September 16, 2020
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1 NIV
Hi Church,
I’ve got a story for you. Last year, as we were reading through Immerse: Messiah, I was in the midst of my work day at the old Ministry Center. I was walking past the conference room when I overheard a conversation between two of our wonderful Restoration members.
They were talking about a new perspective they had gained on the apostle Paul. As they read through Immerse: Messiah, reading through whole letters from Paul back to back, a picture emerged. They started to see the man behind the letters rather than just the letters themselves. Paul became more human, more relatable, a person they could understand and relate to.
Now that by itself is a worthwhile story to share, but there is another part that makes it something that you have to hear. As I was walking by and caught only a snippet of their conversation, I completely understood and also saw Paul in a new light.
How, in just a few seconds, could I plug into their realization? Because I had gone through that same reading they were talking about just last week. I had read through the same sections they had and their conversation easily built upon the foundation of that knowledge. That is the power of a whole community experiencing and learning together! It turns our hallways and daily interactions into chapels and spiritual discussions. When we all go through the same scripture together, we are in some ways more united than ever! We are gathering around the word of God.
That is awesome, and a one-of-a-kind experience. I can confidently say you will never have the chance to read through the same section of scripture at the same time as so many people in your natural community and life pattern. Organizing and getting eight people reading together for a bible study is hard enough; getting over 100 people on the same page, well, that’s a once in a lifetime experience.
What are you waiting for? We start September 27th! Grab a book if you haven’t gotten one yet and join a small group.
You’ll be glad you did!
With hope,
Daniel Morgenstern
NEW Name Tags
We’re excited to create new name tags for everyone in our Restoration community. These name tags will include your picture to allow everyone to see your smile while we’re safely following mask guidelines when we gather in person. If you’d like us to make you a permanent name tag, please send Lacey a current picture at info@restorationcov.org. We’ll update the directory with this new image as well. We’ll have a rack to keep the name tags between Sundays but you’re also welcome to bring them back and forth if you’d rather. If you’d like a name tag without a picture, just email your preference and Lacey will have them ready for our next in-person Sunday gathering.
Fall Schedule
In-person and Online Sundays – Sept 27, Oct 11, 25
Arrive before 10am to grab a chair and be a part of our “studio congregation” at The Family Life Center Building at 14201 Cedar Avenue, Apple Valley, or tune in at 10am for our live stream on Facebook or our website online.restorationcov.org. For parking and worship follow the Restoration sign.
THIS SUNDAY
Online Only Sundays – Sept 20, Oct 4, 18
Tune in at 10am for our live stream on Facebook or our website online.restorationcov.org. Host a watch party and invite some friends to join you in-person or in a digital small group to connect and grow.
Regathering Information – Sept 27
We’re excited to be offering in-person worship at our new location at 14201 Cedar Avenue, along with continuing to stream our worship gatherings online. Please know that there will be things that will look and feel different as we regather together. Regardless of how your family chooses to participate in church, we want you to know we’re glad that you’re a part of our church family. The foundation of why we gather together is not changing. We gather together to worship Jesus and to spread the hope He brings as one body in Him.
For complete information about our in-person guidelines, click HERE. Here’s a quick recap:
- Worship will still be streamed online
- Come early for in-person worship – must set up and be in seats for a prompt 10am start
- No Restoration Kids ministry or nursery; bring your own activities, busy bags available
- Bring your own mask, notebook, pen, and a phone if you’d like to access the digital worship folder
- Social distancing and masks required by state mandates
- No coffee or bagel service for the time being
Immerse: Beginnings at Restoration
These days more than ever we need a hopeful story of God taking care of His people. It feels like divine planning then that our goal has us slotted to read Immerse: Beginnings. Starting September 28, we will be reading Immerse: Beginnings; finishing the entire Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) in 8 weeks. What better way to combat fear and uncertainty than reading the promises of God? For those 8 weeks, Pastor Rob will preach about the week’s reading and small groups will discuss what they have read in a format similar to that of a book club, and the students will be studying the same material. Thanks to an anonymous donor, we can provide one free Immerse: Beginnings book per family, with additional copies available for $5 per book. Join us as we find hope and comfort in the beginning of God’s story. To find out more or to join a small group, contact danielmorgenstern@restorationcov.org.
How you can participate – Weekly sermons, join a small group, follow the Reading Plan, read the Family Discussion Guide with your family, watch the weekly videos or listen to the audiobook free HERE.
How you can get a book (or Family Guide) – In-person service on 9/27, pick up from the Ministry Center during the week, call or email the office for delivery, or buy the e-book.
