We interviewed Reverend Karla Woodward about next week's Caregiver Support Group class. The class meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 2 pm in Room 221.  The next next class is July 23.

When caring for a loved one, how important is it to set boundaries?

It’s really important to create boundaries because often times what happens is people slide into caregiving. A parent or a spouse or someone in their family needs a little bit of help, but as time goes on the demand and the need grows.  If they don’t decide up front what they are able and capable of giving and have an understanding what resources can come along side of them, they can get overwhelmed and absolutely exhausted.

How hard is it for caregivers to tell the person they are caring for the word “no”?

It is often very difficult for caregivers to say that and define what enough is. If they don’t fulfill the need, then the need either goes unmet or they have to find somebody else to do it.  It is not like the need goes away. It is really hard to define “enough.”  That is why they need the support of their church family and other family members. To set that up from the beginning and to say that I need help and to ask for help is so important as the journey goes along.

What is the structure of the class?

Everybody comes at 2 pm and we share basic introductions at tables of eight. At each table is a caregiver coach. A congregational care minister or a trained volunteer helps facilitate discussion and brings up special points that people may not have thought about in their caregiving journey.  After introductions we will have a time when Cheryl Greenough and I will offer tips and ideas for caregiving issues that everybody is experiencing.  After that we will have discussion questions at the tables of eight where everybody will get an opportunity to share their own personal story and any struggles with caregiving. They will discuss what’s worked well for them and specific tips they needed in their own caregiving journey. Everybody has a voice and an opportunity to share their experience.

How important are the table discussions and getting input from members in their own group?

Many times when people come away from the table discussions, they will say they thought they were the only one who was having that problem. They learn that they aren’t the only one. They have the courage to go home and try different types of things that may end up working very well for them.

 

We talked with Missions Entry Points Program Director Stewart Curtright about some of this Saturday's FaithWork opportunities. To see the full list go to www.cor.org/faithwork.  FaithWork is Resurrection’s entry point into serving locally and provides a meaningful way to serve God by serving others.

At the Heritage of Overland Park, volunteers can bake cookies with dementia residents.

Stewart: I get the most feedback on this serving opportunity, families love to serve at Heritage.  The sense of smell brings back memory with the dementia patients. The smell of chocolate chip cookies fills the air and creates this incredible new dynamic of engagement with folks who have dementia. People always share that this is a great experience.

Special Serving Opportunity: Volunteers can place door hangers on houses around Troost Elementary to invite the community to discuss rebuilding the playground.

We have had a long standing relationship with the area around Troost Elementary. This is an intentional opportunity to invite the neighborhood to have a picnic so that the neighborhood is engaged with this playground for the kids.  Our goal is to encourage the community’s participation and investment in the rebuilding of the playground at Troost. FaithWork volunteers can be a valuable part of making a difference in the Troost community.

My Father’s House: Volunteers can help assemble Kitchen Kits and Cleaning Supplies and other fun and meaningful activities that offer a ‘hand up” to those who are in need of household furnishings.

My Father’s House is the Resurrection’s Furnishings Ministry. They rehab and repurpose donated furniture and household goods. They make it available for people in transition.  There is a beds ministry that ties in too.  People are referred by a case manager with partnering agencies and show up on Saturdays to “shop” with a Resurrection volunteer to pick out items that they need. What is beautiful is the interaction. There is more dignity in allowing folks to pick out what they need than just giving them what you think they need.  Everyone there at lunchtime on Saturday has the opportunity to sit down and share a meal together- those who are serving and those receiving furnishings. I think that’s a great way for barriers to come down, stories to be shared, and for people to come closer together.

At the Salvation Army Children’s Shelter volunteers get to play games and crafts with children and help prepare and serve a meal.  It is suitable for adults and children 12 years and older.

This was eye-opening for me because I don’t typically think of children being homeless. Some of the children are there because their parents may be incarcerated or in rehab or just temporarily unable to take care of their children. So these are children whose life situation is difficult if not desperate.  Being able to play games with children is always fun for volunteers because attention is a gift that’s easy to give, and what child doesn’t need attention?

At Kingswood Manor Nursing Home volunteers can visit and play bingo with residents.

People always tell me that the residents there really take their Bingo seriously. Families can serve together at Kingswood and the residents are always happy to see us, especially since we provide chocolate treats to share with the Bingo winners.

