July 28, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
I want to begin this e-note by sharing with you that one of our long time members and leaders here at the church passed away this week. On Wednesday morning Don Mauery entered God's heavenly Kingdom. Even typing these words leaves me feeling as though someone has knocked the wind out of me.
Don and his wife Kay began worshiping with us at the McGilley Chapel.They have been a very active and supportive part of our church family. When Don retired from Purina he saw this as an opportunity to serve God with his time, talents, and life experience. He sang in the choir, served on the Staff Parish Committee, became a lay member to Annual Conference, and volunteered, nearly full time, filling in several years ago as one of our Executive Directors. He was on the leadership team of United Methodist Men, a part of our Church Council, a part of the Kansas East Annual Conference Board of Trustees, and was one of the members of the board of the Cornerstone LLC. He and Kay worshiped most weekends at 7:45 am. They are charter members of our John Wesley Society, and this is just a little of what he had done in the church. Personally, Don was a mentor and friend. He knew how to say just the right thing at the right time. He had a way of encouraging you and helping you believe in yourself. His humility, strong leadership, and people gifts came together in a most remarkable way. Don loved God, sought to follow Christ with his whole heart, was a committed churchman, loved his wife, children and grandchildren, and he loved this church and gave so much of himself for her. He will be missed. This Saturday we will celebrate Don's life in the Sanctuary at 11:00 am. Visitation will be in the Narthex at 9:30 am.
I'd like to share several other items with you in today's e-mail:
1. Kevin Bogan as Albert Peterson in "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Theatre in the Park!
2. Attention KU Students and Alums!
3. My Visit to an "Emerging Church"
4. Vote This Tuesday
5. Pray for Peace
6. Leadership Summit Schedule - Last Chance to Register Online!
1. Kevin Bogan as Albert Peterson in "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Theatre in the Park!
Our own Director of Traditional Music, Kevin Bogan, is playing one of the lead roles in Theatre in the Park's production of "Bye Bye Birdie" beginning this evening at Shawnee Mission Park. The show begins tonight - and will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this weekend and next. If you've never been to Theatre in the Park you will love it. Take your lawn chairs and bring your picnic supper. Gates open at 7:00 pm, and the performance begins at dusk. Don't worry about the heat - it cools off quickly when the sun sets. LaVon and I are heading out tonight to see Kevin and the show. I hope to see some of you there!
2. Attention KU Students and Alums!
On August 5 and 6 you'll have a chance to meet the new United Methodist campus ministers at the University of Kansas. Creighton and Nikki Alexander are terrific and they would love to connect with as many KU students as possible that weekend. We're even sponsoring a light lunch immediately following worship at 12:30 pm on August 6, for KU students, parents and alums. RSVP to Cheryl Greenough at cheryl.greenough@cor.org.
[to top]
3. My Visit to an "Emerging Church"
This last weekend, I worshiped at Church of the Resurrection and enjoyed hearing Pastor Karen Lampe preach on the importance of reading and studying the Bible (her message left me yearning to get home and open my Bible (I've been studying I Corinthians this week, both for my own edification and because I plan to preach a series of sermons on this book in the fall of 2007 entitled, "Letters to a Dysfunctional Church"). In addition LaVon and the girls and I worshiped at Jacob's Well - an "emerging" (or "emergent"?) church on 42nd Street near KU Medical Center.
["Emerging" is a word sometimes used to describe churches seeking to connect with the "emerging" generation of people under 30 (or at least a subset of these). "Emergent" is often used interchangeably with "emerging" though some want to make a clear distinction, clarifying that "emergent" churches and pastors are open to more of the insights and ways of seeing the world that are reflected in post-modern thought whereas "emerging" can simply mean looking at new ways of doing worship and ministry to reach a "post-Christian" culture. Have I confused you yet? Good, because I find it a bit confusing myself trying to sort through who uses which label and how. A 2004 article from Christianity Today - no doubt outdated by now but perhaps still a helpful introduction can be read by clicking here: www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/011/12.36.html]
What's clear when you read what people are saying online is that "emergent" is seen as a threat by some conservative Christians. It is attacked in ways that, based upon my reading and what I know of some of the emergent churches leaders, are neither accurate nor fair.
