Dear Resurrection Family,
I'm really looking forward to this weekend for several reasons. At Leawood this is our Celebration Weekend where we'll announce the total committed in our 10,000 Reasons Campaign, and we'll have frozen custard, cake and cookies to celebrate after worship (more about this below in the Leawood section of my note). It's also Confirmation Weekend. We have 99 Confirmands - 92 youth (6 at Resurrection Blue Springs and 86 at Leawood) and, for the first time, 7 Matthew's Ministry adults at Leawood - who are being confirmed in our spring class. (Names are listed at the end of this eNote.) Finally, at all campuses I'll preach on the story of Jesus' ministry with the prostitute in Luke 7, and more broadly on his ministry to "sinners" and, since we each are sinners, this message is for each of us.
This is one of the things I find most compelling about Jesus. In Luke 19:10 he notes that he came to "seek and to save those who are lost." The gospel is good news for sinners. It is an offer of grace procured by a Savior who suffers and dies for us. This weekend as I focus on the story of Jesus' ministry with a prostitute I'll share the testimonies of several women at Resurrection who were once prostitutes, but who found God's grace through Jesus Christ, and help to step into a new life. They are very moving stories that will touch you.
One of my favorite hymns about this offer of grace was written in 1759 by Joseph Hart. Hart had heard John Wesley preach as a young man but rejected his call to follow Christ. Years later he came to faith under the preaching of another Methodist, George Whitefield. It was shortly after that he wrote the words to Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy. In it Hart offers this invitation, "Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and power." The refrain captures the response Hart hoped people would have to Christ's invitation, "I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms; In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms." Click here to listen to Fernando Ortega and Amy Grant's performance of the song.
This weekend, invite your friends to join you in worship. The message will speak to them and to you.
Last weekend I spoke about the demons we wrestle with and Christ's deliverance of these demons. As a part of the sermon I mentioned the story of a woman who was literally experiencing night terrors and I mentioned the value of reciting scripture before you go to bed at night. Several of you asked for scriptures to read and meditate upon at bedtime. I've included these at the bottom of this note.
On Fridays during Lent I'm posting short devotionals on Jesus' ministry on my blog. Today's devotional is about Jesus calming the wind and the waves in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Click here to read the devotional .
The rest of my note will focus on a three bits of Leawood Campus news.
As noted above, this weekend is an exciting one for our congregation as we announce the total committed in our 10,000 Reasons building campaign. I'm so proud of each of you who participated in this campaign and the sacrifices you have made to help us create the right spaces, the right tools, to help us minister to this community and be a vital congregation for generations to come.
If you've yet to fill out a commitment card, you can click on this link and join us in being a part of this exciting work of building our permanent sanctuary, Vibe worship space, our fellowship hall, 24 adult class rooms, missions space, Matthew's ministry program space, and our kitchen.
Join us for a great weekend in worship at Leawood, and for Sheridan's Frozen Custard, Buntinis from Nothing But Bundts, and cookies and other treats from Three Women and an Oven! I'm glad that Sunday's are "feast days" during Lent for those who gave up sweets for Lent!
Last week I began drawing your attention to parts of the new building you may not have noticed in the blueprints we handed out last month. This week I'd like to highlight the "parlor." The parlor is a large room (about the size of 221 in our current east building – 1,800 square feet) that will have a sink, cabinets, refrigerator, coffee service, and will be used for Sunday school classes for our older adults due to its close proximity to the sanctuary. It will also be used for receptions, small dinners and a gathering space for groups of up to 80 during the week. Here's a glimpse of the parlor and the spaces around it, located just off the new narthex and sanctuary.
This week the Sacred Arts Sub-committee of the Building Committee began its work reviewing art glass studios as they begin the process of choosing the artist and studio who will design and install our stained glass window. We have 11 studios from around the world who have submitted proposals including one local firm. All are award winning firms who are excited about the opportunity to help us proclaim the gospel through stained glass.
