once you’ve gathered your contributions, drop them off at any Resurrection location. Together, we can fill backpacks with nourishment and hope, ensuring that no child goes hungry. For more information, go to cor.org/next.
We are looking for a diverse group of people who are committed to the mission and ministry of our church to serve beginning in 2024 on our Finance, Trustees, Staff Parish Relations, Foundation and Nominations committees, and as Lay Delegates to Annual Conference. If this interests you, here is a link where you can learn more about these committees and sign up. Deadline for nominations is October 9.
This Tuesday night, at 7:30 pm CT, on Vespers, I’ll be sharing my recent panel discussion with three United Methodist Bishops on the Future of the United Methodist Church. I’ll begin with some statistics about how many churches have left, show some survey data about United Methodists and their convictions regarding theology, and then you’ll hear my conversation with Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of Ohio, Bishop Tom Berlin of Florida, and Bishop Mande Muyombo who pastors the largest annual conference in Africa. It was an important conversation about the future of our denomination. Don’t miss this and invite your United Methodist friends to join us. You can join me on Facebook Live or catch it on the replay on my Facebook page here, or on the church’s YouTube page after Wednesday.
Due to COVID, which twice postponed Resurrection’s Journeys of Paul trip, I’m actually leading back-to-back trips over the next three weeks in the lands of the Bible. As you read this, I’m disembarking from Athens on a ship with 480 United Methodists – 30 pastors and laity from 50 different churches – traveling to Israel, Egypt, Turkey and Greece (there are many more people on the trip, but my lectures are for this group).
I’m lecturing tomorrow, while at sea, on Jesus in the Holy Land, then we’ll spend two days in the Holy Land. Next, I’ll lecture on Moses, Pharaoh and the Exodus while at sea, then we’ll spend two days in Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria). Then, I’ll lecture on Paul in the Greco-Roman World while at sea, and we’ll spend the next two days at Ephesus in Turkey and then Athens and Corinth in Greece.
I have four days off to rest and prep for the next trip. Then, 280 Resurrection members arrive in Istanbul where I’ll be leading them as we retrace much of Paul’s second, and part of Paul’s third missionary journeys. We’ll visit Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Athens and Corinth, as well as the monasteries at Meteora. We will follow this up with a free day in Santorini. We’ll also be recording footage for an upcoming sermon series on Paul. I’ll be back by the end of this month.
While I am traveling, I will be posting live, on my Facebook page, from these various locations. If you don’t currently follow me, click here and select “follow”. If you want to be notified when I am posting live, here’s a helpful link that explains how to set a notification. Keep in mind, I’ll be seven hours ahead of you!
There is something life changing about walking where Christ walked, or seeing the stories of Paul, in Acts, unfold before your eyes among the ruins of the ancient cities where he preached. If you haven’t been to the Holy Land, I encourage you to make this a “bucket list” item. Pastor Scott Chrostek will be leading the next Holy Land Trip in the fall of 2024. If you are interested, you can get more information here.
Don’t miss worship this weekend!
Adam
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.