B.L.E.S.S.
B.L.E.S.S. is a rhythm acrostic that describes how we want to be “on mission” as a church.
B: Begin with Prayer for “divine appointments.”
Jesus started with prayer; we do too. We pray for opportunities to engage our neighbors that God wants us to bless. Our “neighbors” are people with whom we are living in close proximity and extends to anyone with whom we are interacting. “Prayer is both how you do mission and how you discover your mission.”
L: Listen to our neighbors.
We are present — listening to, and being genuinely interested — in the struggles, the pains, the challenges, and the joys that our neighbors face.
E: Eat with our neighbors.
Eating together is a universal place where, by being present, we can practice and exercise hospitality and authentic relationships. There is nothing like breaking bread to build bridges into the lives of our neighbors.
S: Serve our neighbors.
We believe that if we are present, listening, and eating with our neighbors, then we will also learn and know how to love and serve them. We strive to meet the needs of our neighbors, which also include the oppressed, the maligned, and the marginalized in our communities, with practical and impactful acts of service.
S: Story Sharing with our neighbors
Who are in close proximity, who are in our communities, and who are those that go beyond our community, into “neighborhoods” around the world. We invite people into the story of God by being committed to sharing how we have been restored back to God through Jesus.
Here are just a few ways we live out B.L.E.S.S. as a church
L.P.M.S Food Pantry
We collect items on the first Sunday of each month throughout the school year to B.L.E.S.S. Lakelands Park Middle School students. The counseling department collects our donations and provides them to students who come to the counseling office in need of support. These snacks and drinks provide comfort for students and help create a safe environment for students to connect with counselors.
Monthly Potluck Meals
EATING is one of the essential rhythms of spiritual formation at Restoration Church. It's the E in BLESS (Begin with Prayer, Listen, EAT, Serve, and Story). We practice building relationships by breaking bread together with monthly potlucks following the sermon. All are welcome to join us for this time of sharing our stories together and listening to one another.
Kentlands Community Events
As a church, we participate in community events to let the Kentlands know that we are a church that cares about the neighborhood around us. Whether it is Kentlands Under the Lights or the Kentlands Oktoberfest, you can find our church present