Rivertown United Reformed Church

We have successfully launched our building project after a great response for donations from our members and friends. There are many challenges ahead of us and unfortunately we have just encountered our first one - we will need to find a new project manager/building controller as the current one has withdrawn due to extensive work commitments.

There are three main working parties - building; fund raising & grants; communications and a number of meetings have already taken place. A survey of the building has indicated that we are in 'good shape' and our two early priorities will be to replace the roof and to modify the rooms at the rear of the Church. Lots of fund raising has already started - Autumn Fair; e-bay selling; social events and individuals making and selling craft work - greeting cards, knitwear and crochet; Christmas Stockings and much more.

Rivertown will have a Special Christmas Service at 11.00am on 23rd December, when we will reflect on the traditional Christingle. Please come and join us.

Christmas Fellowship Tea 4.30pm on Sunday 9th December followed by a Carol Concert with the Deeside Silver Band 6.30pm Join Rivertown in a time of fellowship and fun.

Saturday 15th December at 3.30pm. Join the Churches Together on Deeside on our 1st Procession of Lanterns - a walk of witness through Connah's Quay and Shotton. We will start at Blessed Sacrament Church at 3.30pm with a prayer and blessing and then we will walk through town with lanterns and stop at Rivertown Church where we will sing carols from the porch; followed by hot drinks and mince pies.

The Pilots at Rivertown led our Sunday Service on 24th June. The leaders, helpers and young people enthralled us with their work and prayers, their drama and musical talent. Thank you to all who took part - it was very special.

The drama was written by one of the Pilots, with help from a number of people. It was contempory, funny with a punch. I will post the drama on the site in due course.

Well Sunday came

With buckets of rain

And a stormy wind to chill

So indoors we stayed

Parlour games were played

And tummies with butties to fill!

Good times we had

The weather was bad

But comfort was what we found

Blankets on floors

And picnics galore

And children playing all around.

Rivertown has written a vision for our future...

...to be a church shining with God’s love and truth, growing together through worship and sharing God’s love in community

The Church Meeting on 20th May agreed to progress with our 'Building for the future' project which includes a number of alterations to the building to improve facilities and accessibilty and provide Rivertown with the first stage of change to make our building more usable for a wider range of activities than we already have. many members and friends have offered to help and pledged financial gifts. Although we do not have sufficient funds to fully meet our plans we have agreed to step out in faith and start - with great excitement and expectation of what might happen as a result.

RIVERTOWN MUSIC GROUP

It is about 15 years since the music group came into being, birthed from a desire by a handful of people who loved to sing and worship God through song. Our aim is to learn new songs/hymns, both traditional and contemporary, in order to introduce and teach them to the congregation.

This group is small numerically, and has never exceeded ten members. At present seven people faithfully attend weekly practices. In the absence of a pianist the music is produced by using a CD Rom and a keyboard, and we thank God for modern technology. Rivertown also has a copyright licence and this enables us to access new songs from a wide range of sources to enhance our worship.

The role of the group over the years has increased. We not only introduce new songs/hymns to the congregation but also participate by sometimes singing:- - As people are entering church. - At the start of the service to help people prepare for worship. - During a time of prayer.

Gracious God, king of kings and Lord of lords, we pray today for statesmen, leaders and rulers. May they be quiet in spirit, clear in judgement. Able to understand the issues that face them.

For the homeless – bring them shelter For the refugees – grant them stability For the starving – fill their cupboards For the ‘have not’ – to receive from the ‘have’ For the warring – be granted peace For the thirsty – to have access to water For the oppressed – freedom to be what they are For the pariahs – that they will change For the despots – bring democracy For the damaged – the resources to repair

May they think often of the common people on whose behalf they must speak and act. May they remember that in keeping your laws is humankind’s only good and happiness.

Grant them patience, grant them courage. Grant them foresight and great faith.

A world of difference

Light the candle

Voice 1: I live in a fine big house – double glazing, central heating, swimming pool, double garage and a garden.

Voice 2: I live under a corrugated tin roof – no walls, in a shanty town with thousands of other people. We huddle together to keep warm.

Voice 1: When I go shopping I am spoilt for choice – 17 types of bread no less. I always buy myself a little treat.

Voice 2: My family has to grow their own food and we often go hungry when our crops fail in the droughts.

Voice 1: Every morning I have a refreshing shower, a glass of ice cold water and if it is dry I water my garden before going to work.

Voice 2: We are lucky to have water – it is only switched on when the Israelis say so – it is often off for hours every day.

Voice 1: I was wondering whether to buy a 23” wide screen TV or one of those flat screen types.