May 5, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
As I am writing this e-mail I just finished spending the last six hours with over 100 military chaplains from across the country, sharing with them leadership and preaching ideas from our congregation. A number of our other staff are sharing with them as well, and many of our lay people are here ministering to them in music, hospitality and in other ways. Our prayer ministry and our student ministry was actively involved in praying for the chaplains, and this, I believe, made all the difference in our conference. Speaking with the CO overseeing this conference, he noted how blessed and encouraged the men and women were by our congregation. It has been very exciting to be with these folks. The conference goes until Noon on Friday. Would you be willing to take just a moment right now to pray for the chaplains and for this conference, that God would use us to bless these who are shepherding our men and women in the armed forces?
Thank you for your prayers! Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:
1. This Weekend: The Meaning and Calling of Friendship - Please Read This!
2. Thank You Blood Donors!
3. Neighborhood Food Drive - an amazing fact.
4. Alaska Cruise Update.
5. Thinking About Joining the Church? Join me for Coffee this Tuesday.
6. Resurrection West Worship in Wesley Covenant Chapel This Sunday at 9:10 am.
7. Attention Graduating Seniors: Baccalaureate Service at Resurrection.
8. Please Keep Paul Palmer in Your Prayers.
Conclusion: Gloria Kerns, Ovarian Cancer and Hospice House.
1. This Weekend: The Meaning and Calling of Friendship - Please Read This!
You and I were created to need friends, and to be friends. Our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being is in large part dependent upon them. This weekend we'll be considering how our faith shapes our friendships. This is a serious topic we'll approach with a touch of humor, as we learn about the meaning, and the calling of friendship. I would like to include a few of my favorite quotes about friendship in this e-mail:
- Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose. - Tehyi Hsieh
- Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. - Unknown
- Faithful friends are beyond price: No amount can balance their worth. - Sirach 6:15
- Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together. - Woodrow Wilson
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2. Thank You Blood Donors - WOW!
Last week I mentioned that the number of persons who had signed up for the blood drive was way down - but this weekend you rallied to give of yourselves for others. I am so proud of your response - we had over 400 people sign up and 353 who were actually able to give - we surpassed the 10,000 th pint of blood donated and you saved lives by your blood donation. Thanks to your response we're now actually up 14% in pints collected to date this year over the last two years. Well done!!!
3. Neighborhood Food Drive - an amazing fact.
I spoke with our missions staff after this weekend and they were very excited about the number of persons in our church who were going to canvass their neighborhoods inviting persons to contribute food for those in need in Kansas City. 280 families in our congregation signed up to collect food in their neighborhood. I can't tell you how proud I am of these folks. But here's the amazing part; these 280 households, if they actually reach out to the number of people in the neighborhoods their connecting with, will invite 20,000 households to participate in the food drive. In the process they will also pray for 20,000 households, and, simply by virtue of inviting their participation in the food drive, will be bearing witness to the gospel. What an awesome ministry. I can't wait to hear how this goes. Blessings to all who are helping with this drive.
Just a word to say, we're just beginning to collect information on dates and costs for the Making Love Last a Lifetime cruise next summer. We now have over 500 people who have expressed an interest in this cruise. Expect to hear something in June.
5. Thinking About Joining the Church? Join me for Coffee this Tuesday.
If you are a visitor to our church and you are thinking of joining the church, I'd like to invite you to join me and our other pastors for coffee this coming Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. We'll share with you a bit about our church, the expectations for membership, and then, if you wish, you'll be able to join at the end of the evening, in what will be a meaningful joining ceremony. If you've been thinking about joining, I hope to see you this Tuesday evening in the Narthex of the west building!
6. Resurrection West Worship in Wesley Covenant Chapel This Sunday at 9:10 am.
This weekend our new Resurrection West congregation will have its first official worship service - in the Wesley Covenant Chapel - our chapel here on campus. This will be an opportunity to meet others who are planning on being a part of the Resurrection West congregation. Pastors Russell and Molly will lead the worship service, and I'll preach my sermon on friendship via video screen. We'll announce in this service the location of Resurrection West. This is very exciting. If you live in Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, or points to the west, and you'd like to help us extend the mission and ministry of the Church of the Resurrection, reaching non-religious and nominally religious people in western Johnson County, I hope you plan to be a part of this special service! Questions? Contact Rev. Russell Brown at russell.brown@cor.org.
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7. Attention Graduating Seniors: Baccalaureate Service at Resurrection.
Attention Graduating Seniors. Once again this year, the Church of the Resurrection will host a Kansas City-wide Baccalaureate service. This service, sponsored by the Blue Valley Ministerial Association for any and all graduating seniors from area high schools will include a procession by the graduates, special music by our youth band, youth choir and orchestra, a message for graduates, and a presentation of two scholarships to area high school students. The service will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 pm, in our Sanctuary. Graduates are asked to wear their caps and gowns and to arrive at 6:30 pm. Please pass this on to all graduating seniors that you know. The service will be inter-denominational but focused on the Christian community as I am told the Jewish community is holding their own service. For more information please contact Guest Services at 913-745-2221.
8. Please Keep Paul Palmer in Your Prayers.
Paul Palmer, one of our long tenured facilities staff members has just moved into the Kingswood Manor Health Care Center, where he is being cared for as he faces his battle with cancer. Many of you have blessed Paul with cards and prayers - he would value your continuing prayers and notes. I will see him later today, and I'd love to be able to tell him you are praying for him.
Conclusion: Gloria Kerns, Ovarian Cancer and Hospice House.
On Easter weekend I told the story of Gloria Kerns who had come home from the hospital in order to die at home. Her faith and hope in Christ were an inspiration. Last week she moved into the Hospice House of Kansas City, located at 120 th and Wornall Road. I had a chance to see her there this last Saturday. On Sunday morning she passed away in her sleep. This Saturday we will celebrate her life in the Wesley Chapel. Half of her ashes will be inurned in our memorial garden and the other half at the Grand Canyon - a place she loved.
There are two things I wanted to mention to you regarding her passing. The first is, Gloria died of ovarian cancer. Gloria wanted women to know this and to understand early detection makes all the difference in surviving this disease. If you'd like to know more about Ovarian Cancer and early detection click on this link to Johns Hopkins Medical Center website on Ovarian cancer (I'm sure there are many other excellent websites, this is only one I found while preparing this issue of the pastor's e-mail): www.ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/
The second thing I wanted you to know about Gloria's passing was related to the Hospice House. This is a brand new facility and it is beautiful. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been - the rooms are large and beautiful. Wayne, Gloria's husband, described it as "just this side of heaven." I want to commend the Hospice House for creating such a remarkable place for people who cannot stay at home but do not wish to be in a hospital as they approach death.
How grateful I am for Easter and the resurrection of Christ. And how grateful I am for people who care for and befriend others as they approach their death.
See you in worship!
Adam Hamilton