April 16, 2020

Senior year comes with many expectations and anticipations. This has been my year of lasts… my last first day of school, my last football game, my last holiday concert. Sadly, because of the coronavirus pandemic I will not have the opportunity to celebrate my last family vacation living at home, my last choir concert, my senior prom, and possibly even my graduation. Instead I am now being forced to consider how to make these “lasts” of high school somehow special in a different way.

I have mixed emotions on celebrating these things in a different manner. If we celebrate on a different date or in a different way, it is just a reminder of how things did not pan out the way they were supposed to. It will remind me of the significant loss. I realize these losses that I am facing are minuscule compared to the loss that many, many others are facing during these times: loss of jobs, loss of business, loss of life. While I am sad to be missing out on significant times in my life, I am reminded every day of many things to be thankful for.

I am so thankful that my friends and family continue to be healthy through this pandemic. Social media such as FaceTime, Zoom, text messaging, Instagram, etc. has been a great way to stay connected with each other during this time. While I wish I could connect with my friends and family in person, I feel that many of my relationships have grown stronger during this crisis. I wish I could connect with my church, the kids I teach in Sunday school and their families and hear all about what is happening in their lives and share my life with them as well.

As I look forward, there are many unknowns in the future. Life will be different for all of us. I have no idea if the summer jobs I have lined up will actually be able to occur. I wonder if I will get to go off to college for the first time or if I will get to live with my parents for another year. We have no idea of what the future holds, but we know that God is constant and is always with us…and for that I am thankful.

Lauren

*NEW*
Photo Contest
We can all agree that church has looked very different over the last few weeks. One of the ways we can keep connected is through pictures. We’d love to see pictures of you participating in church online, spreading kindness to your neighbors, praying, zoom chatting with your small group, or what it looks like when you worship with your family at home. All entries will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Target gift card. We’d like to use these pictures on Facebook, our website, and in our weekly newsletters so please know that submitting these images provides us with permission to do so. Please send images to info@restorationcov.org. We’ll draw for the gift card on Friday, May 1.

New Beginnings Message Series
Did you know the Easter story is a new creation story? Jesus died and was buried on a Friday, like a seed placed in the Earth by God, that sprung forth on Sunday. Jesus’ resurrection inaugurates the new creation. The Church first referred to Sunday as the eighth day. Creation was completed in six days, God rested on the seventh day, but at the resurrection God started a new beginning. God didn’t just raise Jesus from the dead; the resurrection of Jesus began an era where God is making all things new.

Small Groups Meeting Online via Zoom
In these unprecedented times, it’s more important than ever to have face time with friends and family – even if it’s virtual. We recognize the huge value in this opportunity to stay connected and some of our small groups have formed online zoom chats to stay connected:

Women’s Group – Every other Monday at 7pm – led by Erin Garcia
Men’s Group – Every Saturday morning at 7am – led by Chad White
Prayer Group – Every Tuesday 7-9pm – led by Mary Beshara and Michael Nybakken

These groups are all easy to join. Please reach out to DanielMorgenstern@restorationcov.org to get connected to these zoom chats or to find the group that fits best.

*NEW*
Adultish? Group Meeting
Is being an adult still something you do instead of something you are? Does your phone have notes for your taxes saved next to the dankest of memes. Then we have a group for you! Adultish? A group for people somewhere between comic books and National Geographic. We know there are a lot of you stuck at home with a lot less to do so why not hang out with us. Join us *TOMORROW* 7:00 PM, April 17, on ZOOM to play some party games on Jackbox! Text Daniel at 952-686-8408 for any questions or issues connecting.

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. A link will be posted in the Facebook chat at the end of the service on Sunday.

Care during COVID-19
We’ve been in contact with people from Restoration and people from our neighborhood school, Westview Elementary, to find out how we can best help families during this unusual time of need. In lieu of our usual Food on the First food collections for April and May, we will be collecting gift cards throughout the next two months to provide to families in need. If you are willing and able to partner with us, please send grocery gift cards from Target, Cub, Aldi, or Walmart to Michele Jacobson, 14230 Audobon Way, Rosemount, MN 55068. Michele will coordinate getting the gift cards to these families. If you are a family in need, or know of a family in need, please call, text or email the church 952-373-1274 or info@restorationcov.org and we will do what can to assist.

