Rector’s Update: Hope of all the earth Thou art

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Dear Restoration,


“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
Luke 1:26-28

Abounding Carols
It was complete joy to be with you at the Carol Sing last Sunday evening. Thank you for inviting your friends, crowding into the sanctuary, picking your favorite carols, and singing with great joy. I sat over coffee with someone yesterday and we both had tears in our eyes as we recounted what it was like to look over the congregation as we sang. You are a beautiful community, being formed in Christ’s image, and defined by His presence among us.

Gifts and Cookies and the Love of Jesus
Thank you for all your support of our friends at Glebe Elementary School. Your gifts, cookies, and logistical help made a big impact on over 60 families in our neighborhood. Thank you for generously loving our neighbors.

Christmas is coming! Keep Scrolling!
– You will find important info about Dec. 24th.
– You can take 2 minutes to watch the video from our friends at Coracle, the organization to whom we are giving our Christmas Eve offering. 
– Please mark your calendar for a special event on January 4th at 7:30pm. Beth Tipps and I will be teaching on ‘How to study the Bible’. It’s a great way to kick off a new year in God’s Word.
– Keep scrolling! I don’t want you to miss any of it!

This will be my last Rector’s Update of 2023.
Thank you God for a wonderful year! I have loved digging in to Romans. I am grateful for my sabbatical. I am full of anticipation for the ways God will lead us in 2024 for Good Things Grow Here. I’ll write again on January 3rd!

With you, I am holding tightly to this angelic promise and Mary’s courageous faith:

For nothing will be impossible with God. 
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 

– David
 
 
You shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Luke 1:31-33

 

December 24th

A fun day in 2 parts.
 

Advent 4

We will start the day at 10am and finish the season of Advent. Our readings remind us of the covenant promise from God to King David that one from His line would always sit on the throne of Israel. King Jesus, the fulfillment of that promise, is announced by the angel to His mom, Mary. 

We will hear from one more person in our congregation about the ways Jesus is leading in that person’s life. We will sing our longing and pray our hope. 

One service at 10am. Nursery Kids’ Small Groups will be provided. Kids pre-school and up will be with us in the service. I warmly invite you to conclude the season of Advent with us on Sunday morning.
 

Christmas Eve

After the morning service, we will transform our space in anticipation of Christmas Eve and the celebration of God’s incarnation in His son, Jesus. 

We will have three services at 3pm, 5pm, and 8pm. All three of these services will be broadcast on our YouTube Live Channel. Feel free to invite far away friends and family to ‘tune in’!

We encourage you to come early and to please use the parking lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th. We will have 2 shuttles running for the 3pm and 5pm services and 1 for the 8pm.

Nursery Kids’ Small Groups will be provided at all three services. Kids pre-school and up will be with us in all of the services.

The liturgy will include carols and candles and incredible news for a weary world. I look forward to rejoicing with you. 
 
 
Each year, on Christmas Eve, Restoration gives all of our financial offerings to a partner who is doing excellent Kingdom work in our community. 

This year, all of our financial offerings will go to Coracle, an organization that exists to inspire and enable people to be the presence of God, in the brokenness of the world, through spiritual formation for Kingdom action.

There are many places in the Scriptures that instruct us to serve the immigrant and to welcome the stranger. Coracle has recently opened a ministry center in South Arlington which will have, among many offerings, an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program that will serve the surrounding neighborhoods. Our Christmas Eve gifts are helping to start that program. Some of you may also be interested in serving as instructors and volunteers IN the program. Please reach out to Rev. Chris Lugo who is coordinating this for Coracle.

Restoration is so grateful for the many resources that Coracle offers to help us grow deeper with Jesus. I invite you to generously give and participate in the programs Coracle is doing. 
 

Beth Tipps and Scott Buckhout are excited to offer some tools for going deeper in the Scriptures during your personal Bible reading and your corporate study in small groups. It will be accessible for everyone from middle school age and up.

We will talk about tools and techniques for understanding what the Bible says AND ways to read it slowly, reflectively, so that you can meditate on words that give life.

Hope you can join us for this evening seminar and feel free to bring a friend!

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