May 30, 2019
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 NLT
Children have a way of stretching one very thin. This is what I experienced for the first time almost 20 years ago and it really surprised me. I thought I knew how to be a good mother because I had two much younger sisters and cousins and also had previous experience with kids through a nanny job. Instead, as a new mother, I was constantly bombarded with responsibility and it irritated me when I was exhausted. I prayed and prayed for God to help me stop my list of negative traits but instead He showed me that I really needed to simply be filled with love, His love.
I needed to change my focus and learn how to fix my eyes on God and listen to the Holy Spirit so my life would overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. My focus changed from me and what I thought I needed, to Him and who He knows me to be. I listened and learned to follow and started seeing changes. It was amazing to me!
This was just the beginning of a journey that only intensified in difficulty. Our family has seen injury, health struggles, unemployment, depression, addiction, financial strain, betrayed trust, and more. Yet, through it all, I can see God using it for good. I have a very deep faith and trust in God because I can see Him caring for and changing me as I seek Him.
The struggle isn't to figure out what is wrong in my life and try to fix it, it is to keep my focus on God's goodness and let Him change me.
My husband just met a man last week that said something profound that sums this up nicely. He said, "I never quit using drugs, I just don't use them anymore." As I follow the Holy Spirit, I have peace through the chaos and struggles, certainty instead of the lies of doubt, confidence to do what God is asking of me as I step out away from fear, unity with believers, love instead of judgement, forgiveness instead of bitterness, and emotional and physical healing. These are things I have actually experienced and am excited to continue to fine tune my listening and grow deeper.
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
Psalms 63:1-8
With Joy,
Amy
Celebrating Baby Jack Roeller
Jack William Roeller, 7 lbs 11 oz, 20 in long, was born at 10:13 am on May 17, 2019. Everyone is doing well and so in love with their newest member of the family! Big sister Charlie is so proud and loves to shower her little brother with kisses. Please keep the Roeller family in your prayers during this busy time and praise God for a healthy mom and baby. We welcome the Restoration family to support and bless them by providing meals. A Meal Train site has been set-up between the dates of May 24-June 13. Please sign-up through this link: MEAL TRAIN.
*THIS SUNDAY*
Food on the First
Summer is coming! So is our next Food on the First – Sunday, June 2nd. What does that mean? It means we're looking for easy snacks, cereals and ready-to-eat meals that will be easy for Westview Elementary kids and families to make in the summer time. As always, gift card donations are great too!
*THIS SUNDAY*
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. If you are interested in having a child dedicated or baptized, please contact ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org or contact the church office.
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.
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 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 Ruth
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: 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 June
Preschoolers
Have you ever played PAC-MAN? The best part of that game is eating the large power pellets. Pac-Man immediately powers up, and then you can do anything. The bad guys can’t get you! You can eat them and earn bonus points doing it! It’s awesome! Feeling like we can do anything is a pretty great feeling.
We may not have power pellets lying around that we can eat to power up, but we do have another power source—a real power source that gives us the power to do everything God wants us to do. His name is Jesus. And, He is AMAZING! We are going to Power Up through the next two months with the hope of creating a super fun and engaging experience for preschoolers to learn about the fruit of the spirit—what happens when we are connected to Jesus, the real source of power.
“I can do everything by the power of Christ.” Philippians 4:13, NIrV
Elementary
God created us in His image, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to show us the way to live. He also knew we would need help; that’s why He sent us the Holy Spirit. With the power of the Spirit, we can produce fruit that points others to Jesus. Every month, kids discover something about God’s character and how they can reflect or respond to that character because they are created in God’s image. We call those LifeApps. And this summer we’re discovering how several of these Life-Apps show up specifically in what the Apostle Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit.
“The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.” Galatians 5:22-23a NIrV
RESTORATION STUDENTS
Contact: students@restorationcov.org
*NEW*
Thanks to Aiden
In January, we welcomed Aiden Gosiak as our Interim Restoration Students Director. He will complete his interim contract May 30, and last Sunday was his last in the role. The leadership team would like to express our appreciation to Aiden for his commitment to the Kingdom of God and his work and service with our students. Aiden jumped in with both feet in January, meeting and then leading our Restoration Students team. He worked hard to get to know the students as individuals and experimented with separate gatherings for our middle school and high school students. It is clear that Aiden has a heart for the Lord and wants students to know that God loves and cares for them. You might still see Aiden around Restoration, especially when he is in town. We have become a home to him as well.
To the Restoration Covenant Church family,
By now I’m sure you’ve heard that my interim period is coming to an end tomorrow. I didn’t get to say goodbye to some of you in person. Nonetheless, I wanted to share that I have so much to be thankful for from my experience with Restoration Church. I got to love on and care for your students, you got to see my heart for youth ministry, and in the same breath, you as a congregation have loved me well. Through a brief Google search, the word ‘restore’ means to bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation). For the last five months, I got to be part of a congregation whose goal was to bring a community of people back to the heart of God. From serving on staff, I got to celebrate many God moments where you as a body of believers did exactly that. The genuine experience of believers pouring into people, myself included, is the trademark of familial ministry. So much so, when I learned I was transitioning, it was the heart of your own congregation, ministry leaders and Pastor that told me I may be done in the role of youth director but there will always be a place for me in Restoration’s family. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I was given to serve, and I will always be able to hold on to the reality that Restoration’s journey and my own may vary, but the lessons, values and wisdom gained will carry on through future ministry in hopes I may also continue to restore others.
May blessings and honor and peace be with you,
Aiden Gosiak
*NEW*
Restoration Students Update
On behalf of the Students Director Search Team and Restoration’s Leadership Team, we want to welcome Daniel Morgenstern as our new Restoration Students Director.
One thing that became extremely clear to our search team as well as a panel of students, is that Daniel loves and has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and he desires for others to know Jesus and experience the Love of Christ. Daniel grew up on the mission field in Ukraine, where his parents planted churches. Later, his family relocated to Apple Valley, MN where he attended Eastview High School. He studied at North Central University in Minneapolis and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Biblical Studies. For the past seven years, Daniel has been serving in the National Guard, and although he is currently deployed, he returns in July and is ready to jump into life and ministry with Restoration and students.
We are in the process of setting dates for summer youth events prior to Daniel’s start date. We’ll keep you informed as soon as dates are set.
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 students@restorationcov.org
