June 14, 2024
Hey Radiant,
Before I get into the blog post for this week, I wanted to highlight this:It looks like we have an opportunity to rent space at MJC’s recital hall for a morning worship service later this summer and fall. We are curious about how this might open some new possibilities for us as we pursue our mission of making more disciples of Jesus who practice his simple way.
Of course, we want to get a sense of the congregation’s thoughts, preferences, and openness to serve as we consider this and the multiple options we have before us.
I’m sure you have a lot of questions. So do we! A couple of things to help get the conversation rolling:
1) Please fill out this survey. This will really help us get a pulse on where people are at.
2) Plan on attending our “town hall” meeting on Sunday June 23 following our worship service where we will present the vision behind this possible move, hash out some details, and have an opportunity for questions and discussion.
——–
Back to the blog and back to Elijah….
Burnout is probably an overused term. Burnout does not equal tiredness or boredom rather psychologists describe it as a state of deep exhaustion correlated with a sense of cynicism and despair.
According to polls, burnout is pervasive in our culture. According to Gallup, “About three in four employees in the U.S. experience workplace burnout at least sometimes — and about one in four experience burnout either ‘very often’ or ‘always.'”
Are you experiencing burnout? In work? In parenting? In marriage? At church?
But burnout is not a new phenomenon – it is quite clear that the prophet Elijah experienced something like burnout after a season of exhausting ministry.
One would have thought it would be a moment of rejoicing and triumph for Elijah.
God’s fire had fallen from the sky and people saw that the Lord was God.
More than that, after the fire, came the rain came pouring down in Israel. The drought was finally over. Perhaps this signaled not just the end of physical, weather drought, but the spiritual drought of idolatry that was plaguing Israel at the time.
But for Elijah, even after theses amazing moments of breakthrough and victory, he feels defeated. In fact, he asks God to take his life.
He says: “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Elijah is in the throws of deep burnout. He is without hope, is isolated and exhausted. He seems to question everything about himself and his ministry.
But the way God meets him in this dark valley, and longs to meet us in burnout is refreshing.
There is life after burnout.
So this Sunday we’ll take a deep breath and consider what it means to arrange our lives around God’s renewing presence in our burnout culture.
We’ll see you Sunday at 5!
EVENTS CALENDAR
6/18 – Emotionally Healthy Relationships course
6/19 – Men’s Gathering 6-7AM at ELC
6/23 – Service time/ location “Town hall” Meeting following worship
6/30 – Linger Worship and Prayer Night 6-10PM
7/21 – Linger Worship and Prayer Night 6-10PM
10/4-10/6 – Women’s Retreat at Mission Springs *registration now open.
TOWN HALL MEETING AND SURVEY ABOUT WORSHIP TIMES AND LOCATIONS – JUNE 23
This is pretty big news. It looks like we have an opportunity to rent space at MJC’s recital hall for a morning worship service later this summer and fall. As the vision and leadership teams have discussed this — we are excited about the opportunity to make more disciples of Jesus who practice to the simple way of Jesus for the good of Modesto and beyond. Of course, we want to get a sense of the congregation’s thoughts, preferences, and openness to serve as we consider this move and the multiple options we have before us. We want this to be as collaborative process as possible and practical.
I’m sure you have a lot of questions. So do we!
A couple of things to help get the conversation rolling:
1) Please fill out this survey. This will really help us get a pulse on where people are at.
2) Plan on attending our “town hall” meeting on Sunday June 23 following our worship service where we will present the vision behind this possible move, hash out some details, and have an opportunity for questions and discussion.
3) Zach and the vision team will likely be following up with as many people as possible to engage with this process.
More than anything, this is a matter of prayer and spiritual discernment of all of us. We are creating space for worship and prayer throughout the summer to simply seek the Lord’s face. On June 30th and July 21 following our worship services we will have an open time of prayer and worship from 6pm-10pm (people can come and go during this window of time).
EMOTIONALLY HEALTH RELATIONSHIPS COURSE – NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN
TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30PM JUNE 11 – JULY 28 (8 SESSIONS)
*if you plan on traveling this summer — there a video streaming options for independently completing sessions you miss.
This powerful 8-week Course will equip you with practical tools to really love people in difficult situations and mature into an adult follower of Jesus. The Emotionally Healthy (EH) Relationships Course has been developed over a 21-year period to directly address core biblical principles to guide you and others into an experience of discipleship that will deeply change your life. In the EH Relationships Course, everyone will learn 8 practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships with others.
This will be a paradigm shifting course — sign up here.
MEN’S GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAY – 6-7AM ELC
All men welcome! See you there.
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE AT MISSION SPRINGS OCTOBER 4-6 2024
BLESSED AND BROKEN: Jesus took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, and gave the bread. These four words not only summarize the life of Jesus but are central to our spiritual lives as well. Join us for an unforgettable weekend with other women where we dive into what it means to live as chosen, blessed, broken, and given children of God. This conference is hosted at Mission Springs conference center in Scotts Valley, CA and will be a gathering of women from many Covenant churches in our region. Register here: https://www.missionsprings.com/camp-event/womens-conference/
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
