November 10, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
This Sunday at 2:00 pm we'll confirm our students as they publicly profess their faith in Christ. I always love confirmation. Many of these youth we baptized as babies, presented their third grade Bibles to them, and now are confirming them. As a church, you have played a role in helping these kids come to know and follow Jesus Christ. Every nursery worker, every Vacation Bible Camp leader, and every Sunday School teacher and youth sponsor has helped shape these kids lives. When we confirm the students our pastors drape their stoles (the colored fabric we wear over our robes on Sundays) over the students' shoulders. The stole is a symbol of ordination and ministry - and part of what we recognize is that in the student's confirmation they are offering to follow and serve Christ and they are being "ordained" in a sense, for a life of ministry and Christian service. This is a very powerful time and we hope one that will shape these youth for the rest of their lives. All are welcome to attend this service.
Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:
1. Congratulations to Resurrection Members Elected/Re-Elected to Office!
2. This Weekend: Pastor Ted Haggard and the Parables of Jesus
3. Christmas at Resurrection an Outreach Opportunity for YOU
4. A Glimpse of Success in Fulfilling our 2006 Objectives
5. A Few Words About Commitment Weekend
6. Are YOU Ready to Grow Deeper? Take Seminary Level Courses at Resurrection!
1. Congratulations to Resurrection Members Elected/Re-Elected to Office
Tuesday there were at least five Resurrection members or parents of Resurrection members that were elected or re-elected to public office. I am praying for each of them as I write this e-mail, and grateful for their willingness to serve in public office.
I consider civil service to be one of the most important callings one can have. I have seen our members in office as they sought to "do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God." I have been grateful for the ways in which our members have sought to serve the community and to make a difference in the lives of others as public servants.
[to top]
2. This Weekend: Pastor Ted Haggard and the Parables of Jesus
I mentioned last week that I was saddened by the news that pastor Ted Haggard had been accused of sexual immorality. Since that time he has acknowledged that some of the allegations made about him were true, and he was released as pastor of his church and resigned as head of the National Association of Evangelicals. Last weekend I felt compelled to change my plans for this weekend's message and to specifically address what we might learn from Haggard's struggles as we seek to live as followers of Jesus Christ. My intention, for commitment weekend of our stewardship campaign, was to preach on the Parable of the Rich Fool (also known as the "Parable of the Barns"), but instead we'll look at temptation, those things that can destroy the harvest God intends for our lives, and how the five "R's" of resisting temptation, as we look at the Parable of the Sower. I believe this message will speak to everyone in our congregation. We'll still end the service by presenting our commitments to God.
3. Christmas at Resurrection an Outreach Opportunity for YOU
Most of you have received the postcard about Christmas at Resurrection. What you would not know, unless you attended last year, is that this event is the finest Christmas musical in Kansas City, and one of the finest anywhere in the country. I don't mean to sound prideful in this - but it is simply a remarkable musical event that you will find uplifting and inspiring. It is the kind of event that is designed to make it easy for you to invite your friends who are unchurched - they will love this. We are a month away and already half of the tickets have been purchased - and this, having added two shows to the three we had last year. Invite your friends who have no church home - they will thank you for this - it is awesome!!! To purchase your tickets on-line click on this link.
[to top]
4. A Glimpse of Success in Fulfilling our 2006 Objectives
Each year our Church Council spends time in a planning retreat, evaluating our ministry and seeking God's direction for our church. In 2006 one of our strategic objectives was to be intentional about seeing our church serve as a blessing to our community, both by sending you out to bless others, and also by looking for ways to use our facilities to meet the needs of, and bless, our neighbors who might not otherwise attend our church.
Our monthly Bless Your Neighbor challenges have been a part of this. We've been publishing a neighborhood newsletter letting our neighbors know about things happening in the church that might be of interest to them. Our Summerfest was designed to offer a fun and exciting way of connecting with our neighbors and blessing you, our members. We also opened our doors to the Kansas City Symphony for their Pops Series and a host of other community events. This last Tuesday I entered the Narthex to find it used by two groups at the same time - on the east side we were a polling station for our neighbors to come and vote and on the west side we were welcoming not only our members, but the community, for our blood drive. There are literally hundreds of events that we sponsored this year and ministries we regularly offer aimed at welcoming people and blessing them as we seek to be a light for our community. Jesus met people where they were - he fed them, healed them, and blessed them, and in the process, he shared with them the good news of the kingdom. This is what I see when I see us hosting, welcoming and serving our community in Christ's name. 2006 has been a year in which you as a congregation took a huge leap forward in blessing and serving others.
5. A Few Words About Commitment Weekend
You should have received your annual stewardship commitment card in the mail this week (I'm told that a few folks have yet to receive them - if that's you, please watch for it in the mail today). Please read the letter I've included and take the time to pray about your stewardship commitment for 2007. Your commitment should be a reflection of both your love for God and your means. I am hopeful that for you, the very act of filling out your commitment card and bringing it forward is a spiritual act of worship. Even if you have not received your commitment card in the mail yet, take the time to consider your current giving, and your income, and what you would offer to God through the life of your church in the coming year. We'll have commitment cards in the bulletins this weekend in the event that you did not receive yours by mail. We'll return them at the end of the service. As an expression of thanks for turning in your commitment card, we'll give you our 2007 coffee mug (one per family - but we also want each teen who returned a commitment card to receive a mug). This will be an inspiring weekend!
[to top]
6. Are YOU Ready to Grow Deeper? Take Seminary Level Courses at Resurrection!
As you know, our aim for you, in the coming year, is that you will have grown in your faith as you seek to know, love and serve God in your life. For those of you who are serious about growing and being equipped for leadership and Christian service we have something very exciting to announce! We have entered into a partnership with Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. to offer seminary level courses here at the church, taught by seminary faculty, leading to one of three different certifications in either congregational care, Bible study leadership, or church staff leadership. There will be six courses required for certification. Each course will be taught over two weekends - Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - the weekends will be approximately four weeks apart. Two weekends will equal one course, and over eighteen months all six courses will be offered. If you love to learn, secretly wish you could go to seminary, and you have a deep desire to serve God, this is for you. The tuition for each course is $300 which is considerably less than one course taken at the seminary. For more information visit the website. This is such an exciting opportunity for our members - I hope you'll consider being a part of the inaugural class of the Equipping Lay Ministry partnership with Wesley Seminary!
Well, that's just a bit of what's happening around your church. As always, I am blessed to be your pastor!
See you in worship!
Adam Hamilton