April 21, 2024

 

CHURCH CLEANING DAY

A HUGE, “Thank you!!” to everyone who came and helped with the cleaning yesterday. It’s so appreciated! And the ol’ joint looks great this morning, don’t you think?

 

HOSPITALITY MINISTRY MEETING

All sorts of ministries around the church are looking for volunteers. Our Hospitality Ministry, which includes the Greeter, Usher, Info Table, and Cookie Ministries is looking to include more volunteers. If you are interested, talk to Pastor Peter, contact the church office, or come to the meeting after service THIS SUNDAY to find out more!

 

ENCOURAGING AND EQUIPPING WOMEN

Our next “Encouraging and Equipping Women” breakfast group will get together Saturday, April 27!

It is an opportunity for the women of RVCC to meet together, enjoy breakfast, and connect with one another in a significant way outside of a Sunday morning. Through enriching discussion, encouragement, and personal testimony, the goal is to walk out Titus 2:3-5 with older women teaching what is good, and training younger women in a variety of roles. Our focus is encouragement for the current challenges we face, and open discussion and sharing.

Young married women, young mothers, seasoned mothers, empty nesters, and older women are all encouraged to come! We need the full spectrum, or we’ll forfeit the Titus 2 purpose. This is a “Mom’s Only” event, but nursing babies are always welcome.

This group will meet at Renae J’s home north of Stillwater. Breakfast will be served promptly at 9:30am. Contact the church office for address/directions, or more information.

 

BABY/CHILD DEDICATIONS

We’ve scheduled a Sunday for baby and child dedications April 28! If you have a young one that you would like to dedicate, please contact the church office.

 

FIRST WEDNESDAY WORSHIP

Or next First Wednesday Worship night is coming up May 1! Join us at 6:30 as we praise and worship our Lord!

 

RVFM WOMEN’S GET-AWAY

Traditionally, this has been held in the fall, but we’re trying something different this year! This springtime Women’s Get-Away will be back at Camp Jim in Pillager, MN May 3-5. Find details and a registration form on the Info Tables, and contact the church office with any questions.

 

CALLED OUT CONFERENCE

You may have seen fliers laying around for a Janet Boynes Ministries Called Out Conference. The final speaking schedule has been fluctuating, but more details on that event can be found HERE.
We are the host venue for the conference, but are not running it. They have asked us to help them with some staffing during the event, though, and there will be various volunteer opportunities.
The organizers have shared their, “Early Bird” registration link with us. If you’re interested in attending this event, CLICK HERE for tickets. Cost will go up as the conference date approaches.

 

ONGOING DIAPER DONATIONS

We are always accepting diaper donations for Options for Women-St. Croix Valley. As a church we support them with a monthly donation, but diapers are one item they always need to help support the mothers relying on Options services. Unopened packages can be dropped off with Pastor Greg. Larger size diapers are a continuing specific need for the organization.

 

ELDERS MINISTRY

If you would like to connect with one of our Elders for any reason during the week, contact the church office and we’ll get you in touch!

 

SOCIAL CALENDAR

If you are doing something, or going somewhere, and would like to offer an open invitation for RVCC family to join you, send details to the church no later than noon Thursdays, and PG will get it listed here. It won't be "official" church functions, but a fun way to get info out to others at RVCC that there is something fun going to that they could join. So…what are YOU getting ready to do that would be fun to have others there, too? Let us know.

Men’s Hiking Outing

This Sunday, April 21st there will be a men’s social activity. All ages are invited for Hiking at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Meet at the ski lodge (first right turn parking lot after pulling into the park) at 1:30pm. (You are welcome to bring your kids if you have any.)
For more information contact Peter S, or the church office. You do need a park pass to enter the Park Reserve.

Men’s Breakfast Invitation

Glory Church in Lakeland, MN has invited us to their next Men’s Breakfast! It will be Saturday, May 18 @8:30am at their location at 44 St. Croix Trl. S. It is a free event. They will have a way to RSVP in the next week or so, and we’ll pass that along to you when we get it. The pastor is an old friend of some of us, and he is excited to have us join them for the breakfast!

Bundles of Love

Sandy W is involved in a “Bundles of Love” charity, that ” assist Minnesota families in need by providing handmade items for newborns.” She can tell you more about what she/they do, and if you’re interested, can help you get involved. Ask a staff member, or contact the church office to get connected with Sandy!

