Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton
Friday, February 24, 2017
Dear Resurrection Family,
Once again this weekend I’ll preach at the Leawood Campus about what it means to be the church. We’ll look at the role of the church as a place of healing and wholeness as we look at the events that took place in Acts chapters 3 and 5 at a place called Solomon’s Porch – part of the temple courts. I’ll show you what this place looked like, and we’ll see how it is a model for what we hope to do in our healing and care ministries today. We’ll also look at the connection between Solomon’s Porch and the renovations planned for the current sanctuary where Care Night, Support Groups and Matthew’s Ministry will meet. More on that below.
This is an exciting weekend in the life of the church! We have 278 youth at Leawood who have gone through confirmation and who will profess their faith in Christ and become adult members of Resurrection. These students have been mentored through the process by 62 dedicated adult mentors who have helped these young adults to grow in their faith and to be ready to confess their faith in Christ. The confirmation class will be divided up and attending different services throughout the weekend, with the actual Confirmation service being held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the Leawood sanctuary. Many of you invested in the spiritual life and growth of these young people. Please know that you are welcome to attend. You will find the names of these young people at the bottom of this eNote. Please stop and pray for them as they take this important step in their faith.
Lent begins this coming week with Ash Wednesday. Each campus will host their own Ash Wednesday service – please check your campus pastor’s e-note for the time of the service. At Leawood our service will be held on March 1 at 7 pm in the sanctuary. In biblical times the imposition of ashes on one’s head was a way of publically expressing an awareness of one’s sin and repentance. But ashes were also a sign of one’s mortality – we say at the burial, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Ash Wednesday points both to our need for forgiveness and our mortality. This is an important way to begin the season of Lent as it points to Lent’s climax. Lent ends in Jesus’ death on the cross for our forgiveness, and his resurrection which demonstrates his triumph over death. So we begin the season acknowledging our need, and we end Lent showing God’s merciful provision in Christ, offering forgiveness and everlasting life. Join us for this powerful service of worship.
Have you been thinking about joining the church? At Leawood you have one final chance to join before we move into the new sanctuary. It’s an historic moment that is a unique time to make this your church family. If you would like to know more about the church and becoming a member, or if you are ready to join, plan to attend Coffee with the Pastors on Sunday, March 5, from 2 to 4 pm in the Student Center. I and the other pastors will 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. It is an inspiring gathering. Childcare is available. There are typically 100 or more people in attendance. 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.
I just received a report from the Souper Bowl Food Drive. At all of our campuses you brought in a total of 23 tons of food and donated an additional $16,700 to purchase food to distribute to area food pantries. We buy in bulk and that should get us pretty close to our goal of 40 tons for this food drive. Thank you for your generosity! As part of the Souper Bowl, Radio Station Life 88.5FM did a peanut butter drive and donated 492 jars, and KidsCOR did a cereal drive and donated 350 boxes of cereal. Once again I’m proud of you and the generosity you show in serving others. Your gifts will supply many of Kansas City’s food pantries for months and provide meals for struggling families in our community. I want to thank the over 100 volunteers who worked behind-the-scenes over three weeks to make this drive happen.
Each year we plan at least one trip to the Holy Land led by one or two of our pastors. On November 8-17 Pastor Scott Chrostek will lead a spiritual journey, a pilgrimage, to the Holy Land. On this pilgrimage you’ll have a chance to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, retracing his story in the places it happened. I believe every Christian who can make this journey should, at least once in their lifetime. You’ll never read the gospels the same way again. For more information, visit the Connection Point this weekend to pick up an informational brochure before or after worship. To register or for more info, please also visit cor.org/downtown/events.
For those of you at the Leawood campus, I wanted to say a bit more about the renovations to the existing sanctuary and the capital campaign we’ve embarked on to pay for these renovations and the sanctuary.
