September 22, 2006

Dear Resurrection Family,

I just came from the Resurrection Business Leaders' Breakfast. We had a great group, a wonderful breakfast, and a terrific speaker. Russ Kline, a United Methodist layman from Wood's Chapel UMC spoke on struggle, success and significance. The group in our church sponsoring this ministry is also sponsoring small groups for business people to come together for fellowship, accountability and to study and grow together as Christians in the workplace. They are also sponsoring a food drive for the workplace. This is really exciting!

Tonight we're gearing up for the Amy Grant concert as she performs with the Kansas City Symphony. This will be a great event. The Kansas City Symphony Pops Series was homeless this year as their usual venue was unavailable. We are honored to provide our Sanctuary for this series as a way of welcoming the community into our building and demonstrating hospitality. In the process our members have access to great music. My hope is that this is a blessing to the Symphony, to the community and to our church.

Here's what I'll cover in today's e-mail:

1. Leonard Sweet to Speak at Resurrection - Fanning the Flame
2. Considering CDs? Invest with the Kansas United Methodist Foundation - 5.5%
3. Resurrection Staff Members Publish Books - Congratulations!
4. Update on Resurrection West
5. Your Witness and Homecoming Queens
6. This Weekend In Worship: Faith Without Works

1. Leonard Sweet to Speak at Resurrection - Fanning the Flame
Many of you have heard of Leonard Sweet - one of the leading Christian thinkers and theologians in America today. His newest book is, The Gospel According to Starbucks, but he has also written The Three Hardest Words, Faithquakes, and a host of others. He has been named one of the 50 most influential Christians in America today. He is currently professor of evangelism at Drew Theological Seminary. Len Sweet is speaking here for the Fanning the Flames conference sponsored by the Kansas East Annual Conference - a kind of camp meeting, revival, leadership training event we are hosting on Saturday, October 14 from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. If you are looking to get your batteries recharged spiritually, and to stretch yourself theologically, you won't want to miss this event. The cost is only $25 and this includes a catered lunch. If there is anyone who would like to attend and cannot afford this, please e-mail me at sue.thompson@cor.org - we'll cover your cost. In addition to Len Sweet, you'll hear from Junius Dotson, one of the best preachers around - he has preached at our Leadership Institute before and you will be inspired and moved by his preaching. In addition to the plenary with Dr. Sweet and the worship with Junius Dotson, there will be dozens of awesome workshops led by pastors, staff, laity and professors from across the conference. I'm asking all of our leaders to attend, but this event is really not only for leaders, but for all who love Christ and the church. This will be a terrific event. To read more about this event, click on this link. The registration form can be found online.

2. Considering CDs? Invest with the Kansas United Methodist Foundation - 5.5%
You may not be aware that the Kansas East Annual Conference Foundation provides a vehicle for you to invest funds, knowing that while your money is earning interest, the principle is going to support projects that further the Kingdom of God. Currently the foundation is offering Certificates of Deposit for one year and two-year terms at 5.5%. United Methodist Churches and individuals who are members of or are participating in a local UMC in Kansas may purchase certificates of participation. To receive an offering circular and application form, or if you need more information, contact the Foundation at 888-453-8405 or 620-664-9623.

3. Resurrection Staff Members Publish Books - Congratulations!
Most of you know that I have written and published several books, but did you know that other members of our staff have also written books aimed at helping other churches strengthen their ministries? Yvonne Gentile and Carol Cartmill have teamed up to write, Serving from the Heart, Leadership from the Heart, and Leadership Essentials each of which is aimed at helping laity discover their spiritual gifts and serve and lead more effectively for Christ. Connie Stella has written Video Ministry, which is the best book I know on using video in worship and in other ways in the church. Judy Comstock has just published, Children's Ministry as a part of a series of short books that are ministry guides being written by Resurrection staff to give away our ministry to other churches. All of these books are available through our bookstore, The Well, and through our on-line version of The Well at our website at www.cor.org. Congratulations to each of our published authors!

4. Update on Resurrection West
This last Sunday night LaVon and I had the opportunity to take the staff of Resurrection West to supper to celebrate what God has done through our new satellite congregation. There were 568 people at Resurrection West last weekend. This is very exciting! Rez West has already begun getting involved in mission and service to the community. Rez West held their first Faithworks service day recently, and they have a team going to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi for continuing hurricane recovery work, in the next month. There are a large number of kids in the kids programs and they are hoping to move from one hour of Sunday School to two as volunteers become available. I have heard the music is awesome - both the choir at the 9:10 am service and the praise bands at 10:50 am. Youth are holding monthly gatherings and we will start a weekly youth ministry in the coming months. We'll do our first mailing to the community about the church in the coming weeks. If you have a friend who does not have a church home and who lives in the western part of Johnson County or beyond, please invite them to attend. For more information visit the Rez West website at www.rezwest.org.

5. Your Witness and Homecoming Queens
I was attending Blue Valley High School's homecoming football game (great game, Coach Rampey - 44-0!) last Friday night along with some of my classmates as we were beginning to plan for our 25 th Reunion coming up this next June. It was great to see so many Resurrection members. But what I was particularly blessed by was the presentation of the candidates for homecoming queen. As they presented the homecoming court the speaker would tell something about the students. For four of the six girls it was announced that they were involved at the Church of the Resurrection. What blessed me about this was that these girls expressed that among the various things they are involved in, one of these they wanted people to know about was their church. This was a powerful witness for Christ and the church. Thank you and congratulations to each of these girls. I am told the same was true at many of the area high schools.

Which leads me to this point. Each of you reading this e-mail is a person of influence in someone's life. It may be your friends or family, or God may grant you influence over hundreds of thousands of people. Whatever your scope of influence, using it as a way of letting others know you are a follower of Jesus Christ is important - it is part of what it means to "let your light shine."

Earlier this year Kent Baker, one of our members, was recognized for his work in helping feed the homeless. A wonderful article was written about him in the Kansas City Business Journal. For the photo he wore his Church of the Resurrection jacket from last year's golf tournament and, whenever he gives an interview he talks about his faith and his church.

There are hundreds of our members who regularly do this - who use their influence to, with humility and winsomeness, let others know they are followers of Christ and members of this church. This requires courage, and humility. When others who look up to you learn that you are a follower of Christ, this changes their perception of what it means to be a Christian. When they know you are a part of this church, you pique their interest in attending. I want to encourage you to look for opportunities to be salt and light in your sphere of influence.

6. This weekend: Faith Without Works ... and Octoberfest
This weekend we will conclude our study of the Letter of James with a look at his teaching concerning the connection between faith and works. This is a very important message and an important weekend to be in worship. There are no Chiefs games this weekend (by the way, continue to pray for Trent Green as he continues his recovery - he and Julie appreciate their church family praying for them) so worship at your favorite worship time and don't miss the opportunity to honor God and grow in your faith! This weekend is we will recognize the work of our Matthew's Ministry and the United Methodist Men will have their annual Octoberfest and Bird Seed Sale. All proceeds go to support Matthew's Ministry. So, hang around after worship, enjoy a brat or dog, and fellowship time with your church family. See you in worship this weekend!

In Christ's Love,

Adam Hamilton