Over the past month we have been looking at various aspects of the life of the Church and those who form it, namely those who have placed their trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Some might call these people "Christians".  (By the way, "Christian" is a term found in Scripture, but not used by Jesus' followers to describe themselves, but rather what others, namely the Antiochians, called our "sect" of Judaism.)  In our teachings we have demonstrated that we live out our purpose of reflecting God's glory through not only loving God, but also by loving others as ourselves, even nurturing the obedience of faith in others.  We have seen that our worship together is an act of loving God and essential to the health of the community.  We have seen that as individuals when  our hearts/minds, souls, and might are fixed and transformed on Christ, then our thinking, being, and doing all change...towards Christ-centeredness.  Last week, Gail eloquently shared how the people of God are redeemed to be agents of redemption...bringing good news to the poor...even as Christ did.  

This week we will look at how our life with Christ cannot be separated from our love for one another.  In fact they are intrinsically linked.  We cannot truly love God, if we do not love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  And, as I've shared before, other Christians tend to be the people most difficult for me to love.  Maybe you can relate.  I just seem to expect more from those in Christ.  But I fail to realize far too often that these "siblings" are on a journey, too, and my role is to come alongside and encourage, and perhaps at times exhort, even rebuke...but always, always, always out of love for them and for Christ.  Too often again, I am quick to judgment, quick to impatience, quick to unkindness, quick to disassociate.  This is wrong and it misses the mark (sin!) on what it means to love God and love others.  

Last week, while away (and that seems to be the best place go to get realigned with the Holy Spirit), I realized that my love for God and my love for His people were waining.  Being so busy "for God" I had failed to simply be "with God".  The classic Mary and Martha scenario.  God gently reminded me that everything most be centered on Him and all that love we're called to (even for those who drive us batty) will come as an overflow of his "eternal life" springing from within us.  I repented in Hawai'i.  (By the way, that's a great place to repent!)  I am excited to see where God carries us (you and me together!) as we abide, abide, abide in Him.  God is at work among us, friends.  May you be able to step aside and realign yourself with what He is calling you to...and my guess is, He is simply calling you to His side.  What a sweet place of joy!   

This Sunday we will explore this topic some more.  Carve out some time to grow deeper...together...with Him!

Grace and peace,

Dave

 

Jubilee.  To us the word implies great happiness; everything is right with the world and I am incredibly joyous.  The word was born in the Old Testament and is taken directly from Hebrew. Literally it means the horn of a ram.  In that culture a ram’s horn was made into a trumpet, so jubilee came to mean trumpet.  According to Leviticus 25 a loud trumpet was sounded on the 10^th day of the 7^th month every 50^th year.  It announced liberty throughout the land, the restoration of property to its rightful owner, slaves are set free, etc. That special year of restoration was called the year of Jubilee. The word for ram’s horn became trumpet then it became liberty and freedom from all oppression.  

The prophecy of Isaiah 61 uses the imagery of the Year of Jubilee as a backdrop to talk about the ministry later to be accomplished by the church, by you and me.  It calls us to reach out beyond the borders of our local building and congregation a minister to the needs of the poor, the unfortunate, the hurting, the addicts, and generally the entire culture around us.  

We at the River have touched many needs through our ministries, from buying boots and mittens for kids at the school, to a steadily growing need for food for many.  This is our commission as the church: to find ways that we can reach out in the name of Christ.

I have to confess that our food bank ministry is stretching me.  A few years ago we had a metal cupboard filled with assorted donated groceries.  A few weeks ago we had a small room where we served over 100 families per month.  Last week we moved to a slightly larger room across the hallway. On Wednesday we hauled 2 pickup loads of groceries from HACAP in Hiawatha at total of about 3,300 lbs.  It had a retail value of about $5,000.  We paid just under $.10 on the dollar.  Really cheap!  But on Thursday we had 50 people show up asking for food.  And again this week another 50 people.  We are forced to revise some policies, tighten some rules, adjust our procedures, and wonder “how are we going to feed them all?”  We need more food donations, more money donations, and more volunteers. We are doing the work of Jesus, reaching out to poor and need in our community.  We are reminded that he fed 5,000 people from one sack lunch.  And he said we could do even greater things if we believe.  Will you believe with me?  

