December 22, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. Danielle turns twenty today. She was our Christmas baby - LaVon and she came home from the hospital on Christmas morning. She was three when we started the Church of the Resurrection. It seems like just yesterday! How is it possible that I could have a child in her twenties? I'm amazed by, and proud of, the woman she has become.
Life is a continuous process of change. We'll talk about that this weekend in the Christmas Eve services - in the midst of this change, the Christmas story is a constant. We retell the same story year after year - the story of God's visit to our planet, of the birth of "the Savior who is Christ the Lord wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." What changes from year to year is our life situation, and our perspective on this story.
I'll also offer you a fresh perspective on the nativity story - brought to us from someone who has helped deliver 5,000 babies here in Kansas City. I would encourage you to think of a friend that is not involved in a church, and invite them to join you for candlelight services.
This will be my last e-mail of 2006. My e-mail the first week of January will be focused on summarizing our accomplishments together at the church for 2006. Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:
1. Which will be the Least Crowded Candlelight Services?
2. Communion Available in the Firestone Chapel Following Every Service
3. Office Closed December 25/26
4. Year End Gifts
5. To All Who Sent Christmas Cards
1. Which will be the Least Crowded Candlelight Services?
We will have a total of 11 worship services this weekend - two at Resurrection West - at Prairie Trail Junior High at 107th and Lone Elm - the sermon will be via video, all else will be live - the first Christmas for our new congregation; very exciting. These services will be held in the commons area to allow more seating - and will be Sunday, December 24, at 10:00 am and 6:30 pm - this is a huge opportunity to welcome new people to Rez West.
On the central campus at 137th and Nall I believe our least crowded services will be as follows: Saturday - 7:00 pm, Sunday, 9:00 am and 10:45 am, and Sunday 11:00 pm. The most crowded will be the 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 pm services on Christmas Eve. If you arrive and the Sanctuary is full, the Wesley Chapel will be set up for overflow with the service live via video and a pastor and song leader leading the service - this will be true for the Sunday 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00 pm services. What an exciting weekend of worship!
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2. Communion Available in the Firestone Chapel Following Every Service
Following each service at the Central Campus we will have pastors serving communion in the Firestone Chapel. In addition, at the Saturday 7:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 pm services we will serve communion during the worship service - this is part of what I love about these two services.
3. Office Closed December 25/26
Just a reminder, the church offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and 26. If you need emergency pastoral care during this time, please call the pastoral care pager at 816-545-4154 and a pastor will return your call.
4. Year End Gifts
LaVon and I set a goal for how much of our income we will give away each year - during this week I've been checking to make sure we meet that goal. If you have done the same, be sure to have your gifts in by December 31 - this is the last day for them to appear on your 2006 giving statement and to be included in your charitable donations for tax purposes. Thank you to each of you who have made sure your pledges were paid in full to the church this year. We've had a flurry of activity in the finance office with members who were making sure they had fulfilled their commitments and those simply wishing to make year-end gifts. Thank you!
5. Thank You for Your Christmas Cards!
LaVon and I have enjoyed reading all of the Christmas cards and notes sent by members of the church. I pray over each card before we take them down for the season. I enjoyed reading your family letters, and seeing the photos of people in our congregation. For all who sent cards, thank you! We were blessed by your notes, treats and gifts.
For those of you traveling out of town for Christmas, I pray your Christmas will be blessed and full of joy. For those who are staying in town, I look forward to seeing you at Christmas Eve services as we celebrate the "good news of great joy for all people" - news that brings us "peace on earth, and good will to all people."
Merry Christmas!
Adam Hamilton