February 14, 2025
Hey Radiant,
Happy Valentines Day!
I came across this prayer post from the ever poignant Pete Greig I thought I’d share with you today:
“Tricky day #Valentines. Obviously, if you’re all loved-up – enjoy. Have fun! But if you’ve been secretly dreading it, well, here’s a little prayer from today’s #lectio365 …
A VALENTINE PRAYER
I pray today for those in love, those out of love, and those in between.
I remember especially those who find themselves a little bit lonelier than normal.
Lord, I do not pray today for loved-up couples, exchanging overpriced flowers and foil-wrapped hearts, leaking pheromones like diesel fumes at candlelit dinners. I’m pretty sure they will be OK (for now).
Instead, I hereby dedicate this happy-crappy day to anyone caring for a loved-one with a chronic illness of body, mind or soul. Lord let them be a little bit more okay because I prayed.
Flame of Love, melt our tiny, tinny chocolate hearts. Wherever marriages have grown cold, calloused with conflict or mired in the mundane, would you please rekindle the fires of a half-decent romance?
Attend to the elderly gentleman gazing at a fading sepia photograph in a silver frame of a wedding in another time. Look at him and look with him and be with him in the remembering and the unremembering too.
And, on this day named after one of your unmarried saints, would you please bring a little unexpected joy to anyone wistfully buying daffodils instead of overpriced red roses.
God of all comfort, strengthen single parents on this difficult day. Let their kids be kind, let their teens tidy their bedrooms, and if that’s a miracle too far (I realise you’ve got a lot on in the world right now), could they at least be less grumpy and initiate a hug at bedtime?
And so, may the arms of love, flung wide on the cross, embrace the unlovely and unloving parts of my world, my work, and my life today. Forgive me, I pray, for this cheap, hysterical, isolating thing I have sometimes made of love, of life, and of You.
Amen.”
Amen, Pete.
Join us this Sunday for part two of our series, “Everyone Gets to Play” as Ulisses Vasquez breaks down 1 Corinthians 12 for us. See you at 10AM!
EVENTS CALENDAR
2/19 – Women’s Gathering 6-7AM at ELC
2/20 – Radiant Youth Collab Event
3/9 – Second Sunday Brunch at ELC
4/12 – Women’s Tea
4/20 – Easter Sunday
5/2-4 – Men’s Conference at Mission Springs (registration now open)
NEW? GETTING PLUGGED IN…
HOME CHURCH – Is where the really good stuff happens as we grow as disciples of Jesus. You can fill out the form here if interested.
WOMEN’S GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAYWomen! You are up! This Wednesday from 6-7AM at ELC’s fellowship hall for a time of community and prayer.
RADIANT YOUTH COLLAB NIGHT!
Thurs/ Game Night & Pasta. Radiant Youth Group Collab with City Life @ Center Church 6:00pm-8:00pm. Contact our youth director, Ulisses Vasquez for more details – (209) 541-8536
WOMEN’S TEA – APRIL 12
Women, mark you calendars for the Women’s Tea for Saturday morning, April 12. More details and sign-ups to follow shortly.
MEN’S CONFERENCE 5/2-5/4 (REGISTRATION OPENS THIS SATURDAY)
Join us for a weekend of impact, challenge, and fun as we worship, fellowship, and grow in our faith journey in beautiful Mission Springs. It is guaranteed to bless your soul. Our hope is that the men at the conference will feel empowered to rise up as husbands, fathers, and men of faith. Despite their feelings, circumstances, or situations, they will seek out God. Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deed.
REGISTER HERE STARTING FEB. 1st.
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