 

TAKE US WITH YOU

Podcast listeners can listen to audio from our Sunday morning services on several platforms. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible. Search for, "River Valley Christian Church Lake Elmo MN" on your preferred podcast app, then subscribe and listen anywhere, any time, however you like to listen!

We also have a RVFM Podcast gathering messages from our affiliated churches in one spot. Find it on your favorite podcast app by searching for "Light Up The Valley." If you have trouble with any of these contact Pastor Greg in the church office and he'll try to help you sort it out.

 

2024 DAILY BIBLE READING PROGRAM!

One of our top goals is always to help you keep up on (or get into) a daily Bible reading habit.

As a church body on January 1, 2024 we started another 1-year reading plan: "The One Year Bible". Each day will have sections from the Old and New Testaments, and Psalms and Proverbs. Connect with us and access the plan in the YouVersion Bible App to get notifications for the day's reading directly from the app. It's pretty easy and slick. Yes, you’ll be behind, but with some effort you can catch up. OR, jump in where we are and let’s go!

Get into the daily habit now, even if it's not this particular program! We want you to get the WORD in YOU! Contact Pastor Greg in the church office if you have questions.

 

 

Here is a summary of groups and classes we have going on currently during the week. Most of these are included on the Church Calendar.

 

CREW YOUNG ADULT GROUP

C.R.E.W young adult nights are on first and third Mondays at the Molnar's at 6:30pm. Contact the church office or talk to Pastor Peter for more information.
 

COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM

In order to promote active Biblical citizenship RVCC is hosting a Restore Minnesota Community Action Team (CAT) to help answer questions like, “What is going on and what can we do?” The group meets 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.

The next meeting is tomorrow, April 22 at 6:30 pm
On the agenda is a report on the legislature, a community leaders’ update, an open discussion about actions at the conventions, and what everyone is interested in working on this spring.
If time allows they’ll watch “Mindfulness. The SEL Spiritual Craze” by Minnesota Child Protection League.
More information on the CAT can be found if you CLICK HERE, or contact the church office with questions.
 

FREEDOM GROUP

Our Freedom Group meets on Monday evenings at 7pm. It is a Bible-based chemical dependency group coordinated by Wayne & Patrice B. Click Here, or contact the church office for more information.
 

 

WOMEN'S GROUP/CLASS

Healing Hearts meets first and third Tuesdays at 6pm at Cathy D's home office in River Falls, WI. It is a confidential group for ladies 18+ who have been betrayed in a relationship. You are welcome at any time to jump in and join. Know it’s the enemy who would want to keep you isolated. This group is here to listen, love, pray, and stand with you. If you have questions about the group please contact the church office, or Cathy directly!
 

 

WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER

If you've got time during the week you can always join us for prayer! We have a group that prays Wednesday mornings starting at 10am in room W2. It goes for about an hour. We also have a group that meets in W1 before service on Sunday mornings. Everyone is welcome to come in and pray!
 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASSES

There are no classes this week for our all-church First Wednesday Worship night! Next week our Wednesday night classes for elementary, youth, and adults, all begin at 6:30pm!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

This small group hosted by Pastor Jon was too much fun to end after it’s limited run, so it’s been extended! It’s for attendees who have been part of RVCC for 2 years or less. Get to know us and help us get to know you.
 

ACTIVATING YOUR MINISTRY

Activating Your Ministry with Tom S. is a 4-week course designed to activate your ministry as a believer in Jesus Christ. Sessions include: Sharing Your Faith as a Lifestyle, Nurturing New Believers, Receiving Power to Change the World, and Healing the Sick. Each class will include both teaching and a time to practice what you have learned. Whether you are a new believer or a mature saint, these classes will ignite a fire within you to reach others for Jesus Christ.
 

PARENTING WITH PURPOSE

“Parenting With Purpose,” is a discussion on just that, with couples who have had experience for families getting into the whole thing! Leaders will be different weekly. Contact the church office with questions.
 

FLOWING IN THE SUPERNATURAL

Starting May 8 Pastor Jon will be teaching, “Flowing in the Supernatural.” Contact the church office with questions.
 

VESSELS YOUTH GROUP

Vessels Youth Group is for ages 7-12 grades.

