Weekly Updates from Pastor Adam - June 10, 2022

Dear Resurrection Family,

I am writing this from Omaha, Nebraska where I am attending the Great Plains Annual Conference with 1,300 pastors and lay leaders across Kansas and Nebraska including most of our 27 pastors and 27 of our lay members from all of our locations. It’s been a great Annual Conference – joyful, inspiring and fruitful. Tonight, several of our members who answered God’s call and attended seminary will be ordained, as well as four people who have served on our staff. Very exciting.

THIS WEEKEND IN WORSHIP: DAVID AND GOLIATH

This weekend we’ll continue in our series on “Epic Tales from the Old Testament” by turning to the story of David and Goliath. As we look at this foundational story of faith, we’ll unpack the theme (we find throughout the Bible), that God often uses unlikely people to fulfill God’s mission. Pastor Scott Chrostek will help us all gain new insight and find a message relevant to today in this familiar story. This is one of the great stories in the Bible. LaVon and I are looking forward to worshiping at one of our locations this weekend simply as worshipers, a rare treat for us.

INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND

Invite your family and friends to join you in person at one of our five locations:

• Leawood location at 7:30 am in Wesley Chapel, 9 am in Sanctuary, and 11 am traditional in Sanctuary and modern in Foundry, or 5 pm in Sanctuary
• Downtown location Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 or 11 am
• Blue Springs, Olathe (West) and Overland Park locations Sunday at 9 or 11 am
• Online at cor.org on Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 7:30, 9 and 11 am or 5 pm
• On KMCI Channel 38 television at 8 am or 11 am
• On demand on YouTube throughout the week

YOUR HOSPITALITY FOR TEACHERS THIS WEEK

This week, at our Leawood location, we were able to welcome 1,400 K-12 educators, administrators and principals from 17 different school districts, 75% from the Shawnee Mission School District. For three days, they had the opportunity to network with some of the most insightful and innovative minds in education from an organization called Solution Tree. We did not organize the conference, we were only providing space, staff support and hospitality, but thought you might enjoy knowing you hosted this event.

I am so grateful for many things – that we have educators in our community so committed to serving our children, that you make it possible for Resurrection to open our doors to support our community, and that our staff and volunteers are always willing to offer amazing hospitality. Here’s note we received this week from a congregant who is also an educator:

I am a member of COR, and I am also an educator in SMSD. I attended the conference at our Leawood campus this week, and I was so thankful for our church! Everywhere you turn in our building it is obvious that we are a church that welcomes all, stands as allies for all, and loves well. Proud to be a part of this community.

SUMMER FOOD DRIVE JUNE 11-12

When school is out, many families depend more heavily on community resources like the Overland Park Food Pantry, the Resurrection Food Mobile, and other pantries we help to support. You can help by donating to our summer food drive. At church this weekend, pick up a grocery bag and then fill it with a list of requested items. If you prefer, you can donate online as LaVon and I did this last weekend. Our team will purchase needed food in bulk. We also need additional volunteers to help sort and deliver food to our partner pantries, to volunteer at the food Pantry or to staff the Food Mobile. Learn more about our hunger ministry online.

SCHOOL MAKEOVERS JUNE 18 AND JULY 16

Join others from Resurrection to bless teachers and school staff in the Lawrence school district with update staff lounges. Click here to sign up to serve either date from 9:30 am – 2 pm.

SERVE SATURDAY JUNE 18

We have a variety of other family-friendly opportunities for you to serve in the community next Saturday, June 18. View the opportunities here, sign up to serve and then just go to your selected serve site. Sign Up to Serve.

SUMMER FUN WITH RESURRECTION IN KC

Make plans now, to get to know our staff and congregation at two fun summer activities:

• Resurrection Night at Sporting KC – Saturday, July 30, 7:30 pm
• Resurrection Night at the Royals – Friday, August 5, 7:10 pm

Learn more and purchase tickets for both events online.

CONNECT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH JUNETEENTH EVENTS JUNE 18 AND 25

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last American slaves in Texas found out they were actually free, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation! There are a variety of community events to observe this day of unity, education and celebration; and Resurrection is involved with two events. Both are free, and no registration is required. Join us and bring your friends and families.

• Juneteenth OP on Saturday, June 18, from 10 am – 3 pm at Prairie Fire (135th and Nall). Resurrection will have a booth at this event that features a parade, activities for kids (including KC Wolf from 12-1 pm), speakers including Pastor Cheryl Jefferson Bell and other entertainment.
• Then on Saturday, June 25, at 5 pm, Allies for Racial Justice (a partnership of Resurrection and St. James UMC) is presenting an event featuring keynote speakers, educational exhibits and powerful music led by Isaac Cates in the sanctuary of Building A at our Leawood location.

LOOKING TO FALL AND A NEW SEASON OF SMALL GROUPS

Summer has just begun, but we’re beginning to look to fall. One of our priorities this year is to launch a new season of small groups. You’ll be hearing more about this exciting opportunity, but to get started, we need leaders of all ages and stages. We made a fun video to help explain what this involves. Check it out here.

FALL FAMILY RETREAT

Speaking of fall, exciting plans are in the works for a churchwide Fall Family Retreat, October 14-16, in Branson. If this is something you are interested in, mark you calendars and watch for more details to come from our Children’s and Family Ministry.

TUESDAY NIGHT VESPERS

I’ll be back with you this Tuesday night for Vespers at 7:30 pm CT. Check out my Facebook page: Pastor Adam Hamilton on Facebook for Tuesday Vespers. If you “follow” you’ll be notified when I go live. You’ll also be able to view Vespers on my Facebook page or on the Vespers YouTube page after Tuesday night.

I’ve got to get back to Annual Conference, but wanted to mention that seven of the 16 people being ordained tonight at conference either heard their call to ordained ministry at Resurrection, served as interns on our staff, or are currently serving at Resurrection. We’re proud of them and you’ve had a chance to invest in their leadership. I mentioned a few weeks ago that three of our staff or pastors will be appointed by the bishop tomorrow morning to serve as senior pastors of their own churches, and we’re receiving a new pastor on our team as well (more about her next week). An exciting time indeed!

In Christ’s love,

Adam