I have the best job.  Especially on Sundays, I wake up thinking, “I get to tell people the best news they’ll ever hear.”  And the cool part is, we all get to tell others this news Monday-Saturday.  Just living our lives.  Living out a transformed life.  It’s pretty incredible.  I couldn’t do it on my own.

This Sunday, we join together in a project that has us reach out into the community of Hutchinson in hope. At the end of worship, on our way out, we’ll stop and put together some plastic eggs to be “hidden” around town. In your neighborhood. Downtown. In parts of Hutchinson you don’t normally go to.  Wherever.  The point is for them to be found.  The message inside will be a hopeful one and will invite the finder to Easter worship.

Bring a bucket or an Easter basket or a shopping back to take 6 or 12 or 24 with you.  We’ll stop over at King’s Wok for lunch and then head out.  Or, if you’re on your way to something else after worship, take some with you as you head home.

Our lives are changed by a God who loved us enough to go to the cross.  It’s a weird, weird message.  It’s a kind of love that changes you, inside and out.

This Wednesday (March 19) from 6-7:30, YOU are invited to enjoy a meal with other River of Hope folks of all ages.  Together, we’ll practice the language of faith through casual conversation over food as well as talking more intentionally about God and scripture and your every day life. [Read more…]

I love Lent.  It sort of comes off sounding like, said by Brick Tamland from the movie Anchorman.  Yes, I am that sincere. [Read more…]

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is March 5.  It’s the season where we look toward the cross and anticipate that event that defines us as Christians.  It’s a quieter season.  Darker.  It’s a song in a minor key. It’s good to be together during this season that tells us who we are.
[Read more…]

The season of Lent, that time we walk right toward the cross, awaiting the awfulness of wrongful condemnation and death, is around the corner.  It’s good to be together in this, don’t you think? [Read more…]

Hello River of Hopers,

You are invited to a night of community centered around practicing faith.  6pm is dinner followed by activities led by Pastor Laura.

This Wednesday we will focus on a life of faith.  What has your path looked like so far? Where do you think it will lead?  There are no right or wrong answers. Just discussion around food. All ages (young kids to old folks, however you define it) are included.  This is a great way to get to know other people from River of Hope.  Bring your friends.

See you Wednesday!

It’s no news flash to tell you this winter’s been a goodie.  Snow, cold, extreme cold, cancelled school and meetings and events. We know, we know.  The Wedding Expo was to happen January 26.  Remember that day?  Again with the reference to winter. (The wind made it a blizzard.)  So the wedding expo folks decided to cancel and rightfully so.

So put on your pants of understanding, your winter hat of compassion and come to worship at 9am or 10:30am this Sunday, February 9.  We’ll be in the smaller room (The “Cashwise Room”) and need to offer 2 worship times so that everyone has elbow room.  Consider waking your elbows up earlier that day.  Just this once.  (Probably. Weather permitting.)

The last 5:30pm worship service is this Sunday, January 26, 2014.

As I said in worship this past Sunday, I’ve been talking to those folks who have been attending the 5:30pm worship service regularly, or at all, and have asked them this question:  “What would you do if we stopped having this worship service time?”  The majority have offered a knowing look, seeing the writing on the wall, and have said, “I’ll/we’ll go to the 10:30am worship service.”

As the 10:30am worship time has begun and found traction, the 5:30pm worship time has slipped in attendance. Initially, attendance was right around 50 which included some that were attending both times.  Gradually, that number has slipped with the average number hovering in the 20s or 30s.

When I asked our community to weigh in on projected habits of worship time attendance, it was about 50/50.  Many said, “We’ll switch back and forth.”  I think it has surprised many folks how easily the 10:30am worship time became home and habit.  It is what it is and we can’t always know what we’ll do. But people are voting with their feet!

We began as a 5:30pm worship time community.  We rallied around it to make it work.  Now, we’re letting it go. And we will see just what intentional move we will make in the future as we continue to grow and reach out to those who do not know the good news.   Who knows?  I am convinced God will reveal to us what is next.

#100happydays #hopefulpeople Stripes simply make me happy.

I stumbled upon this project  over the weekend.  100happydays.   [Read more…]