Pastor Penny Ellwood's eNote for Friday, 21 October 2016 from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs of Blue Springs, Missouri, United States

Pastor Penny Ellwood's eNote for Friday, 21 October 2016 from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs of Blue Springs, Missouri, United States
Friday, October 21, 2016
Resurrection Blue Springs,
As I sat at my desk this morning, I was reflecting about our Disciple class this week. One of the group shared with us how her life had been transformed because of our church and the community she has found here. It was one more affirmation of how God is using us to change lives. This led me to think about all the amazing things that have happened this year. Our congregation continues to grow in size. We had an amazing response to our first capital campaign and have now finished our beautiful new gathering space for welcoming connection and conversation. Our involvement in Missions has doubled this year. Our Rezlife is exploding and we have large number of our community committed to their faith development in the classes currently being offered. I thank God for the many blessings we have seen this past year and look forward to what God has in store for us next.
This Sunday is an important day for us as we look toward 2017. We'll be turning in commitment cards with our pledges for financial giving for the upcoming year. We do this every fall to develop our fiscal planning for the upcoming year. This is how we plan for the mission and ministry of our church. I’m hoping that each and everyone of you who call Resurrection Blue Springs your church home will join Bill and I in praying together and then filling out a commitment card for the upcoming year as a way of drawing nearer to God and reflecting God’s generosity to the world around you. At each worship service we’ll invite people to bring their commitments forward at the close of worship. If you are unable to attend this weekend, please consider filling out your commitment card online by clicking here (be sure to select 'Resurrection Blue Springs'). For everyone who makes a commitment we’ll have a special gift for you after worship (our 2017 coffee mug)! You'll love the design for this year.
I'm also hoping you'll spend time in prayer considering how you might "step up" in your commitment to grow, serve, and share your faith in this coming year as well. These life-giving spiritual disciplines will aid you toward becoming a deeply committed Christian and help us to continue our work to change lives, transform our community and renew the church.
I can’t wait to see you this weekend and in the meantime, take a look at all the upcoming activities and events . . .

