Rector’s Update: Autumn! (and more APEX news!)
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139: 17-18
Friends,
Hope you are having a great week. We prayed this psalm during morning prayer today. It is such a rich reminder of God’s attentiveness to us. He doesn’t miss a thing. Quick reminder that starting September 1, morning prayer will start at 8:00am. I hope this time shift makes it possible for you to join us in this daily rhythm.
FALL SMALL GROUPS
Each week, I host a 15 minute call with Restoration’s small group leaders and ministry volunteers. This week, I am sending the video of it as part of my rector’s update. You can see how we check in about life in our church and the programs we are offering. Perhaps you’d like to serve as a small group leader?
I am so grateful for our small group leaders who pray for you, facilitate Bible discussions, and walk alongside you in the joy and pain of life. Small groups have become even more important in this time of social distancing. We want to make sure everyone can be in one this fall. The deadline to submit your leader form is this Sunday, Aug. 30. If you have questions about leading a small group, reach out to Nathan, today. Registration for adult small groups will open to everyone on Sept. 6 and they all kick off (Kids’, Apex, and Adults!) the week of September 13.
MORE APEX NEWS!!
Speaking of Apex, we have exciting news! A couple weeks ago I announced that Nathan Dickerson would be serving as the interim Apex Director. This week, I get to tell you that we have added 2 Apex coordinators to our Youth Ministry team: Lexi (Wiles) McMann and Ryan Goyer. Thanks be to God!
Would you like to know a little bit more about them? Of course you would! Here ya go:
Lexi hails from Richmond, VA and the University of Richmond, and has lived in Arlington since fall 2013! She came to the area after completing a year in Raleigh, NC with The Fellows Initiative to work for FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools). She spent 6 years exploring faith with middle and high school students at independent schools all around the DC Area, and taking them up to Martha’s Vineyard for camp adventures in the summers. Lexi loves her community of friends in Arlington, all things outdoors, music and art, her husband Jonathan, and her new puppy Haven! She can’t wait to spend more time with Resto’s Apex community, growing in relationship with each other and Jesus.
Ryan writes, “I am very excited to begin working with Apex! I have spent the last six years working with students, as a Young Life leader in college at Christopher Newport University, and then as a staff member and volunteer at The Falls Church Anglican since 2017. I had the privilege of being John Yates’ study assistant before joining the Restoration team last summer. I can’t wait to work with Lexi to build upon the foundation Isaiah has built here over the past few years.
I love to read, hike, and play (and watch!) sports. I hope to earn a degree in counseling sometime soon, and love to walk with people through challenging times. I’ve spent the summer watching bubble sports (go Bruins & Celtics!) and planning a wedding with my fiancée, Callie Gaskins. We’ll be married on September 5, and couldn’t be more excited to start our life together at Restoration. You’ll be able to find us about a minute away from Restoration, in a little condo on Monroe Street.”
The close reader will be wondering, ‘Wait. Doesn’t Ryan already work for Restoration?’ Yes he does. He has been our Communications Coordinator and Facility manager for the last year. We are glad that we were able to adjust his job description so that he can give a good portion of his week to Apex.
THIS SUNDAY
Thanks for reading along and joining us in thanksgiving to God. I am looking forward to this Sunday, Aug. 30: I will wrap up our series on Joseph and we will have the first of weekly, outdoor, in the Resto backyard, Eucharists! The liturgy starts around 11:15, right after the YouTube livestream ends.
Praying for you.
“The Lord hems you in, behind and before. His hand is upon you.”
(Psalm 139: 5)
-David