Update from Michele: The Westview families in need of assistance have been very thankful for the extra help during this time. We put together a basket and bag of grocery items for them, along with the gift cards people sent, and delivered them last Friday. We have more gift cards to deliver this week. I am so proud to be a part of this generous church!

Calling all Writers
The world is changing by the minute. Conversation and connection in this strange time of uncertainty is paramount. Have you experienced new thoughts and emotions stirred up by isolation or having your kids home 24/7? Are your kids experiencing fears or frustrations they want to talk about? We want to hear it if you’re willing to share with us! We’re always looking for writers of all ages and stages to contribute to our News and Notes articles. You don’t have to be an amazing writer, you just need to have something to say or share. Has something you’ve heard or experienced sparked or inspired you? We’d love to hear about it or hear a piece of your story. We also have people to help edit if you have something to share, but aren’t sure how to say it. Contact KerryStok@restorationcov.org if you’re interested or have more questions.

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

RESTORATION KIDS

Contact: ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org

Hello families,

I am sure most of you have heard me say before (probably many times) that at Restoration we believe strongly in empowering parents to be the spiritual leaders of their child’s faith. You have so much more time and influence in your child’s life than we ever could. That is especially true now. As parents, you are now not only the most important influence but likely one of the only daily influences our kids have to hear about God’s word and see what that means for our lives. It is also still true that Restoration Kids is here to support you. We are working to make sure you have access to the Bible lesson content your kids would have gotten on Sunday mornings as well as discussion prompts and activities to help engage your child around these topics. We are also working on some creative ideas to help keep the sense of community and fun as the weeks at home continue. Make sure to follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss anything!

As always, if you have any questions or need anything at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org. I am praying for your families and want to know how you are doing over the next few weeks!

Restoration Kids Weekly Challenge
Have you been keeping up with the weekly Facebook challenges? These easy challenges are something fun for kids to do and a way to connect with other Restoration families. We have loved seeing what everyone comes up with. Plus there are prizes!
This week’s challenge is to bake something and post a picture on our Facebook post. This week’s winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

What We’re Learning in April

Preschoolers

Everywhere we look in spring we see green starting to push through the soil and trees heavy with buds getting ready to bloom. Everything just feels so ALIVE! It’s the perfect picture to help teach preschoolers that Jesus is alive! We are sharing with preschoolers the life changing truth that Jesus is alive and He wants to be their friend forever. We are planting seeds that we pray will grow and bloom into a faith that is as alive as Jesus. A love that will love like Jesus. A compassion that will care like Jesus. A life that will give like Jesus.

Elementary

We live in a me-centered world, where people act as if the world revolves around them. Figuring out how to be humble can be difficult. But we don’t have to figure this out on our own. When Jesus was on earth, He gave us the ultimate example of humility. Jesus is God, and He put that aside for us. Through His life and death, He also showed us how to serve others and put them first.

RESTORATION STUDENTS

Contact: DanielMorgenstern@restorationcov.org

Restoration Students Update
We don’t have to tell you that there is a lot of uncertainty in these times. A lot of things we assumed were immovable aren’t and a lot of things we thought would never have to change are. We, the Restoration Student Leaders, first want to emphasize that, though we don’t fully understand, we feel the loss and unease of our students. We too have lost or seen things shift that we depended upon. It is frustrating and disappointing to feel so out of control and we mourn for our students that have to go through this very adult thing so early.

What we can control is our ministry and our spiritual orientation. The Restoration Student Leaders are committed to take every opportunity to keep on keeping on when it comes to Restoration Student Ministry. That means that student gatherings on Wednesday nights have changed but haven’t ended. Invitation days are still happening. That means that we still affirm and act on what God has said about us and our responsibilities. Restoration Student Ministry will remain a stable part of our life and we encourage and pray that wherever you and your students are you find things that you can make stable. Remember the word in Hebrews 13: God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.