In January of 2014 our congregation overwhelmingly approved moving forward with a capital campaign to raise money for the building of the permanent sanctuary. At the time we noted that the goal of the campaign was to raise $60 million towards the cost of construction of the permanent sanctuary and renovation of the existing sanctuary – a total project cost was estimated at $93 million - $81.3 million for the sanctuary (based upon detailed design drawings) and an $11.7 million allowance for renovating the current sanctuary. At the time of the vote we shared that the financing would require that we conduct a follow-up capital campaign in the spring of 2017.
In January of 2015, with the final construction documents and terms of our financing in place the congregation voted at our all church gathering, by a vote of 98.6% to 1.4%, to move forward with construction and the terms of our financing. It was noted in these terms that a capital campaign would need to be held in the spring of 2017 with the goal of raising between $20 and $25 million towards the cost of the sanctuary and renovations. Our lender required as a part of the terms of their construction loan and permanent financing that we raise at minimum the amount that we would spend on the renovations. Our construction financing will be converted to permanent financing next year once the renovations are completed.
We’re hopeful that by April we will have received $60 million from the 10,000 Reasons capital campaign that over 4,000 households participated in, giving sacrificially over and above their regular giving during the last three years. All funds we have received, as per our financing, have gone to pay for construction as they were received. By April you will have paid for nearly 75% of the cost of the sanctuary. That is remarkable.
So now we’re in the midst of our follow-up campaign to raise the funds for the renovations and to continue to pay for the balance of the sanctuary cost. The cost of the renovation, after value engineering, is estimated to be $15.7 million to meet the needs of the space as defined by our programs. The total cost of the project will have been $97 million. We hope to have received $60 million by April. Our goal is to raise $25 million in this campaign, which will leave $12 million in long term financing. 300 of our leaders have already made advance commitments and I’ll share with you in worship this weekend what they have already committed to this effort.
My invitation to those of you at Leawood who were not a part of the last capital campaign is to join us in making a three-year pledge, over and above your regular offerings, to help fund the sanctuary and/or the classrooms, Vibe worship space, kitchen and Matthew’s Ministry space. For those who did participate in the last campaign, I’m asking if you would pray about renewing your commitment for another three years. LaVon and I and many others have already committed to doing so. If most of our people did this, we would exceed our campaign goal and every dollar over the goal reduces our need for long term financing and increases the amount of our regular offerings that go to missions and ministries rather than debt service.
I’d love to see us move into the new sanctuary knowing that, with the new pledges coming in, we had completely paid for the sanctuary, or, looked at another way, that we will completely pay for the renovations and pay down the sanctuary and only have $12 million that we’ll finance. That would be incredible. And it is possible, if each family at Leawood participates in some way.
On Saturday and Sunday, March 4 and 5, we’ll end the service making our commitments in this effort. Then we’ll walk to the new sanctuary where you’ll see the completed stained glass window and where the bands or choir and orchestra from the various services will lead us in one final song and a time of prayer over the seats in the room.
As I write this note, the team from Judson Studios is installing the final third of the stained glass windows. Our choir and orchestra rehearsed in the new sanctuary for the first time this week, as has the Vibe Band. Lance and his band have been in the space and will have a full rehearsal in the coming week. We received our temporary occupancy permit this week. Some of our staff have begun moving into their lower level offices (our video, communications, technical arts and music ministry staff will all have their offices in the lower level of the new building). The organ is being installed this week (we are re-using the existing sanctuary organ but parts of the organ and speakers are being upgraded to better serve the new sanctuary). I can’t wait to take you into the room on March 4/5!
As always, I’m grateful to serve as your pastor and excited about what God has in store for our congregation at each of its campuses in the coming year!
