The Riverside light March 2023

Hello everyone!

We are very excited to welcome Rev. Bob back to Riverside beginning Easter Sunday April 9th.  Please read below message from Rev. Bob.

                                                Sharing Ministries - A Way to Share and Grow! 

                             “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” 

                           Matthew 18:20 

When Jesus said these words, at least in the beginning of his ministry, there may have been as few around him as we often see in our Sunday worship these days. Since those days, we have many and varied ministries created in the Way of Jesus in our faith communities. However, since we find ourselves with fewer people available to tend to our many outreach activities, we have to rethink how we share the ‘hands’ we have. 

And so, this week, the congregations of Riverside and Hope Churches, in reaching this understanding, have agreed to share their pastor, vary their worship times, and uplift our ministry activities. The first step has been reached, by changing the worship times of each Sunday service. On Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, the Riverside Congregational Church will begin convening on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and the Hope Congregational Church will begin their service time at 10:30 a.m. In this way, both congregations will be able to offer alternative worship times for the community and their members. 

These two faith communities will share and uplift their various outreach activities, beyond the change of service times. One thing - both churches remain separate organizations, with the idea that as hands combine to lift each in their activity, they can maintain their ministries while seeking to grow. 

The former RI Conference UCC used to have a motto, “Doing together what we cannot do alone.” This is something we hold in our thoughts and prayers as we move forward, united in ministry and gathered as one in the Way of Jesus. Let the people say, “Amen!” 

With you on the journey, 

Rev. Bob 

Big thanks to Rev. Bob and Hope Congregational for their willingness to share and work together to grow both ministries. Also please note, there will be no communion celebration on Palm Sunday, instead we will be taking communion with Hope Church during our shared Maundy Thursday service. 

Reminder:  The combined Annual/Fiscal meeting has been scheduled for April 16, 2023 immediately following service, do not forget if you are not coming to service, the meeting will begin a half hour earlier around 10:30 AM. Anyone interested in sitting on the Ministry Team can reach out for more information before the meeting by sending an email  riversidechurch.ucc@gmail.com. You can also ask any one of the team's current members for more information.  If you are not familiar with our Ministry Team:

Tammy Lavin - Moderator

Susan Olson - Treasurer

Marcia Vallese - Worship Minister

Pat Rebollo - Missions Minister

Robyn Crowle - Technology Minister

If anyone has church or community news they would like to share or have a name to be added to our prayer list, please contact me via email using the "Contact Us" page of the website. 

Thank you all for your continued support of our Church and it's missions.  God's blessings to all.

Tammy Lavin

Moderator