The River Hopes: Let's Get this Party Started.

Unstuck.

It’s been almost three years. My husband and I came back from living and serving overseas in the fall of 2014. It was supposed to be only a year, but God had other plans as our parents health declined. Jim figured out how to make continued ministry to pastors in Asia work…commuting.  I’ve been finding ways to be useful, and knowing the Lord has things to teach me in transition. But, last December a handful of The River women prayed after church about how we could pitch in with the Refugee crisis... and... something started brewing:

"The River Hopes"

In January Pastor Todd invited some folks together to talk about our direction regarding outreach as a church. We know the church is individual believers in community, and not just those few who happened to make it to an evening meeting, so...

The consensus was that we should have a better grasp of what we’re already doing before we decide where we should concentrate moving forward. I had this google maps idea how we could find a way to wrap our minds around where The River Church is already passionately at work locally and globally, even without an official “church” strategy.

What I’ve found is that, if “The River Hopes,” 

we have a lot of people who bring it!

I’ve so enjoyed meeting new people and learning about how they are serving as we created this google map link to the River website. It’s far from finished, but the work they do is up on this map with a link to the website for the ministry they lead or are deeply invested in. The only way something gets on the map is if someone from the River is willing to be the relational contact to that ministry.

Here are the ways you can Jump In
in the weeks ahead:

This document is in dropbox. We hope to continually update it:

	October 2017 Unstoppable Forward Momentum: Holy Spirit Living - Acts Be part of a Ministry Team     River Kids and babies need helpers and teachers. April@riversouthbay.org   Hospitality: Bring some goodies to share @ Norris. kaitlyn@riversouthbay.org   Greeting: Pass out bulletins and greet people @ Norris. kaitlyn@riversouthbay.org   Music Team (especially musicians) Bradleyjowens@gmail.com   RuSH & TiDE  www.riversouthbay.org/connect/junior-high or /high-school     Bridges2Hope – Care to those with serious illness, Lyn Woodruff law9915@gmail.com
Mon-Fri 10/2-7	M-F Annual Women’s Trip to  Oaxaca, Mexico - Plant with Purpose Carmen Mitre and Faith Rouse from the River Church are part of the 8 women team. Needs: collecting yarn - basic 5 oz new skeins of yarn, as well as donations to help a family build a Family Garden. A donation of $50 to Plant with Purpose provides the basic seeds, supplies and training to help a family establish a garden - they are about 20-50 feet in size. cathilundy@cox.net
Wed/ Thurs/ Fri 10/4,5,6	Join volunteers with Community’s Child. Groceries to food insecure. Wed: Organize food (RiverGals: Theresa U & Katy Reich) theresauphoff@gmail.com Thursday: Bag food, Friday: Deliver food to local schools who will pass it on. Amy Magallanes programadmin@cchild.org, 310-534-4040 ext: 301 Find more info: www.Facebook.com/communityschild
Fri 10/6	New classes start at ReIgnite Hope, free welding school in Gardena. Katrin kscooper@cox.net is helping organize lunches for 30 ppl on Fridays, as of this printing it’s not set up.
Sat 10/7 Two Events Learn about ministry to students in LA or Take a tour of the LA Mission	YoungLife Greater LA Regional “Summit” to learn about ministry to youth. Hollywood First Presbyterian Church 9-4:30 $20 Register now with YL! https://goo.gl/forms/TaCmsivck7RolfhL2 LA Mission/Anne Douglas Center Men in the kitchen, sorting clothes, women will be working to set up an event at the Ann Douglas Center. Tour after. Targeting to have 30 people. Must be 14+. Register after worship in September, or kaitlyn@riversouthbay.org (310) 548-1020
Sun 10/15	International Justice Mission (IJM) Prayer Gathering 3PM Education, Prayer, Action, 5-6PM Open Reception Grace Fellowship Church: 3170 Red Hill Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 No one is organizing IJM prayer in LA County…yet. Let’s go see how IJM does it. Judi Pyke judipyke@gmail.com (The Pyke’s daughter Kristy works for IJM/India) www.eventbrite.com/e/ijm-orange-county-prayer-gathering-tickets-36705326620
Sun 10/22	Justice Rising Gala: Stories of Courage Amidst War (photo exhibit) 5-9PM Hawthorne Arts Complex, 13040 Cerise Avenue, Hawthorne, CA 90250 RSVP: www.Justice-Rising-Gala.eventbright.com Tim Watts daughter Nicole Watts works for nicole@justicerising.org
Thurs 10/26	Laundry Love  4-7pm at King's Coin Laundromat in Harbor City. Bring yourself, some friends and whatever else you can! Spare quarters, detergent, snacks and water are always welcome.  Contact Tommy Olsen for more info or to RSVP at tommy@riversouthbay.org.
10/28 Hunger Hero Harvest Fest	Community’s Child Family Day - 10-2PM DCH Toyota 2909 PCH Torrance. Volunteer or come with family and bring a bag of non-perishable healthy food. River kids will be helping prepare on one Sunday in October.