In any event, I wanted to experience an emerging (or emergent - I'm not sure if Jacob's Well would claim either of these titles) church. Here's what I found: First, it was great to see a church in the urban core packed out - there were probably 250 people at the service I attended, and it is one of three services each weekend - Jacob's Well has over 1,000 people per weekend during the school year. The crowd was largely people under 30 with a few exceptions. Blue jeans or shorts were the standard attire. The music was good - rock and roll but with an "edgier" sound than what we offer on Saturday and Sunday nights. Several songs were familiar to me. As I recall there were several songs up front, followed by some announcements and prayers, then scripture reading, a 40 minute sermon in which Pastor Tim Keel invited the congregation to share their insights on a passage of scripture aloud, used a flip chart to illustrate several points, and ultimately helped us reflect upon the significance of God's name - Yahweh - as found in the Old Testament. I enjoyed Tim's message. Following the message we received the Eucharist as more music played, and then finally a closing prayer was offered and we sang a benedictory song. The theology was orthodox, the spirit was gracious, and the people seemed to be doing many good things in ministry with each other and to the world.
Part of my reason for wanting to visit Jacob's Well was to help me think about the worship needs, tastes and desires of the next generation. It is easy for churches to become "stuck" in a particular style of music or worship as the world changes around them, resulting in churches that eventually stop connecting with their own children as they grow up. This is why I believe it is important for us to be aware of changes in culture and musical tastes among children and youth, and to integrate elements into worship, or design separate worship experiences that speak to them. The gospel is unchanging, but the forms of worship and particularly musical styles do change over time. What's interesting about the emerging churches is that they are rediscovering ancient worship practices, yet tying them to modern forms of musical expression (this is sometimes called, "ancient-modern" worship). At some point in the future I would like to add a service that might have a bit different look and feel, probably something between what we currently offer and what I saw at Jacob's Well more on this after the first of the year. I'd like to know that twenty years from now we're not a church made up of only 60 to 80 year olds (of which I'll be one) because we didn't look for ways of designing worship that speaks to future generations.
[to top]
4. Vote This Tuesday
This coming Tuesday, August 1, is the Primary Election. Republicans will choose a candidate for Governor and a candidate for Congress for the 3rd District. There are numerous state races and a contentious State Board of Education race. You are a congregation of intelligent, caring, committed people whose vote and voice matter in shaping our society. Take the time to learn what various candidates stand for, and vote for those you feel best represent your convictions about the issues.
5. Pray for Peace
Please pause at this time and pray for peace and wisdom in Lebanon and Israel. My heart is heavy for the people in this region. How do you analyze this situation? What is an appropriate proportional response to acts of aggression? At what point does the response to an immoral act become immoral itself? At what point does the current conflict escalate into something that can't be contained? These are questions swirling through my mind.
I am reminded of Jesus' words and teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and believe his teachings offer the only way out for a Middle East in conflict. But his words are seen by many as unrealistic and inapplicable to this situation. (Read Matthew 5-7 to see what Jesus said about life as citizens of God's kingdom). Join me in praying for peace and wisdom for those who are in positions of influence and power.
[to top]
6. Leadership Summit Schedule - Last Chance to Register On-Line!
I am so excited about the Leadership Summit coming up August 10 - 12 live, via satellite, from Willow Creek in Chicago. Here's the schedule:
Thursday, Aug. 10
9:00 am-The Life Cycle of a Leader-Bill Hybels
11:15 am-Enemies of a Growing Church-James Meeks
2:00 pm-Focused Leadership-Andy Stanley
3:45 pm-Tribal Warfare-Peg Neuhauser
Friday, Aug. 11
9:00 am-The Risky Business of Hiring Stars-Harvards Ashish Nanda
9:50 am-When Business Thinking Fails a Church-Jim Collins
11:30 am-Interview with Bono on Moral Leadership
2:15 pm-Silos, Poltiics and Turf Wars-Patrick Lencioni
Worship with Nicole C. Mullen
Saturday, Aug. 12
9:00 am-Dead Leader Running-Wayne Cordeiro
11:00 am-The Power of Clarity-Bill Hybels
Resurrection members receive a special discount rate of $95. You must register through our website at this link http://www.cor.org/Willow_Creek_Leadership_Summit_2006.3075.0.html. The password for Resurrection members to log in and receive the discounted rate is summithost.
Adam Hamilton