The River Church Community

Sunday Synopsis:

This Sunday Mark Phifer-Houseman will be helping us relate more deeply with the younger son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son that we are steeping ourselves in these next few months. Mark will help us see how conflict starts in the heart by walking us through pats of Chapter 3 and 4 of the book of James.  I hope you will find this Sunday to be very eye-opening and practical as we continue to explore what it means to be Peacemakers.

Worship Response:

This morning we will be take some time to think about ways that we might identify with the younger son, running away from God's love because of our idols within. In order for our time together to not just be interesting information to apply at a later time, we will use half of the message portion to be led in a guided reflection process. This time of journaling and prayerful reflection is meant to help move the practical information from our heads into becoming life transforming habits that form from a conviction in the heart. Journalling is a great way to process your thoughts, to see what you really think about a topic, and then be able to remember those thoughts later on for more further action and reflection. 

In response to our guided reflection time, I encourage you to use a number of the worship stations in the back of the room to allow your whole self to engage in the process of letting go of our idols. 

1. After you feel done thinking through the questions in the booklet that we will give out, please move to the red carpet in the back where there will be large bowls of water and towels for you to wash your hands. Please take your time to consider what things you would like to confess and turn from today. Then, wash your hands and move from the red carpet to another station in order to give others time at the bowls. This small act is a symbol of your heart's desire to be clean and receive the forgiveness that God rushes to offer you this morning. 

2. After you have repented at the bowls of water, you can either move to the communion table to receive the body and blood of Christ as grace and strength to you. Or you can choose to confess your sin to another by moving over to the intercessors who will be gathered in the back right side. Your confessions are always confidential, and the tangible hearing someone speak over you that you are truly forgiven is a helpful way for our minds to hold on to that truth. If you are not ready to speak out loud your confession, consider who and when would be a safe person to invite into God's process of transformation. 

3. Please receive communion at the communion tables as a reminder that the gift of God's love and sacrifice was given before you turned back to him. The table is a place of radical grace and a place to receive hope that God's power is at work in you to complete what He has started. 

We are praying that this morning will be a powerful beginning step in our community to live out our calling as peacemakers in God's Kingdom. 

Songs for this sunday:

Pre-service:

Prodigal - Casting Crowns

Santo Santo Eres - Public Domain

Song for the Bride - Brian Doerksen

Be the Center - Vineyard UK

Enough - Jeremy Camp

Your grace is enough - Chris Tomlin