COVID-19 UPDATE // 6.12.2021
On May 14, 2021, Gov. Walz signed an executive order lifting Minnesota’s statewide mask mandate. This week (June 7), School District 196 also changed their practices and protocols to reflect less regulations and requirements and more personal/family choice and responsibility. Restoration Covenant Church will align with these practices and not require wearing masks/face coverings, whether indoor or outdoor.
Both the Center for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommend that anyone who is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to wear face coverings indoors in businesses, public settings, and when around people from other households, as well as outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained.
MDH also recommends proper hand washing and staying home when sick. Can I add proper ‘heart’ washing to that list? The pandemic has wreaked havoc on our trust in one another and how we see and interact with each other. We have too quickly pointed out the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye without first removing the large plank of wood in our own eyes. We need to ask the Lord to purify our hearts and fill us with love, trust and respect for others. Beloved friends on this mission, this is the time to reclaim Jesus’ mission to us, in us and through us.
Our prayer and desire is that Restoration can have diversity in our unity and unity in our diversity. Please continue to respond with grace, compassion and respect for each other, even on points where we disagree.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year ends June 30 – Your gift matters!
Restoration members and friends, our fiscal year ends June 30 and we want to end strong and fully fund our ministry and mission. Thank you to our consistent electronic givers. If you have fallen out of the habit of giving during these disrupted times, would you prayerfully consider making a gift before June 30? And remember, every gift matters. You may not think it is large in the world’s eyes, but it will make a difference. If every physical and digital member and attender gave an additional $325, we could match our adjusted budget for the year. That is less than a dollar a day!
To give now, go to https://restorationcov.org/giving, or text a dollar amount to 84321. Look for our financial update at our Vision Meeting on 6/27/21 during our worship service.
|
|
|
Three members of the Leadership Team, Matt Allinder, Brian LaLuzerne, and Lezlie Steiner have completed their term and will be stepping off the team. We have also accepted Allison Erickson’s resignation (with sadness but full support!), as she needs to devote her time to her family (especially newborn Emma!). Please express your gratitude to Matt, Brian, Lezlie and Allison for their servant leadership at Restoration. We greatly appreciate you for sharing your valuable time, talents, and energy with the team and with Restoration!
With joy and gratitude, the Nominating Committee and the Leadership Team would like to present three candidates to join the Leadership Team this summer. You can read about the candidates here: Greg Carlson, Chris Davis and Colin Fleming. Members of Restoration will have an opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” to these candidates during our vision meeting on Sunday, June 27. Voting for Leadership Team nominees and the budget will take place in person. If you are a member of Restoration and would like to vote, but are not planning to attend in-person service, volunteers will be posted outside for half an hour after the service is over to accommodate contactless, drive-by ballot casting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events at Restoration
- Sunday, June 20 | In-Person + Online Sunday
- Tuesday, June 22 at 7pm | Come & See Prayer at the Ministry Center
- Sunday, June 27 | Vision Meeting + 10 Year Birthday Celebration
- Sunday, June 27 | Family Picnic at Farquar Park 12:30pm
|
|
|
|
FAMILY PICNIC
Parents, have you been missing regular community with other families at Restoration? Join us for a fun afternoon of encouragement and connection on Sunday, June 27 at 12:30. Grab a lunch and meet us at Farquar Park at 13266 Pilot Knob in Apple Valley. We will bring the dessert! After eating, we will let the kids play and catch up with their friends while parents connect and share about struggles and successes of the last year. Parents with kids of all ages are welcome to attend. Contact Chrystine at Chrystine@restorationcov.org with any questions.
|
|
|
|
BAPTISM + CHILD DEDICATION
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.
|
|
|
ADOPT A FAMILY
Remember what life was like in December? Doesn’t that seem like forever ago now? It’s been a hard time, but it has also been a time where the Restoration Church community has cared for one another in some really beautiful ways. One of them has been the “Adopt a Family” initiative. Starting last December, 35 individuals without children living at home agreed to pray for one family with school-age kids at Restoration. Through this volunteer effort, 31 Restoration families received prayer support from last December until the end of the school year. THANK YOU to all who participated, and for each of your prayers- spoken and unspoken. God has heard them all, and you have made an impact on our families and on our church as a whole. Keep on praying church!
ONLINE GIVING
There’s no time like the present to set up online giving. Online tithing is a way to remain faithful in your giving whether you choose to worship with us in-person or online. 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. You can also Text to Give by texting any dollar amount to 84321.
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
|
|
|
|
|
What We Are Learning in June
In June, we will be talking about confidence. When it comes to confidence, we might try and base it on what we do well or what a teacher or parent might say about us. However, true confidence should be built on something that lasts forever. We think that’s found in understanding how God sees us. God created us, and God loves us. Nowhere is this more evident than in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And, when you put your confidence in Jesus, you can truly see yourself how God sees you.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13, NIV
|
|
|
|
VBS IS BACK!
This summer, kids will don their hard hats and head out to the construction site to discover that skyscrapers aren’t the only things that need a rock solid foundation. We will start with a kick-off event on Wednesday, July 21 from 6-8pm. It will be held outdoors at Revival Baptist Church (former Apple Valley Baptist location) at 964 Garden Valley Dr. in Apple Valley. VBS will then run every Wednesday night in August from 6-8pm for kids entering Kindergarten through fifth grade. We will have the songs, crafts and games that kids love about VBS, all outdoors.
Registration is LIVE! The first 30 kids to register will receive a bag with a CD, t-shirt iron-on and other themed gifts! Contact ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org with any of your questions about this event or to find out how you can help make VBS a success this year.
|
|
RESTORATION KIDS SUMMER SCHEDULE
During June and July, Restoration Kids will continue to have in-person small group classes for preschool through fifth grade during the Sunday morning worship service on the first, third and fifth Sundays. The exception to this will be July 4, which will be a virtual Sunday for the entire church. Beginning June 20, elementary classes will be meeting outdoors. Virtual small group for grades K-5 will continue on the second and fourth Sundays at 9:30 am via Zoom. Nursery will be open for infants and toddlers on the first and third Sundays. On weeks where no nursery is provided, we will have toys set up behind the fireplace in the lobby where parents can bring children if they need to get their wiggles out during service. Busy bags will also be available for older kids on these Sundays.
Online Virtual Classes for grades K-5: June 27, July 11 & 25
In-Person Nursery and Kids’ Classes: June 20, July 18
Virtual Class link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85932448179
RESTORATION KIDS ONLINE CONTENT FOR FAMILIES
We believe that every moment with your kids matters and that as parents, you have the biggest influence on your child’s spiritual development. We have some tools to help you!
We have linked the Bible Story content for this week here. You will need to enter the password restorationkids to access content. We have included a Parent Guide to help you guide conversation that reinforces what your kids are learning in the Bible Story Video. What a great opportunity to help grow your child’s faith!
|
|
|
|
|
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on current Restoration happenings.
|
|
|
|
|
