outside the gate

Hey all.

I wanted to let you all know that we have secured a place to have our worship services.

As we speak, a contract is being drawn for us to meet in the Hollywood movie theater located in the Port Orange Pavillion.

This is huge and we’re excited!

A schedule for our preview services and launch date is soon to follow.

See you there!

Hey All.

Here are the meeting dates for July at the Java Jungle:

July 12th from 6:30-9:30

July 26th from 6:30-9:30

We’ll be wrapping up the Prodigal God study this month.

Hey All.

Just a reminder…

We’ll be meeting at the Java Jungle tonight to study the Prodigal God.

Same time…6:30.

Spread the word!

See you there.

Hey All.

Just a reminder…

We’ll pick up our PG study On June 7th at 6:30pm.

As usual, we’ll be at the Java Jungle.

Hey All.

Is it just me, or was Monday night incredible!!!

We had a great time and a packed house as we began studying  ”The Prodigal God”.

This next post was written by Dave Maniquis. Dave is planting with us. I’m sure you’ll enjoy hearing his thoughts on the importance of prayer.

Here it is:

Reception Sunday was no doubt a special day for everyone in the Core Group of God’s new local expression of His church.  The presentation of Restoration or, if you like, the installation of Restoration (there’s a plethora of alliterations for Restoration; oops, you see what I mean!), and the request for more families to be called forth for participation was so important.  Prayer, as always, had to imbue the need that day. And, of course, it needs to be the focus of God’s people, His praying people, us, the Core Group–the Restoration congregation (oops!).  Paul Miller, in his book A Praying Life, speaks about how Paul’s expression of “unceasing prayer” brings out the “most frequent description of how he prayed and of how he wanted the church to pray.”  The point is that prayer is not just formulaic, but the actual experience of dependence on the God the Father, for the things needed for His people—the church.  Interestingly, Paul echoes the theme of “unceasing prayer” in so many ways.  Here’s some that Miller cites:

• Without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers. (Romans 1:9-10)
• I give thanks to my God always for you. ( 1 Corinthians 1:4)
• I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:16)
• Praying at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)
• We have not ceased to pray for you (Colossians 1:9)
• Continue steadfastly in prayer. (Colossians 4:2)
• Always struggling on you behalf in his prayers. (Colossians 4:12)
• Constantly mentioning you in our prayers (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
• We also thank God constantly for this.  (! Thessalonians 2:13)
• As we pray most earnestly night and day. (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
• We always pray for you.  2 Thessalonians 1:11)
• I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. (2 Timothy 1:3)

So, you have prayer in general for the church and within it is included each local representation of it.  And, to the young churches?

• Be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
• Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Miller goes on to say that inasmuch as Paul placed such weight on the significance of prayer, “it is not surprising to see examples of continual prayer in the early church.”  And this is Paul, not mention Jesus’ emphasis on prayer and the principle of dependence on God the Father for every need.

I suppose the question to ask is: Does anyone feel more moved to depend on God after last Sunday?  Has the importance of prayer for God to call forth more families for Restoration stirred your heart to do so with continual intention; in the belief that God can provide what we ask in His manner of doing so for His divine missional purposes, in His timing, and for the goodness of Restoration Church?    Concerning prayer, Luther wrote that, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance.  Prayer is laying hold of God’s willingness.”

Are there any thoughts about our praying for more families/individuals to join us and how it is guiding you; affecting you?

Hey All.

Our Prodigal God study begins tonight at the Java Jungle.

It’s important that you attend the first week because there is an introductory video we’ll be showing that sets the pace for the rest of the study.

In a nutshell, the Prodigal God  is a discussion oriented study of  ”The Christian Gospel”.

I hope to see you all there. Plan to hang out from 6:30 to 7:00. Study to follow.

A-

Hey All. Check out the video from our Restortion Church Reception!

Oh…in case you’re wondering…we’re planting a church!

Hey All.

I wanted to remind you that we are going to be presented to the church at the end of the May 16th, 2nd hour Sunday service this weekend. The second service begins at 10:40.

I want to ask you to make every effort to be there. We are counting on this presentation creating a great deal of excitement and future interest as we seek to recruit the rest of our launch team.

PLEASE RSVP TO THIS  BY 5:00 PM FRIDAY THE 14TH.

Also, I’d like to ask each of you to get in touch with your friends on the core team to remind them of this important opportunity.

Hoping and Expecting to see you all there!

Hey All.

Here are some of the pics from our BBQ.

Thanks again for remembering my Birthday!

Enjoy!

Hey All.

We’re meeting tonight at 6:30pm at the Java Jungle.

We’ll be talking about “gathering”.

Please make every effort to be there!

A-