Adam
*2016-17 Confirmation Class
Alexa Addisson Adams
Samuel William Albert
Andrew Patrick Allen
Hunter Lee Anderson
Jenna Marie Anderson
Ellie Elise Bail
Juliet Caroline Bartels
Riley Rea Beach
Gavin Daniel Beaver
Emily Grace Bechard
Sydney Elizabeth Beck
Andrew Michael Bell
Aidan Lawrence Bergeman
Emily Grace Bernard
Alexis Grace Bevan
Samuel Jay Bevil
Grayson Philip Beyers
Grant Cooper Bowen
Bailey Lynn Bowles
Sheridan Rebecca Bredehoeft
Alison Nicole Brenneman
Hannah Marie Broyles
Sean Thomas Brucker
Henry Jay Buckley
David Reuben Butler
Grant Elliot Butler
McKenzie Diane Canon
Mallory Ann Carroll
Piper Alexis Carter
Austin Matthew Christ
Jeremy Scott Clark
Maxwell Grant Close
Schuyler David Coffman
Abigail Sueanne Collins
Paul Christopher Conrady
Ella Scout Cook
Gage Walker Cook
Wyatt Steven Courtney
Cade David Cowdrey
Braden Wilson Crank
Troy Ganio D'Amico
Chloe Alexandra Danner
Kayte Shandy DeLong
Elizabeth Ann Diederich
Matthew Davis Donovan
Kaitlyn Ann Doshier
Francesca Gabriele Duntz
Imani Ashanti Edwards
Nicholas Mitra Edwards
Thomas Mitra Edwards
Lukas Wayne Ellis
Ethan Eugene Elstun
Katelyn Nicole Elstun
Nicholas Kelt Engle
Haven Brianne Everhart
Avery Jayne Feather
Mackenzie Grace Feldman
Tyler Reed Feldman
Makenna Nicole Fitzpatrick
Callie Jo Flanagan
Andrew Christopher Folmsbee
Hannah Grace Ford
Logan Rian Frazier
Cade Clark Freiermuth
Jordan Lucas Funk
Colin Bradley Gaebler
Brendan Yves Gailliaert
Ashtyn Brooke Garms
Brian Robert Garretson
Emma Elizabeth Gau
Carolyn Kay Godderz
Ella Eugenia Gordon
Carson Allen Gould
Garrett Michael Green
Skylar Grace Guarini
Mikayla Jane Gunther
Jackson Robert Hagen
Olivia Lauren Hailey
Matthew Garrett Hamel
Avery Madlyn Hamer
Noah Landon Hammond
Brayden Robert Hanna
Joshua Reed Hanna
Stella Ann Harber
John Wesley Harden
Emma Lucille Harrington
Hanna Jean Harrington
Lauren Elisabeth Hartman
Quincy Morgan Hartman
William Harrison Hatton
Mark Paul Havens
Carson Allen Hawk
Adam George Hawn
David Aaron Heck
Jackson David Heese
Alexander John Heidenreich
Anna Elizabeth Heise
Samuel Robert Heise
Ann Katherine Heitman
Lauren Charlotte Herinckx
Sumner Elizabeth Herold
Lauren Frances Herrington
Katherine Elayne Heyka
Michael Raymond Hill
Noah Asher Hines
Diana Marian Hisle
Zachary Dean Hofen
Alexandra Dill Holmes
Shaun Dill Holmes
Robert Fitzpatrick Horn
Delaney Raines Horst
Payton Jo Hosier
David Scott Hudler
Adrie Eileen Hunt
Ethan Thomas Hunt
Carson Christopher Hunter
Jordan Suzanne Hunter
Mia Anne Iandolo
Jonathan Daniel Isaacson
Tristan Jonathan Jacobs
Naomi Louise James
Hannah Olivia Jamison
Chase Lee Jans
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Jashinski
Quinn Ryan Jesse
Caleb Lee Johnson
Emma Grace Johnson
Adam Connor Jones
Addisyn Michelle Jones
Ava Renee Jones
Kathryn Brough Jones
Nicholas Steen Jorgensen
Ryan Patrick Kempker
Katherine Ellen Kendall
Jackson Todd Klestinske
Aidan Lee Knauth
Burton August Kohrs
Makenzie Ann Krug
Joseph David LaBelle
Ashley Kate Lamfers
Morgan Christine Lank
Luke Hayden Lansford
Kyle Joseph Leathers
