Rector’s Update: Serving our Kids and Students

Photographed above: Restoration’s Front Terrace last Sunday. Joining with RestoArts to get ready for Pentecost on May 28!

Dear Restoration,

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.”  Luke 6:47-48a

You are digging deep. You are laying your foundation on solid rock. You are listening to what Jesus says. You are trying to follow it. I give thanks for you each day. I am praying for you.

This series from Romans has become very challenging. The words are difficult and require a reflective humility. I am so encouraged by the ways you are talking about it in small groups, talking about it with friends and pastors, and talking about it with God. Keep going. Keep digging deep and lay your foundation on solid rock that will not fail.

Last night we had a lot happening on Quincy Street: a great turn-out for our seminar in fellowship hall called, ‘Keeping peace while parenting.’ Thank you for attending. I have been praying for you this morning as you seek to apply these principles in all of your relationships. Our Race+Reconciliation Advisory Team also met last night on the 3rd floor. I serve on this team that is led by Karen McNeilly. It is a wonderful group of people who are asking God to reveal how Restoration can be a part of the healing process for those who have experienced wrong and harm because of ethnic injustice. Restoration wants to love and serve our neighbors- wherever they may be. We want to partner with churches and organizations that have a vision for both the breadth of God’s Kingdom and the work it takes to sincerely partner together. I am grateful for this team and the priorities they keep in front of our vestry and staff. 

Like I said, a full house last night. And tonight, Restoration Immigration Legal Aid has a big clinic in our facility. Thank you God for the growth of RILA’s impact on our community. If you would like to volunteer with RILA, you can see a list of opportunities, here, and you can fill out their volunteer intake form, here.

A Significant Request for our Kids and Students.
It’s May. The school year is winding down. I am so grateful for the hundred volunteers who led Kids’ and Apex Small Groups this past year. 

Thank you.

Our Kids’ Small Groups and Apex staff are fully engaged in extending invitations to members of Restoration to be a Kids’ Small Group Leader or Apex Leader for the 2023-24 school year. 

Would you pause for a moment and pray for these staff? Louise, Lexi, and Ryan. Filling these teams with enthusiastic volunteers, who love kids and students with the love of Jesus, is a tremendous undertaking. They pray over the kids. They pray over potential leaders. They pray for people to say yes. So I am asking you: would you pray for them, now? Pray that the Lord would encourage them in this task of inviting. 

Then, before you say Amen… would you ask God this: ‘For the sake of my discipleship and the opportunity to be on a team that is serving together, are you inviting ME to be a Kids’ Small Group Leader or Apex leader in the coming year?’ Just ask… And take a moment to listen… He may say no. He may say yes. Just ask…

If you want to hear more about it, Louise is going to host an awesome cookout at her home on May 16th. Lexi and Ryan are going to host a delicious cookout at the church on May 18th. It’s a free and delicious meal with VERY fun people!!! Go get the food! And maybe God will invite you to say yes to being on the Kids’ Team or the Apex Team in the year to come. 

Let them know you are coming by filling out the RSVP form, here. Go have a fun evening with good food and good people. Kids’ Small Groups and Apex are some of the most vibrant things happening at Restoration.

Keep digging deep.
Lay your foundation on solid rock.
It’s a joy to be on this journey with you, Restoration.

-David