Adam Hamilton for Friday, 28 February 2014

Adam Hamilton for Friday, 28 February 2014
Video Resources for Lent
I am  that so many churches are using 24 Hours, Final Words or The Way for Lent this year.  24 Hours is a book, devotional and small group DVD filmed in the Holy Land focused on the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life, and the meaning of the crucifixion.  Final Words is a Lenten study of the seven statements of Jesus from the cross.  It has a DVD for small groups.  The Way is a study of the life of Jesus starting with his baptism and ending with the cross and resurrection.  Like 24 Hours, the video was filmed in the Holy Land.
 you are using these resources this Lent, or are just curious, you may want to check out these videos - you can post them on Facebook or Twitter or use them in worship to create interest in your small group. 
 for 24 Hours That Changed the World: http://www.adamhamilton.org/resources/?type=video&cat_id=9
--"24 Hours That Changed the World in the Holy Land" features my description of what students will see and study when using 24 Hours That Changed the World. 
 for The Way: http://www.adamhamilton.org/resources/?type=video&cat_id=13
--"The Way Promotional Video" features my description of what students will see and study when using The Way.
 for Final Words From the Cross: http://www.adamhamilton.org/resources/?type=video&cat_id=12
 also had several inquiries as to how to download the Leader Guide for The Way. It's a free download here:  http://www.abingdonpress.com/leaderguides
I hope you find these resources helpful.
Have a blessed Lenten and Easter season! 
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an enote  from Reverend Adam Hamilton for Friday, 28 February 2014
Dear Resurrection Family,
This weekend is the conclusion of our 10,000 Reasons campaign at our Leawood campus as we return our pledge cards. It's going to be an awesome and inspiring weekend in worship…and, it's supposed to snow, Yikes! This morning I began the day on my knees praying for our congregation, and this campaign, and prayed, "Lord, I know that you've got bigger things to worry about than whether it snows on pledge Sunday at Church of the Resurrection, but I'm worried about this and it's impact upon our commitments to the campaign." I felt God saying to me, "Don't worry Adam, it's going to be okay," and I felt a peace about this, as though God were saying, "I've touched the hearts of my people, whether it snows or not, they will return their commitment cards." An hour later I received a commitment card e-mailed to me from someone who wasn't sure they were going to be able to make it to worship, planned to join us online if not, but wanted us to have their card. The commitment was for a lead gift in the campaign and it took my breath away.
Here's what I'd like to ask of you: If you can safely make it to church this weekend, would you join us? It is going to be a really meaningful weekend. If you can't would you please join us online at 10:45 or 5? You'll be blessed as you do and you can fill out your commitment card online this weekend.
LaVon and I have been surprised by the blessings that have come our way in life. I became a pastor assuming I would make very little money and we'd struggle most of our lives. That's what you sign on for in part when you choose the field over others you could pursue. We never thought we'd end up serving the largest church in our denomination, or that I would write books that people would buy. So we have more money than we thought we would have at this time (or any time) in our lives. I'm guessing many of you could say the same thing in your field - that you've been blessed. So we ask, Surely these blessings are not all for us. Surely we're meant to do something meaningful with these, and to invest in things that matter. We enjoy some of what we have, but we try to live well below our means so that we can invest in things that matter to us. We feel that, in the words of Jesus, "To whom much is given, much more is expected" and, in the words of the Torah, we are blessed to be a blessing. This capital campaign feels like one of those major investments to us. It is our opportunity to do something that will touch others for generations to come. I hope you might see this campaign in this way as well.
One of the reasons I hope you'll be here in person this weekend is that we have a small but pretty cool gift to give each household that returns their commitment for the campaign - a small thank you gift. I'll tell you about it in worship, but I'll give you a hint - you'll be taking home something from the Holy Land from the time of Christ, a 2,000 year old piece of history that comes right out of the text I'm preaching on this weekend. If you turn in your pledge card online, we'll mail you the gift.
Regarding your pledge, you might check to see if you have a matching donation program through your employer. This would, in some cases, double your pledge. For those outside of Kansas City, remember, we have a matching pledge of up to $2 million from a donor encouraging persons who are not members of Resurrection to pledge in this effort.
If you'd like to know more about the 10,000 Reasons campaign check out our website (future.cor.org) where you will find videos, FAQ's, blueprints and more.
Tonight at 5:00 we begin our 49-hour prayer vigil. Thanks to all who have signed up to pray for the 10,000 Reasons campaign and for our congregation. We'll have people here all day and all night for the next 49 hours praying for you and for this effort. I'll be here tomorrow morning at 3:00(or 2:30 am, I've forgotten now what time!). If you would like to come and join us for the prayer vigil, you can sign up by clicking on this link. The vigil is taking place in the Firestone Chapel in the narthex of the sanctuary. Enter through the south-east door (under the canopy) - it will be the only door unlocked at night. Thank you to all who have made a commitment to come and pray!
This coming Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent - the 40 day journey towards Easter. We'll have Ash Wednesday services at all of our campuses, Leawood, West, Downtown, and Blue Springs, all beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 5.
Next weekend we'll begin a new sermon series called, The Gospel of the Nobodies. As a congregation we read through one gospel together ever year and this Lent we'll read and study the Gospel of Luke. Luke has a particular interest in demonstrating Jesus' concern for the "nobodies." Every one of us have felt like a nobody at some point in our lives. This sermon series, and our Lenten journey through Luke, will bless you, speak to you and deepen your faith. Plan to join us on Ash Wednesday or next weekend for the first in our series on the Gospel of the Nobodies.
I look forward to joining our other campuses and partners once again as we begin the season of Lent, and I'm grateful for each of our campus pastors preaching during this last month as Resurrection Leawood has been focused on our 10,000 Reasons campaign.
I'm off to a meeting. I want you to know how proud and grateful I am for each of you, and how excited I am about God's plans for our congregation!
See you in worship!
Adam Hamilton
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