Weekly Updates from Pastor Adam - April 29, 2022

Dear Resurrection Family,

I’m so excited about this weekend at Resurrection as we kick off our series on Five Keys to Relationships that Last. To all who attend in person, online and on TV, we’ll be giving away the digital/e-book/Kindle version of Love to Stay – a book I wrote in 2012 after the last major series we did on relationships. There’s so much great stuff to share in this e-note. Be sure to read to the bottom where I’ll share about a possible new Resurrection location.

THIS WEEKEND: FIVE KEYS TO RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST

Every five years I prepare a series on how scripture speaks to having healthy, enduring relationships. And, while the focus is on dating and marriage, each key speaks to friendships as well. 99% of Americans will, at some point, pursue romantic relationships. This series is aimed at helping prepare those who will date, and strengthen those in existing relationships.

Each week we’ll share a bit of humor, insights from experts in the field of relationships, and data from our relationship survey – nearly 9,600 of you have taken the survey so far. This is the largest relationship survey data in America since COVID and one of the largest in the last ten years. And, what I love, is that it’s YOUR data. It’s not something we found on the web or read in a book, it’s what you had to say about what’s working and not working in your relationships.

Over 2,000 single people and 7,500 people who are married or partnered took the survey. We have over 900 divorced people from whom we’ll learn the top five reasons for divorce. We’ll see what women long for and what men want. We’ll see the correlation between various habits and actions and happiness in marriage. There were over 1,000 open ended comments and some fascinating data that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’ve yet to take the survey click here to take it – it only takes a few minutes – I’ll be updating the survey results every week so that your data is included.

I’ve read two dozen books over the years on marriage and relationships. Two things strike me: getting relationships right is not rocket science, but it does require intentionality and effort, and if your marriage is struggling, there is hope – most marriages do at some point. Join us. Do you have a great marriage? I promise, it can be even better. Are you single and dating, or think you might in the future? These keys are important. And even if you don’t think you’ll ever date again, you’ll find the messages informative, inspiring and helpful in creating healthy friendships.

We all know someone who needs these messages. My experience is that even those who don’t go to church are interested in church if it can help them in their relationships. Here’s a 30 second spot I recorded as an invitation that will be playing on TV and social media the next few weeks. I’d love for you to post this on your social media and invite your friends in Kansas City and around the country to tune in.

HONORING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF

As the school year comes to a close, we’re saying thank you to teachers, administrators and staff this weekend with sweet treets following each worship service for those who serve in education. It’s been a challenging two years, and we wanted you to know that you are valued, appreciated and loved. Join us in person at any of our five area locations and we’ll have a sweet treat for you following worship.

RELATIONSHIP CLASSES COMING UP

As part of this relationship series, our discipleship teams at each of our locations have planned special retreats and classes throughout the month. Click here to see the opportunities coming up at all our locations including marriage tune ups, Enneagram classes and couples’ retreats.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHURCH? ATTEND COFFEE WITH THE PASTORS THIS SUNDAY AT 2 PM AT ALL LOCATIONS

If you’re considering membership at Resurrection, join us for Coffee with the Pastors this coming Sunday. At this informal gathering, you’ll learn more about the church, get to know our pastors and staff and review expectations regarding membership. Then, toward the end, there is a short joining ceremony for those ready to become members. Learn more and register here.

HONORING THE IMPORTANT WOMEN IN OUR LIVES ON MOTHER’S DAY

We’ll honor moms and ALL of the special women in our lives in worship on May 7/8 with photo booths, celebratory videos in worship and a beautiful booklet as a gift. To include a photo of your mom in our video, go to cor.org/next for details on where to send it.

Our Building Better Moms ministry will also open all new groups for the year on Mother’s Day Weekend, and leaders from that ministry will be available to answer questions. Bring your mother, or if you’re a mother, bring your kids to worship.

CREATION CARE CELEBRATION CONTINUES

Pastor Scott’s sermon last week was great – he called us to garden, to plant trees and to find ways to become great stewards of God’s earth. We had over 400 trees planted last weekend alone! This is a month-long celebration of creation. Here are two opportunities for you to care for creation:

• Help Purchase Trees Through The Giving Grove and plant fruit-bearing trees in urban orchards in the Kansas City area. Donate here.
• Connect with God through the natural world! Find the “Creator and Creation” prayer walk guide here.

