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We hope you're enjoying your week so far! This week, Erin is kicking off a BRAND 👏 NEW 👏 SERIES 👏 so grab a seat and strap in, Riverwood fam!
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Surrounded by Love
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School is out, temps are rising, and (for many families) a new schedule is upon us. So with summer here, it only seems appropriate that we start a new series here on the blog.
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Our new series is called One Body. I've had this series in my mind for several months, and now seems like the right time to pull it out. The topic will be about membership within the body of Christ. The goal of the series isn't to get you to become a Riverwood Partner if you aren't already (but we'd love to have you go all in with us!). The aim of this seven-week series is to walk you through 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 to help you consider what unity and partnership should look like within the local church.
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But before we jump in with the important topic of unity (which we'll look at next week), I want to open the series by looking at the "context" of our key passage, because it truly makes all the difference.
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Church Should Not Hurt
For as long as I've been in ministry, I've heard stories of "church hurt." Church hurt can happen to both staff and church members. And the cause of the hurt varies widely, everything from having their spiritual questions ignored to having a trusted leader take advantage of them. To put it plainly, church hurt sucks.
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But this is where our series, and the context of our key passage, can help.
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If Jesus-followers within a church used their spiritual gifts for the good of others out of a Christ-like love for those within the church family, far fewer people would be able to talk about "church hurt." When a follower of Jesus is truly "walking in the Spirit" and not in "the flesh" (see Galatians 5:13-26), then they will not be hurting others, but rather healing and helping them.
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This is what we will see throughout this One Body series. The church should be a family that is operating out of love for one another, where abundant grace is given and the "body" is being helped by the various members.
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So over the next several weeks, as you consider each aspect from 1 Corinthians 12 of what "membership" within a local church looks like, remember that love is to surround all that is done.
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VBS Registration Open
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On June 17-20 from 6-8pm, we will be partnering with some other churches in our area to offer a SCUBA-themed Vacation Bible School to incoming K-5th graders. Registration is still open, so please get your kiddos signed up! And if you are available to offer up your time to volunteer, that would help tremendously! (Volunteers will meet at Waverly Life Church on Sunday, June 9th @ 11:45 am.)
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Riverwood Hangouts
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Once a month during the summer, we will be hosting Riverwood Hangouts! Our first Hangout (hosted by our youth and college groups) will be Monday, June 10th @ 6–7:30 pm at Cedar Bend Park. The theme is "Snacks & S’mores!” While ingredients for s’mores will be provided, we ask that you bring a snack to share, a lawn chair, and a friend to hang out with us at the East Shelter (the one with the playground). See you then!
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Meet Josh Smith
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Our missionary partner in Cambodia Josh Smith will be with us on Sunday! Feel welcome to meet him after service!
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Just For Fun
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