Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Downtown "Weekly eNote from Pastor Scott Chrostek" Friday, 7 November 2014
Greetings RezDowntowners,
The first full week of November is in the books and I cannot believe it. Time seems to be flying by! I can hardly believe that just a week ago I was in Jerusalem and the Royals were in the World Series. Before November ends we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving, the Plaza lights will be switched on, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree will be lit at Crown Center and Advent will begin. However, that’s not all. What I’m most excited about this November is that we’ll be celebrating Resurrection Downtown’s 5-Year Anniversary in worship. On November 29th and 30th we’re turning 5. The crazy thing is that I can remember moving to Kansas City as though it was yesterday. I can still remember our first worship service, looking out over the congregation and thinking quietly, “I wonder what God is going to do with all of us.” These past five years have provided a holy and amazing adventure, filled with lots of invitations that have allowed for a multitude of people to join together on a journey of knowing, loving and serving God. These past five years have been marked also by extravagant generosity.
This weekend in worship we’re focusing on how we measure our lives, and one of the most important measures is ‘generosity.’ This weekend we’ll be talking about giving. For our members this weekend will serve as our ‘Commitment Weekend.’ Our Giving is an expression of worship and faithfulness. It speaks to what matters in your life and it is a means of making possible the ministry of our church to the glory of God. It brings light and life and becomes a means by which people come to know God’s grace and mercy. I can’t help but think about how many ministries and lives are touched because of your generosity and the way you worship through your offering. On Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, we will offer our commitments at the end of each worship service. It will be a meaningful time of worship as we consecrate our gifts, and dream once more about the next five years and about what God will do with us in the future as together we continue building Christian community in the center of this city. I hope you will join us. If you can’t be with us this weekend, you can mail your Resurrection Downtown Commitment card to the church, complete your commitment online at www.rezdowntown.org/annualgiving.
In the meantime, here are some other ways to get connected to the life of our community:
The Power of Gratitude – Each year we have the opportunity to make a financial commitment to support Resurrection’s vision of changing lives, transforming communities and renewing the church. This annual commitment allows each of us to evaluate our giving, what it means and how much it can be for the coming year. It also helps our church to determine a more accurate budget for Resurrection’s ministries. Giving and commitment information will be mailed this week. Thank you for taking the time to pray about your giving. We invite you to return your commitment card during worship, by mail or online at cor.org/commitment.
Want to Hear a Great Speaker? Want to meet women in your community? Come to the Women’s Breakfast! OnSaturday, Nov. 8, 9 am at 1522 McGee, hear from Laura Maberry, a licensed professional counselor in a group private practice in Kansas City, and “wife-extraordinaire” to Pastor Todd. She recently completed training in Brené Brown’s The Daring Way, a research-based therapeutic approach to addressing shame and vulnerability. We would love for you to bring a friend and a breakfast item to share; or feel free to come empty-handed but open-minded as we hear about Laura’s passion for therapy, how suffering gave birth to beauty and how she weaves her faith into all of this. For more information, contact Jan Burchett at jburchett@kc.rr.com.
Men’s Breakfast Series with Kevin Lockett starts Wednesday morning, Nov. 12th, 7am at 1508 Grand with our Resurrection member Kevin Lockett, CFO and COO of the Kansas Bioscience Authority. A former professional football player, Kevin owned and operated a business during his National Football League career. Kevin will be sharing his testimony as it relates to the current sermon series on how what we choose and value has far greater impact on our lives than what we achieve and acquire. Bring some fruit or an item to share, if you have time…no need to register. If you have questions email RDTMensMinistry@rezdowntown.org.
The RezDT Coffee Shop is Opening Soon – Volunteers Needed! No experience required; training provided. We are looking for baristas and other hospitality roles. If you love coffee and people, then this is the spot for you! Training isSaturday, Nov. 15, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Coffee Shop at 1522 McGee. To serve on this team, contactJackie.Thomas@cor.org.
Join our Bible Basics Class – Do you feel unnerved to use or even open the Bible? Do you ever wonder who wrote the Bible? Why are there so many different books within it? Join us Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 am – noon at 1522 McGee in the Loft to learn the basics: What is the Bible? Why are there so many translations!? This three-hour class will help you feel confident to open the Bible and begin to read, understand and study it on your faith journey. A $5 booklet is required, scholarships available. To register, go to rezdowntown.org/biblebasics. For more information, contact Marilyn Lambert at mglambert7@gmail.com.
November Faithwork – Every 3rd Saturday of the month, RezDowntown sends out people to serve the community. Just show up at the church (1522 McGee) on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 9 am wearing clothes that can get dirty, and we will send you out to serve in the community until lunch time. We will be working on projects at places like the Healing House, supporting those on the journey of addiction recovery, and the Don Bosco Center, supporting immigrants, refugees, and senior citizens in KC. We will also have an on-site project for people who like to knit and an activity for kids to put together fall treats and then deliver them to those in need. It will be a huge day and you will want to be a part of it! Contact Pastor Todd (todd.maberry@cor.org) with any questions.
Meals Ministry – If you enjoy cooking and are willing to share a meal with someone in need due to a life event, we are starting a ministry to provide meals for those in our community who have a need. It could be after a death in the family, surgery, birth of a child, etc. To sign up for the list of people who could be contacted when needs come up, contact Lindsay McCoy at lkmccoy320@gmail.com.
I am so blessed to be a part of this community and I am so proud to serve Christ with you in this city. I hope you'll invite friends and join us as we continue building Christian community ithis weekend in worship. Have a great Fridayand I'll look forward to seeing you live and in person this weekend as we offer all that we have and all that we are to God!
Grace and Peace,
Scott
@scottchrostek
Congregational Care and Support
If you need pastoral care, call 816-979-1330 or for after hours emergencies, 816-875-0267.
To submit a prayer request, contact Todd.Maberry@rezdowntown.org
Connect and follow us:
 www.facebook.com/RezDowntown
www.twitter.com/RezDowntown
For more information:
Visit our website www.resurrectiondowntown.org
1522 McGee St., Kansas City, MO 64108 | (816) 979-1330
Rev. Scott M. Chrostek, Campus Pastor
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