• Fall Festival is next Sunday, Oct. 30, 4-6 pm. This is a community wide event and everything will be free. We will have inflatibles, balloon artists, a photo booth, food, games and trunks for trick or treating. Please invite neighbors, friends and family and come on out to watch the fun and greet our neighbors. 
• Right now our greatest need is for more trunks for the trick or treating. We'll even provide the candy for the trunks. If you can provide a trunk, please let Diane know so she can get information out to you and know how to estimate how much of the parking lot needs to be reserved. The sign ups are at guest services on both sides. If you plan to do a trunk please be all decorated and ready to go by 4:00 and plan on staying until 6:00. We still need some more volunteers at the game stations and food table too. We are also taking candy donations in the barrel and are going to need cupcakes for the cakewalk. You can bring cupcakes on Sunday the 30th and leave them in the kitchen. Contact Diane.Enlow@cor.org or sign up at Guest Services on Sunday. 
• Pick up donations – You are invited to prayerfully consider whether you can answer the call to this opportunity. A driver is needed to pick up donations from Buy Buy Baby in Independence every other Thursday at 11 am, and deliver them to My Father’s House on Manchester Trfwy. in Kansas City. Some donations are large enough to require an SUV or mini-van to accommodate them. If you are interested, contact Sherree Gorman.
• RezMoms – Bring your family on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 am, to Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch, 17607 NE 52nd St., Liberty, MO. Gather at the front entrance from 10:45-11 am (allow plenty of time to park and get to the entrance). Come for a few hours or stay for the whole day!
• Singles Game Night – Saturday, Oct. 22, 6:30 pm at Resurrection Blue Springs. Come for games and fellowship. Bring your own soft drinks, snacks and a game you like to play. Hope to see you then!
• All-Church Hayride & Bonfire – Sunday, Oct. 23, 4 pm. Get to know your fellow worshipers and celebrate fall with a hayride and bonfire at the Wolverton’s farm at 36311 E. Borgman Rd., Buckner, MO. Join us for hotdogs, s’mores, hot chocolate and the hayride! Bring lawn chairs and sticks for roasting marshmallows. Invite your neighbors to come for the fun.
• First Serve – Do you want to know more about all the volunteer opportunities at Resurrection Blue Springs? Sunday, Oct. 30, after the 9 and 10:45 am services is your chance to sign up for a First Serve volunteer opportunity for Sunday morning hospitality, worship support, KiDSCOR, tech arts and more! Sign up and get a free t-shirt! We've also got t-shirts to thank all our current volunteers! 
• Student Ministry Program Director Needed - We are excited to be adding a new part-time (10-15 hours) position to our staff. The Student Ministry Program Director will plan and implement student ministry goals and programming and establish new ministry opportunities. This person will recruit, manage and equip volunteers and student leaders. We are looking for someone with exceptional interpersonal skills, previous experience working with youth and the ability to create and/or modify curriculum. Visit cor.org/employment for more information and to apply.
• Metamorphosis, which literally means the process of being transformed, is the name of the yearly rezlife fall retreat at Youthfront West Camp. This fall, the 6th-8th grade retreat is Nov. 4-6, and high school is Nov. 18-20. These retreats feature campfires, hayrides, fun outdoor games and relays, awesome time bonding in cabins with faithful discussion, and great worship music, messages, and experiences. Every year students’ lives are transformed by God at Metamorphosis. Registration open for students and adult volunteers at www.cor.org/students.
• Come and support our ministry that provides weekend food to students at Paul Kinder who are food insecure. It’s simple and painless. In fact it is downright delicious! Just go and eat at Raising Cane’s (in front of Target) after church on November 6th and mention that you are there for Church of the Resurrection fundraiser. 15% of all of the sales between 11am & 3pm will be donated to our “Backpack” Ministry!
• 21 Questions Small Groups Forming– Tuesdays, Nov. 8-22, 6:30-8:30 pm. It’s widely known that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. Be a part of this 3-week study, where each participant will have access to a 21-day devotional complete with daily reading, personal reflection questions and practical ideas for living out our faith. The Wesley Challenge content is based upon the famous 21 questions of John and Charles Wesley’s notably nicknamed group, The Holy Club. The questions help us examine our relationship to God, Self and Others. The purpose of the Wesley 21 Day Challenge is to go beyond mere words and develop the spiritual habits that lead us toward a thriving Christian life. Join a small group or create your own group of 2-3 other couples or singles. Engage in the daily GPS Guide readings and connect through Resurrection’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for helpful prompts. Sign up at Guest Services or online. For questions, contact Mike.Ash@cor.org.
• Mark Your Calendars – Saturday Nov. 19, 6:30-8:30 pm, for Men’s Gathering “The Locker Room.” The locker room is where you prepare for the challenges ahead of you, rejoice in a victory and start to rebuild after a defeat. So come meet your teammates (walk-ons, rookies and veterans are welcome) as we prepare for the game of life. Please sign up at Guest Services or online here for the box dinner to be provided. Contact Mike.Ash@cor.org for more information.

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Abundant Blessings,
Penny
For our Resurrection Blue Springs Campus Calendar: click here
Contact Our Staff
Church Office Phone: (816) 389-8900
Rev. Penny Ellwood, Campus Pastor penny.ellwood@cor.org
Mike Ash, Worship Leader/Director of Community mike.ash@cor.org
Mark Maschger, Ministry Associate mark.maschger@cor.org
Diane Enlow, Director of Children's Ministry diane.enlow@cor.org
Riley Ledford, Technical Producer riley.ledford@cor.org
Heather Sooley, Operations Coordinating Assistant heather.sooley@cor.org
Stephanie Weigel, Guest Services Coordinating Assistant stephanie.weigel@cor.org
Caitlin Willis, Nursery Coordinator caitlin.willis@cor.org
Lori Wolverton, Nursery Staff lori.wolverton@cor.org
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs
601 NorthEast Jefferson Street

Blue Springs, Missouri 64014, United States
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