Greetings Church Family,
I pray that this mailing finds you and yours well. Be assured that you are much loved, missed and remain in the daily prayers of our church staff, leadership and church family.
Beginning this Sunday, April 5, Christians from around the world will observe Holy Week. Because of restrictions out-flowing from the Corona-virus, Holy Week will look very different for all of us this year. Transparently, I am grieving over the fact that we will not be able to gather together, sing and celebrate in the same location next week. Who would have ever thought that the church would not gather physically on such a momentous occasion as the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
So how will we celebrate Holy Week this year?
1.
We will worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It will look and feel different. It will be delivered digitally. But it will be a sacred time to remember and celebrate Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection and our new life in Him. Sunday Mornings we will continue Sunday School and Prayer and Proclamation Worship broadcasts. Sunday School will meet through Zoom gatherings and Worship will continue to be delivered through a
Facebook Live Broadcast
.
2.
In lieu of our regular mid-week Bible Study during Holy Week...on Thursday, April 9, our staff will lead a Maundy Thursday worship experience via Zoom.
3.
Claudia Johnson,
our Children’s Minister is preparing at “home packet” for families with Holy Week resources that will be delivered later this week.
4.
Riverchase Community Holy Week services will be daily digital devotionals shared by area Pastors and Associate Pastors. These will be available through a shared community worship site and linked to our
RBC Website
.
For more information on any of these opportunities or connection links visit the
RBC Website
and follow the Riverchase Baptist Church Facebook page or the Riverchase Baptist Church Watch Page.
Especially during these times of uncertainty, we want you to know that we are here for you, we are praying for you and we are available by phone or email. Give us a shout if you have a need, or just want to talk to stay connected. Staying connected with God and others is one of our highest priorities while we are unable to gather together.
We are currently connecting digitally through...
1.
Sunday Morning Prayer and Proclamation Worship broadcast - Weekly on Sunday Mornings at 10:30am via
Facebook Live
and the
RBC Watch Page
.
2.
Sunday School – Weekly Zoom gathering @ 9am with our Associate Pastor, Chase McLain and our SS Director, Carol Causey. Individual Sunday School Classes are also meeting via Zoom at various times throughout the week.
3.
Choir via Zoom led by Murphy Maddox at 8:30am. Contact
Murphy
to be invited as choir members gather to pray and encourage one another.
4.
Mid-Week – Prayer and Gospel Foundations Bible Study - Weekly Zoom gathering. This study is currently in the OT studying the Major Prophets.
6.
Choir Prayer Gathering – Weekly Zoom gathering on Sunday Mornings at 8:30am. (
More info
)
This week, I was extremely encouraged as I talked with many of our senior adult members over the phone. Over and over across these conversations, expressions of thanksgiving for our staff, deacons, Sunday School leaders and church family was shared. Church family, you are doing a great job loving well and taking care of each other. That’s the Riverchase Baptist way. I want you to know that as your Pastor, I am extremely thankful for each of you and the way you are ministering to each other and our community during these days when we cannot gather together.
The two big questions I am being asked these days are (1) When will we worship together again and (2) How are we doing financially.
1.
When will we worship together again?
At this point we don’t have a final answer to the question. What I can report is that our Church Council met via Zoom this past Sunday and set our next target for gathering on May 3. The Church Council will meet again on April 19 to assess current information and determine if the date is still viable or if we need to push it out further. This decision also means that outside of digital meetings, there will be no RBC gatherings during the month of April.
2
.
How are we doing financially?
The Finance Committee met this week via Zoom. Here is what I can report, we had strong first quarter giving to the general budget as well as continued giving to both the debt retirement and mission support buckets.
I am tremendously encouraged by, and thankful for, first quarter contributions supporting the mission and vision of our church family. Like so many in our congregation, I am aware of the quickly changing financial climate that will impact many churches moving forward. If our church family can simply continue giving like we did in the first quarter we will be ok.
Over the past few days several of our members have inquired how to give online. The easiest way is to go the Riverchase Baptist website and click the Giving tab at the top of the page. To make it as simple as possible...just click this
link
and you will be directed to the RBC Giving Page. There you will see three ways to give...
Online Giving, Mobile Giving and Giving Cash and Checks.
Know in advance that your contributions and gifts are appreciated and needed. We are still ministering to our church family, our community and those in the kingdom daily. The mission of the Master remains before us and together we are fulfilling the opportunities before us. Your tithes, offerings and gifts make this possible.
Since we will be sending the first quarter financials via email to the church family soon, and with current Corona-virus gathering restrictions, there will be no Quarterly Business Meeting on April 22. Our next Quarterly Business Meeting will be July 29.
As the summer is quickly approaching, leadership is evaluating and adjusting summer schedules based on the best information currently available. This week our Children’s Committee has moved VBS toward the end of July and we are rethinking how to best celebrate our Graduates. Many thanks to both our Children’s and Student leadership for your prayerful leadership in each of these important ministries.
So each week we have highlighted a current ministry opportunity for our church family. First, we have several members that were and are available and willing to pick up groceries, prescriptions, etc. Second, we have members that are sewing medical masks for medical personnel needing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s).
This week one of our members reminded us of the importance of giving blood though our local blood banks. Our Congregational Health Team has been looped in to this request and has sent the following link with
numerous opportunities to give blood in our area
.
As I have personally considered this request I have been reminded...what a tremendous week to give blood that may save the life of others during the week when Jesus gave his blood on the cross so that we might have life eternal.
I am glad we are family and that we are in this thing together. I love you all and I am honored to serve as your Pastor. Give me a shout if you need anything.
Peace, Hope, Love, Joy and Jesus to all!