Online Giving
There’s no time like the present to set up online giving. Because our regularly scheduled worship service will be online for the next few weeks, online tithing is a way to remain faithful in your giving even in the most uncertain of times. Decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. We encourage you to consider giving online so that your giving is regular and easy to manage – it’s easy to sign up HERE.
Pray or Receive Prayer
Now more than ever, people are turning toward prayer or are in desperate need of prayer. We have an amazingly gifted prayer team you can depend on for prayer. They’re always looking for other prayer warriors if you want to join or if you need prayer for any situation, you can contact them. 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
We’re very excited to launch a new season of small groups soon. If you’re looking for a deeper connection with others, we highly encourage you to plug in to one of the small groups below. Most of these groups will be studying Immerse and starting late September, and there are options for both in-person and online groups. If you’re interested in joining one of these groups or would like to better understand which group is the best fit for you or your family, please contact Daniel or the leader directly.
- Family Group Farmington (In Person) Sunday Evenings at the Carlsons’ Home Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Greg and Stephanie Carlson
- Family Group Lakeville (In Person) Sunday after service at the Zaffkes’ Home Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Amy and Garrett Zaffke
- Women’s Group (In Person) Sunday Evenings at the Ministry Center Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Ellie Holmquist
- Adultish(In Person) Thursdays 6:30pm at Daniel’s Home Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Catherine Braaten and Daniel Morgenstern
- Prayer Group (Online Option) Tuesdays at 7pm at the Ministry Center and on Zoom Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Michael Nybakken and Mary Beshara
- Men of the Wilderness (Online Option) Fridays at 6pm at the Sorensens’ home and on Facebook Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Michael Sorensen
- Second Stage Group (Online) Time TBD, On Zoom Led by Patte Klatt and Christa Young
- Online Group (Online) Sunday at 7:30pm on Zoom Studying Immerse: Beginnings Led by Matthew and Amanda Goerdt
- Men’s Group (Online) Saturdays at 7am on Zoom Led by Chad White
You are invited to Family Game Night!
We want to stay connected and have fun through these times, so every Monday from 7:30-8:30pm we will be gathering through Zoom to play some fun party games together! No installation or purchase required. Anyone age 12+ can join the game via computer, phone, or any other device that can browse the internet. If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Matthew at: matthewgoerdt@restorationcov.org
Sunday Coffee Time
Are you missing after service chats by the coffee cart? Join us after the message Sunday on a zoom call for our virtual coffee meeting; we’ll bring the company you bring the coffee. We will break up into groups of 3-4 callers to give you a chance to chat and check in on folks you might not have connected with otherwise. Use this link to join. A link will also be posted in the chat at the end of the service on Sunday.
This fall as we begin regathering as a church, we will be waiting a few weeks before adding nursery and Kids Ministry classes. During this time, families will worship together during intergenerational worship services. We will have busy bags with activities available for kids to take, use during worship services and then take home and bring back with them on following Sundays. Stay tuned for information on fall events for families coming soon!
Bible Presentations – September 27
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 27, 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.
Restoration Kids’ Lessons
We believe that every moment with your kids matters and that as parents, we have the opportunity to impress Biblical truth in a kid’s life, especially during these unprecedented circumstances.
Follow this link and click “watch at home” to access each week’s video lesson that your kids can complete on their own or with you.
Student Gathering
Friends, games, small group discussions, and of course, the one-of-a-kind Daniel’s Video Library of Excellence are all happening every Wednesday from 6:30-8pm, at the Ministry Center (new location: 14201 Cedar Ave)! Bring a friend to join in the fun, we have plenty of space to welcome them. Hand sanitizer will be provided and masks are required while inside. Please reach out to Daniel Morgenstern by email or call him at 952-686-8408 with any questions or concerns. See you soon!
Students Immerse Experience
God’s Story isn’t just for adults! Restoration Students Ministry is excited to launch into Immerse Beginnings. Starting October 7, Student Gathering will draw the teaching and small group discussion from the previous week’s Immerse reading. This way, students will be getting a taste of what the rest of the Church is reading through.
We also ask that parents encourage their students to take part in the Immerse reading as well. If the amount of reading is intimidating, please consider the Family Guides which breaks up the reading into shorter devotionals. You can pick up the Family Guide along with your Immerse: Beginnings book or download one yourself HERE. You could go through the devotional as a family or students could read through them on their own. Whatever method you choose, please encourage your student to join in. We have the opportunity to have the entire church reading through the same passages together! It won’t be the same without them! So, please invite them in, they can’t say “yes” if you never ask.
View past News & Notes by clicking HERE.
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