Friday, March 3, 2017
Hello Resurrection Blue Springs!
The Lenten season officially arrived this week. It began on Wednesday night with a full house for Ash Wednesday worship as we wrote our confessional prayers and received the ashes reminding us of our mortality and need for God's grace. In the early days of the Church, the season of Lent was a time of preparation for new converts as they readied their hearts to enter into Christian Baptism on Easter Sunday. Since these new members were to be received into a living community of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation as well. Today, the season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, self-examination, and penitence for all Christians as we prepare to celebrate Easter. This 40-day journey reminds us how much we need grace in our lives in order to live a transformed life that reflects God’s love.
One of the tools used to ready those seeking membership in the church was the Apostles' creed. The Apostles' creed is a summation of the New Testament beliefs about God and about Christ. Each phrase of the creed opens up multiple passages of Scripture and theological themes and ideas. Learning about each phrase and memorizing the creed was a way of teaching the new converts the basic beliefs of the church. The creed still works for us this way today. As a means of preparing yourself for Easter this year, I would encourage you to consider joining one of the small groups now forming, which will be studying the Apostles' Creed through Lent. These groups will be using Sr. Pastor, Adam Hamilton's new book, Creed: What Christians Believe and Why and they are open to all. I hope you’ll join us on this journey of Lent, by taking action that will draw you nearer to God daily, and let it begin this weekend.
Men there is a great opportunity to draw nearer to God and form deeper relationships this weekend with the Men's Retreat in Leawood. You can sign up at the link below and join the group of guys carpooling over for tonight's 6:30 pm session. They'll be leaving from the Rez Blue Springs parking lot at 5:18 pm. This will give plenty of time to drive over, register and find tables together. Tomorrow another opportunity is available as we put our hands to work for God at our Mega Mission. We'll be packing over 10,000 meals to feed the hungry between 9 and 11 am at the church. Then on Sunday, I will be concluding our sermon series, Blowing in the Wind, by taking a look at the turning seasons and the winds of change that shape us for eternity.
Make sure to take a look below at other upcoming life-giving ways to serve and get connected in our congregation.
Rise Against Hunger Food Packaging Event Saturday, March 4, 9-11 am, Sanctuary. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, we will be packaging 10,800 meals of dried food that will be sent overseas for school feeding programs to help those in need. You can sign up to volunteer for one or two hours. We need 50 people per hour to package food; ages 4 and above may serve. We also need 10 people to help set up at 8 am, and at least 10 people to help clean up and reset the Sanctuary afterward. Volunteers can enjoy coffee and donuts at 8:45 am. Sign up at Guest Services or online now.
Men’s Spiritual Retreat “God in Three Persons: Blessed Trinity” Friday, March 3, 6:30-9 pm and Saturday, March 4, | 8:30 am – noon. The Christian faith celebrates the belief that God is revealed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All men are invited to join us in discovering how this “Blessed Trinity” relates to our lives. Rev. Jeff Kirby, Rev. Glen Shoup and Chris Folmsbee lead the retreat in the Leawood Student Center. Mike Ash will be leading the music. Register online.
Grow, Pray and Serve Groups Forming Now! Join a Small Group for Lenten Study of Creed, What Christians Believe and Why by Adam Hamilton. We’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy – like when we simply type in a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? The Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs, contains some powerful answers. Starting the week of March 12, several small groups will study Pastor Adam’s book. Creed books available at Guest Services for $11/copy. Sign up online or at Guest Services. Contact Mike.Ash@cor.org for more information.
Waypoint Men’s Group – “Gather” online each week to navigate your life’s journey using the GPS, Resurrection’s Grow. Pray. Study. Guide – all from the comfort of wherever you are! Wednesdays from 8:30-9:30 pm via ZOOM app. Contact Mike Ash for more information. Register online here.
COR Singles Social Group – Join us here on Thursday, March 9, from 7-9 pm for Game Night! It is a fun time of fellowship and laughter. Bring a favorite game, a snack to share and your own soda. Hope to see you then.
rezlife Game Night – We will have Youth Group Game Night next Sunday, March 12, from5:30-7:30 pm (please note the earlier start time). We will have laser tag in the sanctuary and wii Mario Cart in fellowship hall. Be sure to invite your friends and post an invitation on your Facebook or Instagram!
New Serve Team forming – Help provide daytime transportation to Rez Blue Spring members with limited mobility who could use help getting to doctor or physical therapy appointments. Please let us know at Guest Services or email Heather.Sooley@cor.org to sign up for this opportunity to serve.
July Serve Trip Opportunity – Join our Blue Springs team traveling to Omaha, NE. Adults and youth (ages 5-17, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian) are welcome. Focus of trip will be on urban gardening and food security. Register by March 30. Team Preparation/Commissioning is Tuesday, April 4, 6-9 pm at the Leawood Campus.
Pizza with Pastor Penny – Sunday, March 26, 12:15 pm. Thinking about membership at Resurrection Blue Springs? Start out with Pizza with Pastor Penny and learn more about our church. A brief joining ceremony follows if you’re ready to be a member. Sign up atcor.org/bluesprings/coffee or at Guest Services.
Mark Your Calendars for the Easter Party! Saturday, April 8 , 10-11:30 am. Rain or Shine activities include Egg Hunt, Petting Zoo, Games, Crafts and fun for the whole family! We’ll be collecting party favors and individually wrapped candy (small enough to fit in a plastic egg) for our Easter Party. Place in the collection barrel through April 2.
Mark your calendars with these dates and plan to join us for Holy Week at Resurrection.
• Saturday Easter Egg Hunt | April 8 | 10-11:30 am |
• Maundy Thursday | April 13 | 6:30 pm Baked Potato Bar, 7 pm Worship Service
• Sunday Easter Worship | April 16 | 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am
I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday!
Penny
For our Resurrection Blue Springs Campus Calendar: click here
Contact Our Staff
Church Office Phone: (816) 389-8900
- Rev. Penny Ellwood, Campus Pastor penny.ellwood@cor.org
- Mike Ash, Worship Leader/Director of Community mike.ash@cor.org
- Mark Maschger, Ministry Associate mark.maschger@cor.org
- Diane Enlow, Director of Children's Ministry diane.enlow@cor.org
- Riley Ledford, Technical Producer riley.ledford@cor.org
- Heather Sooley, Operations Coordinating Assistant heather.sooley@cor.org
- Stephanie Weigel, Guest Services Coordinating Assistant stephanie.weigel@cor.org
- Caitlin Willis, Nursery Coordinator caitlin.willis@cor.org
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Blue Springs
601 NorthEast Jefferson Street
Blue Springs, Missouri 64014, United States
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