The River Church Community

Hello River,

Beginning today, our Lead Pastor Brad Wong will be including a note as part of the "This Week at The River" emails.  Enjoy!

_____

Dear River friends,

As we settle into our week, I want to encourage us all to continue to chew on the words of scripture that Tony taught from on Sunday from Matthew 5:21-26.  “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the alter and go.  First be reconciled . . .”  These words bring our highest callings in life (To love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves) into one single focus.  We will not connect deeply with God if we allow division to persist in our relationships with one another.  And because God longs to commune with us, He is faithful to alert us when there are relationships that need our attention.  May our hearts grow in sensitivity and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit in these days.

Our intercessory prayer gathering is a great opportunity to nurture that sensitivity to the Spirit.  We meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.  The first Tuesday is especially marked out as a time for “laboratory” training in giving and receiving prayer.  God has been doing wonderful things during that time; I hope that many of you will come next Tuesday, February 3.

The shalom of Jesus be with you and carry you through your day.

Brad

_____

The Leadership Community had a good day together on Saturday.  We had time to review church business including ministry updates, church governance, and finances. As well as a helpful training on the skill of dialogue - entering into challenging conversations with transparency into our assumptions and background thinking.

Many of you have been following the Geoghegan family's journey as they welcomed Hannah Jane into the world.  In the course of managing Hannah Jane's treatment, Rod lost his job and is actively seeking another one.  If you would like to view his qualifications, please go to this post.

Our monthly all-church intercessory prayer-time is coming up next Tuesday, February 3 from 7-8:30pm at the Ministry Center.  Check the event page for more details.

_____

Announcements from Sunday January 25:

• Easter Choir:
  
  Do you love to worship God with your voice?
  Do you miss those childrens’, high school, and college choirs you used to be in?
  Do you always gladly join in singing “Happy Birthday”?
  Do you love those chills you get when people sing in harmony?
  Do you only sing in secret or in the shower?
  
  Then our Easter Choir is for YOU!!
  
  Join us!  No choral or music reading experience required.
  
  We’ll be rehearsing about twice a month (dates and times TBD) to prepare to sing at the Easter Sunday service with the worship team.  Come join us for some fun fellowship focused around lifting our voices together in song to God!
  
  We’ll need voices of all shapes and sizes, so e-mail Jamie Wolf at if you’re even remotely interested!
  
  “I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.”  ~ Paul McCartney
  
  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  ~ Colossians 3:16

• ICE Trip for Business People - If you have ever wondered how you can use your business and organizational skills in direct ministry, come to an information meeting hosted by Pete Snell about the REP organization that pairs American business people with businesses in the world that are trying to live out a kingdom purpose.  The meeting is 5:30pm - 9:00pm on January 27.  For details and to RSVP, go to the event page.

• Women's self-defense workshop:  On valentine's day, February 14, The River Ministry Center will be the venue for a self-defense worshop held by Bay Area Impact.  The cost is $100 (we are accepting scholarships too!).  See the event page or contact for more information.