GOOD FAITH NETWORK: NEHEMIAH ASSEMBLY ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE MAY 3

Church of the Resurrection is a member of the Good Faith Network, an interfaith group composed of 20 congregations across three faith traditions in Johnson County with a mission of pursuing justice around our local community’s most pressing problems. This year, the Good Faith Network has been researching the root causes of injustice around mental health and homelessness in Johnson County. You are invited to join the main event of the year, the Nehemiah Assembly on Tuesday, May 3, at 6 pm in the Leawood sanctuary, where over 1000 justice-seeking people of faith will gather to seek commitment from our local officials to implement well-researched solutions to make real change in Johnson County. Here’s an article from the Shawnee Mission Post about the Good Faith Network. I’m grateful for Pastor Cheryl Jefferson Bell, and her role on the Good Faith Network Team.

RECOGNIZING GRADUATING STUDENTS MAY 15

We’ll be recognizing graduating high school seniors at all of our locations. Please register for more details.

JOURNEY TO OBERAMMERGAU FOR THE FAMOUS PASSION OF THE CHRIST PERFORMANCE THIS JULY!

We have an amazing opportunity for an additional 18 people to experience the last week of Christ through the world renowned Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. Kevin Bogan, Director of Traditional Worship and Pastors Penny Ellwood and Steve Langhofer will lead the 10-day trip beginning July 26 to Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Innsbruck, Prague, and of course, Oberammergau, the site of the Performance. It is believed that the Passion Play has been held every 10 years since 1634 following the sweeping of the Black Plague through Europe. The villagers of Oberammergau vowed that if their town was spared, they would perform the Passion of Christ every 10 years. The town was spared, and they have honored this pledge from generation to generation with a performance that follows Christ from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem through His Trial, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. The performance sells out and is not experienced again for another 10 years, but we have been able to secure 18 more tickets. Here’s the link if you are interested you need to sign up now.

JOIN ME TUESDAY NIGHT FOR VESPERS

This Tuesday evening, I will be in Nashville filming a small group video for my new book on John the Baptist. I’m uncertain that I will be able to go live on Facebook at 7:30 pm (CT) so be watching my FB posts early that evening. Check out my Facebook page: Pastor Adam Hamilton on Facebook for Tuesday Vespers. You’ll also be able to view Vespers on my Facebook page or on the Vespers YouTube page after Tuesday night.

DISCERNING POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL RESURRECTION LOCATION

Church of the Resurrection and Central United Methodist Church are exploring the possibility of Central becoming a sixth location of Resurrection. Last Sunday, the congregation of Central, located at 5144 Oak Street in Kansas City, Missouri had a meeting to hear their leadership team’s recommendations for the future of their church and their vital ministries. One of their recommendations is that they consider a transition to become a location of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

Central is the oldest protestant church in Kansas City. Resurrection and Central have a rich mutual history. I was an associate pastor at Central when I received the call to start a new church in southern Johnson and Jackson Counties. Central members helped give birth to this congregation. I love this congregation. In many ways it is our mother church. Members there spent hours on phone banks, calling strangers to invite them to the launch of our new church, 20 of our charter members came from Central and and over the years another 60 people moved south and ended up joining Resurrection.

Right now, both churches are in a discernment stage, involving prayer and conversation as we determine if this is God’s call for both churches. Central will be studying this carefully and praying about whether God is calling them to this path for their future. Resurrection’s leadership will be doing the same thing. Please pray for Central as they discern whether this is the right path for them. There will be a lot more about this in the coming months.

RESURRECTION TEAM HEADING TO POLAND

A very small team of Resurrection leaders are heading to Poland on May 8^th to meet with Polish and Ukrainian Methodist Church leaders and Ukrainian refugees to discern how we can best support efforts to care for and come alongside the millions of refugees who have fled their homes in Ukraine. I’ll be a part of that team. I’ll be preaching on May 8 in the morning, inviting you to pray for us at that time as we pray for the people of Ukraine, then departing with our team that evening. More information in next week’s eNote.

SPEAKING AT LOVERS LANE UMC IN DALLAS MAY 4

Next week, I’ll be speaking on Wednesday, May 4, at 7:30 pm at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church (9200 Inwood Rd, Dallas) just a few minutes from Love Field. The talk that night will be about my book, The Lord’s Prayer. This event is open to anyone, but registration is required. Invited any friends or family that you might know who live in the Dallas or Fort Worth areas. It is going to be a great night! I hope you can make it. You can register by clicking here.

So looking forward to this weekend in worship!

Adam