Tara Nicole Lentell
Isabelle Pauline Lentfer
Audrey Lee Likens
Jacob Johnathan Lippe
Lindsey Nicole Locke
Noah Alexander Locke
Ian Patrick Loftus
Grant Ross Longwell
Chase Michael Mally
Logan Bradley Markes
Grant Eldon Martin
John Frederic Martin
Samuel James Martin
Jillian Nicole May
Mitchell Owen McConnell
Ethan Sanford McCormick
Brooklyn Alexis McDonald
Blake Alexander Marshall McFeeters
Ashlyn Kay McManigal
Madison Elizabeth Mead
Claire Elizabeth Meyers
Addison Marie Miller
Marissa Ann Mondock
Maya Lynn Mondock
Annabelle Suzanne Moore
Caroline Marie Moore
Caitlyn Nicole Moore
Connor Todd Moore
Jacob Paul Moszyk
Ryan Thomas Mulrenan
Alisha Jean Mulvaney
John Charles Mulvaney
Joshua Jon Murdock
Jack William Murphy
Nathaniel Gene Myers
Colby Hampton Neal
Andrew Scott Nehrbass
Benjamin James Nichols
Kersti Eileen Nix
Reese Cline Nix
Griffin Gregory Norvell
Carolyn Grace Nuss
Caitlin Rose O'Connor
Aryanna Elizabeth Oeffner
Rebecka Jan Oeffner
Vivien Paris O'Keefe
Noble Earl Oxford IV
Christine Arianna Page
Olivia Danielle Palmer
Isaac James Patterson
Jared Michael Patterson
Jacob Allen Paulson
Elizabeth Rose Peeples
Alyssa Catherine Peterson
Kiley Ryan Peterson
Ryan Michael Peterson
Jonathan Dennis Petree, Jr.
Natalie Jo Petty
Grace Elizabeth Pfanstiel
Will Stephen Pieper
Sarah Christine Platt
Grace Anne Plunkett
Aliyah Velazquez Pullin
Rowan Campbell Ramey
Julia Leigh Ratterman
Tyler Samuel Ratterman
Broderick C. Rembold
Reese Olivia Renzi
Logan Warren Rhodes
Lauren Nicole Ringgenberg
Bella Rose Rinne
Bo Robert Rinne
Owen Francis Roberts
Christina Renae Robertson
Lily Ann Rosenbaum
Dawson Vaughn Rosenbaum
Gavin Thomas Ruder
Sophia Carlan Ruhnke
Jaden Elizabeth Runchey
Logan Elizabeth Rush
Dane Jordan Saathoff
Andrew Max Sale
Emma Grace Sand
Rachel Elizabeth Sarff
Isabel Shayne Schelhammer
Ryan Richard Schier
Alaina Kay Scotten
Aidan Jefferson Sears
Jordan Alexander Senderson
Kylie Brooke Sewell
Lola Grace Shipman
Anna Marie Shoup
Lauren Kay Sinclair
David John Sjoberg
Madelaine Raeann Smith
Nathan Lee Snyder
Jack Christopher St Pierre
Isabelle Margaret Stapp
Olivia Lorraine Stigge
Dylan Isaac Stone
Kylie Jane Stonestreet
Scott Joseph Strout
James Charles Stubbers
John Phillip Sublett
Nicholas Scott Sullivan
Ike Brewer Summerlin
Samantha Ryan Sussman
Olivia RuthAnne Swyers
Gabrielle Nicole Tappan
Lauren Nikole Taylor
Rece Conlin Teale
Olivia Nicole Thomas
Caroline Ann Thummel
Allyson Rene Townsend
Jaxson Matthew Townsend
James Harrison Gill Triplett
Luke Gilbert Twyman
Megan Ann VanderLeest
Lauren Rebecca Vincent
Jillian Nicole Vistuba
Samuel Randal Waggoner
Hannah Grace Walden
Brooke Alexandra Walters
Sam Muiruri Wambua
Clayton Lee Way
Isabella Violetta Way
Thomas Trinidad Way
Jacy Jane Williams
Alex James Willis
Meryn Eileen Wills
Grace Ann Wilson
Natalie Grace Wilson
Seth Ethan Wisdom
Elizabeth Grace Wombolt
Tyler Brennan Woods
Lucille Marie Zimmerman
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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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