What is the type of worship that God desires?

Psalm 51:17 NLT
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

John 4:23 NLT
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Hebrews 13:15 NLT
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.


Sometimes worship is receiving what God has done for us more fully, receiving the gift.
Sometimes worship is expressing our thanks to God.
Sometimes worship is opening ourselves more fully to the ways in which God wants to transform and change us.

Trust is worship.
Gratitude is worship.
Surrender is worship.
Praise is worship.
Loving ourselves as we are is worship.
Loving our neighbor is worship.
Loving God is worship.
A good, honest cry can be worship.

Sometimes worship is laying down something or someone we love and trusting God to give us something even better.


Music helps us engage with God. It has a unique way of engaging both our minds AND our hearts. It helps us remember and declare the truth of who God is. Singing together is a unifying way to come together as the people of One God and lift His Holy name. Music also is powerful, healing, restorative, fun, meaningful. Music is a gift from God. Yet, sometimes we can take gifts for granted when they become too familiar. Sometimes it is good to step away from something for a time in order to truly appreciate its value.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why God is asking us to worship in a new way for a few weeks. Maybe He has something to say to us in a different way. I’m not exactly sure what these next few weeks will look like as we come together to worship the Lord, both in person and online, but I have a building anticipation that it is going to be good. I would like to invite you to “Come and See” Worship in a new way for the remaining three weeks in June. We will not be utilizing a traditional worship band for these weeks. Come ready. Come open. Come expectant. Come and See!

On Sunday we honored our High School Graduate, Vendella Baumann. If you missed the moment, you can watch the recap on YouTube to hear Daniel give an explanation of why we do a Senior Blessing and hear from Greg and Stef Carlson as they encourage and bless Vendella. 
Restoration is TEN YEARS OLD and we will be celebrating on June 27. We will look back at where God has brought us and look ahead to where he is leading us.

We will share stories, pictures and prayers, and we need your help! 
  • Do you have a story where God used someone or something at Restoration to move, change or grow you? Tell us about it!
  • Do you have a picture that encapsulates one of our values or is especially meaningful to you? Share it with us!
We are looking for contributions from across the ten years: stories of impact and life change, stories of victories and celebrations, stories where God became very real, stories of something you found at Restoration. You can choose to write something and send it in or record a video. 

We would love to see a variety of faces and God-sightings to celebrate meaningful moments and share ‘happy birthday’ greetings. If you have ideas, contributions or questions, reach out to Lezlie Steiner or Paula Herko. We would like to finish compiling these by June 9.
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.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events at Restoration
  • Sunday, June 13 | In-Person + Online Sunday
  • Tuesday, June 15 at 7pm | Come & See Prayer at the Ministry Center
  • Wednesday, June 19 9:30-11:30am | Pray + Play
  • Sunday, June 27 | Vision Meeting + 10 Year Birthday Celebration

Restoration Connections is an additional way to know one another. Connections is a place to share testimonies, deaths, births, medical issues, milestones, really, any cause for joy or sorrow that we can invite each other to celebrate and to pray about. Restoration Connections will be emailed twice per month. This will not be posted on the RCC website; it is an internal communication for those who desire to know and be known by others who consider Restoration their church family.  

To sign up to receive Restoration Connections, or to share something that is happening in your life, click the links below or send an email to: connections@restorationcov.org. 

***Please note that we will not share information on behalf of someone else unless direct permission is given. We encourage you to tell your own stories in your own words. If permission is given, we will include the subject’s email so people can send a note of support and encouragement. 

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 will open THIS Sunday, June 13. 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.


PLAY + PRAY 
Looking to get out of the house and connect with other parents and kids this summer? We would love to have you join us for Play and Pray! 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. In June, we have one more opportunity on June 199:30am-11:30am at Apple Grove Park (by the fire station at CR42 and Hayes). Contact ChrystineVilhauer@restorationcov.org with any questions.

RESTORATION KIDS SPRING SCHEDULE 
During June, 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. 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 13, 27
In-Person Nursery and Kids’ Classes: June 20
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!

Mission Trip

Restoration Students are going on a Mission Trip!
We are going to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help with the hurricane recovery. Lake Charles has a great need! In the midst of the pandemic they were hit by 2 hurricanes, a winter storm and now this week, they were impacted by mass flooding in homes all across the area. 100% of the homes in Lake Charles were damaged so we are going to repair homes but more importantly show the love of Jesus. Check out this video for more perspective. 

Not everyone can go but everyone can help. We would love for you to partner with the team through prayer and finances. Please be praying that the team will be able to perfectly illustrate Jesus’s love for the people of Lake Charles and pray against any obstacles that would hinder that mission. If you are willing to give, you can go to https://restorationcov.churchcenter.com/giving and select 2021 Lake Charles Mission Trip on the drop down to help fund the entire team on mission. You can reach out to Daniel at danielmorgenstern@restorationcov.org with any questions or if you want to try and help out in another way.

View past News & Notes by clicking HERE.