April 14, 2023
Dear Radiant,
This Sunday we are starting a new teaching series on courage.
Oddly enough, I came to this series idea because of a dream a few weeks ago– it wasn’t on my radar to speak about biblical courage.
But this dream really resonated — as so much of the dysfunction, polarization is coming because people are acting from fear. Fear manifests in that pervasive anxiety. Courage is a desperately needed virtue in these anxious, fearful times.
So we’re going for it.
Andy Crouch wisely observes: “The defining emotional challenge of our time is anxiety, the fear of what might be instead of the courageous pursuit of what could be.”
Like you, I don’t want to be defined by anxiety. I want, with God’s grace, to courageously pursue what could be. I believe courage is what takes us from faith through fear into freedom offered by God.
In this series we’ll observe courage as the “through-line” in the story of Old Testament, noticing how courage in the face of fear was operative in minor and major characters of the story of God.
This Sunday will begin with the courage of Abraham.
So take courage (hope on a bike if able) and join us this Sunday at 5pm!
CALENDAR (see below for details)
ONGOING – Home Churches
4/15 – 45 Degrees Rad (4th-5th graders) Gathering 6:30-8:30PM
4/16 – Bike to Church Sunday
4/19 – Men’s Gathering 6-7 AM
4/20 – Radiant Middle School Gathering 7:00-8:30PM
4/26 – Newcomer Tea – 7-8:30PM
4/29 – Love Modesto Service Day
5/2 – Family Discipleship Workshop with Sarah Cowan Johnson
BIKE TO CHURCH SUNDAY – 4/16
This Sunday we are encouraging folks to enjoy this beautiful weather, hope on your bike and ride to church. You can park your bikes in the gated courtyard! For those you want a shorter distance to bike or walk to church — a group will be meeting at the Virginia Corridor at O’Brien’s supermarket at 4:30PM.
45 DEGREES RAD – HANG this Saturday, 4/15, 6:30-8:30PM
4th and 5th graders at Radiant are hanging together this Saturday night! Pizza, Games, Chosen. We’ll meet at the Rileys (1128 Mills Ave) from 6:30-8:30PM. Contact Gracie Crew with any questions: 209-996-5161
GUYS GATHERING, THIS WEDNESDAY, 4/19
Donuts, Coffee, and Jesus. We meet at ELC from 6-7AM.
RADIANT MIDDLE SCHOOL GATHERING, 4/20
Radiant Middle School (6-8th grades) will gather on April 20, at ELC from 7:00-8:30PM! It will be a sweet and fun time of connecting with God and each other!
NEWCOMER’S TEA – Wednesday, 4/26
*Date Change. Hey, you’ve been hanging out with Radiant a bit (or a lot)! You might be a bit curious about our story, who we are, what we believe as consider making Radiant your church home. We get it, and we’d love to get to know you and your story too. Jill and I are hosting a newcomer’s hang at our house – 1128 Mills Ave – on Wednesday, April 26 from 7-8:30PM. This will be a space to have a cup of tea, ask questions and hear about what it means to journey with Radiant as we continue the adventure of church planting. Let Zach know – zach@radcov.org or 209-497-3710 — if you plan on attending.
LOVE MODESTO 4/29
Love Modesto is coming! We encourage you to plug in on a project that is meaningful to you. As a church, we’d like to highlight two opportunities with local ministries we have partnered with. World Relief is hosting a supply drive for newly arrived refugees. Youth for Christ is doing some training for those interested in volunteers in the Juvenile Detention center.
FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP WORKSHOP – 5/2
Mark your calendars. We are really excited to host a family discipleship workshop led by Sarah Cowan Johnson, author of Teach Your Children Well. Sarah is a Covenant pastor, trainer, and writer from Providence, R.I. This will be an online workshop designed for our Radiant Covenant Community on Tuesday, May 2nd from 5:30-7PM. There is no cost to this event. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/t12UNDnnPPJJB9Qv6
BAND APP
One way to connect at Radiant is to join our BAND APP group. Think of this as a sort of Radiant message board — our own little social media space. People can extend invites, share about needs and resources. Please join us! https://band.us/n/adaa739aX4Rca
GIVING
Here’s the online link for giving, tithes, and offerings. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in ministry.
Grace and peace!
Zach
