Everyone is Praying. 1/24/21
Weekly Scripture Reading: John 6:25-40
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." - John 6:35
-THIS SUNDAY'S TEXT- Everyone is Praying.
One of the many blessings we have in knowing and following Christ is that we have open communication with our heavenly Father. Even in our time of weakness, when we don’t even know what to pray, the Spirit of God helps us.
Romans 8:26-27 reads – …the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
As followers of Christ living in the earthly kingdom, we have much to pray to God about. We need to call out to Him as we struggle and suffer through many trials and tribulations. We should give Him thanksgiving and praise as we experience His grace, mercy, presence and power throughout our lives. We would love one another well in crying out to Him on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Scripture instructs us to pray without ceasing, to pray continually, to cast our anxieties on God, because He cares for us. I find it very humbling that we have to be reminded, encouraged, and instructed to pray. Throughout Scripture, God’s people have been instructed to humble themselves and pray and depend on the Lord. Why? Because we do not depend on the Lord as we should. Why? Because we do not call out to God as we should. Why? Because we do not give thanks and praise God as we should.
Read James 5:13-20
Take some time to think about your prayer life: How would you describe your prayer life? Do you cry out to God in your times of suffering (physical pain, anxiousness, loss)? Do you cheerfully sing praise to God and give thanks for His wonderful work in your life? Do you ask others to pray for you and with you? How would you like to grow in your prayer life?
Every Sunday morning at 8:20, our prayer team meets and prays, we would love to have you join us for prayer.
PRAYER & THANKSGIVING Pray for Stace and Shannon Cupples, Stace is our Associational Missionary.
Ask God to bring the River Family to maturity in Christ and to unite us in Christ.
Pray for the elders as we seek the Lord regarding our Youth and Children's ministries.
Pray for the elders as they go on retreat later this month.
Sunday School & Life Group Options
After Service
Encouragers SS Class In Main Sanctuary contact: John Hilvert 870-405-7111
Will van der Hoeven' Class Lobby Class Room and Zoom A Study of Isaiah contact: Will van der Hoeven 512-636-3821
There will also be Sunday School for both children, and youth during the Sunday school hour. contact: Eric Smeltzer 870-421-4341
Life Groups
There are two different Life Groups that meet on Monday evenings:
contact: Russel Tucker 870-350-0809 contact: Nathan Jackson 970-301-1676
COVID Guidelines for Children's Sunday School
River Kids COVID Guidelines January 2021
These guidelines are for our current situation and are subject to change. As changes to these COVID guidelines take place, they will be communicated to the church body, children’s workers, and parents.
SAFETY PREPARATIONS:
All children’s rooms are to be cleaned and surfaces sanitized prior to our Sunday morning gathering. (Fulfilled by Deacon)
All children’s rooms are to be supplied with hand sanitizer, Lysol and wipes to be used during our Sunday morning gatherings. (Supplied by Deacon)
All children’s workers are to hand sanitize when entering classroom and wear a mask while in the classroom.
Children’s workers experiencing cold or flu like symptoms in the last 48 hours will stay home and call for a substitute.
FOR PARENTS - BEFORE ENTERING RIVER KIDS: • Make sure your child has not had a temperature of 100 or more and/or has not had any cold or flu like symptoms (including diarrhea or vomiting) in the last 48 hours. • Please take your child to the bathroom prior to dropping off. • Make sure your child washes his or her hands. • Children are to be dropped off and picked up at their classroom. To minimize congestion, please send one adult to drop off and pick up your child and please refrain from entering the classroom or congregating in the hallways. • It is highly recommended that children 10 years old & older wear a mask.
Children’s Workers
· Children’s workers experiencing cold or flu like symptoms (including diarrhea and/or vomiting) in the last 48 hours will need to stay home and call for substitute to replace them..
· All children’s workers are to hand sanitize when entering classroom and wear a mask while in the classroom.
· It is highly recommended that children 10 years old and older wear a mask.
· Greet each child with a fun, touch-less AIR HIGH-5, AIR HUG, HAPPY DANCE, etc.
· When in the classroom promote social distancing with chairs or carpet squares set apart during singing time, story time, etc.
· Maintain encouragement and affirmation through ENCOURAGING WORDS, AIR HIGH-5’s, AIR HUGS, and HAPPY DANCES.
· Have ample supplies for each child, to minimize the need to share during this time.
· When in class, children are allowed in the bathroom one at a time. Children will use hand sanitizer prior to leaving the bathroom.
· Each child must use hand sanitizer each time he or she enters the classroom.
Tim and Trinity Vangulick are currently serving as point people for our Sunday morning River Kid's Sunday School. They have been working hard at organizing, training, and providing a healthy (spiritually and physically) experience for our children to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. If you have questions or concerns regarding River Kid's Sunday School, they will be your first contact. Tim and Trinity will also be encouraging parents, teachers, and children to follow the guidelines provided above. Please encourage them as they serve in this capacity at The River.
Tim - 870-656-1394 Trinity - 870-321-4575
While we love and continue to encourage nursery aged children to be in service with their parents, we do understand that from time to time the nursery option is helpful to both parents and children. We will begin providing nursery during the morning worship service. Heather Kaspar is the point person for the worship hour nursery. If you have questions regarding nursery or want to learn more about serving in this capacity, please contact Heather at 870-405-1551.