The River Church Community

The Kimsey's good-bye party is this Sunday, December 13 after service!  Please RSVP to if you can attend the party so we can plan for enough food.

A Note on Year-End Giving Statements

This year, as per IRS guidelines, The River will be sending year-end giving statements for donors who have donated over $250 during the calendar year to The River.  If you have donated less than this amount and still would like a copy of your giving statement sent to you, please contact Dave Kwok at or 408-252-5500 x104 and specify whether you would like the statement emailed or mailed to you.

Also, if you have recently changed addresses and want to ensure that a giving statement is sent to the correct address, please send Dave your current updated address.

Thank you for your generosity towards God's work at The River!

Announcements from Sunday December 6, 2009

Christmas Eve Party

You’re invited to...The River’s 4th annual Christmas Eve Celebration!

Join us on Thursday, December 24th for an afternoon celebration designed for the whole family - young and old, marrieds and singles. We will sing carols, enjoy Christmas desserts, and participate in a hands-on activity designed to help us remember the journey to Bethlehem and the miracle of Jesus’ birth in our lives.

When:     Thursday, December 24th, 2 to 4 pm
Where:     The River Ministry Center - 701 North 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Come for the whole time or just stop by and enjoy some desserts with your friends at The River.

RSVP:  You can sign-up on our website or by contacting . Sign-up is not required, but greatly appreciated as we plan for food.

Giving Opportunities

• Giving Catalog online – a way to bless our local and international partners.  See River Invitation card below.
• Mistletoe – support the youth. On sale by the Connecting Tables.
• Force of the Spirit book – support a friend of The River through this photography book designed to draw people closer to Scripture. Also on sale at the Connecting Table.  More information on the River Invitation cards below.

Self-Defense Class

This Christmas, give the gift of safety to yourself or another. Impact Bay Area (an organization that prevents violence and promotes healing by teaching full-force self-defense, personal safety and empowerment to women and teen girls) is coming to The River!

Two classes are available:

Saturday and Sunday, December 12th and 13th, 10 am to 3 pm – Teen “Kick Like a Girl” Self Defense Class. This course is designed specifically for teen girls ages 12-16. This ten hour self-defense course focuses on preventing stranger and dating violence, including sexual assault. Cost: $225

Saturday, December 19th, 10 am to 2:30 pm – R.A.R.E (Rape Awareness and Resistance Education) Workshop. This half-day workshop for women and girls (age 14+) focuses on sexual assault prevention. Participants will practice responding physically and verbally in a variety of stranger and acquaintance scenarios which could lead to sexual assault. Cost: $150

All classes at The River Ministry Center – 701 North First Street in San Jose.

Register online at www.ImpactBayArea.com or by calling 510-208-0474. $50 Discount for all River members! (use code: RCCdiscount)

If you have any questions about these courses, contact .

River Invitation Cards from Sunday December 6, 2009

Worship 101 Jam

Interested in learning the worship songs we sing on Sunday on your instrument? Would you like to lead worship for your friends or small group and need some help? You are invited to dust off your instrument (or vocal chords) Friday, Dec. 11th with Janet and others from the Worship Team to cultivate your heart of worship. This is a fun, low key session for anyone who would like to develop their musical skills and lead others in worship in the future. We will be meeting at the Ministry Center, Dec. 11th from 7 - 9 pm. If you are interested, please contact at so that she can send you the music you will be working on.

Christmas Eve Party

See announcements above

Impact Self-Defense

See announcements above

Unique, Biblically-founded Christmas Gift to help support a good cause!

Force of the Spirit is a unique photography book that is designed to draw people closer into Scripture through black and white imagery.
 
Award-winning photographer Kim Daus-Edwards, a minister, missionary and former business executive, has a passion to inspire people to see more of God through imagery. Kim is a friend of The River community and lives in Sausalito with her husband, two sons and daughter with special needs.
 
In order to raise funds to take care of her daughter's medical expenses, Kim is offering the Force of the Spirit at a special discounted price for the River community of $25 per book for the month of December (Normal selling price on her website $ 35 + shipping or $ 45 + shipping on amazon.com).
 
We will sell the Force of the Spirit at the discounted price of $ 25.00 per book at the River on Sunday December 6, 13 and 20, after service in the lobby.
 
Please consider this unique gift as you go through your Christmas list: it is truly a gift that keeps giving!
 
For more information:
www.forceofthespirit.com
www.daus.com
 
or contact: Jessica Smith at or 415-640-5722

Giving Catalog

This holiday season you have an opportunity to give to all of our River Partners both here and abroad.  The Giving Catalog is meant to be an easy way for you to learn more about and support ministries that The River is both relationally and financially connected to.  To learn more, take a look online at:

http://www.the-river.org/compassion-ministry/christmas-catalog-2009/