From Fullness to Fullness
Restoration,
This past Sunday was filled with LOTS of exciting news and some VERY sad news – I would contend it is all good news!
The exciting news is obviously getting to keep Mac Conn on staff for a second year! Mac has been our Pastoral Intern, working 10-15 hours per week and learning the ins and outs of pastoral ministry within an Anglican Church Plant. This Summer and through next year, Mac will be stepping into a more focused, increased role as our Mission & Outreach Apprentice. Mac will be using his 20-25 hours a week to take point on our Umuganda Days, Family Life Service partnership, Women of Courage events, and relationship with Stratton Meadows Elementary. This position serves to keep us on mission to reach our neighborhood for Christ and live out our mission to Proclaim the Truth of Jesus.
We cannot name enough how grateful we are to Jerusalem Chesney, who previously volunteered and led in this area, planning and leading us in all previous Umuganda Days. If you have served at an event she planned or on a team she led, you know the joy of getting to partner with her and the goodness of her leadership. As I regularly say, Jerusalem gets more done on accident most days than I do on purpose! But it’s not just about getting things done; it’s the dignity of others that she sees and invites us to see as well. Well done, Jerusalem! Thank you for taking the beachhead in our neighborhood; I’m excited to keep storming this Normandy with you!
The exciting news continued with the hiring of Dan Kane as our new part-time Meal Group & Spiritual Formation Pastor. Dan brings a depth and maturity to our team that is born out of a long obedience in the same direction. He is a Spiritual Director, trains other spiritual directors, has led Spiritual Formation ministries in larger Anglican Church contexts, and has cross-cultural experience with international missions. He and his wife, Kim, love welcoming people around tables to grow in relational depth and to experience God’s deep love for them. This position serves to invite us into ever-deepening maturity with Christ as we live out our mission to Walk the Way of Jesus.
Again, this ministry is not coming out of nowhere. We are grateful for Devin Arinder, who launched and led our Meal Group ministry these past two years. I am grateful for Devin’s maturity, humility, and deep love for Restoration, as he was the first to name the need to take this next step of hiring someone for this role. Devin has written the book on how to love, learn, and lead well and how to transition well. I am grateful to be walking the way of Jesus with you, Devin, and excited to become more like Jesus with you in the years to come.
Speaking of Next Steps, we are thrilled to welcome Amye Olivero as our Next Steps Intern! If you were one of the 20 Confirmands or 10 Confirmation Companions, then you already know what an incredible leader Amye is and how passionate she is to help others find meaningful connection in the body of Christ. For the next two semesters, as part of her MDiv. program through Asbury Seminary, Amye will be inviting and leading us further into the Life of God as we all discern our next steps. This is not about more doing, but a deeper way of being as we are Drawn into the Life of Jesus.
The final really exciting news is Spencer Mamo, our Music and Tech Director, was accepted into a PhD Program in Theology at Baylor University! As his friend, pastor, and boss I could not be more excited! The challenge for Spencer is that he is just so good at so many things. I have deeply appreciated his love of beauty in music, philosophy, and physical activity. I dare you to ask him about harmony and see if you don’t cry with him as he pours out his heart.
This is obviously also sad for all of us at Restoration. It is sad because Spencer has so faithfully led us to worship Jesus in fullness. He has led us to shout our ALLELUIAH’s at Easter and lean into lament during Lent. He has led us through the minor falls and the major lifts. It is also sad because we are losing Meg and Eloise as well. It is sad, because it has all been so real and so meaningful. This is the way life works; it hurts because it’s true. I am truly sad to see the Mamo’s sent off for this season, but I would be more than sad if they did not continue to follow Jesus into the fullness he has for them! A diminished Spencer would be diminishment for us all. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. When one part is honored, we all rejoice with it!
And so…I rejoice that we get to send the Mamo’s in the fullness of our love and loss. I rejoice to cheer them on and they flourish and flower into fullness. I trust that God has more fullness coming for the rest of us at Restoration as well. God continues to bring beautiful people who are wildly talented to our staff team and I trust our good God will continue to lead us as a staff team and church family from fullness to fullness. “God’s purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.”
-Pastor Eric
