Feeling tired? Disconnected? Longing for a change of scenery, a chance to get away, a little quiet, a lot of laughter? Then join us…

Restoration’s second annual Women’s Retreat will be February 24-26 at Meadowkirk, a lovely retreat center near Middleburg, VA. This weekend will be a chance to get away from the bustle of DC life, connect with other women in the church, rest, worship, pray, and play. Jordan Ware, who with her husband Patrick has started Winchester Anglican Church in Winchester, VA, will be leading us in worship and reflection on living lives steeped in prayer and founded on our identity as God’s beloved children. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend — so join us!

The details:

The retreat will begin at 7 pm on Friday evening; please eat dinner before you arrive. We’ll wrap up after lunch on Sunday.
Meadowkirk is about an hour’s drive from Arlington.
Babes in arms are welcome.

Accommodations:

A number of different accommodation types are available on a first-come, first-served basis:

• The Inn: These are hotel-like rooms, each with 1 queen bed and 1 twin bed — so they can sleep anywhere from 1-3 people.
• The Cottages: Each cottage has two bunk rooms with 9 beds each, two bathrooms with multiple shower and toilet stalls, and a shared common room with fireplace. Bed linens and towels are NOT included in the cottages.

What will we be doing?

We’ll have times of worship and teaching; there will be small group discussions; there will be opportunities for personal devotional times. There will also be lots of free time in which to rest, go for a hike, hang out, or participate in some of the optional activities we’re planning– like art projects, a trip into Middleburg, a visit to a winery… You can be as busy or as un-busy as you’d like.

Should I come?

YES! Whether you’re brand new to Restoration or have been around since the beginning… Whether you like women’s activities or are terrified by them… Whether you’ve never been on a retreat or have been on so many you’ve lost count… We want ALL of you to come. And don’t let the cost keep you from coming; we’ll have scholarship money available, and that’s what it’s for.

How do I register?

Easy! Download this form, fill it out, and send it with your check to Nicole Sedaca at the address given on the form. Hurry — registration closes on February 10!

Teaching English is a great way to meet your immigrant neighbors!
Sarita is living the American dream.  Maybe not the way one might imagine, but Sarita and her husband came to the USA ten years ago from Nepal in search of a better life.  In the time I’ve known her, she has given birth to a second son, passed her driver’s exam, received accolades from her boss for excellent customer service, had her older son short-listed for the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School, and most recently, bought a townhouse in Manassas!  Although Sarita used to live and work near me, I actually met Sarita through an ESOL ministry.

I’ll miss seeing Sarita now that she lives further away.  But I won’t miss all that I learned from her, including what it means to be an immigrant in this country.  Of course, every immigrant story is different, but by teaching English to immigrants, I have learned many of these stories.  Some are heartbreaking, but many are full of small successes that are easy to celebrate.

And the best part of teaching English to immigrants in our area is the ease with which I can share my faith with them. Teaching in a church-based program, the students expect to learn about my faith, especially when it is my motivation for serving.  It is so easy to bring up Jesus (and “act normal”) in the context of holidays, illness, even back to school – as I mention how I pray over my kids each morning as they leave the house.

ESOL is an easy way to reach out to our immigrant neighbors. And we are exploring this possibility along the Ballston Corridor.  Come join us for an international meal and a chance to hear stories. There is no long term commitment to serve.  We are simply praying, sharing and discerning where and how we might be led to serve this population.

The dinner will be Sunday, September 11, 6:30pm at a home in N. Arlington. RVSP to Julianna Hutchins (julianna.hutchins[at]gmail[dot]com) and we’ll send you the exact address. And we’d love to hear your stories of times you’ve reached out to an immigrant and been blessed!

“You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD.” Numbers 15:15b (NIV)
- Christine Jones

What a blessing it is to know that you are partnering with us in this exciting new journey!  We have been overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness in how He has provided for our monetary needs for the coming year and trust that He has great things in store!  Thank you for being a part of our support team and allowing us to follow the Lord’s calling to Uganda.  We are so thankful for your prayers as well, which we need in every moment!  It is an amazing thing to know that we are not going alone but with so many other members of the Body with us in prayer and support.  We miss you all so much already and have been so inspired by the way God uses each of you daily for His glory and Kingdom.  Thank you for joining us in this work and encouraging us to be more like our Savior!  We couldn’t do it without the support of friends like you!  Please stay in touch and we will continue to keep you posted on how we’re doing.

Blessings,
Mike and Jess

Tomorrow, Sunday July 10 at 3:00pm at Restoration

Lots of great food and fun, a moonbounce and water balloons, and the chance to enjoy summer with your Restoration friends.

There will also be tables where you can learn more about ways you can get involved in serving the needs of the world around us, from your backyard garden to a small town in Moldova and pretty much everything in between!

We’ll provide burgers, hot dogs, and drinks. You bring desserts (last names A-G), sides (last names H-Z), chairs/blankets…and friends! This is a great way to introduce folks to the Restoration community.

And remember: NO 5:00 SERVICE TOMORROW!

You know better than anyone how to reach the people in your spheres of influence: your neighbors, your colleagues, the parents or nannies you see at the park… What are their needs that you could help meet? What are creative ways that you could introduce them to the gospel or what it means to be part of a church community?

Here are a couple of ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Restoration is going to a Nationals game on July 27. Why not invite your neighbors to tag along, and have Restoration pay for their tickets?
• Invite some of your Restoration friends and some of your non-Restoration friends over for dinner, or a wine tasting, or to watch a game. Restoration will pick up the tab.
• Bring a box of Starbucks with you to the park or your kid’s soccer game and offer coffee to the other adults there. Let them know it’s a gift from Restoration.
• Dreaming big? You could host a VBS or a sports camp for kids in your neighborhood one week this summer!

These are just a few ideas. We know you’ve got lots more. What we can provide is the funding. So get thinking, and then fill out one of these proposals. It won’t take more than 5 minutes.  Send it to outreach@restorationarlington.com by July 1. Then watch the Holy Spirit show up!

– The Outreach Team

Over the weekend I went to see “Win Win,” a film by Thomas McCarthy. It stars Paul Giamatti as Mike Flaherty, a small-town attorney who, for less than noble reasons, becomes the legal guardian of an elderly client of his.  Eventually, Mike and his wife Jackie (played by a wonderful Amy Ryan) find themselves taking in the client’s grandson, a high school kid named Kyle who’s got a troubled past but happens to be a pretty amazing wrestler. Since Mike’s the coach of a less-than-amazing high school wrestling team,  it seems like a pretty good gig… until Mike’s less-than-noble reasons and Kyle’s troubled past catch up with them both.

It’s a great film, with great performances and an ending that’s redemptive without being schmaltzy. But two scenes have really stuck with me, I think because they depict quietly and powerfully what a community of love and grace can look like.

• In the first, Kyle asks Jackie if he can go with her to the grocery store. She’s surprised (what teenager wants to go to the grocery store with his mom-like-figure?) but happily agrees. Turns out Kyle just wants to buy Cocoa Puffs for his grandpa, since they’re his favorite cereal. As they’re walking down the aisle, Jackie asks Kyle a question about his past. He hesitates. She responds, “That’s ok; you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to” — and then asks Kyle to reach the top shelf and get a box of spaghetti for her.
• In the second, Kyle’s just come home after having bolted when he discovered some of Mike’s bad behavior. He’s mad. Jackie and Mike try to get him to talk about it, but he wants none of it.  So they turn to walk away–but Jackie stops, looks Kyle in the eye, and says, “We just want you to know that we love you.”  Then she walks up the stairs. Pretty soon, Kyle’s come out of the basement to eat pancakes with Mike. He doesn’t speak — it’s not happily-ever-after — but it is a very real depiction of the slow steps toward the restoration of a relationship.

I think what I love about both of these scenes is the way Jackie creates a safe family space for Kyle and intentionally invites him in — but never pushes and never requires him to be different than he is at that moment. Not ready to talk about your past? Fine — but by asking you to reach the spaghetti for me, I show you that I value you and am better off having you with me.  Not ready to move past your anger to address the problems we’re facing? OK — but there’s food waiting for you upstairs, and I’m going to be absolutely clear that when you’re ready, we’ll work out those problems in the context of a loving relationship.

In other words, what I love about these scenes, and about Jackie, is that she makes it ok for Kyle to be broken. She offers the hope of having some of his brokenness healed. And she offers him a place in their family, in a different story than the painful one he’d grown up in.

At Restoration, we often talk about being broken people who are restored by grace and living God’s story. It’s a lot like what Jackie offered Kyle. I hope we can be that kind of community, that kind of family.

I think we can.

I think we are.

-Erin

You may have noticed the worship guide announcements over the past few weeks advertising The Event.  Ok, I’ll admit that not everything we said in the announcements was entirely true.  Erin Bair is (fortunately for her and for us) not actually master illusionist.  Brent Cochran won’t be juggling flaming torches.  Grandpa Bob will not be singing Miley Cyrus.  At least not at The Event.

So what exactly is The Event?  It is not only the premier social activity of the spring but is also an opportunity for you to financially support the trip to WV this year.  The Event will be a talent show starring some of your favorite Restoration personalities and a silent auction of ‘experienced-based’ items donated by the Restoration family.   The talent show will feature music, skits, comedy and artistic acts.  The silent auction items include custom jewelry design, a children’s birthday party package, yoga lessons, guitar lessons and much more.

The annual mission trip to West Virginia is one of the best ways for you to connect to outreach and to others at Restoration.  But if you can’t go this year then I’d strongly encourage you to show your support at The Event.  Tickets are on sale after each service over the next two weeks.  $10 per person or $25 per family.  (You can pay with a check payable to Restoration.)

