Rector’s Update: Summer Solstice
Dear Restoration,
have great peace
and do not stumble.”
(Psalm 119:165)
Last Sunday, we made the transition from our Easter sermons in Romans 1-3 to our summer sermons on the life of Abraham. I showed a lot of pictures as we remembered the stories that lead up to Abram.
But this image is my favorite.
God’s move of grace after the Tower of Babel catastrophe was to choose one family to go get all the other families. Grace was revealing Himself to one so that the blessings that came out of the relationship between Abram and God could be shared with all the peoples of the earth. That one was to be a light to the many. This painting by Shai Azoulay captures the one looking out into his calling to the many.
This is how the artist described his painting:
standing high on a hill,
is looking out at the land through which he will be journeying.
So much seems to be like a mirage,
where there is promise, but the vision is foggy;
not everything is clear.
The only way forward is to simply believe,
a concept that cannot exist only in the mind, but beyond it.
As a pilgrim, Abraham has to journey out in faith,
forging ahead,
knowing that he will need others along the way.
Summer Changes to Sunday Worship
We love summer at Restoration. We love hearing your stories of travel and rest. We are grateful for more spaciousness. We hope you can experience some of that ease in our worship as well.
Here are some things to notice!
- The Pentecost Art installation has returned for a few weeks. Make sure you take a moment to look straight up while standing right under it. It is so cool!
- Kids who have not started kindergarten yet will still have nursery and pre-K Kids’ Small Groups during our worship. All the other kids will stay with us during worship. We are thrilled that they get to experience what happens in the sanctuary during the summers. Sometimes we all get a little squirmy and that’s just fine. Let’s welcome and encourage our kids as they grow into lifelong worshipers!
- We do make a few changes to the liturgy. One of our kids will lead us in praying the Psalm each week. That’s a big deal to read from the podium! We have Adventure Bibles in the pews for kids (young and old!) to follow along.
- We will use the Apostle’s Creed instead of the Nicene Creed– because the kids have been working on memorizing it!
- The sermon will be a little(!) shorter and starting in July, we will have ‘pew cards’ with pictures and explanations of what is happening in the service.
Restoration has some GREAT STAFF who are thinking creatively about how to help our kids engage in worship and grow in their discipleship. Big thanks to our team!
One more special treat…
Coffee will be served from 10:20-11:00 on Sunday morning.
Wait.
What?
I know.
Hallelujah.
Come early for the 11.
Stay late after the 9.
It’s special. I can’t wait!!!!
See you on Sunday!
David
