Serve at the information display in the entry, answering basic questions and giving directions. Serve 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after worship.

Welcome a first-time visitor by delivering a Resurrection mug to their home. Maps and mugs are already prepared for you, organized by zip code and available to pick-up before you leave worship service.

Our Response to Hurricanes Michael & Florence

Pray

Pray for hope and resilience for those being impacted by hurricanes Michael and Florence.

Pray for strength and endurance for those offering help in the midst of these disasters.

Pray for safety and courage for those who are emergency responders.

Give

We are currently receiving financial contributions that will allow us to partner with some of the United Methodist Churches in the hardest hit areas, providing financial grants to be used to aid those most impacted by the hurricanes. This anchors our relief efforts with local churches that can provide ongoing pastoral care while addressing the physical needs of their neighbors in these affected communities.

You can contribute to this effort online – be sure to select "Disaster Response" as the Giving Type.

Preparing for Disaster Response Trips & Rebuilding Trips

Safe Gatherings is the United Methodist Church's Great Plains Annual Conference training for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. Safe Gatherings certification is required on all overnight trips. This online course takes very little time but the background check can take several weeks to process. Learn more about the Safe Gatherings process and begin your certification here.

Many of the immediate needs of emergency relief are being addressed by organizations like the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Heart to Heart International, Team Rubicon as well as others who are faithfully responding at this critical time. We as a church family need to begin to prepare ourselves for the long-term recovery efforts, which as we have recently experienced in Texas and with our ongoing efforts in Puerto Rico and in response to Hurricane Florence, take months or even years.

Have a conversation with your doctor about what immunizations you might need for a trip.

A Worship and Acolyte Coordinator serves during weekend worship services, preparing the worship spaces and training the Acolytes. This fun position requires someone who is dependable, has a great attention to detail, and who enjoys training and working with our Confirmand students. A typical day includes preparing for baptisms, getting reserved seating set, making sure the candle carts are ready to go, and providing the pastors with water. You'll also meet with the Acolytes and train them on how to process and recess the light of Christ and banner during worship.

This rewarding role is multi-faceted. You'll serve both behind the scenes by getting everything ready for worship and with others by mentoring and coaching students to serve in their role.  You need to be able to work independently, but you'll also serve alongside the ushers and staff during worship services.

We have an immediate need for the 9:15am and 11am services. 

Thank you for considering serving in this way!

All is Calm, All is Bright! Experience the JOY of Christmas through the eyes of a child! Bring your family members and older children for a night of serving together as we celebrate Christ's birth at Resurrection's 2018 Candlelight Christmas Eve services. (Volunteers must be at least 14.)

We need nursery volunteers to provide care for children 4 years-old and under during the following services:

Saturday, December 22

• 5 pm

Sunday, December 23

• 9 am
• 11 am
• 5 pm

Monday, December 24

• 3 pm
• 5 pm
• 7 pm

The Kansas City Community Blood Center has contacted us as they are anticipating a winter blood shortage.  The Main location is located just south of RezDowntown - this would be a wonderful way to make a difference in the lives of others during the holidays or throughout the winter season.  Would you be willing to donate a life-saving gift?  If so, the Main Street location (4040 Main St, KCMO) is open 9 am – 8 pm on Monday, 7 am – 6 pm Tuesday – Thursday, and 7 am – 1 pm Friday – Sunday.

Donors can schedule an appointment at the 4040 Main location here. 

For Donor Center Locations and Hours: https://www.savealifenow.org/donate-blood/donor-center-locations-and-hours/

Join our remarkable usher team, volunteering with a smile at one of the various worship services. This important ministry involves directing congregants to their seats, passing the notebooks and offering plates during worship. Training is provided and opportunities to serve range from once a month to each Sunday.

Over 1,000 volunteers are needed each month to help usher, greet guests, provide technical support and/or care for children throughout weekend worship services. Family friendly serving opportunities are available.

Volunteer positions include:

Usher: Ushers are a vital part of the worship team responsible for greeting guests, passing attendance notebooks, collecting offering, and tidying up sections following worship. 

Communion Server: Assist monthly during the worship service of your choice by serving Communion elements to fellow worshipers.

Door Greeter: Welcome guests as they enter the worship space (standing near the doors to the parking lot). 

Tech Arts Team: Assist in live production with camera, lights, audio and logistics to make our worship events really shine.

KIDSCOR team: Prepare crafts, greet new families before worship, help in a classroom or rock babies during the worship service of your choice.

Connection Point: If you enjoy welcoming and helping others in an active environment, we need your warmth and enthusiasm at the Connection Point. It's not about knowing all the answers; it's about offering a caring smile, a sense of welcome and hospitality to those who walk through the church doors.

Mug Mappers: Using Mapquest or Google Maps, create and print maps to our first-time visitors' homes for mug deliverers to use as well as stuffing the maps inside the mugs and collecting the attendance sheets from the usher room.

Section Community Greeters:  Help people sitting around you in worship feel welcome by extending Resurrection hospitality.

Worship and Acolyte Coordinator: Train Acolytes on processing and recessing the light of Christ during the worship service, and prepare the worship space for service.

Note: If you are interested in serving with the traffic ministry, email Craig Elford.

Our Truck Ministry supports multiple local impact ministries. Without our team of dedicated drivers our ministries would not be able to operate at the level we do. Our drivers support hunger, clothing, computers, furnishings,  partner schools and much more.

BECOME A HOLY HAULER FOR FURNISHINGS MINISTRY

Holy Haulers are the team of guys and gals who pick up donations from individuals and corporations. Vehicles range from minivans to large box trucks. Drive at your own comfort level. Join a weekday, weeknight or Saturday morning team, serving weekly, bi-weekly or on a monthly rotation. Inquiries please contact Larry Tolin at lindlt@gmail.com.  

BECOME A BACKPACK DRIVER FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY

• Pick-up Empty Tubs: Tuesdays 7 am - 1 pm from Elementary Schools. Requires moderate lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org
• Deliver Food: Fridays 8 am - 12 pm to Elementary Schools. Requires lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org

DELIVER TO FOOD PANTRIES FOR HUNGER MINISTRY

Our TRUCK drivers must comply with DOT regulations and the following requirements must be met:

• Successful completion of a background check (if you are Safe Gatherings certified, this will substitute for a background check): click here to download the form.
• Successful completion of the Motor Vehicle Record: click here to download the form
• Current automobile liability insurance and valid drivers license.
• Successful completion of medical certification if driving trucks: click here for more information about requirements.
• Must be able to move and lift heavy items.

If you are interested in becoming driver for one of our ministries please contact michelle.vanpelt@cor.org

Explore the many opportunities available for partnering with Hondurans to transform their communities.  Each trip has a purpose, some of which are listed below:

• Bless the School — Light construction and painting to keep the school in good condition.
• Bless the Youth —  Engage with youth in sports activities and develop meaningful friendships.
• Bless the Teachers — Be a part of equipping teachers with resources and lessons to teach English and the Word of God. Teaching English creates bonds between people of different cultures and is life-changing for both.
• Medical and Dental – Provide needed care for the community.
• Cultural immersion – In addition to engaging with teachers and students, each trip includes time to explore.

2019 Trips:

• Health Education Serve Trip: January 2-9, 2019
• Medical Serve Trip: February 9-16, 2019
• Bless the Church & Serve the Community: June 2-9, 2019 - Rez Downtown
• Bless the School: June 2-9, 2019
• Bless the School: June 8-15, 2019
• Bless the School : July 20-27, 2019 - Rez West

About Honduras

Honduras, located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua, is a country of mountains, forests and farms. There are more than 7 million people living in this country, which is about the size of Louisiana. Most Hondurans speak Spanish, although the Amerindian/mestizo population may speak other Spanish dialects. English is widely spoken in the north. Resurrection teams usually fly into the capital city of Tegucigalpa, and some take a day to visit the Maya ruins at Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Honduras is one of the poorest regions in Central America; its economy is primarily agricultural and the annual per capital income is about $2,500 USD.

Resurrection partners with the Methodist Church in Honduras, working mostly with the Methodist Church in El Obraje and the Cristo Resucitado Methodist Church in Ciudad España.

Honduran Coffee

Through our partnership with the Methodist Church of Honduras, we sell Honduran coffee at The Spring, our coffee shop at Resurrection Leawood. Purchasing this coffee helps transform Honduran communities by:

• Helping Hondurans gain economic stability
• Supporting the first Methodist School in Honduras
• Raising awareness for our partnership activities in Honduras

The coffee, which is Rainforest Alliance Certified, is produced with sustainable agricultural practices to help conserve natural resources, ecosystems and wildlife, preserve worker's rights and benefits, and create a positive impact on the local community.

Coffee grown in the shade of the forest canopy protects the plants from rain and sun, helps maintain the soil quality and reduces need for insect control because a greater number of natural wildlife live in the habitat.

Due to increasing demand for coffee, many traditional farms have converted to sun growth plantations where the tropical forest is cut down, producing a higher yield for the short-term, but also greater soil erosion and pesticide use.

School Sponsorship

For just $37.50/month ($450/year) you can provide a child with a private faith-based school education at the Juan Wesley School in Ciudad España. This amount will provide tuition, books and materials and a school uniform for your sponsored child. Your child will be able to write to you each year to tell you about their progress, and they will be monitored to assure that they achieve the school's academic goals.

Child sponsors who join a short-term serve team to Honduras have opportunities to meet the child they sponsor, interact with other Juan Wesley students and support the school. Learn more or sponsor a child by downloading and filling out this form.

To learn about other ways Resurrection is partnering with Hondurans, visit our blog.

SERVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS 

Join us one Tuesday of each month as we explore serving opportunities in our local mission ministries. Childcare is available (pre-registration is required here). *Children younger than 5 are welcome at the discretion of parents – these projects may include small pieces and/or require fine motor skills such as cutting.

Winter 2019 dates and details coming soon!

2019 Trips:

• January 19-26
• April 27 -  May 4
• June 22-29
• August 17-24
• October 12-19

To learn more about what previous trips have participated in, visit our blog.

Individuals with constructions skills are encouraged to apply. Please note: Participants must be 18 years or older and Safe Gatherings certified to participate.

All funds received are considered a charitable contribution.  As such, once they are received by The Church of the Resurrection, there are NO REFUNDS.  If, for some reason, the trip is cancelled or you can no longer go, Resurrection will credit the funds toward a future serve trip (for you or for an immediate family member) within 12 months of the original trip; OR use the funds for ministry work with our Methodist partners in Puerto Rico.

If you have questions about the deductibility of trip-related expenses, please contact your tax professional.

About Our Puerto Rico Disaster Response

Puerto Rico is often referred to as the “Island of Enchantment,” a direct result of the warm people, excellent cuisine, and picturesque scenery, including the most beautiful beaches.  Paradise is what the local people call it, as they get to see and live into GOD’s creation and beauty every single day.

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria (a category 4 hurricane) pummeled the island of Puerto Rico.  The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs.  After contacting the Bishop’s office of the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico to determine the best way forward, Church of the Resurrection sent $10,000 for emergency supplies, and partnered with Heart to Heart International in sending an additional $20,000 worth of food and supplies.

The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico also immediately responded to the call to action, developing a culture of lay and clergy Early Response teams, implementing a Brigade of Hope (food, solar lights and water hand delivered to homes) and partnering with other local denominations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and FEMA to help those in need.

In January, a small leadership team from Church of the Resurrection went to Puerto Rico to walk alongside the Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal and his team and see first-hand the devastation left in the wake of this natural disaster.  The team learned staggering statistics about the situation on the island, including:

• 250,000 homes damaged 
• 100,000 completely destroyed
• 40 Methodist Churches damaged
• 10 Methodist Churches destroyed
• Several hundred thousand left the island for the mainland

Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal recommended that Church of the Resurrection partner with a local church in Puerto Rico. We are happy to share that Samuel Culpeper Iglesia Metodista in Hatillo has been selected for this partnership.

There are 235 public schools across the island that are slated to permanently close the fall of 2018, including Joaquin Rodriguez, Samuel Culpeper's church partner school.  The Methodist Church in Puerto Rico will be enhancing social programs to assist those families with children who are no longer able to attend school. The remaining funds collected from the Special Offering for Puerto Rico held last fall have been allocated to the reconstruction of the church roof, a priority from the bishop’s office, enabling them to provide help to all those in need.

Resurrection teams have already been deployed and have worked alongside our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters repairing the church roof, repairing local homes, and assisting with painting and clean up.  Returned team members have shared that the experience has made a dramatic impact on their lives, and the hospitality is unmatched and inspiring.

Consider joining a team today, your life will never be the same.  It is said that one’s treasures are most valuable when they are those of the Kingdom of GOD.  Where does your treasure lay?

Frequently Asked Questions about Puerto Rico Serve Trips:

Who can go?
Just about anyone! Individuals, couples, families, retired persons, members of Church of the Resurrection and non-members alike. The minimum age is 18, and all trip participants must complete the Safe Gatherings online course.  Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

What skills do I need?
The most important skills are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. You don’t have to know Spanish (you will certainly learn a few new words and key phrases) or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

What projects will we work on?
We strive to work on projects that are deemed of most importance to our local partners, but most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church.

What does the cost cover?
The cost per person includes housing, meals, in-country transportation, insurance, gasoline, construction costs, local labor, cultural day activity and food, donation to the local trip administration.  Airfare will be booked after the trip has closed and will be added to your total trip cost.

What’s not included?
Personal expenses, souvenirs, extended travel past the official trip conclusion.

Are there any discounts?

Yes! There are two ways to receive a $100 discount (they cannot be combined!): apply before the Early Application deadline; OR be a repeat Global Impact Ministries Resurrection serve trip participant.

How do I get to San Juan, Puerto Rico?
Global Impact Ministries will reserve airline tickets so that the team travels together.  Your airfare is tax-deductible and will be added to your total trip cost in our online team portal, Managed Missions.

Where do we stay?

Team members stay at the Arecibo Methodist Campsite.  Approximately 1.15 hours west of San Juan, where the team will be spending the week.  The campsite has 4 bunk rooms with 9 bunkbeds each (separated by gender), private indoor bathroom facility, a large indoor dining pavilion, Chapel, Garden of Gethsemene, and much more.

Will we get to see the beach?
If all goes as planned, yes! Both Hatillo and Aresibo are located on the Northwest side of the island minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. On our last day (Saturday), and on our return to the San Juan area, we will travel to El Morro and Old San Juan, a beautiful destination rich in history, beautiful landscape, restaurants and much more. Afterwards we will head to the airport to head home.

Is Puerto Rico safe?
Puerto Rico is safe, as with any tourist destination, there are cases of petty crime and driving can be a challenge.  Generally, outside the capital of San Juan, the country resembles a clean, tropical, laid-back place.

I have some questions that aren’t listed here.
Please feel free to send an email to Don Dunning at dunningdm@outlook.com.  Don is our context leader that oversees our partnership with Puerto Rico.

Resurrection has been partnering with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) since 1998 with a strong focus on children and families – specifically through education and training.  Educational efforts include support for the Ditshego House of Laughter in the community of Mooiplaas.  Serve trip team members work with the students, teachers and other staff to deliver requested lesson plans and participate in light renovation projects at the school. Resurrection also works with West View and Elim Methodist Churches in Centurion, South Africa where worship and the ministry of presence come together. To learn more specific trip information, click on one of the links below for one of our upcoming trips.  For more about the experience of serving on a team, visit our blog.

2019 Trips:

• Children, Education, and Renovation Projects: June 21-July 1, 2019
• Children, Education, and Renovation Projects: September 20-30, 2019

About Ditshego House of Laughter

 Ditshego House of Laughter is a non-profit organization providing multiple services for approximately 350 vulnerable children in the informal settlement of Mooiplaas. More than 16,000 people make their home in Mooiplaas at the base of a landfill in the area between Johannesburg and Pretoria (now Tshwane). Among Ditshego’s services are a pre-school, an Open School for older children, a House of Safety for foster children, and after-school services. Without Ditshego these children would not have a chance for an education because many are undocumented or immigrants.

About South Africa

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent.  It covers an area of approximately 472,000 square miles or slightly less than twice the size of Texas.  Although it is a developed and modern country with roughly 57 million people and 11 official languages, South Africa struggles with high unemployment, HIV/AIDS, slow economic growth, crime, and corruption. Even in the post-1994 era following the end of apartheid (racial separation), social and economic inequality remains a significant challenge and South Africa is one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. Despite this, South Africa is making progress toward broader prosperity and a peaceful democracy.

Flourish Furnishes Hope to those in need by collecting, preparing and distributing donated furnishings and home essentials, transforming the lives of program participants, donors and servants into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to offer a 'hand up' by meeting the household furnishings needs in Kansas City's urban and suburban communities through donated resources.

Resurrection's Furnishings Ministry seeks to ensure that no child or adult has to live in a home without adequate furniture, and to lead the effort in recycling usable household furnishings.

Please visit the Furnishings Ministry page for details.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Flourish furnishes hope to those in need by collecting, preparing and distributing donated furnishings and home essentials, transforming the lives of program participants, donors and servants into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to offer a 'hand up' by meeting the household furnishings needs in Kansas City's urban and suburban communities through donated resources.

Resurrection's Furnishings Ministry seeks to ensure that no child or adult has to live in a home without adequate furniture, and to lead the effort in recycling usable household furnishings.

Please visit the furnishings ministry page for details about all of the available volunteer opportunities.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.