Random Musings of Life in Resurrection…

I loved the butterflies that framed our Easter Joy last Sunday.  They were subtle and emerging as we moved through Lent.  Then Saturday night, during the Vigil, our sanctuary exploded with beauty, with the promise that life that comes after death.  A huge thanks to our RestoArts team and their vision for us to ‘see’ Holy Week and Easter.

Sometimes I post about our life together.  Sometimes it’s random and newsy.

This is that.

Seeing Jesus

This Sunday, April 8, I will be preaching on 3 interactions with the post-resurrection Jesus from John 20:

• Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene when she thought He was a gardener.
• Jesus’ appearance to the disciples when they thought He was a ghost.
• Jesus’ appearance to Thomas when he thought everyone else was lying.

If you or someone you know has doubts, questions, or wonderings about how this story can be true…  Or if you know someone who wants to believe it is true, but can’t see how it affects them…  This might be a great week to invite them to Resto.  Tell them with a wink, ‘Nobody goes to church the week AFTER Easter.  It’s a great time to see what it’s all about.’

These 3 little vignettes speak to our longings, our doubts, our fragile hope that just maybe…  Maybe resurrection really changed the world.

Remembering Ted Van Der Meid

Our church has been praying for Ted for a long time.  Just before Holy Week, Ted’s battle with pancreatic cancer ended.  Tomorrow, April 7, at 2pm at Little Falls Presbyterian Church, Restoration will remember the life of Ted Van Der Meid and celebrate our hope of resurrection. 

You might be wondering, ‘Why Little Falls and not Restoration?’  Ted served on Capital Hill for over 30 years and the family is expecting over 400 people to attend. This is one of those times that our sanctuary and fellowship hall would be strained to the point of discomfort.  I am really grateful for our friends and partners at Little Falls.  They have been such gracious hosts (again!) to us.

You are very warmly invited to attend Ted’s memorial service.  It was a privilege for our church to pray for him and walk alongside him in life and it is our privilege to remember him in death.

Our search for a Church Plant Resident

As many of you know, we have been working for over a year to identify, recruit, and hire a church plant resident.  This position would be filled by someone who would join our staff team for a couple of years and then take a launch team to plant a new Anglican congregation in the Metro DC area.  In March, a very promising candidate came down to Arlington for a day of interviews.  Our hiring team was really excited about his potential and made him an offer to come be our church plant resident.

A couple days ago, this candidate responded to our offer and graciously turned us down.  He is feeling called to pursue a different track of vocational development in the season to come.  We understood his reasons though we were very sad to not welcome him to our team.

We want Restoration to continue to be a place where people are developing their ministry gifts and we will keep thinking creatively about how to do that well.  I wanted you to know that this particular candidate will not be joining us this summer.

Incarnation Anglican Church

Things are really ramping up for our church plant, Incarnation Anglican Church.  They have had several ‘get to know us and our neighborhood’ events that have been well attended.  They are running their own Small Group Sign-Ups for the Spring Trimester.  They will begin weekly gatherings in June to get ready for their public launch in September.

This is going to be a GREAT church.  I am so excited about the leadership team and the people from Restoration who are joining in the project.  As the rector of Restoration, I am inviting every person in our church to ask, should I be a part of this?  Should I go out with the launch team?  Should I give a financial gift?  Should I pray for them in my weekly prayer rhythms?

I want you to know that when people come to me and say, ‘I want to be a part of what God is doing through Incarnation…’  I REJOICE!  I cheer!  I thank them for all that they have done at Resto and I pray that God would multiply the fruit of their service in this new church.  Think about joining with what God is doing through Incarnation.  I’ll celebrate with you too!

Building on Liz’s Legacy

As we eagerly anticipate Incarnation’s launch, we are concurrently working hard on the hiring process to build on Rev. Liz Gray’s legacy.  You can read the job description of the person we are seeking, here.  I invite you to consider it for yourself and to share it with people who feel a calling to church ministry.  We have had a great response and we are beginning the screening and interview process.  If you or someone you know is interested, this is the time to send in resume and cover letter.

Ok, that’s enough for now.  Like I said, random and newsy…  like a good phone call with your Mom.

See you Sunday,

David