August 17, 2007
Dear Resurrection Family,
I just came from the Sanctuary where I was looking at the set-up for the launch of this weekend's worship/sermon series, "The Voyage." You don't want to miss this weekend - really! I am very excited about the next five weeks as together we board the S.S. Resurrection. The ship and sea-faring images will help us think about the spiritual life in fresh ways. We'll study the stories of Noah, Jonah and Peter and their adventures on boats and how their stories teach us about God and our own spiritual lives. For this series we've shot video footage in Alaska, interviewed the captain of a Navy Destroyer, we have tremendous and fun special music, and even a ship in our Sanctuary! This first sermon will set the stage for the all the rest - if you are in town, please don't miss this, and invite a friend to join you - I am confident your friend will be really glad you asked them to join you. If you didn't see the video promo for the series show in worship last weekend, you'll enjoy seeing it. And then you can e-mail an invitation to your friends who don't have a church family. Here's the link: www.cor.org/thevoyage.
Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:
1. Never Been Baptized? Wish to be Baptized by Immersion? Read This:
2. A HUGE Thank You to Those Who Made Possible the Two Leadership Conferences
3. Resurrection West Celebrates One Year Anniversary This Weekend
4. From the "I Wish You Had Been There" File: Buying a Firetruck
5. Special Church Conference to Purchase Land for Permanent Sanctuary
6. Labor Day Weekend Worship Will be at Starlight - One Giant Service
7. Youth Group Kick-Off, Children's Sunday School Kick-Off This Week/Weekend!
8. Should We Call God "Allah"?
1. Never Been Baptized? Wish to be Baptized by Immersion? Read This:
If you have never been baptized before, and you are ready to take this step, or to have your children take this step, tomorrow is a unique opportunity for you. Tomorrow morning at 10:00 am in the Wesley Chapel I will offer a 45 minute class on what baptism means. Then, on Saturday night at 6:30 pm we will have a special baptismal service in which I will baptize those who wish to be baptized by immersion (going under the water) in our Memorial Garden. If you have ever been baptized before, this service is not for you - in the United Methodist Church we do not re-baptize (though we can renew your baptism). But, if you have never been baptized and you are ready to take this step of faith, or if you are ready to have your children baptized and they wish to be baptized by immersion, I will lead this service Saturday night. Please note: You (and if your child is being baptized and is old enough to understand, they too) must attend the baptismal class on Saturday morning. We do not baptized without either the parents of a child, or the child or adult being baptized, understanding what this means. To make your reservation to be baptized please call Betty Walter at 913-544-0702.
2. A HUGE Thank You to Those Who Made Possible the Two Leadership Conferences
Part of our vision here at the church is to encourage and foster renewal in other churches. To that end we host a number of leadership conferences, prepare curriculum, write books and are involved in a host of other activities to encourage other churches. In the last two weeks we hosted two different conferences, back to back: the United Methodist School of Congregational Development, which lasted five days, followed by the Willow Creek Leadership Summit that lasted another three days. All told we had about 1,400 pastors and church leaders from across the country here for these two events. We were only able to host these events because of our extraordinary volunteers who took vacation time or time away from other things to bless the participants. Consistently the feedback we receive from participants in our conferences is that our hosts and hospitality is the best they've ever seen anywhere, and that what our people do they do with excellence, passion and love. I am so proud of each, volunteers and staff, who gave of yourselves to make these conferences happen. You touched so many people and because of your work there are hundreds of churches that were strengthened. Thank you!!
3. Resurrection West Celebrates One-Year Anniversary This Weekend
One year ago this weekend our church launched Resurrection West - new satellite congregation aimed at reaching non-religious and nominally religious people in the western part of the metro area. After one year the congregation averages more than 400 people per weekend in two services. They have launched children's, youth and adult discipleship activities, a ministry for children with disabilities, and they have been involved in monthly Faithwork projects and two mission trips. They are currently studying their future land needs as they are preparing to search for land for their permanent location. If you live in the western part of the county, or know someone who does, you should check out Resurrection West. Each week they have great worship, and wonderful programs, two great pastors, and the same sermon you're hearing here at the Central Campus only via video (what's interesting about this is that most of you in the Sanctuary here in Leawood watch me preach on the video screens here, rather than looking right at me - I can tell as I'm preaching!). After the 10:45 am service this weekend I'm leaving immediately following the benediction to drive over to Rez West to celebrate their anniversary with them. They're having Chris Cakes and a celebration after their 10:55 am service. Want more information and directions to their location (they meet at Prairie Trail Junior High at 108th and Lone Elm)? Click here: http://www.reswest.org/.