Becky and I want to thank The River family for your gracious Christmas gift to us. Since joining The River 3 1/2 years ago, we have felt much love and acceptance and generosity and encouragement. In this new season of blended congregations (The River and Genesis), I am excited to see how these traits of The River will be experienced by Genesis Church and, reciprocally, I look forward to how Genesis Church might bless The River.  We have all certainly taken steps of faith over these last few years and I believe we will take many more together as we work with Christ to bring His Good News to our cities and to the nations. I am excited to see where Christ leads as we listen to His voice together and trust Him with our all.  May our worship together this weekend remind us of our common Christ and our common cause! 

Grace and peace,

Dave

We have started our shared worship with some of the Genesis congregation.  The sanctuary has a better feel, with a few more people in it.  The biggest impact so far is on our kid’s ministry.  Kids Church has had 20 or more people each of the last 2 weeks, and the nursery has been full.  Some things are taking time to get settled.  Adjustments are still being made.  If you see or know of something that needs to be addressed, or is not working quite right, please let us know.  

Last Sunday there were 153 here at the River, and 35 at the Big White House (BWH).  They no longer have the Saturday evening service at the BWH. Pastor Dave Has a 9am Service at BWH before he comes here for the 10:30 service.  They have no kids ministries at the BWH early service, so all the families with children are coming here.  

Personally, Marge and I want to thank all of you who took the time to send cards or notes.  You are a great encouragement to us. We also appreciate those who made the long drive to the funeral, and those who have contributed to the scholarship fund for our granddaughters.  It is the support of good people like you who give strength to meet this impossible grief.  Thanks.

Thinking, Being, Doing.

Last week we used a broad brush to paint the purpose and principles that God gave us to live and love by.  

We were made to reflect God's glory; this happens when we love and trust Him fully; and when we love and trust Him fully, we will love our neighbors as ourselves; and when we love our neighbors as ourselves, we will invest our lives into theirs and cultivate in them a similar life of love and trust in God; and when this happens lives are transformed and families and workplaces and neighborhoods and cities and states and nations...even the cosmos...is effected; and God is glorified.    

Loving God begins with thinking rightly about him; that is what it means to "love him with our hearts" (in Hebrew, the "heart" is the center of thinking; we would say "minds").  When we grow in a healthy knowledge of God, our souls are transformed (our "being").  And when our very essence is transformed, our actions then will follow...we will love God with our might...our "doings" will be less self-centered and more Christ-centered (and, therefore, "others-centered").  This week we will look at a passage that I believe captures this transformation of heart (thinking), soul (being), and might (doing):  Romans 12:1-8.  As we continue to look at how Christ is calling us to bring the Good News of His Kingdom to our neighborhoods, this Sunday will focus on where it all begins:  in one's own relationship with our Creator.   I look forward to exploring this with you and worshiping our God together!

Grace and peace,

Dave

Here’s a cause to celebrate.  December income was excellent, perhaps the highest in history (I don’t have those records).  Our budget calls for about $19,000 per month.  We got $36,441.60.  That is enough to put us back in the black for the fiscal year and pay for a lot of snow plowing. (Isn’t this snow really pretty?  Aren’t you glad to have a white ground.)  So far this fiscal year we have received $10,409.76 more than we have spent.  

We are working on a plan to change our fiscal year.  We currently start April 1.  We want to start August 1.  That will require a change in our policies and procedures.  We will have a chance to see those changes soon.  So, in April we will pass a 4 month budget. Then in August we will have a new 1 year budget.  This will bring our budget year in line with our ministry year.  

I need to remind you that the tile at the refreshment table and under the coat rack is placed there in memory of Joe Gjovig. I am very pleased with the way it looks, and everytime I look at it, I think of Joe.  

Our Sunday Schedule has changed! Our new service times are:

9:30 am Education Hour for all ages. Many adult classes are available. Class are also offered for children Preschool through sixth grade. Nursery is available all morning.

10:30 am Worship for all ages. Children also have their own worship Preschool through sixth grade which starts after the music in the adult service. Children may also remain with their parents in the main service. Nursery is available all morning.

