September 19, 2019
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Greetings Restoration,
Fall is such a divergent season for me. On the one hand, there’s beautiful temperatures, an abundance of colors, and the harvest of satisfying produce. On the other hand, it is experiencing loss. It’s watching the colors fade, leaves fall, and temperatures go from cool to biting to frozen. It’s a season when we are invited to accept good things and hard things from the Lord.
One of the best ways my family and I have learned to accept good things and hard things from the Lord is by doing it with other people. The relationships we have gained and grown in small groups have developed and sustained our family through our highest highs and lowest lows.
I’m so thankful for the work Kara has invested in Restoration’s small group ministry. It’s become a place to have authentic connections with others within our church, where you can find a community that knows you, accepts you, prays for you, encourages you, and most importantly, points you to Jesus in the highs and lows of every season.
Another big part of small groups is learning and growing together in our walk with Jesus. Starting Sunday, September 22, we, as a church, will be going through Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. We will read Immerse: Messiah throughout the week, I will be teaching on what we read that week, and then we will discuss what we read and heard in our Small Groups in a format similar to a book club. If you’ve never been in a small group, I’d encourage you try!
How exactly will it work?
- We’ll all begin reading our Immerse: Messiah Bibles the week of Sunday, Sept 22 using the 8-week reading plan which breaks the readings up into 5 days/week found HERE.
- Thanks to a generous donation, we can provide a free copy to each household. Pick up your copy Sunday if you haven’t already.
- If you prefer to listen, you can find audio recordings of the readings HERE or subscribe to the podcast through Google Play or iTunes. Links to those are on the same page.
- If you would like to read together as a family, or you are unsure if you can read all of the daily reading, Click HERE for the family reading guide with excepts from the daily readings.
- Join a small group to discuss the readings and messages. If this season won’t allow being in a formal Restoration small group, ask God to show you a person(s) who you can discuss the readings with on your own.
The opportunity is now as our groups are starting up during the next couple weeks. Check out the SMALL GROUPS PAGE or the list below. The staff and I fully believe in the transformational power of the Word of God and are excited to see how God uses Immerse at Restoration and in our Small Groups. If this feels daunting to you, you are not alone! It may help to think of it a bit like training for a race. When you prioritize daily training, the reward at the end is being able to run the whole race without walking or wanting to quit. Similarly, we are going to need to prioritize time to read for these 8 weeks. For some of us it may mean replacing our daily devotion with Immerse. For others, it may mean looking at our daily routines and asking God how we can prioritize the reading. You could listen to the reading on your daily drive to work or during your workout. You could read instead of watch that half-hour or hour-long TV show. You could make it a family time and read out loud together.
Be creative, ask God to show you where you can make it work, but whatever you do, we encourage you to join in! We are confident that if we prioritize this time, the reward will be knowing God’s story more clearly and seeing ourselves more fully in His Story.
With hope,
Rob
Men’s BBQ – September 21
There’s nothing better than an afternoon of grilling out with the guys. Please join us for some delicious food on the grill and some stiff competition at yard games at the Men’s BBQ at Don Braaten’s house on Saturday, September 21 from 4-8pm. Main dish will be provided. Invite a friend and bring a side dish to share. See you there! Please RSVP to DonBraaten@restorationcov.org as soon as possible so we can plan enough food.
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
We’re very excited to launch a new season of small groups soon. If you’re looking for a deeper connection with others within our church, we highly encourage you to plug in to one of the many small groups offered below. If you want to learn more or you’re not sure which group would be the best fit for you or your family, please contact kararasmussen@restorationcov.org.
