May 18, 2007
Dear Resurrection Family,
This is an exciting weekend for so many of you - graduation weekend! I would like to encourage you who are graduating to attend worship this weekend, considering worship your baccalaureate. We will recognize our graduates in worship (both high school and college) and we have a gift for each of you that we will present in worship. During part of my sermon, as John, I will speak to our graduates specifically. Bring your family with you and join us for worship as we honor you.
Here's what's coming up in today's e-mail:
1. This Weekend: John at 95 and the Book of Revelation - and the Make-up Process Revealed.
2. Resurrection Member Donating Marrow to Save a 13 Year Old.
3. Can You Help? On-Line Survey on Spiritual Growth - Your Feedback Needed.
4. South Africa Team Returns: Church has Building for First time in 65 Years!!!
1. This Weekend: John at 95 and the Book of Revelation - and the Make-up Process Revealed!
This weekend, in addition to honoring our graduates, I will conclude the series of sermons on the New Testament. My aim has been to help you see and hear the New Testament in a way you never have before, by giving an oral interpretation of the material and offering first person narratives. In the first sermon in the series I was John at 35 - the age he may have been in the gospels. In the second I was John at 55 - the age he may have been as the churches were being started throughout the empire. In the third sermon I was John at 70, the age he was when Peter and Paul had died and his letters were being written. This week, I will be John at 95, the age he may have been when he wrote Revelation. I believe you will hear Revelation as the first hearers would have, and that you will see and understand it as you may never have before. At the end of the service we'll show you what went in to the make-up process each week - I think you'll enjoy seeing this. Bring a friend (many are interested in Revelation and would come if you only invited them) and join us for the last in this special series of messages.
2. Resurrection Member Donating Marrow to Save a 13-Year-Old
Many of us have signed up for the bone marrow registry here at the church. This year two of our members have had the privilege of actually being asked to donate. This week Todd Bickel will undergo a bone marrow transplant, offering this gift of life to a 13-year-old boy, in the hopes of saving his life. Todd and Julie have an 11-year-old daughter and it is easy for them to imagine how much they would want someone else to offer this gift of life if their daughter was in need and neither of them were a match for her. I can imagine few things more rewarding than being called upon to do this. Todd would like to encourage each of you who have yet to sign up for the bone marrow registry to do so the next time we have a blood drive here at Resurrection. I am on this list, as are many hundreds (thousands?) of you. Please pray for this 13-year-old boy and for Todd Bickel as he prepares for this procedure.
3. Can You Help? Online Survey on Spiritual Growth - Your Feedback Needed
Our church has been invited to participate in an important survey on spiritual growth. We'll take the survey along with 24 other churches from across the country. Your participation is important because the survey will help us assess how we are really doing with our dream of turning non-religious and nominally religious people into deeply committed Christians. The results will provide important insights into our congregation and an assessment of the effectiveness of our ministries. The entire survey takes about twelve minutes. No personal information will be collected and it is completely anonymous. Please participate right now by clicking on this link: http://www.a2now.com/survey07
4. South Africa Team Returns: Church has Building for First time in 65 Years!!!
Last night I heard from members of our South Africa team who just returned from their mission there. Part of their task was to be a part of the dedication of the building that you helped to build in Durban. This building and educare center was made possible by our donations through last year's golf tournament and auction. I had told you that we provided all of the funds - I was mistaken - we provided half of the funds, the church there raised the other half. I am told the celebration and dedication was incredible, and the church was packed with villagers standing all around the outside of the building as well. This church has been in existence for 65 years, and for the first time, they have their own building. There is a dedication plaque inside the building recognizing you for your gift to this congregation. I am reminded, as I think of the joy I feel, and hope you feel, at being a part of this, of the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
I hope to see you this weekend in worship. It will be a tremendous weekend in worship, and a great opportunity to recognize our graduates.
In Christ's Love,
Adam Hamilton