Today (January 6) many Christians celebrate "Epiphany". According to CRIVoice.org: "The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In [European and American] churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King." Interestingly, to me, is that when we share the "gifts" God gives us through his Holy Spirit (serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, etc.) we "epiphanize" (show, make known, reveal) Jesus to the world as Lord and King. Another way of saying this is that we glorify God when we offer the gifts of our very lives (and love!) to the One who first loved us...and gave his life for us. The "other" John 3:16 (I John) puts it this way: "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." To love is to lay down our life...and to lay down our life is to live...and to live in this way reflects the glory of God. This Sunday we will explore this some more as we enter a new year, with a renewed commitment to living purposefully! Let's gather together to worship the LORD, "the One Who Is". Grace and peace, Dave

I am reading The Hobbit (for the third or fourth time) to our firstborn.  We have just finished the chapter "Riddles in the Dark" where the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, providentially (so it seems) defeats Gollum in a riddle challenge deep in the dark caverns of the Misty Mountains.  The riddles that Bilbo and Gollum share are normal, as riddles go, but the final one that Bilbo wins with was a simple question that he accidentally asked himself out loud.  He had placed his hand in his pocket and felt a ring that he had just earlier discovered on the floor of the caves, "What have I got in my pocket?"  Gollum heard him ask this and thought it was the next riddle that Bilbo had for him.  Of course, it wasn't meant to be a riddle, but Bilbo, realizing his good fortune, restated it, as if he did intend to use the question as a riddle, "What have I got in my pocket?"  Gollum asks for three chances for such a difficult "riddle" and, predictably, loses.  Of course, it really wasn't quite fair, but it does make for a fun story that leads to a great adventure and the ultimate fate of Bilbo, Gollum and the entire Middle-earth.  I encourage you to read the book, but if you'd rather see the movie, part one comes out on my second-born's birthday....December 14, 2012!   

In John 3, there are some interesting riddles in the dark.  Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus in the dark and has some questions.  However, he begins his dialogue with a complimentary statement:  "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”  To which Jesus replies, strangely:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Jesus, reading the intent of Nicodemus, goes straight to his heart and offers a riddle for Nicodemus to solve...that he might discover the Kingdom of God.  The following dialogue between the two fabulously lays out the heart of Jesus' ministry, as well as the means by which Nicodemus (and you and me) can "see the Kingdom of God" and, in fact, discover "eternal life".  Tomorrow, as we begin a new year together, let's gather to worship Christ and to be reminded of the first step to a new beginning:  we must be born again!  

Grace and peace,

Dave

 

As we come to the end of this Advent season we are reminded of the faith of Mary and Joseph...and of Jesus.  What a difficult cup to bear for the betrothed couple...to bear the shame of unwed pregnancy, even though it was sanctified!  To bear the very Son of God, the Anointed One, the Savior of the World!  Who could carry that weight of that burden?  Only those whose faith was strong and pure and, apparently, God given.
According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus Himself is the "founder and perfecter" of our faith!  The Son of God is the One who initiates faith in us ("founds" it) and who matures it ("perfects" it).  This weekend we will give thanks for the Gift of Faith that God has given us through Jesus Christ our Lord...He embodies faith and when we walk in faith, we embody Him.  "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" (II Corinthians 9:15)

O Come Let Us Adore Him...together...this weekend!

Dave

This week we'll be looking at the faith (and lack thereof) of Zechariah, the father of John "the Baptizer".   Zechariah, whose name means "Remembered of the LORD", is "remembered" by the LORD.  He has apparently prayed for a child (like Hannah from last week's narrative), and the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah telling him that his prayers have been heard (remembered).  Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth (who was "barren" and "advanced in years"), would give birth to a son...and his name was to be "John".  Zechariah expresses lack of faith when he questions Gabriel's promise:  "How shall I know this?" (emphasis mine)   For this, Zechariah is struck mute until the day that all Gabriel had predicted would be fulfilled.  

The LORD in his graciousness fulfills his promise to Zechariah, and a child is born to Elizabeth.  And Zechariah's tongue is loosed and he proclaims, in faith, the child's name and the nature of God all in one sentence:  "His name is John."  A name that means "the LORD is gracious."  And John grew up, like Samuel, to play a huge role in God's redemptive plan for the entire cosmos!  As Samuel anointed David to be King over Israel, in a similar way John anointed Jesus, "The Son of David", through the waters of baptism and initiated Jesus' calling to become "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"....forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah.  

