River News

<b>Operation Christmas Child - Christmas in July</b><br>Christmas is only six months away! It is never too early to start celebrating. Join us for a fun evening of Christmas crafts, snacks, songs, and filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes on Wednesday, July 25 from 6:00pm-8:30pm. Children 5 years and older welcome. For more information contact Tami Richardson at tami@HitTheRiver.com.<br><br><b>Connect with River Families</b><br>Get to know River families over lunch at Liberty Center food court following second service on July 29. We will meet at the tables across from the play area. Meet new friends and find out more about upcoming social events, as well as two new community groups forming for married couples in their 20's with or without children, and couples ages 30 plus. Contact Lindsey Hilty 513-371-3566 or Jaclyn Camacho at 513-602-7319.<br><br><b>Kings Island</b><br>Sign your student up (6th - 12th grade) for the annual trip to Kings Island on Thursday, July 26 from 9:00am-10:00pm. To register for this event, go to a kiosk or go online to https://hittheriver.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/123918.<br><br><b>Serve City - Food Request</b><br>The fourth Saturday of each month (July 28 this month) The River Church volunteers at Serve City between 9:00am-12:00pm. We also collect food for them. Right now they could really use mandarin oranges, pineapple and cereal. If you would like to make a donation, please drop off food in the wood bin by the mission wall. For more information contact Ginger Spence at 513-720-7347 or email Spenceg3@netzero.net.<br><br><b>Summer Lunch Program</b><br>The school year is over and for too many of our local children hunger comes with it. This year we are helping feed children, who might otherwise go without, through the Faith Alliance/Lakota food bus program. Join us in passing out lunches and hanging out with the kids while engaging them in activities. <br><br>Place: Countryside Mobile Home Park, 5126 Hamilton-Middletown Road<br>(Rt. 4), Liberty Township<br>Date: Friday, August 3<br>Time: 10:50am-11:50am (Please arrive on or before 10:40am)<br><br>To sign up, put your name on a connection card, write lunch in the comments with the date you’d like to help, and turn it in to the guest center or the offering bucket.<br><br><b>Building Bunk Beds - SHP</b><br>Join us on August 4 for a fun day of building bunk beds for kids who don’t have a bed. Bring your kids, your friends, coworkers, and/or neighbors. This is a great opportunity for everyone to pitch in and make a difference in the lives of 10 families in our community.<br><br>Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an organization that is working to make sure no child sleeps on the floor. SHP partners with churches, corporations, and communities to build bunk beds for children who do not have one. The Butler County chapter of SHP began in April this year and is already having a great impact in our community. Sleep in Heavenly Peace will coordinate with our church for a build day on Saturday, August 4 from 8:00am-12:00pm. Teams of volunteers will help deliver the 10 beds we will build after they are complete. Each bed will include the frame, pillows, sheets, and comforters. We need builders (age 12 and older), babysitters, and a hospitality team to help make our build day event fun and memorable. Builders only need to bring work gloves. Everything else will be provided, including childcare for children under 12 years old. Sign up to help at https://hittheriver.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/140406.<br><br>If you would like to make a donation to help you can do so online at https://hittheriver.churchcenter.com/giving/to/shp-project<br><br><b>Women's Book Club</b><br>Staring Friday, August 10 join other women from The River for a book club. This new Affinity Group will meet weekly on Friday's at 10:00am at Margaret Layman's home to discuss a book and crochet mats for the homeless. Our first book will be Becoming Momstrong by Heidi St. John. Contact Margaret Layman with any questions at margaret.s.layman@gmail.com or Lucy Rau at lak821@hotmail.com. Kids are welcome.<br><br><b>Water Wars - River Youth</b><br>The River Youth will be concluding summer on Sunday, August 12 with our annual Water Wars event from 6:30pm-8:00pm. We will be doing all kinds of water balloon-based games as well as Slip-N-Slide kickball. This is going to be such an amazing event. Make sure your student joins us! This is going to be such an amazing event. Make sure your student joins us!<br><br><b>River 101</b><br>Interested in learning more about The River Church? Pastor Brad will be teaching our River 101 class on Tuesday, August 14 from 6:15pm-8:30pm. This is a great way to learn what we believe, how we operate, and where we’re heading. If you are interested in membership, the class is a prerequisite. Sign up on a kiosk next to the fireplace.<br><br><b>Affinity Groups</b><br>Connect with others who share similar interests in a fun and inviting way! Make new River friends while creating natural environments to engage those not yet connected to The River. Affinity Groups can form the basis of long-lasting friendships and community that point you and others to Jesus. Here are the groups for you to choose from: Archery, Card/Board Games, Biking, Photography, Running, Scrapbooking &amp; Crafting. Sign up and get more info at https://hittheriver.com/connect-with-us/adults/affinity-groups.<br><br><b>Can We Pray for You?</b><br>We have an email network of people who are committed to pray for you wether it’s big or small. Email your prayer request to prayer@HitTheRiver.com. <br><br><b>Angels Among Us</b><br>There are times in life when we can be in a situation where a meal would be a blessing, such as after giving birth or when dealing with a medical situation. Through our Angels Among Us ministry, you can help people within our church by bringing them a meal. To join, send an email to info@HitTheRiver.com letting us know you’d like to be part of this ministry. When a need arises, you will receive an email asking if you can sign up to bring a meal. If you are in a situation where you could be blessed by a meal, please email us at info@HitTheRiver.com.