May 16, 2025
Hey Radiant,
You are not the only one who feels like the only one.
Most adults in the United States are single. Check this out from USA Facts:
As the graph depicts being unmarried is the new norm. This is a monumental cultural shift with staggering implications for the church.
Now what is revealing is that church attendance doesn’t mirror this demographic reality. One is a lot more likely to regularly attend church if married.
Jen Ashby writing in the Missio Allliance reports that “only 23% of adult churchgoers are single.”
In short it looks like this in our culture: 1) more single people and 2) not much church attendance by single persons.
This raises all sorts of questions regarding causation and correlation. However, I wonder if at least part of the reason for the absence of single persons in the church is that the church hasn’t really valued single persons. We haven’t understood singleness as a precious gift in the body of Christ?
But Jesus certainly saw singleness as a gift. Paul did too. Why can’t we?
So this Sunday we are going there! We are considering what it means to be single and follow Jesus. We’ll explore some practices integral to flourishing in singleness (whether single by choice, by circumstance, divorced people, widowed people). We’ll frame singleness not as consolation prize but as a precious gift in the body of Christ as scripture depicts.
Married people please don’t think doesn’t apply — this is vital for us too — as we seek to flourish in love in the body of Christ as a community of peoples of different ages, stages, and marital statuses. Recognizing, seeing, valuing each other is integral.
See you Sunday at 10am! (Also – we are excited to be celebrating some graduating high school seniors during service!)
EVENTS CALENDAR
5/11 – 6/15 – Diaper Drive for Modesto Pregnancy Center
5/17 – Radiant Youth – Disc Golf Outing
5/18 – High School Senior sharing
5/21 – Men’s Gathering
6/3 – Home Church Leaders Meeting, Missional Incubator 6:30-8PM at ELC
6/12 – Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course begins 6:30-8PM at ELC
6/15 – Baptism Sunday
7/25 – All church Lake Day at Lake McClure Splash and Dash
10/3-10/5 – Women’s Retreat at Mission Springs Registration Open!
DIAPER DRIVE MOTHER’S DAY THROUGH FATHER’S DAY!
Hey Radiant, we are partnering with the ministry Modesto Pregnancy Center this May and June to provide some diapers for new moms who are attending parenting support classes. This is from Erin Koolhass, the MPC executive director:
“We give diapers to all of our students who attend our parenting classes, where they learn valuable parenting tools, memorize scripture, and build community. We have roughly 60 parents who attend in person each week, and another 50+ who attend online, so we get to bless a lot of babies with diapers! We almost always have a need for size 4, size 5 and size 6 diapers.”
MPC gives out over 1200 diapers each week! I really appreciate how MPC is supporting moms and their babies spiritually, relationally, and materially. Let’s bless this new moms and their children with some diapers. We’ll hold this drive May 11 (Mother’s Day) through June 15 (Father’s Day) bring a pack of size 3, 4, or 5 diapers to church and we’ll get them to MPC.
RADIANT YOUTH EVENTS
Disc Golf Day is locked in for May 17 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Shelter Cove disc golf course with our very own professional disc golfer Josh Purney! It’s open to all 6th–12th graders. Excited for a fun time outside! Sign up here to receive more information on our Radiant Youth gatherings.
MEN’S GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAY
Men – you are up! This Wednesday from 6-7AM at ELC Fellowship Hall.
HOME CHURCH LEADERS/ MISSIONAL ENTREPRENEURS INTEREST MEETING JUNE 3RD.
As this season of Home Church wraps up, we are inviting those interested in exploring Home Church leading or leading another group to come to a discernment/ interest meeting on June 3rd from 6:30-8PM at ELC. This is a time to begin learning discernment on what the Spirit might be inviting you into for the 2025-2026 school year. No commitment required — just let Zach if you are interested [email protected]
EMOTIONALLY HEALTH SPIRITUALITY – COMING THIS JUNE.
Peter Scazzero writes “emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is an invitation to flourish in Christ as we consider what is going on “under the surface” in our lives. This is a 8 week course that will meet on Thursdays beginning June 12 and end on July 31. Sign up here to indicate interest and we will be in touch. If you’ve completed the course — I’ve done it many times — consider taking it again: there are always new things to discover.
UPCOMING BAPTISM SERVICE – JUNE 15
Are you ready to make a public declaration of your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord? If you believe God might be leading you to this, please reach out to Zach (reply to this email or text 209.497.3710) for more information. We are planning a June 15 service.
WOMEN’S RETREAT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
October 3-5 at Mission Springs Conference Center.
We spend our lives avoiding the wilderness. Yet it is often in the wilderness that we encounter the Lord’s provision, promises, and presence. We even read that Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led in the wilderness. What can we learn from time spent in the wilderness? This special weekend is designed to be a transformative experience, offering countless opportunities to connect with other women and be refreshed.
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
[email protected]
209-497-3710
www.radcov.org
