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Greetings, reader!

Thanks for opening this week's edition of the News & Notes. In case you didn't realize it, Mother's Day is THIS Sunday. (So if you haven't gotten a card yet for your mom, you'd better do it soon!) We'll be taking a moment during Sunday's Worship Gathering to honor and pray for the important women in our lives.

Today, Erin helps us consider what it means to be spiritually "safe" in his In Christ series. Hopefully, you'll find it helpful and encouraging no matter what you might be facing.

Safe in Christ

In a couple weeks, my beagle (Kayah) turns two years old. I remember the July evening we brought her home (see photo). She was so small at just 8 weeks of age, and one of the most adorable creatures I had ever laid eyes on.
However, her whining that night was far from adorable.

We placed Kayah in her crate to sleep overnight. Since this was the first time she had ever been alone, she understandably whined. We figured she'd whimper and yip for an hour or so before finally falling asleep. How wrong we were! She whined for hours. Finally, at insane-o'clock, I got up and cuddled with her on the couch. Within minutes she was out. It seemed she just needed to know she wasn't alone and that she was safe.

Safe in God's Arms

Like baby Kayah, we often whine about things in life. We whine about not having enough money. We whimper that we don't have a certain relationship. We complain about the stupidity of the news anchors or our political opposite (or even those closest to us!). We worry about tomorrow. We fret over our health. And then we let our wailings come out in our prayers and attitude.

Yet, I think if we realized just how "safe" we truly are, our whimpering (like Kayah's) would be silenced.

If you follow Jesus, your Lord said in John 10:28-29...

"I give [my followers] eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."

If your life is "in Christ," then you are completely safe. Meaning that even if cancer takes your life, or the creditors take your house, or a car crash takes your legs, or your boss takes your job, you are completely, eternally, spiritually safe. You belong to God! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) His Spirit is in you and sealed you as His. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Nothing - not Satan, not the culture, not anything - can pluck you out of His hand.

I know this truth doesn't bring the immediate easy fix so many want. Yet, I hope it can bring you peace. When I took Kayah out of that crate that night, I couldn't put her in a pen with her mom like she had experienced every night of her short 8-week life. Yet she was going to be fine. Likewise, while God can heal and restore, sometimes He is working far deeper than we realize. May you have a peace that surpasses understanding because you are safe in His hand.
In this with you,
Erin_sig
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Grad Recognition Day

If you have a graduate (high school or college) you would like to honor, please send us an email so we can recognize them on Grad Sunday, May 21st during the Worship Gathering. We'd love to send them off with a gift and a prayer.

VBS Registration Open

Waverly Community VBS will be hosting STELLAR VBS on June 26-29 from 6-8pm at Life Church. Registration for kids entering K-5th grade is now open. You can also register to volunteer!

Monthly Financial Update

Here is a snapshot of the Jan-Apr Budgeted Needs vs. Giving at Riverwood.

Budgeted YTD Needs: $62,400.00 Actual YTD Giving: $57,920.33

Just For Fun

To all you moms out there, check this out to see if it's true about your "firstborn," "middle," and "youngest."
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