The Messenger July / August 2023

From Your Pastor

Brian Lays

Dear Riversiders:

As summer draws to a close and fall routines begin again, I’d like to encourage you all to set an intentional tone for your church involvement this year. Rally Day will be August 20, when we will launch our new Sunday School classes for the year and break in the remodeled youth suite on the 3rd floor of the education building. There will be something for everyone!

The most common reflection I hear about post-pandemic church is that it is difficult to “get back into the habit” of coming to church every week. It makes good sense—so much of our lives are habitual, and we depend on the habits we form to guide our repetitive behaviors so that we don’t have to think too hard about them.

It doesn’t sound too “spiritual,” but coming to church (or watching online) really is something that engaged members “just do.” I remember this expectation in my family growing up. Whether it was a busy weekend or a quiet weekend, whether my parents were teaching Sunday School that week or not, no matter who was preaching, if it was Sunday morning, we were going to church. There was no decision to make every Saturday night before bed.

Of course, life can get complicated. Schedules are busy, and few organizations respect and protect the sanctity of Sunday morning anymore. But the world around us isn’t going to encourage us to stay engaged with our faith— it’s a priority we must nurture and insist on for ourselves. And for Christians in a post-pandemic world, church attendance is a spiritual practice that must be resolutely reestablished and rebuilt.

Your faithful presence at Riverside is not only a good thing for yourself and your family (though it certainly is that!). It’s easy to forget that the rest of our community benefits from your presence, too. I’ve often heard our longtime members reflect on how close-knit and caring a congregation Riverside is. This sort of ethos didn’t come out of nowhere. It came about because people showed up for one another, again and again, week after week, year after year. When such a foundation has been laid, it’s almost second nature that when someone faces a challenging time, others rally around them with support and care.

The next generation of Riversiders desires (and needs) this same sort of community. Your presence at church is always a blessing, on any given Sunday. We cannot be the best version of who we are without you!

So, join us on Rally Day this year, and keep the rally going week after week as we worship, learn, and serve together!

Grace and peace,

Brian

Welcome to Elaine Akin

I’m so excited to be not only a member, but now on staff, at RPC! My husband Tim and I moved to Jacksonville from Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021 after visiting my sister and her family here for over 10 years. Fun fact: Tim and I met as students of Lyon College, a small liberal arts Presbyterian school in Arkansas with a long-standing organ program, although neither of us play. (It has certainly come in handy while serving on the search committee for the new Director of Music!) RPC has quickly become our second home, and we have been so grateful for the hospitality.

I studied art history at the University of Memphis and have worked over the last decade for artists and arts foundations and museums, including the Cummer Museum most recently. I joined the RPC staff in July as the Administrative and Communication Assistant and have most enjoyed getting to know RPC members and assisting with publications.

Tim and I live in Murray Hill with our two dogs, Heidi and Enzo, and our new “yard cat” Willow (I hear that’s pretty common here). Our favorite family activities are going to the beach, traveling, and trying new and interesting foods. I have a small vintage interiors business on the side, where I spend most of my free time these days. Happy to be here!

Sunday Morning Book Club

Thank you, Nancy and Tom Schneider!

This summer, RPC started a Sunday Morning Book Club. The group is reading, “When God Interrupts: Finding New Life Through Unwanted Change” by M. Craig Barnes, recently retired President of Princeton Theological Seminary.

“The Book Club grew out of the wonderful Lenten Small Group. Nancy and Tom Schneider are doing a fabulous job leading us through “When God Interrupts”. In his book Barnes confronts us with the fact that God often “Interrupts” our plans and visions for our lives. It is so moving to share with each other the different ways these experiences have touched all our lives.”

-Jaimie Smith

“Summer Book Club has been an exceptional study of finding hope and God’s direction when our lives unravel with unexpected losses and changes. The leadership of Nancy and Tom Schneider has been engaging as they have encouraged us to ponder and share how we have and can respond to unwanted changes in our lives.”

-Julie Handley

RPC’s new Administrative and Communication Assistant

Why Do We Do What We Do?

Pastor Brian Lays

One of the tensions present in worship lies between the priorities of excellence with hospitality. On the one hand, worship is sacred. We worship a holy God who is worthy of our best, who deserves reverence and honor. On the other hand, worship is for everyone. God welcomes us just as we are, and turns no one way. In our sanctuary, everyone should both feel that they are on holy ground, and also that they are welcome and at home on that holy ground.

We pursue excellence in worship in order to magnify the sacred nature of what we’re doing. The choir rehearses meticulously. The sacred objects of font, table, and cross are handled carefully. Liturgists practice reciting words that were prayerfully and carefully written. And of course, preachers offer sermons that have been written and practiced, practiced, practiced.

