Sunday, January 22, 2017Dear Resurrection Family,
I’m listening to the inauguration as I’m typing this e-mail (I’m typing this at 9 am so have not yet heard the President’s Inaugural Address). I’m listening to people sharing their hopes and dreams for this presidency. Four years ago I had the chance to be in D.C. for Inauguration Day. It was a remarkable experience that made me even more grateful for our nation and its institutions. Four years ago I prayed for the President, First Lady and his cabinet, that God would lead and guide them, strengthen and protect them, ennoble and use them to help America live up to her vision. I am praying the same thing today for President Trump. Regardless of your political convictions, I hope you will join me in this prayer today.
This weekend we’ll continue in our series of sermons on fear, focusing on the fear of loneliness, of being alone and being unloved. Time Magazine has called loneliness the new epidemic. In Great Britain addressing loneliness has become a national priority in the last few years as they recognize the health impact of loneliness is dramatic. We’ll look at our fears, worries and anxieties related to being alone and unloved, what the therapeutic community prescribes, and how our faith plays a pivotal role in helping us to be UnAfraid: Living with Courage and Hope.
By the way, I’ve just posted a blog called I Believe. It focuses on the nature of belief, why doubt goes hand-in-hand with belief, and how Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed changes our lives. It is taken from the introduction of my new book, Creed: What Christians Believe and Why. If you are interested you can read it here.
Last weekend with the ice storm we had a record number of people try to join us online – over 8,500. Some of you were not able to log on. Some were able to log on but only listen to the service or watch it in standard definition. I’m so sorry for the problems. The issue was with the company that provides this service – they provide the same service to churches across the country – but there were technical problems on their end. Sunday night we switched to a back-up provider but that led to other problems. Our team has been working on, and testing the system this week, making changes and looking at how to ensure this does not happen again. We’re still in process of doing that, but our hope is that, barring another ice storm, the system should be working properly this weekend. Again, we apologize for the frustration.
Someone asked me why Resurrection continues to hold worship when other churches close in inclement weather. There are a couple of reasons we do what we can to keep the doors open when the weather is bad. First is that often the road conditions are not as bad as predicted. That happened again this last weekend where the ice that was predicted didn’t materialize. Second is that, on any given weekend we have a host of people who really need what they find in worship that weekend – God, people, and hope. I meet these folks in the narthex every weekend after worship, including this last weekend. But while we have said that as long as a pastor, someone who can lead singing and someone who can turn on the lights can make it to church, we’ll have service, we always encourage you to use your best discretion as to whether you should try to get out and attend. Last year on a Sunday when the roads were bad I sent a note out encouraging you that, unless you had a four-wheel drive vehicle, you might want to stay home and join us online. I’m grateful for our online services which allow you to join us for worship even when the weather is bad. Last weekend 4,281 people attended in person at one of our campus, and 8,700 people joined us online (likely more who tried).
This weekend in worship at Leawood, we will commission our new Congregational Care Ministers and recognize the pastorate pastor for each of our worship communities. These pastors and lay care ministers are a vital part of the ministry here at Church of the Resurrection. Our Congregational Care ministry will be in the Narthex with information about all the classes, groups, and programs they offer. If you sense God calling you to serve in this ministry, this will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about this ministry and to stop by and introduce yourself to your Care Pastor and all of our Congregational Care Ministers (CCMs) who serve in this ministry. You can learn more about Congregational Care ministries here.
I want to thank everyone who turned out for the MLK Serve Day this past Monday. We had the biggest turnout we’ve ever had to go into the community and serve on Dr. King Day. We have received excellent feedback from Adelante Thrift, Avenue of Life, Lazarus Ministries, Mission Hope, and My Father’s House of overflowing hallways and high spirits. Plus, the book drive, for a first time around, was a great success. Thank you to each of you who served on Monday!
At Leawood, we have nine weeks until we move into the new sanctuary! As I mentioned on Sunday at 10:45, the organ has been moved to the new sanctuary so Barbara Eichenberger is on keyboards for the next 9 weeks. The seats were installed under the balcony this week. The Kid’s COR entrance is nearing completion. The millwork, lighting and cabinetry continue to be installed. The concrete floor in the narthex is being polished. The speakers were hung in the sanctuary. You’ll have a chance to see all of this and more a week from today, Friday January 27, as part of our annual Church Gathering.
Join me and our other pastors for Coffee with the Pastors, Sunday, January 22, from 2 to 4 in the Student Center. Childcare is available. There will likely be 100 people in attendance and we’ll share with you more about the church, what it means to be a member, what Methodists believe and practice, and what it means to be a Christian. At the end those who are ready to join take the membership vows in a brief joining service and become official members of the church as they commit their lives to Christ. Click here to register and to register for childcare.
The Racial Justice Forum that was postponed from the past Sunday night has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 12. I hope you’ll put this on your calendar. On that evening at 7 pm, a terrific panel of guests and members of Resurrection and St. James United Methodist Church will come together at our Leawood campus to focus on the impact of segregation on the education system in Kansas City and what we can do to have a positive impact for change. I will be joined by Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, historian Erik Stafford, KCMO Councilwoman Alissia Canady, Dr. Derald Davis from KC Public Schools and Michael Mayberry from Grace United Community Ministries. Register and submit your questions for panelists here.
Don’t forget next Tuesday night at 6:30 pm is our annual Church Conference – our annual meeting to vote on our budget, to elect officers, and to approve candidates for ministry. Everyone from all of our campuses is welcome; however, only church members may vote. The Resurrection West Campus (24000 W. Valley Parkway, Olathe, KS) will host this year’s meeting, providing an opportunity following the meeting to tour the new entrance, café, meeting rooms and children’s wing. Registration is not required. Childcare available. For questions, email Dan Entwistle.
Finally, as I noted above, a week from tonight is our All Church Gathering. This year each campus will hold their own gathering to focus on campus specific issues. At Leawood we’ll gather to see the plans for the remodel of the current sanctuary, how this space will be used and why it matters. Then we’ll walk to the new sanctuary where we’ll see the progress, experience the room by night with the stained glass lit from behind, and we’ll hold what will be, in essence, our first opportunity to worship in the space. It is going to be a don’t miss event. We will not serve dinner this year and will begin at bit later, doors will open at 6:15 and we will begin at 6:30 pm. Mark your calendar now.
Again, on this Inauguration Day, please join me in prayers for our nation, our new President and his family, and all who will serve in his administration, as well as all who serve our country holding public office.
See you in worship!
Adam
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
913.897.0120
www.cor.org
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