4. From the "I Wish You Had Been There" File: Buying a Firetruck
I had the privilege of representing you before the Leawood City Council recently to formally request they sell us a firetruck that we are donating to the City of Greensburg, Kansas. The City Council had previously leased the truck to Greensburg, but could not legally give it away since it was city property. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to purchase the truck at a very reasonable price - $50,000 - and we will, in turn, donate it to the City of Greensburg. The City Council members and all who were in the chambers stood to applaud your generosity and what you've done. I was so proud of you as a church. On Monday, September 10 Mayor Dunn and LaVon and I will fly to Greensburg with Dave Webb, one of our worshipers who initially told me of Greensburg's need for a firetruck. We'll formally present the truck to the city at that time.
5. Special Church Conference to Purchase Land for Permanent Sanctuary
You may be aware that when the Cornerstone commercial project, just north of the Church (where Plaza III, Bonefish, Cheeseburger, Winsteads, Ted's, Seville Home and CVS are located) was conceived eight years ago, members of our Church invested in purchasing the commercial land.
Part of Cornerstone Development's land includes 6.3 acres of ground south of 137th Street, just west of the children's wing. At the inception of the project, Cornerstone's owners hoped that the project would develop quickly and that profit from the project would allow the shareholders to donate that 6.3 acres to the Church. We plan to build our permanent sanctuary on this site. Unfortunately the project has taken longer to develop than had been originally planned, which has caused the development to incur higher interest costs than had been anticipated. Cornerstone has advised the Church that it cannot donate the property. Since this piece of property is critical to the Church's future plans, the Trustees of the Church are bringing forward a motion to have the Church purchase this land. A special Church Conference has been called to invite each of our members to be informed about the purchase and to vote on it. I'll show you the specific piece of land at the end of worship this weekend so you know what you'll be voting on. The Church Conference will be held on August 30 at 6:00 pm. in the Wesley Chapel.
6. Labor Day Weekend Worship Will be at Starlight - One Giant Service
On Labor Day weekend we will hold one giant worship service at Starlight Theatre with St. James United Methodist Church where Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver is the pastor. This is going to be an awesome weekend of worship with the combined choirs of our two churches, praise bands and gospel music, and Pastor Cleaver and I each preaching half of the sermon. The focus is a Celebration of CommUNITY and we are going to have an incredible time of worship together. Following worship the Starlight Food Vendors will be open and barbecue will also be served on site. We're encouraging you to make a day of it and to plan to head to the Kansas City Zoo, just across the street from Starlight. We'll have discount tickets for the zoo available in worship the next two weekends. We are also chartering busses to leave from the church parking lot and to return throughout the afternoon.
This service will be unlike anything you've ever attended before, and something Kansas City has never seen before. It will be inspiring, moving and exciting. But it will also be a powerful witness to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to bring people together, to heal nations, and to change the world. Busses will leave our parking lot at 9:00 am - reservations are required for the busses - click here to make your reservation, www.cor.org/guestservices. The pre-service music starts at 9:40 am.and the service formally begins at 10:00 am.
7. Youth Group Kick-Off, Children's Sunday School Kick-Off This Week/Weekend!
This weekend marks the formal kick-off for all of our youth and children's programs. It will be an exciting weekend. Youth group for 7th- 8th graders kicks off Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Student Center and for high school from 8:00 to 9:15 pm. Danny Ross, a Christian illusionist, will work his magic and share his message of God's love. Danny was featured at the National Youth Workers Convention this last year and he performs and speaks across the country. It will be very cool and something no teen will want to miss. To check out Danny's ministry click on this link to his website: www.uprightillusions.com.
8. Should We Call God "Allah"?
I just finished a radio interview in which I was asked about a proposal made by a Catholic bishop in the Netherlands to use the name Allah for God in order to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians. Many Western Christians are not aware that the word, "Allah" is the word for God in Arabic just as Dios is the word for God in Spanish. Christians in Arabic speaking countries use the word Allah for God. The word may even share a common etymology with the Hebrew word, Elohim. Having said that, I don't think the bishop's proposal is a good one. I don't think it would accomplish the goal of easing tensions - in fact, I think it would likely raise tensions. While both Muslims and Christians are referring to God when they speak, and they share some similar ideas about God (God is all powerful, eternal, just, etc.) there are also significant differences between their concepts of God that cannot be glossed over. For this reason it is likely that a large number of Muslims would find the bishop's proposal offensive, as would many Christians. If you are interested in learning more about the similarities and differences between the major world religions you might want to check out my book Christianity and World Religions.
Well, there's so much more to share, but I'm out of time! I look forward to seeing you in worship this weekend!
In Christ's Love,
Adam