November 29, 2024
Dear Radiant,
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
We had a scrumptious feast at our place. Of course, the feast didn’t just happen, Jill and others (I played a largely inconsequential part) collaborated to prepare a great time.
My hunch is that if you were blessed to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast it was due to thoughtful, intentional preparation: either yours or someone else’s.
Preparation isn’t everything — but it nearly is. One’s success or failure in any realm of life are largely due to preparation or the lack thereof.
The concert pianist is well practiced and prepared. Their impeccable, seemingly effortless performance is the result of years, decades of preparation and practice.
The would-be lawyer passed the bar-exam because they paid attention in law school and devoted themselves to study.
The turkey tasted good this year because someone took the time to brine it.
In this vein, I am intrigued by the ministry of John the Baptist — the one who says, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” It seems the preparation principle holds true spiritually as well.
So what does it mean for us to hear and respond to John’s words this year that we might meet the LORD in a deeper way?
That’s what we’ll be after this advent — the four weeks leading up to Christmas — PREPARATION, so that what we sing in “Joy to the World” would hold true in our lives: “Let every heart prepare Him room.”
Join us this Sunday at 10am and 5pm. (BTW – This will be our last 5pm service. See details below)
EVENTS CALENDAR
Ongoing — REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FRONTIER RANCH CAMPGROUNDS – See special link below
12/1 – Child Dedication Service at 10AM Service
12/1 – Last 5PM Service at ELC!
12/3 – Rad YTH Night 6:30-8:30PM
12/8 – Radiant’s Third Anniversary Celebration Worship and Brunch: 10AM at MJC followed by brunch at ELC.
12/10 – Rad YTH Christmas Party 6:30-8:30
12/13 – Rad YTH Youth Outreach with Redeemer Youth and World Relief
12/24 – Christmas Eve Service at ELC 2PM
ADVENT DEVOTION AND GENEROSITY
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent (the four weeks before Christmas). As in years past, we will hold a special offerings during this season to bear witness to the love of Jesus locally and around the world.
LOCAL FOCUS:
Supply drive for newly re-settled refugee families with World Relief. You can find a list of needed items here. Bring supplies to a Sunday Gathering.
GLOBAL:
Give clean water to a community in Mozambique in partnership with the Mozambique Covenant Church. We’ve partnered with Mozambique Covenant Church before are excited to continue this partnership. Here’s a description of the need:
With a presence in over 540 communities, Life for Mozambique is committed to bringing
clean water to needy and thirsty people. Our goal is to bring a clean water well to
every Life for Mozambique community. A water well will mean: More time for kids in school, less time for women collecting water, more time for earning an income, and better health. Clean water is basic, it’s foundational. It’s something we envision flowing in each and every one of our communities.
Some other facts: 53% of Mozambicans don’t have access to clean water. 6th worst ranked country for clean water access. 3 hrs per day spent collecting water.
Here’s the giving link for giving clean water (select “wells for Mozambique” from the drop down menu).
RADIANT THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY 12/8 at 10AM SERVICE
Can you believe it’s been three years! We are going to give God thanks for his three years of work in this church plant and ask for him to do even greater things than these. We want to spread the invites wide and involved everyone who has been involved in any way in our story. We will celebrate at the 10AM service and then walk over to ELC for a potluck brunch.
MEN’S GATHERING – THIS WEDNESDAY – 6-7AM
6am, this Wednesday guys! At the ELC fellowship hall.
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 link to online giving.
Grace and Peace!
Zach
zach@radcov.org
209-497-3710
www.radcov.org
