Starting on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Two Rivers Church will begin to prepare for Christmas. Advent is an ancient tradition of preparation that culminates in the celebration of Christ’s birth and the Christmas season. The theme of “Restore” will flow through our Advent season.
November 29: Restore Hope
December 6: Reveal Faith
December 13: Respond in Joy
December 20: Repair Peace
December 24: Renew in Christ
Is God calling? Is there something out there calling you to be more, do more, or live more? In the next five weeks we will at five Biblical stories of God calling people to extraordinary things. The name of the series is “My Life: So Called.”
Oct 25: God calls Abram to “go.” Where may we be called to go today?
Nov 1: God calls Moses, but he is reluctant. How many times have we said ‘no’ to God? How long is that possible?
Nov 8: Samuel hear someone calling in the night. Is it God? How can we tell if the call is the real thing?
Nov 15: Nehemiah is called to a building project. Sometimes God calls us to practical tasks that don’t seem holy, but are still God’s work.
Nov 22: Esther finds herself in a unique position. Perhaps it was God calling her without using words.
On Sunday, October 25, churches across denominations and around the world will be sharing in Social Media Sunday. This is an effort use modern technology to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Social media is a powerful tool. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are all growing fast, and allowing churches to reach people they’ve never been able to reach before.
On Social Media Sunday, churches are encouraged to use the hashtag #SMS15 to share quotes, pictures, videos, and messages from their worship communities. At Two Rivers, people will be encouraged to like the church Facebook page and Twitter account. These pages can be found at FB.com/RITwoRivers and Twitter.com/RITwoRivers.
There will be a special feature to the worship service for those that follow Pastor Robb on Twitter. If you go to Pastor Robb’s Twitter account, you will be able to watch the sermon Live on Periscope. Periscope is a video sharing app that is available for free on any mobile device. There are also desktop versions, so any computer that has an internet connection can watch the sermon live. Follow @FatPastor and @RITwoRivers, and tell all your friends about this special Sunday using @SMS15 and #RITwoRivers.
Starting on Wednesday, September 16, Two Rivers will begin another year of Wednesday Night Live. This is a free night of fellowship and ministry. It all begins at 5:30 with a dinner provided by a different person each week. Donations are accepted to offset the cost of the dinner, but are not required. After dinner, there are several different music and age-appropriate ministries.
6:00-7:00 Bell Choir practices with director Judy Litherland. This group is open to people of all ages. There is no experience necessary.
6:15-7:00 Happy Hearts dance ministry rehearses in the sanctuary. Constance King leads the dancers, from Kindergarten and up, in praise. Happy Hearts dances in worship on Sunday mornings about once a month.
7:00-8:00 Two Rivers Youth and Kids’ Club divide into their own groups. Kids’ Club uses the Pockets Devotional for weekly lessons and games. They are also starting a kids book club this year. Two Rivers Youth meets upstairs in the Youth Room with Pastor Robb for games and discussion.
7:30-8:30 Choir practice with director Mark Swessinger. The Choir practices each week and sings in worship every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton, will provide the structure for two new adult education opportunities.
Both groups are starting after the Kick-Off Sunday on September 13. On Monday Mornings at Noon, all are invited to bring their lunch for “Lunch and Learn.”
A second group, using the same material, will meet on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30. Pastor Robb will lead both groups.
September 13 is a big day at Two Rivers Church. We will kick-off a new year of ministry with an exciting day of worship and fellowship.
The day begins with worship at 9:30. After a break all summer, the choir will be back to share their musical offerings. The service will feature the first Sunday of a new worship series called “The Gospel According to Pixar.” Each week Pastor Robb will choose from a different Pixar movie find a lesson from the life and ministry of Jesus.
After worship, kids are invited down to the fellowship hall, where there are treats. Then they will split up into age-appropriate Sunday school classes. Adults will form three different small groups. The Asbury Parlor, The Keynote Class, and Deep Blue Adults will all meet upstairs.
At noon, the cook-out will begin in the south parking lot. Hosted by the Evangelism Team, the cook-our will include hot dogs, beans, chips, and drinks. In addition to the delicious lunch, there will be a dunk tank and face painting for the kids.
At 1:00 Heatherlyn, a singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, will share a free concert. You can learn more about her music at HeatherlynMusic.com.
There is no need to RSVP or register, but if you sign up for this Facebook event, you will be reminded about this exciting celebration.