O come let us adore Him this weekend...together!

Dave

First, I need to emphasize the new times:

               Christmas Eve Service at 5pm

               For Christmas Day and New Years Day—

                              Worship at 10:30 am—NO Sunday School

               Starting January 8—

                              Sunday School 9:30 am

                              Worship at 10:30 am.  

Second, We need to finish the year well financially to keep up with our bills for the winter.  We have controlled spending pretty well so far this year, but the giving has been down.  We have spent about $7000 more than we took in this year.  The general fund is still in good condition, but we can’t continue our current level of ministry unless we get a bit more income.  

Third, the leadership team has approved a change in the church’s fiscal year.  We have been on a fiscal year from April 1 to March 31.  If we change that to August 1 to July 31 we can better budget for our ministry year.  So at the annual meeting this year (April) we will have to approve a few small changes to our policies and procedures along with a 4 month budget.  Then we will have another annual meeting around the end of August.  

We will probably see about 40 new people each Sunday starting with the Christmas services.  It may take us a while to recognize the faces of the Genesis people.  With the change in time and the larger congregation, we hope to gain some momentum.  We have been known as a very friendly and welcoming congregation.  Let’s keep up the good work, in this more challenging situation.  

We are starting to develop plans for a lunch after church on January 8, to welcome the Genesis congregation and so we can get to know a few more people.  Continue to pray for God’s hand in this unusual cooperation between two churches.  

If you are looking for a devotional to do Sharon and I found a great one online. We wanted to make it available to everyone in the church. I especially recommend it for all of the families to take a look at. It includes a devotional that focuses on not only the New Testament Christmas Story but includes Old Testament references. This will compliment what Dave is teaching on Sundays very well. We are making these available as b&w paper copies in the church office or you can subscribe to the digital format through this link (www.aholyexperience.com it is called The Jesse Tree Advent).

This coming year we are looking forward to our merging with Genesis for Children’s Ministry on Sunday Mornings. With the increase in children and families that will be joining us we will also be increasing our procedures that concern safety and security for the children’s wing during the Sunday Morning Worship. Jen Kruse, Dave and I met to discuss some of the changes that will be necessary for this transition and we all agree that this will be a high priority for our Sunday Morning Worship. Jen is currently putting these policies down on paper so that we can have them available for parents/guardians and for the rest of the church to reference as we transition. If you have questions please feel free to contact me or talk to Jen, we would love to let you know what is happening.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Steve

Our third story of faith, during this Advent season, is told in the first chapter of Samuel.  And it deals with the birth of the man for whom this book is named.  Historically, the children of Israel had more or less gained the land of promise, though skirmishes were always taking place due to various failures of the people to completely follow God's instructions (Torah).  Following Joshua's leading of the people into the land (with God as King), "judges" were established to mete out justice and righteousness (or not!) in the land.  The period described in the book of "Judges" is dark and depressing.  Then immediately following Judges is the Book(s) of Samuel.

In the first chapter we are introduced to a bigamist (Elkanah), whose beloved wife (Hannah) is barren.  As her rival (Peninanh) provoked her, year after year, Hannah called out to the LORD for his favor...that she would bear a son.  Overcome by her barrenness (viewed as a great "affliction"), she made an oath to God, that if he were to bless her with a son, she would then give this child back to him...consecrate him...to the LORD, for his service.  And God heard Hanna's plea for his favor...and Hanna (whose name means "favor") named her son, Samuel ("heard of God").  In the next chapter we are told that this child grew "both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man."  Ever heard words like that before?  (See Luke 2:52) Samuel, walked with God and was instrumental in anointing over Israel God's beloved, King David, and in so doing he played a part in establishing the advent (coming) of the "Son of David", the Christ child, Jesus.  And it all began with a mother's faith, asking for God's favor (grace).  Little did she know how her prayers would be answered in a way that played a role in bringing salvation to the entire cosmos!  What apparently "little" step of faith might God be asking us to take, and how might God change the world ("move a mountain") through it?  We might know the answer (if we're listening!) to the first part of that question, but we'll probably never know the answer to the last.  But he does.

"O Come Let Us Adore Him" this weekend (Saturday night at the Big White House) and/or Sunday morning at worship!

Grace and peace,

Dave