The Current (December 2021)
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (John 7:38, NIV)
Good afternoon, everyone! We pray that you would be filled, comforted and challenged by the presence of Jesus this morning, this week and this month.
As we venture deeper into a new season of church family, let us always remember that Christ is our true and lasting foundation!
Now, for some updates …
Upcoming Events
Kingdom Life Class (Tuesday, Dec. 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.): Wanna learn about the Holy Spirit’s role in your life? Join us for this opportunity to grow in ways that help build the body of Christ and impact our community. Register here.
Christmas Extravaganza (Saturday, Dec. 18, 3-6 p.m.): Join us to celebrate the Christmas season! Bring a dish to share and/or cookies to enter in our cookie contest. Wear your favorite holiday attire. And stick around for a silent auction and live Christmas show.
Blue Christmas Service (Tuesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.): Join us for a time of Scripture, music, meditation and remembrance as we stand together with those who are grieving or experiencing pain this season.
Christmas Eve Service (Friday, Dec. 24, 5 p.m.): Join us to welcome in the Christmas season for a brief but special one-hour gathering.
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Notes from Leaders
Pastor David Welker: This fall Two Rivers joined the Vineyard Midwest South Region. We're already benefiting from new relationships being formed and deepend in our new region. Matt Hundley (pastor at Albert Lea Vineyard) joined us and brought a ministry team with him in November. It was an encouraging time. We're enjoying building relationship with the Albert Lea Vineyard. Shannon and I are planning on visiting them on a Sunday morning, so let us know if you're interested in joining! One of their leaders that visited us even brought a gift item for our upcoming silent auction. Being in relationship and being an important part of a larger movement is healthy for a growing church. That relationship provides support, resources and accountability. It also broadens vision and helps to define identity. This past fall, Shannon and I were invited to participate in a pastor's retreat for Vineyard Midwest South at Harvest Church in Ames, Iowa. That proved to be an important time in connecting with pastors that are a part of our region. More recently, a small group of our leaders took advantage of another regional retreat held in Ames at Harvest Vineyard. It was a time of being "replenished, connected and challenged" while forming relationships with other Vineyard leaders. More conferences and retreats will be held, so pray about attending!
Shannon Welker (children’s/welcome): We still have our giving tree at the church — a Christmas tree with tags that list a gift needed for the Seeds of Hope camp. All gifts will be taken to camp and used as needed for the children. The tree will remain up until Christmas. Pick a tag off the tree, buy the gift and place under the tree unwrapped if you’d like to participate. Outfitters (our kids ministry) is in need of teachers and helpers for the K-5 class. Our class is currently enjoying “Best News Ever” curriculum. They are learning that God made everything, including all people. They are also learning how much joy kids bring to God. He gives them all they need to love him and other people. One of the scriptures they learned was Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you. The mighty One will save you. The Lord will be happy with you. You will rest in his love. He will sing and be joyful about you.” Also, in Dec. 26, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with a birthday party!
Brittany Wojtowicz (small groups): Find below some upcoming and available small group opportunities! And feel free to reach out if you have any questions or interest in hosting your own group: brit.wojto@gmail.com.
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Inside the Sermon Series
In addition to celebrating Advent (teens from Voyagers will be readying weekly scripture), with our Christmas season sermon series we'll taking a look at the love, frustration, affection and dysfunction often found in families during the holiday season. The lives of Joseph and Mary were no different! Our attention will be focused on the hope that Jesus, the Messiah brought to their lives. Join us and bring a friend! Our Sunday services now start at 5 p.m.
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Turning Conflict into Community: A Message from Pastor David
One of the things that I love about God is that He imparts in us a value for others. Whether it be our family, church, work or a neighbor, we're called to think "otherly.” But the truth is, it's not always easy! I'd like to share three simple ways that we can turn conflict into community, resistance into reconciliation in our homes, community and work life.
As I shared recently, our words have power. There truly are no neutral or empty words. The words that we communicate can strengthen and build rather than tear down. By following these three points, I believe we can develop a more healthy way of communicating the important things that we feel.
1. Avoiding the "Blame and Shame" game.
Nobody likes to be the recipient of discourse causing blame and shame in our lives. It's a sure fire way to feel emotionally unsafe. One way to avoid this (and I suspect, more accurately communicate the way we feel) is to avoid "you always" and "you never" statements. When we hear these statements directed toward us, we quickly dismiss what follows, possibly missing what the other person truly is wanting us to hear. When we use these statements, we're often venting – even when we have something important and constructive to share.
One way to change this pattern of communication is to begin our statement with "I" rather than "you.” You can describe how you feel without it coming across as accusatory. We all have blind spots and hearing how our words and actions make others feel is a constructive way of realizing the impact they have.
2. Stop thinking that your way is the only way.
Have you ever heard the saying "it's more important to do right than to be right"? Doing right involves a lot of listening. It also involves being able to accept with humility that your way isn't the only right way.
In the early days of my marriage with Shannon, I held the mistaken belief that where we had our differences, my view was the better one.
Strike one: it's an opinion full of pride that leads to dead ends, relationally.
Strike two: it didn't stretch me to search for mutually agreeable solutions.
Strike three: it's an attitude that is toxic to the spirit of unity. The need to be right will always drive us away from others, in every area of our life.
I've never liked the saying "happy wife, happy life.” I believe the sentiment behind it can negatively impact the health found in coming together in mutually agreeable solutions. The same can be said for a community. Having said that, there are times when someone may share an opinion that I don't necessarily agree with. In that discourse, I consider their opposing opinion based on their perspective. I've often found that they may carry a greater passion for the topic being shared than I do and I've moved forward with their opinion. That's not giving in or giving up, it's one of the ways that we find value in what each other brings.
3. Fight for "We" instead of "Me.”
For relationships to grow, it's important that we fight for unity rather than fierce independence.
One of the ways that we can do that is by not settling for just tolerance in our community, but celebrating our differences. In today's climate, more than ever, I think that churches are dividing and splitting, forming pockets of people that agree 100% on everything, particularly politics. This is alarming to me. In doing that we forfeit the opportunity to grow with and from each other and we're missing some important characteristics of God.
Another way that we can fight for each other is by "digging for the gold" and "calling out the good" in each other. Let's grow in recognizing and affirming the wonderful work of God in each other's life. If that is the inclination of our heart and becomes a regular practice, when we do have critique to share it'll be better received. We place more weight on the words of those that believe in us and what Jesus is doing in our life. As cliche as it sounds, it's true that relationships are like bank accounts, our deposits should exceed our withdrawals.
I thank Jesus for the community that He continues to build at Two Rivers and I'm so glad that each and every one of you are a part of it!
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Giving and Sharing
One of the ways we worship God is through our tithes and offerings. Consider giving back to TRVC with a donation.
Also, did you know that we're getting noticed online? Reviews mean a lot when people are looking for a church. Have you considered letting others know what you love about TRVC by leaving a review on Google or Facebook?
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Contact
Have something to share in the next newsletter? Or just a general question or comment? Feel free to contact Cody Benjamin (cody@trvc.org) or Pastor David Welker (david@trvc.org). Find us on social media: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram.