Rector’s Update: Finishing Epiphany

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Dear Restoration,

“…Some of you who are standing here
are going to see it happen,
see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.” 

Six days later, three of them did see it.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes.
His clothes shimmered, glistening white,
whiter than any bleach could make them.
Elijah, along with Moses, came into view,
in deep conversation with Jesus.”

Mark 9:1b-4 (The Message)
This Sunday, February 11th, is The Last Sunday of Epiphany (it’s capitalized because ‘it’s a thing’). Every year, for hundreds of years, the church has remembered the story of the transfiguration as Epiphany draws to a close. Such a fitting culmination of all that Epiphany is about: declaring to the world that the light of the world has come.

“I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

I am looking forward to our worship and to finishing this section of Romans, chapters 9-11.

  • We have been reminded of God’s desire for the whole world to respond to His gospel.
  • We have been given tools for telling our story (curiosity seeking opportunity, never underestimate the beauty of your salvation to others).
  • We have experienced the empathy of anguish of heart and perplexity of mind as we wait in hope for our loved ones to hear and respond.
The Lord has shown forth his glory: O come, let us adore Him!
Don’t forget about our congregational survey and the chance to give feedback regarding the 3rd service that we are starting on Easter! You can read about it here and you can take the survey here. 

Read on for some pictures and reflections from some of the fun things we’ve been up to over the last week.

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday.
-David

 

Nathan teaching on Daniel 3
‘You are what you worship’

 

Last night I popped in to the Fellowship Hall for RestoMen– great food and a great group of guys. I heard about 2 really cool things that are happening:

  1. The RestoMen leadership team has a mentorship program, matching up guys with a mentor who is a few years further down the road. Want to get involved? Take a minute to let us know with this form and someone from the team will get back to you soon!
  2. The RestoMen Retreat. March 8-9 at Meadowkirk Retreat Center is filling up! You can sign up here. Deadline is February 15th. Our topic this year will be “Building a Resilient Core.” We have invited Alex Kirk, the lead pastor of Chatham Community Church in Chapel Hill, NC to be our speaker. 


Bonfire at the RestoWomen Retreat

This past weekend, 125 ladies from Restoration gathered at Meadowkirk for our annual RestoWomen retreat. Beth Tipps and a number of women who are members of Restoration shared on the topic of contentment. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience the presence of God and companionship.

Stay tuned for the next RestoWomen Gathering in March! 
 

Writing Congregational Prayers
in anticipation of the coming election

 

Last week, Isaac gathered about 50 song writers, pastors, and leaders for a Porter’s Gate songwriting retreat in Nashville. We were working on songs and prayers of humility and hope as we head into the fervor of the presidential election. It was amazing. Truly an appropriate use of that word. 

The picture above represents the pastors cohort. We hung out for an afternoon in a room at the local YMCA and composed prayers and collects that gave words to the longings of our heart. Psalm 27 was our template and provided a garden of images. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” I really enjoyed getting to know these colleagues, who are now friends.

Isaac had a dozen different groups of musicians who wrote songs all afternoon- over 30 of them! Our evening was spent in a unique ‘concert’ space as each group performed for the others one of the songs they had written. Scott and I said over and over- it’s incredible that 4 hours ago this song didn’t exist and yet now, as I listen, I am in tears from it’s beauty and the weight of its words. Really an amazing 24 hours.

I look forward to Isaac teaching some of them to Restoration in the months to come! So glad he is on our team and so impressed by his ability to lead and bring out the gifts and talents of others.

One of the musicians who came was Jon Guerra. This was a song he wrote a few years ago, but it captures all of my longing as a pastor and follower of Jesus. Enjoy.

 

I have been listening to this song on repeat
since Jon played it for us last week in Nashville.
 

“Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own
Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone
Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go
For their hearts have a road to the kingdom of God
And their souls are the songs of the kingdom of God
And they will find a refuge for theirs is the kingdom of God”
 

 

 

 

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