Assemble a meal for Gentlemen of the Round Table:

GRT is made up of men, many with criminal backgrounds, who demonstrate a sincere desire to change their lives. They work with the Kansas City CO-Op, a recipient of Resurrection’s Easter Grant this year.  The grant from Resurrection will create job opportunities and provide on-the-job training for members of GRT as they work on rebuilding two vacant homes in the KC urban core. FaithWork volunteers help assemble a meal for their weekly meeting in Kansas City. Many of these men are homeless, and many walk 30-45 minutes to show up at a meeting. While committed to making a better future for themselves, they are also contributing to a stronger community through the building projects that they work on. Families and small groups can also provide the meal on non-FaithWork days and help support the great work that is going on at the GRT.

Here’s a recap of what all happened at Resurrection this weekend:

Bishop Will Willimon gave an inspiring sermon: In the Ditch with Jesus

Also, during worship this past weekend, Pastor Adam gave a quick video message from the St. Andrews Parish Church where John and Charles Wesley were baptized as infants.

 

Rummage Sale: The annual Rummage Sale, sponsored by United Methodist Women, was a great success – thanks to over 300 volunteers, thousands of donations, and a steady stream of savvy shoppers. Not only did the Rummage Sale raise $47,500 in gross proceeds but also blessed college students with home furnishings; parents with kids’ toys and equipment; and avid readers with great deals on literary finds. As the sale concludes, mission partners glean the unsold items before a box-up crew loads remaining goods in trucks to fill needs in our community. Funds raised will support United Methodist Women initiatives across the globe as well as several local mission agencies.

Church of the Resurrection Car Show: The 12^th annual Church of the Resurrection had 105 cars that participated and we estimate that over 1,700 people visited the show.  The cars ranged from Corvettes to Cadillacs and even Walter Cronkite’s Triumph brought by his Great Nephew.  A few of the award winners were Ed Martin-Best of Show and Tom Bottiger-Pastor’s Choice.  We raised $2,205 for The Hope Center of KC.  Watch your calendar for next July and the 13^th annual event. Check out our Car Show Photo Gallery below.

The Church of the Resurrection Rummage Sale continues on Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm at the Leawood Student Center.  The silent auction ends at noon.  Below are some of the more popular items from the silent auction after the first day.   The current bid price reflects the highest bid as of the end of the day on Friday.  The buy now price is the set price that the item can be purchased for at any time.

Current Bid: $15
Buy Now: $20

Current Bid: $10
Buy Now: $20

Current Bid: $115
Buy Now: $400

Current Bid: $28
Buy Now: $150

Current Bid: $30
Buy Now: $75

Current Bid: $12
Buy Now: $30

Current Bid: $20
Buy Now: $50

Current Bid: $11
Buy Now: $35

Current Bid: $35
Buy Now: $50

Current Bid: $30
Buy Now: $80

Current Bid: $20
Buy Now: $45

Current Bid: $50
Buy Now: $275

Current Bid: $10
Buy Now: $25
 

Get ready to find some bargains at the annual Church of the Resurrection Rummage Sale this Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. The event takes place at the Leawood Campus Student Center. We accept cash only. All of the proceeds support The United Methodist Women.

If you plan on arriving early, Women's Ministry Program Director and Rummage Sale Organizer Michelle Funk talked about some of the more popular items:

"Some of our bigger ticket items are furniture. Vintage Barbie dolls and custom doll houses are also very popular. Our Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton seems to really love the vintage vinyl records. Golf sets are a big deal in particular kids golf sets. Bicycles of all kinds go very quickly. We have a huge variety of fiction books as well. We are priced better than Half Price Books."

Below is a gallery from Thursday's presale event for volunteers.

 

 

Today’s Volunteer Spotlight features Mary Beth Wiggins. As a volunteer, Mary Beth is heavily involved in the planning and execution of Resurrection’s Beyond Kansas City mission ministries. She has been on more than 12 mission trips to Honduras, Haiti and Africa.

How did you get involved in missions as a volunteer?

My daughter, Molly Simpson, came back from a mission trip and told me that I needed to take one. I am one who likes the comforts of home. I am not a fan of bugs and I don’t like rodents. I really resisted it. My first trip was to Honduras because Molly was urging me to go.

