Resurrection West,
This past Sunday we welcomed 31 new members to our congregation (you will see their names at the conclusion of the eNote). Coffee with the pastors is always an exciting and energizing time as I hear people’s stories of how they came to our church. One of those families shared with me their first Sunday with us was Easter, after being invited to worship by one of their friends, a member here. They then returned each week of our three-week branching out to make room for all series. They were so excited to make Resurrection West their church home and I was inspired to hear how much they’ve connected here at West in just a few short weeks! These are not just stories but lives who are being changed here as we seek to build Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians!
This coming Sunday Pastor Adam will be preaching a sermon about the worst moms of the Bible. This will, no doubt, be an encouraging sermon and day of worship together as we celebrate the women who have made a significant impact in our lives. I can't help of think of my own mother and grandmothers, but even beyond that in the teachers, family friends, and other women who helped to shape my growth as a disciple of Christ.
Commitment cards to our branching out campaign continue to come in. I want to encourage you to get yours in as soon as possible if you haven't yet. We are calculating our sacrificial gift totals and plan to share where we are on Sunday, May 17th. We want to be sure to include your gift into the total that day, so if you consider Resurrection West your church home, please turn in your commitment card as soon as possible. We have commitment cards throughout the Sanctuary and you can drop your card right into the offering plate in worship at any of our three services Sunday at 9am, 10:45am, or 5pm.
Yesterday afternoon, our current District Superintendent, Rev. Mike Chamberlin, along with our incoming District Superintendent, Rev. Bruce Emmert, stopped by for a visit to our campus. The District Superintendent is the presiding pastor over all the pastors in the Kansas City District of our conference. It was exciting to give an orientation to our building and as I showed Rev. Emmert around the bulletin stuffers were about to gather to do the important work of stuffing the hundreds of bulletins for worship Sunday. Our backpack stuffing was also about to be underway where we are packing over 200 backpacks with food for children to have over the weekend, who might not otherwise have a meal from Friday lunch until Monday breakfast. I was so humbled to share how much you do as a congregation to serve God and what an honor it is to serve as your pastor! Well-done church, keep up the good work!Below are many different upcoming missions and ministry opportunities. Take a look through them and listen for God’s nudging of where you might plug-in to kingdom building here.
Join us in serving tomorrow at FaithWork!
Building Better Moms at RezWest
Compassion sponsorships for one more Sunday
KiDS COR needs you this summer!
Blood Drive - May 11th
Special Night just for 5th graders - May 13th
UM Women reading program and event on May 14th
Matthew's Ministry Night Out needs volunteers!
Young Adults heading to Royals - Yankees on May 16th
Rezlife middle school mission trip - register now!
Rezlife high school mission trip - register now!
Vacation Bible Camp 2015
Love to sing with others? Join group on Monday evenings
UPWARD soccer and basketball coming to West!
FaithWork – TOMORROW! Saturday, May 9, 9 am. Join us to serve God by serving those in need. Adults and children of all ages are welcome to help with family-friendly mission opportunities: make no–sew blankets to give to those in need in our community or help plant flowers around the church property and prayer walk to help beautify our grounds (weather permitting). Contact Chris.Holliday@cor.org.
Learn, Grow & Serve with Building Better Moms at Rez West! 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. Groups are forming for moms with children newborn through high school, including daytime and evening options. Register today! For more information, click here.
Returning for one more Sunday in our church entry! Compassion International offers you the opportunity to transform the life of a child living in poverty. Sponsor a boy or girl in Asia, Africa, Central America/the Caribbean or South America whose story you can change through your love, prayers, letters and support. Compassion child packets are available at the table in the Resurrection West front entry, or visit cor.org/compassion for information.
Summer Recruitment for KiDS COR – Close to 250 children participate in KiDS COR each Sunday at Resurrection West! During the school year, a team of volunteers serve your children. This summer we are asking EVERYONE who has children in KiDS COR to volunteer one or two Sundays, along with youth and other adults who just like to spend time with kids birth – 5th grade. Sign up starting Sunday in the hall on the lower level. Email Vicki.Holdman@cor.org for more information.
Resurrection West Blood Drive – Monday, May 11, 1-7 pm, Sanctuary. Share the gift of life! Anyone who is healthy, at least 16 years old and weighs at least 115 pounds may donate blood. Make an appointment at savealifenow.org, enter sponsor code “rezwest.”
