Kansas City, Missouri - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Downtown for Friday, 7 March 2014

Kansas City, Missouri - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Downtown for Friday, 7 March 2014
Greetings RezDowntowners,
It is great to be writing you this Friday afternoon in anticipation of a great weekend, our first weekend of Lent.  Lent is a word that alludes to the season within the church that marks the 40 days leading up to Easter.  It draws us to reflect upon the 40 days that Jesus spent facing temptation in the wilderness. It points to the 40 years of Israelite wilderness walking in search of the Promised Land.  It corresponds with the lengthening days where we draw closer and closer to the light and life that the changing seasons (Spring) offer us, but it also draws us to the triumphant life of Christ that we celebrate at Easter.  Lent is one of my favorite seasons because it leads us to new life and the hope of new beginnings.  It’s a chance to remember that our God is a God of the second chance and even though it feels as though we are walking by ourselves through the wilderness, God is still with us, walking beside us, and pushing us into the promises of a future filled with hope.
This Saturday and Sunday we’ll begin our new sermon series on The Gospel of the Nobodies.  We’ll focus on the Gospel of Luke and Jesus who ministered to the least and the lost.  I hope you’ll join us for worship this weekend and I hope you’ll invite friends to do the same. It is sure to be powerful.  In the meantime, since Spring is in the air, please remember also to spring your clocks forward in observance of Daylight Savings Time.   I’m excited to see you and in the meantime, please check out the many ways to get plugged into this community throughout the season of lent below…
•Daylight Savings Time – Spring Forward this Sunday!
•Women’s Breakfast Series – Tomorrow Morning at 9:00am!
•Volunteers Needed this Thursday at Wendell Phillips (3-4pm)
•Our Honduras Trip has doubled in size...is God calling you to join us?
•Matthew’s Ministry - Parents Night Out on March 21st.
•Brunch with “The Boomers” at the Phoenix
•Lent Classes for Men and Women
•March Faithwork is coming – Saturday, March 15th.
Daylight Savings Time  - Spring Forward this Sunday! Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 am Sunday, March 9 – set your clocks ahead one hour.
Women’s Breakfast Series – On Saturday, March 8, at 9 am, join other women for breakfast and to hear speaker Emma Woods discuss “Choosing to Live in Joy” and her experiences as a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist. Bring a breakfast item to share, but if you don’t have time to pick something up—come anyway! No registration required! For more information, contact Laura at lwyatt25@hotmail.com. Join us in the Loft of 1522 McGee.
Volunteers Needed for Reading Party at Wendell Phillips School – We will be hosting a party at Wendell Phillips Elementary, one of our partner schools, on Thursday, March 13, at 3 pm. Would you be willing to go into the classrooms, read a short story to the students and help distribute gift bags and snacks? To help out, contact Kris.Drummond@rezdowntown.org.
MORE SPOTS OPEN! Resurrection Downtown Trip to Honduras July 12-19. We are partnering with the Methodist Church in El Obraje to help improve health and wellness in their community. Join us along with Pastor Alejandro to work on light construction projects. No special construction skills required. For questions and an application form, contact Jason Eden at jasoneden@gmail.com or Jessica Eden at jessicanicoleeden@gmail.com.
Matthew’s Ministry Parents Night Out – On Friday, March 21, from 5:30–8:30 pm, we are offering a night out for parents who have children with special needs at our 1522 McGee location. We’ll have crafts, games, dinner and dessert for them and their siblings. Registration is required, email Hannah Hamilton at hjhamilton87@yahoo.com by March 14. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, email Ashley Keller at ashley_lk@hotmail.com.
“Jazz” It Up With the Boomers! Start your Saturday, March 22, at 10 am with friends, food and music! The Boomers will be meeting at The Phoenix (302 W. 8th Street, KCMO) for brunch and jazz music. Reserve your spot by emailing Genease Gornowicz at 1ggornowicz@gmail.com.
Women’s Soul Detox Class Wednesdays, March 12, 7 pm, 1508 Grand Join other women for this six-week Lenten study. Soul Detox examines the toxins that assault us daily including toxic influences, emotions and behaviors. The cost per book is $15 which can be paid at the first class. Scholarships available. For questions, email Beth Nybeck at beth.nybeck@gmail.com.  
Experience Lent through the Lens of Luke’s Gospel – During Lent, Pastor Scott will be leading a study through the Gospel of Luke, also known as the Gospel of the Nobodies. We will explore the gospel’s themes of life coming forth from death, hope coming from despair and the general redemption of the least and the lost. Join us for this study on Thursdays at 7 pm in the Sanctuary at 1508 Grand. No registration is required – just bring your Bible and a friend!
March FaithWork Saturday is coming up on March 15th. FaithWork takes place the 3rd Saturday of each month and all you need to do is show up at 1522 McGee at 9 am wearing clothes that can get dirty—we will send you out to serve! For March, we will be heading to Lazarus Ministries to serve a meal, work together on a community garden and help with several other projects. We will also have projects at the church for kids and their parents, as well as a knitting project for those who knit or would like to learn. Come on out and invite a friend! If you have questions, email Pastor Todd at todd.maberry@rezdowntown.org.
I am so blessed to be a part of this community of faith and I am so excited to see where God leads us into the future this Lenten season. Regardless of where you are or what you're going through I'm excited to encounter God together in the wilderness as we journey closer and closer toward Easter! Enjoy this Friday, enjoy signs of Spring and the glimpses of new life.  Have a great weekend and I'll see you in worship on Saturday and Sunday!
Grace and Peace, 
Scott
________________________________________
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Downtown
1522 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States 
(816) 979-1330
Reverend Scott M. Chrostek, Campus Pastor
-------