Dear Resurrection Family,
As I write this, I'm attending the Great Plains Annual Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. Last year United Methodists in Kansas and Nebraska officially merged our conferences to become the Great Plains Conference. I'm not speaking at this conference; I'm attending with our pastors and our lay delegates. The conference is being held at the Lied Center adjacent to the campus of the University of Nebraska. There are 1,800 delegates worshiping, voting on proposals and mission, and hearing reports on the ministries and mission work we do together as United Methodists in Kansas, Nebraska and beyond. Here's a picture of the delegates in session:
Last Saturday and Sunday I spoke to the 2,000 delegates of the Missouri Annual Conference. Then on Tuesday I flew to Kentucky and spoke to 1,800 pastors and lay delegates over the course of two days. Thursday I flew into KCI and drove straight to Nebraska. It has been an exhausting but also exhilarating week. I'll be in Kansas City most of this week in a host of meetings and seeking to get caught up before leaving for one last annual conference in 2014, the Arkansas Annual Conference.
This weekend and next Pastor Scott will be preaching the final two sermons in his series on "W*RK: Not Just Another 4-Letter Word." I'll be back in the pulpit on the weekend of June 28/29. This weekend's message is titled "The Interview" and will explore how we approach looking for or hoping for work, drawing from the scriptural stories of Moses, Jonah and Rahab. We'll also hear from an employment counselor. Do you have a friend who would be blessed by this message? Bring them with you to worship. Here's a link to the series promo video that you could share. Scott will be preaching at Leawood and sharing the message via video with Downtown. Jason Gant will be preaching at West, and Austin Holt at Blue Springs.
This has been quite a week on the Leawood campus, as more than 1,600 children and volunteers celebrated "The Gift of Christmas" at Vacation Bible Camp. Here are a few pictures. Next week is Vacation Bible Camp at Resurrection West and Downtown, and Blue Springs VBC is July 7-11.
I hope that you are taking advantage of the many opportunities for worship, fellowship, service and learning at Resurrection this summer. You can see the highlights and sign up on our website: cor.org/destination. Here are just a couple of things coming up:
Bless the School begins Monday, June 16. This week-long project brings Resurrection and community volunteers together to help create a better learning environment for students and staff in Kansas City schools. This year we're working at Phillis Wheatley Elementary, 2415 Agnes in KCMO, on tasks that include painting, organizing, landscaping and cleaning. Three shifts a day are available Monday through Saturday. This is a fun and simple way to roll up your sleeves and do something that will make a real difference in the life of a child. Sign up for a shift online.
We also have opportunities to serve families and children through our furnishing ministry, a summer bookmobile and reading program this summer. Click on the links to learn more.
Mark your calendar now for the Leawood Campus picnics on Sunday, June 29 at Camp Timberlake (179th and Antioch). We'll have live music from the Crossfire Band and lots of food and activities for all ages including games, fishing and hiking. There are actually two picnic times: 11 am - 3 pm for those who regularly worship at 7:45, 9:00 and 10:45, and 5 - 8 pm for Saturday and Sunday 5 pm and Vibe worshipers. Picnic details are on the website.
I want to thank you each for your prayers and your notes written to the pastors and churches of the various conferences where I've been preaching. Here's a pic from Kentucky of a pastor who brought her note to show me as she told me how blessed she was by knowing Resurrection members were praying for her. Again and again I heard from pastors and laity who said, "We're so grateful that Resurrection cares about other churches and sends you out to share ideas, encouragement and inspiration with us."While in Nebraska I sent my Dad a small gift and card for Father's Day. I was touched by Mindy Corporon's reflections on her father in the Kansas City Star today. Click here to read them.
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"Mindy Corporon: My father, my hero now and always" by Mindy Corporon, Special to the Star
As we approach Father’s Day, I am compelled to document what a wonderful father I had and have. Dr. William L. Corporon was my mentor and my hero. He and I were the early risers and the swimmers in the family. We shared the same hazel eyes, and he saved me on more than a few occasions.
My dad was always present for me: He attended my gymnastics meets, my high school cheerleading competitions and truly anything related to high school. When I tussled with my mom as a senior in high school about my curfew and I asked Dad to intervene, he was quick to say: “I married her first. You need to find another way to handle this situation.” What an opportunity to learn from him.
On a few occasions his patients did not have the means to make a payment for his services. He was not opposed to trading services for alternative kinds of payments, and we had a picnic table built next to our pond and other jobs completed on our farm. This was another valuable lesson about caring for others and allowing people to give how they can.
Mindy Corporon | © Atkins Photography, LLC
When I went to college and cried the first few weeks, he stood strong and reminded me that this was where I had wanted to be and that he knew I could do it. I would call him with a good grade on a college report or exam and wait to hear his excited and exuberant “Fan-tastic!” No one said it like he did. College was only one hour away so it was fairly easy for my parents to visit. On one occasion they showed up unannounced and giddy to my cheer practice. They had brought me a car to replace my truck. Their excitement was memorable.
My first marriage ended within weeks of delivering my first child, Reat. This was a “saving” moment. I was cradled in love by my parents for 10 months. My dad delighted in making me healthful smoothies full of calories to get me back to a normal weight. I went into labor earlier than expected with my second child in Overland Park. Not missing a beat, my dad walked in the recovery room with Reat on his hip and a loving smile on his face to meet Lukas. He had asked a friend to fly him from Oklahoma so he would be with us as quickly as possible. From this point forward he began making efforts to leave his medical practice in Oklahoma to be with the grandkids.
My love of swimming and competing led me to enter triathlons a few years ago. As I am, he was always an early riser and he met me at a few of my races. Again, always present.
On April 13, I didn’t drive my son, Reat, to his audition at the Jewish Community Center. My dad drove Reat and once again saved me. This time, saving me took his life.
As my father left this earth I was immediately picked up by our Heavenly Father and carried through the weeks that followed. One father replaced another. As we have walked through these last two months I have felt comfort from family, friends and strangers as they hug me, write letters, cards and emails.
God is picking up the pieces of our lives. There is pain but there is joy in knowing the love from others. There is sorrow but there is gladness in the remembrance from others as they share stories of love and gratitude toward my dad. I feel comfort that my hero has met another hero, God.
Mindy Corporon of Stilwell, Kan., is chief executive officer and co-founder of Boyer & Corporon Wealth Management. Since the shooting deaths of her father and son at the Jewish Community Center, her website is www.faithalwayswins.org.
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I love you, Church of the Resurrection, and am grateful for your heart for changing lives, transforming communities and renewing churches.
Adam
Click on these links for other campus news:
Resurrection Leawood
Resurrection West
Resurrection Downtown
Resurrection Blue Springs
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