The River Church Community

Dear River friends,
 
This time of year marks the many “beginnings.”  College football’s first big weekend is in the books  . . . so we can all be praying for the Spartans.   Most schools have kicked off a new year . . . so, we can all be praying for students and parents!  And The River is also launching a new ministry year. . . . and I want to ask you to be praying for us as a church community.
 
God has placed two big hopes on our hearts for the year.  The first is to equip the members of our community to live lives of gospel vision.  The second is to strengthen small groups to become Biblically-functioning communities.
 
I like to comment on that first goal.  There are a lot of people who have vision for our lives . . . family members, marketers, and even bosses.  In the fast pace of our lives, it’s quite easy to lose sight of the vision for which God has designed us.  To do so is a loss of massive proportions.  It’s as tragic as Esau who sold his birthright for a pot of stew.  So, we’re focusing our energies this Fall upon discerning God’s vision for our lives (individuals, families, small groups, etc).  
 
You recently received an invitation to a seminar that will help you take first steps in discerning God’s vision for your life.  I urge you to make time to come.  We will also be starting a new teaching series this Sunday called “Stranger than Fiction.”   It’s a series that challenges us to embrace the gospel as the story of our lives.  Without a deep grasp of the gospel story, all our personal visions become suspect.  Throughout human history, many have held faulty versions of that story and the results have been devastating.  Large portions of the church have missed their calling during the critical moments in history because their grasp of God’s gospel story was malformed (see Nazi Germany).  So, I believe it’s healthy to kick off the year by meditating on the richness of the gospel as told by Luke.  I invite you to read and ponder the early chapters of that book as preparation.
 
God’s presence and power be upon us all.
 
Peace, 
Brad

Hello Everyone,

Small Group Leaders are gathering this Saturday for a "summit" to kick off the new ministry year.  We will be continuing to focus on what it means to be a Shepherd and how to strengthen the culture of shepherding in small groups and in the church.

If you haven't yet, I'd encourage you to sign up for the Vision Seminar.  It's a great (and rare) opportunity to think pro-actively about the kind of life we want to live into the future.  There are two dates offered, September 26 and October 10.  Check out the webpage for more information.

Check the website for a cool Riverfest reflection from Mike Valentine.

Peace,
Dave

Announcements for Sunday, September 6, 2009

Travel Guide for Fall 2009

• Go to the Travel Guide for a list of events and opportunities at The River between Sept and Dec.  We encourage you to look through it and use the opportunities to be intentional about your spiritual growth
• Some upcoming events include the first Vision Seminar, and the Men’s DVD Study and Earth Ethics seminar which are both great weekly studies if you are not currently in a small group.

Welcome Dessert

• If you are new to the church or just wanting to get more connected, join Lead Pastor Brad Wong for a Welcome Dessert in his home on Friday, September 18th from 7:30 to 9 pm.  Click here to RSVP!