Taking Steps of Faith                                            
Pastor Dave Conrads

Last week we began a 7-week series entitled "Taking Steps of Faith".  

The text we observed was from II Corinthians 5 and we called the teaching "Walking by Faith" (from verse 7).  In this text Paul shares with the church in Corinth that we walk by faith in the great Christian hope of resurrection.  In essence, Paul states that these skeleton bones will be taking on a new body, a resurrected body, that will never know suffering and death again.  Ezekiel alludes to this in Ezekiel 37.  Paul goes further in his letter in saying that since we walk by faith in this great hope in the resurrected Christ, that we are now given the great joy and responsibility of bearing God's message of reconciliation.  God, through his people sharing his Word, calls all people everywhere to be reconciled to him.  And, subsequent to that, to be reconciled to one another.  This is part of our walk of faith.

This week we will quicken the pace, and examine from the author of Hebrews what it means to RUN by faith.  We are at a point in the life of our congregation where we need to honestly ask ourselves individually and as a community, what steps of faith Christ is calling us to as we carry forward God's message of reconciliation.  May we come together Sunday ready to run...by faith...in Christ.

God's grace and peace to you!

Dave

Annual Meeting/Ministries                        
Pastor Gail Mitchell

Ann is working hard today (not unusual) preparing the annual report booklets.  The annual meeting is just a week from Sunday.  Pick up your booklet this week and read the reports ahead of time.  At the meeting we will go over the budget again, and celebrate the past year of ministry and look forward to next year.  Bring your questions, your good attitude, your appetite, and your contributions for the potluck. 

Ø      Bring a main dish and an auxiliary dish (veggie, dessert, salad, etc.)  If you don't have time to fix anything come anyway, there will lots of food.

Ø      Since there will be a couple of hours between the beginning of church and the potluck, you may need to keep something warm or even cook it here.  If you call Lorraine Bailey, you can make arrangements so she can manage the oven space. 

Ø      We provide drinks, etc. 

Darlene and Patti were here a couple of times this week, emptying the shelves in the food bank.  Can you believe it?  They were giving away all the food.  We appreciate their work.  Our building is getting a lot of use during the week.  People from the community are passing through, and some are being impacted with the gospel.  Through our food bank, hosting Narcotics Anonymous, the Thursday afternoon Crossing club, and the Wednesday morning New Beginnings class, we are touching many lives.  It is thrilling to see that every week we have several former Mecca residents in church.  To me it is a symbol that we are making a difference.  One of the most important factors in changing lives of these people is the friendly attitude of the congregation.  A smile, a greeting, and a short conversation says a lot to new visitors. Keep up the good work. 

Butler Recital
3 pm Sunday, April 18th

Michelle Butler , a graduate student attending The River will play at the Riverside Recital Hall ( old St. Thomas Moore church). It is a free concert open to the public. She will be playing Shostakovich piano concerto no. 2 and there will also be a performance by a saxaphone player from the university and he will be playing something by Villa Lobos. The chamber orchestra will also play a separate number at the beginning. Please come listen to Michelle praise God through her playing.

Annual Reports

Pick up your copy of the 2009-2010 annual report for The River. It will be available Sunday, April 18th for you to look over before the annual meeting on the 25th. All of the pastors and other leaders have written reports and the proposed budget is also included which will be voted on on the 25th. Remember, there is a potluck that day after the meeting at 10:15am. There will be no classes that day.

Want Ads

A regular customer of the food bank is looking for a microwave.
Our regular custodian is also looking for houses to clean.
Patti Silvia is looking for a good used bike to get around on.
If you can help with any of these needs, please contact the church office.

Psalm 32 Group

Psalm 32 Group is an informal gathering on Wednesday nights 7pm at the Big White House for anyone who is looking for meaning and direction in life.  We review a 10 minute Rob Bell Nooma Series video and discuss what is on our heart.  Our purpose is to provide a safe, grace filled, confidentially secure environment. Promote openness, mutual love, respect and support. Uphold the Lord as our source for understanding, hope and healing.  "On the journey together... finding rest for the soul"   Ps 32:  The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Contact Donovan Trana at 563-299-0144 (work/personal Ph #) or email at donovantrana@gmail.com

Lewis Update

A new update is available in The River office.

Operation Christmas Child Impact

Pastor Gail got an email this week from Roman Bevz. Roman used to be a counselor at Pine Lake Summer Camp in Eldora and is a youth pastor in the Ukraine with a church that has been partnering with the IBC for several years. As a mission, they partner with several different secular organizations in the city and region itself. Those groups were invited to a Christian service where shoe boxes from OCC were given along with the Good News. 1432 kids and 1000 adults heard the message over two and one half months. They heard amazing things that there is someone who loves them, and He fives a hope to everyone who believes in Him. Many have started attending church and children have asked about coming to summer camp. Pray for God to continue to work in the lives of these families and for many to trust him as Savior. Roman will be visiting the US in the next few months. Maybe he will have more incredible stories to tell.

*More information about these and other updates is available in The River office.
We welcome your letters of how you see the love of Christ is being shared also, just email us.

Walk For Life
9:00 am Saturday, May 1

Choices Medical Clinic in Iowa City offers true hope by helping women turn their fear into confidence. This is done by serving them with sound medical care and the compassion of Christ. Help them provide by joining the walk!  You can register on-line at www.informedchoiceia.org or at the walk, or pick up a form at The River. There are three choices of locations to walk: City Park Shelter #6, Kent Park Blue Bird Shelter, or Lake MacBride State Park Main Lodge.

Faith and Family Day
2:05 pm Sundays, May 2 and July 18

The gates open at 1:00 pm for this fun family day! Bring your kids to get autographs before the game, to run the bases and play catch in the outfield after the game and to meet select Disney Princesses and get balloon art from Papa Balloon. Bring in your church newsletter, bulletin or a flyer from The River bulletin board to get the discounted price of $6.50. Group seating is available but need to be ordered by April 30 or July 16. Call the ticket offfice at 319-896-7560 or send an email to andrea@kernels.com for more info or pick up a form at The River.

Mark Schultz Concert
7:00 pm Friday, May 21
Grace Community Church in North Liberty

Come hear a great concert right here in the Iowa City area. Mark Schultz, a well known Christian contemporary artist will be performing. Mark won his first  Dove award in 2006 and resides in North Carolina. With Mark himself being adopted, this event is a fund raiser for a new adoption ministry here. Tickets are $20 and can be obtained by calling 626-2040.