Riverside will be pursuing two opportunities for us to share our resources with others this Christmas season: one overseas and one in our backyard.

Parenting your parents – How can adult children best follow the Biblical command to honor our fathers and mothers?  What does that look like as we both, children and parents, move through the life cycle?  These and other related questions will be our focus this Sunday, November 1 at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary.

This week inventor James Dyson (of Dyson vacuum cleaner fame) unveiled his newest product, which is a bladeless air pusher.  His Air Multiplier sucks in air from its base before propelling a constant stream through a thin gap in the fan’s ring.  The result is a powerful, yet soothing airflow.

Recently the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a cover story on my hometown of Mt. Sterling, Illinois.  Apparently my home county has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Illinois or Missouri.  You can read the article here.  You can also watch a picture slideshow of Mt. Sterling’s not so urban landscape here.  (hit the play audio slideshow button)  If you find yourself enamored with Mt. Sterling after this exposure, make sure you get a t-shirt.

I have many wonderful memories of my time growing up in Mt. Sterling.  I, of course, loved the Brown County Fair, but what I think I loved most was recognizing just about everyone and being recognized by just about everyone. There is something special about seeing people you are familiar with and that are familiar with you where ever you go.

This week the Riverside men began studying 1 John. In the first chapter, John discusses how Christian opponents were not just affecting believers’ understanding of Jesus, but they were hindering their fellowship with God and each other. Sin was affecting how they related in general. One cannot have true fellowship with God and not walk the talk. And it is walking the God talk that is necessary for true fellowship with each other.

Invest in your spiritual life by attending one of our new Adult Discovery Hour Classes this Sunday!

DISCOVERY HOUR CLASS ON PARENTING

The class continues this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the sanctuary with a panel of parents with preschool-aged children leading a discussion.  The panelists include Todd and Diane Kelley, Dannie and Amber Stanley, and Steve and Rachel Johnson.

The questions will include:

What has been the most fulfilling part of parenting thus far?  The most challenging?

What resources, if any, have helped you in parenting as a Christian?

What Bible passages do you think are most important for parents?

How do you handle setting up rules and using discipline?  What forms does discipline take in your home?

DISCOVERY HOUR CLASS ON THE COVENANT AFFIRMATIONS

Join us for an innovative, thought-provoking, conversational experience as we learn more about the historic and theological foundations of our church body.  Through video, discussion, biblical study and reflection, we will learn more about what shapes the Covenant identity, how that identity can be expressed to others and how to be encouraged in our faith walks.  This series engages ‘head’, ‘heart’ and ‘hands.’ 

This class will be led by Pastor Dan Teefey and continues this Sunday at 9 a.m. downstairs in the large room on the right, at the end of the hall.  (The old Junior/Senior High classroom–they now meet in the White House.)