Dear Radiant,
Those moments seem to find us all: when our great expectations get gashed and the floor falls out from the seeming steady stability of life.
When the narrative takes a dark turn.
I felt this way on a rainy day in Portland, OR 15 years ago. Promised a job that never materialized, heavily educated full of debt, feeling a utter failure for my wife and young daughter, wondering if it would ever get better.
I remember a walk in the dark of evening, letting the Northwest rain soak me through because it felt good for my external world to match my internal on.
“God, where are you? This isn’t wasn’t how the story was supposed to go!”
I was listening to a lot of Elliot Smith.
Yet…looking back….remembering again….piecing the story together something else emerges. Something like Ezekiel spoke about.
The prophet Ezekiel has devastating news for God’s people: God’s glory was leaving the temple.
God’s presence was moving east of all places.
How? Why? What disorienting news and tragic. When they needed God the most, he skips town?
But Ezekiel dares speak a deeper purpose: God is after something much more significant than temple habitation. God is after our hearts.
The glory of God departs the familiar that He might shine brighter into hearts that have become hard and cold and unfamiliar.
He takes hearts of stone and turns them to flesh.
Will we, in the pain and confusion and exile, allow our hearts to be his again, to be tenderized in a whole new way?
(We’re keep it light and sunny at Radiant!)
See you this Sunday at 10am.
Grace and peace,
Zach
Radiant Events Calendar
4/25 – Radiant Adoption into the PSWC
4/25 – Love Modesto Service Day
4/29 – Women’s gathering 6-7am at ELC
4/29 – Newcomer’s Pizza at Zach and Jill’s 6:30PM
5/2 – Women’s Tea
5/3 – Youth Paintball Day
5/10 – Baptism Service
6/8 – Emotionally Healthy Relationships Course begins
Love Modesto – April 25
Love Mo! Radiant is a sponsor of Love Modesto and encourages all to sign up to serve and demonstrate the love of Christ in a tangible way in this city wide service day! Sign up here
Newcomer Pizza – April 29
If you are newer or newish to Radiant and would like to learn more about our story, what we believe and how to get involved — Jill and Zach would love to have you over for some pizza. Not only are we excited to share about the church — but we are most excited to get to know you too. Kids welcome!
Join us from 6:30pm – 8pm on Wednesday April 29. Sign up here to let us know who’s coming and so we can get enough pizza.
Women’s Tea – May 2
You’re invited to the Radiant Women’s Tea…Come and enjoy light brunch fare, delicious tea (iced or hot), and conversations. Fill your cup with renewal. (There’s also a rumors of a DYI bouquet bar).
Saturday, May 2nd, 10AM-12PM, Emanuel Lutheran Church – 324 College Ave. Modesto, CA 95350
RadCov Kids
We are excited about the gift of children in our midst! If you are interested in getting involved with kid’s ministry, contact our Children’s director, Crystal Nicholson – 408.802.7061
Community Notes
RADIANT ADOPTION INTO THE COVENANT – This is an exciting moment for the church — Radiant is being adopted into the Evangelical Covenant Church. It begins by Radiant being adopted into the Pacific Southwest Conference on Saturday the 25th of April at the Conference annual meeting in Davis, CA. We will meet up for a carpool at ELC on Saturday at 8am and head to Davis. We should be back around 2pm. Let Zach know if interested in joining 209.497.3710
SHARING TABLE – One fun way we practice the gospel sharing and generosity is through our simple “sharing table.” We place a folding table where people can place items that they would like to give away to others (not junk!). These items could be clothes, fresh garden vegetables, toys, books, etc. It’s free – take them if you want it, no questions asked or obligations. If your sharing items are not taken that week – please be sure to take them back with you as we will not be storing items.
BAND APP – One way to connect to the Radiant community 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!
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:7-8
