February 16, 2023
Dear Radiant,
It’s Lent, he 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. This is the church season that we enter in, not with feasting or gift-giving or celebration, but with remembrance that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.”
Target doesn’t bust out the Lenten decor (is there such a thing?). Lent is a hard sale for many in our culture. It’s not a party.
Instead we fast. Some of us put ashes on our foreheads. We deny self. We remember the suffering of Jesus, the cross, and our sin.
This might rub us the wrong way but Lent IS helpful. We need to be reminded of our need.
Lent is a season heart preparation. Like the fallow late winter ground is tilled to sprout new green life, Lent can be a journey with Jesus toward death to self and new life in Christ.
And a journey to joy. As N.T. Wright writes:
“Following Jesus means denying yourself, saying ‘no’ to the things that you imagine make up your ‘self’, and finding to your astonishment that the ‘self’ you get back is more glorious, more joyful than you could have imagined”
So this Lent we are going to be walking with Jesus in the days before his death on a Roman cross. We’ll slowly explore chapters 14 and 15 of the gospel of Mark, asking what it means for us to find Jesus afresh in this season — not just in his ultimate triumph, but also in his courageous journey to the cross and in the crosses we currently bear.
Friends, He’s there. We’re back at 5PM this Sunday! See you then.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Home Churches are now going! Jump in one!
2/24 – Inner Healing Prayer Workshop 9AM-4PM
3/3 – Newcomer’s Pizza @Zach and Jill’s after church
3/31 – Easter Sunday Service
4/13 – Women’s Tea: Mark Your Calendars!
4/19-21 -Men’s Conference
4/27 – Love Modesto Service Day
HOME CHURCHES ARE GETTING AFTER IT!
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! Groups has just recently started, so it’s an optimal time to jump in. NEW CHILDREN’S CHURCH RHYTHM
4th and 5th grade will have children’s church every Sunday starting this Sunday. We are always looking for volunteers and teachers.
INNER HEALING PRAYER WORKSHOP — SATURDAY, 2/24
Jesus is with us always bringing us into healing and freedom. Inner Healing prayer is a means for inviting Jesus into the pain, trauma, and anxiety that we carry. On Saturday, February 24th from 9-4pm we will host a prayer ministry training workshop for those interested in learning how to invite the healing presence of Jesus into their own lives and the lives of others. We will have a guest facilitator, Laura Thiel. Laura has led prayer workshops across the world as a staff member with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Mark your calendar — this will be a transformational time. Suggested donation is $15 (we’ll include lunch). You can sign up here.
NEWCOMER’S PIZZA
If you are new or new-ish to Radiant, Jill and I would love to have you over to our house for pizza. Newcomer’s pizza will be on March 3rd, following our worship gathering. We’ll share a bit more the vision and mission of Radiant and the Covenant denomination and get a chance to hear from you, answer any questions you might have. Email Zach – zach@radcov.org – to let him know you are coming. Kids welcome!
MEN’S CONFERENCE 4/19-21 at MISSION SPRINGS
Join us for a weekend of impact, challenge, and fun as we spend time in worship, fellowship, and growing in Christ. Our hope is that the men at the conference would feel empowered to rise up and seek out God despite feelings, circumstances, or situations. Register here. Also — the Fowlers have generously opened up their Mission Springs cabin and have room for ten. Let John know if you are interested. 209.345.5854
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
