February 20, 2025
Dear Radiant,
This was the third Ash Wednesday of offering ashes on the campus of Modesto Junior College. (It was great to be joined by Isabella Andrews who serves on staff with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at MJC).
Each year has proven to be a mix of vulnerability and beauty.
It was sweet to see a number of Radiant folks come out to receive ashes and to hear the words: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
And among some confused and curious looks from others, there were a good number of complete strangers to me who vulnerably came up to me to receive ashes on their forehead as a way of entering into this season.
There was one student in particular, who saw our sign, who literally came running over with visible joy to receive her ashes.
This moved me.
What a strange thing: for a person to run to receive a reminder from a stranger of her dust and frailty. That someone would sprint forward to mark and celebrate her mortality. How seemingly revealing of a heart yielded to God.
We resist the truth of our mortality. Our culture is death denying: we avoid anything that would remind us that we too, will die.
My hunch is that this young woman knew that Ash Wednesday is just one (but very important) aspect of a much greater, deeper story.
For while the Lenten journey begins with dust it ends with glorious resurrection. Jesus embraces our dust that in him, it might shine we with glory.
O that my heart would embrace my limits, my fragility, my “dustness” like this! May the reality of our mortality wake us up to reality. I like how the late pastor Timothy Keller put it:
“Rather than living in fear of death, we should see death as spiritual smelling salts that will awaken us out of our false belief that we will live forever.”
I look forward to worshipping this first Sunday in Lent together. This year we will be exploring and meditating upon what church tradition calls the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus spoken from the cross.
Even as he hung dying on the cross, Jesus spoke profound words of life. May we hear them as addressed to us, in our situation, in our mortality, in our need.
See you this Sunday at 10 AM.
RADIANT EVENTS CALENDAR
Ongoing: Home Church!
2/21 – Church Membership Applications deadline
2/22 – Radiant Youth Group 5:47PM-8PM
2/25 – Men’s Gathering 6-7AM
2/26 – Financial Peace University at ELC 6:30-8:30PM
2/26 – Hope After Divorce Bible Study
2/28 – Sergio and Samantha baby shower 2-4PM at ELC
4/5 – Easter Sunday at Radiant
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS (INITIAL ROUND DUE 2/21 )
We are excited about the church membership process at Radiant as we move towards adoption in the ECC. If God is leading you towards membership at this time, please submit your application by 2/21 for the first round of memberships. You can find resources and the application on linktree.
HOME CHURCH COMMUNITIES 
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
RADIANT YOUTH
COMMUNITY NOTES:
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY IS HERE…NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!
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 started on Feb. 12 and meets on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm at ELC Fellowship. Sign up here. Questions? Contact Rob Shank (209) 610-5459.
HOPE AFTER DIVORCE BIBLE STUDY FOR WOMEN
Began on February 19th ends April 2nd. If you have been through a divorce, are going through divorce, or are simply wondering how God views divorce you are welcome to join this group. We will be using Kay Arthur’s Bible Study guide: “Finding Hope After Divorce.” This group is for women only and will go for seven weeks. If interested or have questions contact Kristy Asire, [email protected], (209)261-4229. Dinner will be provided!
SAMANTHA AND SERGIO BABY SHOWER
This is co-ed on February 28th @ ELC 2-4PM
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
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
Here’s the link to online giving.
Grace and Peace!
Zach
[email protected]
209-497-3710
www.radcov.org
