No pain, no gain! That was the mantra for a generation of exercise adherents. Whether it was the women in leotards and leg warmers in aerobics class or the men in short shorts and tube socks on the basketball court, the road to fitness was said to be paved in pain. We don’t know what […]
Welcome to Riverside! This Sunday we celebrate the confirmation of our five newest and youngest members. These young people, under the guidance of Session, have been learning about what it means to be a disciple of Christ and a member of the church. The members of the confirmation class have devoted themselves to study and service […]
Welcome to Worship! Last week we sojourned with the ancient Israelites as they prepared to enter the land promised to them by God. But because their fear of entering this new country was greater than their faith in God’s protection and provision, God left them to wander and die in the wilderness. This week we […]
Welcome to Worship! Fear is a communicable disease. A few spies sent to explore the land promised to the Israelites by God get caught up in the report they are making. They suggest that the current occupants of the land are giants. They display fruit of a size suitable for consumption by giants. And the […]
People who stare as they drive by the scene of car accidents are called “rubber-neckers.” They crane their necks to get a better view of the fender-bender or the pile-up but they don’t stop to help or to give statements to the police. There are spiritual accidents happening all around us every day. And what […]
It was Palm Sunday. Two kingdoms were about to collide. One kingdom was based on the love of power; and the other on the power of love. Pilate represented imperial authority. Jesus embodied divine authority. Pilate’s soldiers were clothed in the glory of Rome. Jesus’ disciples threw their garments on the ground before Jesus. Pilate’s […]
Welcome to Riverside! Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Spring Praise Fest. Spring Praise Fest was founded and produced by Riverside for the first nine years. We invite you to enjoy pictures of SPF 1 held on Riverside’s east parking lot in 2007 during the praise set at 9:00 and before the service at […]
Welcome to Worship at Riverside, Jesus tells the story of a young man who demands his inheritance early, squanders it on fast living in the far country, and upon coming home again, receives vastly different receptions from his father and older brother. In retelling the story, pastors and Bible teachers often invite people to consider […]
Jesus told the parable of a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. The fig tree had not borne figs for three years and so the man ordered the gardener to cut it down. “Why,” the man asked, “should the tree use up the soil?” The gardener pleads for the tree. The […]
Serving in the church can sometimes feel like being a waitress. Taking orders from diners who are unsure about what’s good to eat. Delivering heavy plates to the table knowing that many times the food will be left untouched and have to be thrown away. Placating impatient diners queued up at the door for a […]
A man. A woman. The yielding to temptation. The fall of humanity from God’s original created perfection. This was how paradise was lost. Another man, whose lineage is traced back to the first woman, walks into the desert wilderness. His feet kick up the dust from which we all come and to which we all […]
Welcome to Worship at Riverside! Jesus took his disciples up the mountain one day to pray; as Jesus prayed his face changed and his clothes began to glow as bright as a flash of lightning. The disciples saw Jesus in his glory and heard God’s voice in the cloud. The disciples were confused, afraid and […]