The Event: Saturday April 16th, 7pm at Rivendell School: 5700 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207. You won’t want to miss this.

That’s not all: many members of Restoration are involved in Casa Chirilagua, whether as employees, volunteers, or people living intentionally in the Chirilagua community.

Interested? Want to learn more? Stay after the 11:00 service tomorrow (9:00ers, come back after brunch!) to learn more about Casa Chiri, the issues facing the immigrant community in Northern Virginia, and how YOU can get more involved!

Sunday, February 27  –  12:45 pm  –  there will be pizza!

Intrigued?  Read on for a great story from Dawnielle Miller, Restoration member and co-founder of Casa Chirilagua, to get a glimpse of the life-changing, kingdom-building work they are up to!

Blessed Are The Available

On a regular Sunday morning, a small troupe of kids from the neighborhood scurried from behind me and scrambled into the sanctuary to claim their seats at the small community church we attend.  Not that agility was necessary, for no one would put up a fight for their chosen locale, rows one and two, center aisle.  As I followed behind them I looked up to scan the sanctuary and saw our most dependable Kids Club volunteer making a bee-line straight for me.  He looked concerned and I was concerned about the sort of confrontation I would be facing from this down to business, Georgetown educated lawyer who can be somewhat intimidating to me.   Before I could even greet him with a “Good Morning!” he almost blurted out, “It’s Sara and Cesar, isn’t it?”  I responded, “What are you talking about?”   He responded a bit more forcefully, “The email!  The email you sent.  It’s them, I know it is.”  In my brain, I quickly thumbed through the files of emails I had sent that week and remembered sending an email to a small group of people regarding some children in the neighborhood who were being evicted from their home.  We found out this information when we stumbled across the mother looking through the bushes scouting out a spot to spend the night with her 10 and 2 year old boys.   Not knowing what to do myself, I reached out for help to some trusted friends.  I made the connection and looked at the compassion in his eyes that was mixed with a bit of anger and frustration but was physically expressed with a tender redness and a pool of wetness that was beginning to gather above the bottom lid of his eye.   His care and concern cut deep into my soul and in that moment I felt a solidarity that reawakened all the emotion I felt when I sent the email a few days prior.   I shook my head slowly back and forth with a solemn look on my face and responded, “No, it’s not them.   It’s Patrick and Jorge.”   However, this did not relieve the anguish for he cared about those two just as much.   One of them attended our church every Sunday and happened to be within my gaze just over the should of the kind hearted volunteer.   In what was almost a burst of anger, emotion which I had seldom seen, he responded, “Isn’t there anyone else down there?   Aren’t there some middle class families down in the Arlandria neighborhood who can take care of this?  Aren’t there more people who can help?   This is too much.   Our church doesn’t have the resources to do it all.”  In spite of the difficult situation, I smiled a bit inside and felt a new sense of camaraderie, knowing that he now understood what I had been feeling for months.   These people were no longer sad stories and numbers that existed somewhere out there but they were people, faces, friends, beings created in the image of God who we could no longer push aside, forget about or chalk up as one more difficult situation.   Our relationships would not allow us to do nothing.   We both knew that something had to happen or we’d both be losing sleep over it.

Isn’t that exactly what we all want to ask.   Aren’t there more people who can do this?   Aren’t there others who have the time?  Aren’t there others who have the resources?  Aren’t there more people who can take care of this?   The burden is too heavy.   The workers are too few.  The rub is that when we relegate the responsibility to someone else, we miss out on the blessing.   It is a risk we take when we get involved with the least of these.  Relationships are harder than than an arms length interaction but they certainly offer much more reward and commitment.  We become involved with hardships we never knew and are sometimes faced with an ugliness in our own hearts.   However, the gift comes when we finally recognize that giving of ourselves is exactly what we needed all along, lest we forget where we have come from and that everything we have is a gift from God (time, talents, and treasure) to be shared and stewarded for His glory.

To get you prepared for the info session on Sunday, here is a short video to learn more about Casa Chiri.  Casa Chirilagua

Was Sunday your first visit to Restoration?

Have you been coming for a few months and gotten interested in learning more and getting more involved?

Have you been here for two years but have never been able to make it to one of those “newcomer dinners”?

Have you ever even thought about setting foot in Restoration’s doors?

If your answer to any of these is yes, then please join us this Tuesday, March 1, at 7:30pm for a Newcomer Dinner!  We’ll feed you a hot meal, give you a chance to get to know some other Restoration folks, and talk together about our vision for the church, how you can be a part of it, and what it means to be a member of Restoration.

We’ll be accepting new members on Sunday, March 6. If you’d like to become a member at this time, you must attend the dinner on Tuesday.

If you’re interested in coming, please leave a comment below or contact us here so that we know how much food to have.

Please do come — we’d love to see you there!