Even the way we dress for worship reflects its unique value as something “set aside” from life’s more ordinary pursuits. The choir and clergy wear robes as an expression of the offices they inhabit as worship leaders. We wear our “Sunday best” because we are indicating that what we come to church to do is important. We don’t just roll out of bed and into the pew. We have prepared for the occasion of worship because it is significant.

We pursue hospitality in worship in order to fulfill the mission of the Gospel. Christ draws people from north, south, east, and west around a common table. He eats with outcasts and sinners, welcomes the children, and gives new life to the lifeless. The Gospel is not for the put-together but for those who recognize their need for mercy and grace. In worship, we seek to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.

And so, in worship we welcome anyone to the lectern to lead us in the call to worship. Though we rehearse and prepare, sometimes it’s hard to understand. The children run down the aisle for the word to the children, not as strangers or guests but as children who are at home. The congregation sits and stands, sings and prays, not as an audience watching a performance but as participants in the grand drama of worship. Some of us can’t sing. Some of us can’t see and some of us can’t hear. Some of us can’t stand or walk. All of us, however, are welcome in the house of God.

Sometimes the high standard of excellence can feel intimidating, and impede hospitality. Sometimes our broad embrace can seem chaotic, and threaten the sacred ambiance. But it’s a tension we must always tend to as we strive to offer worship that pleasing and acceptable to God, our rock and redeemer.

In the end, a perfectly executed hymn harmonization lifts our spirits into heaven and more fully engages our whole self in worship and praise, thereby pleasing God. And in the end, a fussy baby who might distract us from the sermon is a holy reminder of God’s faithfulness from generation to generation, that God is keeping the promise to be with us always. Both are important, both are holy, and both are pleasing to God in their own way.

Sanctuary Updates

Quite a few summer projects have been completed in the sanctuary. An AV booth has been built in the balcony. This dedicated space will protect our valuable livestreaming equipment, as well as our operators. Two pews on either side have been slightly shortened to enable a wheelchair, walker, or stroller to be immediately next to the pews rather than sitting in the aisle. The front row of pews has also been shortened to make the same accommodations.

CROSS Missions Trip Reflections

From RPC Youth

CROSS Missions Prompts:

What is something you’re taking away from this experience?

Tell us about a ministry site! What did you do? What did you learn? What was meaningful to you? What is a memory you have from this trip?

people with food that they couldn’t get otherwise. I will always remember just playing games together and the laughter we shared making memories that will last forever.

Palmer Edwards

I will remember the passionate love for God demonstrated by all the people we met at each site.

One ministry site I loved was Baby Bundles

I enjoyed our night off in downtown Charlotte. I loved getting the opportunity to connect with other youth groups. The illusions museum was an amazing experience and demonstrated how sometimes you have to take a step back and look at situations from a different perspective.

Reese Tucker

Takeaway- I learned that we can always trust and depend on God to help us. Also I will always remember when Quentin had prayed with us and told us that God has a plan and that he knows what he is doing. Ministry site- The Bulb was really amazing. They would plant/harvest things and then add them to their own market set up in a food desert. Also they would reuse food from Trader Joe’s. This means that if the store couldn’t sell something but it is still edible they will give it to The Bulb.

Non ministry site fun thing- When we would have free time at the night we would always to card games/play fishbowl. The fishbowl game was so funny because you had to act out words on one of the rounds, but you would also be moving fast so it made the movements really funny. This was also a great way to make connections with other youth groups.

Bryce Heeg

I will take away from this week all the new friends I made and all the fellowship we had here.

The Bulb was a very meaningful ministry site we went to. I thought this because it was very fascinating to learn about how sustainable farming can still provide

I am taking away that some people just do not have it easy, and we are so lucky to be blessed with the things we have. Project 658 was really meaningful to me because it was so amazing to see that kids that are born into poverty are the exact same as everyone else and they should be treated the exact same. They get to experience a summer camp and have a lot of fun just like every kid.

I really enjoyed getting to meet everyone else from different churches and playing games during free time with them. It was so cool to see everyone come together and share laughs and memories with each other.

Alyedis Lockwood

One take away of the week was how much fun I had connecting with our youth group and other people, and I didn’t expect that.

My favorite ministry site was the bulb. I learned about sustainable farming and how they help the people and the environment.

I loved playing ping pong, scratchy, fish bowl, and all the riddles.

Evelyn Dunton

RPC Youth in Charlotte, NC

Olivia Meux

I will always remember going to Project 865 and participating in the kids camp! I loved played soccer with all the kids.

I really loved going to baby bundles and help assemble bags for expecting women who may not be able to afford clothes.

I loved getting to know other youth groups and playing games during our free time.

Anne Craig Charnley

I will remember all the people we served and the way our small impact we had on people and their community.

