Restored Covenant Community

03/27/2020

Shalom friends! As we have officially changed our name to Grace Messianic Fellowship this page is now obsolete. Please visit our new page and website to see our updates and upcoming events.

https://www.facebook.com/GraceMessianic/

gracemessianic.org

We are a Christ-Centered community focused on reaching out to the lost and sharing with them the hope that is found in Jesus the Messiah, and restoring the commandments of God to His chosen people.

03/26/2020

Special New Moon Message 3/25/20

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope you are/were able to join us in blowing the shofars tonight. I pray that in our separation from each other we can still find joy and a celebratory attitude for all the blessings God has given us in Christ. I’ve been asking God to forgive that we cannot meet for the Sabbath’s holy convocations, and I trust we are all keeping the aspects that we can. At this point I do not know when we will start meetings again, please be praying about that. Also there were some things I was hoping to share at our New Moon celebration about several exciting changes and opportunities for this new year. One of the exciting changes is that as of the first of the Biblical new year, which starts tonight, Restored Covenant Community has a new name! We are now Grace Messianic Fellowship. Please check out our new website, gracemessianic.org and “like” and follow our new page to stay informed about upcoming events and announements. For awhile Restored Covenant Community’s website and page will stay up to direct people to our new sites. (Thanks Jon and Andrea) This means that we’ll be putting together a new directory and other literature in the near future. Also, starting now, tithe checks can be made out to Grace Messianic Fellowship and sent to P.O. Box 2614, East Peoria, IL 61611. I’ll share more information as things begin to get back to normal with regard to meetings. Thanks!

With all that said…. Welcome To The Spring Feast Cycle!

It’s a wonderful time of the year, probably my favorite time. All the new life just waiting to spring up! But most importantly the reminder of our Savior’s first coming and all that He accomplished for us, prophetically fulfilling the Passover, First Fruits, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. As we once again consider these events let us never forget the One they point to.

One concern I know some of you are wondering is, “What about Passover, First Fruits, and Unleavened Bread?” Well, unfortunately this year as a congregation we are not going to be able to observe Passover and Unleavened Bread in the normal timing. I talked to Daniel and we agreed that as a congregation we are going to exercise a provision that God has given in the Torah in special instances when the Passover and Unleavened Bread could not be kept at the prescribed time. (Please read Numbers 9:9-14) In over 30 years of keeping the Feasts we have never had to do this, but I’m glad the provision exists and that we also have an example of this provision being exercised. (Please read II Chronicles chapter 30) To clarify how this will work out for our congregation I’ll highlight a few things.

Keep in mind, individual families may do as they choose with regard to Passover and Unleavened Bread for this first month, however as a congregation we are planning to keep the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month this year. Most things will stay the same but one month later. For instance, although we will not have a public Passover Seder this year I encourage families to keep the Passover in their homes on the evening of Friday, May 8th. This is our new Passover date, and because we are keeping the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread a month later we will have to remove the leaven out of our homes until Friday, May 8th (or a day or two before). In addition, we will not be observing the annual Sabbaths of Unleavened Bread until Saturday, May 9th, and Friday, May 15th. So make a note of these new Sabbath dates to let your workplace know. If families choose to observe the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread Sabbaths of April 9th and 15th in addition that’s fine, but in step with the second month provision, as a congregation, we are proclaiming May 9th and May 15th as annual Sabbaths. If we are able, we will plan to meet as a congregation on these days to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. If we are still not able to meet at this time, we will do our best as individual families to celebrate Passover and keep these Sabbaths holy.

This change does not affect First Fruits or Pentecost because First Fruits is determined by the barley harvest and the barley determines when the new year starts. So, First Fruits will stay the same date, Sunday, April 12th, and from that date we will count 50 days to Sunday, May 31st to Pentecost. If we are wrong about how we are interpreting this Torah provision, I pray, as Hezikiah did in verse 20, that God will forgive us, and be pleased with our efforts, and heal us.

I’m so sorry for all the inconvenience this all causes, but God is faithful and He will get us through everything. If there are any needs, questions, or concerns please call me at (309)822-8638. And, once again, I’ll be calling soon to see how the people of our congregation are doing.

So, God bless, and we love and miss you all!

Happy New Year!
Love,
Art and Anna Lu

03/24/2020

Well, New Moon is Wednesday night, and once again we are not able to gather together as is our normal custom. Mary had the great idea to have a synchronized shofar blowing to unify us and officially announce not only the new moon, but Nisan, the first Biblical month! So set your alarms for Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30 p.m. and let's start this new Biblical year off with a slightly spread out bang!

Art will be officially sharing a message Wednesday night and talking a bit more about it, but this new moon also officially begins our future together as Grace Messianic Fellowship! So Wednesday night go check out our new website gracemessianic.org! We will also be switching over to a new page to announce events, updates, etc. So be sure to "like" and "follow" our new page https://www.facebook.com/GraceMessianic/ and keep up with what's going on at Grace Messianic Fellowship!

03/22/2020

Click the link below to read a new message from Art!

http://restoredcov.org/uncategorized/the-invisible-enemy/

03/20/2020

A Message from the Pastor:

Shabbat Shalom!

I was meditating on these two powerful words and of whom and what they speak of. This week has been one that for many has brought confusion, frustration, anxiety, stress and isolation. I think of the soul satisfying words of Jesus, "Come to Me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (a) In another place He said, " My peace I give to you, not as the world gives." (b) Rest and peace. They both find their fulfillment in Jesus. He is our rest and peace.

The Seventh Day is upon us! All our striving is done. We now enter into a sanctuary in time. A small glimpses into a time when there is no hunger, need, want, pain, sickness, or death. A time of true rest and peace. It is a picture of the Messiah's millennial Kingdom followed by eternal glory. I know it's hard to just shut down all the built up anxiety and emotions of the week, but I pray we can all receive the much needed rest and peace that our Savior has to give.

I love you all, and may you receive His Sabbath Peace. Please join me in prayers this Sabbath for repentance, grace, and direction on the three hours of prayer, 9 am, 12 noon, and 3pm.

With love,
Art and Anna Lu
Shabbat Shalom!

(a) Matthew 11:28
(b) John 14:27

03/17/2020

SPECIAL NOTICE FROM THE PASTOR:

Dear members and friends of Restored Covenant Community,

Just wanted to let every one know that in light of the recommendation from the CDC and the White House to limit groups to 10 people or less, I thought it best to cancel our Sabbath services until further notice.

This also includes Wednesday night Bible studies and the New Moon celebration on March 25th.

I plan to visit with you all by phone soon if you have any questions or concerns. And I'm so sorry for the inconvenience.

Love,
Art and Anna Lu

03/14/2020

Sabbath peace to you!

03/13/2020

03/07/2020

Thus says Yahweh:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
Blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who lays hold on it;
Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Do not let the son of the foreigner
Who has joined himself to Yahweh
Speak, saying,
“The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”;
Nor let the eu**ch say,
“Here I am, a dry tree.”
For thus says Yahweh:
“To the eu**chs who keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.

“Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to Yahweh, to serve Him,
And to love the name of Yahweh, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,
“Yet I will gather to him
Others besides those who are gathered to him.”

Amen!

02/29/2020

02/25/2020

Due to another snow storm hitting the area tonight our New Moon gathering is cancelled this evening. Stay safe everyone, and we'll hope to meet again on Shabbat. Happy Adar!