A Note From Pastor Ed
Hi, welcome to the virtual home of Riverside Community Church. I wish I could say that I believe you'll find all the answers to the questions you have about Riverside on this site but I know that's not the case. So if there's something in particular you're curious about that isn't answered here please e-mail me and I'll do my best to answer any questions you might have. I believe that we have created a truly unique & comfortable place for you and your family to find God's purpose in your life.
People ask me what the purpose of Riverside is- I guess I'd say Riverside is a place for the church-weary and the church-wary. Those who have been burned out by churches in the past or those who just have never really spent much time in church and so they're understandably nervous about what walking into a church campus will mean. It is our goal to give everyone a safe, comfortable and enjoyable place to come, sit and listen to a pretty radical message- that there's a God who loves you and has plans for your life. We want to help you discover the person your Creator dreamed of you becoming before you were even born. We do this as encouragers- not enforcers.
God has created a unique community here. We're sort of the Island-Of-Misfit-Toys of churches. People are allowed to be who they are without trying to pretend to be something they're not. Everyone is accepted for who they are and where they are in their journies to discover who God is and how they can relate to Him. We are definitely a Christian church (for us it's all about Jesus) but we have tons of people who consider themselves agnostics, atheists, Bahai, Universalists, Buddhists, and even a few muslims. Why are they at Riverside? You'd have to ask them but we don't really care... we're just glad they're here. You wouldn't believe how many people finally met Jesus at Riverside when they had spent their lives being absolutely sure that He couldn't be the way to God (not because of Jesus' teachings but because of the way someone who claimed to speak on His behalf treated them).
If you've got someone that is hesitant to go to church then maybe you should give us a shot. I can't tell you how often I've heard someone say, "my spouse won't go to church with me but I think he/she might be willing to do this."
So I hope you'll join us this weekend, no matter what you think of Jesus or His people. Give us a chance to show you another side of God and His plan for your life. You just might be surprised.
Riverside offers upbeat, contemporary music, a friendly & relaxed atmosphere, funny video clips from TV, movies & the internet, and positive, relevant messages deigned to bring the Bible to life in our lives. But don't take my word for it... drop by Sunday and check it out for yourself.
I'll see you at Riverside!
Pastor Ed
People ask me what the purpose of Riverside is- I guess I'd say Riverside is a place for the church-weary and the church-wary. Those who have been burned out by churches in the past or those who just have never really spent much time in church and so they're understandably nervous about what walking into a church campus will mean. It is our goal to give everyone a safe, comfortable and enjoyable place to come, sit and listen to a pretty radical message- that there's a God who loves you and has plans for your life. We want to help you discover the person your Creator dreamed of you becoming before you were even born. We do this as encouragers- not enforcers.
God has created a unique community here. We're sort of the Island-Of-Misfit-Toys of churches. People are allowed to be who they are without trying to pretend to be something they're not. Everyone is accepted for who they are and where they are in their journies to discover who God is and how they can relate to Him. We are definitely a Christian church (for us it's all about Jesus) but we have tons of people who consider themselves agnostics, atheists, Bahai, Universalists, Buddhists, and even a few muslims. Why are they at Riverside? You'd have to ask them but we don't really care... we're just glad they're here. You wouldn't believe how many people finally met Jesus at Riverside when they had spent their lives being absolutely sure that He couldn't be the way to God (not because of Jesus' teachings but because of the way someone who claimed to speak on His behalf treated them).
If you've got someone that is hesitant to go to church then maybe you should give us a shot. I can't tell you how often I've heard someone say, "my spouse won't go to church with me but I think he/she might be willing to do this."
So I hope you'll join us this weekend, no matter what you think of Jesus or His people. Give us a chance to show you another side of God and His plan for your life. You just might be surprised.
Riverside offers upbeat, contemporary music, a friendly & relaxed atmosphere, funny video clips from TV, movies & the internet, and positive, relevant messages deigned to bring the Bible to life in our lives. But don't take my word for it... drop by Sunday and check it out for yourself.
I'll see you at Riverside!
Pastor Ed