Greetings Resurrection Blue Springs,
Like most of you, this week I have been trying to make sense of the tragedy (mass shooting) in Las Vegas. My heart has grieved for the senseless loss of so many lives and I have struggled to stay above the funk that has followed me this week. I’m not sure we’re going to have all the answers we want for this act of evil but I’m not fully convinced we should either. Too often we want these answers so we’ll know how and who to direct our own anger and hate towards. We cannot let hate and violence have the last word.
The places I have found peace this week have been in the stories of the many individuals who rendered aid and helped one another. It’s been in the times this week when I’ve been gathered with others. It was in a choir rehearsal on Monday night, singing a beautiful rendition of Psalm 100. The words of the Psalm reminding me that God has all this in his control. It is he who made us and we are his.
It was coming together for Bible study on Wednesday night with our Disciple group and recounting together the faithfulness of God throughout the generations. In reading the stories of the Old Testament, we found hope that God is always merciful to a humanity that is constantly getting it wrong. God’s steadfast love endures above all things. At times like this it is up to us to stand together with one another to offer living signs of hope to a weary world.
It begins by gathering together in unity to pray, study and serve. It continues in the actions of our everyday lives. When we overcome our fear and apathy to speak out against hate and the persecution of others. It happens when we work to know one another, to care for one another and to show it by our actions each day.
This week we have a new sermon series which will help us entitled, Ordinary: Experiencing God's presence in the day-to-day. Pastor Scott Chrostek will help us tap into daily disciplines we can employ in order to experience a closer walk with God through the everyday. Please invite a friend and join us this weekend as we look at how we can meet God even in the midst of the ordinary. We also have two big serving events coming up to be in our community together and classes forming to grow in knowledge and understanding and to walk with one another. You’ll find more details on both of these events and others below.
Have a great day!
Pastor Penny
Upcoming Events & Activities
Committee Nominations Underway
The following committees are seeking candidates to serve beginning in 2018: Finance, Trustees, Staff Parish Relations, Foundation, Nominations and Lay Delegates to Annual Conference. You can refer someone you know, or indicate your interest in serving by visiting cor.org/committees by Monday, Oct. 16.
Miroslav Volf to Speak at Resurrection
Tuesday | October 10 | 6:30 pm | Resurrection Leawood Sanctuary
We are blessed to welcome Dr. Miroslav Volf, one of the most celebrated theologians of our day, to share a message with us. Dr. Volf is the author of Public Faith: On How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good and Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation, and he serves as the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. To register, click here.
Live and Let Think (Start date now Oct. 11)
If you question faith, wonder about God or carry lots of lingering doubts and concern, join us Wednesdays, October 11 – November 15 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm as we discuss tough issues of faith, ask questions and discover what others think about God. Sessions begin with a meal, followed by a short talk and discussion in a small group setting. This class is comprised of Short talks. Big questions. Doubts welcome. Cost for materials is $10 + meal donation. Learn more or click here to register.
Christmas in October
Christmas In October (CIO) is a local nonprofit that rehabilitates lower-income homes in the KC area. Through our relationship with CIO, Resurrection has become a major force in helping elderly, disabled and veteran homeowners remain in their homes. On October 14, we will aid in winterization, painting, yard clean-up, and minor repairs. Anyone 14 and older encouraged to participate. No construction skills necessary. To register for the Blue Springs group's house, select House 04 (2620 Garfield, KCMO) when you click here.
FaithWork - City Slickers Hoedown at Drumm Farm
We need volunteers from 10am to 2pm on October 14th to help bus tables or run an activity booth for the City Slicker's Hoedown at Drumm Farm's Center for Children (3210 Lees Summit Rd, Independence, MO) This charity event will raise funds for three great charities: Drumm Farm in Independence (helping kids in foster care or homeless young adults build successful & well-adjusted lives), Variety – The Children’s Charity (supplying adaptive equipment to children with developmental disabilities), and Water4 – (locals putting sustainable clean water in communities globally). This Faithwork is open to anyone high school age or above, click here to sign up today!
Trunk or Treat October 29
Our largest community wide event is coming up on Sunday, Oct. 29, 4-6 pmand we need your help! We need volunteers the day of the event to help with games/activities and to bring up a decorated car trunk for the event. We also need candy donations to hand out from our trunks. Candy donations can be placed in the Collections Barrel in the west entry. Sign up to help with activities or provide trunks at KiDSCOR check-in or click here. For more info, contact Diane.Enlow@cor.org.
Rezlife Metamorphosis Fall Retreats
For grades 6-8 – Nov. 3-5; grades 9-12 – Nov. 17-19. Youthfront Camp West, Edgerton, KS, with outdoor games, campfires, hayrides, worship activities in large and small group settings and time for students to grow deeper in their faith. For more information and registration, click here.
Prayer Partners for Wendell Phillips
We have a unique opportunity to connect with our Partner School in KC. We are looking for people willing to pray for staff members at Wendell Phillips Elementary and write a monthly note of encouragement. That gives us a spiritual bond with our partner school and forms a meaningful relationship with each and every staff person there. Maybe you aren’t able to physically volunteer at our partner school at 24th & Prospect, but this is a volunteer opportunity you can do. Stop by the table on Sunday at church to sign up as a Prayer Partner and to pick up note package for your selected staff member.
* For a complete list of upcoming activities, visit cor.org/bluesprings/events.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs Staff
Rev. Penny Ellwood, Resurrection Blue Springs Pastor
Mike Ash, Worship Leader & Director of Community
Caleb Longest, Director of Student Ministries
Diane Enlow, Director of Children's Ministries
Riley Ledford, Technical Producer
Heather Sooley, Operations Coordinating Assistant
Stephanie Weigel, Guest Connections Coordinating Assistant
Caitlin Willis, Nursery Coordinator
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs
For after-hours pastoral care, please call (913) 338-9477.
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