May 16, 2019
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 5:1 NIV
Mother’s Day is often hard for me. When I was a child I played with my dolls for hours and dreamed about having a baby of my own. During college while I was getting a social work degree, if someone asked me what my ideal job was, I would have said, “stay at home mom.” Now I am 46 years old and there is pain in my heart because that dream of motherhood was never fulfilled, at least not in the way I expected it to be.
This year, however, I have a deepening appreciation for the type of mother God has created me to be. Several years ago a woman who was an influential leader in the church I was attending died of cancer. Her name was Connie. She was nurturing and kind, and many women in our church benefited from her caring ways. At her funeral, her daughter called for other women in our church to pick up Connie’s “spiritual mantle of motherhood.” The words rang in my ears and stirred my heart. I knew it was for me. In my heart I committed to being a spiritual mother to whomever God would send me to love. Now, years later, I am starting to see that role coming to fruition in greater ways. I am like a second mother to my niece and two nephews, and have the blessing of spending lots of time investing in them. I am also seeing more and more opportunities to give care to others as they journey through the tough stuff of life. The ironic thing is that I can step into that “spiritual motherhood” in a unique way because I don’t have children. I have time, attention and love to give that busy mothers don’t have.
I hope you hear both an opportunity and an encouragement through my story. If you are not a busy parent (or maybe even if you are), look for opportunities to be a spiritual parent to those around you who could use a little extra support. And if your own unfulfilled dreams cause you pain, continue to hold that out before God and ask for His help and His will to be done. Sometimes God fulfills our desires in ways we would never imagine. I have learned to genuinely treasure my childlessness as a gift from God. It’s not what I would have expected, but God has fulfilled, and is fulfilling, that desire in me in beautiful and rich ways.
With Joy,
Leanne
Congregational Meeting
Please stay after the service on Sunday, June 2 for a brief Congregational Meeting. At this meeting we will select 2-3 members of Restoration to be on the Nominating Committee to choose Leadership Team candidates for Restoration members to vote on at a later meeting.
Baptism and Dedication at Restoration
Did you know Believer Baptism is a picture of how Jesus has changed your life and a response to God’s redeeming love for us? If God has been working in your life, have you considered being baptized? We will do believer baptisms at our outdoor worship service on Sunday, August 25. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact MatthewGoerdt@restorationcov.org. We will also be having a child dedication this Sunday, May 19. If you are interested in having a child dedicated or baptized, please contact ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org or contact the church office.
Student Director Search Team Update
In January we welcomed Aiden Gosiak as our Interim Students Director. His contract runs through the end of May. March 1, we posted the job on our webpage, with our conference, several job search sites, and a handful of college and universities in and around the Twin Cities. A search team, comprised of Amy Zaffke, Caleb Anderson, Janice Svaren, Mallory Allinder, and Rob Jacobson, began meeting the first week of April. They have reviewed ten interested applicants, invited five to complete applications, and are currently completing the final interviews. Please join us in prayer for wisdom and discernment. We are praying and working towards having a recommendation for the Leadership Team in the next week.
Celebrating Graduates – June 9
On Sunday, June 9, we’ll recognize Restoration's graduating high school, college and graduate school students with a prayer of blessing during service followed by a cake reception after the worship service. If you are a graduate from any time in the past year, please contact Aiden in the church office by Thursday, May 30 so we can be sure to include you. Your Restoration family is proud of you and wants to acknowledge your hard work! Contact AidenGosiak@restorationcov.org
Serve in Church
Please pray about and consider serving in one of the areas of critical need within our church. Whether you’re already serving or considering where you can best bless our church, thank you for sharing your much needed gifts! Look for a list of additional serving opportunities on our website at HERE and at the Info Table in the lobby on Sundays. Please feel free to contact the person in charge of the area in which you’re most gifted or interested.
Join the Students Team
Do you have a passion for working with students? Are you interested in serving Restoration through our Wednesday Night Student Groups? We would love to hear from you! The students team is looking for adult men and women who would like to get involved in being a part of our team. We welcome anyone who loves God and loves the idea of working with students. Contact aidengosiak@restorationcov.org
Join the Setup Team
Are you a behind-the-scenes type of person ready to serve alongside other men and women at Restoration? Do you know someone who could serve in this capacity? If you're willing to move chairs, do light lifting, and set up the stage and worship area once a month on Sunday mornings, then you'd be a valuable asset on the set up team. At Restoration, the set up team creates the environment where people can encounter God. Michael Van Dyken, the team leader, is looking for volunteers to to serve. To learn more, contact him through setup@restorationcov.org.
