May 2, 2008
May 2, 2008
Dear Resurrection Family,
As you read this I am sitting at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport trying to finish this weekend’s sermon as I make my way back to Kansas City. I’ve been a delegate to our denominations General Conference for the last ten days. This was an exciting and exhausting experience complete with 18 hour days, political maneuvering, protests and demonstrators, moments of tremendous inspiration, Spirit-led worship, important discussion and hours of exasperating debate! I’ve been posting blogs over these last ten days the latest of which recounts a bit of the debate, and the final outcome of the conference’s vote on homosexuality. To read my posts click on this link.
Here are a few quick items about what’s coming up at Resurrection.
1. You Won’t Want to Miss This Weekend in Worship
2. Join Me for Q & A, Seeing Gray and a Report from General Conference
3. Don’t Miss an Evening of Fun, Food, Fellowship and Shopping!
4. Provide Pocket Testaments for Methodists in Russia?
1. You Won’t Want to Miss This Weekend in Worship
I’m looking forward to being back in worship this weekend. We’re continuing in our series of sermons on Simple Truths About LIFE and I’ll preach on “When the Game Ends: Winning and Losing in the Game of LIFE.” In preparation for this weekend’s sermon we interviewed Resurrection’s oldest members (Helen Pearson and Lester Reed) and two other saints in our church, Marie White Webb (whose deceased husband was a bishop in the United Methodist Church) and John Dallam. They will help us learn important life lessons. We’ll look to the scriptures for some of the most important truths about life; and I’ll share with you a few great stories from a book I took with me to General Conference (which I enjoyed reading when the debate was particularly boring!), John Ortberg’s excellent book, When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box.
2. Join Me for Q & A, Seeing Gray and a Report from General Conference
This Thursday night at 7:00 pm I invite you to join me for an informal time of conversation and Q & A. I’ll begin by sharing a bit more information about General Conference and answering your questions. Then I’ll share with you an abbreviated version of what I’m sharing when I lecture about my book, Seeing Gray and invite your questions regarding the book. Then I’ll open things up for you to “stump the preacher” – to ask any questions you’ve been saving up. We’ll meet in the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm. Feel free to invite a friend.
3. Don’t Miss an Evening of Fun, Food, Fellowship and Shopping!
Next Friday Night is our annual missions auction. We have some great items this year – some things you would normally buy any way, and some things you couldn’t buy anywhere else. We’ll have lots of fun, a chance to change the world as the proceeds from your purchases go to help fund Habitat Houses here in Kansas City and the building of churches and educare centers in impoverished areas of South Africa. A light meal will be served. To pre-register for your bid number please stop by the tables in the Narthex this weekend. Walk-up registration will be available the night of the auction. The fun starts at 5:30 pm.
4. Provide Pocket Testaments for Methodists in Russia?
This week I learned that the World Methodist Council was seeking to provide pocket New Testaments to each member of the Russian United Methodist Church. I love this since as this something we value here at Church of the Resurrection. We give thousands of pocket New Testaments to you, our members and visitors, each year. We hope you will carry them with you wherever you go, and freely give them to those who may not have a Bible. How great would it be to make this possible for our Methodist brothers and sisters in Russia?
In order to make this possible the World Methodist Council still needs $7,000. I wonder if some of you would like to give a gift towards this program. LaVon and I will make a contribution towards this need. If you would like to join us in providing pocket New Testaments in Russia, please click on this link and e-mail my assistant and let us know how much you would like to contribute to this special offering. I love the idea that there will be Russian brothers and sisters carrying and giving away Testaments that we have provided to them.
I look forward to being with you this weekend in Worship!
Adam