November 24, 2023
Dear Radiant,
I hope your Thanksgiving Day was full of gratitude and delight. It was a top 5 meal at the Riley house this year! A little ginger in the green bean casserole — wow!
This Sunday we will close out our Simple Way series on Jesus’ sermon on the mount. As I have worked on this series, I’ve found it to be a helpful re-centering in the world changing reality of God’s kingdom at hand.
We’ll end with a meditation on Jesus’ admonition to take first, the plank from our own eyes, before helping another with the speck in theirs.
How much easier to point out the faults of others than take a good hard look at my faults and my own moral duplicity! But Jesus invites us to let go of the silly game of being a judge of others (at least in typical way that we go about it) and instead to consider our own need for transformation.
As Thomas A’Kempis wrote 600 years ago , echoing Jesus:
“He that well and rightly considereth his own works will find little cause to judge hardly of another.”
Of course, this raises all sorts of questions about how to engage with others when they cross our wills or say something out of place or judge us!There is a way. Again it is simple. We’ll dig into this and more this Sunday at 5PM!
EVENTS CALENDAR (see below for details)
11/29 – Guys Gathering – 6-7AM at ELC
11/26 – 12/24 – Refugee Supply Drive with World Relief
11/27-11/29 – Early Registration for Frontier Ranch Summer Camp
12/3 – 1st Sunday in Advent – hot drinks, treats, and kids crafts following the service
12/7 – Rad Youth Christmas Pajama Party 6:30 – 8:30 at ELC
12/8 – Rad Youth Refugee Outreach
12/10 – 2nd Sunday in Advent – hot drinks, treats, and kids crafts following the service
12/17 – 3rd Sunday in Advent – hot drinks, treats, and kids crafts following the service
12/24 – 4th Sunday in Advent/ Christmas Eve Service – 2PM
ADVENT 2023!
Advent begins 12/3 – we have a couple special things going on to mark the Advent season at Radiant:
POST WORSHIP HANG!
We are creating some hospitality space for the Radiant community and visitors after each Advent service. We’ll have hot drinks, treats, and a kids craft station immediately following our advent services. Stick around and get to know some folks.
FREE ADVENT DEVOTIONALS AVAILABLE THIS SUNDAYWe will have free advent devotionals that line up with our Advent sermon series starting this Sunday. These are provided from Water from Rock ministries and are a great way to open our hearts to Jesus in this season.
ADVENT REFUGEE DONATIONS
As announced this past Sunday, Radiant is partnering with World Relief Modesto to bless newly resettled refugees. Here are some furnishings and supplies that are currently needed:
– Couches
– Coffee Tables
– Towels
– Blankets
– Hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush/toothpaste, diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene items, soap/body wash, ect.)
– Cleaning Supplies
– Walmart/Amazon Gift Cards
We will be collecting these donations on Sunday evenings starting Nov. 26 through Christmas Eve from 4:30-7PM. The drop-off location will be in the foyer of the sanctuary at Emanuel Lutheran Church – 324 College Ave. If you need some help with larger donations or have any general questions — reach out to Zach 209.497.3710.
PRAYER WALK
We will be hosting prayer walks on the first and third Thursdays of the month during youth group at 6:30PM. This is a time to pray for the community and surrounding neighborhoods and local businesses and schools. Please attend if you are able. We will meet at the Radiant Parking lot and walk the Virginia Corridor. RSVP on the Band App.
THE ALPHA COURSE – TUESDAYS 6-8PM
What is Alpha? Alpha is a series of conversations about things we all question in life: Why do bad things happen to good people? What’s the purpose of life? What’s next? It’s for those exploring Jesus, for those who are skeptical, for those who want to be refreshed. It is an 10 week course, but you are welcome to come to the first gathering to check it out, no commitment required. This is a great community to invite friends who are exploring faith — all questions welcomed If you’re looking for a judgment-free space to ask hard questions, share your own opinion, or even just observe, there’s a place for you. Sign up here.
HOME CHURCHES
Radiant Home Churches are communities of discipleship in the way of Jesus and are foundational to our life as a church. If you are not currently in a home church, or would like to try a new Home Church, please fill out this interest form, and we’ll follow up with you as the groups take shape. You can also directly reach out to the leaders listed below and they will get you connected. 
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 opportunities.
GIVING
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Radiant’s ministry. Here’s the online link for giving, tithes, and offerings.
Grace and Peace,
Zach