Assisting the committee with this work is our art consultant, Father Richard Vosko, who has assisted with the sacred art programs of hundreds of churches across the country. We're also grateful to have Julian Zugazagoitia who is the Director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art who believes this window will be an important part of the art of Kansas City and is giving his time as a member of the committee. Professor Young Ho Chun is Professor of Systematic Theology at Saint Paul School of Theology and a member of Resurrection, and he is helping us think carefully about the theological message of the windows and the connection between art and theology. Other members of the committee include Resurrection members with a variety of backgrounds who are committing a great deal of time over the next year to help us select the right artist and firm, and to be engaged in the design process. We hope that 100 years from now this window will still be proclaiming the gospel and that it will draw people to visit the church and to, through the church's welcome, come to faith in Christ.
Below are the scriptures I mentioned above – scriptures to comfort and encourage you as you go to sleep at night. I'd encourage you to print them out on card stock and have them by your bedside at night.
See you this weekend as we celebrate with custard, cake and cookies!
Adam
Scriptures of Comfort and Encouragement
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid.
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
Jeremiah 1:8
"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Matthew 28:20
Jesus said, "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Hebrews 13:6
We say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."
Congratulations Confirmands!
Resurrection Blue Springs
Joey Gleich
Phoebe Groceman
Kirk Dudgeon
Lillie Dudgeon
Austin Taylor
Addison Palmer
Resurrection Leawood
Mason Kenneth Alvarez
Jay Alan Arends
Jackson David Bell
Brett Michael Blau
Claire Catherine Boomer
Breck Elizabeth Svoboda Bowen
Jacob Michael Braun
Megan Marie Breckenridge
Delaney Rebecca Bredehoeft
Drake Alan Breuckmann
Matthew Nelson Burgess
Cole Benjamin Childress
Chloe Isabelle Ching
George Emery Cochran
Bailey Clark Cook
Ellie Nicole Druten
James Maximilian Dunmire
Katherine Ann Edmunds
Jackson Bryan Engle
Hallie Elizabeth Everett
Josephine Allison Faoro
Isaac David Fitz
Brett Ian Florack
Megan Grace Folmsbee
Preston M. Frazier
Dylan Robert Freberg
Drew Kenneth Frischer
Ashleigh Nicole Furey
Drake Rodney Gammon
Grace Catherine Garcia
Gabrielle Grace Gillespie
Keaton Robert Goodale
Griffin Ray Harvey
Hunter Michael Hayes
Jacob Edward Hellwig
David Kent Hickerson
Shelby Grace Hoelting
Jenica Erin Kolbeck
Austin Dean Krueger
Eden Victoria Kurr
Grace Ekaterina Landon
Brooke Alexis Lansford
Megan Emily Lask
Dillon Archer Lehr
Claire-Rene' Parish McCormick
Nicholas Ramsey McLaury
Andrew Hardie Meade
Vincent Steven Meganck
Jonathan James Melau
Alex Nicholas Miller
Madison Nicole Mohar
Jarow Gaylord Myers
Jackson Grant Newport
Maryn Elizabeth Petty
Jack Matthew Pine
Peyton Kiana Pitman
Rose Caverly Priebe
Daniel Robert Pursley
Reshma Rajasingh
Ashlyn Nicole Reece
Lily Claire Reid
Danielle Anderson Rice
Caleb Allen Romig
Ryan Jacob Sanford
Jordan Cargill Savage
Andrew Michael Schmidt
Nicholas Daniel Schmidt
Paige Kathryn Seitz
Julia Marie Shyver
Conner Arizona Smith
Preston Alexander Smith
Laken Anna Snowdy
Katherine Nicole Spencer
Blayn Ryan Sprecker
Lauren Elizabeth Stark
Matthew Tyler Stonestreet
Alexandra Elizabeth Storm
Lauren Elizabeth Van Winkle
Matthew Christopher Weaver
Anna Kate Weigel
Seth Thomas Welhoelter
Victoria Lynn Wesp
Harrison Christopher Westerfield
James Brockton Williams II
Hunter Olson Woosley
Savanna Kai Wyatt
Matthews Ministries Participants:
Megan Elizabeth Brucker
Connor Browne Denzin
Jennifer Lauren Doll
Olivia Louise Figueroa Herrera
James Wesley Hodge
Jennifer Lauren McCaw
Brooke Nicole Wiegers
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66224 United States
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