August 1, 2018
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
One of my heroes is my sister, Debbie. She taught 8th grade history for thirty-one years, which is heroic all by itself. She had the unique ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, but this was due far more to her ability to listen, rather than to speak. Though a wonderful storyteller herself, she was fascinated by the stories of others. She never married or had children, but she had the largest family of anyone I’ve ever known. Debbie had a unique capacity to love, and once she loved you, you stayed loved. She didn’t allow disagreements, distance, or disconnection to interfere with her deep affection.
Cancer took her life seven years ago. There wasn’t a great deal of time between the diagnosis and her death, but she filled those months with deep conversations. She often spoke of her favorite Bible verse and how it had ordered her life. The verse was Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Debbie measured her days by those three activities; being fair, being kind and being godly.
Since her passing, I’ve tried to practice this discipline. When the day begins, I pray that God will direct and empower me toward justice, mercy and humility. When the day ends, God and I evaluate whether I’ve been true to that mission. Did I act in a way that reflected his justice? Did I love others with mercy like his? Did I follow him in authentic humility? Usually there are at least as many demerits as gold stars, but because of his grace, the next day allows me to begin again.
Humans often make things far more complicated than they need to be. In Exodus 20, God gave his people Ten Commandments that seemed pretty straightforward. When Jesus came he boiled them down to two. “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence and love others as well as you love yourself.” In the time of the prophet Micah, people claimed to be confused about God’s expectations of them, so he expressed them in three simple points: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
When we talk about Christian discipleship, sometimes we make it more complicated than it needs to be. We too claim to be confused about what is required. I think it’s mostly about being fair, being kind and being godly. These are not that hard to understand, but they’re very difficult to master. They’ll take a lot of daily practice.
Blessings to you,
Greg Fondell
*NEW*
Baby Day
We celebrate the birth of George Andrew Day, born to Tim and Amy Day on July 26. George was 9lbs, 14oz. Please keep the Day family in your prayers during this busy time and praise God for a healthy mom and baby. If you'd like to provide meals for the Day family please us this LINK.
*THIS SUNDAY*
Food on the First
This week is the first Sunday of the month, and that means it is our Food on the First collection day. At the start of the month, we donate food for Westview Elementary School staff to distribute from a “food locker” to hungry families. To help, head to the store for healthful, non-perishable food and bring it to church. Gift cards in any amount to Cub, Wal-Mart or Target will also be greatly appreciated since they help families purchase meat and fresh produce. Cash, check and designated online donations go to The Sheridan Story program that puts a weekend meal in participating students’ backpacks every Friday of the school year.
Current Series – Messages from the Mediterranean
Some of the most powerful messages of the Bible are found in little books known as “The Minor Prophets.” These ancient prophets of God were each given unique tasks. The closer you read their stories, the more you see how similar the tasks seem – to hear clearly what God was saying and to declare His words to the people around them. Two common threads run through the stories – the importance of actively responding to God and how common it was for people to miss God’s messages. In this series we'll meet high impact people and learn major truth from these small and often forgotten books of the Bible. There is always the promise of something more—another adventure, another battle, a moment to demonstrate your loyalty to your heavenly captain. We'll discover how to recognize and respond to His messages, even in the modern-day storms we face. Join us for adventurous and insightful Sundays each week in July and August.
Outdoor Worship & Baptism Service – August 26
We’ll have our annual outdoor worship service at Crystal Beach Park in Burnsville on Sunday, August 26 at 10am. We'll worship together, celebrate believer baptisms at the lake and then spend time in community over a picnic lunch. This is a great opportunity to invite someone to church in a beautiful setting outside in God's creation. Grilled meat, beverages, chips, condiments and dinnerware will be provided. Last names A-L, please bring a DESSERT to share; M-Z please bring a SIDE or SALAD to share. We recommend bringing lawn chairs for your comfort. Bring some games to play too! Note there will not be Restoration Kids that Sunday so kids can enjoy worship with their families. Questions? Please contact MatthewGoerdt@restorationcov.org
Believer Baptism
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 baptisms at our outdoor worship service on Sunday, August 26. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact MatthewGoerdt@restorationcov.org.
Small Groups
Although most of our small groups take a break over the summer, the Men’s Group still meets weekly on Saturday mornings at 7am at the Ministry Center and is open for men to join at anytime. There are also other opportunities for men, women and families to connect throughout the summer. For more information about these opportunities or if you’re interested in joining or starting a small group this fall, Kara would love to talk to you! Contact KaraRasmussen@restorationcov.org
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 – Aug 8, 22
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) at 9am. 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
What We're Learning in August
Preschool:
We are super excited about our new theme as we leave land and head for water with Anchors Away. We’re even more excited about our bottom line as we set sail to teach preschoolers that God’s way is perfect. When you think about it, there are tons of different ways we can go in life. And they can all sound like the right way at the same time. Our kids are going to grow up with more choices than ever on which way to go. Every day, they will have to decide if they are going to go this way or that way. Is this the right way, or is that the right way? That’s where we come in! We have the opportunity to begin teaching our children that God’s way is perfect. In fact, GOD’S way is the ONLY way that is 100% the RIGHT way every single time.
Memory Verse: "God's way is perfect." 2 Samuel 22:31, NIrV
Elementary:
In Elementary classes this month we are talking about wisdom; finding out what you should do and doing it. When Jesus was a boy, He grew in wisdom. God wants us to discover wisdom, too. When we make the wise choice, we reflect the character of Jesus to people around us. That’s why giving kids a strong foundation of wisdom is important. We want them to be equipped to face whatever choices they may need to make in the future.
Memory Verse: "If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He will give it to you." James 1:5a, NIrV
RESTORATION STUDENTS
Contact: DerekWassell@restorationcov.org
Summer Middle School Group – Aug 5, 19
Students going into grades 6-9 this Fall begin Sunday mornings in the worship service then they meet in the café for discussion and activities that complement the Sunday morning message. Contact DerekWassell@restorationcov.org
Students Summer Nights – Aug 8, 22
Students going into grades 6-12 this Fall, join us Wednesday nights this Summer from 6:30-8:30pm for exciting activities, talking about God, tasty snacks, and overall good times together. We will meet at the Ministry Center (7707 147th St W., Apple Valley) and plan on outdoor activities. If the weather is poor, we will head inside. Invite your friends! Contact DerekWassell@restorationcov.org
Wild Mountain – August 13
Students entering grades 6-12, join us for a day at Wild Mountain on Monday, August 13 from 10am-6pm. Enjoy some crazy fun at their waterpark, alpine slides and go-karts. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and dry clothes. Arrive at the Ministry Center (7707 147th St W, Apple Valley) at 10:00am for departure via bus. We plan to return at 6:00pm. Cost is $40 for park ticket, bus transportation, and a supplied lunch; bring extra money if you want additional snacks while there. Invite your friends! Everyone must have a completed Students Participation & Liability form. Contact DerekWassell@restorationcov.org for RSVP and questions. Please let Derek know ASAP if you are interested in coming!
Restoration Students Facebook Page
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