Attention Current 5th graders and Parents! We welcome you as the newest members of Resurrection West rezlife! You’re invited to Middle School Youth Group on Wednesday, May 13, 6-7:30pm. Discover what youth group is all about, get answers for any questions and meet our new Director of Student Ministries, Rick Webb. Pizza and beverages provided. ContactRick.Webb@cor.org for more information.
The United Methodist Women Rez West Circle will meet Thursday, May 14, 12:30 pm. Margee Castle will present the UMW Reading Program, and dessert will be served. Join us to learn about this great program. Contact Donna Dickson atddgaildd@gmail.com
Volunteer for Matthew’s Ministry Family Night Out – Friday, May 15, 5:30-8 pm. Parents of children with special needs will have an evening out while their special needs family member and siblings enjoy fun crafts, games and friendship-building! Light meal served. Register participants and volunteers at rezwest.org/children.
RezWest Young Adults is for ages 22-35, married or single with no kids. Join us at the ball park to watch the Royals battle the Yankees Saturday, May 16. Meet at 4:30 pm at the church to carpool. To order a ticket to sit with the group, contact David.Robertson@cor.org.
Rezlife West Middle School Summer Mission Trip to downtown KC – All Middle School students (incoming 6th-8th graders) are invited to join us July 20-24, as we work with Resurrection Downtown to serve the community in downtown Kansas City. Cost is $200 which includes transportation, meals and lodging. This is a great opportunity to serve God while having a lot of fun! Register at rezwest.org/students.
rezlife West High School Nashville Mission Trip – All high school students (incoming 9th graders – outgoing seniors) are invited to join us in Nashville, June 7-13, to serve various ministries in the area. Fun will be had by all! Cost is $275, which includes transportation, housing and all meals except for two traveling lunches. Register at rezwest.org/nashvilletrip. Also seeking adult volunteers to assist with – and enjoy – the trip. Contact Rick.Webb@cor.org to volunteer.
Vacation Bible Camp 2015 is coming! Join in the fun of “Disciple Me” at Resurrection West VBC June 22-25, and for Family Fun Night on Friday, June 26. Hundreds of kids join us every summer for a fun-filled VBC experience, and we need lots of volunteers to help it all come together! Your gifts and talents are needed for planning, teaching, organizing or leading. Adults who sign up to volunteer for the VBC week may register their children early at a discounted rate. Visit rezwest.org/vbc for more information and to sign up to serve.
Adult Choir Starting this Month! Do you like to sing? Adults who are interested in forming a Resurrection West chorus, please contact Margee Castle at macastle@aol.com. Rehearsals are Monday evenings at 7.
Upward Sports Coming to Resurrection West - We are starting a youth sports program with soccer this fall, followed by basketball in the winter. We will also run one-day basketball and soccer clinics this summer, July 8/9. Our goal is to provide a positive, biblically based environment for children to develop mentally, athletically, spiritually and socially. Join us to help our youth discover a love for sports in a healthy competitive atmosphere and develop the skills they need to succeed. Register, volunteer and learn more at rezwest.westsports.
Finally, it is with a sad heart I share with you that Shawn Simpson - Director of Technical Arts and Operations, here at Resurrection West has transitioned off of our staff team. We celebrate Shawn’s service to the mission and ministry here and wish him well in the future. Here is just a short bit from the words he posted on his facebook page yesterday…
“The past 6 years have been an amazing journey for me and my family and one that I will never regret. I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and work on inspired mission work to draw people closer to God using the skills and talents that He blessed me with. There have been challenges along the way as there would be in any journey worth taking, but the people who have touched my life and given me the chance to touch theirs will stay with me forever.”
Please join me in praying for Shawn and his family in this time of transition. We know God will continue to use his incredible passion, gifts, and skills to share the good news of Christ with all.
Welcome our newest members: Adam & Nichole Eshelbrenner, Corbin and Clayton and Emery, Steve & Jerri Hoover, Jeremy & Claudette Stevenson and Chloe, Bret Barnhart and Taylor, Adam & Malerie Luttrell and Lucy and June, Simon & Emily Goodwin and Cooper, Fallon Collene, Peyton and Brendon, David Wilson, Chris & Anne Rahimian, and Connor and Landon, Ryan & Karen Swart and Marli, Wendy Burkett
Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday,
Pastor Jason
Resurrection West Campus
24000 West Valley Parkway Olathe, Kansas 66061 United States
913-538-7800
For an after hours urgent pastoral care need call 913-314-6058
rezwest.org
Follow on twitter @rezwest
Connect on facebook at facebook.com/ResurrectionWest
Pastor Jason Gant
jason.gant@rezwest.org
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West
24000 West Valley Parkway
Olathe, Kansas 66061 United States
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