Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. I want to start by saying thank you to the 262 households that completed your 2018 commitment cards and brought them forward this past Sunday! It was quite moving at all four services to see so many committing their offerings to God here at RezWest. If you’ve yet to complete your card, would you please go online right now and complete it at cor.org/commitment or simply drop it in the offering plate on Sunday. Extra cards and pens are available throughout the Sanctuary. This is really important in our planning and budgeting for 2018. 262 households accounts for 36.44% of our giving households at RezWest pledging a total of $1,108,300. This is wonderful, but we still have a long way to go. My hope is to see the 64% of our membership complete it as soon as possible.
On Sunday we will again celebrate living a life of gratitude as we seek to ‘re-wire’ our minds and live ‘With Grateful Hearts’. I look forward to sharing more findings and inspiration of how gratitude and generosity help us live longer, healthier, and with greater purpose! I’ll also share characteristics of healthy and growing churches so that we would be mindful of the potential and possibility God has placed within us as we seek to build Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians.
Tomorrow when you gather at the table with friends and family, please take time to share what you are grateful for over the past year. You might consider reading Psalm 100(Psalm 100:1
(0) A psalm of thanksgiving:
(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.
3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.
), which kicked off this series, or Colossians 3:15-17(
Colossians 3:15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
), which will be our focus on Sunday as we conclude the series. Each reminds us of a giving, loving, and faithful God who is always with us! And for that, may we be found grateful!Pastor Jason
Upcoming Events & Activities
Serve for Candlelight Christmas Eve
Saturday | December 23 | 5 and 7 pm
(KiDSCOR singing at both services)
Sunday | December 24 | 9 and 11 am, 3, 5, 7 pm
Christmas Eve Worship is a time when many people find their way back to church or come for the first time. We have the opportunity to welcome and encourage them. Go to cor.org/west/events and register to serve or and to see a complete list of serving opportunities including:
• Greet, usher and distribute candles at worship • Assist with parking lot safety
• Hospitality bar, keep refreshments stocked
• Childcare volunteer
Joyfully Offer Yourself in Serving... That’s JOY!
Stop by the JOY table at the back of the Sanctuary to explore the many ways you can impact the Kansas City area this holiday season. Current opportunities include helping with the JOY store at Ridgeview Elementary School, serving dinner at Ridgeview’s Winter Wonderland and supplying Christmas gifts through the Adopt-a-Family or Tree Tag ministries. Thank you for helping bring joy and hope to those in-need. For more information, contact RezWestJOY@gmail.com.
Hanging of the Greens | Nov. 28
It’s time to Deck the Halls! Volunteers are needed Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6-8pm to transform our various spaces for the Advent season (note that the first Sunday of Advent doesn’t begin this year until Dec. 3rd). If you are interested, please email Debbie Dietz at debbie.dietz@cor.org to sign-up. Pizza dinner will be provided and all ages are welcome!
JOY FaithWork – Saturday | Dec. 9 | 9-11:30 am
Meet at Ridgeview Elementary School, 1201 E. Elm St., Olathe, KS. Help with wrapping, sorting and preparing gifts for Ridgeview’s JOY Store. This ministry gives children the opportunity to choose Christmas gifts for their loved ones. All ages are welcome. No signup required – just come and serve. For more information, contact Chris.Holliday@cor.org.
Resurrection Foundation Celebration | Nov. 29
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6:30 pm at the home of Dave and Lisa Rock. Dessert will be served as we celebrate 15 years of Changing Lives through Legacy Giving. Anyone interested in learning more about the Foundation and all current John Wesley Society members are invited. Please email your RSVP to rockbsmab@gmail.com.
Cookies & Carols – Saturday | Dec. 2 | 4-5:30 pm
Enjoy Christmas activities designed to bring the family and community together! We’ll create family picture ornaments, participate in a special mission project, share cookies, sing our favorite Christmas songs and enjoy a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus! Invite your friends and neighbors – all are welcome. If you’d like to volunteer, sign up at cor.org/west/signup.
Give Back on Christmas Eve!
As Christmas nears, we’re excited to prepare for all who may wish to worship at Resurrection West. Please consider volunteering with our Childcare Team during any of our worship services. Ages 12 and up may serve individually, younger volunteers are welcome with a parent. This is also a wonderful way to serve as a family! Everything is provided for you. Help to welcome and invite our young friends to celebrate Jesus’ birthday while keeping them safe and helping them know how much God loves them. Sign up today at cor.org/west/signup.
Resurrection Employment Opportunities – cor.org/employment
West: Student Ministries Worship Leader – PT, Facilities Maintenance Tech – PT
** For a complete list of RezWest activities, visit cor.org/west/events.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West
West office - (913)538-7800
For an after hours urgent pastoral care need call 913-338-9477
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West Staff
Director, Staffing and Operations
Pastor, Care and Missions
Pastor, Strategic Projects
Director, Community Life
Director, Worship Arts
Guest Connections & Communications
Director, rezlife Student Ministries
Director, KiDSCOR Children's Ministries
Elementary Program Director
Early Childhood Program Director
Nursery Coordinator
Coordinating Assistant to Pastor Jason
Coordinating Assistant, Programs and Ministries
Technical Producer Media and Graphics
Facilities Technician
Audio Engineer
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West
For after-hours pastoral care, please call (913) 338-9477.
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