Dec 18, 2022
Live Stream
December 18, 2022
Thanks for joining us today at Riv! Check out the links above to stay connected with what’s going on.
Holt Venue
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
The appearance of the LORD’s glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop.
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
At Riv, we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him.
“This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”
12 Ways* of Christmas
*to lay down your life for your friends
“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
Holt VenueWestside Venue
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
“Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted. – Tim Keller
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
Come and see
Go and tell
Westside Venue
Saturday, December 24, 2022
We’ll see you in person and online Saturday, December 24 for Christmas Eve at Riv! Invite your people and join us at our Holt, REO Town, and Westside Venues to celebrate Christmas with the Riv fam.
We’ll be having families together in our auditoriums so we’ll have some activities to help keep your kiddos engaged.
As you’re planning for the Christmas weekend, we won’t be having services at all venues on Sunday, December 25.
Holt Venue: 4:30 & 6:00pm
REO Town Venue: 2:00pm
Westside Venue: 2:00 & 3:30pm
Online: 6:00pm
Beginning January 1, our Holt Venue will be moving to one service at 10am. RivKids will be available and online service will also move to 10am.