Church programs for Monday, Jan. 22 will resume their normal schedule at all locations this evening.
Leawood’s Sunday night in-person worship has been moved to 4 pm for Sunday, February 11.
Dear Resurrection Family,
I am traveling with LaVon on vacation this week and next week to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, but there are some important things I want to make sure you are aware of.
We are continuing our sermon series on Micah 6:8 this weekend as Pastor Scott Chrostek helps us to explore what the prophet Micah says is God’s third expectation: to walk humbly with God. Humility is a characteristic that requires us to put aside our own ego and rely on God – something that’s not easy for humans, yet there is incredible power in humility. I’m looking forward to Pastor Scott’s message.
Where are you serving this weekend? This is an opportunity to demonstrate to your community what the Micah 6:8 message of our BE Campaign looks like in action! We have 100 spots for serving that are still available. Just go to the website to select a place to serve and sign up. Then at 8:30 am on Saturday, join us at a Resurrection church location, convenient to you, for refreshments and a time of connection before deploying to your serve site at 9 am. I know our community will be blessed and so will you. Bring your family and friends and join the fun!
Do you know all the things we will be voting on in this coming November 8 election? On Monday, October 17 at 6:30 pm, Resurrection’s Civic Engagement Panelists will provide an overview of the key issues that will be presented to KC Metro area Voters on the upcoming 2022 General Election Ballot. This will be an online webinar and the panel will provide voter resources and information to help you to be an informed voter. You can register online to receive the Zoom link.
We still have a lot of BE Campaign yard signs. Advance voting in Kansas starts Oct. 22, and we’d love to share our message as people prepare to vote. You can pick up some signs after worship this weekend and put them out around the city in public spaces wherever you see candidate campaign signs.
Last week I shared with you (here’s a link) that we are rolling out some new branding for our church, including a new icon. This week, I want to share the theological significance of the icon.
The icon is created by the connection of three circles – two that intersect to form the cross and one that surrounds the cross. These circles represent the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The cross created represents the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.
The shape surrounding this is an octagon which reminds us of our Methodist Heritage. John Wesley’s baptismal font in St. Andrew’s Church in Epworth, England, (which is replicated at our Leawood location) was an octagon, and many early churches were eight-sided. The eight sides remind us of the eight days of Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter. The octagon, as well as the blue color, also remind us of our own baptisms and the Living Water Jesus offers.
The variation of shapes and colors around the cross represent the authentic community we want to be, where diverse people are drawn to the cross and find a place to belong – a place to follow Jesus and be part of changing the world.
People may not see all of this in a simple logo, but I hope it will serve as a significant reminder of who we are as individuals and as a church each time we see it.
I will still be on vacation this Tuesday, so I’ll again be posting one of the videos I recently recorded responding to the claims of those trying to persuade churches to leave the United Methodist Church. This week I’ll share: Committed to Christ. These posts won’t notify you as my going live does, but I hope these will bless and encourage you. Click here to go to my Pastor Adam Hamilton Facebook page or catch the video on YouTube.
Last weekend, you gave $302,000 to our disaster response fund. As of this week, we have provided $320,000 to the Florida Annual Conference for Hurricane relief in their churches and communities. I received this note from Bishop Ken Carter from the Florida and Western North Carolina Conferences of The United Methodist Church:
Dear Adam,
There are many ways I’ve sought to describe what this means to United Methodist followers of Jesus in Florida…
It is a game changer.
It is historic.
It is a balm in Gilead.
It is a visible sign of the image of God, whose nature it is to give, in a people living out holiness.
It is transformational leadership.
It is the connection.
It is resurrection in the midst of death.
My words still don’t adequately capture what this means to a weary and overwhelmed people. And I’m not being sentimental in saying it is an emotional experience to the core. The gift itself communicates everything.
Adam, thank you to you and your people.
The Peace of the Lord,
+Bishop Ken Carter
Florida and Western North Carolina Conferences
The United Methodist Church
If you are interested in training to be part of an early response team or would like to learn more about this ministry, click here to fill out the disaster response Fall 2022 interest form. We are looking to deploy groups of 7-12 people to various locations between now and December. For other ways to get involved, check out the disaster response website.
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.
Watch for the “Next” newsletter in your email on Tuesday. This newsletter includes a personal message from your location pastor (Wendy, Anne, Bill, Penny, Joshua and Ashley) and opportunities for you to engage and connect at your location. If you’re not receiving it right now, you can sign up here.