Leadership Community Retreat Report
Last weekend River leaders gathered at Camp May-Mac for an inspiring time together. We focused on what it will take for The River to become a reconciled church that is able to bring reconciliation to the community. On Friday night, Brad gave a message entitled "What God is Saying to The River" (click here to download) that painted a picture of the faith adventure that The River is on and the reality that we will never make it to where God wants us to go unless we work together as a team. Saturday morning, Mark Phifer-Houseman enfleshed what it might practically look like for leaders to lead out in being people of peacemaking and reconciliation (click here to download). Two words were spoken out over the group, one from Jeremiah 8 to not settle for superficial healing, and another form 1 Kings 18 about the cloud rising from the sea. We ended the retreat with a rich time of worship including a song composed Saturday afternoon in response to the teaching on Friday and Saturday.
Looking ahead, we will be continuing the theme of reconciliation through a reconciliation training session on practical skills in having "high-stakes" conversations. Two identical sessions will be offered on Saturday October 18 and Saturday October 25 from 9-2pm. The whole church will go through a Sunday morning series on reconciliation in November and we are also planning a small group curriculum around these same themes.
If you would like to learn more about what God is doing in our midst, contact Dave Kwok at or any of the pastors on staff.