Rivertown United Reformed Church

24th January

We have now finished our 'Questions' series which has proven to be very challenging and informative and resulted in many different answers to the same question! There in lies the strength of sharing the Bible together - we share our own thoughts and when led by the Spirit we see differently.

As we draw the 'Bible' year to a close and start with the 'Prayer' year we are left with a legacy of three Bible studies - to continue in our search and encouragement of each other as we look at Bible passages and share our own thoughts. Have you ever read the same passage twice and come out with a different view each time?

Discovery is the name we have adopted to call each group - meeting on Monday afternoons, Wednesday evenings and Friday evenings.

20th November

We have held a number of sessions to reflect on the questions asked by people and they proven to be quite illuminating. Not necessarilly finding the answer to the question but learning a lot together as we search and contribute.

Here are the notes from one meeting when we discussed giving...

Giving

Giving is something that costs us, in a sacrificial sense.

It can be an offering of skills, time, comfort, care, money. Or all of these. What makes Rivertown, as a caring, loving church family, is the degree to which members and friends give, to the church, the community and to each other. Giving is something that needs to be stirred up in us by God. It is something we should always be encouraging one another to do. Where money is concerned Rivertown has some very generous, and indeed cheerful, givers. Just like the Israelites gave towards to building of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 35 and 36). The selfless giving of the Poor Widow was praised by Jesus (Luke 21:1-4) Rivertown Church tithes – i.e. it gives one tenth of its income away. This practice goes back to the time of Genesis (14:20), though Jesus warned the Pharisees and Scribes about giving their tithes but neglecting justice and mercy (Matt 23:23-24). The rich young man who approached Jesus got the same response (Luke 18:12). Some Christians do the same. And giving is to be only what is possible (Leviticus 14:30; Deuteronomy 16:17). Perhaps one of our tasks is to encourage our whole church family to see giving as a privilege, sharing in the mission of God in Christ. However, God is not identical with the Church. As Christians, we all have wider responsibilities in loving God and our neighbour as ourselves. So does the Church itself. We show God’s love to others by our giving. All our giving is a response to God who gave his Only Son Jesus, to be borne among us, to suffer and die to bring us back to God. As Jesus said, No one has greater love than this, to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

27th September At our church meeting last week it was decided to hold a number of Wednesday (and one Friday) evening discussions to look together at the Questions members and friends had posed. All the meetings will run from 7.30pm to 9.00pm in the coffee lounge. These discussions will be followed by our Minister sharing a flavour of the thoughts in a subsequent Sunday service.

Dates for diaries:

Wednesday 14th October Friday 6th November Wednesday 11th November Wednesday 25th November Wednesday 9th December

3rd September The fellowship have submitted a range of questions and the Minister will now review and consider each one and how we, together, can explore the answers.

END

The fellowship are invited to ask a question. Using a pre-printed slip they can ask any question about their faith, a question about the Bible or perhaps a question that is bothering them. The intention is to provide answers and select some as the basis for a future service when, collectively, we can explore answers.