Your past doesn’t have to define you. And it certainly doesn’t have to limit your future. Let’s face it, we all have dysfunction in our lives and in our relationships. But Jesus is able to redeem our dysfunction and turn it into beauty.

Join River City Church on Sunday mornings at 10am as we look at Jesus’ dysfunctional lineage, and how God turned these people into great men and women of faith.

Join us for an Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt on March 31st at 10am at River City Church. During the service, your kids will go to the Mismo Gym next door to learn about the Easter story as well as play in the gym. We will have Mike Williams Photography on site before and after the service to take family portraits. The sitting fee will be waived and prints will start at $10 each if you want to purchase one. Lastly, we’ll conclude with an egg hunt in the Mismo Gym after the service around 11:30.

Be sure and invite your friends and family. They won’t be disappointed! For more information, visit the River City Church website.

Have you ever noticed it seems like some guys have all the luck? Everything they touch just turns to gold. We also see throughout the Bible a handful of people who “found favor” with God and others. Where is this “favor” and how do we find it? Join us as we explore the mystery of God’s favor. What is favor? Who gets it? How do I find it? Come and find out!

Sundays at 10am at River City Church!

Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible for you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they don’t require divine intervention.

Join us on Sunday mornings at 10am @ River City Church as we find out what it means to pray audacious prayers! We’re believing that as we step out in audacious prayer during this season, that God is going to show up big time!

“Most Christians aren’t in imminent danger of ruining their lives. They’re actually facing a danger that’s far greater: wasting them on things that don’t matter.” -  Steven Furtick

What if the life you’re living isn’t what God had imagined for you? What if God’s best days for you are ahead of you, not behind you? What if God has greater things planned for your life than you could even think or imagine? What if you didn’t have to settle for the status quo?

Jesus said in John 14:12 that we would do “Greater things”. We’re believing that 2013 is going to be greater than 2012. We’re believing that tomorrow is going to be greater than yesterday. We’re believing that the life God has planned for us is greater than the life we’re currently living.

Join us on Sunday mornings @ 10am at River City Church as we take a  look into what it means to do “Greater things” and live a “Greater life”.

We’re kickin’ the New Year off in a greater way and we want you to join us!

Click here to listen to previous sermons in our Greater series.

It’s always good to give God thanks, no matter the circumstances, and that is what I intend to do here. River City Church started 2012 without a home and with declining attendance, and with a lot of questions about what God wanted to do with us. I have to admit that the future didn’t look so promising, but here’s what God did:

1. I was able to take my first sabbatical! It was meant to be 2 months long, but was rudely interrupted by…
2. A phone call asking if we would be interested in a building! We had searched for months and months for a home for our church, and every door seemed to slam shut in our face. But out of the blue, God gave us a building, chairs, lighting, sound board, and so much more. It was truly a miracle!
3. We’ve had the honor of baptizing 9 people this last year. There is nothing more exciting than getting to be a part of someone’s changed life. Thank you Jesus!
4. God’s added to our leadership team. We had been praying that God would bring the right people to fill the gaps on our ministry team. Last May, God brought us Steve and Jen Lager as our Children’s Pastors! God also added Dewey and Taunya Wright to our team as the Connections Director. And in the next month or so, Zach and his wife Kim Porta will be joining us as our new Worship Pastor! God is definitely putting the right people in the right places. You’ve got to believe He’s doing that for a reason. Can’t wait for 2013!
5. Our attendance this fall has almost doubled from last fall and is the highest sustained attendance we’ve ever experienced as a church. It’s been SO much fun to get to know all of the new families and faces and to see God plug them into RCC!
6. I’ve heard testimonies of physical healing, testimonies of unbelievable financial provision, and so many more testimonies of God’s goodness and provision. That is definitely one of the greatest benefits of being a pastor!

There are certainly many things that I am leaving out unintentionally. I’m sure you could add more yourself. The bottom line is this:

God is just getting started with River City Church. The best is yet to come!

