Restore

The time is coming.  Nov. 3, 7:00 p.m. in the South Pole (see map at right) we'll have our first Restore worship time together.  This time of worship is designed to draw people from the undergraduate student, graduate student and faculty groups together for a time of worship and prayer.  As we have been developing each community it has become apparent that we would all benefit from times together.  This time is a ROC family time.

But it will also be unique in that it will be different from the worship times we already have in our Cross Walk or graduate student gatherings.  This time of worship will include a time of communion and a unique time of prayer. 

Since we are part of our culture, we are consumers.  Over the years worship has become another thing for which we "shop."  Perhaps you have heard people say things like, "I just didn't feel like I worshiped there" or "I didn't really like the songs that we sang" or "it just didn't do it for me."  The focus in this sort of language is on me.  However, worship is supposed to be about God not us.  We are seeking to bless God.  We are seeking to offer ourselves to Him; to allow Him to do in us and through us whatever He desires--which often stretches us beyond what we desire.

Worship is also something that invites us into the mission of God.  As we present ourselves to God and offer all that we are to Him, He calls us to love those He loves, to care for those in need, to be Jesus in the world through words and actions.  Therefore, our Restore worship times will be times in which we ask ourselves four questions: What is God doing in me?  What is God doing through me?  What is God doing in us?  What is God doing through us?

These questions will focus our attention on what God is doing.  We will breathe God in, if you will, only to breathed out in service and mission to our community.  We will "consume" Jesus by partaking of the elements of communion in order to be consumed by God so that we are empowered to be Jesus' hands and feet here in Athens and beyond.

I hope that you'll join us for this special time of worshiping our Lord together.  I hope that you utilize the Lectio that Jared prepared for us so that we all are meditating on the passage from Luke 10 as we prepare for Restore.  I ask that you pray that God would Restore us to Himself and His mission as we open ourselves to Him in worship and prayer.  I look forward to being with you in worship at Restore!