Small Groups
Did you know it's not too late to join a Restoration Small Group? Many of our groups discuss Sunday's message which makes it easy to join in at anytime. If you've considered joining a group but never quite got around to it, there’s still time! For questions or to join a Small Group, please contact kararasmussen@restorationcov.org.
SUNDAY
Women's Life Group
Every other Sunday, 6:30-8:30pm in various homes
Studying the current sermon series
Led by Kara Rasmussen
Family Life Group (children welcome)
Every other Sunday, 5:30-7:30pm in various homes
Studying the current sermon series
Led by Matt & Mallory Allinder
Second Stage Life Group
Every other Sunday, 6:00-8:00pm at the Klatts' home
Studying the current sermon series
Led by Dick & Patte Klatt
Families of Youth Life Group (potluck lunch)
2nd Sunday of the month, Noon-2:00pm at the Ministry Center
Fellowship with some discussion and prayer
Led by Janice Svaren
WEDNESDAY
All Ages Life Group (children welcome)
Every Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm at the Zaffkes' home
Studying the current sermon series
Led by Garrett & Amy Zaffke
SATURDAY
Men's Bible Study Group
Saturdays at 7am at the Ministry Center
Studying the Book of Isaiah
Led by Chad White
Pray or Receive Prayer
Are you gifted at prayer or do you have a prayer request that you’d like to share with our prayer team? We believe in the power of prayer and know that God is listening. We would love to pray for you. If you’re interested in joining the prayer team or have any prayer requests, send them to our prayer team at prayer@restorationcov.org
RESTORATION KIDS
Contact: ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org
Play & Pray
Upcoming Dates: May 29 | June 12 | July 10, 24 | August 7, 21
Looking to connect with other parents and kids this summer? Parents, bring your kids, your friends, and your friends' kids to Apple Grove Park (by the fire station at CR42 and Hayes) from 9:30-11:30am. The kids enjoy themselves at the park while the grown-ups talk about the things going on in their lives and share prayer requests. Play and Pray mornings are an easy way to be in community with each other during the summer months. Contact: ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org
VBS 2019
Get ready to Power Up! Are you ready to raise your game? Get ready to change the world because God’s power gives us everything we need to do just that. Mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us June 24-28 from 9-11:30am at Apple Valley Baptist, 964 Garden View Drive, Apple Valley. Register online HERE
What We're Learning in May
Preschoolers
What would you do if you were assigned a huge building project to manage? Or told to step into the leadership role for an entire nation where every person would depend on you to make the right decisions? How about helping someone else accomplish a big job where you’re not going to get much recognition? Or, do the one thing you would be most afraid of doing, while everyone you know watches?
All of these are pretty big things and would intimidate most of us. However, God can help us do really big things. When our preschoolers are faced with big things, we want them to remember to hop to it, because God will help them. Our world is filled with things that are big and sometimes scary. When our preschoolers face these big things, we don’t want them to run. We want them to hop to it because they know God is bigger and will help them do big things.
“We have the Lord our God to help us.” 2 Chronicles 32:8, NLT
Elementary
This month, our elementary aged kids will be talking about the connection between perseverance and God’s character as shown through God’s big story.
Throughout history, God has offered strength to help people persevere through difficult situations. Jesus persevered through death itself to make it possible for us to have a forever relationship with God. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can trust Him to help us find the strength to persevere through whatever we face.
“But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.” Isaiah 40:31, NIrV
RESTORATION STUDENTS
Contact: students@restorationcov.org
Whirlyball – May 27
Please join us for an exciting and fun-filled Middle School Student event on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day) from 1:45-5:15pm. For $20, students will get to experience a new and incredibly awesome team game involving bumper cars and lacrosse-like equipment at Twin Cities Whirlyball located in Maple Grove. The best part? You can invite friends to challenge as well! RSVP by Sunday, May 19th to Aiden Gosiak at students@restorationcov.org.
*UPDATED*
Restoration Students High School Sunday Nights
Upcoming Dates: May 19
We’re excited to announce High School Students Sunday Nights on the first and third Sunday of March-May. This will be an opportunity for High School Students to dig into the book of Daniel together. They’ll discover what it means to live in the world but not of the world when presented with today’s teen challenges. Daniel himself faced unbelievable challenges as a believer under Babylonian authority. Each meeting will be tailored to engage students with thought-provoking questions and discussions while delving into the personal lives of believers who share their testimony and how they navigate today’s ebb and flow of modern morals. We will meet from 6:30-8pm at the Ministry Center. Snacks will be provided, but please eat supper before you come.
Middle School Group
Upcoming Dates: May 19
Students in grades 6-8 begin Sunday mornings in the worship service. On the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, they are sent to the café for discussion and activities that complement the Sunday morning message.