We also have an elementary children's class for ages 1-6 grades. And childcare is being provided for younger children. Contact the church office with questions about any of our Wednesday evening classes.
 

 

MAHTOMEDI/WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SMALL GROUP

Our White Bear Lake/Mahtomedi area small group meets on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8pm. Please contact the church office to get connected for more information!
 

 

FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Linda B is teaching a study on the Gospel of John. The group meets here at RVCC-Lake Elmo Fridays at 6pm. If you have questions please contact the church office.
 

SPIRITUAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS

Mighty Warriors For Such A Time As This! We will begin to unfold our Generational lines, to be that legal representative of our bloodlines to take back what the enemy stole! This group meets at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Fridays of the month at Dennis & Cathy D's home. Contact them or the church office for directions and details.
 

 

ENCOURAGING AND EQUIPPING WOMEN

Our next “Encouraging and Equipping Women” breakfast group will get together Saturday, April 27!

It is an opportunity for the women of RVCC to meet together, enjoy breakfast, and connect with one another in a significant way outside of a Sunday morning. Through enriching discussion, encouragement, and personal testimony, the goal is to walk out Titus 2:3-5 with older women teaching what is good, and training younger women in a variety of roles. Our focus is encouragement for the current challenges we face, and open discussion and sharing.

Young married women, young mothers, seasoned mothers, empty nesters, and older women are all encouraged to come! We need the full spectrum, or we’ll forfeit the Titus 2 purpose. This is a “Mom’s Only” event, but nursing babies are always welcome.

This group will meet at Renae J’s home north of Stillwater. Breakfast will be served promptly at 9:30am. Contact the church office for address/directions, or more information.
 

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

All sorts of ministries around the church are looking for volunteers. Our Hospitality Ministry, which includes the Greeter, Usher, Info Table, and Cookie Ministries is looking to include more volunteers. If you are interested, talk to Pastor Peter, contact the church office, or come to the meeting after service THIS SUNDAY to find out more!

Go Joe Specialty Coffees is in need of some baristas before service. You'll get all the training you need, and can be involved and get to know people at the same time.

DURING service our Children's Ministry is looking for some volunteers, too. What an incredible opportunity to advance the Kingdom by helping bring them up in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." Talk to Shiloh G or contact the church office about this, too! A background check is required to work with our Children's Ministry.

We talk about it in what we call the "Next Thing", but we don't really have official "membership" here at RVCC. Our view is if you're family jump in and help out around the "house!" Here's some opportunities to do just that. Most of our other ministries could use some more volunteers, too. That's the price of growing, planting churches, and wanting to do things well to represent Him with excellence. If you're interested in a particular area please contact the office and we'll get you connected with whoever is over that ministry.

Speaking of the Next Thing, we have information available on a thumb drive about the history of RVCC and how you fit into all this. It's a couple of classes we used to do in person, but getting everyone into a room together at the same time was always a scheduling issue, so we compiled it all into a simple little take-home USB drive.

It contains videos of Pastor Jon presenting the information, audio files of the classes if you prefer to just listen, and a .pdf of the booklet that contains some of that same info. If you are fairly new and would like to know more about how RVCC got started, where we are going as a church and as River Valley Fellowship of Ministries, and how you fit into that vision ask an usher, elder, any of the staff -or a random congregation member- and we'll fix you up with one of these drives. If you happen to accidently ask another newbie…keep asking and we'll set you BOTH up!

 

If you would like to donate to RVCC and it's ministries, etc. mail or drop off a check at the church office, or use online giving with your bank debit card at www.rvcc.info/donate.

Our 2023 Annual Report is out, and can be downloaded here, or pick up a copy at the Info Table by the restrooms.

 
RVCC guests who are hard of hearing can now amplify our service audio through their personal Assistive Listening Device (ALD), or tune in to 87.9FM.

 

THE FAST TALK AT THE END OF THE COMMERCIAL:

OBLIGATORY LEGAL NOTICE OF RELEASE OF RVCC, ITS SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND LICENSEES FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER OF ANY NATURE! We live-stream and record our service, so your presence here constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded, and for RVCC to use the recording without compensation in any and all media for as long as it exists. No, we’re not anticipating making a boatload of money off of an image of the back of your head, or you worshipping with your hands in the air…but we figured it would be a good idea to let you know you could end up on our livestream, social media, etc.