Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - September 22, 2023

September 22, 2023

Dear Resurrection Family,

Last night I got home to find our Generation to Generation packet in the mailbox. Most of you should have received this information this week as well. It includes a wonderful timeline of the church’s history over these last 33 years, and the projects at all six of our Kansas City locations. Each location is funding its own projects. All are aimed at strengthening our ministries with children and youth, but also benefitting our adults of all generations. I read the entire brochure and I hope you will do the same.

Your leaders believe these renovations are critical. Buildings are not our mission, but buildings are important tools for mission and ministry. In addition to the building additions and/or renovations at each location, we’re hoping to reduce the debt at each location as well, enabling us to redeploy funds currently going to debt service to mission and ministry instead.

I’m excited about the projects at each location and about the future God has for us at Resurrection. Please take the time to read your brochure and don’t miss worship this weekend. But do wait to fill out and return your commitment card until next week. This weekend we’ll be calling our congregation to prayer. We have a special Prayer Vigil on Tuesday of this week (see below) at each location as a chance for you to pray about your commitment but also to pray for our children and youth, and for God’s work in the hearts of our people. October 1 is commitment weekend at all locations.

THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP: “BLESSED, BLESS BLESSING”

This weekend we’ll be looking at what it means to be blessed in scripture. Which of us doesn’t want a blessed life? We’ll be looking at three basic movements or rhythms – principles – taught in scripture about God’s blessings. Interestingly enough, they all relate to kneeling – you’ll understand how and why after this weekend!

Over the last year, we’ve been inviting leaders at each location to make their commitments early in the Generation to Generation campaign – ministry leaders, key volunteers, lead donors and staff – and we’ll share the total pledged by this group, at your location, at the end of the message. I’ll be preaching most of the message, and then turning it over to the location pastors to share the closing. I’ve got a couple of stories to share with you this weekend that I know will “bless” you!

LEAWOOD LOCATION ATTENDERS: VIRTUAL TOUR WITH ME? 

This last Tuesday night on Vespers I took a walking tour through the spaces we’ll be renovating, giving a detailed look at the Leawood projects. Over 1,000 people have watched it so far, and I think you’ll find it pretty cool and interesting to actually go in these various spaces! You can watch it on YouTube by clicking here.

KINDERGARTENERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER THIS WEEKEND

This weekend is an important milestone for our kindergarteners. Our Children’s Ministry has set specific learning objectives for our kids in Resurrection Kids for each grade level from baptism through fifth grade when they are handed off to our student ministry. For kindergartners, one of those objectives is memorizing and learning the meaning of The Lord’s Prayer. This weekend in worship at all locations we’ll have the kindergartners join us in worship for a special Children’s Message on prayer (this will be at 9 and 11 am only at Leawood, check your location pastor’s email earlier this week to find out what times this is happening at your location). We’ll be giving each child a copy of the children’s book I wrote with Stella called, The Most Important Prayer of All.

Then in the afternoon, we are having a special prayer retreat just for kindergarteners and their families where they will craft a special prayer tool to take home and share lunch. If you haven’t registered your kindergarten child or grandchild yet, you can do so here. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY