What Matters: Recent Episodes
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
What Matters looks inward at unique experiences, upward for divine direction and outward to see God’s activity in our world. It’s all about what matters for women seeking more than just a quick glance at life.
Anne Gatobu is the Executive Director of Locations & Care at Church of the Resurrection. She shares about growing up in Kenya, moving to the US, first experiencing God, pursuing Psychology and Religion Studies and Theology, seeing God in our world today, and maintaining hope for the church. Her life experiences led her to the right now, to this place and time, in a vital role for the church, as a dynamic place where God works and will continue to bring about God's kingdom!
Have you taken a Prayer Retreat? Jennifer Creager tells us it is not scary, it does not have to be intimidating -- it can start with a question you hope to answer, a situation needing direction, or time spent in gratitude. Add a prayer practice that suits your personality such as contemplative, active, or creative. Express your prayers through your practice, and include quite times of listening. God will meet you in this space and time. Now is the perfect time to clear your calendar for a prayer retreat!
Visit https://www.cor.org/prayer for more about Church of the Resurrection Prayer Ministry
Dr. Rebeca Chow serves as the Clinical Director of Services at Church of the Resurrection to work with adults, children and families who are experiencing life's challenging situations or biggest hurts. Being able to be there for people when they need it the most is her passion and calling. When things get "wonky," Rebeca works to connect you with a counselor or therapist to walk with you through the storms, allowing you a safe space to get your bearings. When a traumatic event occurs--something that happens too fast, too soon, too much--services are available to help process the trauma and its affect on you. During the storms of life, reaching out to ground yourself can make all the difference.
For free counseling information, visit https://cor.org/leawood/care/counseling.
Seven years ago, a tragedy shook the community when a man, intent on killing Jews, shot and took the lives of three people who were actually Christians. Three beloved souls lost to a senseless hate crime. Marcia Rittmaster and Sharon Ritter share the story -- upon reading what Rabbi Mark Levin said of the Jewish community at that time, "We are largely strangers...", members of United Methodist Women considered how alone they must feel. These women reached out to Jewish women and determined to partner together to construct paths to understanding, build bridges through relationships, develop new understandings of what it means to be citizens of a loving community created in the image of God, and pursue the possibility of future events and ways to unite and work together. They truly are Strangers No More.
Read their story in this KC Star Article. Learn more about upcoming Strangers No More events.
We all experience change at one time or another. Change in our family, change at work -- most of the time it is good and needed and offers new opportunities. And, most of the time, it's hard! Michelle Kirby tells us about all the changes she has experienced and how to navigate them as best as possible.
Michelle Kirby serves on staff at Church of the Resurrection in a new position titled Creative Content Development Lead Director, after being part of the Adult Discipleship team for several years. You will love hearing from her!
Jen Schultz, Pastoral Resident at Church of the Resurrection and Seminary graduate (at age 53!) from Saint Paul School of Theology, shares that as a kid she always believed in God, but found it really hard to accept that God believed in her. From a small Mississippi town to a Kansas City suburb, she began to measure her worth based on "pass/fail" regarding body image and outward success. In talking with a struggling teen who walked away from her offer of help, saying, "I got this," Jen realized that was her exact response to God -- resulting in constant exhaustion. Asking her family for support, seeing a marriage counselor, finding a therapist who just happened to also be a seminary graduate, and surrounding herself with four spiritually powerful women began a two year transformation. This led her to truly hear the whisper of God and to truly receive the love of God just as she is intentionally made. Now, Jen finds this pure love of God to fill her and then overflow to others, and she can't help but share a grateful, if not constant smile of joy!
Visit www.cor.org/care for Pastoral Care, Counseling, Support Groups. Visit Saint Paul School of Theology | Methodist Seminary School (spst.edu).
What began with a new coat of paint became an ongoing relationship with area school staff, teachers and students. The Partner School Ministry began with "Bless the School," a summer project to refresh an area school building, with Ann helping to lead the way. From a gray or beige color palette, to ice machines, gym floor installations, playground equipment, clean lunch table undersides (ewwww!) -- plus hours upon hours of volunteer hours -- the partnership with nine area schools focus on the needs of each school. Attendance incentives, reading programs, a traveling bookmobile, one-on-one tutoring, school supply drive, book drives, personal care items, individually wrapped snack drives all happen this summer; each of us can get involved! Visit the links below.
For more information about Partner Schools, visit: https://cor.org/leawood/localimpact/serve-youth For more information about the Church of the Resurrection, visit: https://cor.org/leawood/
Schools supported by Resurrection, both Local to KC and Global, are: Kansas City----- Wendell Phillips - KCMO (Resurrection Downtown & Blue Springs) Troost Elementary - KCMO Wheatley Elementary - KCMO JA Rogers - KCMO East High School - KCMO (Resurrection Downtown) Welborn Elementary - KCK Quindaro Elementary - KCK Ridgeview Elementary -Olathe, KS (Resurrection West) Fairview Elementary - Olathe, KS (Resurrection West) Apache Elementary - Overland Park, KS (Resurrection Overland Park) Grace United Ministries - After School Tutoring Global----- Juan Wesley School - Ciudad Espana, Honduras Ditshego Preschool & Open School - Centurion, South Africa Malawi Methodist Preschools - Malawi
Meet Ellie Wells, one of six interns at church this summer. Ellie followed the prompting to apply for the intern program and is at the beginning of her experience in Adult Discipleship to learn about the ministries, activities, classes, programs and events designed to serve adults in their faith journey. She's soaking up all she can learn, and will soon be a rummage sale expert! She's already teaching us about praying and listening for God's guidance, along with the importance of community and the study of scripture. "Just show up," says Ellie, and God will meet you there!
The purpose of Summer Internship Program at The Church of the Resurrection is to help college students and young adults explore their interest in ministry through hands-on experiences in a church setting.
Visit https://cor.org/leawood/employment/summer-internships to learn about the Intern Program. Visit https://cor.org/rummage to learn about this summer's rummage sale.
Ann Joyner tells us about her son, Matthew, once described as "not worth saving." Surrounded with the support of a church family, Ann and her husband opted to not only save Matthew, but also to learn from him about living a life of joy. She shares the story of her son's twenty-one miraculous and grace-filled years -- and the number of lives and hearts Matthew changed, simply by being alive.
Matthews Ministry Website: https://cor.org/matthews Angle Care Providers: learn more Family Night Out: learn more
Ann Joyner's Website where you can find her book: http://www.annljoyner.com/home.html