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.
Dear Resurrection Family,
This week, I’ve been at the lake, taking long prayer walks in the morning, Zoom meetings for part of the day, a church council meeting one night, Vespers another, and a webinar for retired United Methodist clergy on another night. I’ve begun work on our July sermons – our summer revival – focused on God and Tractors, and a fall sermon series on the Epistle of James. I’m going to be working early next week on planning sermons for the next 24 months at Resurrection – more on that below – but first, I’d like you to know what’s coming up in worship this weekend at Resurrection.
This weekend, in addition to amazing worship and meaningful moments of prayer, we’ll hear the last in our series of sermons on “Epic Tales from the Old Testament.” The message will focus on the story of Jonah and the whale. The book of Jonah is the fifth of 12 books in the Old Testament that bear the names of the minor prophets. Unlike the other Old Testament prophetic books, Jonah is not a collection of the prophet’s oracles, but primarily a narrative about the man. It is another masterpiece of ancient near eastern literature – a short story that both entertained and taught its hearers about a reluctant prophet and the extravagant mercy of God. Our location pastors will each be preaching in person, once more, at their respective locations. Join us for amazing worship and one of the epic tales from the Bible with a relevant message for today.
Invite your family and friends to join you in person at one of our five locations, or online or television.
As I continue to pray about and plan for the sermons at Resurrection over the next 24 months, I begin by asking God, “What do you want to say to your people in worship? What do they need to hear? How can I help them grow and shepherd them well?” One part of this discernment is inviting you to share with me the theological or biblical questions you have; the places you need help growing in your faith; and the wounds, hurts or struggles you face. My prayer is that that our sermons here at Resurrection might address these topics and bring guidance, help, healing and strength to you. I’m interested in what you are curious about, and in what kind of sermons I might preach that would be easy for you to invite your friends who don’t go to church. I’ve prepared a short survey to invite your input. The survey is anonymous. Would you take 10 minutes now, or sometime this weekend, to share your thoughts? I’d love for you to pray for God to guide you, as you prepare to offer your thoughts.
Here’s the Sermon Survey link →
It wouldn’t be summer without Vacation Bible Camp!
It’s only three weeks away, and we can’t wait to hang out with your K – 5th graders July 18 – 22 at all five of our locations! We want to welcome kids all over the city with radical hospitality, but we can’t do it without your help. Would you be willing to spend time with kids either in a specific age group as a helper, or setting up science projects or snacks? If you volunteer, childcare will be provided for your kids under kindergarten age. Visit cor.org/vbc to sign up!
Resurrection at Sporting KC – July 30, at 7:30 pm
Cheer on Sporting KC with Resurrection friends at Children’s Mercy Park. Tickets are $29.
Resurrection at The Royals – Aug. 5, 7:10 pm
Join Resurrection as the Royals take on the Boston Red Sox. Tickets are $19
Learn more about upcoming summer events!
Resurrection’s Community Justice Ministry, led by Pastor Cheryl Jefferson Bell, will be hosting information tables staffed by the League of Women Voters at all five Resurrection locations following worship services on the next three weekends. We believe that as Christians, it is our responsibility to seek the common good in our community and our world. Elected representation is an important part of our lives as a community and a nation, and we have a responsibility to get involved in the process by educating ourselves and voting. We believe that the voice of every citizen matters and exercising that right responsibly is essential. Stop by the information tables and get answers to these questions about voter registration deadlines and polling locations. Don’t miss the deadline to register to vote on August 2!
I hope you are planning to attend a very special community-wide celebration “Building the Beloved Community” tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, presented by Allies for Racial Justice, a partnership of St. James United Methodist Church and Resurrection.
Juneteenth, the annual observance celebrating the end of slavery in the United States is a holiday that many Americans haven’t heard of until recently. I recently saw a great response to the question “Why celebrate Juneteenth?” The author reminded us that if July 4 celebrates our independence as a nation, and Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Americans. These two holidays can represent a twin celebration of freedom that truly embodies the value that Americans hold highest: freedom for all.
Our celebration will include an inspiring message from Keynote Speaker Reverend Adrienne Denson Ewell of Red Bridge UMC and messages from Reverend Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III and me. We’ll also have a powerful music program led by Isaac Cates. The program is in Building A at our Leawood location and begins at 5 pm, but come early and see the incredible educational exhibits recognizing Black inventors and young entrepreneurs open from 4 – 8 pm. We’ll also have voter information and registration opportunities and light refreshments. The program is free and no registration is required.
If you filled a food back for our summer food drive, thank you! Don’t forget to return your donations to church this weekend. You still have time to visit cor.org/hunger to see the list of requested items or donate financially before the drive concludes on June 30.
This week, I’ll be leading Vespers once again from the Lake of the Ozarks. I’ll be sharing my reflections on this weekend’s sermon and scripture. I’ve got a story to share about a friend’s fridge and freezer that stopped working and wasn’t discovered for a few weeks and how that relates to the Christian life. I’ll take a couple of the questions submitted on my sermon survey above – questions you indicated you would ask God. Vespers is a midweek chance to reflect upon faith and life. We usually have 450 streams, about 650 people who join us live, and another 1,500 – 2,500 watch throughout the week. 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.
One last thing – as we begin our summer revival sermon series July 3 on God and Tractors, we’re looking for Resurrection members and visitors who have tractors – small or large, new or antiques – to bring to church at our various campuses on different weekends in July. We’ll have them parked out front for kids and grownups to enjoy. If you have a tractor or piece of heavy equipment you can bring to the church at one of our five area locations on one or more Sundays in July, please reach out to my assistant, Stephanie, at stephanie.hubers@cor.org and let her know the make and model of your tractor and when you could bring it to one of our locations (let us know which one).
As I was finishing the eNote this morning, I learned that the US Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade. This is a momentous decision that will leave many rejoicing, and others deeply distraught. On July 27, we have a forum planned at our Leawood location focused on faith and abortion. It will be live streamed. I had initially planned to preach on the subject July 10, but shifted that to midweek to allow more time for this discussion. We’ll have various women, including medical and legal professionals, speaking on the physiology and biology of conception and embryonic and fetal development, on the legal decisions, and on the reasons women have sought abortions. We’ll talk about the Value Them Both amendment being proposed to the Kansas constitution, one that Kansans will be voting upon August 2. I’ll offer thoughts on the Bible, faith and abortion. Watch for more information in the weeks ahead. For now, I want to reiterate what I said in the opening of this paragraph: today there are many who are rejoicing and others who are deeply distraught, we have both here at Resurrection.
I’ve got to run. As you read this I’m taking the day off celebrating LaVon’s birthday!
In Christ’s love,
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.