April 7, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
During the next ten days we reach the pinnacle of Lent, and its dramatic conclusion on Easter. In today's e-mail I'll share with you more about what's coming up in the next week, and a few other bits of information you might find interesting.
Here's what I'll cover:
1. This Weekend: The Crucifixion of Christ - How Much Do You Know?
2. Listen to Our Palm Sunday and Easter Radio Spots - Send Them to a Friend
3. Maundy Thursday - The Seven Last Words of Jesus
4. Good Friday Prayer Vigil
5. See the Film, "The Passion of the Christ" in our Sanctuary Good Friday
6. Honduras Mission Trip a "Go" this Month!!! Thank you!
7. Attention Motorcyclists: Join Me in a Ride for the Homeless
8. Resurrection Blood Pressure Screening May Have Saved a Life This Week
Conclusion: Reading the Good Book
1. This Weekend: The Crucifixion of Christ - How Much Do You Know?
This weekend, Palm/Passion Sunday, we will focus our attention on the crucifixion of Jesus. I'll show you video footage of the place where Jesus is thought to have been crucified, and show you how it is thought Jesus was crucified (this is significantly different than the picture you likely have in your mind), and we will ponder the last words of Jesus from the cross, and the significance of his death for us. This is the second most important weekend for worship all year - on it we honor and commemorate Jesus' suffering and saving work for us. Please don't miss this weekend of worship.
2. Listen to Our Palm Sunday and Easter Radio Spots - Send Them to a Friend
We have radio spots playing today and this coming week on several area radio stations each day as a way of inviting non-religious and nominally religious people to worship. If you would like to hear the spots, which will run on KUDL, Star 102, and Q104 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, simply click on this link. You may also paste this link in an e-mail to your friends, inviting them to listen and consider joining you in worship the next couple of weeks. Here's the link: www.cor.org/Easter2006.3040.0.htmlsimply scroll down to where you see the speaker and click on any of the radio spots.
3. Maundy Thursday - The Seven Last Words of Jesus
On Thursday of this coming week Christians around the world mark the Last Supper of Jesus. We call it Maundy Thursday from the Latin word for "mandate" or command, because at the Last Supper Jesus gave several final commands to his disciples - to love one another, serve one another and to remember him through the breaking of the bread. Our service will include Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ. First composed in 1867, this was written as a series of passion sonatas meant to be sung to commemorate Jesus' suffering and death. Our choir will lead us in this service - which acts as a reversal of our Candlelight Christmas Eve service. On Christmas Eve we read scriptures and share music about the birth of Christ. We climax that service by lighting the Christ candle and singing Joy to the World. But on Maundy Thursday the reverse takes place. In addition to sharing the Lord's Supper, we read scripture, hear music, and extinguish seven candles before ending the service by extinguishing the Christ candle, draping it with a black shroud, and leaving the Sanctuary in silence. The service is at 7:00 pm Thursday, April 13, 2006.
Every year on Good Friday we mark the day Christ was crucified by inviting you to come to the Wesley Chapel between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to pray in silence, remembering and reflecting upon the crucifixion of Christ. We provide devotional materials and prayer request cards. Every member of our church is prayed for by name on that day (yes, all 13,000 plus, men, women and children). Come before work or school, take time during the day, or join us in the evening. Bring your family - it will be a powerful witness for them. We invite you to consider spending 20 minutes - if you can only spend ten, that's fine, and if you wish to stay longer, by all means do so.
5. See the Film, "The Passion of the Christ" in our Sanctuary Good Friday
As a result of this sermon series many of you have indicated you were planning to watch Mel Gibson's, "The Passion of the Christ" again. In response to this we have decided to show the film on Good Friday, April 14, at 7:00 pm. We are setting up a theatre-sized screen in the center of the chancel for this showing. I know a number of small groups, Sunday School classes and Disciple Classes will likely attend. You are welcome to invite a friend to join you. I will give a five-minute opening to the film, offering a few things you might want to watch for and what to expect for those who have not seen it. After the film, I will lead the congregation in a five-minute time of prayer. While I don't expect this to "sell out" it is possible we could have quite a few people - I simply don't have any idea. If you want to ensure a good seat, you might want to arrive fifteen minutes early. There is no charge and no tickets are needed.
6. Honduras Mission Trip a "Go" this Month!!! Thank you!
I am grateful and excited to announce we have had enough people sign up to make our Honduras Mission trip for April a "go." We also had a number of you offer to provide funds for persons who could not afford to go otherwise. Thank you!!! If you are interested in going to help in the construction of a church building, or are interested in helping in the medical mission, but you cannot go in April, please let us know of your interest. We'll get you information on what you need to do to be ready, and when upcoming trips will depart. I plan to take Rebecca, my youngest, after her sixteenth birthday, on one of our trips in the next twelve months. This is a great and eye opening experience for a parent and teen to do together. For more information or to put your name on the list for an upcoming trip, simply e-mail Linda Hill at linda.hill@cor.org. Thank you to all who have signed up to serve in mission for Christ!
7. Attention Motorcyclists: Join Me in a Ride for the Homeless
Do you have a cycle? Would you like to join me in a ride to benefit the homeless? I'll ride my cycle in the Wheels of Faith ride for Community LINC on Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. The ride will begin from 4025 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, MO. The cost is a minimum donation of $25, which includes your official ride t-shirt. The ride will be fun and the cause is terrific. Dust off your bike and let's ride together. To register on-line simply click on this link: www.communitylinc.org; or call Teresa McClain at 816-595-5553 or e-mail her at tmcclain@communitylinc.org.
8. Resurrection Blood Pressure Screening May Have Saved a Life This Week
This week one of our long-time members had open-heart surgery (which went very well). She indicated our monthly blood pressure screening may have saved her life. The second weekend of every month we have folks who check your blood pressure in the narthex after every worship service (except the 7:45 am service). No appointment is necessary and there is no cost - this is part of the ministry some of our members offer to you. Last month this woman had her blood pressure checked, and as a result of this test she was encouraged to go see her doctor. She went to see her physician who ran several tests and insisted she remain in the hospital and scheduled surgery for the next day. He indicated she was fortunate not to have had a heart attack. Here's my point - we care about you here at the church. We have trained folks who would love to check your blood pressure for you. Stopping to see them may just save your life. If you would be willing to help us check blood pressure, please click on the following link to sign up to help: http://www.cor.org/Health_and_Wellness_Ministry.1831.0.html. Our next screening weekend is May 13-14.
Conclusion: Reading the Good Book
Any given week I am reading parts of eleven or twelve different books, and usually another ten articles from the Net. Most are for research related to my sermon. Some are to stimulate my thinking or to feed my soul. A few are for the simple pleasure of reading. But the most important book I read, and the one I love the most, is the one I carry in my back pocket wherever I go - the Bible. It is filled with stories that would make people blush if they actually read it; and teachings that are so counter-cultural and subversive that, if actually lived, the book would turn the world upside down. It includes parts, which are disturbing, but far more, which are simply inspiring. We give this book to 3 rd graders in the church each year and encourage them to read it, though I have often thought it might be good if we could give 3 rd graders an edited version, and add a few more sections each year. Somehow, we count on parents and Sunday School teachers to be able to guide our children through a careful study of the text because we know, despite the confusing and disturbing parts, the book as a whole is the single most remarkable book ever written - it is a book that changed my life, for through it I found Christ. Have you read your Bible this week? Why not take a few minutes to read it today. Read Mark 15:16-41 in preparation for this weekend's message.
I hope to see you in worship as we remember and reflect upon the crucifixion.
In His Love,
Adam Hamilton