When you come to a service at The River for the first time, we hope we'll succeed in helping you feel welcome and comfortable right away. On this page
you'll find an overview of some of the elements of our gatherings that might make The River a little bit different from anything you may have experienced
before.
communion
. . . Is one of only two ceremonies that Jesus taught his followers to partake in, and as such we believe that it's important
for Christians to have the opportunity to do so frequently. With that in mind, we've made a Communion table available so that any believer who
wishes to may partake of the Elements during the musical portion of our services.
artwork
Throughout its history, art has been an important form of expression and communication for the Christian community. One of the ways
The River carries on this legacy is by having an artist right onstage during each gathering, creating an original composition as the service progresses.
These images nearly always have an amazing way of interweaving with the spirit of the day, providing a new level of insight into the issues being discussed.
prophesy
God is not silent. Jesus speaks to his followers in many ways, through Scripture, insights, dreams, and visions. During our gatherings,
we provide a forum for members of the church body to share those things which are on their hearts, whether it be a prayer, encouragement, or a passage of
Scripture. Prophetic words are always approved by an elder before being presented to the body.
teaching
The Bible is our primary method of learning about God, so it's important for us to spend a lot of time studying it and talking about it.
About half our service is dedicated to reading and discussing Scripture. Pastor Marlow Dunham's focus is on a conversational, down-to-earth style of
teaching, applying the teachings of the Bible to everyday life in the mission field around us.