The River Compassion and Justice Ministries
At the River Church Community we are a people on mission, and our focus initiatives this year are in the areas of Food and Shelter.
Upcoming Workshops and Events
Christ in the Rubble
Tuesday, June 3rd • 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Palestine continues to be a human and moral cause. For the church, it is also a theological crisis about the credibility of our witness. This group will 'wrestle with the tragic consequences of bad theologies' through Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza written by Palestinian Christian Rev. Dr Munther Isaac. His book is a call 'to embrace our calling in this wounded world and land', 'insist on seeing the image of Jesus in every victim of oppression, marginalization, and violent ideologies of supremacy and Empire' and 'declare the goodness and justice of God.'
The Group meets over dinner the 4 Tuesdays in June. 7-8:30PM at the River
Compassion & Justice Service Banquet
Sunday, June 22nd, 2:30–5:30pm
We will be joining with members of both Jewish and Muslim communities in partnership with the Abrahamic Alliance to prepare and share a full meal to homeless and unhoused people in our city. Our time together will begin with learning and conversation with our Muslim and Jewish friends who are doing good here in San Jose. We will prepare our meal before a small group will take deliver food to serve to the unhoused who live near and around Columbus Park near the airport.
This is a powerful opportunity for our church family to partner with other local faith communities in serving and blessing our neighbors!
Intergenerational Game Night: Lazy Summer
Saturday, June 28th 4:00–10:00pm
You're invited to come mingle and make new friends while playing games with people of all generations! This intergenerational game night we'll be getting into the summer spirit--fresh juice, baseball hats, hotdogs, Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses.
Bring your favorite game and a couple of friends or family members!
Resources and Church Collaborations
River Small Groups: Ballot Party
How to Fight Racism with Jemar Tisby
Reading While Black | A Public Conversation with Dr. Esau McCaulley
The River Church Community Disaster Response Website & Resources
Anti-Racism & The Church Webinars | Moving towards True Repentance | Dismantling Systemic Racism
The Color of Compromise with Jemar Tisby
Austin Channing Brown "I'm Still Here"
Oriented to Love Fishbowl Dialogue on Sexual/Gender Diversity in the Church
Compassion & Justice Call to Action
Civic Engagement: This month live your faith out loud by speaking at a civic forum, city council meeting, school board meeting or legislators via 5 calls app (an app that facilitates phone calls to legislators), What does your faith say about your issues in our world? Take some time to reflect, and move into action, speaking out!
Download the app "5 Calls: Contact your Congress" or visit the website https://5calls.org/.
Taco Talk
Taco Talk fulfills the compassion & justice objective to equip the community to engage thoughtfully and gracefully the conversations of our day with theological depth and understanding. Taco talk is a facilitated sharing dialogue for small to medium/large groups of people on one of the following topics: Race & Ethnicity, technology, life in silicon valley, wealth, gender and sexuality, housing. Talk with Iheoma for more information.
Sustainability Cohort
A majority of Compassion & Justice initiatives are outward focused, this one is inward focused, helping the River practice creation care and increased ecological sustainability. There are a number of initiatives (and increasing) available for members of this cohort. From the "Smiling Mug" initiative to our regular "Park Cleanups" of our local green space stay tuned for an upcoming workshops and events! Talk with Iheoma for more information.
Service Teams &
Volunteer Opportunities
The River Church community is a proud partner and collaborator with Abrahamic Alliance International as they work with Jewish, Muslim & Christian communities to serve the poor. See future Abrahamic Alliance events here:
More information about other upcoming events can be found on our flowpage or contact Iheoma.
Compassion & Justice
River Church Ministry Partners
River Church financially supports Ministry Partners locally, nationally and around the world. Check this space for updates on ways you connect, pray and support them even further. Learn about the people who our church has partnered with, learn about their organization and ministry and about their service work in the communities in which they are embedded.
One of my roles as a campus minister with InterVarsity is coaching and training staff to reach and love LGBTQ+ students and faculty with the radical and sacrificial aloha of Jesus Christ. While the organization has a traditional theology around marriage and sex, we work on secular campuses with students and faculty holding a range of beliefs. Good theology drives Christians to see queer people reflecting the image of God and to walk with them to know Christ.
Francesca serves as part-time staff with Transform Arts under Cru in the Bay Area. She has a focused ministry on discipling and encouraging artists within her community- specifically dancers and actors. She also participates in an anti-trafficking art ministry (in partnership with Transform Arts and Reintegra) that has taken her to Mexico City several times in recent years. This year, her ministry focus is specifically on actors seeking to know more about God through community. She will also be running an anti-trafficking training workshop specifically with arts advocacy in mind, and specifically designed for artists seeking to use their gifts to serve this particular community of women.
EvaSUE has recruited twelve new campus staff members to join the ministry, bringing the total number of EvaSUE staff members to 112. In the past weeks, these staff members have gone through our Staff Orientation Training. We are so excited for these staff members and their commitment to “Follow the King” in campus ministry. They are ready! We thank God for them! Please join us in praying for these workers as they head to their assigned regions and for God to give more supporters to their needs!
Gary Claassen is the Bay Area Director with International Students Inc. He and his wife Lily absolutely love fostering a global community, mentoring team members, and supporting students in their goals to make a difference around the globe. International students are truly courageous as they leave home in this season of life and Gary’s teams are equipped to be extended family for them. It’s a rare ministry that has a global reach and an eternal impact. Would you consider being a part of it?
