What an amazing week it has been with hundreds gathering each night for Vacation Bible Camp, Jesus & Me: Choose Kind.It’s been such a privilege to come beside 75 volunteers (adults & students) and our amazing staff team to introduce Jesus’ love to so many kids! You may remember that as a child I was personally invited to VBC at First United Methodist Church of Jasper, FL, beginning my faith journey with Christ! The kids have been generous in their giving this week to help build a covered shelter for our friends at the Juan Wesley school in Ciudad Espana, Honduras, hoping to raise $1000. If the boys raise the most funds toward the goal, Christie Walker gets slimed Friday night. If the girls raise the most, I'm the one who gets slimed. I can't tell you how excited they are for this. Two of our girls even started a lemonade stand yesterday to increase their funds (and if you'd like to increase funds for the boys bucket to save me from being slimed, just email me the amount, and I'll collect on Sunday!?!). All kidding aside, our kids generous and loving hearts are shining through! God is at work! You can view many pics & vids on our RezWest facebook page and our KiDSCOR West group page.
Sunday we continue our celebration in worship as I preach live launching a new fun and meaningful series on the ‘Gospel in Film’. We will begin by looking at the movie WONDER, based on the 2012 novel by R.J. Palacio.WONDER tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. This story has much to offer as we seek to follow Christ's command of loving neighbor, seeing people through Jesus' eyes! For those who are looking for a challenge and a jump ahead on Sunday's message, spend some time in Galatians 5 and try memorizing the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control'.
I hope you’ll reach out to personally invite friends, neighbors, or co-workers to join us in worship at 8am, 9:30am, 11am, or 5pm for what I believe will be an impactful message for us all! Its a ‘worship together’ Sunday, which means all KINDERGARTEN and up are welcomed into worship. We will celebrate VBC, have a children’s message, and kid’s packets available. Nursery is also available at all four services for PRE-K and under.
Welcome our newest staff member - Jacob Cullum. Jacob will be serving in a new position - Associate Director of Student Ministries & Worship Arts. He will come beside Rick Webb, our Director of Student Ministries to lead our fast-growing rezlife student ministries and beside Lindsay Hefner, Director of Worship Arts, in helping to lead us in worship. We will be introducing Jacob in all services on Sunday. Below is a pic (along with Megan, his new bride of 4 weeks, and their dog BellaBlu) and an introduction to Jacob.
Finally, this Sunday we will be announcing our second partner school. We’ve been partners with Ridgeview Elementary for years now volunteering as tutors, preparing classrooms and grounds for school start, collecting school supplies, hosting the Christmas store, and more. Over this last year we have felt God’s call to add a second school in our community to partner with as a part of our ‘Bless the School’church-wide initiative. Our lay-coordinators Vicki Holman and Chris Monson have been working closely with the area school districts and Pastor Chris Holliday to develop the new partnership and we will be announcing it this Sunday!
Looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday,
Jason
Upcoming Opportunities to Connect, Grow & Serve
DIY July Serve Saturday
July is “do it yourself” serve month! On any day of the week, help someone in need. Do some yard work for a neighbor who is going through a hard time; visit with patients at a nursing home; sort donations at a food or clothing pantry or at a thrift store; take a plate of cookies to a Fire House or Police Station with a card of thanks; give your undivided attention to a person who needs it; fill a school supply drive bag for Ridgeview, etc. Then, post updates/pictures of your DIY serving adventures, #RezWestJulyServe. Have a great July as you follow the example of Jesus and spend time loving and serving your neighbors!
School Supply Drive for Ridgeview Elementary
Bless our Ridgeview students by taking a shopping bag from RezWest and filling it with the listed school supplies. Please return filled bags to RezWest by Wednesday, August 1 for use at the August 4 MEGA MISSION. Thank you for making a positive difference in these children’s lives! For more information, contact Chris.Holliday@cor.org.
MEGA MISSION: Bless the SchoolSaturday, August 4, 9 am–1:30 pm. Meet at 9 am in the Resurrection West Sanctuary for prayer, project sign-ups, final instructions, coffee and breakfast snacks. Then, we’ll pack up the supplies and travel to Ridgeview Elementary to sort and organize school supplies, prepare classrooms, make crafts to welcome and support teachers, write encouraging notes to students and maintenance/beautify the grounds. Please bring gardening gloves, yard tools, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows if you have them. About 11:30 am, we’ll host and enjoy a Celebration Picnic alongside the students and families of the Ridgeview community complete with water play and fun for all ages! We should be all done and cleaned up by 1:30 pm. No sign-ups are necessary. Just come out and serve. Also, feel free to wear any year’s MEGA MISSION t-shirt (extras will be available). Contact Chris.Holliday@cor.orgfor more information. BUT WAIT, there’s more. We are excited to add a new partner school this fall, Fairview Elementary! So, some of us will help at Fairview that day as well. More info coming soon.
The Road to Wisdom
The Road to Wisdom: Building Better Relationships is a 6-week class and starts Tuesday, July 10, 6:30-8:30 pm with childcare. This class uses the Enneagram Personality Trait Assessment to help people (singles or marrieds) discover what it means to build better relationships through understanding themselves and understanding others. Cost is $15 per person. Register today at cor.org/west/signup.
Learn, Grow, & Serve with RezWest Building Better Moms!
Registration is now open. Enjoy fellowship and fun with moms who can relate to your daily joys and challenges. Groups are currently forming for moms with children newborn – high school, including daytime and evening options. For more information, visithttp://cor.org/west/women.
Summer Worship & Lake Baptism
Sunday, Aug. 5, 6 pm. Join us at Shawnee Mission Park Beach to share in a moving baptism service together. If you or members of your family are ready to receive baptism, pre-register atcor.org/west/care/baptisms, enter ‘August 5 lake baptism’ on the form. Hope to see you there – invite a friend for this memorable service!
RezWest Men’s Fly-Fishing Retreat
Sept. 14-16. Relax, unwind and enjoy the outdoors at the Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch. This is an awesome opportunity for guys to come together through scriptural study, devotion, worship, fellowship, and y- shing! We'll have a casting clinic for all levels of experience to ensure success on the water. For details and to register, visit cor.org/west/signup.
Church offices and buildings will be closed for Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4. Have a safe and blessed 4th!
Employment Opportunities at RezWestFor more information and to apply,visit cor.org/west/employment
• PT Video/Graphics Producer
** 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
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West Staff
Pastoral Staff
- Jason Gant - Resurrection West Campus Pastor
- Chris Holliday - Pastor of Care & Missions
- John Yost - Pastor of Strategic Projects
- Dave Robertson - Director, Community Life
- Lindsay Hefner - Director, Worship Arts
- Yolanda Byers - Director, Guest Connections & Communications
- Rick Webb, Director, Rezlife Student Ministries
- Jacob Cullum - Associate Director, Rezlife Student Ministries & Worship Arts
- Christie Walker - Director, KiDSCOR Children’s Ministries
- Kayla Koenig - KiDSCOR Elementary Director
- Lynnlea Holdman - KiDSCOR Early Childhood Director
- Ashley Colbert - KiDSCOR Nursery Coordinator
- Travis Morgan - Director, Staffing & Operations
- Debbie Dietz, Coordinating Assistant to Pastor Jason
- Marilyn Thomas, Coordinating Assistant to Programs
- David Boss - Audio Engineer
- Brad Hartshorn - Facilities Technician
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West
(913) 538-7800
For after-hours pastoral care, please call (913) 338-9477.
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