'We Are Grateful' is the title of the message I’m preparing to share this Sunday - Commitment Sunday - as a part of our series, ‘With Grateful Hearts’. This Sunday will be a great celebration in the life of our church and the planning for this coming year’s vision of changing lives, strengthening churches, and transformation of the world! Your financial commitment is critical to help realize the God-sized dreams before us in the coming year. Please take time to pray, complete, and bring your commitment card this weekend in worship. If you call us your church home, you should have received a letter from Pastor Adam and myself, along with a commitment card to bring on Sunday. We have cards available throughout the Sanctuary as well. We will stand to sing together and bring these commitments forward, in all four services, placing them in baskets as an act of faith and worship - our first act of worship! Scharme and I have spent time in prayer, along with our daughters, and are prepared to bring forth our commitment as well. Our staff have also completed their commitments to lead by example. If you cannot be there Sunday, please take the time to go online now at cor.org/commitment and complete your pledge. We build our budget for the coming year off of your pledged giving, so this is really important for our planning. After you complete your pledge card, don't forget to pick up your 2018 coffee mug, and thank you for your continued generosity here at Resurrection West!
Many of you have been posting things you are grateful for using the hashtags #rezwest and #gratefulhearts this week as we began our 30-day gratitude challenge. Please continue to do so. It’s such a joy to read them. There are a few gratitude journals left if you didn’t get one last week. Look for them by the ‘Gratitude Wall’ as you read a few tags to see the many blessings. I’ve been stopping by to read a few every day and will certainly share some in worship on Sunday.
I’ve got to tell you about last week in the life of our congregation. Friday night we welcomed over 60 4th/5th graders for the ’Crew 45 Happy Friends-giving’ event’. Saturday more than 60 of you served in FaithWork at our RezWest Missions Center while we welcomed hundreds to celebrate the life of one of our younger church members. It was powerful to see so many come beside the family in their time of loss - truly becoming ‘stretcher-bearers’ for them. Our Congregational Care Ministry team did an amazing job. Sunday we had record worship attendance again with almost 1100 over four services. We gave out more than 45 Bibles to our 3rd graders (and continue to do so - contact KiDSCOR if you have a 3rd grader that hasn’t received a bible yet), then confirmed 46 8th-12th graders in their faith at a 2 pm ceremony with 398 in attendance! Tuesday night we welcomed 43 new members at pizza with the pastors (they are listed at the bottom of this eNote), and Wednesday night the building was filled with teens gathering for middle school and high school youth groups. In the midst of all these events were men’s and women’s groups, Sunday School classes, small groups, classes, and an incredible support team cleaning, clearing trash, setting up and taking down chairs, reconfiguring tables, formatting production for media and AV. It was just incredible! If you’ve ever set-up a chair, made coffee, stuffed a bulletin, put data in the computer, refilled toilet paper, swept-up a floor, or whatever else goes on behind-the-scenes to make these events so engaging and powerful - thank you! Thank you for all you do to create sacred experiences for so many people here at RezWest!
Welcome to our newest members:
Rhonda Cobb
Wade and Courtney Evans
Connor
Donnie and Jenny Ferguson
Madeline and Natalie
Greg and Tiffany Ferro
Brecken and Brady
Fred and Pat Graber
Joe and Shanda Hurla
Parker, Lincoln, Grant and Langston
Ron and Terri Miller
Aaron and Keisha Reiswig
Alexis and Braden
Steve and Barb Sanders
Margeaux Seymour
Mark and Milisa Suckow
Eric and Kristen Toms
Brayden and Hailey
Rick and Becky Webb
Carson, Addi and Harrison
Jonathan and Michelle Whitt
Josh and Ella
With a grateful heart, Pastor Jason
Upcoming Events & Activities
Share the Gift of Life at the Resurrection West Blood Drive!
Monday, Nov. 20, 1-7 pm. Help supply much-needed blood donations in our community. Anyone who is healthy, at least 16 years old (under 18 needs parental consent) and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood. Make an appointment at savealifenow.org and enter sponsor code “rezwest.” Give Blood, Save a Life!
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 serving and/or preparing Thanksgiving Lunch at KidsTLC, helping with the JOY store at Ridgeview Elementary School and serving dinner at Ridgeview’s Winter Wonderland. Serving opportunities will be added each week. Thank you for helping bring joy and hope to those in-need. For more information, contact
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.
Disaster Response: Early Response Team Training | Nov. 18 - Leawood campus
If you are willing to be involved in the early days following a disaster, this is the training for you, Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 am – 4 pm, Resurrection Leawood, Room B200; lunch provided. Register at cor.org/leawood/disasterresponse.
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 ale welcome!
Resurrection Foundation Celebration | Nov. 29
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6:30 pm at the home of Dave and Lisa Rock. Desert 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.
Winter Thursday Live Women's Study | January 2018
2018 dates: Jan. 11, 18, 25; Feb. 1, 15, 22 and March 1, 9:30-11:30 am; childcare available for 6 weeks and up. Register at cor.org/west/signup. 2018 class o erings: • Open Your Bible by Raechel Myers, Amanda Bible Williams; facilitated by Tracy Gervais, Anne Strempke • Soul Keeping by John Ortberg; facilitated by Diane Robertson.
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
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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