Hello Resurrection Blue Springs,
We had a wonderful evening last night for our Maundy Thursday worship. I was afraid we weren't going to have enough room but we have some awesome planners (special thanks to Janet Scott and her team!) We shared some fabulous soup and cornbread (someone needs to develop a divided bowl thought because it was hard to choose from all the varieties). The elementary aged children of our MusiCOR class shared their songs with us, using scarves and instruments. We were all impressed with what they had learned and enjoyed hearing the songs we remember from our Sunday school days. We shared a hand washing act as a symbol of our commitment to be servants for Christ and holy communion was served around the tables. The evening concluded with readings of scripture and the extinguishing of candles as we came to the hour of Jesus' death. And now we await Easter morning.
This waiting time is an opportunity to turn toward God; a chance to listen for God’s guidance and to heed his instructions to love and serve one another. We have both opportunities available to do both before we arrive at Easter morning. Join us today for our Good Friday Prayer Vigil. We will have the sanctuary open for prayer from 11 am - 1 pm and again from 7 - 9 pm. There are five prayer stations set up to guide you in prayer. We will also be praying for every Blue Springs Resurrection family member by name.
Then on Saturday is our monthly FaithWork day. We will be meeting at the church at 9 am and traveling to our furnishings ministry, My Father's House. This ministry furnishes hope to those in need by distributing donated furnishings and home essentials. Work includes furniture loading or sorting and stocking linens and housewares. We'll meet at 9 am and carpool over. You can find more details below.
At 7:00 am on Sunday we begin celebrating Easter with a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast for our early church goers. The first of three Easter worship services begin at 7:30 am, followed by a 9:00 and 10:45 am service. These services will include powerful music, Pastor Adam Hamilton's Easter message, and an opportunity to give to our Easter offering grants. This year's Easter offering will provide hope and resources to low-income families through a $100,000 grant to two partners in the Kansas City community.
I am encouraging our regular members to please consider worshipping at the 7:30 am or the 9 am service in order to make room for our many guests and visitors who will be coming to celebrate with us. I remind you to park farther out and sit toward the front and middle to make room and share hospitality with our guests. It's going to be a great morning of worship!
Next Sunday, April 27th, it will be my honor to preach live as we conclude The Gospel of the Nobodies. I will be preaching a message for "The Discouraged and Disbelieving". We will also be celebrating a baptism of one of our newest additions.
The last thing I want to mention, on May 4th we have our next Coffee with the Pastors, except it's really going to be pizza with the pastor. If you are considering making us your Church home I hope you'll join me and some of our staff as we share what it means to be a member at Resurrection Blue Springs. You’ll hear some of my story, some information about what it means to be a United Methodist from our Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton on the traditions of United Methodism (via video), walk through what's expected in membership here, and of course share some pizza and fellowship with others for lunch. We'll begin immediately following the 10:45 am service. Register at rezbluesprings.org/coffee.
You'll find more information below about upcoming events:
Volunteer in Guest Services for Easter!
Maundy Thursday Service
Good Friday Guided Prayer
FaithWork
Easter Worship Schedule
Single Adult Bible Study
Knowing God
Christmas in October-Take 2
Blood Drive
Band of Brothers
Buliding Better Moms
Volunteer in Guest Services for Easter! We still need additional people to serve Easter Sunday (April 20) as Ushers & Greeters. We still need extras for the 10:45 am service. Please contact Jennifer Palmer today to reserve your spot!
Easter Egg Hunt! Saturday, April 12, 10 am. Rain or shine! Grab the KiDS, find the Easter baskets and join us for an awesome family event! The Easter bunny will be there as well as face painters, baby chicks and ducklings, and all kinds of fun activities for the kids. No registration is necessary. Bring your friends!
Maundy Thursday Service April 17, 6:30 pm, in the Sanctuary. At this service, we remember how Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples and spent his last evening with them. We'll begin on a festive note with a soup supper, singing from our children, sharing in holy communion and then as the shadows began to lengthen as the night approaches, we'll reflect on how the shadows fell in Jesus' final hours as those he loved began to desert him. Children are welcome to attend the entire evening in the sanctuary or may be taken to the nursery for more fun as our service turns more somber. This will be a meaningful evening and great preparation for the celebration Easter morning. Childcare available for birth through 5th grade.
