How Far Can We See?

This is one of my all time favorite Resurrection videos. This was produced in 2005 for the capital campaign for the west building here at Resurrection. It is an amazing 10 minutes that gives me chills throughout and brings me close to tears.

I think that Resurrection continues to have a great future and it is amazing to be a part of God’s work in this place.

young pastors’ network

I heard about the young pastors’ network yesterday and am thinking about putting in an application. From the website:

Young Pastors’ Network

…a partnership between the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and Ginghamsburg Church.

The Young Pastors’ Network is designed specifically for high capacity clergy within the United Methodist Church who are under the age of 35. Network candidates must be nominated by their bishops based on each candidate’s potential and drive to serve as a future leader of a large membership church within the annual conference.

Another project with great potential for renewal within the denomination. This is really exciting! It feels like the movement of God’s Spirit.

2008 Bracket Challenge - Champions

This year, I was a part of four online bracket challenges for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. I want to pass on congratulations to the winners:

• Joyce, my mother, won the challenge among our extended family.
• Kyle Holt was the winner of the MethoBloggers. You can read about the win here.
• Taylor Ogden Thomas won the Rez Rock the Rim competition among our church staff.
• Annie won the N-R Pastorate Challenge - a competition among those whose last names begin with N-R at Resurrection (the segment of the congregation for which I have primary care)

Congratulations to all! Annie, I am looking forward to having breakfast with you as the winner of the N-R Pastorate Challenge.

Pastoral Prayers at Resurrection

At Resurrection, we are encouraged to write our prayers for worship before the service. The hope is that this will be able to provide a prayer that is mindful of non and nominally religious persons and also is an intentional part of worship.

Beginning today, I am going to include all of the prayers that I write for worship in an online document. Please feel free to use any portion of a prayer or a prayer in its entirety if you feel that it would become a meaningful part of a worship service.

You can find this this and also the resources from my recent blogging presentation in under Resources. Enjoy!

Clergy Transitions at Resurrection (2 of ?)

As Judy Long O’Neal transitions to Shawnee Heights on July 1, there is an open associate clergy position at Resurrection.

Jeff Clinger has been appointed to Resurrection beginning July 1. The transition has been announced to the conference and to the congregation and on Jeff’s blog.

I have come to know Jeff through the blogosphere. We first met in person at Leadership Institute 2007.

Welcome to Resurrection, Jeff!

Clergy Transitions at Resurrection (1 of ?)

On March 21, it was announced to the Resurrection congregation that Judy Long O’Neal will be appointed to Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church in Topeka beginning July 1.

I have learned a lot from Judy and her ministry at Resurrection. She is passionate about care for each person, the environment and dialogue among persons of different faiths. Through her example, she has helped me to be able to more often ask the discerning question, “What is mine to do?”

Judy has also helped me to better understand this portion of Jesus’ teaching:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:28-31, TNIV

Judy has taught me that you cannot love your neighbor without first loving yourself. One is called to have a healthy self-understanding before being sent out to be in relationship with others.

Judy, thanks for all that you have done and all that you are going to do.

Blogging 101 Presentation and Resources

This morning I made this presentation for a group of 15-20 Resurrection staff and a friend from another local church.

My hope was to raise awareness about blogging and equip others to begin blogging. You can find all of the resources that I used here.

If you were there - what did you think? Feel free to leave a comment

Seven Simple Truths about Life

I am excited about the upcoming sermon series at Resurrection - Seven Simple Truths about Life. This promo video got the best response from the congregation of any promo video that I have seen here.

What do you think?

Resurrection and Grand Avenue Temple - Easter Worship

Resurrection partnered with Grand Avenue Temple United Methodist Church in downtown Kansas City for Easter worship. Very cool stuff going on in this partnership. You can watch coverage from a local news station here.

Thanks to Jason Gant for finding the story.

Influencing the United Methodist Church

Last week one of my colleagues asked, Are you comfortable with the influence that The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has on the United Methodist Church?

Yes, I am comfortable with the influence that Resurrection has on the denomination. I think that Resurrection seeks to represent the extreme center in the United Methodist Church and within the religious dialogue in the United States. I think that this is a voice that is desperately needed within the denomination and a voice is able to speak in meaningful ways to those outside the denomination - both non religious persons and those of other denominations. I believe that Resurrection is thoroughly Christian, Methodist and Wesleyan and I feel great about those influences shaping the denomination.

However, I also recognize that there are many churches and leaders across the world that are working for renewal within The United Methodist Church and within local churches. I think that Resurrection has a lot to learn from others as well. I think that the denomination is healthier with many congregations and leaders actively seeking and working toward renewal.

Every day that I am at church I pray for spiritual revival in Kansas, renewal within The United Methodist Church, wisdom and endurance for delegates to General Conference and Resurrection’s purpose, vision and journey. I believe that all of these can be and are influenced by the others and I hope to be a part of God’s work in this place and time.

• What do you think about all this?
• Do you think that Resurrection has an influence on the denomination? If so, is it an appropriate level?
• What congregations do believe have significant influence on The United Methodist Church?
• What individuals do believe have significant influence on The United Methodist Church?
• What other topics did I leave out of this conversation which need to be addressed?