What did you learn after going on your first mission trip?

I can survive. I am still not fond of bugs and I don’t like waking up with them, but they don’t do anything. I have learned to adapt. I tell people that if I can do this and love this, then you can too. It was the things I thought I needed that I made out to be so big in my mind - yet in reality they are so very small.

In what do you find the most joy when going to these countries?

To see God at work in their lives is going to stay with me forever. In Honduras, it’s strange but I got joy seeing a piggery. You see these conditions and the care and the love that goes into raising these pigs. It’s amazing to see hope in a pig.

I think what stuck with me as a learning experience is I see people who have a total dependence on God. They have got to pray that they have a next meal. They have to pray that their family member is healed and that they have a roof tomorrow. They live in conditions that I can’t even imagine. To see people who have so much total love and dependence is life changing. There are people in Haiti or Malawi who really do wake up in the morning and praise God that they made it to another day.  I just can’t imagine having joy in those conditions, but they do.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about going on an overseas mission trip?

Regardless of what your skill level is, there is a trip that is suitable for you. I have no special skills. I am not a medical person nor am I a teacher, but I study a lot and do a lot of research. I have been fortunate to hook up with the right people who can help me wherever I am going.

To read more about what Mary Beth is working on, check out the IMT Malawi News: http://conta.cc/15gj0Lk

Check out The Church of the Resurrection’s 12th Annual Car Show and Expo on Saturday, July 13, from 9 am - 1 pm in the Leawood Campus parking lot. We talked with Car Show organizer Brian Dale to get an inside look at the event.

What kind of cars should people expect to see on Saturday?

In the past we have attracted cars from all different eras. We get them from pre-World War II, 1960s, 1970s, to even current models. If there is any one area we get more of, it is probably sports cars and muscle cars.  Although, we get cars from all different eras and that makes us unique.

What unique cars that you’ve seen at past car shows?

You certainly see Model Ts and Model As. We had some competition dragsters show up two years ago, so that was really interesting - the kids really liked that.

What have been your favorite cars from previous Resurrection Car Shows?

My personal favorite isn’t a brand of car or style, but a car that has been in somebody’s family for years. It was somebody’s grandfather’s car or truck and it got passed down to them. Many times they have kept the cars in almost mint condition, and it is their pride and joy. There are lots of cars that have come to our show and they have been in somebody’s family since the 1950s.  The stories that go along with those cars are just amazing.

Where do proceeds from the Car Show go? 

Hope Center of Kansas City receives 100 percent of the proceeds. The program serves at-risk youth who are paired with mentors to help them with their school work and to make good choices in life.  

 To learn more information about the car show, visit www.cor.org/carshow

 

 

 

Today’s Volunteer Spotlight features Eric Perry. Eric has been a Sunday morning teacher at KiDS COR for the last three years. He will be teaching third grade this fall.

How did you get involved in KiDS COR?

Eric: I volunteered because I thought everybody needs to do their part and they needed help. My son participates in KiDS COR so it was right in front of me every weekend. I think the thing that has been better than expected is when I went from volunteering a week or two out of the month to every week. I have become closer to the kids and I can better see the individual growth. I can see how they interact with the Bible stories and how they’re getting it more and more each time.

At KiDS COR the teacher is able to move up through the grade levels every year so they have the opportunity to continue teaching the same students. Are you able to see the development in their understanding of the Bible?

Eric: I love it because when we started three years ago we were doing arts and crafts that talk about God or Jesus without getting to Bible studies. Now we continue to get into deeper and deeper lessons so it is really fun to watch their understanding grow and see their faith deepening. You can start to see them connect how it all goes together with the Old and New Testament. I won’t say we are all the way there yet going into third grade but they are getting it more and more each year.

What’s been one of the more surprising elements of teaching at KiDS COR?

Eric: Sometimes I am shocked at how much they know. This year I asked at the beginning of one of the lessons on the New Testament if anybody knew who Paul was. One of the boys in the class just rattled off the whole story about Paul’s walk through Damascus. He was going into the scales and how Paul couldn’t see anything. I just was looking at him thinking that’s perfect and making sure everybody heard his answer.

What would you tell someone who is considering teaching KiDS COR?

Eric: I think it’s one of the best investments they can make into these kids' future faith. You can make a difference in helping these kids grow in a relationship with Christ.