Good Friday Guided Prayers Friday, April 18, 11 am-1 pm and 7-9 pm. Join the Resurrection Blue Springs community for a time of guided prayer and meditation. We will have prayer stations set up to guide this prayer time and lists of our church family to hold up in prayer.
FaithWork – My Father’s House, April 19th FaithWork: Be a part of God’s love in action. Rez Blue Springs will be working at My Father’s House, the Resurrection Furnishings Ministry, on Saturday, April 19th for FaithWork. This ministry furnishes hope to those in need by distributing donated furnishings and home essentials. Work includes furniture loading or sorting and stocking linens and housewares. This work is suitable for adults and children ages 8 and up accompanied by an adult. We’ll meet at the church at 9am and carpool to the warehouse off Manchester Trafficway in KC. And, good news, this ministry concludes with lunch there! Register at the Connection Point or just show up on Saturday morning if you’re ready to serve.
Our Easter Worship Schedule: Sunday, April 20, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:45 am. Family worship with Nursery available through age 4. Pancake Breakfast served at 7 am. Please consider attending one of the earlier services so we can make room for the many visitors we are expecting. We'll be serving a pancake breakfast in Fellowship Hall at 7:00 am for anyone who would like to come. Also consider volunteering to serve at one of the Easter activities and/or services (usher, greeter, childcare) allowing Resurrection Blue Springs to show radical hospitality to all who come.
Single Adult Bible Study – Being single can be a great time of spiritual renewal, reflection, and growth if you allow it to be. Join us at at the Resurrection Blue Springs campus as we read the Bible and discuss its application to our lives. We will be meeting every other Thursday at 6:30 pm, April 24 and May 1, 15 and 29. Light snacks provided. Child care available through 5th grade, if you let us know of your needs in advance. Contact Greg Thiel at 816-508-7897, Mary Truex at 816-914-6220 or Wendy Hildenbrand at 816-419-4387 for more information.
Knowing God Wednesdays at 6:30 pm starting April 30 (6 week course) Explore the good news of the Bible and discover Bible study tools and resources to deepen your understanding of the Scriptures. Register here.
Christmas in October-Take 2 Gather to return and paint our Christmas in October House May 3. Contact Jim Barber.
Sara Tuttle-Inman Blood Drive for Brain Cancer Awareness – Monday, May 5, 3-7 pm, Resurrection Blue Springs Sanctuary. Book your appointment today at savealifenow.org, enter Sponsor Code: saratuttle. You may also contact Laura Ward at 660-441-1977 or lauratuttle02@gmail.com.
Join the Band of Brothers Men’s Group Tuesdays at 6:30pm starting May 6 – as we begin to study The Good and Beautiful God. Too often Christians may experience a changed mind about God, or even a changed heart toward God, without having a changed life with God. Where is the breakdown between belief and discipleship? Why isn’t the transformative power of the gospel more apparent in the daily workings of our lives? In The Good and Beautiful God James Bryan Smith helps us discard the flawed narratives of our hearts and replace them with the truths God reveals in his word about himself, the Christian life and his Church. This deep and transformative book will help you discover the narratives that Jesus lived by. Get to know the God Jesus knew and the Kingdom he proclaimed. Book available at amazon.com. Register here.
Learn, Grow and Serve with Building Better Moms! Enjoy fellowship and fun with moms who can relate to your daily joys and challenges. Relevant discussion will meet you where you’re at as a mom, a woman and a friend. The group will meet each month starting this September during the 2014/2015 school year and include moms with children newborn through high school. Registration opens on Mother’s Day!
I am so blessed to be a part of this community of faith and I am so excited to see where God leads us this Easter season. Pray for a great turnout. I look forward to seeing you in worship.
Abundant Blessings,
Penny
Contact Our Staff:
Church Office Phone: (816)389-8900
Rev. Penny Ellwood, Campus Pastor penny.ellwood@rezbluesprings.org
Mike Ash, Worship Leader/Director of Community mike.ash@rezbluesprings.org
Diane Enlow, Director of Children's Ministry diane.enlow@rezbluesprings.org
Clark Johnson, Technical Producer clark.johnson@rezbluesprings.org
Heather Sooley, Operations Coordinating Assistant heather.sooley@rezbluesprings.org
Lori Wolverton, Nursery Staff lori.wolverton@rezbluesprings.org
Visit us on the web:
www.rezbluesprings.org
www.facebook.com/rezbluesprings
For upcoming and ongoing programs and events at our Leawood Campus, visit www.cor.org.
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