The site that taught me the most is the “The Bulb” I really felt like I connected to God and His work. I really felt like we were making an impact and the garlic we were pulling out of the ground would be served in an amazing meal the next week. We tend to take food for granted so to see how much work is put into it makes me appreciate it even more.

I loved meeting the other youth groups and making connections. The late night games and laughing made the trip 10 times better!

The Joy of Baseball

Pastor Dana Riley

As you may know, part of my job as the Associate Pastor of Community Outreach is to run the Reviving Baseball in the Inner City (RBI) program, which is designed to ensure that kids of all neighborhoods and abilities have the opportunity to learn about and play baseball in the summer. Having not done this before, it was with some fear and apprehension that I set out to find coaches, lunch makers, field helpers, devotionalists, and volunteers of all kinds to make RBI happen.

With help from the Outreach team, we were able to secure enough coaches and volunteers, including a handful from the Riverside High softball team. They created an environment and an experience where more than 30 players from the Sanctuary on 8th Street and several other youth could thrive. I’m beyond grateful for all who came together to make this ministry what it could be. Thanks to all who helped to make RBI a success this year! God truly works through us in mysterious and miraculous ways!

Thanks to these team players:

Coach recruiter - Debbie Pierson

Devotionals - Matt Weaver, Bud Para, Brian Lays, Julie Handley

Lunch ladies - Arden Brugger, Julie Handley, Sarah Leuthold, Susie Morrow, Jaimie Smith

Lunch delivery - John Humes

Registration - Janie Day

Thank You, Virginia!

Virginia Zeigler, a long-time member of Riverside, has been working at the church on a part-time basis for the past year. What began as a small job to digitize Riverside’s membership records, grew to more as the church experienced transitions in staff. We are so grateful for Virginia’s willingness to help in the church office during this past year! Thank you, Virginia!

Field helpers - Mary Elizabeth Ballentine, Haiden Christian, Joe Eberly, Christy Lane, Davis Meux, Matt Weaver

heading

Youth House Demolition Complete

Groundbreaking on Wednesday, August 30 at 8:30 am. You’re invited!

by Pastor Ruth Elswood

Over just a few days, the Youth House was completely demolished and cleared away to make room for the new Family Life Center. The new parking lot across the street (corner of Oak and Post) is also nearing completion to ensure there is adequate parking during construction. You are invited to the official groundbreaking of the Mary Lou Davis Family Life Center, Rice Sports Zone and the Harden Family Plaza on Wednesday, August 30 at 8:30 am. To learn more about the new Family Life Center as well as the new Youth Suite in the Education Building please go to www.riversidecornerstonecampaign. org

Shrubbery: Free to a Good Home

The church will soon be breaking ground for the new Family Life Center. Because it will be located in what is now called the "lower parking lot", all the shrubbery and trees will be torn out. If you are interested in adopting any of these plants, call Dave Tuttle (904-563-3358) to let him know of your interest. Plants are FREE.

Montreat Reflections

RPC Youth spent a week in the mountains at Montreat Youth Conference July 8-15, 2023. Montreat Youth Conference Prompts: Share a Montreat memory

What is something that you are taking away related to the conference theme, “In•Joy”?

Olivia Meux

I will always remember playing pickleball almost every day and in•joying every moment of it!

I will take away that we all have a spark of joy in us and that joy is not a destination or station but a journey.

Robert Shipp

I will remember the great conversation we had in back home group.

My main takeaway is that joy is complex and that no two people will experience joy the same way.

Bode Moore

The talent show was my favorite memory.

A takeaway is that joy is different than happiness in the way that happiness is a single act and joy is a state of being.

Anne Craig Charnley

My favorite memory from Montreat was the back home group and amazing connections we got to form back at home.

I learned that joy is God and God is joy. they are interchangeable and everyone needs it to survive.

Jude McDonald

All the amazing pickleball memories. Joy is easier in a group/community.

Catherine Hunt

Megan Halkovitch

A good memory from Montreat was jumping into the creek in my dress after candlelight. Joy can be complicated and that’s okay. Also it’s healthier to eat Twinkie’s with friends than eating broccoli alone.

Bryce Heeg

One memory I have from Montreat is playing sports with friends especially spikeball and pickleball which was very fun and brought us together. One take away I have from the theme in•joy is that joy is that we can do things to boost our own joy and others to make the world a better and more joyful place.

Evelyn Brown

Getting to grow really close to my small group. My joy is powerful.

I will always remember the hike with my small group when we went through the trees and rocks and found an area where we wrote our affirmation letters to each other with laughter and nature. Thin places allow us to experience God’s grace in a way that opens us to new possibilities.

Davis Meux

Playing pickleball everyday. God’s joy is in you.

Noah McDonald

I will remember extinguishing my candle around the lake during the candlelight ceremony. The opposite of love is not hate, it is apathy, and the opposite of joy is not sorrow, it is despair.