SUNDAY
Second Stage Life Group
Every other Sunday, 6-8pm in host homes
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Dick & Patte Klatt
Families of Youth Lunch
2nd Sundays, Noon-2pm
- October 13 at Apple Valley Culver’s
- November 10 at the Schroeders’
- December 8 at Apple Valley Culver’s
Eating together and fellowship
Led by Kerry Stok
Women’s Small Group
2nd/4th Sundays starting September 22, 6-8pm in host homes
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Kara Rasmussen
Family Small Group
1st/3rd Sundays starting September 15, 5:30-7:30pm in host homes
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Nick and Andrea Youngberg
Family Small Group
1st/3rd Sundays starting October 6, 5:30-7:30pm in host homes
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Evan and Vinesha Frey
MONDAY
Intergenerational Small Group
Every other Monday starting September 23, 7-9pm at the Fagerstrom home
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Steve Fagerstrom
TUESDAY
Prayer Group
Every Tuesday, 7-9pm at the Ministry Center
Led by Mary Beshara and Michael Nybakken
Women’s Small Group
Every Tuesday, Oct 1-Nov 19, 7-8:30pm in the Ministry Center Prayer Room
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Val Magnuson
WEDNESDAY
Parents with Young Children Play Date Group
3rd Wednesdays starting September 18, 9:30am-11:30am in host homes
Informal time of fellowship while kids play
Led by Chrystine Vilhauer
SATURDAY
Men’s Bible Study Group
Saturdays, 7-8am at the Ministry Center
Studying Immerse: Messiah
Led by Chad White
Amazon Smile
Did you know that in just three months, Restoration has received $30 from the AmazonSmile Foundation just because members of our church have signed up through AmazonSmile when they shop Amazon? When you shop and buy at Amazon.com, if you go through AmazonSmile you can support Restoration. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. To sign up, go to the following link Amazon Smile and choose Restoration Covenant Church as your organization to support. Thanks in advance for choosing to support Restoration!
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
*NEW*
Bible Presentations – September 29
If you have a child entering 2nd grade this year or if your child is past 2nd grade but doesn’t own their own Bible yet, please let us know! On Sunday, September 29, we’ll be presenting Bibles and celebrating a milestone where we recognize that kids are going from an age where they are learning to read to a time when they are reading to learn. Our goal as a church is to support parents so they can be their child’s spiritual champion. Part of achieving that goal is providing children with an age-appropriate Bible so they can really understand God’s Word.
What We’re Learning in September
Preschoolers
When is the last time you took the time to really look at everything God made? When we take the time to look at this amazing world God made, we are filled with awe and wonder. It’s that feeling of wonder we want our preschoolers to have as they learn about God’s creation. We are going to do a lot of counting together this month—one, two, three, four, five, six, seven—pausing to learn what God made on each day of creation. Through our fun and exciting activities and stories we want our preschoolers to learn that God made everything. And IT IS GOOD!
Memory Verse: “God saw everything He had made. And it was very good.” Genesis 1:31, NIrV
.jpg "September Elementary Image / Restoration Covenant Church Apple Valley, MN")
Elementary
This month, we will be talking about Trust or putting confidence in someone you can depend on.
Throughout history God has proven His faithfulness to us, especially in keeping His promise to send Jesus to save us. God will continue to be dependable. The Bible is filled with examples of people who knew first-hand what it means to trust God. This month, we focus on two of them: Jacob and Joseph. Through their stories, we’ll discover how we can trust Him no matter what we face.
Memory Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5, NIrV
Child Dedication and Baptism
We will be having child dedications and baptisms coming up soon. If you are interested in having a child dedicated or baptized, please contact ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org or contact the church office.
RESTORATION STUDENTS
Contact: students@restorationcov.org
*NEW*
Families of Youth Movie Night – October 18
Strap in for sword fights, monsters, romance, and adventure; we’re watching the Princess Bride. You think you won’t have fun? Inconceivable! This is a student event but that doesn’t mean what you think it means because the whole family is invited. Join us at the Svarens’ house on October 18. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and movie snacks to share. That’s all the advice I can give you except maybe to never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
*NEW*
Restoration Students Raking – November 2
Romans 12:4-5 “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” We are going to be living that out November 2 starting at 2pm. Restoration Students will be joining students from Faith Covenant Church, South Suburban Evangelical Free Church, and Chapel Hill Church to together as one team to bless the body of Christ. We will be raking the yards of people from all four congregations who could use a little extra help. Meet at South Suburban in the parking lot, bring a rake, gloves, clothes that can get dirty, and a can-do attitude. Let’s be Christ’s hands and feet!
Restoration Students Wednesday Nights
Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us at the Ministry Center (7707 147th St W, Apple Valley) from 6:30-8pm on Wednesday nights for a time of teaching, activities, and groups that focus on encountering Jesus, building meaningful relationships, and restoring hope to the world. If you have a Bible, bring it. Invite a friend!
Middle School Group
Sept 22 | Oct 13, 27 | Nov 10, 24 | Dec 9, not 23 | Jan 5, 19 | Feb 2, 16 | Mar 1, 15 | Apr 5, 19 | May 3, 17
Students in grades 6-8 begin Sunday mornings in the worship service. On the designated Sundays, they meet in the café for discussion and activities that complement the Sunday morning message. Contact students@restorationcov.org
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
View past News & Notes by clicking HERE.