Friday, August 7, 2015
Dear Resurrection Family,
As I write this I am in England leading 47 pastors and their spouses on the same trip I was leading our people on last week, retracing the life of John Wesley and the beginnings of Methodism. These pastors are from some of the largest churches in Methodism. Resurrection organized this trip as a part of our effort to renew the United Methodist Church. The hope is to focus on what unites us as Methodists, to rediscover the theological and spiritual practices that led to the revival Wesley and the early Methodists led in the 18th and 19th centuries, and to learn from one another, and to encourage one another. We have a Wesley historian lecturing at each location. Kevin Bogan is leading singing. I’m trying to sew it all together.
I was sitting in the Yorkminster Cathedral this week, listening to the guide. Much of the building was built 800 years ago. The stained glass window was installed 700 years ago. The guide was describing candlelight Christmas Eve services when 4,500 people gather for worship, and the sight of them passing their candles, person to person, and the light filling the room. I wondered if the people who built this building and who provided the funds to install the windows imagined that people would still be worshiping in this building seven or eight centuries later.
I couldn’t help but think about our sanctuary construction and imagine how the new sanctuary and window might inspire people hundreds of years in the future. Our team has been sending me photos from the construction project and I can’t wait to get back and see the progress up close. Here are just few shots taken yesterday, along with a photo of the artists working on a panel of the stained glass window. Don’t forget you can see new photos and follow the live webcam at the website: future.cor.org.
Artists from Judson studios show the actual panel depicting Mary at Jesus' birth.
This weekend, we’ll conclude our “Resurrection Goes to the Movies” series with a message drawn from the Kevin Costner film, McFarland, USA. This is a great movie that has an inspirational message for all ages. We’ll be showing themovie in the Leawood Sanctuary tonight (Friday) at6:30 pm. We’ll have free popcorn and a fun night of fellowship. Bring your friends for a wonderful film Resurrection West and Resurrection Blue Springs will show the movieSunday night.
Next weekend will be our Fall kick-off. I will be back in the pulpit next weekend to begin a new series: Searching for Truth, What Christians Believe and Why. We’ll look at the questions we’ve all asked, Where did we come from? Is there a God? Is there meaning to life? Is there life after death? In the sermons we’ll consider Christianity’s answers to these questions and why we believe these things. I’ve designed this series in the hope that you will invite your friends who may not have a church home. Next week, if you are a member or regular attendees you will receive a letter from me with small cards that you can use to invite your friends.
Also next weekend, our children will move up a grade and both KiDS COR and Rezlife will begin a new year of programs.Our children and students need adults to invest in their lives and help them grow in their faith. If you have a heart for children and students, there are many ways you can serve. Stop by the KiDS COR table in the Narthex to learn more, or email Kidscor@cor.org. Rezlife has a volunteer kickoff event at Pinstripes, Monday, Aug. 17 from 6-9 pmwhere you can enjoy food and games and visit with Rezlife staff to learn how you might get connected. To learn more, visit the website: www.cor.org/students.
Hundreds of students in our partner schools will be off to a great start this school year because of your generosity. Below are photos of the school supplies and uniforms that have been delivered to the Resurrection Mission Center. You generously donated 1147 bags of school supplies and over 1500 uniform pieces (polo shirts or pants). In addition, many have volunteered their time to transport donations from the church to the Mission Center and sorting and dividing the items up by school. The donations will be distributed to four partner schools (Troost, Wheatley, Quindaro and Welborn) on Thursday. Rez DT has taken over and does an excellent job providing the school supplies and uniforms needed at Phillips Elementary and Rez West provides for the supply needs of Ridgeview Elementary. I am so proud of you for the way you give of yourselves to bless children in Kansas City.
As we move into fall, I hope you are planning to join our church-wide study of Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It.There will be a variety of groups and classes on all of our campuses beginning in September. If you haven’t signed up yet, here’s the website where you can see all the opportunities and register: www.cor.org/revival.
Don’t forget the Family Movie Night Tonight. Then come back on Saturday or Sunday to hear a message based on the movie McFarland, USA!
Adam Hamilton
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
913.897.0120
www.cor.org
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