March 31, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
I hope you're enjoying this beautiful day. Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:
1. Resurrection West Update - Things Are Getting Exciting!
2. Daylight Savings This Weekend - Spring FORWARD!
3. The Torture and Humiliation of Jesus - This Weekend in Worship.
4. Looking for Adventure? Hoping to Change the World? Read This!
5. 229 Adults and Children Joined Resurrection Last Weekend! Welcome!
1. Resurrection West Update - 466 Express Interest So Far!
As the IT team is sending out this e-mail I am in Western Johnson County with several of our staff looking at a potential site for Resurrection West to begin holding services this August. Resurrection West is the new satellite location of our congregation that will be located near K-7 and K-10. Did you know we already have 466 people who live in this part of the county who have expressed an interest in being a part of the CORe group to launch this new congregation? Pastor Russell Brown and Pastor Molly Simpson will lead this effort along with several other staff. I'll preach each week at the west campus via video screen but the music and all the ministries of the church will be live. There are 1,000 churches using this model across the country. We've already had a pastor 900 miles away ask if they can launch a satellite of our congregation in his hometown! We'll wait and see how this first effort goes before trying it anywhere else! I am convinced Resurrection West has the potential to have a significant impact for God's kingdom in the years ahead. If you know someone who might be interested in "getting in on the ground floor" of this new congregation, please contact Pastor Russell Brown or Pastor Molly Simpson at 913 897-0120 or e-mail them at russell.brown@cor.org or molly.simpson@cor.org. The first "trial" service for this new congregation will actually be on Easter at the 11:15 am service in the Student Center. If you are interested in being a part of the new congregation, plan to worship in the Student Center on Easter - it will be an historic event!
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2. Daylight Savings This Weekend - Spring FORWARD!
Don't forget, before you go to bed Saturday night, to set your clock forward! I remember some years ago a pastor I know forgot to set his clock forward and the church had to call him as the service began asking where he was. He arrived about fifteen minutes into the service, unbathed and a bit embarrassed, but otherwise ready to preach. I suspect that pastor will never again forget to set his clock forward! One year I received a testy e-mail on Sunday afternoon from someone who was upset because we had changed our worship times, still not aware it was Daylight Savings Time! So, don't forget to set your clock forward this weekend!
3. The Torture and Humiliation of Jesus - This Weekend in Worship.
This weekend we'll continue in our Lenten series of sermons and worship services exploring the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. Having explored the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Trial before the Sanhedrin, and the Trial Before Pontius Pilate, we turn to the torture and humiliation of Jesus by the Roman Soldiers. One of the most powerful songs about this event will be our anthem this weekend, Man of Sorrows, and you will hear from a Roman soldier present at the torture. We'll consider a second theory of atonement this weekend as we seek to understand the significance of Jesus suffering for us. This will be a powerful and moving weekend of worship.
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4. Looking for Adventure? Hoping to Change the World? Read This!
If you enjoy adventure, find it exciting to visit places most of your friends will never see, and you have a heart for Christ and a desire to change the world, listen up! We are searching for ten people to join our mission team to Tegucigalpa, Honduras April 23-30. Tegucigalpa is two hours south of Houston - an easy flight. It is our same time zone. It is nestled among the mountains and is a beautiful place. You will actually be working in a mountain village outside of Tegucigalpa where Church of the Resurrection is building a church building with and for our United Methodist brothers and sisters. A week ago a team comprised of a man and woman in their 50's, two forty-something moms and two teenagers helped the Honduran masons lay 760 concrete blocks - enough to nearly complete the walls of the Narthex and community room. We're getting very close to being able to roof part of the building so it can be used by the congregation but we need your help. We've had to cancel several trips as we've focused much of our attention on sending Hurricane Katrina relief teams. But we've also made a commitment to helping this congregation. This building will be used by God to change the world in the mountain village of Ciudad Espana. If you can lift concrete blocks, you have all the skills needed to help. To see photos of the church we are constructing click on this link http://www.cor.org/Honduras.1523.0.html. To apply on-line you can do so by clicking on this link: www.cor.org/missions or for more information, contact our missions office at 913-745-2288. We must know by Monday who will be a part of this trip so please call or e-mail today!
5. 229 Adults and Children Joined Resurrection Last Weekend! Welcome!
Last weekend was another exciting Coffee with the Pastors. We had 161 adults and 68 children commit their lives to Christ and join our congregation. I wish you could hear their stories. I was blessed to have a number of people come to me afterwards to say, "This is the first time in my life that I have ever joined a church," or "This is the first time I've ever accepted Christ." Some of the folks who joined are lifelong Christians as well. One woman, 96 years old, moved to Kansas City not long ago. She had belonged to the same church for more than 80 years. She had not planned on transferring her membership to a new church but she said, "I so love coming to this church I found I wanted this to be my church home." We'll list all of our new members in the bulletin this weekend and invite you to welcome them during worship.
Well, that's just a bit of what's happening around your church today. I hope to see you this weekend!
In Christ's Love,
Adam Hamilton