Church guide

(Re-post w/ correct link) Riverbend wRiter Jessica Cannon shares her struggle with self-reliance as part of our series "Known by the Scars". Can you relate? Thanks Jessica! https://riverbendatxblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/03/pandoras-box-of-self-reliance/

"I believe that Jesus' counseling strategy is to say, let go of those things and come follow me. Because our holding on is holding us back." - Pastor Dave Haney

*New* Men's Breakfast gathering - this Saturday 7A. This is a fantastic way to get your month off to a good start as you connect with God and other men in meaningful ways through teaching, sharing and prayer. And, for a measly $10 you get fueled for the day! More info: https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/2019/4/6/mens-all-you-can-eat-breakfast

In this week's sermon, what name do we give ourselves - the one we are attached to our own detriment? And, are we able to give that over to God, to give up that which we'd rather not? Dave uses the story of the Rich Young Ruler to illustrate our need for surrender:

Easter Sunday at Riverbend - with slightly new times for more convenience. Three services, all the same awesomeness. Celebrate with us the most incredible day in history where the scars of Love transform us all - https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/easter

Resonate's gonna be special this Sunday - Holy Spirit-welcoming worship w/ Casey and Miranda - 11:15 in the Home for Hope.

Free family fun! Riverbend hosts its annual Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday April 20th featuring inflatables, 15K eggs, Kona ice and... FUN! https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/2016/3/26/easter-eggstravaganza

Excited to have Austin up-and-comer Shawn Galvan with us again at the Celebration service (9:45) as Pastor Dave takes us through week two of our 'Known by the Scars' series.

Reserved admittance for Good Friday (and Maundy Thursday) services at Riverbend are now available. Don't miss one of the most spiritually focused and moving events of the year - reserve your spot now. https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/good-friday

Riverbend wRiter Lauren Kinzie shares her journey looking for a community of faith a few years back. This blog entry is in conjunction with part 1 of our current series: "Known by the Scars: The Scars of Religion." Thank you, Lauren! https://riverbendatxblog.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/mcchurch-wizard-of-oz/

"First characteristic of spiritual abuse is that preoccupation with laying blame. The second characteristic is the sanctification and weaponization of one single community perspective or opinion or belief or tradition. It is the sanctification of making of a sacred, and then the weaponizing of that tradition. So that what happens is what is more important is the expert conformity to that community behavior that is more valued than the individual experience in a personal relationship with God. So that conforming to the community is more important than an individual experience with God." -Pastor Dave Haney

Slight change for the Family Fun Run - 5-7PM, this Sunday! https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/2018/3/25/family-fun-run-churchwide-families

We're not surprised at how awesome the Riverbend Choir and Ange Kogutz are. But, throw in the Riverbend horns and band, and WOW! https://vimeo.com/326371937

In this week's sermon, Pastor Dave uncovers three distinct, and somewhat complex ways that we can experience spiritual or religious abuse, and offers one incredibly simple and effective solution. Scripture reference from 'Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind' in John 9:1-38.

A blast for the whole family - whether you've got that primal, competitive spirit, or not. Sign up now: https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/2018/3/25/family-fun-run-churchwide-families

Great Sunday to get back into the post-spring break flow. We've got Ange Kogutz, Karen Kolohe, and Reasons, AND Dave starts a new series that leads up to Easter: Known by the Scars. See 'ya Sunday!

This Sunday night - worship and community in loving relationship with God and others. Immerse is now the 4th Sunday of every month (3/24) in the Student Center. 5P shared meal, 6P worship. https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/immerse

"Well you may think, this is putting our struggles on parade, this is a public display of our woundedness. But it's safe here, and more importantly, when you get up and you take your card, you are saying to someone who thought no one else is experiencing what I'm experiencing, you're saying to them, you are not alone. I know this wound." -Pastor Dave Haney

In this week’s sermon, we celebrate Communion and begin our journey to Easter Sunday by leaving our “scars” at the table:

"I believe that Jesus' counseling strategy is to say, let go of those things and come follow me. Because our holding on is holding us back." - Pastor Dave Haney

"First characteristic of spiritual abuse is that preoccupation with laying blame. The second characteristic is the sanctification and weaponization of one single community perspective or opinion or belief or tradition. It is the sanctification of making of a sacred, and then the weaponizing of that tradition. So that what happens is what is more important is the expert conformity to that community behavior that is more valued than the individual experience in a personal relationship with God. So that conforming to the community is more important than an individual experience with God." -Pastor Dave Haney

"Well you may think, this is putting our struggles on parade, this is a public display of our woundedness. But it's safe here, and more importantly, when you get up and you take your card, you are saying to someone who thought no one else is experiencing what I'm experiencing, you're saying to them, you are not alone. I know this wound." -Pastor Dave Haney

"So what is the lesson of the loaves and the fishes? What is the lesson that is so important that Jesus said, I'm gonna do this twice, so that you don't miss it, so that you get the point. And you don't need to be a theologian to understand what the lesson of the loaves and the fishes is. You don't need to be trained in Greek and Hebrew. You don't need to go to seminary. You don't even need to believe that those two stories were true. The lesson of the loaves and the fishes is obvious: give me your nothing, and I will make everything of it." - Pastor Dave Haney

For those of you who missed our fabulous Riverbend Works Celebration and Fundraiser, here is the full edited program! We hope you'll be inspired by the wonderful things that God has called Riverbend Church and our partners to do to make this lives of others better. If you'd like to contribute, please click on this link: https://riverbendatx.churchcenter.com/giving/to/riverbend-works-a-movement-toward-more?fbclid=IwAR07Jx75L0xgmMTy13CFnpYZSnbvjaYBRjVyoMsM6UggCPk10nRB5ein1OM

"Because when we realize we are insufficient and we press into that and we offer to God our nothing is when we are invited to make a difference beyond our own lives." - Pastor Dave Haney

"Her acceptance of this derogatory term of dogs for the gentiles, this made her look in the mirror. And when she saw Jesus, she didn't see someone who is just merely trying to make her life better. She saw that He was going to make everyone's life better, that He's going to rally all of us people from every nation and tribe. And as a result, she had to look back in agreement and go, "You know what, you're right. I don't deserve to be at that table, because I come from a people that have done harm to your people over centuries, without remorse. But I know this about you, Jesus, that even the very crumbs of the grace that you give your people will heal us, too." Whoa. That is amazing." - Pastor Scott Vermillion

Want to know more about our Riverbend Works culinary offerings? We get the lowdown from Chef Ford. Super-excited about tomorrow night! https://www.riverbend.com/event-list/riverbend-works

"This was the racial line that was marked out for them in this time. And here, this woman is finding Jesus who apparently, we don't know, wanted a little bit of R and R, just wanted to be by himself for a minute, finds Him. She's a godless woman, comes from a town, born in a town that is used to beating up the Jews, something fierce, living in a town that currently is oppressing the Galilean Jews, and now she wants Jesus to do a little savior favor. Can you feel the tension?" -Scott Vermillion