January 16, 2025
Dear Radiant,
My kids are fascinated by the 1990s. One son has been shopping for a cassette Walkman. My daughter expresses nostalgia for a time in which she did not live, declaring it the best era to be alive. They love The Cranberries.
I’ve asked why. I mean, I lived in the ’90s, and it was pretty great—but it was also a pre-digital life. Email wasn’t really a thing yet. You had to watch shows live (or set a VCR to record them). Cell phones—what were those? Maybe a car phone if you were fancy.
Their answer, shared by many of their friends, is that the 1990s were analog—and that’s what appeals to them.
They long for a simpler, quieter, more in-the-moment way of life.
I can’t blame them. I fear what is happening to our children—and to us—in this grand corporation-driven social experiment. It seems to be robbing us of one of the most precious gifts we have: the ability to be present and fully alive to the moment.
Surely this impacts our souls. I wonder how screens and devices are forming—or malforming—our capacity to be present to God in prayer.
While we can’t go back in time (though I do long for my 1995 hairline), we can choose to go analog—at least in part.
That is, we can voluntarily limit and manage our use of distracting technology for the sake of cultivating presence: to God, to ourselves, and to one another.
This Sunday, we will look to the example of Jesus and how he cultivated a life deeply present to God by a sort of voluntary analog—choosing again and again to drink from the living water that truly satisfies.
See you this Sunday at 10am!
RADIANT EVENTS CALENDAR
Ongoing: Home Church!
1/18 – Radiant Youth Group is back! 5:47PM
1/21 – Women’s Gathering 6-7AM at ELC
1/25 – Membership and Pizza following worship
2/8 – Super Second Sunday – Football game following worship.
RESCHEDULED – SECOND SUNDAY LUNCH & MEMBERSHIP CLASS
We are going to gather following worship next Sunday, 1/25 for our first ever church membership class. We’ll grab some pizzas and you bring some questions and curiosity. Excited for this — we’ll gather at MJC for this one. Btw – here are some resources on membership on our linktree — take a look.
HOME CHURCH RESTART 
Our Home Churches are kicking back up this up. If you are interested in joining a Home Church feel free to reach out to one of the leads listed above.
RADCOV KIDS SCHEDULE
There are some opportunities to serve in children’s ministry in 2026. Please contact Crystal Nicholson if God is leading you to explore serving in this area: (408) 802-7061
COMMUNITY NOTES:
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY IS COMING TO RADIANT….
Financial Peace University is a nine-week class that’s helped nearly 10 million people learn step by step how to pay off debt, invest wisely for their future, give with outrageous generosity. This nine week course will begin on Thursday, Feb. 12th and meet from 6:30-8:30pm at ELC. Sign up here. Questions? Contact Rob Shank (209) 610-5459.
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.
PRAYER
Join us for preservice every Sunday at 9am at MJC near the children’s ministry rooms.
GIVING UPDATE 2025
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Radiant’s ministry! We ended the year quite strong, meeting about 95% of our giving goal for 2025. More information soon to come about the 2026 budget.
“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
Here’s the link to online giving.
Grace and Peace!
Zach
[email protected]
209-497-3710
www.radcov.org
