Rector’s Update: Listening to God through Telos
Pictured Above: Selma, AL — Restoration’s Trip with Telos to the American South in November
“Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13-14
Dear Restoration,
Surely the Lord is coming soon! It is good to be in this season of Advent with you and for these words of hope to ring out over the start of our liturgy each Sunday. In our Scripture readings and corporate life, we are choosing to listen to the Lord- on our own and together. We are tuning our ear to the sound of His voice so that we can hear it– even in the orchestral cacophony of our busy lives. I loved Advent 1 and I am deeply looking forward to our worship again, this coming Sunday.
One of our Advent practices is to invite people from our congregation to reflect on a theme and to then light the candles on our Advent wreath. This year, these reflections are centering on the things people are hearing from the Lord– their practice of listening. Next Sunday, on December 4, we will hear reflections from people who journeyed together in the American South with Telos during the first part of November (see the group photo above!). It was a powerful trip filled with new information, tender repentance, and glimmers of hope. Those who went from Restoration deliberately put themselves in a group and in a place where they could listen to God… and God had profound things to say. I can’t wait for you to hear these reflections. As I said, ‘hearing how other people are listening helps us to listen.’ I believe you will be encouraged.
Restoration has another opportunity to listen to God through a journey with Telos. In 2023, from April 29 to May 9, anyone from Restoration can join a pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine for a life-changing, immersive-learning experience through the Holy Land. It is a similar concept to what happened in the American South: a deliberate trip, to put oneself with an intentional community, that is traveling in a particular place, for the purpose of listening to God. You will walk not only in the paths where Jesus walked 2000 years ago, but also where he would walk if he were in the land today as you explore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and learn about the Christian discipleship role of peacemaking.
Resto’s own Assistant Rector Scott Buckhout will be on the trip, while Resto parishioners Todd Deatherage, Co-founder and Executive Director of Telos, and David Katibah, Director of Communications and Christian Engagement at Telos, will be facilitating the trip.
On this tour, you will visit ancient holy sites, experience the vastly different realities of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities living in the midst of a conflict zone, and learn the deeper stories behind the opportunities and obstacles for peace. You will receive instruction and tools to practice peacemaking as a central form of your discipleship and you will leave inspired as you hear from those doing the arduous but joyful work of justice, healing and reconciliation in the land of Israel/Palestine.
Sunday, December 4, after both the 9am and 11am services Todd Deatherage and I will host an information session about the forthcoming trip. If you are curious, interested, wondering how it works… please come! Jump down to Fellowship Hall right after the service ends and spend 15 minutes learning more about how God uses Telos and these trips to help us listen.
Surely the Lord is coming soon! Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
See you on Sunday,
David
