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Hello, hello, reader!
If you were able to join us this past Sunday for our Easter Worship Gathering - thanks for coming! What a GREAT morning celebrating the resurrection (and completing the Gospel of Mark). If you missed the sermon and the "happy ending" of the book of Mark, you can catch up here.
And now on to the big, big news (that hopefully isn't a huge surprise)...
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A Step of Faith
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This Sunday, we kick off a capital campaign for a very significant reason. On January 23, 2022, the Riverwood Partners voted for the Riverwood family to do what we could to purchase the building we've been leasing since March 2020. This decision means raising the necessary funds to make the down payment required by the bank. Thus, the need for a capital campaign.
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I'll be honest - I did not become a pastor nor seek to plant a church so that I could conduct capital campaigns or buy buildings. I became a pastor because I was convinced God wanted me to give my life to help people find and follow Jesus through the Gospel. So my focus from day one has been (and will continue to be) people.
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But while my mind and heart are not excited by buildings and budgets, I find myself in full agreement with our Riverwood partners and my fellow elders: it seems God is leading us to make this significant step of purchasing the building as part of the fulfillment of our mission of helping people find and follow Jesus, as well as providing us an opportunity to be even better stewards of the finances He has entrusted us with.
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That is why I will be happily asking you over the next several weeks to prayerfully consider what you can generously give toward this cause. To help you consider what to give and how to give, we will be studying the book of Nehemiah on Sundays and in some of our Growth Groups. Likewise, we will be looking at the building of the first tabernacle (as recorded in the book of Exodus) each week right here.
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So I invite you on this journey with me. This will be a journey of prayer, discovery, sacrifice, and hopefully joy. But this I know: this will be a big step of faith for us as a church. And when we step out in faith, trusting that God is the one who has asked us to take the step, we will see Him come through. And I believe that will give us great joy!
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So join me right here next week as we dive into Exodus 25.
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Erin Bird - Teaching Pastor
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"Building Lives" Series
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Join us Sunday as we kick-off a new series called "Building Lives" based on the book of Nehemiah. It also will be the start of our new capital campaign through which we hope to raise $50,000 for a down payment on the Riverwood building. Come Sunday for more info!
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Parent/Child Dedications
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On Mother’s Day, May 8, we will be hold- ing a Parent/Child Dedication during our Worship Gathering. During this holy event, parents publicly commit to put God first in their homes as they dedicate their children to the Lord. If you have been wanting to take such a step, send us an email at [email protected].
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Food Pantry
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Tuesday, May 10 is our next mobile Food Pantry volunteer opportunity at Embassy Vineyard in Waverly. Add it to your calendar now and sign up here to volunteer. Let's serve and love on our community!
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Bible Project - Nehemiah
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Take a few minutes this week to head over to the Bible Project and watch their video on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. This will help get you ready for our new Building Lives series based on the book of Nehemiah.
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