Christmas is a time of year when generosity is at an all-time high. I mean, that’s the spirit of the season, right? So I wanted to give you 3 great reasons to give a little extra to River City Church this month and also in the coming year:

1. It Takes Money to Reach People!  Like it or not, it costs money to run a church well. And we want to have the best children’s ministry possible, so that we can reach as many young families in Missoula as possible. In order to do that, we’ve hired a Children’s Pastor and his wife to develop the best children’s ministry they can. We rent out the Mismo Gym every week so that kids can have an amazing experience while growing in their faith. And we try to provide excellent childcare whenever we do events, so that adults and couples can spend some quality time together. All of this costs more money than we are currently bringing in each month. Since cancelling children’s ministry is not an option, we are hoping to raise $12,000 above and beyond our regular giving in 2013 so that we can continue to bless young families in Missoula. If 30 households gave an additional $33/mo, we would easily raise these funds. That amounts to giving up 2 lattes a week! What do you say?

2. Giving is Good for the Heart!  Ever see the movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas?  Enough said!

3. Giving to RCC is Super Easy!  You can give instantly to RCC right now by clicking here and donating through Paypal with a credit/debit card. You can also sign up at your bank for Bill Pay, which automatically sends a given amount to RCC each and every month. Or you can drop some cash or checks in the new drop boxes located near the entryway in the church. You may have plenty of excuses not to give, but “it’s too hard to figure out” can’t be one of them!

While we’re on the subject, here are 3 bad reasons to give to River City Church:

1. God Will Be Mad If You Don’t.  Don’t give out of obligation or because you’re afraid of what might happen if you don’t. While it’s true, if you’re not a giver, you are likely to miss out on some blessings, both spiritual and financial. But God doesn’t like a fearful giver, He likes a cheerful giver.

2. It’s A Great Tax Writeoff.  While it is true that all contributions to RCC are tax deductible, there are better ways to make money if that’s all you’re in it for. But if you must do it for this reason, please note that in order to get a large writeoff, you must make a large donation!
3. You Actually Need A Bigger Heart.  If you, like the Grinch, find that your heart is 2 sizes too small, you may want to consult with a physician before you do anything else. While the Grinch’s heart grew 3 times it’s size in one day just by being generous, I can’t guarantee the same results, nor would I recommend this. It is likely very unsafe, and could lead to serious cardio-vascular complications. Call 911. Now.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Lot’s of things happening this month. Here goes!

Christmas Decorating Party, Wed, Dec 5th @7-9pm

We’ll be decorating inside the church, so come on down to help. Bring some extra decor if you have it, and we’ll have some cookies and hot chocolate for you!

River City Church Christmas Party, Sun, Dec 9th @ 6-8:30pm

Join us for our annual Christmas Party at the Loft of Missoula. There will be a concurrent Kid’s Christmas Party at the church. For information on the Christmas Party, please visit the Facebook Event. To register your kids for the Kid’s Party, please click here.

Levi the Poet, Wed, Dec 12th @ 7-9pm

Levi the Poet addresses current issues facing youth and culture, while sharing the gospel, through his unique form of poetry. This will be a free event and we’d like to invite as many people as possible. Here’s a link to the Facebook event, including some video clips. Be sure to invite some friends!

Women’s Christmas Brunch, Fri, Dec 14th @ 10-11:30am

All women are invited to this brunch to celebrate the end of this year and discuss plans for next year’s group. Bring a dish to share, and childcare will be provided. Invite your friends and family!

RCC Kid’s Christmas Program, Sun, Dec 23rd @ 10-11:15am

You won’t want to miss out on this event! All of the RCC Kids have been practicing songs and lines for a Christmas Special the Sunday before Christmas. You’ll want to make sure and invite all of your friends and family to this one!

” It’s not what you do that determines who you are. It’s who you are that determines what you do.”

Understanding our identity in Christ is fundamental and essential to our faith. Your understanding of who you are in Christ will affect every aspect of your life, including the way you think and the way you act. Join us this Sunday as we kick off a new series called the Born Identity. Sundays @ 10am! Click here for more information on River City Church.

Here are a few ways to stay connected to RCC throughout the week:

1) Join the Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/rivercitychurch

2) Share prayer requests and praise reports:  http://rccprays.blogspot.com

3) Read updates on the blog:  http://www.rccmissoula.org/blog

4) Listen to sermons online: http://www.rccmissoula.org/podcasts

5) Receive text updates on important events:  text “rivercitychurch” to 41242

Don’t be disconnected!